Snakes, Llamas and other Critters

This is an albino Burmese Python-picture courtesy of Wikipedia

This is also an albino Burmese Pynthon's head...up close and personal. Brought to you by my camera and of course the "Petting Zoo" at a community event our church hosted last weekend. I was asked to be photographer...and I had way too much fun!!

Double Decker Snakes... the kids had a BALL!

And now...you get to see me hanging out with my 9' friend last Sunday. Looks like I never learned my lesson when I was just a young thing...

Yep...I was in to Snake Handing back in the dark ages as well ~ 1976

(dark ages...you know...when my hair was dark...before all this gray)

This picture is dedicated to our Llama lovin daughter, Megan.

Meg, you would have LOVED this little lady...she was a real friendly gal and we got along great!

She liked me because I fed her...

and she also decided she liked my camera. She wanted to eat my lens. Bad Llama.

As you can tell I hung out around the Petting Zoo alot Sunday afternoon.

From time to time we do "just for fun" type events open to our community. Someplace safe and exciting to bring the kids and enjoy some family time together. They called it "Western Days" (we do live in Texas you know), had a free lunch and all sorts of activites for the kids. That evening we wrapped up the day with a nice dinner for the adults and a comedy show that kept us all cracking up. I'll spare you the other 437 pictures I edited and handed in to the church yesterday...but suffice it to say, it was an enjoyable day!!

Incredible Story

A truly awesome testimony!!! And we think we have troubles..............
I recently received this email from a cousin and was captivated by Nick's story. What an incredible ministry Nick has and willingness to share God's love through so much personal pain and challenge. This story and the videos below put life into perspective...especially when I think I'm having a "bad day".

"My name is Nick Vujicic and I give God the Glory for how He has used my testimony to touch thousands of hearts around the world! I was born without limbs and doctors have no medical explanation for this birth "defect". As you can imagine, I was faced with many challenges and obstacles. "Consider it pure joy, my Brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." ..To count our hurt, pain and struggle as nothing but pure joy? As my parents were Christians, and my Dad even a Pastor of our church, they knew that verse very well. However, on the morning of the 4th of December 1982 in Melbourne (Australia), the last two words on the minds of my parents was "Praise God!". Their firstborn son had been born without limbs! There were no warnings or time to prepare themselves for it. The doctors were shocked and had no answers at all! There is still no medical reason why this had happened and Nick now has a Brother and Sister who were born just like any other baby. The whole church mourned over my birth and my parents were absolutely devastated. Everyone asked, "if God is a God of Love, then why would God let something this bad happen to not just anyone, but dedicated Christians?" My Dad thought I wouldn't survive for very long, but tests proved that I was a healthy baby boy just with a few limbs missing. "And we know that in all things God works for the best for those who love Him." That verse spoke to my heart and convicted me to the point where that I know that there is no such thing as luck, chance or coincidence that these "bad" things happen in our life. I had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all.

I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was "so that the works of God may be revealed through Him." I truly believed that God would heal me so I could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power. Later on I was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something, if it's God's will, it'll happen in His time. If it's not God's will for it to happen, then I know that He has something better. I now see that Glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can't be used.

I am now twenty-three years old and have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. I am also a motivational speaker and love to go out and share my story and testimony wherever opportunities become available. I have developed talks to relate to and encourage students through topics that challenge today's teenagers. I am also a speaker in the corporate sector.

I have a passion for reaching out to youth and keep myself available for whatever God wants me to do, and wherever He leads, I follow. I have many dreams and goals that I have set to achieve in my life. I want to become the best witness I can be of God's Love and Hope, to become an international inspirational speaker and be used as a vessel in both Christian and non-Christian venues. I want to become financially independent by the age of 25, through real estate investments, to modify a car for me to drive and to be interviewed and share my story on the " Oprah Winfrey Show "! Writing several best-selling books has been one of my dreams and I hope to finish writing my first by the end of the year. ?

It will be called "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!"? I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things. We put God in a "box". The awesome thing about the Power of God, is that if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him. Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's! ? ?
ONLY FEAR IN LIFE IS THAT I FORGET HOW GOD HAS LED ME I N THE PAST! And remember: WHEN YOU'RE BUSY JUDGING PEOPLE, YOU HAVE NO TIME TO LOVE THEM. May the Lord Bless you. In Christ, Nick Vujicic"

I was so captivated by Nick's story that I went searching for some more info on him. Here is a video of how Nick goes through his day...Amazing and Inspirational:


If you want to hear more about the ministry he has...


And go here for yet another encounter with Nick.

Thank you Lord for raising up this man to show Your Glory!!

Apples of Gold

Apples of Gold in shining Silver;

That's what our words should be.

May the glowing of Your Spirit

Reflect, O Lord, in me.

Help me to guard each word I speak;

May only love proceed,

So that what others hear from me, Lord,

Is really what they need.

May all my words be seasoned, Lord,

So richly by Thy grace,

That when others look upon me

They see Your glorious face.

"A Word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Proverbs 25:11

"Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited." Titus 2:3-5

Poem taken from: "Apples of Gold" by Betty Huizenga

Do You Worry?

You may have seen this article making it's rounds in the email loops... I wanted to share it here because worry really can infect many parts of our day-to-day living. What are your thoughts?

Do you worry?

Is there a magic cut-off period when offspring become accountable for their own Actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug, 'It'sTheir life,' and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for doctors to put a few stitches in my son's head. I asked, 'When do you stop worrying?' The nurse said, 'When they get out of the accident stage.' My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and heard how one of my children talked incessantly and disrupted the class. I was certain that he was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my mind, the teacher said, 'Don't worry, they all go through this stage and then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them.' My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to ring... the cars to come home... the front door to open. A friend said,'They're trying to find themselves. Don't worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults.' My dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle. There was nothing I could do about it. My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

I continued to anguish over their lives, be tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments. My friends said that when my kids were married, I could stop worrying and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my Dad's warm smile and his occasional, 'You look pale. Are you all right? Call me the minute you get home. Are you upset about something?'

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life?

One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, 'Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I was worried.' I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.

This article asks the question: "Is concern a curse or is it a virtue...?" I would differentiate between "concern" and "worry"...but the truth is that it is a fine line that divides the two!! I think for those of us who desire to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5) and to "be anxious for nothing" (Phil.4:6) this can be Satan's playground in our hearts and minds.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." Isaiah 32:17

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" John 14:27

Click here for some interesting research and information on Anxiety and Stress. Do you know researchers are finding that the thickness of your brain can make a difference in your ability to handle stress and fear?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!

Where has the time gone?? Can it REALLY be 24 years since

we brought you home from the hospital?!
At six months old...could you have been any cuter?? Don't think so!
This has always been one of my favorite birthday pictures of you. Awwww... those memories of Birthdays at Chucky Cheeses! This was Birthday #3.
Our "Muffy in the Middle"

Still likes her "treats". We're so glad you were able to come home over the weekend so we could celebrate your birthday and have a chance to spoil you a little. The fondue dinner was fun and I'm glad you chose berries, cream and angel food cake for your dessert....yummmy!

We are thankful for you and that God brought you into our family. It was sad to be apart today...the first time we haven't been together on your birthday to personally spoil you and help you celebrate. Here are some balloons for you... Just pretend they were hanging from your ceiling fan when you awoke this morning. :-) Glad we got to have a nice visit on the phone today!

We love you very much!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Muff!!

Homeschool Family

If you know ANYTHING about homeschooling...you know there are many sterotypes that come with the territory. This video by Tim Hawkins cracked me up!!

If you ever get a chance to see Tim in person DO IT!!! Don't walk...run!! He puts on a great show...I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in all my life. We still quote him around our house from the skits we saw him do a few years ago. Check out his website.
Special thanks to my Sista for the "heads-up" on this new video. And a special dedication to our dear friend Mimi!! ;-)

Will Wonders Never Cease????

Oh My GOSH!!! Pass me the smelling salts Pleeeeeeease!!!! My wonderful sister AND her lovely daughter posted a comment to my little blog (below)...both in the same day! Will WONDERS NEVER CEASE??!! In the year and a half I have been blogging, this is a first...she has come to visit us AND posted a comment!!! (Of course we won't mention that my neice, Jessica, probably had to show her how to leave a comment.) PLEASE.... all you bloggy friends... leave a kind comment for Lynda & Jessica...WELCOME them to Blogville and entice them to join us in the fun!!! Pleeeeeeeease??!! Maybe you have more pull than I do! Happy Friday to all and have a Great weekend!!
P.S. I don't have a nick name...Sis... remember? Only favored children have a nick name. But I'm not bitter, I put my Big Girl Panties on...I can handle it.

Thanks Spoink!!

A special "Thank you" goes to my sister, "Spoink"! (lovingly named by my brother-not sure where he came up with THAT one!) Of course you wouldn't know this sister, because she does not blog in her "free" time like those of us from Blogville. No, instead, she keeps very busy managing her husband's band.

Anyways, Sis sent me this cute little Hallmark Christmas ornament

she recently found at an "After Christmas Sale".

We are a family of "Do It Yourself-ers" and so she knew we'd get a kick out of this cute work bench ornament.

I know when she saw the nice, orderly, clean workbench that she IMMEDIATELY thought of us. You know the kind of bench you can actually work on because there is ALWAYS a clean work surface to spread out your current project? Because, after all, that is what work benches are for...to work on. Yes, I am certain that is why this workbench reminded her of us.

So thank you my dear Sista for brightening my day. And HAPPY FRIDAY to you!

The Starry Dance

Did you get a chance to peer out early this morning to see a spectacular event in the easter sky? Jupiter & Venus are converging and were at peek viewing before dawn this morning. However, if you missed it, you will have a chance to see the starry dance again over the next few days. I'm afraid my feeble pictures don't do it justice by any means...sorry, these low res files barely show the stars. Plus, I didn't take them until 7am, so they had already begun to give way to sunrise.

Check out this link @ Space.com or this Nasa link for general info. Also...A few days ago I received an email from Rick Larson, the producer of the DVD: The Star of Bethlemhem. (the one I gave away before Christmas) Here are a few excerpts from his email...

"This event will be impressive from today until about Monday, February 4, with the closest approach of the planets occurring on Friday, February 1. Enjoy! They say "close only counts in horseshoes and kisses". But here's a pretty cool near miss!

For the next few days you can go out in your own yard and see an event similar to the Star of Bethlehem. Depending upon weather (and sleep habits), you may be able to see a close approach of Jupiter and Venus. Great viewing for the next few days.

To see this spectacle, you'll need to look to the eastern sky just before dawn. Depending upon the terrain where you stand, you may first see the paired stars rising in the east around 5.40a. They'll appear later if there are trees or other obstructions on your horizon. The show will continue until the Sun rises and washes everything out around 7.30a. So there's a good viewing window for many of you, even if you're not normally early risers. Do take a look! You'll probably be out of bed by 7 anyway, so go outside!

Now, how does this compare to the Star of Bethlehem? Here are some helpful units, starting with what you already know, but moving to things you probably DON'T know:

A full circle = 360 degrees
Visible sky = around 180 degrees
Width of a finger held at armslength = about 2 degrees
One degree = 60 arcminutes
Resolving power of unaided human eye = about 3 arcminutes
One arcminute = 60 arcseconds

With that background. You'll see this clearly! On February 1, the planets will be separated by around 35 acrminutes. The resolving power of the unaided human eye is about 3 arcminutes, so they will appear very close, but still separable. The 2 BC Star of Bethlehem occurred when the two planets came within about 35 arcSECONDS of one another. About 60 times closer! The two became inseparable by even the best human eyes."

(Thanks to Bee for the NASA link ;-)