wow.

Hello friends!
I can't believe it has been SO LONG since I've posted.  I'm really sorry.  I've been a busy girl this summer.   Looking forward to posting about a few things soon.

Today is cleaning day.  If I have energy, I'll post later.

Tomorrow I start the Beth Moore Bible study on Daniel.  I've been looking forward to this for a while, I think it's going to be terrific!!!

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend!
Maybe I'll talk to you guys later.  :)

♫ ♫ When summer comes around ♪ ♪

I can't help it.  I HAD to share this post with you all!  I posted this on my photo blog tonight, and wanted to share it with you too!  It's just SO summery!!!!!  :)

 Don't you love that Keith Urban song?!
It's SUCH a snapshot of summer!

When I look at these photos, they remind me of.....
...summer...and vacation...and cold fruity drinks....
...and swimsuits...and the beach...and pony tails...
...and sleeping in...and flip flops...and feeling free...

...and no plans...and swimtrunks...
...and fresh air...and cherry limeades...
...and evening drives with the all the windows down...
...and messy hair...and being alive.

What's YOUR idea of summer?

*****Beautiful Things winners****

I wish more of my blog readers would have entered this one!  This CD is AMAZING!  Maybe I'll do another giveaway in the fall when people aren't on vacation.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2 winners!!!!!! 

Sarah Jones and Laurel, please email me your addresses so we can get these in the mail to you!!!!
I'm trusting you will enjoy Gungor's music!!  They're fabulous!  You will NOT be disappointed!  :)

****Beautiful Things giveaway****

Hello beautiful blog friends!!!!!

I am so sorry I had to put this contest off for a few days.  I had a family member in the hospital and they were released today!!! YAAAAY!!!!  So, hopefully life will be back to normal this week!

Now for the contest.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  The simplest things can be the most beautiful.  I think every single one of my blog friends are beautiful....THUS, the Beautiful Things giveaway!!!!  To enter the Beautiful Things giveaway, leave a comment and tell me.......What do YOU think is beautiful?  or What makes you smile?

The winner will receive the BRAND SPANKIN' NEW Gungor: Beautiful Things cd.  I have never heard of Gungor until about a month ago when my sister let me borrow her cd.  It is AMAZING.  I like it because it's refreshingly different and uplifting!  It's not like every other song you hear on the radio.  I hope you will love it as much as I do!!


Leave a comment by 11:59pm on Thursday, July 15th.  I will announce the winner on Friday, July 16th.  (Will you do me a favor and tell your friends too???  Post the link for this contest on your blog and facebook pages.  wink, wink - I might be able to give more than just 1 cd away......)

Let the fun begin!!!!!!

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL week!!!!!

Contest!!!

is on hold for the day.  A family member has landed unexpectedly in the hospital and I won't be able to post details later.  I will post them on Friday!   So sorry!!!! 

Giveaway!!!!

I am SOOOO excited about something!!!!  

I am having my 

very FIRST 

contest/giveaway 

on my blog!!!!! 

Stay tuned.

Tomorrow evening I'll give the details...... 

:)

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