'Ol Spot'

here's your laugh for the day, folks:

A group of country friends from the Cottonwood Baptist Church wanted to get together on a regular basis, socialize, and play games. The lady of the house was to prepare the meal. When it came time for Al and Janet to be the hosts, Janet wanted to outdo all the others. Janet decided to have mushroom-smothered steak. But mushrooms are expensive. She then told her husband, "No mushrooms. They are too high." He said, "Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of those mushrooms? There are plenty in the creek bed." She said, "No, some wild mushrooms are poison." He said, "Well, I see varmints eating them and they're OK." So Janet decided to give it a try. She picked a bunch, washed, sliced, diced them for her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back porch and gave Ol' Spot (the yard dog) a double handful. Ol' Spot ate every bite. All morning long, Janet watched Ol' Spot and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect him, so she decided to use them. The meal was a great success, and Janet even hired a helper lady from town to help her serve. She had on a white apron and a fancy little cap on her head. After everyone had finished, they relaxed, socialized, and played 42 and dominoes. About then, the helper lady from town came in and whispered in Janet's ear. She said, "Mrs. Williams, Ol' Spot just died." Janet went into hysterics. After she finally calmed down, she called the doctor and told him what had happened. The doctor said, "That's bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quickly as possible. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them calm." Soon they could hear the siren as the ambulance was coming down the road. The EMTs and the doctor had their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump. One by one, they took each person into the bathroom, gave them an enema, and pumped out their stomach. After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now." and left. They were all looking pretty weak sitting around the living room and about this time the helper lady came in and said,

"You know, that fellow that ran over Ol' Spot never even stopped."

Addie and the Kewpie doll

see this ever so darling picture of Addie??? her face is so cute anyway i just want to eat it...but that stinkin adorable polka dot coat and hood just add to her yummy-liciousness!!!...well, it has been bugging me to death what this particular pose reminded me of...then it hit me!....a KEWPIE DOLL!!!!....so i searched and searched for an image......and of course could not find just the right one...but here is an actual picture of a doll, followed by an illustration that appears to be quite old.....so she is NOW my little Kewpie doll!!!

our "quickie" trip to Pennsylvania

here we are standing at the top of Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh!

the farm!

we made a fast, but wonderful trip to PA last week...our kids and g-kids were able to go, as well....we had a wonderful time visiting family there and visiting Grandma Hixson in the nursing home....both Grandma and Grandpap loved the g-kids (what's NOT to love?)......we did a LOT in just a few , short days...and were back in GA by the end of the week...i am still amazed we did it!

all the Hixson grand-kids and great grand-kids!four-wheeling was the B IG hit of the trip! Pittsburgh and Steeler-mania!

the incline up Mt. Washington!

this is how our dog, Simba made the trip! nice, huh??? what a spoiled BRAT

Lee and Julie...(Larry's brother and wife)...who put UP with all of us!...and btw...Julie is very funny....we are all still laughing about things she says!!!

comfort from Joe Stowell

Somebody Cares
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
When I was a little boy growing up in Hackensack, New Jersey, I would often fall asleep listening to my little radio. One of my favorite shows was “Big Joe’s Happiness Exchange,” beamed to my bedside from the heart of nearby New York City. The program always began with a deep, mellow voice saying, “Have no fear, Big Joe is here,” and then to the best of my memory he would sing something like . . .
Somebody cares about you and worries till the sun comes shining through!Somebody cares if you sleep well at nightIf your days go all wrong or if your day has gone right.
Then the song would conclude . . .

Please believe me it’s so,
but in case you didn’t know it,
Somebody cares.
Then people from all over the city would call in to talk to Big Joe. With an understanding and quieting spirit he would listen and encourage those who were hurting and lonely. If they had material needs, other people would call in to offer help. It was love, grace, and mercy in action. And there was something really comforting about it, even to my little soul as I fell asleep.
I’ve always been glad that Jesus offers us comfort and help like that.
Even more caring than Big Joe and much more capable to meet our needs, Jesus desires to be personally involved in our lives, to grant peace to our anxious souls, and to supply all our needs. Not limited to a one-hour call-in program, our God is “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). And, when our troubles are so complex and overwhelming that we don’t even know what to ask for, we are assured that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness,” praying for us “with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26). He promises that God will meet all of our needs “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19) and that He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20)! And just when you think you are down for the count, He assures you that you are not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:9) and that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:31-39)!
Knowing that He is there “24/7” is great news!
I loved Big Joe as a kid. As an adult, I love Jesus even more! What comfort and strength to know that He is ready and waiting to supply mercy and grace in our time of need.

things i think about...but someone else thought this list up!

Why, Why, Why?



Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are almost dead?







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Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they already know there is not enough money?





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Why does someone
believe you when you say there are four billion stars; but have to check when you say the paint is still wet?





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Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?





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Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?





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Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?





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Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?





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If people evolved from apes,
why are there still apes?





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Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?





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Is there ever a day that mattresses

are not on sale?





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Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?





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Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?





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Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?





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How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?





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When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?'





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Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?





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In winter why do we try to keep the h ouse as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?





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How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?



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And my FAVORITE......
The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

vintagey Valentine greetings!

of course my little "pot" people found their way out of storage for this momentous day!!!!

and this...my dear Iowa friends, is for YOU!...snow and all!!!.....

lookie what i got for V day!!

(from my lovie...thanks hon! i luv U!)

from an unknown author...

Malachi 3:3 says:

'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.' This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver,but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.

Thank you God, for teaching me to laugh again...... but please Lord, don't ever let me forget that I cried.

happenings

here are pictures of ...Emily Warner Miller....she was in ATL with her darling family....(husband and 3 cutie patootie boys).... we took advantage of "hug" time....our visit was short...BUT sweet! we love you MILLER family...and EMMY!!
...and here are some pics from the ever so WILD and WONDROUS and WACKY andWHALE of a weekend with the GRANDS!!!!!!....and yes, they exhausted me...and yes, i loved it to death, and yes, i would do it again...just not for a LONG while..........just let me tell ya, it kept me on my proverbial "toes" for sure....and what they didn't get into , Buster the dog DID!!!.........so when i say WILD...i mean it folks!!!!!

.............and lastly...as i promised...here is another valentine for you, my sweet bloggy buds....another drawing of mine...made into a card!!!....the day is fast approaching!!!

Utter Randomness Today

okay, i am going to ramble in utter random fashion for the next few minutes...i have been feeling quite guilty about ignoring the upkeep of my blog.......and i still love it the best! honest i do! Facebook, quite frankly drives me absolutely CRAZY......and i almost HATE it......but then i LOVE it too! it has put me in touch with such wonderful and dear people from my "past"...i can't quite understand why people are so willing to write everything and ANYTHING on FB......and they won't even leave 2 words of even hello how are you on my blog!!!......nevertheless...i have hooked up with some great people....even tho...needless to say.....FB is quite "shallow" to say the least.....and blogging can be that too......however, blogging just "fits" me better!...so why do i find myself feeling guilty about NOT blogging.......because that stinkin FB is EASIER and FASTER!!!...........UNLESS........one becomes entangled in a messy web of stalking everyone else's lives........ahem.......i know you do...quite frankly......and quite thankfully......i get bored easily with all the conversation back and forth...UNLESS it is directly related to ME!....wow! that sounded narcicisstic didn't it???

but i must admit...FB DOES indeed steal time away from blogging......dad bern it!

well.......i have just started something wonderful and exciting...i just started going to the ESTHER Bible study by Beth Moore!!!....i facillitated several studies at my church in Ia......and loved it beyond words.....but since coming here....well...REAL life happened.....UNEXPECTED life happened......UNFORSEEN changes happened......and i have not done a Beth Moore study since that time.......we attend our son's church, which is almost an hour away.....the trouble with that is that it makes it difficult to really fellowship or attend things like Bible studies in that location.....so i have been praying to find a local Bible study........and yes, tho i am sure there were many available.....nothing really convinced me to join.....plus......i really did not want to walk into a strange place ALL by myself....can i get a witness?????.....i am weird like that....call it insecurity...whatever.....UNTIL.....God faced me HEAD ON with the opportunity..my neighbor lady , who is single and a precious christian lady ...has a friend who was attending an Esther study....and long story short.....i was invited in......and tho i still did not want to enter a room of strangers.....i decided i didn't want God to hit me on the head any harder with the answer to my long ago prayer...and i accepted!!!

well.........i am so glad i did! i started 2 weeks late....so i have been doing about 4 hrs of homework each day to try to catch up.......but i absolutely LOVE it......wow! what a study!!!.....it is fabulous...and oh my goodness it addresses so many issues we, as woman face and reveals God's heart and wisdom in so many areas!

i still have to at some point see the video's for the first 2 weeks.....it would not be absolutely neccessary....but the study is THAT exciting and i don't want to miss a thing!!!!

why does God have to almost hit us with a 2x4 to get us to listen sometimes??.....we have to push beyond our insecurities and pride and OBEY, i know that for sure!

whew...well, that was LONG......see, once i get going i can't stop!!!

on another note.....some further "musings"..

...i have found that at the cost of many losses...i have gained much......

....because i am an HGTV JUNKIE.....i have been tempted to adopt the theory that seems to be quite widespread that one is a NOBODY if one does not have GRANITE countertops in their home......well......then i am content to be a NOBODY cuz "that ain't gonna happen no time soon".....pardon the ever so horrific bad english...sometimes bad english is just appropriate..

...i just wish that at the beginning of my adult life i would have known what has taken me my whole life to find out...that things i thought were so important...really are NOT

...it doesn't matter WHAT you look like on the outside...how gorgeous you are, how thin you are, how much money you have......everyone needs a friend to talk to.....everyone needs a shoulder to cry on......everyone needs an encouraging word......why do we (meaning me, too)....always think those who seem to have "arrived" have it all together? i think i am finding out that they have not much together.....

i have found a new meaning to lonliness....now don't get me wrong.....this isn't neccessarily a BAD or a SAD thing......just a NEW thing.....my husband now has to work out of town EVERY week....this is very new and very foreign to us....i entered this new "chapter" with GREAT fear and DREAD and SADNESS......however, because it is neccessary.....and because i have asked for God's help and strength and protection....i am doing fine...really i am....fine...just fine......don't worry about me...thru the long lonely days and long lonely nights...it's ok if NO ONE ever checks on me....HONEST....i am JUST KIDDING....just had a relapse of silliness come over me...

anyway.......i would be LYING to you if i said i am never LONELY!!! oh my goodnesssssss!!! i get SOOO lonely!......it is me and my dog here..day in and day out......of course i work very part time.....and of course i have interaction with kids and grands.......BUT there is still a lot of alone-ness.....i have tried HARD to not let it get me down....and of course God helps me thru those down feelings.....but it has made me aware of what it is like for so many people who live alone...probably MANY of YOU who are reading this.....i have a NEW heart and attitude to those who have lost their spouses to death, or even divorce......in which case....that is so much worse than what i am going thru......but my heart aches and bleeds for the many people in our world who are lonely and sad.....and those who are bluntly left alone to fend for themselves and figure out how to earn a living...especially women! i have 2 VERY strong and Godly women in mind right now! tho i won't name them...i definitely admire them and think of them a lot!!!

lest you think i only think of myself...my husband has been uprooted from a home life... to seeing me, and the rest of the family to a mere "few" hours a week!......he has to sleep in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar foods and live with the guys he works with!...thankfully God has given him GOOD, DECENT, MORAL guys to share space with! but still!!! WHO in the world would want to do such a thing????......so thank you sweet hubby of mine...i know you would work your fingers to the BONE, just to provide for us...i am so thankful you have a work ethic like i have never seen before!!!! you are a blessing!

ok....i need to lighten up.......well, actually i need to quit......i will end by inserting this absolutely hilarious little poem, sent to me by a friend in Ia. who is an absolute JOY to be around......i dare not name her...for all of my Ia. friends are a joy... heh heh! ...

and, hey people...ain't it the truth???

I asked the Lord to tell me

Why my house is such a mess.

He asked if I'd been 'computering',

I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my butt

And tidy up the house.

And so I started cleaning up...

The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.

That really did the trick...

I was just admiring my work..

I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click I did, and oops. I found

A real absorbing site.

That I got SO way into it.

I was into it all night...Sigh

Nothing's changed except my mouse

It's very, very shiny.

I guess my house will stay a mess...

While I sit here on my hiney.

(okay...seriously....can i get a WIT NESS???....that is SOOOO me!!!!!...BUSTED!!! )

i need ideas

i got the above items while in DesMoines, at an architectural salvage business....they are 3 old door locks and one old kitchen drawer handle....any ideas on what i could do with them in a mixed media application?? i have a few ideas and can't wait to try them out....

this place was fabulous...there were 4 or 5 floors of everything imaginable! it was a virtual "feast" for my eyes!!! the business was housed in an old factory type building , with a very hip and cool coffee shop on the street level.......

i would love anybody's ideas!!!