My Royal Name

In honor of William and Kate's Big Day, I thought it would be fun to come up with a Royal Name. You know, so we can pretend we are from royalty. So, here is how you come up with your royal name. First, if you are a female, begin with "Lady" and if you are a male begin with "Lord". Your first name is one of your grandparent's names. Your surname is your pet's name double-barreled with the name of the street you grew up on.

Here is what I came up with:

Lady Muriel Cooper-Castle

Now I know some of you will be glued to your tellies today watching William and Kate tie one on tie the knot and some may be having a Royal Wedding Watching Party, complete with your plastic tiaras and tea and crumpets. Not me though. I will be having a redneck diner breakfast with my mom and sister then off to Cross Creek Farms for their spring open house. I'm sure the royal wedding will consume the media for the entire day and I will most certainly be able to catch the highlights for weeks to come.

So, what royal name did you come up with my lady/lord?

Shoot Me

No. I don't golf. But, whenever we visit my SIL's house, it is customary to get out the clubs and hit some balls on the makeshift driving range. The goal is to hit the barn. Me? I can't even hit the ball five feet. By the way, I apologize to my BIL, Jay for all the divots I made in his beautifully groomed yard.

Ooops. I think I'm doing this wrong.

 Ok. That's better.

 Swing back....

I missed. The barn that is.



It's time to stop hiding behind that camera of yours. Your family is missing you in the picture. So it's time to post a picture of YOU (yes, you) every Thursday with your child, your spouse, your friend, your dog, or even by yourself. Just get in the picture, you'll be glad you did! Sign up to play below and grab the "Shoot Me" Button code to the right.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Hump Day!

An Easter Prayer

Dear Lord, this Easter please help us fully believe without any doubt. In the glorious Alleluias ringing out across the land, fill us with Your joy, O Risen Lord! Fill us with the certain hope that Jesus has overcome all evil, all sorrow, and all death. Help us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we too are risen with Jesus this Easter morning. Let us bring the light and joy of our Risen Savior to the whole world!

Lord Jesus, You are the hero of this story. You are the Lamb who laid down his life for us. You alone are our Victorious Redeemer!

"Alleluia! He is risen as He said! If we have died with him, then we shall also live with him."
 2 Timothy 2:11



Ticks Don't Drown

I had a nice conversation with my 14-year old daughter this evening, which is rare. She seldom talks to me. Sad, I know. So, here is how it went...

Funny Face: There was like this huge spider on the ceiling of the shower this morning. Did you like hear me scream?

Me: I thought I heard something, but I was still half asleep.

Funny Face: I threw a wash cloth up to it and knocked it down into the water. But, I didn't want the spider to go down the drain because I thought it would climb back up the drain. So, I like scooped it up with a cup and flushed it down the toilet.

Me: That was pretty smart. I probably would have rinsed it down the drain and then kept a watchful eye on the drain while I was showering in hopes that the spider would not crawl back up.

Funny Face: I wasn't sure if a spider would drown.

Me: Why wouldn't you think so?

Funny Face: Well, a tick can hold it's breath for 45 minutes.

Me: What? (giggle) I never heard such a thing. Who told you that?

Funny Face: Mr. Moul, my fourth grade teacher. He said you should always burn ticks and not drown them.

Me: Hmmm, I'm not so sure about that one.

Turns out, after my Google research, Mr. Moul was right. Ticks can live totally submerged in water for a very very very long time - 81.3 weeks to be exact (depending on the species). So yeah...random fact for the day...ticks don't drown easily.  They can and have climbed back up thousands of household toilets after being flushed. (I'm just making that part up). But truth be told, if you want to rid of a tick once and for all...you better burn it!   

Shoot Me

I am pictured here with my sister and my Dad at my Palm Sunday egg dying gathering.

It's time to stop hiding behind that camera of yours. Your family is missing you in the picture. So it's time to post a picture of YOU (yes, you) every Thursday with your child, your spouse, your friend, your dog, or even by yourself. Just get in the picture, you'll be glad you did! Sign up to play below and grab the "Shoot Me" Button code to the right.

Wordful Wednesday - The Ten Commandments

Cupcakes, Slush Punch, Easter Eggs & Tornadoes!

The weather wreaked havoc in our part of town over the weekend. It was confirmed that a tornado touched down very close to us. Granted, it was only an F-0 with 85 MPH winds, but it sure did alot of damage in our area. Trees uprooted, barns blown into toothpicks, roofs blown off and lots and lots of debris. I would hate to live through an F-1 or above!  It was reported that over 241 tornadoes touched down over a 3-day span across several states from just this one storm!

Thank goodness that mess on Saturday didn't mess up my Sunday plans. Every year on Palm Sunday, I hold my pre-Easter celebration and egg dying event. Over 6 dozen eggs including blown-out eggs were decorated and painted pretty to symbolize spring and the resurrection of Jesus.

 There were cupcakes....


And the most delicious slush punch....


The punch was so delicious and refreshing, I am going to share the recipe with you all right here...right now.

Pineapple-Orange Slush Punch

1-8 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate

3 cans of water

1-46 oz. can pineapple juice

2 Cups sugar

3 Cups water

Mix the orange juice concentrate, 3 cans of water and pineapple juice together.

Cook sugar and water for 5 minutes. Let cool.

Add the two mixtures together and freeze in a 5-quart round plastic container.

Thaw slightly before serving (1 hour prior)

Place in punch bowl and add 1 2-liter bottle of gingerale. Garnish with orange slices.

Then there was this bad little egg....he said the party wasn't what it was cracked up to be.

One thing is for sure, I was egg-zosted by the end of the weekend! So what about you, do you have any Easter traditions?

Fun Monday - JC Superstar

I have not joined in the weekly meme, Fun Monday for quite some time now. But Roger over at A Screed In Time's topic for this week was an easy one for me. Here is Roger's assignment: 

Please share with the group one of the following; your favorite book in the Bible, your favorite character in the Bible, or your favorite biblically based movie.

I decided to share my favorite biblically based movie with you since it is the first thing that popped in my head. 

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. First staged on Broadway in 1971, it highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The opera is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the Crucifixion. It was then made into a movie in 1973.

I remember going to see the play with my mom and sister about 10 or so years ago in Baltimore, MD. I also have the soundtrack and enjoy listening to it from time to time. If the musical ever comes to your area, I highly recommend seeing it. The video shows Jesus entering Jerusalem and features the song "Hosanna". By the way, did you know that the Greek word Hosanna means, 'please save us'?

Please be sure to visit Roger's Blog to check out what the other Fun Monday participants are sharing.

Random Friday Thoughts

• I think my 12 year old daughter has digested a chicken nugget Happy Meal from McDonald's at least once a week, if not more, for the past 10 years.
• I would rather watch paint dry than sit and watch 60 girls and boys throw shot put and discus one at a time over and over and over and over....
• I am so ready to wear my flip flops, but it just keeps raining.
• I wish the pounds would come off effortlessly.
• I hope my capris still fit me.
• It would be nice if I could pay my taxes with a smile, but unfortunately cash is required.
• I'm so glad it's Friday and I have the day off!
• If gas prices keep rising, I'll have to buy a gallon as an investment.
• I'm looking forward to dying Easter eggs on Sunday.
• I pray for safe travels for my mom and husband as they will be driving home today from their GA vacation.
• That lasagna I ate last night was awesome thanks to my sister for preparing it!
• If I were any better today, I'd be a twin (Brodism).
• I have no idea what Emancipation Day is.
• Hmmm, should I vote for Donald Trump in 2012?

Happy Friday Everyone - - and for your information, the traditional tax return filing deadline is April 15 of each year, but the IRS has approved April 18, 2011 as the tax filing deadline for 2010 Tax Returns and extension requests in observation of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia. So there you go - you have 3 extra days to file! Yahoo! Now that is worth celebrating!

Shoot Me

Here I am at my Zumba class at the Church. My good friend, D is a Zumba instructor. She was kind enough to hold a Zumba fundraiser so that we could raise funds for the Creation Fest in June. Zumba is an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness routine. Rest assure, you will be sweating after an hour of Zumba!

It's time to stop hiding behind that camera of yours. Your family is missing you in the picture. So it's time to post a picture of YOU (yes, you) every Thursday with your child, your spouse, your friend, your dog, or even by yourself. Just get in the picture, you'll be glad you did! Sign up to play below and grab the "Shoot Me" Button code to the right.

Wordless Wednesday - The Farm

Pink Roses

Free photo texture provided here - thanks to my mom!

Recently one of my closest friend's mom passed away after suffering for quite some time with Alzheimer's disease. She was only 68 years old. I didn't know her mom that well because I had only met her a few times. But what I learned about her through my good friend was that she was a spectacular lady who loved and lived for her family and for the Lord.

I attended her funeral last week. A bouquet of soft pink roses adorned the top of her white casket. It was beautiful. The funeral service was held in her mom's hometown country church in which she raised her family of four children. The service was personal and sentimental. My friend spoke about her mom and read many of her mom's favorite Bible scriptures. Honestly, I don't know how she could stand up in front of everyone and speak so eloquently the way she did without breaking down. Her mom's spirit was definitely with her. She knew her mom wanted her funeral to be a time of celebration of her life and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.  

Throughout the service, I couldn't help but think deep about my own mortality; how I am not getting any younger and how my parents are aging. I am so lucky to have both of my parents alive and aging well. I never want to take that for granted. I pray daily thanking God for this blessing. I still think of my good friend and how she has lost both of her parents within a year of each other and I am reminded that our time here on earth is short.

After the graveside service, everyone was given a pink rose from the casket bouquet to take home as a memento to her life and death.  Rest in peace, dear Brita.

On a side note, I found this interesting website that will calculate your life expectancy. I just may live to be 83 years old and if I'm lucky 92. Click here if you want to calculate how long you could live.

Athletic Superstars??

We are not really the sports oriented kind of family. Neither FW (my hubby) nor I were involved in any sports growing up, although FW did play little league baseball. What boy didn't? And I was more into Junior Achievement and the Newspaper Staff. Now, don't get me wrong. We do love to watch football and we are fans of Nascar. But other than a friendly game of volleyball or table tennis, we just aren't into competitive sports.

Our girls on the other hand, have played many sports from t-ball to basketball to gymnastics to soccer to track & field and even cheerleading (yes, cheerleading is a sport). Currently, Funny Face (my oldest daughter) is in Junior High Track & Field. This is her second year participating in the field events. She is a thrower - discus and shot put. She is not the best on her team, but she isn't the worst either. She refuses to run, even though the coach has told her that she would do well. For her, I think being part of a sports team is more of a social event. She has recently joined the Equestrian Club. Not sure why. She has never ridden a horse in her life, other than the guided pony ride at the carnival.

Nature Girl (my 7th grader) has gone through weeks of vigorous Track & Field training only to find out that she has Severs Disease in both feet and therefore has decided to quit the team because it may take up to two months for her ankles to heal. Nature Girl will now be going back to what she thinks she loves the most - - cheerleading beginning in the Fall.

Honestly, I don't think either of my girls are cut out to be athletic superstars. But, I can't stop them from trying. Wait. Who am I kidding. I think they both realize that they are not athletic superstars. They just want to be part of a team and they seem to be having fun exploring these "possibilities". I have learned that there is so much more to being part of a sports team other than winning, like sportsmanship, leadership, commitment and team spirit.  Of course, striving to do your best and winning is good too! But don't take it from me - I can't even tell you how many innings are played in football!

 

Shoot Me

Just me and my SIL celebrating my FIL's birthday!

There was definitely wine involved...

It's time to stop hiding behind that camera of yours. Your family is missing you in the picture. So it's time to post a picture of YOU (yes, you) every Thursday with your child, your spouse, your friend, your dog, or even by yourself. Just get in the picture, you'll be glad you did! Sign up to play below and grab the "Shoot Me" Button code to the right.

Holy Tea = Holy Crap!

I recently read an article in my Women's First magazine about an all natural, 100% organic tea that could aid in weight loss. It is called Holy Tea. I thought with a name like that, I can't go wrong. Holy Tea, formulated by wellness expert Dr. Bill Miller, is so named because it contains leaves of the holy thistle plant as well as other plants like persimmon and Chinese mallow leaves. Studies indicate that the tea's botanicals may balance the body's healthy bacteria that reduces fat-packing inflammation, enhances metabolism and improves digestion. The kicker is....the tea compounds also have a mild laxative effect. Thus, cleansing the toxins from your body! 

This is day two for me on the Holy Tea. It is recommended that you first brew a quart of your favorite tea and then add in the Holy Tea bag and let it steep. The Holy Tea bag remains in your tea until the tea is consumed. The tea must be refrigerated since it contains no preservatives. However, you can drink Holy Tea hot or cold. It has a nice flavor!

I have noticed that my appetite seems suppressed and take it from me, the mild laxative effect, oh yeah - it works! The tea may also help with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. I ordered my Holy Tea from here.   

Snow Really?

On Friday, April 1st, it seems Mother Nature fooled all of us in the North  Eastern part of the U.S., even the birds. Here in the Southern part of Pennsyltucky, we awoke to about 3-4 inches of the white stuff. The robins chirped frantically as if they were confused. Had they come back from the South too soon?

Luckily, the snow didn't stick to the roadways, but it lay nicely atop the green spring grass like a soft white blanket and it clung to the budding trees like cotton. It was pretty. It was pretty especially because I knew it wouldn't be sticking around for long. And I was right because by late afternoon that very same day, there were no signs at all that it had snowed.

Since it was April 1st, the snow was the perfect "set up" for an April Fool's joke. Just as my girls were finished getting dressed and ready for their school day, I surprisingly announced to them that schools were closed due to the snow. They both danced and sang for joy. I held back my laughter for almost 5 minutes before I announced that they had been "fooled".  Needless to say, they were not happy.

I hope that was all the snow we will see for a while. It has been a dreery few days here. Temps only in the low 50's. My daffodils are blooming, which means spring has sprung. But it sure doesn't fee like it....yet.