On Wings Like Eagles

Side-tracked??

2011-12-31T17:02:00.011-06:00

Definitely. I cannot believe it has been since May that I last blogged. This year has been the hardest year of my entire life. I have been through two total knee replacement surgeries. I am only just now what I would consider recovered and still have so far to go to feel truly strong.

I had tried for the second year in a row to do the Project Life thing; taking a photo a day and journaling. After bottoming out I decided to just take the photos I had and compile what I could to finish the year out and hope for a bit better in the coming weeks so I can finish my book and have it printed....since it is prepaid. So, without further ado, this is the remaining pages for this year. It feels good to not have forsaken the commitment to Project Life altogether, but I am not going to be crazy enough to try it again. I'm just not a photo journal everyday kind of girl.

Project Life Week 16

2011-05-16T20:37:00.005-05:00

WEEK 16

APRIL 17-23

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

I watched all of Season 1 Glee on Netflix

over the past weekend and today.

It's much better watched back to back,

but it may take a while before "Don't Stop Believing"

gets out of my head.

MONDAY, APRIL 18

There was quite a lot of wind damage done in town

and our power was knocked out for nearly 24 hours.

Amazingly no one was hurt, but a lot of trampolines were harmed.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

Maggie is undoubetly the most spoiled pup around.

She even has Colette loving her and her and

Colette's kids bringing her toys every physical therapy session.

Spoiled....and charming.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Wow. Look at this HUGE tree that was blown over during one of the recent stormy nights. This is Louise Roberts' front yard. The root ball is taller than her house and even ripped up her sewer lines...but didn't touch her house. Wow!

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

My last day for therapy from Colette on my left knee. Now if I can just learn to walk with one bionic leg and one torn up worn out knee. It's amazing how much you can come to care for someone in just a few visits. I'll definitely be asking for Colette again.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

Macy's end of the year activities include all kinds of awards

she has won and a robing ceremony for the new choir members

where she gives her robe away. Jill and Macy both seem

to be taking the "last days" pretty well.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

What a cute pic of Jill and Dandy. At Dandy's age every time we are together seems all the more precious. We sure love our Dandy.

Another week documented.

Later,

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life Week 15

2011-05-16T18:02:00.003-05:00

WEEK 15

APRIL 10-16

April 10

Aunt Nonie has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's

and is lucid less and less these days.

Mom and Dad have been asked to lend a helping hand.

She is stubborn, but that is a Sanders trait, isn't it?

April 11

Uncle Bob Sanders and his daughter, Ella Beth,

during one of his hospital stays. He's lost a lot of weight and

looks so much like Daddy Jack, my great-grandfather.

He has been diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer,

but he's still tough as nails.

April 12

With Meme and Dandy getting quite up in years

Jill wanted to take advantage of a chance to have

a photo shoot with Meme. Meme looks great in hot pink,

doesn't she? Every moment with family is a blessing.

April 13

Yumm! Homemade tortilla soup with rice, beans,

chicken, corn, and cheese added.

It is so filling and such a good comfort food.

Perfect for a chilly April day.

April 14

There's a reason I craved tortilla soup last night.

I have been diagnosed with severe tonsillitis.

Yuck! It's not only painful, but not

great looking either. Don't worry these aren't really

my tonsils, but that is what they looked like.

April 15

Darling Macy went to prom tonight.

Isn't she just gorgeous? I'm so pleased that she went to prom

with a bunch of her friends. Tomorrow is her last day of school.

How in the world did she get grown so utterly fast?

April 16

Saturdays are usually spent doing just about nothing around here,

playing Wii, taking naps, watching TV, or playing computer games...

and let us not forget wrestling time between Daddy and the Mags.

There you have it, another week in my life.

More later.

Until then, I wish you well.

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life Week 14

2011-05-16T17:40:00.004-05:00

Another week in our lives.

Week 14

April 3-9

April 3

One day when it looked like it was going to rain all day long

and "Mama" was doing computer work in the dining room

all day Maggie decided that the very best thing she

could do was have nap time at the back door.

April 4

This is the scene lots of mornings in our house.

Me reading my devotionals from the Nook on the laptop

and having a good cup of coffee to get good and awake.

April 5

It was so sweet for Sherry Brothers to bring me these

lovely flowers and a visit to "get well" as I recover from surgery.

Arvis and Sherry are such loving church family.

April 6

Terry's 52nd birthday. I gave him a birthday coupon since at this stage of my recovery I cannot drive or shop for him something. Sometimes coupons are just as good as real gifts. :)

(no photo to share on this day)

April 7

Maggie is so glad to have a comfy couch, a comfy mama, and a comfy

blanket (made by Mallory). What more could a spoiled pup want?

April 8

No matter what Mama is covering up with

(in this case a big old quilt and ice pack for the knee)

Maggie is all for sharing that cover with Mama. It's like her job.

April 9

I have so enjoyed the Wii and Netflix movies.

I'm now discovering darling old movies like this one

with Jimmy Stewart; "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation". Cute, cute movie.

Another week shared. Hope you are enjoying my Project Life.

Project Life Week 13

2011-05-16T16:49:00.007-05:00

Week 13 of Project Life

March 27-April 2

--March 27th--

I have actually begun reading and studying my Sunday School

lesson quite consistently.

That's a first in my lifetime.

--March 28th--

Dandy is 92 now and still gets around pretty good. Bless him.

I think he has had these same glasses frames for my entire lifetime.

This is a typical look for Dandy.

--March 29th--

Dandy has always been willing to do nearly anything to get a laugh out of us kids.

Now he is using his antics to crack up Jill's girls. Meg might be 15

but Dandy can always get a laugh out of her.

--March 30th--

Being "down" with the knee rehab has meant I've had to miss some trips

to Searcy for family gatherings. It's a good thing Macy and Meg are good

about sharing their fun and their pics online so I feel

I've been there too. I do love my family!

--March 31st--

Since I missed a couple of family gatherings for March I snagged some

of Macy's documentation of the events. She has become a

great photographer. Love this pic of Daddy.

How often have we seen him with a camera at the ready?

--April 1st--

I absolutely love this pic of Dandy. He is so serious until

he gets around kids and then he becomes a kid himself

no matter what his age. Don't you just wonder what he is thinking?

--April 2nd--

I suppose the cracking up goes both ways. Not only does Dandy

crack up Meg and Macy, but they crack him up too.

I love seeing Dandy crack up.

Yet another week in my life. And the photos-each-day go on......

Project Life Week 12

2011-05-16T16:09:00.003-05:00

Once again I have a week of photos for my Project Life scrapbook to share.

Monday

March 21

Meme celebrated her 90th birthday today. Mom and Jill and everyone threw a big "do" for her at church yesterday where she was "queen for a day". I didn't get to go because of knee rehab but I know she had a great time being center of attention.

Sunday & Tuesday

March 20 & 22

Terry and I love us some Wii bowling. We have gotten pretty good at it. Terry has even earned himself a balls with stars on it. Whew! He recently got four strikes in a row. I am not as consistently good as he is, but we have fun anyway.

Wednesday-Saturday

March 23-26

We have been playing tons of Wii basketball. Terry skunks me nearly every time, but it is so much fun to have teams made of Wii characters we have created; Jill & Tim, Mama & Daddy, Belinda & Jay, and Jim & Donna.

I know. I know. My life is so utterly interesting! It's a very good thing I am so easily amused.

Thanks for sharing this week with me.

Project Life Week 11

2011-05-13T19:14:00.005-05:00

Project Life

Week 11

March 13-19th

MARCH 13

Macy, little Macy, has turned 18. Our precious little darling has become a gorgeous woman. How in the world does this happen in the blink of an eye?

MARCH 14

Coming home from the hospital was not without the need for care. Terry had to administer several days' worth of "belly shots" (anticoagulant) following my hospital stay. I must say I was amazed he could do it for me and I KNOW I couldn't do it myself.

MARCH 15

I was dismissed from HealthSouth on the 12th. I had to have one last therapy session that morning. It was the toughest therapy session I'd had so far...but good to know that I was stronger than I thought.

MARCH 16

There were so many good people I connected with at HealthSouth. I have been told that is the way I am, but it was good to have some folks there that I could be glad to connect with. It made the stay tolerable. Like this woman who was always funny and encouraging.

MARCH 17

Well, it isn't officially Spring for a few days yet...and I am not really able to get outside right now but thankfully I can look out the front door and see spring sprouting all over the place and get some comfort that it'll happen whether I'm in the midst of it or not.

MARCH 18

This is Colette Goble, my home health nurse. Home health was such a wise decision.

It is so much help...and it is COLETTE!

She is the sweetest thing...and has really become a friend.

It's a God thing.

MARCH 19

Quite a load of drugs, wouldn't you say? I know I'm recovering...but this is rediculous.

That's so much for another exciting week in my life. Ha.

Project Life Week 10

2011-05-13T16:25:00.003-05:00

I have been busy. Here is Week 10 for March 6-12th. Most of this time was spent in rehab so these pics were mostly stolen off Facebook, etc. due to me concentrating on healing not photos.

Sunday, March 6th

Emily was one of the techs at HealthSouth. She took better care of me than anyone else there. More than the wonderful care she gave me was the cheerful, loving spirit she has. We had a good time together and I feel that we made a real connection. I consider her my friend now.

Monday, March 7th

Carmen is the therapist for the "arms group" at 1pm each day at HealthSouth. The group is mostly half-asleep elderly people, but she is vivacious & even crazy-acting sometimes & gets even those asleep to move around a bit...even to the song "My Dingaling". Ha.

Tuesday, March 8th

Meghon is a physical therapy student at ASU. She was my walking partner when I needed assistance and got my heating and ice pads for before and after therapy. She is a sweet girl from Bay and will make a great therapist some day.

Wednesday, March 9th

This is Jun from Taiwan. She was not assigned to work with me but got to know me & talked with me a great deal & is hilarious. She would tell me some "funny joke" every day...that wasn't really funny, but cracked me up in the animated way she would tell it. She's quite a character.

Thursday, March 10

This is the front lawn of HealthSouth Rehab. I spent 10 days there.

It was a great help, but my time there is NOT something I want to repeat.

Friday, March 11th

Ugh! Here is a stock photo of the rooms at HealthSouth. Just seeing it again makes my stomach hurt. Semi-private rooms are fine until you have to share that space with the wrong one, ie, drug-addicted incontinent truck-stop woman...and I'm not talking about my first roommate!

Saturday, March 12th

This baby is what I was most happy to see when I got home from the two weeks of hospital stay after surgery. I literally cried the last few days missing my Maggie. A mama should not be away from her baby so very long.

Well, there is another week documented. Project Life is REAL LIFE.

Project Life Week 9

2011-05-13T16:04:00.004-05:00

My week 9 of Project Life...February 27-March 5

WARNING: graphic post-surgery pic later if you are the squeamish type.

Sunday, February 27

Jim and Donna came over for the evening. We Wii bowled all night. Who knew Jim and Donna were like pros at bowling? Who also would have ever thought that Maggie and Jim would become friends? Maggie let him sit on her couch and even took a nap with him. Amazing!

Monday, February 28

We had to be at the hospital by 5:00am. I was about as scared as I'd ever been before the surgery. That cozy little bear paws gown with the warmth piped in was a bit of a comfort before it all began. I couldn't believe they decided to do a spinal rather than general anaesthesia. That was better...but not getting pain meds that worked; not cool!

Tuesday, March 1

While Terry and I waited for them to come get me for the surgery he was goofing off and impersonating people and making faces. He helped me get my mind off the impending doom. It's a good thing he did this before surgery because after surgery was NO FUN.

Wednesday, March 2

When they took the drain tube out of my knee and removed all the dressings I asked the nurse to snap a photo for my scrapbook. I don't even think he thought that was all that strange. A pretty mess isn't it? It doesn't look nearly as ugly as it feels.

Thursday, March 3

I was released from the hospital and was transferred to HealthSouth Rehab Hospital. My roommate was Judy Smith, a retired Gosnell elementary teacher and Greg Yarbrough's

(former co-worker) aunt.

It really is a small world after all.

Friday, March 4

My therapists were Whitney Owens, PT student, and Steph Privett, PTA. They were great and hurt me just right to get me stronger and better quickly...and were just the right amount of fun.

Saturday, March 5

I had to get a shot of "the shower chair" made of PVC pipe. I thought it was so funny. It looks like something Daddy would have come up with, for sure. It worked perfectly though.

TTFN!!

Project Life Week 8

2011-05-13T15:42:00.006-05:00

Well, the longer I put this off the more behinder I get and the more difficult it is to catch up...and I have another knee replacement surgery coming up hopefully next month. So, I am jumping in where I am. It's the only thing I can do, right?

Here is my pages for Project Life for the week of February 20-26;

the week prior to my last surgery.

Sunday, February 20

We have found a new show on the History Channel; American Pickers. Mike and Frank scour the country backroads for junk to find that just might be some treasure & meeting characters along the way with unusual stories to tell.

Monday, February 21

Another good show we've found is Pawn Stars on the History Channel. At the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop on the outskirts of Las Vegas, three generations of the Harrison family--grandfather Richard, son Rick and grandson Corey--jointly run the family business, and there's clashing and camaraderie every step of the way..and let's not forget Corey's friend, Chumlee that works for them and is their resident idiot.

Tuesday, February 22

Terry loves eating at Cracker Barrel. We eat there nearly every time we go to Jonesboro for an appointment. Terry loves to order chicken fried chicken...and I order something different almost every time, but I do love me some homemade lemonade in an icy mug.

Wednesday, February 23

Jackie has been battling colon cancer for the past year. I saw her last March when she had surgery but haven't seen her since. We've talked on the phone a lot more often, but I haven't seen her. I do need to get over to Walnut Ridge for a visit as soon as I can.

Thursday, February 24

This is a very prevalent sight these days. One of Maggie's favorite spots is nestled right next to my thigh in the trough between the couch cushions. It is a perfect fit.

Friday, February 25

This is the sight you get when Mag has been blissfully napping in "her spot" beside me on the couch and I have to get up to do something...she is so relaxed she just lays there on her back...a position I've never seen her in before and it's oh so funny.

Saturday, February 26

I really do like our home to feel cozy and welcoming, but not fussy. This is our guest bath. I like having the little lamp on all the time (to hide the dust) and the clock is vintage looking yet practical. That's how I roll. Ha!

Well, there's one week closer to being caught up. More to come. I know you await the arrival with baited breath!

HE'S ALIVE!!!!!! RISE UP!!

2011-04-25T18:41:00.004-05:00

I have been "out of commission" for quite a while with a total knee replacement and have lots of blog catching up to do. It's coming. I promise. But, in the meantime, I just had to share this video clip. I cannot watch this without breaking out in exuberant tears and want to dance and sing to the top of my voice. Enjoy...and rise up yourself!

Project Life-Week 6

2011-02-19T18:45:00.005-06:00

This weekend is the River Retreat at Heber Springs on the Little Red River at Lindsey's Resort and I am not there for the first time since the retreat began. In honor of the retreat I am digitally scrapping from home today. Here is Week 6 from my Project Life.

So, here are my daily entries......

Sunday: On many a drive to Searcy we've seen fields full of thousands of geese and have never been close enough to photograph them. Well, these were found in a field just west of town near the church. There were so many of them that you couldn't really photograph all of them at once.

Monday: Since getting our Wii for Christmas we have come to need a daily dose of table tennis. We are both vicious competitors when it comes to the game and we have even created several "miis" to be our cheering section on the sidelines...Jill, Tim, Jay, Belinda, Jimmy, Donna, and Mama, and Daddy.

Tuesday: Our newest obsession has become the SkiDo competitions.

It really feels like you are zooming along in the water...

except when we smack into a wall it's hilarious instead of tragic.

It's become a good stress reliever.

Wednesday: We have watched every single season of Survivor since the beginning. The latest Survivor; Survivor: Redemption Island airs tomorrow night and we are ready.

Thursday: Uncle Bill sent me this very old photo of him and Uncle Bob as children. The men are from left to right, Uncle Swon (Dandy's uncle), Jacob Mason Garretson (my great-great grandfather), and Thomas M. Garretson (Dandy's uncle). The photo was taken in the fall of 1929. It's amazing to think how much the world and our lives have changed in Dandy's lifetime.

Friday: Look at this precious baby face. How could anyone not love a face like that? She has a sweet little disposition to go along with it. Maggie brings so much joy and love to our household.

Saturday: Preparations for Meme's big 90th birthday celebration are under way. I scrapbooked a memory book to have at the party complete with edited photos from Meme's life and journaling cards on each page for folks to contribute.

See you again next week. Until then...

God bless your every moment.

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life~Week 5

2011-02-06T12:01:00.005-06:00

Week 5 of the Becky Higgins digital Project Life is completed. Great friend Ginger and I got together to "scrap" all day Saturday. She is doing Project Life as well. It is so encouraging to have a friend that is doing the project with you...gives you a little added incentive to "press on".

Here is the entire week layout in two 12"x12" spread that can be completed online at the Becky Higgins website free with the printed version of your work available at the end of the year normally priced $99.99 but is at a special price for a limited time at $69.99 which, of course, is what I leaped at.

Now to the daily shots....

January 30...

I guess it's a sign of getting old. I was just getting our coats off the hook at church and evidently smacked my hand way hard on the hook. My hand looked awful for several days.

January 31....

One of the new Wii games that we bought with our Christmas gift

Wii points is this geography game.

I like it but I now realize just how little I know about the world's geography.

February 1....

I can't believe I was able to get this good shot of Maggie doing one of her favorite doggy things...lying in the sun and soaking up that wonderful warmth.

February 2....

We went Saturday to shop for a new couch. We found a great couch but it will take two weeks to get delivered so I got the living room furniture moved all around to accomodate for the new stuff. Terry was amazed that the space I left for the couch was exactly the right length without

even measuring.

February 3....

Whoo hoo! Our new couch arrived. It fit exactly in the spot I prepared for it and it is oh so very comfy and nice. I believe we made a very good choice.

February 4....

Maggie has been so gracious to allow me to sit on her new couch. I'm not kidding. She acts as if we bought it for her enjoyment alone. It is quite comfortable. It makes getting out of it a chore.

February 5...

Well, tax season is upon up once again. Terry spent his Saturday doing taxes for friends and family. He has really been putting those new wireless headphones to use too.

Well, that is one more week of life documented. See you next week. May God bless your every endeavor for His glory.

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life~Week 4

2011-02-06T11:22:00.010-06:00

Once again I have completed another week of Project Life. So far, so good. Doing the digital version is so much easier for me than the physical version has been the past two years.

Here is a screen shot of what Week 4 looks like in the book that will be printed at year's end.

January 23rd:

This has become a very common scene in our home. Terry plays Wii Island Flyover while I prepare dinner. It provides a great feeling of getting away without ever having to leave your comfy recliner. :)

January 24th:

With my knees and back still giving me fits, carrying things like laundry and groceries requires some creativity. This "walker" Mom and Dad brought me has helped in so many ways.

January 25th:

Terry introduced me to the Terri Blackstock Christian suspense fiction and we've both enjoyed reading her work this winter. "Word of Honor" was about a crazy veteran that bombed the post office thinking he was in a war with the government. Good book ending with the wedding of Jill, the lawyer and Dan, the fireman.

January 26th:

I have always thought the way Maggie eats her Greenies was just precious with her little paws standing it up so she could gnaw off another hunk of it and she always has to hunt for the perfect place to eat it and that place is always in front of the front door. Funny!

January 27th

Ever since Mallory told me she liked Southern Belle t-shirts I have come to love them too. I especially like the scripture ones. This is my third one and no doubt probably not my last.

January 28th

While moving furniture around to prepare for the arrival of our new couch I went through the contents of the cedar chest and found this comfy, cozy throw that Mallory made us a few Christmases ago. I got it back out to use and got all cuddled up with it...until Mag decided that it was not just Mom's blanket; it was for her too.

Every blanket winds up being Maggie's eventually!

January 29th:

I got Maggie this new bed to have in the living room (since her other bed had become a bedroom bed). When I first gave it to her I thought she'd never use it for a bed. She spent several hours biting it and killing it. I guess now that she has it all smelling like her now,

it can finally become her bed. :)

See you when I complete the next week of Project Life.

Have a fantastically blessed week my friends!

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life~Week 3

2011-02-04T09:25:00.016-06:00

I completed my week 3 of Project Life. I'm already having difficulty in thinking what to photograph each day. I have decided that it's a learned thing to change your thinking about photo-taking and what justifies a photo. It's a snapshot of REAL life.

Now for my PODs....Picture of the Days...

Sunday, January 16:

This year I've decided to read the Bible through

once again only this time around I'll do it in chronological order.

So far it has been very interesting to more easily put events in the proper order.

I know I can make it all the way through.

I just have to be committed to do it and I am.

Monday, January 17:

It has been so cold this week.

I have really enjoyed this gorgeous and oh so good-smelling candle that

Belinda got me for Christmas...sugar cookies. Yummy!

And the glow makes everything seem warmer somehow.

Tuesday, January 18:

Jill got Meg a new kitty to love on and play with since

Daisy died a few weeks ago. I look forward to meeting Miss Camille.

Doesn't she look lively and like a fiesty little thing?....just like Meg!!

Wednesday, January 19:

This is an aerial shot of our neighborhood. You can see who has pools in our neighborhood and see farmland not far from our house...oh, and, of course, Wal-Mart! Thank you Google for the shot of our "hood".

Thursday, January 20:

The weathermen predicted snow and it actually snowed. It snowed nearly all afternoon and was so very pretty coming down. School was let out early and Sweetie even got to close his office early and come home to us. Snow days are no fun without Sweetie home with us.

Friday, January 21: Day two of snow. After the temperatures dipped low again overnight there was a slick layer of ice over all the snow. Maggie thought it was quite fun...but really wished Mama would come out and rescue her after she went out too far. Funny girl! She finally made it back to the house.

Saturday, January 22:

It's the story of my life. I got new jeans thinking I ordered petite length but got medium and crazily thought "Oh well, medium length will be okay." Not so. Nearly every pair of jeans I've ever had were about 6 inches too long. I really need to learn to hem my own pants, don't ya think, since it's not likely that I'll grow 6 inches taller!

That's my third week of 2011. More next week. See ya then.

~Kellie Gene~

Week 2

2011-01-28T10:04:00.006-06:00

Week 2 of Project Life Digital...

Several Netflix movies streamed in through Wii...

"A Christmas Memory", "The Spitfire Grill", "Legendary", "Just Cause", "The Education of Little Tree", and "Billy Elliot"....and the first snow of the year on Tuesday.

Next week!

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life...Again

2011-01-25T11:17:00.007-06:00

For the past two years I have attempted to do Project Life. The first year I took a picture every day and then created my own layouts and made it to June before my resolve played out and so did my project. Last year I actually bought the Project Life kit from the Becky Higgins site. Last year I made it until August and played out. This year I am still hopeful that I'll be able to complete the entire year of photos but have decided to do the digital version and have it printed and bound at the end of the year. Going digital takes out several steps and so will hopefully be much easier to manage.

Here is a screen shot of my first week layout on Project Life Digital. Wish me luck in completing my year-long project.

Sunday: Daisy, Jill's cat, passed away.

Monday: Tim, my brother-in-law actually like the idea of having a scrapbooked calendar for his workspace...but had all pet pictures, because as Jill put it, "He's not really a people person."

Tuesday: The beloved brown leather recliner bit the dust.

Wednesday: Maggie's favorite Christmas gift, a stuffed flea that says, "Bite me".

Thursday: Made to Crave, what I'm reading right now

Friday: A treasure found, a childhood picture of Terry's mother that we didn't know existed

Saturday: Finally getting the Christmas decorations boxed up to return to storage

Made to Crave

2011-01-06T08:38:00.005-06:00

I have discovered something about myself that to others who know me may seem a joke. I am so outgoing usually that no one would ever suspect how careful I am in sharing my truest self. I think that is why it is so difficult for me to blog. I have such a hard time putting my "self" out there for all the world to see. Then...I realized that no one really reads my blog any way...except for a couple of really close friends so...I'm back.

The past several months have been hard. Who am I kidding, at times they've been excruciating. Recovering from the knee surgery has taken way more of a tole upon me physically than I ever imagined it would. And going through the physical agony of it has certainly had an emotional and spiritual effect on me as well. I've always just taken church-going for granted but could not attend, could not participate in corporate worship for quite some time....and I grieved; grieved my little heart out. I've become quite good at crying out to God. Why is it that it takes major grief for me to meet God where He always wants me...at His feet?

These past months of physical limitation and grief have seen many pounds added back to my already bursting-at-the-seams physique. I have happened (God led me) upon a book that so very much speaks to what I have been battling and God's whole perspective on it all...."Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst. I've come to an even more heart-breaking realization: I rely on food to be my comfort, my joy, my reward, my happiness rather than the Lord. God intended for us to be "craving" people so we would crave Him. He never intended for us to crave anything more than we want Him! I am determined to make God, rather than food my focus. I know this part of my journey will not be easy. My focus has been misplaced for so very long. But, I want to learn to trust Him more, love Him more, allow Him to give me a more abundant life in His Word rather than a cheap imitation in food whose comforts are fleeting and so unsatisfying. Join me in my journey won't you? I need all the support I can get.

~Kellie Gene~

Project Life 8.27

2010-08-28T10:07:00.004-05:00

I went to the orthopedic surgeon today. He said both my knees were bone on bone and both had torn ACLs. I was devastated. He recommended both knees be replaced as soon as possible. I was not ready to go that far. I need time to process this. We opted to have an arthroscopic removal of all the torn meniscus in the left knee to give me some pain relief and hopefully postpone the total replacements as long as possible. So, I'll be having surgery in a couple of weeks. I have been very hard on these knees.

Project Life 8.25

2010-08-26T08:58:00.003-05:00

Today is Riley Nicole's fourth birthday. Her mama took this pic this morning as she slept with

her sweet little kitty. She is such a delight and Terry says she is just like her mama at this age.

Happy birthday, precious Riley.

Project Life 8.24

2010-08-26T08:53:00.004-05:00

I just finished reading "The Red Tent". I knew it was a Christian story based on Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, in the Bible. I did read the whole book but I would not recommend it.

It was focused much more on the mystic beliefs of Dinah's mothers rather than what the Bible tells us and had some issues fictionalized that I think were better left undiscussed.

That's all I am going to say.

Project Life 8.23

2010-08-26T08:50:00.002-05:00

I painted our front door red and then painted these huge house numbers on the door.

I like the way it turned out and have in mind to do some other similar projects soon.

Project Life 8.22

2010-08-26T08:47:00.002-05:00

Avery Katherine Hendrix arrived after much waiting to a loving brother and precious

parents and a church family that will love her and seek to raise her in the Lord.

Project Life 8.12

2010-08-26T08:40:00.003-05:00

This is the scene that could be seen at my house for several days.

I hurt my back trying to carry a way-too-heavy can of gasoline while doing yard work.

I rested for days and Rachael Ray became my good friend.

Project Life 8.9

2010-08-26T08:37:00.005-05:00

I have come to love PeachyCheap which sells one scrapbooking product daily.

They have launched a sister site called SideofPeaches which sells a home or fashion

product daily. I got this terrific rub-on saying for our wall from there.

It looks great and goes perfectly with our wall of family photos.

Project Life 8.7

2010-08-26T08:32:00.003-05:00

My precious little neighbor, Junior, went home to be with the Lord this weekend.

I'm teary just typing this. He was the sweetest thing.

He helped me with countless outdoor chores and was always kind and giving with me.

I will miss him more than he probably knew. Can't wait to see him in Heaven.

Project Life 8.6

2010-08-26T08:28:00.002-05:00

Sweetie's sister, Connie, from Birmingham was here visiting a couple of days

so we had a family dinner at Sandbar Grille.

We had a fabulous time together. I love Terry's family.

We have a lot of fun together.

Project Life 8.5

2010-08-26T08:18:00.002-05:00

Maggie has been sick with reoccurring urinary infections for nearly two years now.

While we were in Benton we took her to see vet friend, Sarah Russell Dudley,

who was wonderful for her and has her on the road to recovery. Thank you Sarah!

Project Life 8.4

2010-08-26T08:10:00.003-05:00

Sweetie had meetings in Benton and had an overnight stay planned for Benton.

Mags and I went along. This room was fabulous. That bed was so comfy.

Project Life 8.3

2010-08-26T08:09:00.003-05:00

Can you believe this temperature for Arkansas?

Check out that heat index temp. Crazy hot!

Project Life 8.1

2010-08-26T08:05:00.003-05:00

My sweet baby with her latest toy. Isn't she the cutest.

Whatever is her latest favorite toy always has to sleep with us...

no matter where it is at bedtime, it must be found.

Project Life 7.27

2010-08-26T08:01:00.004-05:00

I did this verse in calligraphy for my friend, Belinda. It's her "life verse".

She needed encouragement and it was my way of trying to do that.

Project Life 7.20

2010-08-25T19:59:00.002-05:00

I had MRIs done on both knees at the imaging center in

Jonesboro which took all evening.

I was concerned since I had really freaked the last time I

had an MRI back before my back surgery.

I am so thankful the MRI machine was open and my technician

was so considerate of me. Praise God!

Project Life 7.12

2010-08-25T19:51:00.002-05:00

I made this accordion tin album for my friend, Melinda, for her birthday.

Project Life 7.10

2010-08-25T19:47:00.001-05:00

My darling baby girl is getting older and getting white hair all over her face and paws, but just gets sweeter and sweeter. She is, after all, our only child!

Project Life 7.9

2010-08-25T19:43:00.002-05:00

My sweet little student, Kaitlin Gilham, shared this favorite photo with me on Facebook. She is now in med school...and I'm an old housewife. It's hard to believe how we've change in this time. Seeing this picture takes me back to such a happy time.

Project Life 7.7

2010-08-25T19:39:00.003-05:00

We got a much needed lovely gully washer. It has been so dry and stuff is dying because I am such a bad waterer of things so a good rain is much appreciated.

Project Life 7.5

2010-08-25T19:36:00.003-05:00

Baby sister, Jill, and family went for a week to Pensacola and, believe it or not, this is the first photo I've seen of her with her hubby since they were married some 20 years ago.

Project Life 7.3

2010-08-25T19:09:00.001-05:00

We went to a huge family gathering of Sweetie's family.

It was hotter than all getout, but fun being with his crazy family.

These two are his conservative cousins..

and no, that is NOT their hog.

Project Life 7.1

2010-08-25T18:59:00.003-05:00

I spend several hours each week loading graphics into the Media Shout

program for worship each week for our church. I see this scene a LOT!

Project Life 6.30

2010-08-25T18:55:00.003-05:00

Doctor's exam room awaiting my nurse practitioner to come tell me I'm losing weight. Yipee!

Project Life 6.29

2010-08-25T18:51:00.002-05:00

Bliss! Coffee. Sunshine. Quiet. Morning. Privacy. Patio. Time with the Lord.

Project Life 6.24

2010-08-25T18:39:00.003-05:00

Jim, Donna, James, and Martha all came over to have strawberry pizza and

celebrate my forty-ummhummth birthday. A good time was had by all.

Project Life 6.20

2010-08-25T18:35:00.003-05:00

Who would have ever in a million years thought they'd ever see Daddy and Maggie become friends? Daddy actually asked her if she wanted him...and she did!!!

I think they are both mellowing in their old age!

Project Life 6.22

2010-08-25T18:30:00.002-05:00

I have become addicted to Mahjong online.

There's just something about being able to clear the board.

Project Life 6.18

2010-08-25T18:25:00.003-05:00

We went to spend the weekend with my parents and Mama and Daddy wound up barbecuing for us rather than us doing for them. That's just the way my parents are. Gotta love them!

Project Life 6.16

2010-08-25T18:22:00.001-05:00

The day after I get the roses they always look best. Aren't they absolutely gorgeous?

Project Life 6.15

2010-08-25T18:17:00.003-05:00

Sweetie and I celebrated our 14th anniversary. Sweetie knows I love peach roses. Funny how I never expect to receive them and I always get them.

Project Life 6.14

2010-08-25T18:14:00.003-05:00

My cute little mama. She has been going with my little sister, Jill, shopping for the girls pretty often. Mama will pose for the granddaughters to take pics that she would never allow in the past. Who is this woman? She is not the same one that raised me!

Project Life 6.10

2010-08-25T17:03:00.004-05:00

Our church did portraits with Olan Mills for a newer directory.

The pictures turned out okay even if they do look like us. Ha.

Project Life 6.9

2010-08-25T16:59:00.002-05:00

I grew these fabulous and TALL sunflowers this summer.

At their tallest they were taller than the eaves of the house.

They were pretty for a season...but that season was short-lived with the hot, dry summer.

Project Life 6.3

2010-08-25T16:56:00.003-05:00

Maggie got a HUGE package in the mail from precious Doylene who truly loves her.

This 'monster' became her very favorite. She can bark and defur it for hours at a time.

Thanks Doylene. She LOVES it!

There is a Redeemer

2010-07-26T10:36:00.006-05:00

There is a Redeemer--Jesus, God's own Son;

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.

Thank You, oh my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done.

Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names;

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Hope for sinners slain.

Thank You, oh my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done.

Steve Green, 1982.

Early May

2010-05-20T17:02:00.003-05:00

So, May is drawing to an end and it is just flying by. Summer will soon be upon us. And what have I been up to, you ask?

I have been eating more healthily which means a lot more protein shakes with flaxseed. This one happens to be blueberry/yogurt. It really tasted better than it looks.

I have been studying Esther with Beth Moore. Just me and Beth and Christ. It is as though I am in the audience with everyone else in the studio...and like she is speaking to me alone.

I scrapped this precious baby boy mini album...now if someone would just be having a boy for me to gift it to.

We celebrated Mama's 65th birthday. This cake was really a lot cuter than the photo shows. It was a gardening theme, but I was afraid the Cake Wrecks blogger might nab this for those bizarre blobs of dirt. I hear they tasted yummy anyway.

I participated in a scrapbook page elements swap. My theme was Thanksgiving and the pieces turned out well.

We celebrated Mother's Day down at West Point at my Meme and Dandy's house. While sitting around the table cutting up my Meme's former neighbor popped in unexpectantly. We'd not seen Hope in over a decade. She looks just like she did when I was a child.

I got a new haircut. We are growing it out into a wedge. I can never get it to look like it does when the hairdresser does it. But then again, I only spend like five minutes on it. So that could be the problem.

Many times a day this is the scene I see...Maggie begging me with her sweetest look to get me to go outside with her and play ball.

We had major flooding in town at the beginning of the month with tornadic storms on two weekends in a row.

I live such an ordinary life, do I not?

Catching Up

2010-04-22T07:57:00.004-05:00

I am such a terrible blogger. Countless times since I last blogged I considered just canning the whole blog and calling it a fail. Funny how failure makes you further fail, isn't it? Anyway.....

What have I been up to?............................

READING THE LEFT BEHIND SERIES. I'M NOW READING BOOK 9.

GETTING MY HAIR CUT AND STYLED BY A NEW HAIRDRESSER.

TAKING CARE OF TERRY WHEN HIS BRACE WAS

BROKEN SEVERAL DAYS AND WAS RENDERED IMMOBILE.

I NOW HAVE A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION FOR

THAT LOVELY BRACE.

DOING MOUNDS AND MOUNDS OF LAUNDRY.

THE PILE NEVER DISAPPEARS FOR LONG.

SCRAPBOOKING WITH MY GREAT SCRAPPING BUDDIES.

WE HAVE A GOOD TIME TOGETHER.

MOPPING THE FLOOR WHAT FEELS LIKE

HUNDREDS OF TIMES A DAY.

I LOVE OUR MAGGIE DOG, BUT THIS PEEING

ON THE FLOOR ALL THE TIME IS WEARING ME DOWN.

See, now you know why I don't blog much...

there is nothing to tell really.

What a utterly normal life I lead!

Project Life...Week 3

2010-01-26T18:07:00.011-06:00

Monday: We have really become fans of “Big Bang Theory”. We watch it every week and Terry requested the whole series DVD for Christmas.

Tuesday: There was a tremendous earthquake in Haiti on 1-10 with hundreds of thousands killed. We contributed to the Florida Baptist who have planted many church missions in Haiti and are on site to offer relief and the Good News.

Wednesday: I scrapped 14 calendars last year for Christmas. I have already begun working on this year’s calendars and intend to work on them at the River Retreat at the end of the month.

Thursday: I began working on assembling the Project Life kit. I love how easy it is to organize the Pic-a-Day project.

Friday: Terry had meetings in Conway so we went to Searcy for a couple of nights and celebrated Meg’s 14^th birthday at Meme and Dandy’s house. Build your own nachos was a big hit.

Saturday: Nancy Person Tacorda found me on Facebook and thinks we may be related. We are researching family history to see if we are kin.

Sunday: We celebrated Ronna’s birthday at Mi Pueblo Sunday at lunch. She was a very good sport for the cream whip in the face.

Project Life...Week 2

2010-01-26T16:53:00.004-06:00

Monday: Maggie got this great coat for Christmas which she actually likes wearing and, being the cold-natured little weenie baby that she is, she likes that it keeps her warm.

Tuesday: I have begun the new online Beth Moore Bible Study called "Wising Up"; a topical study from Proverbs. It is so good. We could all use a little wising up!

Wednesday: Today is Maggie's seventh birthday. She got some new squeaky toys for her birthday, which isn't really all that special since she is so spoiled that she expects a new toy every time I come in from shopping. She is just like a little kid wanting to know what Mama got her.

Thursday: It has been frigidly cold this week so I made up a huge pot of sweet potato sausage soup for us and delivered some to the Naylors to eat while Joyce recovers from surgery.

Friday: I spent a good deal of the day getting all the photo files and journaling documents set up for the photo-a-day project. Things are so much simpler when you spend a little time getting organized in the beginning.

Saturday: I finished my second book of the year, "Midnight Sea" by Colleen Coble, which is a continuation of the Aloha Series.
Sunday: Sunday was the first ever Walk for Life for Osceola to promote Pro-Life. We didn't do the walk but did join everyone for the gathering at the courthouse where Brother Jay spoke and Belinda sang this heartrending song from the aborted baby's point of view. There was a very good turnout.

Project Life...Week 1

2010-01-26T15:56:00.008-06:00

I'm doing a version of Project 365 again this year where you snap a photo every day and document your "real" life. I ordered this fantastic kit called Project Life from Becky Higgins, professional scrapbooker. I love it. I have been gradually been getting everything organized for it. I think I might actually finish the project this year. Last year I only made it to July. So far I have all the folders set up on my laptop and have a journaling document set up for each week, which should help me not get overwhelmed...and I bought myself a scraproom printer for Christmas so I can print photos at home. So far so good.
Here is week one so far....

Monday: I have been sick with a cold, coughing, etc. so a good deal of my day was spent drinking this lovely tea which I love every day, but especially when I am sick.

Tuesday: Terry and I got each other Nooks for Christmas and they finally arrived today. I just love it. I can take my whole library with me anywhere and download a book in a couple of minutes.

Wednesday: Terry bought himself a new rolltop desk for his hobby room, so he can better organize his "stuff"....and, of course, Maggie had to get in on the pic.

Thursday: We watched "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" and gave it 5 stars. It was funny and we enjoyed seeing parts of the Smithsonian that we had actually visited.

Friday: I finally got all the Christmas stuff packed up. I was quite late this year but that is okay. I have been sick. I also reorganized our ornaments to take up less storage space...and gleaned out only the stuff we really love.

Saturday: I finished "Cry in the Night" which was a fourth in the Rock Harbor series. I love Colleen Coble's style of Christian suspense.

Sunday: Last year I read the Bible through for the first time. I decided that this year I wanted to read the Bible through again only in chronological order. I love this Bible. It makes reading the Bible through so much easier.

Christmas with My Family

2010-01-04T09:46:00.005-06:00

We always travel to my parents' on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas with my extended family. We gather for dinner on Christmas Eve and spend the evening playing games together.
This year we played Taboo. We had a great time playing and the entire family joined in. Amazing.

The tree at Mom's is one of the images of "home" for me.
Mama always does things in her home
that just makes Christmas so special.
Coming home to traditions is so comforting to me....
but going home to family
is the most blessed thing about Christmas for me.

My granddaddy, Dandy, is celebrating his 91st year.
He is so precious to me.
We are so blessed for the Lord to let us have Dandy
with us for so long and so well.

Maggie loves all the unwrapping frenzy of Christmas morning
and thinks every gift must surely be something for HER,
but when everything settles down
she is ready to once again be welcomed into Mama's arms.

My daddy just cracks me up. He is always ready for fun and
hamming it up for Macy as she tries out her new camera....
and he and I look amazingly alike...there's no denying it.

Macy and Meg are no longer "little", but they enjoy the Christmas
experience at Grammy and PawPaw's with all the family still.

Mama is rarely surprised and rarely tickled,
but Terry's gift to Mama caught her by surprise.

The gift from Terry? The puzzle Mama gave him as a joke last year,
which is of Bill and Hillary Clinton,
framed and given back to her. Funny.

My precious grandparents, Meme and Dandy, at 88 and 91,
bless our lives in more ways than they may ever know.

Our Christmas

2010-01-02T13:28:00.004-06:00

We celebrated Christmas here on Christmas Eve. It's a joke that I like sugar in nearly any form which T finds funny...so I always get Cotton Candy for Christmas...and I always consume it QUICKLY.

T got this precious Charlie Brown tree from Connie. Isn't is just the cutest thing?

I really have pared down the furniture in the living room for the holidays so things aren't too cluttered so my most loved nativity is atop the entertainment center which I like
because it is often seen while the TV is on.

T's precious little tinsel tree which he loves because it reminds him of his childhood was loaded with shiny glass ornaments and amid the dining table.

Maggie got this new little faux shearling coat which she looks so cute in and she actually likes wearing it in the tremendous cold temps we have had recently.

T and I love the sitcom "Big Bang Theory" so he got season
two on DVD and we have watched it all.

T gave me a long list of books he wanted. Here is "Going Rogue" by Sarah Palin. He loves political and biographical books so this fit the bill.

So, it was a merry Christmas here.

Christmas Wishes

2009-12-20T19:55:00.003-06:00

Some of the things on this year's Christmas wish list are:

This neat gel mat for the kitchen which I'm hoping will help my back/knees when cooking from HSN, believe it or not.
This Nook from Barnes and Noble,an e-book reader with wi-fi to buy and download instantly, holds up to 1,500 books, magazines, and newspapers, touchscreen, virtual bookmark, notes, highlights, and so much more that I haven't discovered yet.

These cozy and comfy slippers with memory foam soles from Bath and Body Works.This iPod touch; which I likely will not get...but, I can wish, can't I?

iPod touch is a great iPod, a great pocket computer and a great portable game player. The new 32GB iPod touch models boast improved performance, making it up to 50% faster than the previous generation. Listen to a mix of songs automatically put together just for you using the new Genius Mixes feature. Watch a movie or TV show on the brilliant 3.5" display. Surf the web, get rich HTML e-mail and update your social network profiles thanks to built-in Wi-Fi. Discover new games and apps easily with new Genius recommendations for apps. And since iPod touch now comes with the latest 3.1 software already installed, you can start using the fun, convenient features right out of the box.

And this One Year Chronological Bible that I've already bought myself to be ready for my daily Bible reading for next year.

Christmas Rituals

2009-12-11T21:03:00.008-06:00

Sweetie took the afternoon off to rest...and be with me. We watched some of our Christmas favorites tonight that we've not been able to see yet.
First was "A Christmas Story" (Sweetie's favorite),
Then, of course, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (one of my very favorites),
And last, "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer", (both our childhood favorite).

Some things just make Christmas more "Christmas-y", so I'm glad Sweetie has Christmas rituals that I like too.

Precious Kitty

2009-12-06T20:40:00.002-06:00

I'm sure nearly everyone has seen this video clip by now, but I just have to share it. Isn't is just the cutest thing??

I am blessed!

2009-11-26T12:57:00.006-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm so thankful. I'm stuck laid up with this stinking sciatica rather than doing "Burnett Thanksgiving" with Sweetie. Even though I'm not stuffing my face and enjoying family right now, I have very much to be thankful for. I'm counting my many blessings:

1. A Savior who is so loving and merciful to me.
2. A sweetie that I love more each new day and loves me so much; such a blessing in my life.
3. A home to call our own that is comfortable and not killing us to pay for.
4. A church family that is so special to us; who really loves us like family.
5. Family that loves the Lord and loves me.
6. Meaningful ministry that fulfills me.
7. Yummy coffee to wake me gently each morning.
8. God's Word that becomes more precious to me each passing day.
9. A sweet puppy girl whose center of her world is me and adores me unconditionally.
10. A mama who is my friend; who I am proud to be called her daughter; who is so special to me.
11. A daddy who has invested so much of himself for me; who I am honored to be so much like.
12. The blessing of being a stay at home wife; homemaker; wife; a furbaby's mama.

I am so thankful for my family; my darling husband and our sweet pup.

Healing

2009-10-11T07:58:00.000-05:00

I really am a terrible blogger. I read all the fascinating things people are doing or the profound thoughts others express on their blogs and think to myself that I just don't really do anything all that fascinating in my life (my daily life is so very ordinary) and I certainly don't sit around thinking any profound thoughts that are worthy of a good blog article. Then, I got to thinking that probably my blog readers are people who already know of my ordinary life and my ordinary thoughts and love me anyway. Having said all that, I choose to blog.
I don't have any earth shattering deep thoughts to share, but I can share what the Lord is doing in me. I was able to attend Living Proof Live in Memphis this weekend. I so very much needed to hear from the Lord a fresh word. I needed to commune with Him...and He met me there. I have a new hunger for the the Word of God; the living and active Word of God...to me! Blessed is the one who needs Jesus...and I so do! I am struck with a new sense of God's love for me. I truly know I am loved by God and He desires to fully heal me if I will but allow His full healing in my life. Christ came to heal the brokenhearted. He truly loves me enough to fully heal my heart....body and soul. He wants to give me true freedom. He wants to thoroughly heal me, not just put a band-aid on my deep, deep wound. Praise be to God, our Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Bed Bound

2009-08-21T08:23:00.003-05:00

Well, the muscle pull is still screaming so it looks like it's going to be a hang out in bed day. Never fear, I have my faithful pup by my side. I'm not sure who is taking care of who...or is it whom. I don't know. I've been away from the classroom too long.

I am still faithfully working on my read the Bible through in a year goal. I have been saved for 33 [gasp] years and have never read the entire Bible. I'm not very geared toward being a tortoise and trudging to the goal. I am more of a hare...run fast, burn out, stop. The Lord has been in it. After a few months, it really has just become a new way of life. I don't know why I never did this in the past. I'm reading Psalms now and the latest verse of interest is Psalm 119:105~"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." I am finally letting the Word light my path. Praise be to the God of my salvation.

Meme

2009-08-20T07:46:00.004-05:00

It's been the weirdest summer of rain this year. I awoke to Maggie barking her ever-lovin head off at the rain. Not a fun way to awake 'before' the alarm.

It's going to be a very still day for me. In organizing the scrap room yesterday I moved a heavy box in an unwise way and today am in major pain. It literally hurts to breathe. I have pulled muscles in my chest and side. Who knew I even had chest muscles?? So I'm trying to remember to breathe 'little' this morning which is harder than it might seem.

My dear friend, Kim, lost her mother this week and we went to the funeral visitation last night. Being there made me think how utterly blessed I am to not only still have my parents with me but three of my grandparents as well. Having them in my life has so richly blessed my life. Grandparents love you in a way no one else can. My Meme has always bragged on me and supported me like I was a celebrity. Having someone express their love for you in such a way is invaluable, especially when you are a most unsure kid. I'm so grateful for the love my Meme has blessed me with.

Wordless Wednesday...Late

2009-07-02T08:17:00.002-05:00