September - 30 Day Photo Challenge

I did a photo challenge the beginning of this year and had a great time doing it. I decided to do another! Pinterest offers many Photography Challenges and Blog Challenges so that is where I went for some directives.

I found this one and even though it was for 2012 I liked the way it is set up and I particularly liked the idea of taking a picture of the same tree one day a week for the month to see the changes over the fall. This was posted by www.betweentheshutters.wordpress.com

So beginning tomorrow - I will begin a Photo Challenge.

I hope you will come back and see what I've "shot" - or better yet - join me. If you don't have your own blog but want to be a part of my photo challenge just leave me a message on here -  on face book or twitter and I will post your pictures on my blog with mine! You can be my guest blogger for the month!!  I would love that!

If you have your own blog let me know you are joining me and I will put a link to your blog on my posts!

Labor Day Weekend

We don't really have plans for this weekend. We will just let things happen as they will.  As I was going into the kitchen for my coffee - yep - the husband didn't bring it too me this morning. sigh :)  But I did get to bring him a cup!!

Anyway - as I walked into the kitchen, I thought "I am so very thankful I'm not rushing off to a lake or to a weekend away - I like LOVE being at home." 

What are your plans for this holiday weekend?

Country Girl

You know the saying "you can take the girl out of the country.... " 

well, I need to change my midwest saying above to say country.

We (I) invited guests over for "Sunday Dinner." - 

of course meaning lunch after church....

But they took it to mean dinner... 

you know - around 6:00 - 6:30.

Randy just shook his head at me!!!!!

I'm too old to figure out all this "city" talk!!! 

:)

Wet and Wild

"What good is church if you only attend one service, once a week?"

How is it possible to form a relationship with other believers if you only nod at them across the auditorium (sanctuary) on Sundays?

Well, this summer our church offered some opportunities to share in fun and fellowship outside the church building. Sharing in one another's lives. 

"Wet and Wild" was one such opportunity.

It was a GREAT evening. - 

The weather???

 Can you believe this weather - for August? It was perfect - well it was perfect for everyone who didn't get wet!! Those who got wet became a little chilly!!  

And speaking of chili -

We started with hotdogs!

And then the real fun began!

Heeheehee...
told you we had fun!

At the end of the evening there were drawings for wonderful prizes - 
gift certificates for Applebee's, for Orange Leaf and many more PLUS
one lucky young man won a Limo ride for the first day of school!!


But not everyone who wanted to win did....




: )

August 5th

Yesterday was my husband's 66th birthday. 

Let me say he is always happy. 

Only sometimes grumpy - 

but he says he's earned the right.

I've only known him for four years.

That's so hard for me to believe.

I feel like I've known him forever.

He's perfect for me.

God knew what I needed,

I prayed often for what I thought I needed.

I have a journal of lists.

One list I made in 2009 before I met him and it is titled

"Who I would like to find"

1. A Christian man - spiritual leader

2. One that I respect

3. Someone who cherishes me

4. Some common interests

5. Loves me unconditionally

6. Whose face lights up when I walk into a room

7. Someone who respects me

8. A man I cherish

9. One I can love unconditionally

10. A man I can not imagine living without.

 my lists are always numbered to 10 -

But I had to add #11 

11. A man who is appealing to me physically. :)

12. Oh, and I wanted someone who liked to sit on the porch 

and just enjoy being together!!

Then another -

13. A man with a great sense of humor! 

Well, again, I limited God with this list,

and the way I know that is because

God gave me so much more.

It's amazing what God has done for me.

Happy Birthday to the very best man for me!

Food and Weekends

We were ready.

Company for Sunday Dinner.

 Marinated Veggies

 Marinated Kabob Steak

Potato Salad

And then the rain came.

and came..

and came..

Today we have gotten 3.61 inches of rain.

Just today!

No cooking out for us.

Soooo.....

We made a call instead of firing up the grill.

We are sure going to eat well on Monday!

Unless we get more rain!

Bella Vista, Chapter 3

As a young mother in my 20's we started attending a brand new church, Oakwood Christian Church, in Enid, Oklahoma. This was 1978.  (You can learn about Oakwood H.E.R.E. ) This is where I formed my foundation in faith as an adult.  We  had many young couples in our church and this was an encouragement. It was during the beginning ministries of The Gaithers, Sandy Patty, James Dobson - many of the people that made ministry exciting for young couples because they were young couples. It was an exciting time for me because, although I had been raised in the church, this was my faith as an adult beginning to make a difference in my life and therefore in the lives of others.

Many of these friends I may never see again this side of heaven. I've learned that's okay because there is heaven. Every once in a while God doubly blesses us and we are able to make a re-connection with old friends. This happened to me just last week.

Terry and Carl Brown

about 1979

Cookson Hills Christian School

I was blessed in re-connecting with a beautiful Christian woman from those early years at Oakwood Christian Church. I had considered Terry one of my best friends but in going separate directions in separate different ministries, I had not seen her since 1990. Our relationship with Christ has stayed the center of each of our lives but God had sent us to different places.

 Terry Dinsmore and Brenda Cohorn

 I was encouraged by this re-connect. I was encouraged as I shared my story and as I listened to her story. We all have a story - it's finding our voice and letting God speak through us.

As I looked into her eyes as she shared her story, I was reminded of Esther and I thought, "God has put you in my life two different times for two different reasons. A friendship that makes many memories and a friend that brings encouragement."

When I contacted her that we were in her area - it was just a re-connect. A "let's get two old friends together" - forgetting for a moment that God is in all things.

He put Terry and her wonderful husband, Steve together with me and my wonderful husband Randy at the same table for dinner - for such a time as this.

God Bless Old Friends.

Steve and Terry Dinsmore