I made a first ever attempt at semi-gardening today.  Joann's had their big pottery pots on sale 50% off, plus I had a coupon for an extra 10% of so that = total discount of 60%.  Too good to pass up!  So I got just one (to make sure I actually planted something in it before I got multiples!) and then Sean and I went to Lowe's this morning (after breakfast at our usual Saturday morning spot, BJ's Kountry Kitchen... we love it so much because its the only place here that reminds us of North Carolina!  We love it!) to get the plants.  I really don't know if the flowers will stay alive, but I sure hope they do because A) they're pretty and B) they were kinda expensive.  I didn't know plants were so expensive.  Well, we had to get potting soil too.  ANYWHO... all that to say, here's what the final result looks like now:

I started off trying to sand it.  But I didn't know how to work a sander.  That's when I decided that really good primer would have to do.

I want to be famous.  There I said it.  Only now that I said it, I realize its not quite accurate.  I want to have the perks of being famous with out the hassles that come with it.  I mean, who really doesn't want to have someone fix their hair and make up every day, pick out fab clothes, and shuttle them around from place to place?  I know I do!  

Movies fascinate me.  How they're made, what goes on behind the set, how the actors and the directors interact.... it is all so interesting!  And so completely foreign to me!  I think that I would love to have a busy jam-packed schedule, filled with doing things I love... like talking, meeting new people and smiling.  :-)

I would love to not have to worry about money.  I would love to be able to spend weeks away from real life doing mission work, and when back stateside, devoting my time to ministries I am passionate about.  I would love to provide for family and treat friends and family to fabulous vacations and just spend months at a time "taking time off."  

But, that's not real life.  Just a dream.  :-)  With all that said, though I do love my life right now.  (For the most part.)  We still have to be conscious of money (who doesn't these days?) but we have all we need.  And the most important thing we have is each other... My husband has been gone the past few days and I miss him so much!  He was only gone for 4 days, but it seemed like forever!!  So, even though our lives aren't Hollywood Fast, I'll take it.  :-)  

Coming soon... pics of our newly painted dining table!  Sean took the camera camping with him, that's why I haven't put any up yet!  On to being productive!

Oh, the flashlight.  Remember my Uncle Bill? Every Christmas for as long as I can remember, Uncle Bill gave all of us flashlights.  In my family, getting a flashlight from Uncle Bill was the equivalent of getting underwear from mom or a pen and notebook from grandma-- we expected it.  When Sean joined the family, he was enveloped into the flashlight gifting, too.  Every single flashlight we have in our house is from Uncle Bill.  So, I went to the stash in our kitchen and pulled a big, bright orange one.  This one we got from Uncle Bill via my parents this past Christmas.  So what's the big deal about a flashlight?  Uncle Bill passed away several months ago.  This weekend, a lot of people are going down to the River to plant a tree in his memory and I so wish I could be there.  As I put the flashlight in hubby's bag, he said "I'll think of him every time I turn this on."  I've never appreciated those flashlight Christmas gift more than I did last night.  

We kept thinking and talking about Uncle Bill a little bit and hubby said something I'd never thought of before.... when we were home over Thanksgiving, we got to go for two weeks.  This only happened because there was a missionary convention and hubby's job had recently changed from Youth Minister to Missions pastor.  We had planned on going to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving this year, and would have if the developements of last Fall hadn't taken place.  On that trip home, we got to see Unlce Bill three different times.  Once before we knew he had cancer and then again shortly after the diagnosis.  It was so good to get to see him and talk with him, even if just for that short time.  Hubby reminded me that if we hand't gotten kicked out of youth ministry, we probably would have never gotten to see Uncle Bill again before he went Home.  

Hm.  As many fits as I threw and as many tears I cried last fall, I've learned that the Lord does work in mysterious ways.  And He most definitely does know what he's doing in working everything out to the good of those who love Him.  And I love Him.  I do.  And I am so greatful for those extra moments with Uncle Bill.

That song, "He knows my name" is one that I heard for the first time when I lived in NC.  In fact, the first time I heard it, I was at Jen's house, with Barb and Sissy.  Sissy started singing it while Jen was playing the piano, and the words were so simple, yet so powerfully profound:

Sometimes on this journey, especially this particular stage of my life, I feel so alone.  God knows that, and lately he's been bringing to mind precious scripture that reminds me of His presence and peace: