Missionary Monday

Here's a slide show by friends of Brian and Mandy's.


Pray for Macedonia. Simple request for something that means an eternal difference to many.

Brown recluse??

My dh walked a very heavily wooded lot with a potential homeowner a few weeks ago on a Friday afternoon. By the following day his legs from the knee down were covered with "red bug" (or "chigger") bites and so were the legs of his associate builder. Itchy. Irritating. Painful. He kept them coated with anti-itch hydrocortisone but one place had just gotten worse and worse and this weekend it -- well, it wasn't pretty. Something you'd see on a medical show from a third world country. Yuck. I will not post pictures!! Tomorrow a.m. he's off to the doctor to determine if that spot was actually a brown recluse spider bite or not (a friend thinks it may well be). I've learned more about those and how so many things get mis-diagnosed as brown recluse bites even in states where there are no known brown recluse spiders. An education I could've enjoyed doing without. Anyway, we'll see..... in the meantime, keep those bug sprays handy!! Ugghh... makes me itch to think about!!!

Frugal Friday (yea, I know it's Saturday!)

This week I was very, very frugal. I didn't buy anything at the grocery or department stores and I think the only thing I bought anywhere were some 39c chips and a bottle of water for my children on the way home from Awanas. Labor Day Monday we ate free at the local pool cookout where we took some cookies I already had in the pantry. There just weren't any good deals on anything I needed so we just ate out of the pantry and freezer. My hubby did pick up a head of lettuce on the way home one night to have with the tomatoes still coming off my last potted vine. I really like these weeks. It's weeks like this that I really feel the "payback" from other weeks when I try to stock up on those "free or nearly free" deals, spend hours poring over coupons and ads to stock my pantry and when I see some of the many benefits of picking and canning veggies in the heat of the summer. So no "deals" to let you in on - just the best one - eat what you have! (And think of the gas I saved by not going anywhere!). Have a great weekend!

Beach trip photos

Finally got around to processing the photos from our trip to the beach. We had a blast on the beach the first day and on my BIL's boat the next day. Here's a few "thousand words" --

Thanks Lea!!

.... this award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends & those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award.

Lea over at "End of the Road" has brightened my day many a time through her blogs and her smile and now she brightened my day by including me with the "Nice Matters" award. Thanks Lea!

There are lots of others that I think deserve this award but since the rules are 7 I will split them between my blogger and homeschooler blogger friends. I would've included Beth and Shelley but Lea beat me to the punch so here are 7 others that I think deserve the award:

Angela - for blessing me with a window into the joys and trials of lots of little ones, making me remember the times with peanut butter smeared walls and lots of pushing to see who gets Mommy's lap next. Thanks for making me stop and be thankful for each moment with each child.

Julie - for reminding me that every small thing as well as the big things show the love and creation of the Lord. Thanks for showing me your heart of love through your words.

Eileen - friend, sister in Christ, and so full of love the Lord keeps blessing her with more children who will glue on her walls! Thanks for letting us share in your joy of adoption.

Katy - for being such a joy to know and such a wonderful friend to my son. I enjoy getting to know more about you through your blog.

Brian and Mandy - for having such a heart for Christ and letting others be a part of their mission through their blog.

Cynthia Robin - for having such a heart for the military and having such wonderful devotions.

JenIg - for making me laugh till I hurt and smile at life and "stuff" !

Which theologian are you?

Jimmy took a quiz and passed it on to several others of us so I tried it. At first it took me to the quiz "Are you a clutz"? Well, no need for me to take a quiz to know the answer to that one (and no, I am not posting the results here because my bruised shins already tell the story!). Anyway, I got to the theologian quiz through Lea's blog and here are the results. Just try it !!

You scored as John Calvin, Much of what is now called Calvinism had more to do with his followers than Calvin himself, and so you may or may not be committed to TULIP, though God's sovereignty is all important. John Calvin 87% Anselm 87% Karl Barth 80% Jonathan Edwards 73% Charles Finney 67% Martin Luther 53% Friedrich Schleiermacher 40% Jürgen Moltmann 40% Augustine 33% Paul Tillich 20% Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

My alma mater!!!!

My dad was a football fanatic. He followed every college and pro team he ever saw on tv. He routed for Appalachian just because it was my alma mater. He routed for teams where he knew football players and where he didn't. He would've loved to see a good ole "mountain" team making it in the "big time"! So since he's gone, I'll just cheer a little louder for both of us!! WAY TO GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!!