The story behind the song...

I never knew the story behind this song. I rarely know the story behind any song to be quite honest. Ask my husband or brother-in-law. They will tell you that I don't even know the correct words to most songs! "Give me the Beach Boys, free my soul..." In case you are confused, it's "give me the beat...".
Anyway, this was posted on another girls blog and I decided I should share it with y'all. Whoever y'all might include. Enjoy and please know that HE can move mountains in your life and mine!!

**side note: you will want to mute the usual music of my blog or you will be hearing it and this all at once :) To do so, just scroll on the way to the bottom and hit pause. That should do it.

Happy Birthday, Coach Tubberville!

And Happy Birthday to ME!! It has by far been the best birthday yet :) It all began last night when I was expecting my husband to show up ready to take me to dinner, when instead, it was three of my favorite friends at the door- all giggles because they had pulled it off and I was totally surprised!!
We got to the restaurant and what do you know? Four other friends were there to join us (they are all my favorites, too!) We enjoyed dinner, complete with wine and strawberry truffles (from Ashley Mac's in Bluff Park I might add- the best!!). And as if that wasn't enough, they together gave me a black HOBO clutch :) See you later, ugly and too little wallet!! I have found a new friend (even my lip gloss and car key fit in there)!

I was so shocked that I never really teared up until today...in the car pool line...I started thinking about how blessed I am to be surrounded with awesome friends who truly love me...a few tears and then a prayer...and a new post was born.
Thanks to you: Chera, Elizabeth, Leslie, Alison, Amanda, Joanna, TaraKy (listed not by order of importance but by seating arrangement if you are curious) for making my birthday so special and being my friend- I love you all!!

The story isn't over. Hang tight. Today, I went grocery shopping with my mother in law's husband (I guess that technically makes him my father in law?) and it was great. They gave me birthday money so I could (for once) by groceries with cash. Then he paid for lunch (which we picked up and took to enjoy with hubby at his school). It was so nice to have someone make out like the day is all about me!!

Several e-cards, phone messages, e-mails, a flower from my real estate agent (who is a great friend) and this afternoon my daddy is taking me to pick out a new washing machine...what more could I ask for? Happy 29 years to me!! And happy I am!! Thanks so much to those of you who have helped to make my birthday so special :) I wonder how Tommy's day has been so far?

Where are your priorities?

I know mine aren't always in the right order. What about you? I want to share this thought that was shared in my Bible Study on Monday. It is not an original of my own but I do not know who the author is. So, whoever you are, I hope you don't mind that I pass this along. And, kudos to you for:

Cell phone vs. Bible
I wonder, what would happen if we treated out Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to get it when we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmmm....where is my Bible? oh. And one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think "Where are my priorities?" And no dropped calls!

So there you go. Ponder that today! My kids are higher on my list than this blog so ta ta for now....Clay is yelling for a drink :)

random photos (because I LOVE photos!!)

And you ask why I want to lose weight? Just look at me here!!
Just kidding. It's only my face on that body....in case you were wondering and if you didn't recognize me at all it's understandable but I'm the one at the top of the photo :)
I just found this on my computer and it makes me laugh. I went to New Orleans with the coaches wives at the first school where my hubs taught and this was just one of the silly things we wasted our money on. It sure makes me feel good about my figure though!!


This is one of my uncles. We won't mention any names...for obvious reasons :) I took this photo when we were entertaining ourselves in the waiting room of the hospital after a terrible vehicle accident involving my brother. So, that's the sad part. The funny part is that I sent out an email to people (who would recognize this man) and asked for donations that could help him with his "issues". He really was just being silly with some hideous eye glasses but my family sure got a kick out of the pretend email. Now to the serious part. I wish I could tell you that he's having a fun day and being silly right now, but that's not the story. My uncle is in the hospital undergoing some tests. I know he would appreciate your prayers and so would I.


Here's the last one for now. It is my grandfather. I love this photo for more than one reason. Frist of all, because it's him, but also because it shows what a hard working man he is. Always out in the garden working to feed his family....like people used to do. Notice there is no cell phone clipped to his waistband either!! Am I the only one who sometimes imagines how nice it would have been to live a long time ago...when life was more simple? I know. I know. Then I wouldn't have this blog but you know what I mean. Family, fun just staying at home, church is the exciting part of your weekend...no worries about your food (the cost and the pesticides) because it came from your backyard... ah! the good ole days.

President

I do not consider myself intelligent when it comes to politics. Just ask my husband. He would be embarrassed to admit the level I am on considering that he teaches high school economics....and conversations he has had lately with his senior students concerning our next president and the economy are far above me!! With that said though, the following is an email I received and I did find it to be rather interesting:

You couldn't get a job at McDonalds and become district manager after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't become chief of surgery after 143 days of experience of being a surgeon.
You couldn't get a job as a teacher and be the superintendent after 143 days of experience.
You couldn't join the military and become a colonel after a 143 days of experience.
You couldn't get a job as a reporter and become the nightly news anchor after 143 days of experience.
BUT....
From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate.
That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan. 143 days?
We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is - a start. AND, strangely, a large sector of the American public seems to feel comfortable with this and campaigning for him. We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are OK with this for the President of the United States of America? Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol.

I am not asking for any comments as to who you are voting for. I just wanted to be nice and share this bit of info for you to ponder. (And since this blog is somewhat of a journal for me, I like to record things such as this to look back on in days ahead. By the way, does anyone know if there is a way to print a blog?)
Voting is around the corner and we all need to pray that the right man is sworn in to lead our country. Here's hoping you have a happy day~

Why do they grow up so fast?

I told my kids that it was bath time. Even the Lord knows that kids shouldn't attend church that grubby! The boychild who's three responds, "Right after I shave." And up on the counter he goes....shaving cream swiped all over just like his daddy does it and then it's wiped away sweep by sweep with the Diego razor. Is this really happening? He seriously thinks that he should shave before each bath now!! (And he prefers a shower to a bath by the way.)

Betty Crocker

"Great cook" is not on the list of descriptives for me. I am no where close to being a Betty Crocker. Sometimes I like to pretend I am though. Every now and then I get super organized (usually because the checkbook balance is low) and plan out meals and grocery lists and try new recipes. That keeps us out of the drive thru windows (which tend to take away from the funds and add to the bellies).
So, I thought I would share with you a new recipe for Easy Mini-Cheesecakes.

Here it goes: 12 vanilla wafers 1 tsp vanilla
2 8oz pkgs. cream cheese 2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar

Line muffin tins with foil liners (I used paper but surely the foil would be better. I really think this would work perfectly with the silicone muffin cups. Has anyone tried those yet?).
Place 1 vanilla wafer in each.
Mix cream cheese, vanilla, sugar, and eggs on medium speed until well blended.
Pour mixture over wafers, filling 3/4 full.
Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cool on wire rack and then chill.
Top with your favorite topping or enjoy it plain like we did!

okay. So that's not hard at all and the ingredients can easily be halved so that you don't eat too many :) Let me know if you try it out! Happy baking~ Betty C.