A Proper Luncheon

Yesterday I went to lunch with a group of friends from Bible Study. It was a great time of fellowship for all of us. We went to Scarlett’s Garden Tea Room in Mt. Juliet. I had never eaten there before.

When I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I was entering another time and place. It is not very large with fancy white tablecloths and sunshine streaming through the windows. We were greeted by a prim and proper but very friendly lady who gave us our choice of tables (and pointed out to us which was the most popular). Even though everything was so nice, I still felt very comfortable. (Those who know me know I am not very prim and proper.)

The food was good. I had chicken salad on a croissant, one of their specialties. It came with "lady-sized" scoops of three kinds of salad (I believe these vary by the day), including a cornbread salad, which was very unique. The prices were a little high, but not outrageous -- I think mine was $8.95.

They had a cute gift shop with a lot of old-fashioned memorabilia, much of it from "Gone With the Wind."

This is definitely a girl hangout, but if you are looking for a place to get together with friends for lunch that’s a little different, I think this is a good choice.

Cell Phones

You probably don’t have my cell phone number. If I have ever given it to you, you have probably discarded it by now for lack of use, because my phone is always off. My family frequently gives me grief about this.

When did I become so important that I have to be reachable 24/7 anyway?

It is irritating to me when I am spending time with someone and they stop to answer their phone, get engaged in another conversation, and ignore me. Why would I do that to anyone else? I am also annoyed by people who are driving at half the speed limit, drifting over lane lines or performing other stupid traffic maneuvers, and they are so tied up in a cell phone conversation that they are completely oblivious to it, or to the fact that I am glaring at them.

I understand that there are situations where cell phones are necessary or useful, and for that reason I actually have one. If I have car trouble or some other problem and need to call for help, or if I am stuck in traffic and need to let someone know I’ll be late, or if I get lost and need directions, it is available.

If someone specifically asks me to turn it on for a certain occasion, I usually do, but otherwise, it remains off. I don’t have to charge it nearly as often that way.

So, if you need me, please leave a message at my house. Better yet, send me an e-mail. I check both pretty regularly, and I will be happy to get back with you.

Community Bible Study

"… we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." Psalm 78:4

I will soon be beginning my second year of Community Bible Study. This is a wonderful, interdenominational, in-depth study for people at all levels of Bible knowledge, which has meetings all over the world. There is homework to do, small groups for discussion of the material, and a lecture. By the time you have finished all this, you know the material well. If you’re looking to increase your Bible knowledge, grow in your faith and make new friends to fellowship with, this is a great way to do it.

Our class is fairly new and small. We have a program for preschool children, but up until now, we have not had a program for older, homeschooled children as some of the groups do. For the second half of last year, I led a core group (an adult discussion group), but for this year I believe God is leading me to lead a class for first through third grade homeschooled children. My sister-in-law has volunteered to come and bring my nieces to be my first two students. Hopefully this will open up the door for other moms to come who have children in this age group as well. We will be studying Genesis, following along with what the adults are studying.

I am excited but a little scared. I have a teaching degree and have taught Sunday School and other children’s groups in the past but haven’t felt any desire to do anything like this for many years. I can’t think of any more worthwhile ministry, though. I see my nieces and nephew hiding the word of God in their hearts and realize that I still remember the songs, verses and stories I was taught as a child. I am hoping that I can be a part of laying a foundation for a life of faith in them as well as other children God may send my way.

I would appreciate your prayers for me, as the writer of Hebrews prayed: "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21

Bunnies as Pets

As I blogged earlier, we got our bunny, Heidi, when what I really wanted was another dog. I had known several friends who had bunnies and enjoyed them, so we decided to try it. I read a book about bunnies and got her a cage, and then we got her at the Tennessee State Fair. She is a mini-lop, which means that her ears hang down instead of standing up. She was probably about 6 months old when we got her. She didn’t like us.
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I thought I could win her over. After all, I have a "way" with animals.
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I picked her up. She bit me. I tried to pat her. She attacked me, snarling and clawing.
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I learned that bunnies don’t like for you to stick your hands in their cage. I learned that it is better to adopt them when they are very young and haven’t developed a fear of humans. I learned that they chew things up, such as carpet and electrical cords. I learned that just because you have a way with dogs, cats and hamsters, doesn’t mean you have a way with bunnies. And I learned that a bunny won’t do when what you really want is a puppy.
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They do have a few good qualities. They are low-maintenance. Ours began using a litter box without being taught. Because they are vegetarians, their litter box doesn’t smell too much. They are fun to watch too. We gave her a phone book which she loves tearing to shreds. This is not so bad when the shreds stay in her cage, but our dogs have developed a fondness for pulling them out through the wires and dragging them all over the room (see picture). We let her hop around downstairs when we are there to watch her. She is fine around Dasha or my brother’s dog, Lexie, who often visits, but Nash still tries to hunt her down so has to be kept away from her when she’s out.
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Other things to know about bunnies: they need to be given straw and fresh fruits and vegetables regularly. Their teeth grow constantly, so they need to chew on wood or rabbit toys to wear them down. They thump with their back foot when they are afraid, not a soft little bunny thump like you might think; it shakes the rafters. They usually live 5-10 years.
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She has gotten a little sweeter as she has gotten older and will let me stick my finger in her cage and rub her head (for hours if I’m willing). She has actually taken to Don better than she has to me (even though I am the one who feeds her and cleans her litter box) and will come up to him when she’s out of the cage and let him pet her. She will still scratch and bite if I try to pick her up, so I have basically learned not to do that unless necessary.
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If you are considering getting a bunny for a pet, I would only recommend that you be sure you know what you’re getting into before you do it.

Please Pray for Joseph

Joseph is a 3-year-old boy who has brain cancer. I don’t know his family well, but I taught his dad in Good News Club when he wasn’t much older than Joseph is now. I can’t imagine what they are going through, but I have been praying for them, and I know they would appreciate your prayers too. If you want to read more about Joseph, I have included a link to his family’s blog at the bottom of this page.

Summer Treats

Question: What do a crenshaw and Santa Claus have in common?

Answer: They are both melons.

One of the best parts about summer for me is all the fresh produce that becomes available. One of my favorite treats is corn bought from the back of a truck at Farmer’s Market. I also love fresh peaches, blueberries, strawberries (especially from my own garden), cherries, green beans, black-eyed peas . . . The list goes on.

For many years I ate very few fresh fruits or vegetables, but when I was losing my weight, I began to try them again, and discovered some I didn’t even know existed. Unfortunately, there are still a number of vegetables I don’t care for, but I have found that there are many I do enjoy, as well as most fruits. Right now is the best time to enjoy them, while they are fresh, delicious and inexpensive. If you buy them at Farmer’s Market or a produce stand, many have been picked within the last day or so and have a whole different flavor than what you may be used to.

Here are some of our favorite recipes using fresh vegetables:

Grilled Asparagus

(I never thought I liked asparagus until I tried this. I usually just throw it together, so measurements are approximate.)

1 bunch asparagus
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. freshly-ground black pepper

Break off tough ends of asparagus and put in casserole dish; pour in olive oil. Mix together until asparagus is covered. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix again. Put on grill and cook until slightly blackened, turning occasionally.

Green Beans with Crushed Walnuts

1¼ lbs. green beans, trimmed
2 tsp. butter
2 Tbsp. finely crushed walnuts
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Place beans in a large saucepan of boiling water; cook 5 minutes; drain. Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add walnuts; sauté for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add beans, salt and nutmeg; cook for 1 minute.

Pickled Cucumber Salad (from Weight Watchers Magazine)

2 large cucumbers, sliced paper-thin
1 Tbsp. plus ½ tsp. salt
½ cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
¼ tsp. white (or black) pepper
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill, or ½ tsp. dried

Layer cucumbers in a colander, sprinkling each layer with salt (1 Tbsp. total). Place colander in the sink and top the cucumbers with a plate, then weight with a few soup cans. Let the cucumbers drain 1 hour, then rinse well and pat dry with paper towels.

Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, remaining ½ tsp. salt and pepper in medium bowl. Add cucumbers and toss to coat. Scatter the dill sprigs over. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

The Story of Nash

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

What is this verse all about anyway?

There are two ways to look at it: God will give you whatever your heart desires if you delight in Him, or He will put the desires in your heart that He wants you to have so He can fulfill them. That’s the one I lean toward.

I have had my dog Dasha for ten years now. I may blog her story another day. She is very much my baby, but shortly after Don and I got married, I started wanting another dog, specifically a black male cockapoo puppy. I didn’t know where that desire came from exactly; I just knew I wanted one, in spite of Don, a dog lover but very practical, insisting that we didn’t need another dog.

Don did agree to get a bunny, so I thought maybe that would fill the void (don’t try this at home), but alas, I still longed for my black male cockapoo puppy. I stopped in at pet stores at the mall to gaze at the puppies and see if maybe they would have one that was so cute it would win Don over. I searched through the classifieds hoping to find one that was inexpensive enough that he couldn’t pass it up. All to no avail.

Then one day my sister-in-law (who knew my desire) told me about a friend of hers who happened to have a black male cockapoo puppy that she wanted to get rid of. I talked to her friend, and she warned me that the puppy wasn’t housebroken, but I innocently assumed that he was just too much for her because she had small children and another dog as well. I was sure that he was the perfect dog for us. He was already neutered and had had all his shots. Besides, he needed us. I pleaded my case to Don, and he reluctantly agreed that we could get him.

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We waited until after Christmas and then made an appointment to go meet him. Well, he wasn’t the cute, cuddly puppy I had in mind. He was a five-month-old adolescent and, let’s face it, an oddball. In fact, this family had gotten him for a really good price when he was three months old because the breeder couldn’t get rid of him. His hair was a mess. Apparently his puppy coat had been straight, and then his hair later came in curly. Since it had never been cut, he had curls all over with straight strands sticking out at the ends. One of his long, skinny legs had a big spot of mange on it. He had a funny way of walking, sort of a gallop. Don said, "That is an ugly dog! Are you sure you want him?"

Well, we ended up bringing him home, mainly because I felt sorry for him. The first thing he did when we brought him in our house was lift his leg and pee on our refrigerator. While I was cleaning that up, he ran into our bedroom and jumped up on our bed and peed on there. The next day he grabbed Don’s sandwich from Arby’s off the kitchen table and ate it when no one was looking. He tormented poor Dasha endlessly. He chased our bunny with an intent to kill. He destroyed our shoes and chewed up our laundry. He peed, and peed, and peed. Everywhere. Inside, outside, on the floor, on the furniture. Everywhere. I didn’t know a dog his size could hold so much pee.

I knew I just had to be patient. With some dedicated attention, I could get him trained quickly. After all, I had housebroken Dasha in a couple of weeks. How naïve I was.

I tried gentle correction. I tried putting him in time out. I yelled. I spanked him. I diligently cleaned up every puddle with a cleaner that eliminated the scent. I took him out every half hour. I confined him to small areas. I tried to reason with him and explain to him why he could not pee in the house. I stuck his nose in it and told him "no!" I commended him when he went where he was supposed to. I withheld water except at scheduled times. I even read up on bladder problems in dogs and ruled that out as a possibility. For seven long months I tried every strategy I could possibly come up with. Don tried too. NOTHING worked for this dog.

Finally one day I was at my wits’ end. Nash had followed me into our guest room (where the door was usually shut) and jumped up on the bed and promptly peed on the quilt that my mom had made for me by hand. I caught him in the act and started screaming. He took off running. I chased him, and when I caught him, I beat the tar out of him.
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That was a turning point. We had a few accidents after that, but I think that was the thing that finally got through to him. That was a year ago. I have since taken him to obedience school where he learned a few manners, and today, July 25, he celebrates his second birthday. I have let him live. He has taught me patience and perseverance, and I can say that now he is a good dog who is very friendly and loveable. And thankfully, housebroken. With maturity and a haircut, he’s not bad looking either. He is still full of antics, but for the most part they aren’t destructive and make us laugh a lot. Don often says, "I didn’t like Nash when we got him, but now I really do." Even Dasha has had a change of heart. And he has stolen my heart altogether.
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I believe that God knew He was going to have this little dog who would need a home, so He began putting the desire in my heart for the "black male cockapoo puppy" that He was going to give me. Nash didn’t exactly come in the package that I had expected, but I can now finally believe that he was a gift from God.

Blogging (a follow-up visit)

I like this blogging thing. It helps me pull my thoughts together. For you, the reader, from near or far, if you have a sudden urge to know what’s going on in my life (I flatter myself, don’t I?), you can find out anytime, day or night, from the comfort of your home. If you find my blogs boring or otherwise distasteful, you can just choose not to read them. Because as a blog reader, you are not a captive audience. It’s not even considered rude if you get up and leave right in the middle of one.

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Is anybody still reading??

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And I know I’m not supposed to start a sentence (and most certainly not a paragraph) with a conjunction. Or make one that doesn’t have a proper subject and predicate. Or use the word "you." Or make up words. Which brings us to another advantage of blogdom. They won’t be graded!

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The only bad thing I have discovered is that I am revealing everything that is going on in my life on my blog, and when I actually have contact with friends or family, I have no stories left to tell.

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Oh well.

Weeding

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

I was out weeding my flower beds this week for as long as I could stand the heat. Yard work is very therapeutic for me, and as I was weeding, I thought of all kinds of cool spiritual analogies.

Weeds must be pulled up by the roots, or they will continue to grow. If there is anger, bitterness or another sin growing in us, it’s not enough just to get rid of it at the surface. We must get to the source of it and allow God to remove it from our hearts.

It is easier to weed if you do it regularly. Small weeds are easier to pull up than big weeds. We need to examine ourselves often to see if there are any "weeds" in our lives and get rid of them. Small problems (i.e. in relationships) are easier to deal with before they become big problems.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the weeds from the real plants. There is a lot of "feel good" stuff going around right now. Oprah, for example, is promoting things that look like the truth at first glance, but on closer examination, they are not God’s truth. Jesus says salvation

comes only through Him (John 14:6). Anything that says otherwise is a dangerous weed that needs to be removed. The better we know our plants (God’s word), the easier it will be for us to identify the weeds.

A garden that doesn’t get weeded regularly is not pretty. What’s the point of planting flowers if we’re going to let them get overrun with weeds? We also need to keep our lives "weeded" so they will be a beautiful model of who God created us to be.

Walking

I often hear my fellow weight watchers complain that they don’t like to exercise. Fortunately, this is a problem that I can’t relate to at all, because I love to walk.


I walk my dogs nearly every morning, one at a time, and it’s a real treat for them. On weekends Don usually joins us, and we have "family time."


I walk with friends, and it’s a great chance for fellowship. I walk alone, and it’s a opportunity to pray or think things through.


I walk in the neighborhood and greet my neighbors or admire (and envy) people’s well-manicured yards. I walk at the park and enjoy the beauty of nature.


Unless the weather is extreme, I usually walk whether it’s cold, hot, raining or snowing.


If you figure up the number of calories you burn walking, it doesn’t amount to much, but I believe I am in much better shape, in body and spirit, from the walking I do. If anybody wants to go walking with me, let me know!


Cool Thing to Know: Lowe’s (home improvement store) welcomes dogs on leashes in their store. This is a favorite outing of Dasha’s. Sometimes the cashiers even have dog biscuits for her. ( :

Internet Junkies

Don and I were among the last holdouts with dial-up Internet. We are frugal people. We cut corners and live without a lot of luxuries, so why did we need DSL anyway? I was using a Compaq Deskpro computer that had Windows 95 on it, so DSL wasn’t even an option for that computer. Besides, we had Internet access if we needed it. Even though friends and family complained that our phone line was always busy, and we couldn’t be on the Internet at the same time, and it was painfully slow, and DSL was almost as cheap as dial-up, still we held out.

The pressure finally got to us. More and more, we couldn’t even access most web sites because our dial-up couldn’t handle them. People sent us e-mails with links we couldn’t open.

The breakthrough came when we got our tax rebates in the spring. Now I had an extra $600 that wasn’t budgeted for anything, so I decided to look into getting a computer. Our pastor (who couldn’t believe we were still using dial-up and wanted to encourage us to join the 21st century) found me a good deal on a laptop, so I let him order it for me. Soon my laptop arrived, and we got DSL service.

I had used it at work, so I knew how much faster it was, but Don had no idea. He was amazed. At first I made fun of him and his new obsession. He was on it constantly, watching videos and looking up all sorts of things. It was a whole new world for him. Then the bug bit me. I started surfing from the comfort of my own home and haven’t stopped since. I have to remind myself to get off of my computer because I have to do other things. Then I get back to it as soon as I can. We have both become Internet junkies.

Now I’m blogging, so that gives me an excuse to spend even more time on it. Where does it end? Do they have Internet Addicts Anonymous groups or anything like that?

I’m going to give it a little more time. I may just get tired of it, but if not, I might have to set specific boundaries for myself: an hour a day on the computer or something like that.

In the meantime, if you’re expecting me somewhere and I don’t show up, I’m probably at home, surfing the Internet.

The Kids in My Life

Since God has not blessed Don and me with children so far, we are especially thankful for our nieces and nephews. We each have 4, and I am grateful to have mine, the children of my brother Andy and his wife Melissa, living fairly close by.

Grace – A natural-born leader, at age 7 her siblings and friends look up to her. She has had a beautiful singing voice ever since she could talk and enjoys ballet and soccer.

Hannah – Probably the quietest of all her siblings, Hannah is gentle and sweet and always has her arms open for a hug. At age 6, she loves all kinds of animals, whether it’s a toy or the real thing, from bugs to frogs to dogs to horses.

Abbie – The only blonde among three redheads, Abbie has marched to her own drum her whole life. Cute, bubbly and flamboyant, even at age 4 she is the life of the party.

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Gabriel – The long-awaited only son, at age 3 Gabriel is laid back and easy-going. His smile lights up a room, and he always has one for everyone. He is (of course) brilliant, and could work a United States map puzzle unassisted when we was 2.

The Thorn in my Flesh

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." II Corinthians 12:7-9

When I think of my life in general, one of the ways I define myself is as a person with a weight problem. I’m sure the psychologists would tell me not to do that, but I do. It is something I have struggled with since I was a teenager.

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In 2001 I lost 90 pounds on Weight Watchers (see my "before" picture). I had been on Weight Watchers before and tried to lose my weight but never lost much before I fell off the wagon. This time I expected the same, but thought I would at least be better off if I could lose some of it.

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I’m not sure what was different that last time, but I kept going until I reached my goal. Soon afterward I got on staff at Weight Watchers as a weigher to help keep me accountable.

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I did pretty well at maintaining my weight for a few years, though it was a struggle because I still REALLY liked food. Then I got married and my weight started creeping back up, certainly not to where it was before, but way over my goal. It wasn’t Don’s fault; I think I just got comfortable, plus I had another person to cook for so tended to make heartier meals. Weight Watchers graciously continued to let me work for them, optimistically thinking they could rehabilitate me. I have genuinely tried to get it all back off, but don’t seem to have the resolve that I once had.

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I don’t know what Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" was, but I understand how he felt. I have asked God to help me with my weight. Ideally I would like to get back to goal and never struggle again, but I doubt this is going to happen. God is using this weakness to keep me humble and reliant on Him. Because of this shortcoming, I have compassion for others who have problems they can’t seem to overcome, whether it be weight or something else. It also reminds me regularly that I will never be perfect and I must rely on God for my strength and salvation.

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I can’t say that I am thankful for the problem itself, but I am thankful that God is using it to work in my life. I am thankful that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I will continue to fight it, and I will continue to rely on God to help me in my weakness.

Fall Creek Falls

Recently Don and I and the dogs took a trip to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville, Tennessee. It was a perfect June day. The visit brought back a rush of happy childhood memories for me because my family visited there several times when I was growing up, including staying in a cabin on the lake for a week.

Don and I only went for the day. We took a picnic lunch and did a few hikes, and we all had a great time. The walk down to the base of the falls is not long but quite a workout. The dogs enjoyed wading in the water at the bottom to get cooled off.

We walked across a swinging extension bridge which crossed a huge gorge. Nash, who isn't afraid of anything, was scared to death. Dasha, who is usually hesitant about everything, waltzed right across. On the way back she was doing fine too until we got about 2/3 the way across, when she suddenly put on her brakes and refused to move another inch. My guess is that she looked down. Anyway, I ended up carrying her the rest of the way across.

There is a one-way drive that runs alongside another gorge where the scenery is breathtaking. If you look closely at the picture, you can see Don admiring the view. I was too chicken for this one. It was a rocky walk down a steep hill that ended with a huge dropoff, and no railing. Not for the faint of heart. He said the scenery was even more amazing from that vantage point. I'll have to take his word for it.

I highly recommend this trip as a low-budget day trip. It's only about 2 hours from Nashville, and it's a great opportunity to exercise, breathe fresh air and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

My Herb Garden

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth.
One is nearer to God's heart in the garden
Than anywhere else on earth. -- Dorothy Gurney

This was on an embroidery sampler my mom did that hung in our home when I was a child. She has since passed it on to me, at my request, and it now hangs in my living room.

When I was single, I didn’t mind apartment living, but one of the main reasons I wanted a house was so I could have an herb garden. I grew herbs in pots on my porch of my apartment, but it wasn’t the same.

The first summer after we got married and moved into our home, I got out my shovel and dug up an 8’x8’ patch of land and planted my herb garden. I have since planted a vegetable garden and strawberry garden as well, but my herb garden holds a special place in my heart. I love planting the seeds for the annuals each spring and watching them sprout up out of the ground. I enjoy watching them all grow and flower and breaking off the leaves to take in their various fragrances. The best part of all is eating them. Here are some of the recipes we have been enjoying this summer using my fresh herbs:

Salsa

"That’s the best salsa I’ve ever tasted!" (quote from Don’s 7-year-old nephew, Daniel)

5 roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped (I also made it once with 3 larger tomatoes)
5 green onions
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
4 small garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt

Put all ingredients in food processor and pulse to desired consistency.

Rosemary and Thyme Bread

1 1/3 cups water
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary (or more to taste)
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (or more to taste)
4 tsp. butter
2 tsp. salt
4 cups bread flour
4 tsp. dry milk
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. active dry yeast

Put all ingredients in bread machine as directed by manufacturer and choose Basic setting.

Pesto Sauce

3 cups packed fresh basil leaves
4 cloves garlic
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup pine nuts

Combine all ingredients in food processor and blend to a smooth paste. Serve over hot cooked pasta.

Blogging

Well, I guess I'll give this blog thing a shot, though I'm not sure my life is interesting enough for anyone to want to read about. I do enjoy reading other people's blogs, though, so maybe someone will want to read mine.

Verses for the day:

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:22-24

What a wonderful thought! Not a day passes when I don't "mess up" somehow (usually a lot), but God is faithful to forgive me and give me a fresh start every day.

I begin this day thankful for His mercies and for my salvation and for all the gifts He has bestowed upon me: my family, my home, my friends, my country and my pets, to name a few. I am very blessed!

Cool thing to know: The website rhapsody.com lets you listen to almost any song you can think of. You can't download them, but you get to listen to 25 songs each month at no charge. I've been taking a trip down memory lane and listening to all those old songs that I haven't heard in forever.