Thanks for listening to me rant!

Papers are all done for this semester!

I have 1 more exam to take...not available just yet...due on Thursday.

I HATE writing Accounting PAPERS!!!!

Okay, I think I feel better now.....I just needed to express my intense displeasure at writing papers for accounting classes!

I enjoy preparing tax returns, analyzing client's data, consulting with clients on many different matters, compiling financial statements, and much more about my job.

I'm very excited to be near the end of my journey to get a Master of Science in Accounting degree.  It has been 2 1/2 years since I started this journey and I have about another year left.

I haven't even minded most of the tests and exams too much.  I have learned a lot from my classes and some of it has been useful to my job. 

But today I must complete my THIRD (yes, I said THIRD) boring accounting paper in the last 2 weeks.  This one is due by midnight tonight!

So there now, I've ranted and raved!  And now I must return to the PAPER!  

Where's The Line to See Jesus?

One of my facebook friends shared this yesterday.  I LOVE IT!!!!  So I'm sharing with my blog buddies.

Played in the dirt!

So I should have worked on school papers, gone to work to do the project I didn't get done on Friday, cleaned house, cooked, or any number of other things............

BUT I have been wanting to play in my yard getting it ready for winter for a while now....it was nice out today and I had all my supplies.......


SO-----I played in the dirt!


I put a ring around my tree and planted some pansies to have some color for the winter!

 

 

And when I was putting mulch in the other flower bed, I found this one last rose!  It was tucked into the bush behind it!

I thought it was so pretty hiding in the bush!  It's hard to put into words, but it some how pictured to me that I am hiding in God's love!

I don't know exactly why, but when I saw it I just felt like God gave me a hug!

Another Email Worth Sharing

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

"I AM Too blessed to be stressed!"
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and peace be with you forever, Amen.

PS: GOD LOVES YOU

Being a Mother

I got this in an email from my sister this morning.  I thought it was pretty good, so I'm sharing with all my blog friends!

After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.'

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been alone for 20 years, but the demands of my work and my two boys had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

'What's wrong, aren't you well,' she asked?  My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a

late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

'I thought it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.'

She thought about it for a moment, and then said, 'I would like that very much.' 

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her

house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last birthday on November 19th.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. 'I told my friends that I was going to go

out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said, as she got into that new white van. 'They can't wait to hear about our date'.

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my

arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only

read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at

 me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were

small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation- -nothing extraordinary but catching up

on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.

As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed.

'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,' I  answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't

have a chance to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife.

You will never know what that night meant for me.  I love you, son.'

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby..... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is  history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct ... 

somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ....

somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a'good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'....

somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.... 

somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first ....

somebody doesn't have two children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....

somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of  kindergarten ...

or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....

somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....

somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...

somebody isn't a mother.

Pass this along to all the 'mothers' in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people in your life while you have them....no

matter who that person is.

Thankful for C's

There are many things to be thankful for that being with the letter "C"

But my picture is of my Crazy Cat that loves to eat ice!

I'm also thankful for Christ, children, colors, chocolate, care, and so much more.

Thankful for A's & B's

Last November I played a thankful ABC game on my blog and my Facebook page.  It was a lot of fun, so I decided to do it again this year.  I guess I really should do both A & B today since I got started a day late.  Anyway...here's something that begin with A that I'm thankful for...... 

ANIMALS! 

I just love this picture I took of Sam making a new friend at the "Dog Park" near our home.  Sam just loves going there and his tail wags constantly.  The other day I took several pictures and his poor little tail is a blur in EVERY picture!

And for B......

 

Beautiful Brides!  

Thankful for my new daughter-in -law!

Follow Up on "My Little Pumpkin"

On Sunday evening, we prepared for passing out candy at our house to the neighbor children.  I got out Sam's little costume and called him.  He got all excited and happy to get dressed up.  When the kiddos started arriving, we put a leash on him and just left it on.  The doorbell would ring and Sam and I would greet the kids.  I'd step on his leash so he couldn't fun off.  He had a great time getting attention from the trick or treat kids.  One mother wanted a picture of her kids with Sam.

My Little Pumpkin!

We heard that Petsmart had pet costumes on sale.  So for the first time in my life I bought a costume for a DOG!  But isn't he cute?!! 

He was so cooperative about the whole thing too!

 

Since he had such a cute costume, we took him to our church's Harvest Fest.  He's such a good doggie!  He enjoyed the sights and attention from the kiddos!

 

His favorite game was the cake walk.  He did pretty good at it too.  He won 3 times!

 

So here's a video of one time he played and didn't win.  Such a good sport!

 

So do you dress your pets up for special occasions?

WooHoo! RANGERS!!!

TEXAS RANGERS!  
Way to go--American League Champs!

Pumpkins & Petals

The BLUE wins!

Found out today that my first grandchild is a BOY!!!!!

A few more Arboretum pics

Gerber Daisy Pictures

The Gerber Daisies were blooming nicely at the Arboretum yesterday.  Here are some of my favorite shots of them.

Butterflies at the Arboretum

Since this was my last free Saturday until mid December (well I think I have the Sat after Thanksgiving off); I decided to PLAY today!  Hubby and I went to one of my favorite places....the Dallas Arboretum!  We stayed a couple hours and it was hot and we figured we'd had enough!  My favorite part today was 3 butterflies that allowed me the privilege of photographing them.    

 

Kohl's Cares

How many of you have heard about the Kohl's Cares about Kids facebook contest?

Well, if you've heard, then have you voted yet?  Have you used ALL of your votes?

If you haven't heard about it, Kohl's is giving away $500,000 to 20 schools.  Check it out on FaceBook.

I want to tell you a little about the school I'm supporting in this contest since I have a personal connection to it.  My employer and his wife were involved in starting this school from day one.  All 3 of their daughters graduated from there.  His wife is on the school's board of directors and volunteers much of her time to this deserving organization.  This school is a University Model School that has classroom teaching on Monday, Wednesday, & Fridays.  The kids work on assignments at home under their parents supervision on Tuesday's and Thursday's. This small but growing not-for-profit school currently has 276 students and desperately needs more classroom space.  They recently purchased some land and would use the donation from Kohl's to pay off their land note and begin construction of permanent classrooms.  Please follow the link to the Lucas Christian Academy's Kohl's Cares page. 


http://apps.facebook.com/KohlsCares/school/1293871/lucas-christian-academy

Please consider voting for Lucas Christian Academy and then spread the word to your other blog friends!

For more information about the school, follow this link to their website.

http://www.lucaschristianacademy.com/index.php

Thank you all for helping spread the word and for helping LCA!

Photo Editing

I would like to learn some photo editing skills.  I have GIMP downloaded and installed, but can't seem to figure out what to do with it.  I think I need a photo editing for dummies class or someone to get me started.  Normally, I'm pretty good about reading & following written instructions.  But so far with the GIMP stuff, I think I'm missing something of a foundational or concept level.


So does any one have any suggestions or recommendations?

My pictures are all pretty much straight out of the camera with some very basic cropping done.  I think I need to learn some new techniques for fixing some photo problems.

Photo Challenge--Ruby Red Macro

It's been a while since I participated in a photo challenge, but it's good to be back.  And this one was so much fun!  Here are my entries for RED MACRO pictures.....

My birthday Bracelet on a red tablecloth.

Fake pearls and a red sailor's button.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What's better than Red on Red!

And I must have some of this to sip on as I enjoy all the other Red Macro Pictures.......

Be sure you take a look at the other participants' pics by going over the the Brenda's Photo Challenge Blog.  Or better yet....accept the challenge and post some of your own Red Macro pics!

Have a GRAND day!!