questions

I was tagged by Linda to answer the seven questions she gave me. Then I am to come up with seven questions and tag seven people to answer those questions.

These are Linda's questions for me:
1. Do you prefer to read the book or see the movie?
Read the book

2. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas. I love the specialness of the season in the fact that we remember Christ's birth (even though we know He wasn't really born Dec. 25). I love the decorations, family traditions, buying and wrapping gifts, and all the special food.

3. Which do you like better - the mountains or the beach?
Hard choice, I haven't been to either very much. I like looking at the mountains and hearing the sounds of the beach.

4. If money were no consideration, what vehicle would you drive?
I'm not really picky about my vehicle. I liked sitting in the Acadia at the State Fair Auto Show a couple years ago. There was one I liked this year, but I don't know what kind it was. My husband probably would know though!

5. What is your favorite cold-weather beverage?
Hot cocoa with marshmallows

6. How do you communicate most often with your friends: phone, email, text, face-to-face?
Mostly email now or through Facebook. My phone doesn't have texting on it but my husband's does so I've used that lately and like it.

7. How do you receive your mail? Mailbox on the porch, at the end of the driveway, down the street, or post office box?
Since we are in a duplex, we have our mailbox on a post with three other mailboxes out near the street in front of the duplex.

Here are the seven questions I am asking.
1. Do you exercise regularly? If so what kind of exercise do you do?
2. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
3. Do you use plastic, paper, or reusable/recyclable bags?
4. What is the best book you've ever read?
5. What is your favorite drink?
6. What's a website you go to every day?
7. Do you have a favorite charity? What is it and why do you support them?

Now I am tagging the following people:

Hickstionary
Mommy Accountability
Becoming a Titus 2 Woman
Susan's Space
Blossoms & Butterflies
Lily Valley
Country Roads

Have a day of blessings!

Recent ponderings...

How many times have you said something and then immediately regretted ever bringing it up? This happened to me recently. One day on Facebook a few weeks ago my heart hurt and I was saddened and actually offended by a comment a fellow blogger put on the page of an organization I support. I told the person her comment to them hurt me. My words though were then totally misconstrued by the other person and taken in a way that I never intended. Some very hurtful, untrue things were said about me too.

I can't stand conflict or hurting anyone. If this person even knew me or my heart she would know that. Yet I had to realize that what I said hurt this person. Even though I never meant to hurt her, it was taken that way. I asked her to forgive me, and I've prayed for her hurt. But I've also thought about how maybe I should just have never said anything to her? Other people had publicly agreed on the comment that it was inappropriate to type on the page of this organization so I felt at least I wasn't alone in thinking this was inappropriate. But looking back I don't think it accomplished anything to tell her though that what she said hurt. So this raises the question in my mind: Should I have just said nothing to begin with?

How do you respond in situations like this? How do you know when to stand up and let someone know you are hurt by their actions or words? Or on the flip side to just let them say whatever they want even when it is untrue, hurtful, rude, inappropriate, etc. in order to avoid any disagreement or conflict? I'm not talking just in regards to this personal situation either. I see this in society in general too.

This has been on my heart lately. Thank you for listening.

Have a day of blessings!

Happy summer!

Summer if "officially" here now although in Texas it has been pretty hot for several weeks already.

What are your plans for summer? It seems many people have been asking me that the past few days.

We don't have any for sure plans at this point. Since we already went to New Mexico with the church group already, we won't be taking another big trip. We would like to go back to Sea World though to the water park. We have the passes good for all season long anyway. We thought about going July 3 and see their fireworks display at the lake but I figure it will be extra busy on a holiday weekend. We still have a little time to decide and figure it out! We'll have VBS at our home church in the middle of July. I'll be planning a little boy's birthday party too for early August. He has told us for a couple years probably that he wants a school cake when he's turning five! So we have the order in to Gramma for that school cake! We'll also be going to the pool some and eating watermelon and snowcones!

So what do you have planned for the summer?

Hope you have a great week!
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"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20

Question from Caleb

One day Caleb asked Gramma, "why don't babies have teeth?" She gave him an easy-to- understand explanation that they don't need teeth when they're born because they don't eat food. This got me thinking well if they DID have teeth COULD they eat food, which I said aloud. Mom said with teeth they might hurt themselves as newborns and bite their mouth or tongue. Good point.

God's plan is so good like that. He had a reason to not give baby teeth. He knew babies wouldn't need to chew up food. They get the nutrients they need from milk as they begin life outside the womb.

The same is true for each of us. He knows what He is doing and has the timing for our lives figured out. We may want more of something right now, but He knows what is best for each season and moment of life. He knows what we can handle and what might hurt us. He knows when we're ready to move from one stage to the next. He has the best in store for us. We just need to be patient and accept the growing process as all part of his plan.

Join us for Spiritual Sundays or visit others who've participated.

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"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Question

Where do you get your pictures/graphics for your blogs that you don't take yourself? Thank you!
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"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

A question for you...

How do you choose when to visit your blog friends? Do you have a list of favorites that you scroll through each day? Do you have a list in Google reader? Do you go to someone's blog after they comment on yours?


When I first started finding other blogs to read, I had a folder called "blogs" in my favorites list. I would click through certain ones on a daily basis so they got moved to a folder called "daily reads" in my blog folder. Then I discovered Google reader in the course online I took during the summer. It is great and I love to see when new posts appear.


Leave a comment to tell me how you visit blogs! I know I'm full of questions lately....it has a purpose...... really....more about that before the end of the year. :)
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"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD." Psalm 119:1

Facebook and our week

Are any of you, my readers, on Facebook? I have an account there and have enjoyed finding new friends there. It is amazing all the people you can find from high school or college! It's a fun way to connect with old friends I think. Email me your name if you have an account and I can find you!

Hope you are having a good week. Monday night we went shopping. The boys went Christmas shopping and I just went out by myself. I went to a couple stores, got a shake at Sonic (I was sad they don't have banana pudding anymore!), and picked up a gift at the mall for my Mom. Caleb was so cute when they got home and he was being secretive and telling me not to come in the garage. After he had gone to bed I saw in the garage a new ironing board hanging in place of my old one. My husband took me and showed me and said it wasn't part of my Christmas and he just wanted to give it to me. He knew I needed a new one! Tuesday morning I said something to Caleb about it and he had to call and tell Daddy I had found it. We spent a couple hours Tuesday morning making Christmas treats....chocolate covered pretzels, peanuts, and peanut butter crackers. Caleb was so excited to show Daddy what we made when he got home. Tuesday night "we" (but mostly my husband while I fixed bags of the other stuff) made "puppy chow." We fixed gift sacks to take to various people and a tray for Daddy to take to work. It has been sleeting here also. Caleb thinks it is going to turn into snow by morning.

I'm still working on my Christmas cards. They are addressed and written. I need to print the Christmas letter to go inside now.

Have a good rest of the week!
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"The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one." Psalm 28:8

A question for you...

As I've been doing various Christmas projects lately, it has made me wonder what other people do. Leave your answers to any or all of these questions in the comments!

1. What do you use the most....wrapping paper or gift sacks?

2. Do you send Christmas cards or a Christmas letter?

3. How do you sign your Christmas cards (just your name, a personal note, or a general greeting)?

4. Do you use the Christmas stamps? Do you prefer the Nutcrackers or Mother/Child stamps?

5. How do you display Christmas cards you receive?

6. What do you do with cards after Christmas is over?

I hoped we could get some good ideas from each other, especially on #4 and #5.
Here are my answers:

1. I prefer wrapping paper. I have used a couple bags this year for a few things.

2. We send a card with a Christmas letter. I have been writing a letter for the past several years.

3. I like to put something a little personal on the card (like if they have a new house or baby I mention something about that) and then sign our name. Some of them get general though if I don't have something special to say.

4. This year I bought the Nutcracker stamps.

5. I have a red velvety ribbon that says Merry Christmas in glittery font that I use to hang our cards. We've used this a few years, I'm thinking it's time for something new maybe!

6. I just save them in our boxes of Christmas decorations. The pictures I put with the photo album.

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"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.'" John 11:25

A question for you...

I have a question about comments. I want to know what you do!

When you visit blogs do you read the comments of the people above you? Do you ever go back to a post and reread the comments made by others after you've made a comment?

I'm just curious! Please leave a comment with your answers for me! Thanks. :)

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"Pleasant words promote instruction." Proverbs 16:21