Little Bit of Everything...

So, it was brought to my attention that I do not have any pictures of myself on my blog. Well- this is about as good as it gets for now. Brace face and all. This was taken the other morning while I was putting on Emmaline's shoes and getting ready to take them to school. The one on top is of her on the zoo field trip yesterday in front of the chimpanzee. I know, it is easy to get the 2 pictures confused... (: I am in my normal attire- Clemson T-Shirt and jeans and half asleep. Keep in mind, I am trying to lose 10 pounds, so I should have cheekbones (that you can see) in a few months- I'll have to post an "after" picture so you can compare. I don't know if I look like a teen-ager, but there have been a lot of people -since I got braces especially- who have thought so! I feel sorry for any teenager who looks like a 33-year old! So, there you have it. I hate pictures of myself, but there it is. Okay, at the bottom of this post, you will see the granite we have chosen for our next house. It looks more gray in the pics (one is close up and one is at a distance- same slab). I like it a lot, so I am excited to see what it will look like in our house. Tommorrow Brian is going to oversee the trees being moved around on the lot. That should cost a small fortune...... Oh, well- it has to be done, I hate to see trees get cut down if they don't have to be. Science lab went ok today. I had the table where the kids got to squeeze toy birds to see which one makes what noise. I should have taken Motrin beforehand, but you live and learn, I guess. I did learn a lot about birds, though! I can pick out a sparrow's call from a mile away, I bet.....

Last night went really well at church. Supper was fantabulous as always. The homemade buttermilk biscuits are good enough to make you want to slap your grandma. Then we went to the new class we have chosen for this session. It is about how to decide what is important in life and how to manage time. (Boy, do I need that.) The teacher is just incredible. He is so intelligent- I don't think I could even imagine how deep his thoughts go. I am really going to enjoy this class. He did make a good point last night. He talked about praying to know God's will for something. He said many of us just pray and pray "God, tell me your will on -blank-." We focus so hard on trying to see His will, we miss seeing Him. The teacher pointed out that God doesn't need us to see His will, He needs us to see Him. He wants us to seek to know Him, not His will. And by knowing Him more, our thoughts and ways will be more in tune with his will automatically. I had never thought of it that way. He made so many points that were just so simple, but had never come to my mind. Next week we are actually going to start the worksheets and stuff, so I am looking forward to it. I am convinced that people will never have true joy unless they are living a God-centered life. I have lived both ways and I know for a fact that life is much better when you give God control over it and when you put Him first. The teacher mentioned that the purpose of this study is to be able to determine the difference of what is urgent in life and what is important. What is urgent has to be done, but what is important needs to be done. We should never dismiss the important things for the sake of urgent things. I know one area I fall short in for that is spending quality time with my kids. I do what has to be done for them, but not always what needs to be done. They need quality time and they need to feel appreciated and loved. They need to know that I spend time with them because I enjoy it and not because I have to. They also learn by example and I am trying hard to set that good example and it is not easy. Anyway- I am excited to see where this class takes me.

Take a look at the granite on the bottom of the post and let me know what you think!!