Wordless Wednesday No. 1~ What Little Boys Are Made Of

This just in...from Big Idea

A brand new VeggieTales dvd movie is in the works and will be released July 12. It is called "Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue"!

Set along the banks of the Mississippi, this story is full of rafts and riverboats, grand adventure and helping others in need. Join Huckleberry Larry and Tomato Sawyer as they abandon their dream of running the Huck Stop and Tom’s Tax Business to help a friend in dire need.

Stay tuned for more details...

Week 4 Weigh In

Yes, it has been 4 weeks now that I have been back on the Weight Watcher's program, and after a bit of a gain, (+1.2 lbs), last week...I had some good news at the scale tonight. I'm down 3.4 lbs from last week! That means in the past month I have taken off a total of 13.4 lbs. Not too bad.

Now, if I can just keep that up... Part of the reason I decided to go back to WW was, that even though I can't do anything about turning 50...at least I can be a little thinner and healthier by the time I get there. I was looking forward to my cousin, Bonnie visiting from WA for our birthday. She and I were born the exact same day and have always called ourselves "twin cousins". Growing up, we were always the same size and weight, her sister Terry was a year older, usually an inch or so taller, but always weighed 5 lbs LESS than we did. We were out to WA to visit Bonnie last August and I'll tell you what...we don't look much like twins anymore. I'm sure I outweighed her by 100 lbs or more. The last I heard, she won't be coming for our birthday, but plans to come to visit us this August, so it would be really nice if I can have a lot of the weight I need to lose OFF by then.

I know that I have to take it one step at a time, and speaking of steps...I should really (literally), dust off the ol' tread mill and start taking some steps on that. Who knows? I just might do that in the morning...I'll let y'all know how that one goes.

A Tribute to My Sis

This is a picture my sister, Patty and me. Patty fought a brave battle against breast cancer for at least 2 years, but in the end, the Lord took her home to be with Him. Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of her death. The picture was taken almost 6 years ago at our parents' 50th Anniversary party, which turned out to be a little over 11 months before Patty passed away. Patty was a wonderful Christian wife and mother of 11 children...yes, you read that right, 11 children. At the time of her death they ranged from almost 4 years old to 21 years of age.

She was a year and a half YOUNGER than me, but was always the one I turned to when I had questions of a spiritual nature, even though she was my little sister. We all miss her greatly, and I still have moments when I think I'll just call Patty on the phone and ask about something that I'm sure she'll know the answer to.

Here is a picture of her husband, Randy and ALL of their children, taken about a year after her death.

Shanna, (standing next to her father in this picture), joined the Army after graduating High School. She spent a year in Iraq, and is now stationed in Alaska. She is also the mother of Patty's first grandchild, Ja'lyn, who turned one year old 3 days ago and sadly, never got to meet her her wonderful grandmother. Happy 1st Birthday, Ja'lyn!!!

Their oldest child, Tonia is now 26, Shanna will be 22 this Thursday, and the rest are as follows: Thomas is 19, Isaac 18, April 17, Sarah 15, Zach 14, Christina 13, (yes, there are 6 teenagers!), Zion 12, John Jacob, (JJ) is 10, and Isaiah will be 9 in May.

Yesterday, our pastor was preaching about how we all need to let ourselves be emotional at certain times in our lives. It brought me back to exactly 5 years ago, (which coincidentally was also a Sunday), when I went to church just hours after the call from my mother that my sister was gone, and bawled throughout the entire service. I was certainly being emotional then. I also remember that my cousin, Channing and his wife Dawn were there for the service, and Pastor Tom told me that morning that my cousin had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior that very week. I told Channing the sad news about Patty, and added that I was sure she was jumping for joy over his salvation, up in heaven. Patty was all about spreading the Gospel and trying to get everyone she knew saved. I miss you Sis, and if you have any "pull" up there, could you possibly arrange for me to have the mansion next to yours when I get there?

Lessons From The Sock Drawer!

I am a Big Idea VeggieTales Ambassador. I received an email from them a few days ago, about a new DVD coming out on May 3rd. It is called "Lessons From The Sock Drawer, A Collection of Veggie Shorts and Briefs". I had to read that subtitle a couple of times before I "got" it. Hmmm...shorts and briefs in a sock drawer! Imagine that. If you and your children love your veggies like I do...have I got a deal for you!!

They are selling the DVD with 2 free gifts for 14.99 and you can order yours now from http://www.bigidea.com/

The Bundle includes:

1. A CD entitled "Songs from the Sock Drawer: A Collection of 9 Toe-Tappin' Tunes
2. 1 LARGE 2'x3' Sock Drawer Show Poster (neatly folded)
3. Lessons From The Sock Drawer DVD: A collection of 15 all-time favorite short features.

That's 75 minutes of fun! Edmund's pet hamster disappears after he accidentally leaves the top off its cage, so he writes to Bob & Larry for advice. Find out how Larry helps poor Edmund with his hamster problem as we learn that "a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing." Proverbs 17:22

Socks DVD Includes:

• Binky the Opera Singer (2003)
• Going Up (2004)
• Larry's Blues (2005)
• Dr. Jiggle & Mr. Sly (2004)
• Paco and the Singing Aardvark (NEW!)
• Omelet (2001)
• Gated Community (2006)
• The Englishman Who Went Up The Hill (2000)
• Larry's Lagoon (1994)
• Paco and the Chicken (NEW!)
• Modern Major General (2003)
• Forgive-O-Matic (2004)
• Lunch (2003)
• The Story of St. Patrick (2004)
• Larry's High Silk Hat (2001)

Socks CD Includes:

• I Want to Dance
• Billy Joe McGuffrey
• Salesmunz Rap
• The Waiting Game
• Schoolhouse Polka
• Good Shepherd (Psalm 23)
• The Forgiveness Song,
• Modern Major General
• Promised Land
  

Of Grandkids, Frogs... and Little Horses

I spoke to my grandson, CJ (pictured above with Auntie Molly), on the phone again last night. Of course the first thing he asks these day is, "Gammra, you got a frog in your throat?". I told him it was getting a little better, to which his mother replied, "No, now she's just a little hoarse." I told her she's really going to confuse that boy, first Grandma swallows a frog, and now she's eating little horses! She said that's what she was trying to do. Jessica is a great mother, but really has a silly sense of humor sometimes. I think that's why she and I get along so well.

They're coming to visit next weekend. I can't wait! CJ is really excited about seeing "Gammra and Gampa", and of course, Gammra's new frog bathroom. I haven't seen him since he stayed with us for a while in February. His mother is a single mom in the Air Force, so when she has been deployed, or has been sent somewhere for training, he has stayed with us for extended periods of time. He's very comfortable with us, and loves going to church with us.

I haven't seen my Grandson, AJ, (pictured above with his dad), for a couple of years now. He is 5 years old and lives in Phoenix with my son, Jeremy. I miss them both a lot.

And then there's the new one, HD, born Dec. 23rd to my step-son, Dan and his wife Terianna. We haven't even met this little guy yet, since they live out in Oregon. He looks like a real cutie though.

I was really hoping all the kids and grandkids could be here for my birthday in June...but it doesn't sound like that's going to happen. Dan and family are coming to visit sometime in August or September, and with the air fares getting so high these days, I don't know when we'll get to see Jeremy and AJ again.

Jake Takes The Cake!

After Saturday's Tastefully Simple party, I had quite a few of the samples left over. My dd Molly really, really liked the "Classy Chocolate Pound Cake". She liked it so much, she decided to have a piece for breakfast on Sunday morning. The only thing was, she forgot to put it away when she was done with it. She just wrapped it in foil and left it on the counter.

We have a part Springer Spaniel, Part Chocolate Lab named Jake, who must have thought he needed to be a little more chocolate-y. When we returned home from church and going out to Chinese, I found the tin foil on the kitchen floor...and no chocolate pound cake to be found!
I've heard that it can be dangerous for dogs to eat chocolate...I have not found this to be true with Jake. He's gotten into chocolate in the past too, and never seems to be the worse for it.
I need to get myself a digital camera, I don't have one at the moment, but I found one that Molly had taken of the culprit a while back.