Jean Stockdale...

Not Me Monday!

I DID NOT lose my power in the ice storm that swept through TN. last week. Oh wait . . . I did! We lost our power but not our joy!! Joy is in Jesus.

Craig and I live on 10 acres in a rural area. On Thursday, January 28th an ice storm blew through, coating every surface with several layers of ice. On Friday afternoon more sleet resulted in about 2 inches of solid ice. Around 4:00 I was standing at my front door, surveying the mysterious beauty of the iced landscape, when I saw a huge limb snap off a pine tree and drop to the ground in a pile of green needles and icicles. Almost simultaneously a loud explosion signaled the transformer had blown. Suddenly no power, no water (we are on a well), no internet, and no phones. My house became eerily silent. We had no way of knowing it would be Tuesday afternoon before our power would be restored. I thought you might enjoy seeing a photo-journal of the intermittent days.

Caption's Log-Friday, January 29, 2010

4:00 p.m. Power outage. Strangely, the silence that follows is both refreshing and strange. Because Craig and I suffer from terminal optimisim (although trust me, this world has doen all it can to beat it out of us-but we refuse to give it up) we assumed it would be quicly restored.

5:30 p.m. Still believing we are moments away from have our power restored. Andy and Dianne Maybee (neighbors who love us and did not lose their power) brought down piping hot beef stew and homemade cornbread. Soup-it does a body good. As does the kindness of the family of God!

8:00 p.m. Candle light illuminates the den. We use the gas logs in the den's fireplace to heat-and I use that word loosely-the house. Both boxers and our cat make an uneasy peace in order to be in the same room with the heat.

 8:15 p.m. Nothing left to do but go to sleep in a cold and dark house.

Caption's log-Saturday-January 30, 2010

8:00 a.m. Slept in. Few reasons to get up. No power. Joy intact.

9:00 a.m. The Maybees invite us to breakfast. Eat. Shower. Charge laptop. Enjoy some of the sweetest fellowship this side of heaven.

10:00 a.m. Enjoy the luxury of reading without being concerned about what else I need to do.

3:00 p.m. Enjoy a cup of hot coffee from the thermos the Maybees filled for us.

4:30 p.m. Cook hamburgers on the gas grill. Darkness falls quickly and it is hard to tell if they are undercooked or overcooked.

 

6:00 p.m. Watched a DVD on our laptop.

8:30 p.m. Battery dies on laptop. Time for bed. The temperature drops to 14 degrees. I wear earmuffs, scarf, and gloves to bed. Since it is so cold outside, think it is a great idea to put 1 and a half gallons of milk on the steps outside.

Caption's Log-Sunday, January 31, 2010

7:00 a.m. Decide that wasn't the best idea we've ever had.

 

9:00 a.m. Maybee's feed us breakfast. Hot shower feels very good. Hot coffee-yum. Sweet friends and fellowship-priceless. Church is canceled to the the weather and icy roads. We spend the afternoon reading. 

4:00 p.m. Begin the process of getting ready for the evening. Once it gets dark, that's all she wrote folks.

5:00 p.m. Hamburgers on the grill. This time we compensate for the early darkness.

6:00 p.m. Start our movie on the laptop.

9:00 p.m. Battery dies. Off to bed.

Caption's Log-Monday, February 1, 2010

8:00 a.m. Wake up to no power. Joy still intact.

9:00 a.m. Return to the Maybees for breakfast, coffee, and hot shower. Blessed to peices.

10:30 a.m. Dissassemble the Standing Near the Cross Ministries desktop computer. Drive to Renae Terrell's. Set it up on the kitchen table. Craig, Renae, and I work and giggle. We dub it "Ministry on the Move." Our life is not to be beleived! Seriously!!

  

3:30 p.m. Return home and begin the evening preparation.

4:30 p.m. Dinner and a movie. Early to bed. Joy, not only intact, but overflowing.

 

Caption's Log-Tuesday, February 2, 2010

7:00 a.m. Up early. This is what I saw when I opened my eyes. 

  

10:00 a.m. Pack up my entire vanity and half my closet. Craig and I head to Renae's. She fixes us breakfast. I shower and dress to go and speak to the Metro Conference of Children's Ministers and Directors. Renae and Craig go with me and work me book table. Had a wonderful time speaking. Met great folks who are committed to serving "the least of them."

1:15 p.m. Power is restored. We lost our power but never our joy!! Our joy is firmly rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ. And in light of the cross, this was a small inconvenience.

Linked to Not Me Monday.

Not Me Monday!

I DID NOT lose my power during the ice storm that blanketed the US last Friday. Oh . . . that's right. I did. Really I did. We were without power for 4 days. I thought I would share what our days and nights were life. We are resourceful, Mr. Stockdale and I. Resourceful I say.

Caption's Log-Friday, January 29, 2010

Not Me Monday-Breakfast in Bed

 I I DID NOT have breakfast in bed (last night), literally.

I DID NOT eat dry Honey Nut Cherrios Cereal for dinner last night. It is after all, the breakfast of champions!

I DID NOT eat straight out of the bag so I didn't mess up a dish.

I DID NOT eat my dry cereal while sitting in bed watching TV.

I DID NOT wake up with Cherrios stuck to me!

Actually I did. I hope you had a better day than I did! Blessings.

Linked to My Charming Kids.

Not Me Monday-A Repeat

This blog was originally posted on July 10, 2008. It was such a good one, that I thought it deserved a repeat! Here is just a small reminder of the joy that Jesus alone can provide!

I DID NOT lose my joy. Seriously. I didn't.

The hallmark of my ministry has been the outrageous joy of Jesus! Indwelling the believer, the Lord Jesus fills us with His joy. It is ours by birthright, but it is not automatically obvious. Like all of our spiritual inheritance received at the moment of conversion, joy must be appropriated. It is a fruit of the Spirit. When we obey the Word of God and surrender to the Spirit of God, He fills us with His limitless JOY. No matter what happens, we do not have to lose our joy. We can choose too-but that would be unwise on our part. The joy of Jesus is ever ready to flood our soul with His presence. But learn this-obedience is required on our part to choose joy over mummering and complaining about our circumstances.

My joy has been tested of late. First, both air conditioning units went out on Memorial Day. Bummer. It is hot here in the South and air-conditioning is something I require. However, this  turned out to be just a small challenge. On June 1 I was getting ready for church. As I stepped in my closet, the carpet squished underfoot. A water pipe had cracked and was steadily pouring out into my closet. Craig cut the water off and we went on to church. Church has air and water. Who knew that would become so important to me! That afternoon Craig fixed the leak but discovered it had run under the wall into the den and soaked that carpet too. Carpet was pulled up. Fans were turned on. In a day or two, the carpet dried, new pads were installed and the incident was forgotten.

Until June 14th. I was getting ready for a baby shower for Kathryn. I stepped in front of my vanity and the carpet was wet. Seriously. We discovered a leak. In the wall. Behind the shower! The whole shower had to be gutted as well as the vanity cabinets and mirror. One thing led to another and we had to have a lot of sheet rock cut out. Basically only the tub is remaining in there right now. Everything else is in some state of repair.

When you walk in your bathroom and the commode is stitting in the middle of the floor, well, you gotta know something bad happened! Everything had to be emptied out of my closet and put in our master bedroom. Not the best situation but I have not lost my joy yet. Then on Sunday June 22 we had no hot water. Our hot water tank (1 of them) had gone out. Bad, but still joy is present. On July 9th, I woke up and had a few more things to deal with. Here is the list. We have no hot water, master bath is demolished, all our clothes are in the bedroom and spilling out to the den, we are about to go out of town for a week, and I am frantically writing to meet my deadline with the book of Philippians. Is that rich or what? I go to my computer and no Internet or phones. I research a lot on the Internet but I was confident this could all be overcome. Joy still intact. On July 10th washer acts up. Seriously. We go to bed laughing over all the things that are going wrong in our house! But at 1:00 am the hot water tank leaks. A pipe burst. The ceiling in our bedroom over the armoire collapses, spilling wet insulation and 50 gallons of water into our bedroom!

Chicken Little was right. The sky IS falling! 

Nerves a bit rattled. Joy still in tact. Here is what it looked like. Notice my shoes-which are in the bedroom because of the bathroom issues. I have not even worn those yet!  My word to you is this, do not let Satan or any of his wiles steal your joy! We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Blessings!

Linked to My Charming Kids.

An Update as 2010 Begins

I DID NOT develop a ripping case of bronchitus right here at the end of the holidays.

I DID NOT spend all day Sunday in my jammies, propped up on the couch, eating popsicles.

I DID NOT eat fudge for breakfast in a bout of feeling very sorry for myself.

I DID NOT sleep away large portions of the day.

I DID NOT feel terribly guilty, so much so that  just might eat another popsicle and chase it with a piece of fudge!

Oh, that's right. I DID!

As the New Year begins, I am about to  start teaching the book of 2 Timothy. I wrote a study called "Run Well. Finish Strong." You love the Lord but how do you hand down your faith to your children? Study along with us at Bellevue Baptist Church (begins Jan. 14) or online (begins Jan. 21). Details forthcoming.

Not Me Monday!

I DID NOT curl up on the couch and doze most of the day after Christmas.

I DID NOT eat Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies for breakfast.

I DID NOT go to bed at 7:30 after catnapping most of the day.

I DID NOT get up this morning feeling a bit like a slug!

I DID have a glorious Christmas celebration with my precious family as we celebrated the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings.

Linked to My Charming Kids.

Not Me Monday!

 I have done well this Christmas. I have kept a running list of the things that needed to be done. Until Friday. Somewhere along the line on Friday my well-laid plans and I fell had a parting of the ways and we fell apart. 

I DID NOT forget all about the 3 gifts I committed to buy for a darling little girl who is part of a precious family that our Sunday School class is providing Christmas for. The gifts that I had forgotten to buy are the only things this little girl is getting for Christmas. I was supposed to take them to our class party on Friday night. Craig and I were going to be out of town on Sat. and another couple was delivering them to the family on Saturday. This was no small blunder on my part.

I DID NOT remember about the gifts I had committed to buy and wrap and take to our class party just a short time before we should be arriving at said party.

I DID NOT tear through Wal-Mart, frantically gathering up the 3 items I had committed to purchase for this little precious child that would have be having anything to open if I did not get them purchased and wrapped and delivered.

I DID NOT arrive back home from Wal-Mart just about the time we should be leaving for the party. (Craig was ready  when I got home and he promptly pitched in to help wrap the presents-wrapping presents is not his strength but he was at least willing to help me!).

I DID NOT fling boxes, wrapping paper, and ribbon trying to get those gifts wrapped. Gift bags were out of the question. This is all this little one will be opening so I wanted it in boxes with pretty paper and nice bows. 

I DID NOT get my presents wrapped and THEN need to go and get myself ready.

I DID NOT make us very very  late to our Sunday School class party.

But I DID arrive with my gifts wrapped and in hand, ready to hand off to the couple who would be delivering them for us. (We were going out of town so we could not deliver them ourselves). And I pray that the family that received the gifts will be blessed and that they would know that they are loved-which is what Christmas is about as we show the love of God who gave the greatest gift of all. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17).

Merry Christmas and blessings from the Stockdale household to you!

Linked to Not Me Monday.

Traditions #3-Gravy Maybe

I DID NOT use powdered sugar instead of corn starch to make gravy.

 

Seriously. I DID NOT.

 

*At this writing, I am just a few days past Thanksgiving. Since I love to cook, we have held this special celebration at my house for the last twenty years - give or take a few years. Just for your information, now that the guys have married, I usually host Thanksgiving on the following Saturday in order to let our children go to their in-laws home for Thanksgiving. Our adult relationship with the boys and the girls is based on a love relationship that seeks to honor and serve each other. It is not based on an obligatory relationship. If I felt my children ever came to see me purely out of obligation I would be grieved. I want them to enjoy coming for the fellowship and fun, not because they feel like they have to come. I also want to free them to make plans with the in-laws, who are also a very important part of my extended family. And I sure don’t want the kids to have to stuff down two turkey dinners on the same day! For all holidays we try to be very flexible to accommodate the boys and their newly established families. I am not bound to any family tradition. I got to do that when they lived at home but I laid down those expectations when they married. I want them to be free to set their own family traditions without having to consult or include me. I tell you this, because this is a hot button for every mom. You need to be settling these issues in your own mind because you will face them when you child grows up and leaves home. And, although you little preschool mommas don’t believe me, that is exactly what they are in the process of doing right this minute.

Now, back to my story. I had cooked any number of casseroles, had rolls rising, set out appetizers, made tea, created a centerpiece for my dining room table and was about to put ice in the glasses. We were eagerly anticipating the turkey’s arrival off of the grill. Everything was in place. Now it was time to make the gravy. I use chicken broth which I season, thicken with corn starch, and garnish with slices of hard boiled eggs for my gravy. It is delicious on my homemade Sausage and Pecan dressing. I told you I like to cook. Anyway, I brought my broth to a boil. I seasoned it carefully. I opened my cabinet and took out a plastic bag labeled cornstarch. It is my habit to remove the contents of anything that comes in a box and store it in a tightly closed plastic bag to avoid getting bugs in it. A never-ending battle I fight because of living of the country. I measured several tablespoons into hot water and stirred to dissolve it completely before adding it into the bubbling mixture on the stove. Typically the gravy thickens almost immediately. When I did not get the desired results, I mixed up more cornstarch and water and added it. Again, my gravy did not thicken. It looked pale and runny – not exactly what I was after.

 

A third time I added my cornstarch mixture to the thin gravy. By this point I was muttering under my breath, daring this gravy to mess with me and spoil my carefully timed array of food. I looked at my brew and it was still watery with absolutely no indication of any effort on its part to thicken. A thought crossed my mind, and I stuck my finger into the plastic bag marked cornstarch. I sniffed it. I tasted it. Curiously it was sweet to the taste. Cornstarch is not sweet. It was powdered sugar! I had been making gravy with powdered sugar, which was I convinced was cornstarch! No wonder I was not getting the desired results.

 

*Excerpt from my Bible study on 2 Timothy "Run Well. Finish Strong." To read the first lesson and/or order this book click right here and we will get it right out to ya'.

 

Recipe for the Sausage and Pecan Dressing will be up tomorrow. Linked to Not Me Monday and Making Friends Monday.

 

Even the best laid plans don't always work out. Do you have a holiday disaster to share?

Not Me Monday!

My dear friend, Ray-Ray, works with me in my ministry. We have offices in my home. In deference to the fact that neither of us are morning people, we start our work day about 9:30. Keep that in mind. I'm coming back to that.

Although I am seriously not a morning person, I get up at 6:00 a.m. on Thursdays. It is the day I teach the MOMS ministry at Bellevue Baptist Church. I have to be there by 10:15. If I get up early, I have a couple of more hours to study and go over my notes.

I set the alarm on my iPhone to wake me at 6:00 a. m. - that's in the morning, folks. Early in the morning. Early. Not a morning person. Early I say. Very early in the a.m.

This past Thursday I woke to the Marimba band on my iPhone at 6:00 a.m. Did I say, that is early in the morning. As I turned off the alarm while muttering under my breath about how I am not a morning person, I DID NOT accidentally dial my co-laborer in Christ, Ray-Ray. 

I  DID NOT wake up Ray-Ray at 6:00 in the morning. For no reason at all. Accidentally. Early.

And she DID NOT yell into the phone to get my attention, "Jean, Jean, answer the phone. Answer the phone" before falling back into bed!

I DID NOT wake up my friend. I DID NOT call her accidentally. I DID NOT disturb her sleep when sleep has become so precious to both of us "as women of a certain age." I DID NOT. I WOULD NOT do anything so careless. I DID NOT. 

I AM sorry, Ray-Ray.

For more Not Me Monday click here.

Not Me Monday!

Oh No! Not Me!

I DID NOT just celebrate my 55th birthday. Seriously, how did THAT happen?

I DID NOT tell my Bible study group that I was 54 years old. 

At some point in my life I began to get confused on how old I am! The year I turned 53 I thought I had turned 54. After claiming to be 54 for about 6 months, one of the moms in my Bible study told me that she had been born the same year that I had. "Wonderful, " I explained. I immediately felt a special bond with her. "Well, I turned 53 this year," she said emphatically. "Wonderful," I said-not exactly grasping her point. "That means you are 53 too." she declared.

"Seriously?," I replied as my eyes glazed over. Mentally I was trying to do the math. Wow. I was really 53, not 54. I got a whole year back! Just because of a mathematical miscalculation! How's that for some good news?!?!

That was when I discovered that keeping up with certain facts was getting harder to do. However, the next year when I actually DID turn 54, well it did not seem old at all. After all, I had already been there and done for 6 months the year before!

So on Thursday, after the sweet moms in my Bible study honored me for my birthday (which was on Sat.) I told them I would be 54 on Saturday. It sounded right to me. About 20 minutes into the conversation I realized I was not going to be 54 - I was going to be 55!

Evidently I am NOT having trouble retaining pertiant information.

I DID NOT get my years all mixed up again. That would just be silly.

I DID NOT. No. Not NOT ME.

Not Me Monday!

Oh NO. NOT ME.

Just so you know. I live and die by my hair appointments. 

Well, really it is more about getting my hair colored rather than getting it cut. I have very dark hair. Or at least I did. Thick dark brown hair. When I was young, I never dreamed I would gray so early OR so fast! While still in my 20's I started to grey. Seriously. I knew I would eventually turn gray but in my 20's! I wasn't expecting that. And I don't mean a little bit of gray. I greyed alot. In my 20's. Alot of grey in my 20's.

I postponed the inevitable until I was 30, but then I started doing what has become a regular event. I started coloring my hair. At first, it was only every few months. Now, it is more like every few weeks. I am not proud of it, but it is true. I color my hair. Often. Often I say. Like every 5 weeks. Like clockwork. Every 5 weeks I get a cut and a color. 

Last Tuesday it was time. My roots were already confirming what I knew in my heart. It was time for a cut and color. Now understand, I live nearly 45 minutes away from my hairdresser. So the drive alone is costly. But I have followed my stylist from shop to shop for the last 20 years and I am not stopping now! I am nothing if not loyal, my friends. 

Anyways, last Tuesday I grabbed my keys. As I headed towards the door, I had a moment of pause. My appointments are always on a Tuesday at 10:00. This helps me not mess up my hair appointment. And I live and die by my hair appointments. Have I mentioned that?

But suddenly I had this thought, "Was this the right date or not?" I got out my trusty calendar.

Oh NO!

I so DID NOT have the wrong date.

I DID NOT nearly make a 45 minute drive to find out I had the wrong date. 

I DID NOT have trouble reading my own calendar.

I so DID NOT.

At least the appointment is for this coming next week. That does not explain my roots!

For more Not Me Monday click here and visit with MckMamam.

Not Me Monday!

I'll admit it. It's not something I am proud of. Sweets are my undoing. They are my nemesis. And high on my list is, of all things, Little Debbie's Snack Cakes. There I said it. I love me some Little Debbie's. Not all Little Debbie's, you understand. Just the Oatmeal Creme Pies. I love me some Creme Pies. 

And I am brand loyal. Not just any Oatmeal Pies will do. I have to have Little Debbie's. No substitutions. I'd rather not have ANY than have another brand.

Now the odd thing is that the only time I will eat Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies is when I am traveling. Seriously. Road trips make me crave Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies. That is the only time I allow myself this indulgence. I buy the single servings ones at the gas station when we stop for gas. I figure a couple of Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies a year can't hurt. 

And woe to the gas station that does not carry Little Debbie's and all her wonderfully delicious snack cakes! That's right-you know who you are.

Anyways, imagine my surprise when I stopped and got gas Saturday on the way in town to shop. I filled up my tank and went inside to pay.

I DID NOT buy 2 Little Debbie Creme Pies when I paid for the gas.

I DID NOT go straight to my car and rip open the package.

I DID NOT stuff my face with its creamy goodness.

And I sure DID NOT slam down the second one. That's just crazy talk.

For more NOT ME MONDAY click here and giggle yourself silly.

Not Me Monday!

I DID NOT get to go and see Beth Moore at the Living Proof event in Memphis this weekend.

I DID NOT go for the first time to one of these huge arena events. I first heard Beth Moore over 10 years ago at Bellevue Baptist Church before she WAS Beth Moore.  I still remember well, and knew God has His hand on her life. I was invited to go to dinner with her and about 8 other Bellevue ladies. I sat next to her and we chatted about balancing the challenges of teaching and studying God's Word while raising a family. Her girls were about 12 and 14 I think. My boys were just a bit older than her girls. She was sensing God was calling her to write a Bible study. I am sure I counseled her to go with that! 

I DID NOT arrive at the door of the Fed Ex Forum at 4:45 for an event that did not start until 7:30.  The doors did not open until 5:00 but there I stood, with about 13,300 of my closest girlfriends in the Lord.

I DID NOT push or shove in order to get a good seat. That would be rude. Really and truly, I did not push or shove but I did THINK ABOUT IT. And as a man thinks in his heart, so is he!

I DID NOT sing myself hoarse during the worship and praise time. If you were sitting in front of me, I apologize!

I DID NOT have trouble breathing as Beth opened up the Word of God and the power of God fell upon that place.

 

I DID NOT have trouble winding down and going to sleep that night due to the huge rush of spiritual adrenalin that swept me into the presence of the Lord.

I DID NOT get up at 5:00 a.m. on Sat. in order to be get there by 7:00 and stand at the doors along with 13,300 of my closes sisters in Christ and wait for the doors to open at 7:30. No, I DID NOT. That is crazy talk.

I DID NOT relish every moment of the Living Proof weekend.

I DID NOT come home renewed in my mind, reflective in my emotions, resolved in my will, refreshed in my spirit, and revived in my faith!!

For more on my Living Proof weekend click here.

For moreNot Me Monday click here and visit with McMama.

And don't forget to join our on-line Bible study for MOMS called High Stepping in Heavenly Places by clicking here. Blessings.

Not Me Monday!

I DID NOT force myself to go to an exercise class called "Pi-Yo."

I DID NOT wonder what in the world "Pi-Yo" is.

I DID NOT find out it is a combination of Pilates and Yoga.

I DID NOT arrive at the class only to find the room darkened and the door locked.

I DID NOT sigh a HUGE sigh of relief because I LOATHE exercise (forgive me if you love to exercise-I DO realize there are those of you who do). I DO believe exercise is important and I am forcing myself to do it, but I LOATHE it. The only reason I can stand it is that it feels so good when it is over!

Anyhoo, I DID NOT delight to think I was going to get credit for going to the class but was "off the hook" because it was canceled. 

I DID NOT show my disappointment when the instructor came rushing up, apologizing for her tardiness.

I DID NOT try to get her to cancel the class since I was the only participant!

I DID NOT succeed!

I DID NOT proceed to get a private lesson in "Pi-Yo".  Now you need to understand I am 54 years old. In the classes I attend, most of the participants are half my age and half my size! I console myself by demanding lovingly requesting a position on the back row. 

I DID NOT sweat profusely or groan loudly.

I DID NOT mildly enjoy myself and commit to return next week! Seriously?!? Seriously.

For more Not Me Monday click here and go to My Charming Kids.

Not Me Monday

This weekend I spoke at a Women's Retreat for Family Life Church in Conway, Ark. My partner-in-crime-in ministry, Renae Terrell, went with me. We had a wonderful time with this group, fellowshipping together in the Word of God. I taught a series from the book of James called "Mirror, Mirror." If you live anywhere near the Conway area and are looking for a church home, let me encourage you to visit the sweet folks at Family Life Church. Anyhoo:

We DID NOT make a wrong turn near Little Rock and drive miles out of the way.

We DID NOT stop at a bank and ask a security guard for help finding our way.

We DID NOT (probably) make him think we were setting him up to rob the bank when we asked him to step outside and help us!

We DID NOT get into stand-still rush hour traffic between Little Rock and Conway that made us arrive very late to the conference, arriving just as it was starting.

We DID NOT turn a supposed 3-hour car trip into a nearly 6-hour car trip by mis-reading the interstate signs.

Upon arriving, I went to my room to unpack and look over my notes in the few moments I had before I was speaking! I DID NOT fly through the shower so fast that the droplets of water barely had time to land on me!

I DID NOT find a book of freshly baked cookies from Maggies Cookies of Conway, Ar. on my bed as a welcome gift. (If you live within driving distance, you simply must go and get some of her oatmeal cookies and eat yourself silly!)

I DID NOT sit in the middle of my bed at 11:30 that night and eat THREE of Maggie's oatmeal cookies just before going to sleep.

Not Me. Oh no. NOT ME.

For more NOT ME MONDAY click here and visit My Charming Kids.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

I did NOT find water standing under my kitchen sink. NOT ME. NO, NOT ME.

I did NOT walk into my garage and find my kitchen sink sitting in the middle of it. NOT ME. NO. NOT ME.

I did NOT go to Lowe's with my husband and stand around looking bored, because I just don't get that place. I am not the least bit handy, so I don't know what to do with myself!  It seems like a clubhouse of sorts with a sign that says, "NO GIRLS ALLOWED." Or maybe a fraternity house. I just don't get it. I think Lowe's should have a ladies shoe department. Then we would both have a good shopping experience at Lowe's. Because seriously, I don't get it. What is the draw of that place? Why do men get all giddy when they go in Lowe's? And become sorta glassy-eyed as they gaze at the shelves of unidentifiable tools, plumbing parts, and electrical gadgets? Shoes. Shoes and bags. That's what that place needs!

I did NOT go get my camera and discover 2 of our 4 dogs (Sadie the boxer and her buddy, Codie)  standing over my kitchen sink in the middle of my garage. I DID NOT. 

And I sure DID NOT watch while both boxers, Marleigh and Sadie, and Codie all gathered around my kitchen sink which was sitting in the middle of the garage. NO. I DID NOT. NOT ME.

And I sure did not let all these dogs stand next to my kitchen sink in the middle of my garage. I DID NOT. NO. NOT. ME. Because that would be so very unsanitary and no one likes that!

I DID NOT realize how grateful I am to have a husband who is willing to tackle a project like this to save the expense of a plumber. And I DID NOT realize how thankful I was for Roy Terrell, who came over and pitched in on the kitchen project. I DID NOT know how grateful I was for my buddy, Renae Terrell, for helping me make a selection on the new faucet. 

For more Not Me Monday click here and visit with McMama.

Not Me Monday!

Not Me. I did not buy a whole box of Welch's Fruit Snacks and eat them on the way home. I did not. Because I do no have an unhealthy relationship with food. NO. NOT ME.

NOT ME. I did not eat Popsicles for dinner. NO. NOT ME. Because I do not have an unhealthy relationship with food. NO. NOT ME.

NOT ME. I am not going to kickboxing class this morning to try to regain a healthier equilibrium on a balanced life style!! NO. NOT ME.

For mor Not Me Monday madness click here and visit with McMama over at My Charming Kids.

Not Me Monday!

I did not open a Diet Coke, or in some cases, a Diet Pepsi. Drink part of it. Not finish it. Put the opened can in the fridge. And open another. Drink. Not finish it. Put the opened can in the fridge. And then open another. Drink. Not finish it. Put the opened can in the fridge.

I did not do that. Over and Over again. I did not. NO. NOT ME. I did not.

NO. NOT ME!

For more Not Me Monday or Not My Child Monday, click here.

And don't forget to stop by and play 5 Things Friday with me.

A Remote Chance!

A Remote Chance

I did not go to sleep with my t.v. on. NOT ME. I know better.

I did not wake up to find my t.v. was still on. NOT ME. I would not leave my t.v. on all night long. That would waste electricity. That would keep me from keeping a sound night's sleep. I would not do that. NOT ME.

I did not take my sheets off the bed to wash them without realizing the t.v. remote control was in them! NOT ME. NO. NOT ME.

I did not. NOT ME. I would never be so careless! NO. NOT ME.

For more NOT ME MONDAY click here and go to My Charming Kids to play along.

And don't forget to stop by here on Friday to play 5 Things Friday. This week the post is 5 Favorite Sayings. 

Like A Kid in a Candy Store

I love cake. Actually, what I love is the icing. I LOVE icing. I eat the icing and I toss the cake. We went to a wedding on Saturday night. I love weddings. What could be better than watching two people, madly in love with each other, pledge their lives to each other before God. And then you get to eat cake! Good TIMES. Young love. Good cake. Sweet bliss. And the cake at the wedding on Saturday was fabulously delicious. And the icing . . . well, it was FINE. I had one piece of cake, made the rounds to speak to friends, greeted the bride and groom, took my Honey by the arm, and got ready to head  home - full of bliss and cake. Good cake. Just as we were leaving, I noticed they had sliced more of the cake and several pieces had not been claimed. I DID NOT eat a SECOND piece of cake. NOT ME. NO, NOT ME. That would be crazy. Nobody eats 2 pieces of cake just for the frosting! NOT ME.

Not only that, but this wedding had a candy bar. The guests were handed a cellphone bag with the couple's monograms on it. Bowl of all kinds of candy beckoned. We got to fill our fancy bag of with candy before leaving the reception. I DID NOT eat candy after I had already eaten 2 pieces of cake. NOT ME. NO, NOT ME!

I had coffee, 2 pieces of cake - or should I say the frosting off 2 pieces of cake - and than a bag of candy. I DID NOT stay up until 4:00 a.m. in the morning because I was jazzed from the sugar hit and the caffeine rush. I DID NOT. NOT ME. NO, NOT ME!

I rejoice with McMomma at My Charming Kids. She is a neat Christian mom of 4 that I have met and come to love in the blogosphere. Her last little guy, Stellan, was born with a heart defect and has had several hospitalizations. Thank you for your prayers on his behalf. Stellan is home with the gang, which she calls MSC (many small children), and is doing well.

If you would like to read more Not Me Monday than click here and go there. And please don't forget to join me on Friday for 5 Things Friday. This week we are doing 5 Things I Know for Sure. Please stop by again. Blessings.