Snowy Harrisburg

I am SO loving my new camera...I took some shots around town on Sunday when the roads were clear and I felt like I could get out and not fear ending up in a ditch :)  The snow was absolutely beautiful!

Across the pasture on Stallings Road

Overlooking the river at the bridge on Stallings Road

Pond below Harrisburg Elementary School

Old Post Office/Sim's store at railroad



The snowy view from here

Snow has definitely arrived around here!  I had to get out and walk it at 6am this morning to go and take care of a neighbor's cats, one of whom must have insulin twice a day...fun stuff...it was seriously cold!

The view up the street

Playground...might be a little chilly today :)

Haven't put my poolside furniture up yet...

Snow on the fence

Backyard

Maddie running like a crazy dog everywhere!  For an animal who HATES the rain...she LOVES the snow!

Max has a face full of fluffy snow

Max and Maddie's snowpaw fight...they LOVE the snow!



Christmas Randoms 2010

How is it even possible that Klay is so big?!?!

I mean seriously? Could they be any cuter?

My favorite Samantha in the whole world!  Growing up TOO fast!

Celebrations

I celebrated my 37th birthday this weekend. I have NO idea where 37 years have gone...I really used to think that people my age were old, but I guess I no longer have that luxury! I've accomplished a lot in my 37 years, but also feel like I have so much I want to do and kinda feel like time is running out on some things that I feel strongly about. Like being a mom. Yes I have a home daycare and get to spend five days a week loving on babies. But they're not mine. And that's okay. But I do really desire to be a mom. And the clock is ticking on that. Just gotta keep praying for the Lord's guidance.

We celebrated with a party at my sister's on Friday complete with mashed potato bar and all the toppings, lots of yummy appetizers and dips and cupcakes, truffles and pastries...YUM! (NOT to forget the slushy grown up drinks and "serious" Choclatinis).The group above is the crew in attendance, minus Mary Ann who is taking the picture. Love my girls! I can't imagine my life without any one of the them in it. So here's to another year!

We also celebrated 34 years of my church, well, being a church! I haven't been there since the beginning, but pretty darn close...I'm pretty sure we started there in 1978 or 1979. So that's a pretty long time. But it's home and it's comfortable and it's "my" church. The Lord has been preparing me I think for maybe the idea of it's okay to not be at "my" church. But for right now, I'm staying put...until He leads me elsewhere.

Weekend in Lake Lure

I spent the weekend before last at a fabulous cabin in Lake Lure, NC scrapbooking, relaxing and spending time with friends. I cooked and washed dishes, cropped a little and then cooked and washed dishes again. Such is the life of a scrapbooking consultant on a weekend retreat.

But I loved every single minute, okay maybe not the loading and unloading part, but the actual having fun part! The weather was great, the cabin was awesome and the food was delicious!

The picture to the left was on the road up to the cabin...I have always loved to take pictures of winding roads and of course add beautiful fall color to it...and it's just too cool! I like this picture because it reminds me about where my life is right now...I can see the road clear as day, it's well formed and uncluttered, but at some point, I can't see around the bend...I have to trust that the road on the other side of what I can see is just as clear. I have to have faith that there isn't a cliff that I am going to fall off or roll down. Only God can guide me when I'm unsure. I know this...He loves me THAT much. That's not to say that I'll never make a wrong turn or miss a road and have to do a big ol' U turn. But God's grace and mercy will surround me down the path, no matter how twisty or turny it is.

Here's a shot by the lake...How marvelous is God's creation? Just kinda takes your breath away! I am so lucky to be able to enjoy time away and literally sit and just "be" in God's masterpiece!

I've been thinking about my blog lately and what to share, and what crosses the line into over-sharing. I am trying to get into the habit of online journaling, but I think I'm overthinking things ~ go figure that?!? But I do know that God's at work in my life. Enough said.

Weekend Recap...Monday thoughts

Busy weekend. Again. Seems like the story of my life. But I'm not complaining. Well, I guess I am sort-of. I am thankful that my life is filled with so many people and places I care about that it keeps me on my toes, but dang, some days, I'd just like to watch my dvr in peace, and my pajamas :)

But this weekend was good. Baby shower for a dear friend that I haven't seen in a while who looks absolutely adorable with 2 weeks to go! Dinner at a cool Mexican restaurant with two great friends and then the Collin Raye concert...a great girl's night out! Since I had the rare occasion of having a day off from my own church duties, Sunday held church with a friend in SC and lunch with his family, my sister and my "second mom". Sermon at the church I was visiting was really good. You can check it out here if you like: http://www.nrcc.net/listen.asp (click on "That Sounds a Little Bit Crazy") It's always nice to have a Sunday that I can sit and enjoy a service without my responsibilites...and this one was a great!

Today was busy. Houseful of kids. Couple of teenagers. Typical day. Hoping for a great Tuesday. Don't forget to vote!

God is still working on the situations in my life. I can feel it. Just need to pray, pray, pray! I leave you with another song I'm rolling around... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY It's an older Hillsong tune I heard at my friend's church. and I love it :)

Faith to Keep Moving

Isn't it interesting how you have a mountain top day, week, month...and then just as quickly the valley is staring you right in the face? Ugh! I am very blessed with a roof over my head, a job, family and friends who love me and a wonderful church. So why am I in the valley? I'm not so sure. I know that God is in control. Don't doubt it at all. Really. Am I not quite cluing in to God's plan? Feels that way. I have been stepping out of my comfort zone and in faith that God will show me the path He has for me. Then I feel like maybe my "listening ears" must be turned off.

I know that God shows us the mountain top view so that we can weather the valley experiences - I think I feel a little like I'm on a see-saw these days. And I don't like it. Maybe it's God's plan, maybe it's just stubborness on my part that I'm causing myself more pain in my disobedience. All I know is prayer is the only thing that's making sense. Duh! you say? Isn't that the obvious option for someone who spends as much time at church as me? Not necessarily. I do pray. Not as often or as dedicated as I'd like to. My struggle is waiting for the Lord's answer. I tend to jump ahead, planning, calculating the next step instead of being still and letting God do His work. Lots easier to type than to do. For me, anyway. I get focused on what I think I "want" and everything else goes by the wayside. Like everything. Cleaning house, paying bills, laundry, you know the everyday stuff. I want to fix my current obsession, whether it be a relationship, my current quest to lose weight, etc. - you get the idea.

Faith that God is in control and that He will wrap His arms around me when I fail. Again. Like, seriously, again and again. I have been known to be stubborn and passionate about things in my life, and sometimes that can be good. When I'm supposed to be submitting to the will of God, not so much. I do have faith that God will see me through, he won't abandon me in my time of need. I just have to turn to Him. He wants that relationship with me, for real. He loves me, THAT much. He is jealous for me.

My prayer for today is to let the Lord settle my mind and heart. Let Him take the situations in my life and work through them. Even though I just don't see how that's gonna work - it's not really my job to do it. I am going to be faithful to praying about it, that's what He asks us to do.