Friday Opportunity!

Sashay on over to Pretty's Palace to see all the fabulous to join in the shopping rush! And she has a special going on for your kids!!
And don't forget to check out my Etsy place too, JewelsByJane..Bling-a-fy Your Home, pick out your favorite cause a big Giveaway is coming up and you won't want to miss it!!

Jama Party

Shea: Mom I want to have a jama party.
Me: Ok......
then I hear Ruby from the infamous "Max and Ruby" show on nick jr, telling Max she is going to have a pajama party, not a sleepover, everyone just comes in their pj's.
Me: What do you do at a jama party?
Shea: uh, put on makeup and drink....
Hmmm sounds like what I do everyday!

Thankful Thursday

Here goes:

1. My daughter is better....not 100% but almost....virus + 3yr old = misery.

2. The fall, I love this time of year..the colors, the coolness, the foods!

3. The view from my back deck....and being able to have a cup of coffee out there in the mornings and watch the clouds.

4. Being around the fire pit last night with my youth group at church. Right at dusk, looking up and watching the ashes float up against a darkening sky....and then breathe and thank God.

5. Jesus the Christ...just looking at His name brings a smile to my face.

Join the rest of us Thankees over at Sonya's place Truth 4 The Journey!

Blast

My son had one of the Classic Rock music channels on in my bedroom....and straight from the past came one of my favorite, greatest, rocker songs ...come on, when Jefferson Starship is rocking YOUR name, does it get any better! Enjoy!!

Look...Look...

Yep...there ya have it.....what I've been up to lately...adding more to my Etsy store....this is the fun side of my life...my creative side...'bout time I found it! Run by my store,(Please, Please) and check out my new stuff. Be sure and read the story behind the Button Wreath. Hmmmm might have to have a GIVEAWAY SOON.....what would y'all think of that????

Join me at my friend Pretty's Palace for more cute creativities!

Thankful Thursday, Random.

My Thankfuls.......This has been a rough week...but here goes:

1. Our animals, all 9 of them. I love how they are teaching the children empathy.

2. My kids, for being forgiving of a crazed, whacked out Mom this week.

3. My husband, who knows the minute he sees me to tread lightly when I am at my wits end.

4. When everyone is asleep but me, and the house is still.

5. For Jesus, for Him being there...even when I'm not.

Join Sonya and the crew over at Truth 4 The Journey!

Time.......

For a Kitty update....starting with these 3.....they love to watch the kittens play on the deck.

Ya know, sometimes it just doesn't all fit in....

Love those front paws........

I took this one of Joe as he sat on back of the chair.....staring at my wall clock...

Thru the looking glass....

Shea is facinated how her kitten can get into.....

Such tight places!

Thankful Thursday, Bands.

Music........has always been such a major influence in my life. I was a hard core rocker growing up....and even now. I am so Thankful for the Contemporary Christian music of today. Even an old rocker like myself can find bands to "get it". So today I am Thankful for....

DC Talk, the band pictured above, was my first taste of Christian music I could really get into, still love the first song of theirs I heard.. a remake of "Jesus Is Just Alright". Alas, they are not together anymore....but they are still putting out "whack" music individually which leads me to....
Toby Mac... a true man with a message...a rapper/hip hop artist. His music never fails to excite me...and his concerts are the real thing. I've seen him many times...and always walk away fulfilled.
Family Force 5... my, my what can I say about them. They are from my home state of Georgia. The first video I saw of their's..did not like at all. But, they were an opening act a couple of years ago for Toby Mac's Winter Slam tour...they ROCKED the house with rock, punk, funk and everything else!! When I want to pump it up in the van...they are always my first choice. My daughter Shea has even learned the words to her favorite songs....the best is "Drama Queen"...SNAP!
Skillet...They were the first real ROCK Christian band I've been drawn to. Love their messages. I saw them in concert last May and am taking my youth group to see them in December......Rock On....
Decyfer Down...They were an opening act for Skillet....they tore it down!!! Very hard core rockers...heavy bass...and heavy beat...head banging music...loved them!

So there you have one of my most Thankfuls.....I would not be the person I am today without the music I have listened to over the years...Thanks to all these artists for producing music with a message for all!!
Join the rest of us over at Sonya's Truth 4 The Journey!

The Inn at Christmas Place.

Will took these pictures....

As we were heading out of....

Pigeon Forge, Tn.

It is "The Inn at Christmas Place"...

Hopefully my December long weekend spot....they decorate their rooms in the Christmas Spirit.
Nancy at Southern Lady stayed their last year....and I would love for this year to be my year....oh and all the kids are wishing for it too...big road-block called Big Daddy....but my oh my, how that man loves Christmas!!

Thankful Thursday!

This week I am showing my Thankfulness in pictures. I am so thankful we were able to go on vacation last week...I misses my TT though! So this week my thanksgivings come in the form of a few vacation pictures:

These are all pictures taken at the Little Valley Mountain Resort in Pigeon Forge where we stayed. As you can tell, very family friendly!! My crew loves it! Yes, we are repeaters! And I am oh so Thankful to have found this place...God knew where we needed to be! Praises!!

And I am equally Thankful for all of you who took the time to comment on my forgive post yesterday. Your kind words and help are so appreciated...THANKS!

Now join the rest of the TT crew over at Sonya's Truth 4 The Journey!

Forgive = Hard

Forgiveness...why is it so hard. I was taught since I was little to forgive....you know the "forgive and forget". It has always come so hard to me. I know people who can just forgive, forget and move on. I am not one of them. I find it so hard to let go....almost as if when I do, I'm afraid it will happen again. It's a fear that if I do forgive...then what is there to keep me from being hurt again. If I don't forgive, I stay on my toes...and I am reminded of the hurt over and over and over again. I find myself now of being in the situation of needing to forgive after 20 yrs of hurt...20 years....that's a long time to harbor all those feelings. I am good at keeping them buried....but I had a kick, more like a lightening bolt, of that old hurt again, and I just can't get rid of it. After a few nights of crying and days of hurting, I finally really turned to God. Now I had been praying but had never really gotten to the depths yet. I know when God is speaking to me cause he interrupts me...finishes my thought with an answer...and He repeats himself until I get it, no matter how many "are you sures" I ask. He told me to forgive...and each time I ask, it's always the same..forgive. But I don't know how...but I know I have to...I have to get past this cause it is eating me up inside and before long it will start to affect my life outside of just affecting me. Forgive....how Lord, how??? How do I just let it go.........

A Mountain and A Winner

First congrats to Katherine over at, most fitting, Smoky Mountain Cafe, for winning the captions award, everyone did a great job and I had lots of laughs at your expense!!..so Katherine send me your addy and start looking for the mail..you're gonna love it!

These are a few of the pictures Derek took as we traveled from Gatlinburg, Tn. to Cherokee NC for the day. You are in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. And you go up the mountains....and down the other side...hills and valleys everywhere. It had been many years since I had visited the Smokies.....I had forgotten how truly majestic they are. When you are on top....looking out at all those mountains...and you are so high up.....it's like you can just reach up and touch the breath of God....

Random # 5, Last Chance!

In lieu of the fact that I don't know if we will have internet at the cabin while we are gone, I leave you with a random picture for you to name for each day we are vacationing! I will post 1 picture a day starting Sunday the 27th and ending Thursday the 1st. Everyone who comes up with a great line for each picture will go in a drawing. So if you come up with a quote for each day, you'll get 5 chances to win. But please only 1 entry per picture. And you can bet that the prize will be coming from Pigeon Forge!! Have fun with it!!

Praises and safe travel home for us!