Just a day in the park!

Say hello to, as Noah says it, " Anafee!"

He is Anthony, and he is my brother's little boy.
And this is what he thinks of Aunt T and her camera, but...

.....put him in a swing, and who knows what might happen!

Getting better.....

I found a new way to make this little booger smile!One thing that's true about an almost 2 year old little boy is that he is very busy!!! And has no problem knowing what he wants, and figuring out how to get it!!!

The slide!

The rocking frog!

And the merry-go-round.


He totally thought he was grown!

And now, say hello to Anthony's "I am so tired/put that dadgum camera away" face!!!

But, that's o.k. Aunt T still loves him very much!

Preppy Boy

That's so 1990s Prep, with the pastel polo shirt, the clean cut sweater vest, nice khaki slacks, and cool brown shoes.
Spirit Week Continues!

I really wanted to do either the grease look of the 60s, cuffed pants, rolled up sleeves on t-shirt, penny loafers. Or the 80s sporty look, with the windsuit and bright colors. Or even the acid wash jeans look.

Turns out it's hard to get any of this in size 5 in about 5 thrift stores!!! Of course, I didn't have lots of money to spend, or time to find it, but this works. Noah liked it!!! He said he's dressed all nice and clean! haha.

Spirit week at school

Last week, a friend mentioned that spirit week was coming up at our children's' school, and I said, "Oh goody, revival!" Well, that's not what was meant, it's school spirit week, in honor of the middle school football team's homecoming week, and each day is something different. Today is crazy sock and crazy hair day. How'd we do?

This is Noah and our neighbor who he rides to school with, and she rides home with us. They are so BFF!!! Tomorrow is 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s week. I was confused because I thought I dressed the same in the 90s that I do now!!! haha. And in the 80s, I wore diapers!!! We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Go Panthers!!!

Random Thoughts

Today is the day I decided to dump all of my thoughts into one big blog!!!

If you are still reading this, try to keep up!

First let me say....

Here's me 20 years ago...

And here I am 20 years from now!!!

That's actually my dear ole momma, at her "surprise" birthday party. She has lots of experience at being 29!!!

We celebrated mom and my nephew's birthdays the same night,and it was definitely one night to remember.

Next, a lady at our church who is an aspiring photographer took this next picture of me. I have shared on here in the past about the kiddos I love at church, but this is an example of another way God uses me, and I am so happy that she snapped this picture!

Moving right along...who else is super excited about fall?

I don't think it's just me, I think it's everywhere. And to be honest, I never remember being so excited about it. Last year, I was the most excited about winter, the year before, summer, the year before that, spring. So, I think this is God's conclusion to a 4 part series in my life about seasons. I am so happy about the fall.

God's been showing me lots of things with the season change, that I'll be sharing later on. It'll get it's own post. And coincidentally, yesterday morning our pastor preached on harvest.

Harvest-time ya'll!!!

And let me mention that a few weeks back, I got to go to a One Way Street Puppet Training Day over in Mobile. While I'm not real sure if God wants to use me with puppets, I did get some good ideas on some things, and I am thankful for the experience.

To be an effective teacher, you must think like a child!

And last but not least, I am super busy planning a 40th birthday party for my hubby, who knows about the party, but no details about it!!! Golly it's hard to plan something without telling him all of the details! If anyone has any good ideas for throwing a huge party on a budget, please do tell!!!

Check this out!!!

A friend of mine is entering the world of blogging, and she is doing one blog for her personal life, and one for her business. She is a photographer, I've seen her in action at birthday parties and such, and she does a wonderful job!!! Go check her out!

Thanks!

This was sent to me by e-mail, and I just had to post it on here!!!

Amazing facts about our awesome God!

God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs.For example:
-the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days;
-those of the canary in 14 days;
-those of the barnyard hen in 21 days;
-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days;
-those of the mallard in 35 days;
-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.
(Notice, they are all divisible by seven , the number of days in a week!)

God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant.. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first.

A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first.

How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains.

-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.
-Each orange has an even number of segments.
-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.
-Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.
-Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.

-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.

All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundredfold - all even numbers.

God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!Thus the Lord in His wonderful grace can arrange the life that is entrusted to His care in such a way that it will carry out His purposes and plans, and will be fragrant with His presence.

Only the God-planned safe life is successful. Only the life given over to the care of the Lord is fulfilled.The lives of each of you may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if you will only entrust Him with your life. If you try to regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure. Only the One Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS AS FASCINATING AS I DID.
May God Bless You In Ways You Never Even Dreamed Of....Today!

Giveaway from Things and Stuff!

Please check out a friend of mine over at Things and Stuff for an awesome give away opportunity!

I have advertised for her on here before: she is one of my high school friend's aunt, she was my teacher one year in high school, she she used to be my in-laws' boss, she decorated at my wedding reception, her daughter is married to my cousin, and that same daughter also threw a pie in my face once.....

Anyway....

Go on over and say hello, and tell her you heard about her on All Things New!!!

Well, well, well....

I had come up with all of these fun post ideas and all of these fun design ideas, and all of a sudden, I have come to a stop.

It turns out, when I tried to make my blog a "job" I no longer enjoyed it as much.

When worrying about what to post next, what to do next, what pictures to use next, that's just it, I was worrying.

So, now I will just go back to being myself, with the occasional funny, meal, thankfulness, worship, and so forth that I always had.

My list of public "followers" had not grown a bit, and I was feeling stressed out all of the time over this silly thing. I know people read it and do not publicly "follow" my blog, but paying sponsors would not know that!!!

Anyway, I do apologize, but it's back to plain ole me!!!

Thanks!

T.

So much to thank Him for...

This morning, I am so proud to be an American!

I am thankful for our country!

We all hear the sad stories about people born overseas, children who are orphaned, and how they all try to come here to America. And sometimes, it frustrates me that we have such an "open door policy," however, I met a man from India the other night, and his story touched me.

When he was born, his mom threw him in the trash. She didn't want him. Now, he travels around America preaching, and getting offering money, and he takes it back to India and opens orphanages, widow homes, and battered women homes. And he risks his life spreading the Gospel in India. He said his family eats rice and curry every meal, because he wants all of the money he gets preaching to go back into the Lord's work. He is telling the people of India that God sent His son to die for us so that we can be free. Praise God for that!!!

But, here in America, if you want to preach the Gospel, it's not hard to do. I see people standing on street corners with Bibles. Jehovah Witnesses go door to door. This man cannot freely go around his country doing this though. That's why he comes here, to be a minister, and take that money back to India with him. He had on an old pair of worn out jeans on, and an older looking shirt, cheap shoes. He wasn't in a fancy suit, he didn't ask for anything, he just wanted to tell us that King Jesus died for us!!!

I do realize that people are born in America everyday who probably get thrown away.....if they'd ask me, I'd take any one that somebody wanted to throw away.....and I know there are poor people right in my own community, but they are mostly that way by choice. I went to a few stores yesterday, and at 3 of them they had help wanted signs posted. That might step on toes really, but it's true. If your business is not good, find something else. I know growing up, my dad always worked at a regular jobs, then got side jobs to help. And my mom worked too!!! Imagine, and my brother, sister, and myself all worked too, when we got old enough! And I don't remember saying, "Daddy's not here," or "When's Daddy getting home." I do remember never going to bed hungry or sleeping in a cardboard box!!! I do remember, Praise God, having everything I needed, and then some that I wanted!!!

Please pray for Pastor G. Mortha Roy & his wife Vimala Roy and Rays of Cross Ministries. They are from Andhrapradesh, India.

And be thankful that you are an American!

September 11

Being married to a firefighter, September 11 will never be forgotten in our home, but I feel like it will never be forgotten in our country either.

I pray for the families who lost loved ones, particularly the spouses and children of the hero firefighters who gave their lives too.

I could guarantee that if we lived in New York, my husband would have freely given his life in effort to save others, but he would also do so right here in Summerdale in the small volunteer department he is in.

He doesn't brag, ever, but I brag about him constantly.

And firefighting is more than busting through flaming buildings, which D has done. He's the guy in the middle in this picture. It's also going to wrecks, going to medical calls (unconcious/seizures/falls) and going to training classes.

D has his Basic EMT course from South Alabama, he has 8 certifications from the Alabama Fire College, 10 years experience, and compassion and a heart of gold.

I *hate* that our country went through what it did. I do firmly believe that if we as a country had not deviated so far from God's plan, that He would have much better for His people. I know that everything happens for a reason, and that nothing can change what has already happened. But I do feel that we should always lift up our country, and it's leaders (yes, and President Obama) up in prayer. There is no reason to bash names or criticize. Let's come together as fellow citizens, and remember to pray for our country!

My fireman is the last one on the right in the back!!! I am very proud of him, and I pray for his protection at every call. And that God will use him to help others, for His glory!

September 11.

Never Forgotten.

Thankful Thursday instead???

I thought maybe instead of doing "Worship Wednesday," I would try my hand at "Thankful Thursday!!!"

When you count your blessings, sometimes you are reminded just how blessed you are!!!

So, today, I am thankful for...

Now, before you lose your last meal....let me go on....

January 1, 2004 was the date of the above picture. And, after a while, I almost forget to be "thankful" for it. Now, don't get me wrong, I am very thankful for my hubby, almost continually. As a matter of fact, I thank not only God for D, but I thank D himself several times a day for what we have here.

To many, it may not be much. We have a home, vehicles, fenced in backyard, a child, a dog, "things," but....

I have not ever "had" to work. I chose to one time, and it helped, and sometimes now, it would be helpful too, but I get the opportunity that very few of my friends and no one in my immediate family has, even my grandmother works! I am the keeper of our home. D gets up everyday, while I am snoozing, kisses me goodbye, goes to work, while I "play all day," comes home, scarfs down whatever I fixed for supper, helps with Noah, which should be my job, but I have lately been caught up in things that require me to be gone at night, and then does it all over again.

Now, let me say this, "play all day" also includes: keeping the house straight, cooking & cleaning, mowing the grass, mowing the in-laws grass, helping my uncle with his part-time business, and pretty much never telling anyone "no" ever!!!

Well, to some this still sounds great. People ask me what I do, and I tell them I stay at home, and the response is typically, "That must be nice." And while they go out to eat on Sunday, and we go home to the roast, or pot of spaghetti, or whatever other 1 dish wonder I have prepared, I almost think it's not that nice.

But, ya know what, it sure is nice!!! And, like I mentioned, I have taken it for granted by tending to other "obligations" rather than my house, husband, and child. I should not be excited about leaving my family all day on a Saturday (from 6:30 am till 8 pm) to go to a "ministry training day." I should not be so excited about helping throw a baby shower with the ladies at church when it means I am gone 7 hours from my home(that's set up, the shower, and clean up...trust me, D timed it!). I should not be happy about times like these. And deep down inside, I'm not. I'm the happiest merely being at home. So....

I rambled on and on to mainly say this:

I am so thankful for the life my husband has provided here for me.

He is a wonderful provider, and guide, and leader.

He loves me truly, madly, deeply.

And more than that, he loves the Lord, and is quite sensitive to His voice.

He also never reads this....so I guess I should go tell him too!!!

I am thankful to be his bride!

It's Monday!!!

And Happy Labor Day!!!

And in honor of Labor Day, Mealtime Monday will honor the...

...and that would be my daddy!!!

He's pictured below....

...and the end result after hours outside with the smoker, boiler, and grill usually includes...

...and...

That's one proud Pa-Pa!!!

LOL!!!

Happy Friday!!!

• Yale Professor William Phelps was grading papers on a tough test. One of his students came up with a clever answer to a particularly difficult philosophical problem. "God alone knows the answer to this question," the student wrote. Phelps gave the test back to the student with this remark, "God gets an A. You get an F."

• Ralph noticed his life changed dramatically after he got a new hearing aid. Showing it off to his wife, he commented, " This is the world's best hearing aid. As a matter of fact, I can't remember hearing this well since I was a kid." "Well, what kind is it?" asked his wife." Ralph glanced at his watch, "Oh, it's about two fifteen."

• A Sunday School teacher said to her children, "We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?" One child blurted out, "Aces!!!"

Baby Beulah Boutique

Every now and then, I will be featuring a new, small business, that I either know the owner, or have had success with. Today, it's one from a good friend of mine, who I have not ordered from yet.....but I know that satisfaction will be guaranteed, because of the love and time she puts into it. So.... Meet Terressa...it's like Teresa but with more r's and s's!!! haha.

And...This is Wesley and Terressa, and they are mom and dad to 4 children (one is with the Lord) and they plan to adopt next.

Terressa and I were in the children's ministry together, and this lady hands down loves all children, and does a wonderful job at raising her own. I would love to see her be able to adopt, as I know she has a heart for it! Her oldest, Amariah, has a special place in my heart, because she was the only one big enough for me to teach before they moved back to LA.

I know I look rough, but this was taken at 8:30 p.m., and I had been in a room full of 2 year olds since about 6:45 p.m.!!!

Either way, all of her children are beautiful,

and I am so happy for her and her new business....oh, right, her business.

Baby Beulah Boutique has a variety of baby bedding and accessories that Terressa makes, and all proceeds go to the adoption of their next child. I think that is awesome!!!

She truly has a tender heart towards children, and I know she puts a lot of time in with each sewing project she does.

Here are some of my fav's...

Also, you can find her on Facebook !!!

And tell her you saw her on All Things New!