Overheard

while the kids were playing their Wii:

Ben to Beth: "You've got the brains, and I've got the bronze!"

(sounds like we need to increase our vocabulary class!)

Christian Book Give-A-Way!

I love give-aways...although I've never one an on-line giveaway before, it's fun to post my little comment and hope for the best! I absolutely LOVE to read Christian fiction books, so this is a double whammy!

Linda over at "Mocha with Linda" is starting a give-away tomorrow (November 17th). I can't wait to see what book she's giving away. So, if you want to join in and have a chance of winning a free book, click on the "Booked for the Holidays" link above on Monday. Good luck!

Sky Watch Friday

It's been a few weeks since I did Sky Watch Friday, so I really wanted to get back to it! Even though it's already Saturday, I'm going to join in. These pictures were taken about 30 minutes ago. Some were from my back deck and others were from my front porch. The leaves are falling and it's starting to look like winter here. There are still some leaves hanging on though...even through the heavy rain we had earlier this morning! A cold front is supposed to come through this afternoon...maybe next week's sky watch will have snow in it! :o)

For more Sky Watch photos click HERE!

Fridays Fave Five

This is something new that I haven't tried before. Fridays Fave Five. You're supposed to list five of your favorite things from the week. It doesn't have to be anything big, just something that brought you happiness during the week. :o) I found this over at Linda's 2nd Cup of Coffee, but it originally came from "Living to tell the Story."

So here we go...five of my favorite things from the week of November 9th!

1. "There's No Place Like Home" After a difficult week last week, my family and I were totally worn out on Sunday. We always go to church, but my husband made an "executive decision" to stay home this past Sunday. Although we missed the fellowship at church, we realized how much we needed that day at home. We all slept in very late. I got up around 11:00, and Ben had gotten up sometime shortly before me. Neal and Beth both slept past noon. We spent a day together talking, eating, reading and watching movies. I was so refreshed after that, and I'm very thankful my husband made that decision for us! (but I look forward to going to church this Sunday!)

2. "Routine" The past month has been all out of routine for us. I worked several days during October leading up to the elections. Although the kids were able to continue with their schooling, it's not the same as when I'm here all the time. So, this week we got back on track and had a great week of school!

3.Ben celebrated his 11th Birthday! This boy is so precious to me! He was definitely one of my Fave 5 this week!




4.Although the telephone is an annoyance to me a lot of the time, I was so happy when it rang last night and it was Neal's cousin Ruthie. She called because she knew I'd had a difficult week last week and she wanted to "be there for me." I live in Virginia and Ruthie lives in Connecticut, so it's pretty difficult to give each other a hug. :o) So, she did the next best thing and gave me a call! What a great surprise! (Thanks Ruthie!!!)

5.Although he may not think so, I enjoyed listening to and watching Neal watch the Va Tech game. I do not enjoy sitting down and watching the game, so I make periodic stops in the living room to see what's going on. I love seeing him there with his orange wig on, yelling at the players. :o) Ever since Neal's surgery in April, I am often hit unexpectedly with waves of emotion and thankfulness about Neal. This morning was one of those times. I was sitting reading my Bible when something made me think of how helpless he was right after surgery. It makes me cry typing about it. I'm so thankful that the Lord allowed us to find his aneurysm in time to fix it, and I'm thankful that he is here to wear a silly orange wig and yell at people on a tv screen that cannot hear him!

Ben

Eleven years ago this afternoon, I gave birth to a precious little baby boy. He weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs, 7 oz! We called him our little Sumo wrestler. He was so cute! We named him Benjamin Ward, and he has brought us so much joy his entire life!

Ben has a gentle, giving spirit. He loves to do for others, and hates it when he sees people mistreated. He's very sensitive.

Ben also enjoys playing super heroes, reading, playing piano, listening to his Christian music cd's, watching movies, playing the Wii, and spending time with his family. (Sounds like I'm advertising him for a dating service, doesn't it?)

Anyway, we love this guy! And we are so thankful to God for bringing him into our lives!

This is Ben in his new jacket he got for his birthday. It's reversible, and you can see the other side in the picture at the top of this post.

Ben enjoy his musical birthday card. ("Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go Play!")

Neal called this the "Breakfast of Champions!" Ben requested sausage balls and I threw in his favorite donut and a freshly made fruit smoothie!

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, BEN!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a GREAT-Aunt!

Actually I've been a great aunt for over 30 years (ahem) but now for the second time I'm a real "Great-Aunt!" My niece, Susie, gave birth last night to Robert Daniel ______________, III. They will call him Daniel (we have lots and lots of Roberts/Robbies/Bobby's/Bobs, etc in our family). He was three weeks early and weighed in at 5 lbs, 10 oz, and is 19 inches long! He, of course, is beautiful! Even though I have not actually seen a picture of him yet, I know this without a shadow of a doubt. How could it be any other way?!!!

The coolest thing is that he was born on my Mom's birthday yesterday! So he shares his birthday with his Great Grandma -- GiGi.

We are so happy for Susie and Robbie and my brother Bob and his wife Debbie.

Didn't I tell you "God is Good?!"

Life is Hard, but God is Good!

As I was driving to a friend's house yesterday, I heard this song on the radio. Pam Thum is the artist. I think they played it just for me...they can do that, you know. I think God placed a special request just for me. :o) Here are the lyrics:

You turn the key
Then close the door behind you
Drop your bags on the floor
You reach for the light
But there's darkness deep inside
And you can't take it anymore

'Cause sometimes living takes the life out of you
And sometimes living is all you can do

Life is hard, the world is cold
We're barely young and then we're old
But every falling tear is always understood
Yes, life is hard, but God is good

You start to cry
'Cause you've been strong for so long
And that's not how you feel
You try to pray
But there's nothing left to say
So you just quietly kneel

In the silence of all that you face
God will give you His mercy and grace

Jesus never said
It was an easy road to travel
He only said that you would never be alone
So when your last thread of hope
Begins to come unraveled
Don't give up, He walks beside you
On this journey home and He knows

Life is hard, the world is cold
We're barely young and then we're old
But every falling tear is always understood
Yes, life is hard, but God is good

I love this song! It made me cry, but it encouraged me too. God has allowed various trials in my life this year, and I'm okay with that. I have learned from each one of them. Hopefully I won't forget what I've learned! I pray that He won't have to hit me over the head too many times in order for me to listen!

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for me this past week. You know who you are! :o) It's wonderful to have precious friends like you!

April

Beautiful April and her husband, Paul.

***April went home to be with the Lord last night. She is already missed by many! Please continue to pray for her family.***

Update

The family have been told that April is not going to make it. The swelling on her brain is too severe.

April's parents are in the process of traveling to Virginia right now.

Please continue to pray!

Please Pray!

Today my friend, April, had a sky-diving accident. She was tandem diving and apparently her chute did not open, and the other person fell on top of her. ***Correction*** Her chute did open, but she and the instructor got tangled before the landing. She landed underneath the instructor.*** To my understanding, she has been unresponsive and unable to breathe on her own since the accident. She is in very critical condition. April has two daughters -- Anna is 13 and Emily is 8 or 9.

Please pray!