If you were deserted on an island for 1 year with absolutely no connection

to the outside world (not even one person), what 3 things would you bring with you?

Good question Kim… but tough!  Since you said no people I can’t choose Matt to be there… with no connection to the world that means no laptop or cellphone… or radio!  So of course my first choice would be the Bible, it would be a great year of learning I’m sure!  The time we spent in Dallas when Izzy was in the hospital was almost like being deserted on an island for those months.  Almost.  We did see people and have access to phones and things, but we sure didn’t want to watch any television and we didn’t care what the world was doing.  We were focused on learning more about God because we knew that without Him we wouldn’t survive this event.  Our Bibles were our constant companion.  Second I would choose some sort of light source.  Probably a lighter or matches.  I have to be practical, and water would have to be boiled right?  I’ve watched enough epidsodes of Survivor to know at least that much!  The third thing I would choose would be bedding, as in a blanket and/or pillow!  So I could be snuggled up by a nice fire reading.  I honestly don’t know that I could last a year on an island.  Tom Hanks lasted how many years on Castaway?  Like five or more?  He did have Wilson.  Maybe I should choose a soccer ball instead of the bedding?

You can join in over at the Internet Cafe Devotions blog!

It is so convenient now that fast food places accept credit cards. Remember the days when you had to go get cash before driving through the burger drive through? What a pain! I love the ease of just keeping my card in my pocket and using it for all my purchases. I rarely write a check these days… well, I did write a check today but it had been several days since I had written a check. There was a time when I wrote several checks a day. I really don’t miss that. It is also nice to be able to swipe your own card when checking out. That way the card never leaves my hand and that means fewer chances for the card to get left or lost. How about you, do you write many checks anymore?

Saturday 9: Whistle While You Work
1. Tell us which job your are telling us about, and when you had it.  I work at home… and work at home.

2. Where do/did you work? at home. (see #1)

3. Tell us about that boss.  Well, I don’t like to think of him as my boss, but he is the head of our household… and then there is the boss or owner of the SPCC LLC I do CAD’s for.

4. Do/Did you find your work creative? If yes how?  Yes.  Every day is different than the previous day, and with the CAD work it is semi creative.

5. Tell us about your favorite co-worker.  That would be my sidekick Izzy.

6. Tell us about the biggest jerk in that job.  No comment

7. Where do/did you see yourself with this job in five years?  I think I’ll still be managing this house in five years, don’t know about the CAD work.

8. Tell us about your commute.  I walk from my bedroom to the kitchen, to the den, to the front room, sometimes I even go into the hall bathroom.  I am called away as far as Amanda’s room which is the furthest trip I take while working here.

9. What hours of the day do/did you work?  24/7.  Minus a few bloggy breaks.

~~Creative Adventure XVII ~ Fill In The Blanks~

1. While driving home from a ride in the countryside, you happen to spot a large victorian type old-fashioned general store at the end of a side road. Thinking it might be nice to buy something to take home, you drive up the long driveway and can’t help noticing there are no other customers?

2. Parking the car anyway, you walk up the steps to a big front porch that wraps around the building. Upon reaching the door you make sure it isn’t locked before pushing it open?

3. Once inside the store you wander around and up the four floors and can’t help but notice you are the only one there except for a little old shaky lady?

4. Finally leaving the general store, you remember to remind yourself that you really did need that one more cute believe sign?

If you are looking for a really special quality watch, you might consider looking at Cartier watches. Founded in 1847 by Louis-Franois Cartier originally as a jewelry shop. But with so much expertise and ambition they have become a very successful watchmaking business. They have also made the first deployment folding clasp and the first truly water resistant design. They are made by artists who make sure that every watch is a balance of art and precision.
For example, the beautiful cartier pasha pictured above. Isn’t it brilliant? The watchery.com has so many pretty Cartier watches to choose from.  They have tons of brand name luxury watches and they are less expensive than the suggested manufacturer’s prices.  They are all new and completely authentic.  They even come with serial numbers.  They only sell the best watches.  Never refurbished or rejects.  They work really hard to get the watches out to you at the lowest possible price.  So, if you were able to pick one of these beautiful watches, which one would be your first choice?  I think the one I pictured would be my first choice.  But there are so many to choose from I could probably pick at least ten.

1. This song… which I heard at FLO Tuesday night… it took my friend Miki two days to figure out who it was (thanks Miki).
   
2. 7th Heaven.  I love watching reruns every day at noon while getting izzy ready for school!
3. The Stranger series I mentioned… Karen let me know it was originally a movie and I put it on the Netflix list!  It came and it was great.  You really should check it out!

   

4. More Fall weather!  Rainy days and cooler temps are perfect.
5. I’ve mentioned it before… but my favorite perfume is by Brighton and is called Laugh!  I love the stuff.  When I had the bloggy meet up with Kari she brought me some Laugh Lotion so I smell doubly good.
   

Share you fave five things and sign mr. linky over at Susanne‘s!

Friday Fill-Ins #89

1. I enjoy eating out with friends.

2.”Christ’s return“  is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you knew everything would be alright.

4. Take God’s promises, add a little faith and you end up with a miracle.

5. Life has gifted me with a wonderful family and terrific friends.

6. A walk through Target is an instant vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a quiet night at home, tomorrow my plans include hopefully a shopping trip, cleaning, and reading, play a little PS3 and Sunday, I want to nap after church!

p.s. I wrote an update over at Izzy’s blog this morning!

Jodi over at Beacon of Hope has come up with this fun meme after
the host at Friday’s Feast went MIA. Join in if you want!

Food 4 Thought Friday.

Breakfast
If you were to choose a new name for yourself what would it be and why? Were there any other names your parents almost gave you?
Mom almost named me Jana Lynn… which is Matt’s cousin and my friend’s name.  I can’t imagine being anyone other than Annie though.

Lunch
How do you usually spend your Sunday afternoons?
We come home from church, eat lunch and then take a nap before going back to church.

Dinner
What would be your last meal if you were about to walk the green mile?
I don’t think I would be able to eat… 

Midnight Snack
Have you ever broken any bones?
no.  But thank goodness for health plans.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life – what is it for just this week?)
Never stop looking for that ray of sunlight beaming through the clouds.

• I’m thankful that although our electricity went off yesterday for a few hours… it did come back!  It was a reminder of last December’s power outage that lasted eight long days after the ice storm! 
• I’m thankful to have this past weekend behind us!  Included in that is thankfulness that Matt was approved by the AG board.
• I’m thankful for quiet mornings like today, with the rain gently falling outside… it’s calm and peaceful and a perfect atmosphere to think about all the things to be thankful for.
• I’m thankful that Matt’s neck is well and so happy we don’t have to visit the surgeon!
• I’m thankful for the time I spent yesterday with Miki… lunch at cheesecake factory (yum) and Mardels… and for the leftovers that became breakfast!
• On this anniversary of such horrible events… I’m thankful I live in the US… and thankful for all those protecting our freedom.
• I’m thankful for Matt.  It’s amazing how far he has come and he proves to me everyday that he is worthy of my love and respect.
• I’m thankful for this outlet… blogging!  the friends, the ability to organize my own thoughts… the love and support of so many people from all over the world.  It’s amazing.
• Most importantly I am thankful for God.  For His love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, healing, protection… so many things to be thankful for!

I just realized I didn’t post anything yesterday!  Weird.  This has been a semi-busy week and for some reason I’ve just been so sleepy.  I took Izzy to Bear on Monday and afterwards she was really cranky so we stayed home for the afternoon.  Tuesday she went to school, I almost didn’t take her because she hadn’t slept well. (Bear really gave her a good work out!) but I decided she would be just as comfortable there.  When I picked her up I was happy to hear that she had a great day and really participated in the activities.  She put stickers on a paper.  Camilla said when she was given the sticker she tried standing and pushing it forward onto the paper.  She pouted when a toy was exchanged for another.  That is pretty huge because finding something to interest Izzy is a great challenge.  She was happy when given back the toy frog.  They said there were lots of smiles and lots of good attention to things going on. I love when she has great days and expect more of the same.

Last night was FLO at church (for ladies only).  It was the first flo for the year.  Beverly Barker (sp?) came to do signing to music and when you hear that you think, “ya’ right.” but it is amazing.  She really is a cool lady and I enjoyed visiting with her at the dinner before the service.  I was in a strange, quiet mood and dreaded doing the announcements in front of everyone but it worked out okay and I got through it.  It ran a little late, and Izzy wasn’t happy about that and as a result no one else was … but it all worked out.

I made the pasta salad that Sheryl posted.  It was yummy.  I may have that for breakfast .  AND the cowboy stew was really really good.  Maybe better than I hoped.  The best part was that everyone really liked it and ate it all!  That’s always a plus.  Good, easy, fast and well recieved.

Matt’s neck is much better and I think Bailey’s poison ivy is just about gone.  It’s raining here and is only supposed to be in the 70′s today.  Should be a great day!  Hope you have a great Wednesday too!

Cell phone vs. Bible

 Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

 What if we carried  it around in our purses or pockets?

 What if we flipped  through it several time a day?

 What if we turned  back to go get it, if 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 our 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….hmm…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.

(this came in an email from Betty this morning and I thought it was interesting!)

Manic Monday #133

If you could choose only two movies to watch ever again, what would they be?

Yikes… I have no idea and Matt’s not home to tell me .  Maybe “It’s a Wonderful Life” to watch around the holidays… and Beaches is a great CRY movie.

What have you found to be the best way to relieve tension?

Cleaning, really fast… or sleeping!

If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stay and go swimming? Would you swim nude?

I doubt I’d stay… the kids would be with me and that would just be weird… and some things just shouldn’t go uncovered.

September 8th Questions:

1. Fill in the blank: Today, I will mostly be working. (Explain your answer, please)  ex. Well, I have lots of catching up to do from the weekend, and have to do mom’s hair… and lots of other things.

2. What advice do you have for a new blogger? Be specific – this new blogger? Wants to know details!  Just enjoy your blog and getting to know new people!

3. Tell us about your childrens’ (all ages!) first day of school, walk us through it. How did you handle it? How did your children handle it? Do you have a picture? (And speaking of pictures, hang onto to those precious school pictures, the next photo contest is coming up fast!)  Amanda started her senior year.  Her first day was great, and she is loving the schedule! Bailey started his freshman year.  His first day was full of rules and lists.  He is doing well too… Emelia is a fifth grader.  Her first day was all about reconnecting with her buddies!   Izzy’s first day of kindergarten was good, except for the other Isabelle who was having trouble following the rules.  Izzy’s aid had to constantly reassure her that she was not in trouble.

4. What is your greatest consumer mistake, something that you are shaking your head at now, saying, “Boy, I wish I wouldn’t have bought the purse I did at the Coach store last Fall…? So, why did you buy it? What happened to it?  I wish I had bought a size bigger because I love the purse it’s just not quite big enough.  I realized it just about the time we flew out of Orlando.  Oops.  I bought the matching wallet and wish I had just invested in a bigger bag minus the $200 wallet.