Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his heavenly dwelling;
praise him in his mighty heaven. 
Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness. 
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet;
praise him with the lyre and harp! 
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes! 
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals. 
Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
ps. 150

There are a lot of reasons to praise God.  I really love to read the Psalms.  I did the Beth Moore bible study about David who authored the Psalms and found it to be so interesting as all her studies have been.  I like the way she leads you to the answer without actually giving you the answer.

There’s been a lot of talk about kitchen remodeling. I recently purchased a new kitchen faucet and I love it!

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The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
amen.

This Psalm is usually read at funerals or associated with death.  I find it to be very comforting to read.  The Lord is my shepherd.  It is amazing when I stop to think about all the ways God has blessed me.  It’s actually humbling.  I also love this version, the new living version.  It seems to put things in a easier to read order.  

I’ve wondered about different opportunities to make money using my blog. I spend a lot of time on it and it is mainly just for fun and friendships. I signed up for pay per post a long time ago and never really did anything with it. I also signed up for blog her ads, and haven’t sent in my paperwork to start that either. While I don’t want my blog to be just a big advertisement, it would be nice to slip some paid posts in here and there. I’ve noticed a few of my bloggy friends have been doing the posts, like Haley… Sonya… Tori… and Jenny. I am categorizing the posts I do for ppp so that you can tell I am writing a ppp.

I can’t remember where I initially heard about ppp. I am sure I saw it on someone’s blog and clicked on the link. I wrote a few ppp this evening and it was easier than I had thought.

I imagine any money I earn will be used for the kiddos… clothes, cash, therapy for Izzy, etc. It amazes me how much money they need daily! I can’t see at this point how $5 here or there will make much of a difference, but we’ll see. I am a stay at home mom and haven’t worked in years. I always planned to eventually do something but with the time involved with Izzy and her therapy, I am pretty much limited for now.

Anyway, it’s just for fun at this point and I hope it doesn’t annoy my bloggy buddies.

blog reviews

Well, better late than never huh? Maybe not. I spent the entire day (well… most of the day) cleaning and organizing Emelia’s bedroom! Oh my goodness! She has so much stuff! I started just throwing things away about hour five. She never really asks for toys, she’s never really played with her toys much which is maybe why there are so many new looking things in her room. I am so glad to have that done. Amanda helped a little. (Remember she’s working off her ticket … found out it is $103.00) I intentionally finished before Emelia came home from school. It’s just easier that way.

Tonight I fixed Matt and the girls steaks and I had a slice of leftover roast from yesterday on a slice of french bread with a little mayo… fresh veggies on the side with ranch. It was yummy. We had a few cookies left that Matt took care of and some chocolate chip ice cream. I shared mine with Izzy.

Tomorrow I plan to throw something in the crockpot. Probably chicken spaghetti. It’s easy and good. The cooler weather makes slow cooking very appealing. We’ll have broccoli and some garlic toast.

Wednesday is trunk or treat at church. I will fix us a grilled cheese sandwich and some tomato soup for a quick meal before we go. I need to run to the store and get some cheerful decorations for the back of my suburban. Any ideas?

Thursday will be November 1! I can’t hardly believe it is almost November… then almost December! I have not bought ONE present yet! I’m not stressing though. Not much is planned for Thursday, Emelia has basketball practice. I may make a big pot of beans with ham some corn bread.

Friday I may take Matt on a date. We made a plan to alternate planning a date each month. In October Matt took me for Panera bread and a walk through the park… complete with Duck feeding! I am not sure where to take him. Again, any ideas?

Tomorrow is time travel Tuesday! Since it is so close to Halloween, lets travel back to our most memorable Halloween. Did you dress up and go door to door growing up? What was your favorite costume? I’ll put Mr. Linky up later tonight so come and link up and share!

We had a wonderful experience during our week in Florida. I would love to go back! A fun thing to do while in Florida during October and November would be the Uptown Saturday Night in St. Augustine, Florida.

A favorite end-of-the-month event, Uptown Saturday Night takes place from 5pm to 9pm the last Saturday of every month in the Uptown San Marco Shopping District, St. Augustine.

Galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission of Nobre de Dios remain open during this special time.

Meet the artists, book signings, live music, refreshments and other events contribute to the party-like atmosphere. The Mission of Nombre de Dios provides FREE PARKING for Uptown Saturday Night.

During the last Saturdays in October and November the focus is on the incredible antique shopping opportunities available in the Nation’s Oldest City. On that evening, the antique district concentrated along San Marco Avenue comes to life with lively street music and endless opportunities to shop for antiques, rare books – even authentic Spanish treasure. During this monthly event, participating antique dealers provide great workshops covering a variety of antique related topics, book stores provide readings and book signings by local authors, and art galleries feature exhibit openings of some of the finest Florida artists.

A short walk away, additional antique discoveries can be made along Aviles Street – the oldest street in America. Galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios remain open during this special time. Meet the artists, go to book signings and enjoy live music, refreshments and other events in the party-like atmosphere.

Doesn’t this sound like a wonderful way to spend a Saturday in Florida? I think so!

St. Augustine shopping

It’s been a nice Saturday! Perfect weather here. Low 70’s with blue skies and a gentle breeze… perfect!

Our water situation is officially resolved, nothing a new pressure tank couldn’t fix. YAY! I have learned how to make it on minimal water several days this week. Not a lot of fun. The upside to well water is the flavor or lack of. Our water is the best water in the world. Really. When we were in Florida we couldn’t drink the water. It was terrible. It even had a bad smell. I am not sure if water tastes like that in all of Florida or if was just in Orlando?

We spent the morning cleaning. Oh, I almost completely forgot!!! I got a present in the mail today! Matt’s cousin Jana ordered a stained glass for my birthday and it just came today. She didn’t realize when she ordered it about a week before my birthday that they have to make it after it is ordered. I told her it would just be a nice surprise whenever it showed up and it sure was. It is beautiful and I am sitting here looking at it hanging in the window I see from my blogging perch. I would take a picture and post it now, but it’s dark outside so it wouldn’t show how pretty it is. I’ll take a picture soon and post it. It is so pretty. Well, this new item sent me into window cleaning mode.

Here’s Amanda right before she left last night… Amanda helped clean all day. She got pulled over for speeding late last night on the way home from a date (with a new boy!)… This guy is from church and he is really a neat guy. She was running a little late for her curfew and so she will be working off her ticket cost (which we won’t know until Monday but she was going 53 in a 45)!!! I was so aggravated I just had to go to bed. Matt left the discipline of this in my hands. He is normally the disciplinarian. I thought about it while going to sleep and then again all morning until she woke up. Matt thinks the best discipline is to take away cell phone because it hurts the most and gets her attention. She is such a good girl. She makes all A’s, studies all the time and is usually very sweet. I got pulled over so many times when I was her age, I never got a ticket… but I did get pulled over. The main difference was I had a job beginning at age 16. She doesn’t have a job because school takes all of her time, and I think it is more important than a part time job… so she’ll be working for me until she has paid the ticket. That’s her punishment. After watching her work all day long I think it is going to be a fair punishment. Hmmm… it’s hard having a teenager. You want to teach them, but also want to be fair… you know?

I took Emelia & Izzy to the zoo this afternoon. I took a few pictures…

Emelia and Izzy played in the playground.

Mom with Isabelle…

Emelia posing…

A baby hippo, they were all coming in for dinner right when we walked into the building. I normally don’t enjoy going inside because it smells so zoo-y… but it was great timing!

After the zoo I grabbed dinner from mazzios and then ran in the store to buy a roast to cook for dinner tomorrow. Amanda’s new friend is coming over to have dinner with us and then they are going to carve pumpkins. Me and Emelia made some sugar cookies and decorated them after dinner. We had fun!

sugar cookie dough…

red and yellow normally = orange…
not in the is case, more of a salmon, but we went with it.

Here’s some of our crazy cookies!

Emelia really enjoyed decorating them!

But enjoyed eating the icing even more!

That’s all for our Saturday! I’m going to hit “publish post” and then walk straight to my bed! Goodnight bloggy buddies! ? ?

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. 18 “There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. 19 Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.”

1. The last good thing that came in the mail was goodmail from Nancy!

2. This week I’m grateful for water.

3. pickles dipped in ranch dressing are the most delicious thing ever.

4. God’s word inspires me.

5. I’m most happy when I get enough sleep .

6. And all the roads we have to walk along are more level when walked with Christ .

7. As for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sleeping, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the zoo (maybe) and Sunday, I want to go to church and nap !

play along!

When It Looks Like I Have Failed

Lord, are you trying to tell me something?
For…

• Failure does not mean I’m a failure; It does mean I have not yet succeeded.
• Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing; It does mean I have learned something.
• Failure does not mean I have been a fool; It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.
• Failure does not mean I’ve been disgraced; It does mean I dared to try.
• Failure does not mean I don’t have it; It does mean I have to do something in a different way.
• Failure does not mean I am inferior; It does mean I am not perfect.
• Failure does not mean I’ve wasted my time; It does mean I have an excuse to start over.
• Failure does not mean I should give up; It does mean I must try harder.
• Failure does not mean I’ll never make it; It does mean I need more patience.
• Failure does not mean you have abandoned me; It does mean you must have a better idea.

Be sure to visit Sheryl to see more faith lift fridays!