Renovations.

It seems there normally comes a time in life when you just get fed up with things.  You have a light bulb go off that makes you realize you're not the person that you used to be.  You may have had it ALL together at one time, but little by little, so subtly, that started to fade.  Before you knew it, you've let things or people inside your, once beautiful, home.  They've come in and trashed it and now it's just a cold, nasty, old, trashed out house.  This happened without you even realizing it.

It's time to RENOVATE!  Get rid of the nastiness, the dirt, the junk and the grime that has consumed your house!  Make it your HOME again!!!

The first step is closing that front door.

Then, it's time to change the locks on those doors, change those grimy handles, replace that worn out frame.  Let everyone know that your home is going to be a safe place, a place of refuge.

This is the most difficult part:  you have to hang up that CLOSED sign.  Turn off the lights.  Don't worry, it's just temporary.  It's time to work on YOU.  Get your self-esteem back, your value back, rekindle your most precious relationships, and get that gorgeous smile back on that beautiful face!!!!!  Read some inspirational books, do a study, read your Bible (Proverbs is a GREAT book with SO MUCH wisdom!).  Dig deep.

Keep that sign on that front door.  If anyone knocks, it's okay to check to see who it is.  Only let in those people who are safe; those people who are going to encourage you, inspire you, cheer you on, stand up for you, love you, and those who will not steal your dreams.

You shouldn't feel guilt for keeping that sign on the door as long as needed .  It's YOUR house.  YOU have the key.   YOU have control over who you let in.  YOU decide how quickly or slowly the renovations take place.

When the time is right, all of the renovations will be complete.  You'll KNOW when it's time to gently open that door again.  Everyone will be able to see that light in your eyes again.  They will be able to see that new beauty radiating.  The view inside that front door will be breathtaking.  You'll be able to share your renovation story with everyone who knocks on your front door.  Pour them a glass of lemonade, sit out on that front porch and share that story.

It's your newly renovated property.  YOU decide who comes in, and YOU decide who stays on that front porch.

Enjoy life again!!!!!!
XOXOXOOOOO

You Have Me

As I was driving home from work the other day, I had a new CD playing.  My sister let me borrow it.  Gungor, Beautiful Things.  It's different and I LOVE that.  I'm a fan of being unique and different, and I think that's why I love this CD so much! 

Anyway, song 5, You Have Me, was playing.  My heart was so full and so overwhelmed with joy.  Listening to the beautiful music and lyrics to this song, teary eyed, thankful that God is ALWAYS there, ALWAYS faithful, ALWAYS good, no matter what circumstances look like.

 As I was driving along, I looked up.  {Do you realize how many times we probably miss blessings in our lives because we don't look up?!}  Well, I looked up and saw three birds flying around in the air in one spot.  It was different, though.  When I saw them, I felt like they were performing a song just for me.  They were there for me to see.  Nobody else.  The song that was playing, along with the way the birds were slowly dancing, slowly swaying, slowly gliding, slowly intertwining with each other....it was magical.  I don't know another word to describe it.  It was one of those moments in life that I can say I was TRULY CAPTIVATED.

              (While out and about in Destin, FL, on our recent vacation, I looked up and spotted these lovlies!)

It was beautiful.  My heart is happy and I can still see those birds putting on a show for me while listening to this song.......

You Have Me
out on the farthest edge
there in the silence
you were there

My faith was torn to shreds
heart in the balance
but you were there

always faithful
always good
you have still have my
you still have my heart

I thought I had seen the end
everything broken
but you were there

I've wandered heaven's gates
I've made my bed in hell
You were there still

You have me
You have my heart completely

THAT'S gonna leave a mark!!!

So, we were treated out to dinner Saturday night.  To a nice restaurant on the lake.  Reservations were made, requesting a prime spot on the patio since it was such a beautiful evening.  We were looking forward to it since we had never been there before. 

The place was PACKED!!!  Even though our name was on the list, we still had to get a little buzzer.  Not knowing how long our wait was going to be, the 6 of us decided to have a seat just past the patio.  That meant walking through the jam packed patio!  Jam packed, meaning, there were probably 20 tables with at least 5-6 people at each table.

Enter the 6 of us.  2 of the girls in front of me, 3 of the guys behind me (my husband at the very back of the line).

The patio was the shiny concrete = SLICK.  I'm sure you can figure out where this is going.

My feet started wobbling (and as I'm telling this, imagine the sound you hear when The Flinstones start driving their cars) and I think I'm going to lose it.  Somehow, I played the wobbling off, thinking I was safe for a mere second.  Nope, make that MILLI-second.  I had my new camera bag on my arm with my new-ish camera in the bag....keeping that in my conscious mind....if I drop it, it SHOULD be safe, but I'd rather not test it out.
                                                        

         (By the way, aren't these sandals so cute?! and so spring-y!!!)

Well......it went a little something like this........... 
wobble wobble wobble! oh no! grasp for that empty chair! push it into the empty table for 2! wobble wobble!  oh well, that chair didn't help much, it's laying on its side now!  OH SCHNIKEEeeeeeeS!!! EVERYBODY sees me!! don't fall!  don't fall!  please don't let me fall!  please don't let me fall!  skid.  skid.  skid.  watch out for that stone column RIGHT in front of me!!!!  women getting up out of their chairs, running over to try to block the column because they see what's coming!  gasps from the crowd!!  which way do I go?!  which way do I go?!  don't drop your bag!  your camera is in there!!!  don't drop your bag!!   BAM!  OUUUUUCCCCCCCHHHHHHH!!!!!  THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK!!!!   EVERYONE was silent!!  Everyone!!!!

The ladies started asking questions.  "Are you okay, honey?!"  "Are you hurt?!!"  "Ohhhhhhhh, sweetie, what can I do????"    

Laughter starts rolling out of me.  Embarrassed.  Trying to play this off, which literally CANNOT be played off.  Everyone saw it.  PRAYING there was NOBODY I knew sitting on that patio!!!!  I stood up, tried gathering my composure.....what was left.......through my laughter.  "I'm fine.  I'm okay, thank you."

We made it to our table (on ANOTHER patio on the other side of the restaurant, thank goodness) and were chatting about the happenings.  One of the guys with our party, walking directly behind me, said he saw it coming, but since he was behind me, the only thing he could think of to do was to grab my rear, and, well, that wouldn't have helped.  haha  My husband was at the very back of the line......he didn't even know I was the one who fell, until I stood up.  He told me I should have stood up, straightened up my shirt, and said, "I was supposed to do that."  So funny!!  More good news - the guys behind me said I didn't drop my Epiphanie camera bag!!!   HAHAHA.  I didn't drop my bag....it was safe and cozy!  HOW in the world is that even possible??!!!   

I was thinking about it, and I'm a jokester.  A SERIOUS jokester.  I laugh at just about anything.  I think it's hysterical when people fall......that obviously includes when it happens to myself.  If I saw myself fall on that patio, I would have laughed.  THANK YOU to the people on the patio for NOT laughing at me and for offering as much help as you could.  Good news - I did NOT hit my face on the column, thank you God!!!!
I've never had anything embarrassing happen to me, ever.  Really.  THIS, my friends, was THE most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me.  EVER.  And, I'm here to say, that I laughed through it!  That's the ONLY thing that kept me from crying.  What isn't funny is my swollen knee. The picture does not do the damage justice.....and I didn't feel like getting "that perfect shot" to prove it.  :)

I hope this made you laugh....it made me laugh again, recalling everything.  This really happened.  And my knee is REALLY REALLY sore!!!  So are my back and shoulders....probably from showing off my push-up sorta moves.....

I hope everyone else had an accident free Saturday night. 
xoxoxooo

Toss it in!!!!

I posted this on my photo blog today and thought I'd share it here, also! 
It was not my intention for this to be my picture of the day, but I feel like it needs to be. I'm listening to that small voice inside.

Do you have junk in your life that is keeping you down in the dumps? What about a bad habit that you want to kick? Maybe it's a light-as-a-feather bit of anger that keeps getting heavier? That tiny insecurity that keeps growing by the second? Maybe it's a slight bit of jealousy? What about that worry that is consuming your every thought?

Whatever it is, dump it in the bucket. Get rid of it. Toss it in there and give it to the One who is in control. You may not always feel His presence. You may not think He hears your faintest whisper. You may not realize he is catching each and every tear.

Understand one thing, my sweet, wonderful, beautiful, caring, honest, hilarious, artistic friends. No matter what you have done or where you have been..........He, the Master of the entire Universe, is not mad at you, He's mad ABOUT YOU!!!!!

XOXOXXOOoooooo
I'm trusting you are going to have a fabUlous week!

Strong foundation!

We went out exploring today, on this Easter Sunday.  It was a beautiful, beautiful day.  We passed by a church with this in the front yard and I had to get a picture.  As I was resizing and doing a little editing, a few things were brought to mind.
As Christ Followers, we should keep some things in mind on a daily basis. 

 Each experience in our lives are stepping stones.
We should be diligent in climbing up to the next step to be closer to Him.
Remember that He is the vine, we are the branches (if we're from the same tree, others should see Him in us).
Our foundations should be strong and be built on the rock.
We are supposed to carry His light to the world, for HE IS RISEN!!!!!

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and spent some time reflecting on what this weekend is really about.
XOXOXOXOXOOOOO

Janet!  :)

Epiphanie!!!!!!

Hello friends!!!!   I am so excited - I have to tell you all something.  
See this bag???????  Well, it's not just ANY bag!  This is my EPIPHANIE camera bag!!!!  Isn't it awesome?!!  It's MORE awesome in person, I promise!  I love it!!!!!

I am entering a contest!  The grand prize is a brand spanking new Canon 5D MarkII or 2500.00 in a Southwest Airline Gift Certificate!  I want to win the GRAND prize so bad!!!  My sisters and I would love to start a photography business and this would be the perfect way to start it off.  You can see some of my other photos HERE.

In the meantime........................

Yep, I had an Epiphanie!!!!!  Don't you wish Epiphanie bags grew on trees??????  MEEEE toooooo!!!!  Don't you wish Canon 5D Mark II cameras grew on trees??????   MEEEEEE TOOOOOOOO, but they don't.  :(  That's why I'm entering this contest......so I can win one!  I don't think I've ever won anything except for 100.00 last year playing Powerball.

She's Country.

♫ ♪ ♫ Country.

From her cowboy boots to her down home roots.

She's country.

From the songs she plays to the prayers she prays. 

That's the way she was born and raised.

She ain't afraid to stay, country.  ♫ ♪ ♪

(She's Country by Jason Aldean)

This is the post I put on my 365 photo blog and HAD to put it here.  Can't help it.  I LOVE it!!!!!  :)

I will be the FIRST to say that I NEVER used to like country music.  I hated it, actually.  It made me cringe.  Living in the south gives you an appreciation for it, somehow.  I NEVER thought I would ever say something like that, ever. 

Country music is something I love.  It's the music of the South.  It makes me:  feel at home, want to put my boots on, want to take a long deep breath of fresh country air, want to walk through an open field, want to go down to a farm and work really really hard, want to ride a plow through a humongous field and get all dusty and dirty, happy to have the freedom to be MYSELF.