Mid Term

I turned in my mid-term exam over 11 chapters in one class today and completed 2 sections in the other class. I'm very happy about that. Only 13 more days of this grueling pace....Do not ever let me think I can take 2 Summer mini session classes at once and work. I might be able to do this if I didn't have a job, but this has been horrible!

Between working at a computer and then having my nose in a book constantly with constant stress I got a pulled or knotted muscle or more in my upper back, shoulder, neck area on Wednesday. I've been soaking, heating, stretching, icing, massaging this ever since.

When I turn in the final exam for this accounting class, there just might be a shout loud enough for a deaf man to hear.

Well, I'm off to bed with plans to get a lot accomplished tomorrow....aiming at 100 accounting problems from 3 chapters and a clean house. That will leave 74 problems for Sunday.

OH MY!!

Happy Father's Day

“ Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

This picture was made near my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. They provided a testimony of commitment in marriage.

This picture was taken about 10 years ago. Daddy spent a lot of 1999 in the hospital. He'd be in for a while and back home for a while. He finally won his battle with cancer in late October by going home to see his Heavenly Father.

This picture is of my parents in their early years of marriage before ME.

My daddy served in the army during WWII.

My daddy loved his cows and tractors. He grew hay and also baled hay for public. My first job was driving a tractor raking hay.

Don't forget to honor your daddy, today.

Photo Challenge--Getting Up Close with Macro

Thanks to Janice of Butterfly Gardens for selecting this weeks photo challenge prompt. She chose a good one encouraging us to get up close and to use our Macro camera setting. I'm sure looking forward to seeing all the wonderful up close pictures. There's sure to be some great pictures to see this weekend. I've been REALLY busy lately, but I took a much needed break and had fun with my camera yesterday evening. I took about a 100 pictures...here's my favorite 3. My dog Sam had a "photo Shoot" and he's quite the model. I think I'll post a slide show of more of these pictures because he is just so darn cute!

I also took my camera to my vegetable garden and captured some pics of our almost ready produce. It won't be long until we have several nice veggies from the garden. Here's a capture of some baby cucumbers.

And how could I leave out a shot of my beautiful daisies.

Thanks for coming by and checking out my UP CLOSE pics!! Be sure you go to the Brenda's Photo Challenge page to find out who else is participating. Now back to the books!!!

Up Close Photo Challenge Preview

Tomorrow's photo challenge is Getting Up Close. So I thought I'd share a few pictures of my recent UP CLOSE attention!

So here's what my eyes look like after hours and hours and hours of my up close time with my summer speed through income tax rules.

Now come back tomorrow for some more interesting photos for the challenge! I managed to take a break from the books long enough to get up close with my camera and some nice "models." If you'd like to participate we'd love to have you. Click on the Brenda's Photo Challenge button on the sidebar.

Over My Head!!

I'm so in over my head. I am sinking so quickly in these 2 super fast classes this summer session. I've been taking off work and still just barely getting assignments turned in on time. I'm soooooo stressed!!!

Stressed or is it desserts?

STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS!

And I have found that desserts seem to go hand in hand with my current state of being Stressed!!

Any one out there with me on this one?

Sometimes I'm stressed because I ate the desserts and sometimes I eat the desserts because I am stressed.

Off for a fun day at work!

Sing along with me!

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, And to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus says the Lord!” Refrain Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood! Refrain Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace. Refrain I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end. Refrain

Guilty

Okay, okay, I'm guilty!!!

I got up early because my "To Do" list is sooooo long, BUT I have played with my blog for 2 hours!!!

My how time flies!

Rain & Storms

We have had a good rain last night and I think we are about to get another round of it. Although the wind was really blowing, I don't think we have any storm damage. Our garden needed a good watering!

Have a great day my friends!!

God is Good!

That is all there is to it, God is Good!

Changing gears

I've not had any school classes for the last 3 weeks. Work has been reasonable; no overtime and even took a few vacation days. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have slept later than normal, took my Seattle trip, caught up on some household chores, read a couple of books for pleasure not because a teacher said I had to read them, spent more time on the internet with blogger and facebook, and simply relaxed a bit. It has been wonderful.

BUT summer school starts tomorrow. I have signed up for 2 classes for each summer session on top of full time work. I must switch gears and get focused again. So we shall see if I can change my gears back into high gear after these weeks of coasting along.

Photo Challenge--"Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"

Annie asked me to host the Brenda's Photo Challenge this time. When she asked me I was on my trip to Seattle and was surrounded with so much of God's beautiful creation that I chose "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder." I am hoping to see what each of you considers as beautiful. After choosing the theme I found myself thinking a lot about the things and people in my life that are beautiful to me. I found myself thinking about the beauty of people helping people, the beauty of God's Word, the beauty of a solved problem, the beauty of young couples in love, the beauty of a long marriage, the beauty of imperfections that make us unique. The Bible says the feet of people who share the gospel to others are beautiful in Isaiah 52:7.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 declares, "He has made everything beautiful in its time."

My trip to Seattle was beautiful to me in many ways, but mostly because of some special little "hugs" that I got from God. In many ways, God showed me that He was present with me on my trip and He used the trip to restore me and reassure me of His love for me. I really needed that after several months of trials and daily stress. So I am going to share few of the beautiful scenes from my trip.

This first picture is of a waterfall that we visited. I think the waterfall shows me the power of God's creation and of His love for me. This strength is to be respected and admired. I can rely on God's strength to get me through any situation.

This view of the Pacific ocean emphasizes the vastness of God's love to me.

Here is one of my favorite pictures from our visit to the Mt. Rainier National Park. The blue sky reminds me of the purity of God's love. The evergreens teach me that He is always with me and the majesty of the mountain is a reminder of His awesome sovereignty.

My final picture is of the dogwood blossoms in the back yard of the people I visited. Ever since I was young, I have loved dogwood blossoms. I love the legend of the dogwood tree (see below) and was so overwhelmed when I first arrived in Seattle to find dogwood trees in peak bloom all around me. Perhaps you have noticed that I use a white dogwood blossom as my profile picture because it reminds me that God has loved me and engraved me on His hands.

There Is A Legend

At the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this.
In His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree:
" Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

Thank you for looking at some beauty through my eyes. Now get yourself to the Brenda's Photo Challenge page to see the beauty through the other participant's eyes.

Photo Challenge Ahead

This coming Saturday is the Brenda's Photo Challenge. I'm hosting this time and I want to know what is beautiful in your eyes. So pop on over to The Brenda's Photo Challenge site to sign up. If we only look for it, there is so much beauty all around us. Post some pictures of the beauty you find this week.