Candy land pound cake

Here it is.....this is my 4th attempt* at posting a pic of this "incredible edible"...created with love by Whitney, her gal-pal, Emily and her Mother, "Gator-Valerie". It was actually gator-gal's brain-child. They pulled this amazing pound cake together last Saturday in time for our church auction (proceeds going to the Haiti Mission project)....and sold for $140. Wooo hooo! I'm very impressed and wonder why ALLLLLL my friends turn out to be great cooks and bakers....I am neither....but I'm fun. :}

*Google calls my posts "illegal actions"...what?

Whit & Em-I-leeee

wish list partially filled

There it is....yes, believe your eyes....there is a REAL reason why my buddy is skinnier than I...and we have the same workout mentality and regimen.....she never ever gets to eat these...like I did today.

I told you I lost 3 pounds in the last 24 hours.....soooooo while at lunch today with my magnificent man I ordered....you guessed it

~~~~~~~FRENCH FRIES SMOTHERED IN KETCHUP~~~~~~

How could life get any sweeter? It's definitely the little things....

DELIGHT FROM THE CREATOR

Every good and perfect gift comes down from above! (James 1:17)....And I view my friend Cyndi as a perfect gift from above!!

Yep....just returned home after a quick (24 hour) jaunt to JAX for some "girl time" with my buddy....she was on her way to Daytona...so she snuck in some time with me beforehand!

We had dinner at OUR most favorite place....Cheesecake Factory....of course....and had, of course, Thai Lettuce wraps and....Tuxedo Cheesecake....decadent love!

We spent the nite BEACHFRONT...so, of course, we could wake up to sunrise above the
o-c-e-a-n! Yeah! We drank our morning hotel-coffee on the veranda, staring at the waves (see pic)....waited too long to take advantage of the free breakfast buffet. BUT...we snuck into the buffet area and caught the attn of the Attendant and talked our way into the 'leftovers' in the back...we were served up: plain oatmeal, no milk; 3 boiled eggs, an english muffin a piece... 1 pat of butter and 2 glasses of OJ!

Breakfast of Champions!!

We headed out to the beach and had our morning walk...solving ALL of life's problems...then suited up and headed for the pool...being reminded by the frontdesk that checkout time was 30 minutes ago....we decided we'd best take care of that little detail too!

Spent the day at the pool in the sunshine accompanied by lots and lots of WIND...but still managed to get some "good color"...when it began to cool off we headed for the hot tub so our bodies would still be warm and we could still be out in the sun.

Then came the dreaded "time to go" words...she had a date with "Dad" so having skipped lunch after our fab breakfast...and sweating all day we did what 2 unbelieveably intelligent women always do....we grabbed our clothes from our luggage and transformed ourselves into "Wonder Women" in no time flat....of course we did this in the hotel lobby bathroom...no showers (don't say ,"Ewww") We came out so different than when we went in. :}

Now that I'm posting this I realize there were no pictures taken the 2 times we were "dolled up"...ok, so technically we weren't dolled up this 2nd time ...but yesterday....well...we were dressed "just darlin".(you'll have to just trust me)

We then ran into a Cajun Seafood restaurant for crab-cakes and salad! With tears and hugs we parted ways promising to see each other again for 'girls beach week' in Charleston this May! Hurrah...can't wait!!!

Needless to say after spending just 24 hours with my skinny buddy, I've lost 3 pounds...really I did! Who knew talking burned so many calories :} I love ya friend!!! SEE YOU SOON!

Then and now.....

Famous Quotes

This is not whining...it's venting....there's a difference....

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. " Thomas Jefferson

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." George Bernard Shaw

"Giving money and power to Government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys." P.J. Rourke

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other." Voltaire 1764

wish list

I have a wish list....it's never been fulfilled...that's why it remains a "wish" list. I come up with this list once a month....about the same time each month.

It goes like this:

If there were no health repercussions or weight gain, I wish:

• I could eat a plate of french fries or onion rings smothered in catchup at every meal
• I could eat the hot, iced brownie with a dollop of ice-cream, covered with chocolate syrup at Flat Rock Grille every day.
• I could drink many, many, many ice-cold, diet cokes
• I could eat allllll the chocolate chip and/or oatmeal cookies that the recipe makes, fresh from the oven.
• I could eat a full order of supreme nachos from Bennigans

OK, that's the list...now where is that plate of fresh fruit? argh!

just because

Ok...no reason to post this other than the picture is so cute!

This is "Anniversary Man"!

a revelation

buy me buy me buy me

Ok...breakthru...

...it's Spring Break planning time. People here head for the beaches and they all go together. I found the place and made a booking It just so happens we've stayed there before on va-cay...and it hit me....the condo that we rented on the beach...is just like the one we are living in now! SO... no more whining about living in the tiny, peanut-size,

furnished unit!!! No more complaining that the big house is just sitting in NC without ANYONE living in it OR buying it...

I'm LIVING... on va-cay!!!

Yep....I realized that all I have to do here is live....and the lawn guy, housekeeping and the Property Owner take care of everything else...who knew?? Ok, housekeeping is extra...but some things from NC cannot change!!

I've been complaining about a blessing....argh! OK...I repent!

busy with others....

For the infamous romantic anniversary....my gorgeous gals were busy with others....and having a great time too....leaving their parents to celebrate quietly, without any obligations....Thank you girls!!!!!

Happy Anniversary!!!!

As someone whose love language is "acts of service" and "gifts"....and is also a lover of the sunshine....I can think of no better anniversary than this one....all kudos going to my darlin man! After spa treatments of: a manicure, full body massage, salt scrub hand and foot treatment...My Darlin treated me to a home-cooked "gourmet" dinner for 2 complete with roses and candlelight...(who knew he had this in him???) I was taken shopping for a beautiful diamond bobble for my neck.....a movie and, then had a leisure day in the sun today....you guessed it...poolside...Yep, ladies and gentlemen....I had an anniversary WEEKEND!!!! AND...that poolside sunbathing ????....was done in....drum roll please.... FEBRUARY. Gotta love the deep south!!!

Can you say, "Delight?" I've stayed at some pretty "swanky places"...and eaten some pretty "faincy" food....But, I don't think it gets any better than this!! Thank you Lord for sunshine, a faithful man, 2 great daughters (who were nowhere to be found...ha), gifts and acts of love....my cup runneth over! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!!!!!

Bragging Rights

Ok....I know this is post #3...but it is raining outside..and a bit on the cool side....so I'm "nesting" today.

I have to brag on child #2...Miss Whitney (pictured here with one of her favorite gal-pals "Emily" at Islands of Adventure a few weeks back). We have learned she is #3 in her class (just like post #3)...out of a class of 38. This is her first year at the School and we could not be more proud. Go WHITNEY!!! We love you!!!!!!!

February Verses

Ok...it's February and it's time to learn the next 2 Bible verses. I'm proud to admit I DID learn my 2 for January...so 1 month down, 11 to go. These are February's verses:

• "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Ephesians 4:31
• "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

Like I've said before...2009 is a year of new beginnings...and these are some things that need to be taken care of...so I'm putting them to memory....waiting to see the Lord "watch over His word to perform it, accomplishing all that He desires...."

Sunday...a very big day!

Greetings...I'm glad it's Monday...because Sunday was very big...and very emotional...for several reasons. First, today marked Marc's 1st day back singing...he's been on sabbatical....big day for him...then there was a wedding at our church. It was held in honor of a couple that the Justice of Peace married years ago but they wanted to renew their vows while their baby...that's still in "Mom's" tummy is alive....she is 9 months pregnant and the baby has a condition that will not allow it to live but a few days or months...very emotional....very lovely ceremony.

Next...my sweet baby dog almost was eaten by the neighbor dog. While the door was open he ran out, full blast, to "greet" another dog that was on a walk...this scared the dog and he decided to go at Ollie's neck and "swish him".....Marc grabs at the other dogs mouth to "attempt" to pull it open..only to have his own fingers bit.....Adah comes running out with all 100 pounds grabs the dogs throat, squeezes and swiftly jabs her knee into the dogs ribs....the dog let Ollie go...and with one fell swoop she grabs up Ollie.....picture the scene...1 dog is growling and swishing...1 dog is yelping....1 man is hollering (and yelping) and 1 lean mean fighting machine is punching the air (and almost life) out of the bigger dog.....I'm squealing.....then it was over.

Little Oliver was traumatized and just wanted to stay under the bed....he has a puncture wound to his neck that the Vet is going to take care of today. The rest of us are traumatized too...so thankful for Adah's kennel experience that taught her how to break up dog fights....we are all better today.

Finally, and this is big too....Adah had to travel back to AU yesterday (6 hour drive after this all happened....only to meet up....with a Little Tike's playhouse ....that LANDED ON HER VW Bug!!! She was following a truck that was carrying it when it fell off and onto her bug...she said it bounced once off her hood then up and over the roof....No real damage

except to the bumper which we are told is one unit...easily replaceable!

Shooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.....If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you. no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways, they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone....Because he loves me, says the LORD, I will rescue hi; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name...." Psalm 91 (most)...

Thank the Lord all is well today...well, except for the Cardinals....sure wish they would've won the Superbowl...I like Curtis Warner and cardinal birds.....