So, for the last 8 years, I've been my hubby's secretary but I've just been replaced by a smart phone.Yahoo!!!!
I didn't mind him calling me a couple times a day to have me read him his emails from work. And only once in awhile did I mind typing out his replies. Like when they were really long, because I'd get a kink in my neck balancing the phone on my shoulder while typing. But all that just ended since his company realized they had an iPhone 4 laying around that no one was using! Hallelujah!!!!!!!
(yes, I know we are way behind the times at my house)
So, here I thought he was going to have to get really good at typing with this thumbs, really fast, but I was wrong. (because like I said, we are behind the times at our house)
All he has to do is SPEAK his emails into it, add some punctuation and push SEND. Oh my word, the technology!!!! He's spoiled!! ; )
~Becky
May 30, 2014
May 28, 2014
Wednesdays in the Word
Luke was a historian and a physician. As the author of the Gospel of Luke, he
"revealed his compassionate heart not only in what and who he wrote about but also in how he wrote about them. Luke's Gospel contains more stories about children than any of the other gospels, and he captures the heart cries of anguished parents." "Luke's Gospel abounds with stories of losers and outcasts." His Gospel "mentions thirteen women that none of the other Gospel writers mention..."
(from Fear Not: Devotionals for Times like These)
If you want an edifying read, sometime go through and read all the "red letter words" (words of Jesus) in the book of Luke and be in awe of Jesus once again.
Here are some of my favorite verses from the book of Luke:
"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." Luke 18:1
"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Luke 18:27
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:22
"For one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Luke 12:12
"Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." Luke 17:19
"He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases." Luke 9:1
"And they were all amazed at the majesty of God." Luke 9:43 -AMEN!
~Becky
May 27, 2014
Holiday weekend fun
Well, Friday was a hard day, so our date didn't include splitting an amazing Cuban sandwich after all. It included lots of chips and guacamole. The best guacamole I've had since moving to Florida 20+ years ago. ~Guacamole is my love language and it makes everything all better! ; ) Then we rented the Monuments Men and really liked it. (even if it was a wee bit slow)
Saturday, I spent the day doing yard work and Hubby worked on vehicles. Then Joy and Hubby had a dinner date. She came home with a cactus. She loves cactus. She's got the green thumb in the family. -She is growing the tallest tomato plant I've ever seen. (in her room! -So that it won't be eaten by bugs) Of course, it's name is Bob. ; )
Sunday we went to church and then a going away. After lunch we went to the beach! Hooray! Due to an accident on the highway and then getting rained out, I'm pretty sure that we drove longer than we played, but it was fun! It is 'Bathtub Water Season' in Florida! Yay! Love the warm water of the Gulf and I can't wait for an excuse to go back soon.
Monday, our kids went to an amusement park with their friends and that evening we had a BBQ. Zac's girlfriend made these. Aren't they the cutest fruit kabobs for Memorial Day?
Then Uncle Phil bought us all milkshakes at our local ice cream shop (his contribution to every holiday). It was a great weekend.
And there's only ten more days until summer vacation!!! Hooray!
~Becky
May 23, 2014
Here's hoping there's a beach trip involved
There isn't a whole lot going on around here at the moment.
We are close to wrapping up our school year in the next couple of weeks.
We are loving getting 46 miles per gallon in our new car! -The kids aren't loving that we can't fit anyone else in it, to come home with us on Sundays after church though.
We are excited that our son is coming home for two weeks this summer and we've been planning all of our activities.
Our youngest just applied to work at Publix. (praying!) And our daughter is volunteering this summer and had to get fingerprinted the other day. She will be the cutest science camp counselor ever, I'm sure.
We've found a little Cuban restaurant that we think makes the best Cuban sandwiches ever. So, even though the restroom is rather scary AND you have to exit the building to use it, we've pretty much decided we want to go there every single Friday night forever. -Now that's a good Cuban sandwich!!!
Last weekend we saw the Amazing Spider man and LOVED it! It is better than the first. (which sounds weird to say when there have been so many Spider man movies)
There's a Daddy/Daughter date night planned for Saturday night.
And my hope is that Sunday evening we will all be playing in the Gulf of Mexico! I haven't been to the beach yet this year and I can't wait. -But I will avoid it like the plague on MONDAY because the whole wide world will be there.
Happy Memorial Day weekend, All. I know it can't come fast enough for us!
~Becky
We are close to wrapping up our school year in the next couple of weeks.
We are loving getting 46 miles per gallon in our new car! -The kids aren't loving that we can't fit anyone else in it, to come home with us on Sundays after church though.
We are excited that our son is coming home for two weeks this summer and we've been planning all of our activities.
Our youngest just applied to work at Publix. (praying!) And our daughter is volunteering this summer and had to get fingerprinted the other day. She will be the cutest science camp counselor ever, I'm sure.
We've found a little Cuban restaurant that we think makes the best Cuban sandwiches ever. So, even though the restroom is rather scary AND you have to exit the building to use it, we've pretty much decided we want to go there every single Friday night forever. -Now that's a good Cuban sandwich!!!
Last weekend we saw the Amazing Spider man and LOVED it! It is better than the first. (which sounds weird to say when there have been so many Spider man movies)
There's a Daddy/Daughter date night planned for Saturday night.
And my hope is that Sunday evening we will all be playing in the Gulf of Mexico! I haven't been to the beach yet this year and I can't wait. -But I will avoid it like the plague on MONDAY because the whole wide world will be there.
Happy Memorial Day weekend, All. I know it can't come fast enough for us!
~Becky
May 21, 2014
Wednesdays in the Word
I was thinking the other day, that we should live in such a way that this verse is comforting and not terrifying:
'For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.'
May our revealed secrets be good deeds done for others, in which we didn't let 'our left hand know what our right hand was doing.'
'For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on housetops.' (Pretty sure that 'housetops' and the Internet are interchangeable) :-)
~Becky
'For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.'
May our revealed secrets be good deeds done for others, in which we didn't let 'our left hand know what our right hand was doing.'
'For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on housetops.' (Pretty sure that 'housetops' and the Internet are interchangeable) :-)
~Becky
May 19, 2014
Awards and rollercoasters and moms
Last weekend, my Hubby's company had their annual awards banquet. Every couple of years, in addition to the banquet there has been a retreat. Its held at a cute resort full of southern charm in the Panhandle, where all the employees and their families get to stay for the weekend. But instead of doing a retreat this time, the company decided to hold their banquet at a restaurant at a theme park! Fun change! All the employees and their families were given passes to the park for that day and the rest of the year. Yahoo!
Long story short, the only ride Hubby and I went on that morning, gave him severe motion sickness. Poor guy! He loved the ride but got so very ill that we had to leave the park. So, we ended up missing the awards banquet later that night. While he was re-cooping, he started receiving congratulatory texts that he didn't understand. It turns out that he won quite a few awards at the banquet, including the highest award, in which is the Team Player of the Year Award. Proud of my guy!!! He also swore off all roller coaster for the rest of his life. : ) Bless his heart.
The next day was Mother's Day and two cute teens made me breakfast in bed. (they cook but they don't clean- LOL but thankfully Zac decided to do the kitchen and the rest of the house as a surprise) Then we went to church and Hubby taught his Sunday School class even though he still felt a little rough. Its a tradition, that I love, that all our kids sit with me in church on Mother's Day. That's always fun. (usually we are spread out all over the building or sometimes even in different services)
Sitting with the kids reminded me of last Mother's Day when I just had this strange feeling that it would be my last Mother's Day service surrounded by all our kids and I was right. So, when Nate called me from CA right after the last 'Amen,' I was too choked up to speak into the phone! (I'm so sappy and he's such a sweetheart!)
Then it was off to my favorite restaurant. My usual evening trip to the beach didn't happen since Hubby started feeling sick again. I'll have to drag the FAM there another time. :-)
~Becky
Long story short, the only ride Hubby and I went on that morning, gave him severe motion sickness. Poor guy! He loved the ride but got so very ill that we had to leave the park. So, we ended up missing the awards banquet later that night. While he was re-cooping, he started receiving congratulatory texts that he didn't understand. It turns out that he won quite a few awards at the banquet, including the highest award, in which is the Team Player of the Year Award. Proud of my guy!!! He also swore off all roller coaster for the rest of his life. : ) Bless his heart.
The next day was Mother's Day and two cute teens made me breakfast in bed. (they cook but they don't clean- LOL but thankfully Zac decided to do the kitchen and the rest of the house as a surprise) Then we went to church and Hubby taught his Sunday School class even though he still felt a little rough. Its a tradition, that I love, that all our kids sit with me in church on Mother's Day. That's always fun. (usually we are spread out all over the building or sometimes even in different services)
Sitting with the kids reminded me of last Mother's Day when I just had this strange feeling that it would be my last Mother's Day service surrounded by all our kids and I was right. So, when Nate called me from CA right after the last 'Amen,' I was too choked up to speak into the phone! (I'm so sappy and he's such a sweetheart!)
Then it was off to my favorite restaurant. My usual evening trip to the beach didn't happen since Hubby started feeling sick again. I'll have to drag the FAM there another time. :-)
~Becky
May 14, 2014
Wednesdays in the Word
These verses have been on my heart lately:
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
~Psalm 82:3-4
I'm not sure what living these verses out will look like but I'm going to be on the lookout for what God may have in mind.
~Becky
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
~Psalm 82:3-4
I'm not sure what living these verses out will look like but I'm going to be on the lookout for what God may have in mind.
~Becky
May 13, 2014
Prius fun
We've had a Prius for a week now, and it is so fun to drive! The suspense was killing me the other day and I put gas into it even though it wasn't on E yet. : )
Since it isn't a 'normal' car, I am actually reading the manual!
Watching the screen to see if we are using the engine or the battery while we drive, is like a fun new hobby.
So far, I have walked up to the wrong car and waited for the smart key to unlock it, which it didn't. ; )
-There are a lot of silver ones out there! And I accidentally left the car on while in a store. Oh my!!! -Really glad it didn't get stolen. It is just that quiet!!!
The first time I was at a stop light and the fuel engine shut off, I panicked because my van used to shut off while I was driving it. LOL THAT is a good thing now and it was a little hard to get used to.
Unfortunately, someone keyed the passenger side while we were parked at a theme park over the weekend.-Sad! What was that all about?! Oh well.
The first thing the dealer told us about Prius' when we looked at them, was that you could go camping in one. I thought he was joking. But all the seats lay down flat and you can put fit an air mattress inside. Who would have thought! When he said that you can run the A/C all night without using any fuel, I got interested. : ) Hubby said there wouldn't be much room for storage so, if we did it, we'd probably have to eat at Cracker Barrels instead of bringing a cooler and cooking out. (A/C and the Cracker Barrel, sounds like it could be my kind of camping!!!) LOL
Super excited to be saving so much on gas!
~Becky
Since it isn't a 'normal' car, I am actually reading the manual!
Watching the screen to see if we are using the engine or the battery while we drive, is like a fun new hobby.
So far, I have walked up to the wrong car and waited for the smart key to unlock it, which it didn't. ; )
-There are a lot of silver ones out there! And I accidentally left the car on while in a store. Oh my!!! -Really glad it didn't get stolen. It is just that quiet!!!
The first time I was at a stop light and the fuel engine shut off, I panicked because my van used to shut off while I was driving it. LOL THAT is a good thing now and it was a little hard to get used to.
Unfortunately, someone keyed the passenger side while we were parked at a theme park over the weekend.-Sad! What was that all about?! Oh well.
The first thing the dealer told us about Prius' when we looked at them, was that you could go camping in one. I thought he was joking. But all the seats lay down flat and you can put fit an air mattress inside. Who would have thought! When he said that you can run the A/C all night without using any fuel, I got interested. : ) Hubby said there wouldn't be much room for storage so, if we did it, we'd probably have to eat at Cracker Barrels instead of bringing a cooler and cooking out. (A/C and the Cracker Barrel, sounds like it could be my kind of camping!!!) LOL
Super excited to be saving so much on gas!
~Becky
May 7, 2014
Wednesdays in the Word
I'm reposting this thought because the gardenias are blooming like crazy and I can't leave them on the bush!!! Every time I pick them, I think of this quote by Peter Marshall, and I try not to touch the petals. : )
"You know how a gardenia's petals reveal any telltale fingermarks by turning brown. . .Your lives are like that.
Purity is like that. . .
Young people, don't give anything to the world to destroy..."
This reminds me of the book of James which talks about how whether we are young or old, we are to "keep ourselves unspotted from the world." : )
Amen!
~Becky
"You know how a gardenia's petals reveal any telltale fingermarks by turning brown. . .Your lives are like that.
Purity is like that. . .
Young people, don't give anything to the world to destroy..."
This reminds me of the book of James which talks about how whether we are young or old, we are to "keep ourselves unspotted from the world." : )
Amen!
May 6, 2014
May 5, 2014
The graduates
This happy moment took place over the weekend
during a torrential rain storm with Hubby's phone receiving flash flood warnings!
We FINALLY reached home, and we were all wet and starving!
We had a great time over brunch,
celebrating with these two, who graduated within an hour of each other with an AA in Business and a cosmetology degree!
They are on their way! Proud of you, Zac and Tiff!
~Becky
Afterwards, we swam to our cars ; )
and hoped to exit the parking lot before the second coming of Christ, but I had my doubts! LOLWe FINALLY reached home, and we were all wet and starving!
We had a great time over brunch,
celebrating with these two, who graduated within an hour of each other with an AA in Business and a cosmetology degree!
They are on their way! Proud of you, Zac and Tiff!
~Becky
May 3, 2014
Some sad news
Today I read two letters from our Compassion child.
Dayana is 16 now and we became her sponsors when she was in preschool. The first letter said that her mother had an overdose of the medication the doctor gave her for an illness and it took the 'strength out of her muscles.' (and gave her another condition, the name of which seems to have been lost in the translation process) So, this dear girl was making regular trips with her mother to the doctor by carrying her. So sad! And the next letter said that her mother had passed away. Tragic!
Her father left them and moved to another country last year. -Thankfully, he has been visiting her regularly. I believe she is living with her older sister now.
I wish I could do more than pray. We decided that we would send an extra donation specifically marked for her family and the good news is that the company my hubby works for, will match our donation, because they are awesome like that. Yay!
In her letter she asked me if I'd ever lost a loved one. I can definitely relate to her pain since my mom died when I was seven. I'm praying that the "God of all comfort" will be with her as He was with me, way back then.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Cor 1:3-5
He is faithful!
~Becky
Dayana is 16 now and we became her sponsors when she was in preschool. The first letter said that her mother had an overdose of the medication the doctor gave her for an illness and it took the 'strength out of her muscles.' (and gave her another condition, the name of which seems to have been lost in the translation process) So, this dear girl was making regular trips with her mother to the doctor by carrying her. So sad! And the next letter said that her mother had passed away. Tragic!
Her father left them and moved to another country last year. -Thankfully, he has been visiting her regularly. I believe she is living with her older sister now.
I wish I could do more than pray. We decided that we would send an extra donation specifically marked for her family and the good news is that the company my hubby works for, will match our donation, because they are awesome like that. Yay!
In her letter she asked me if I'd ever lost a loved one. I can definitely relate to her pain since my mom died when I was seven. I'm praying that the "God of all comfort" will be with her as He was with me, way back then.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Cor 1:3-5
He is faithful!
~Becky
May 1, 2014
Needing new wheels
Our mini van, affectionately named The Gunship, has driven its last mile.
It has been dying a slow death for awhile now. Driving it in all its quirkiness was like a science so we had to put off Joy's driving lessons. But after 239,000 miles you can't be too picky, right? Our sweet friend, who is a mechanic, certainly kept it going for us for as long as possible and we are so thankful.
I have lots of sweet memories of the six of us riding around in that van!
Memories of teaching 2 and half teenagers to drive in it. : )
Lots of out of state visits from my best friend in which we packed her 2 and our 4 in the back of it because they were small enough back then, until one summer they were all too big and she had to start renting cars. ; )
Memories of so many beach trips that we kept swim noodles and beach chairs in the trunk year round!
But most of all and maybe best of all, were the gazillion trips to church! Three or four or more times a week, (44 miles round trip) that I wouldn't trade for anything. Those trips were for not only worship services, but youth group band practices, fine arts practices, choir practices, Junior Bible Quiz matches and Teen Bible Quiz matches and all kinds of fun things that helped us raise our kiddos! Well worth every trip! : )
Zac is loaning me his car tonight so that I can go and teach my last small group Bible class for the high school girls, since the program is ending. -We aren't really studying tonight since I found out that they have never seen Frozen!!! (how can that be?!!?) ; )
Friday morning Zac graduates and several of us will have to ride with him, so that we can even get to the ceremony. LOL But, after all the fun festivities surrounding that, we'll be used car shopping!!! (Hubby's been searching Craig's List for weeks)
Our mini van days are over and we can now get something more fuel efficient for those 44 miles we love soooo much!!! After all, this is the home stretch of raising kids for us!
Prayers that we choose a good one, much appreciated!
~Becky
It has been dying a slow death for awhile now. Driving it in all its quirkiness was like a science so we had to put off Joy's driving lessons. But after 239,000 miles you can't be too picky, right? Our sweet friend, who is a mechanic, certainly kept it going for us for as long as possible and we are so thankful.
I have lots of sweet memories of the six of us riding around in that van!
Memories of teaching 2 and half teenagers to drive in it. : )
Lots of out of state visits from my best friend in which we packed her 2 and our 4 in the back of it because they were small enough back then, until one summer they were all too big and she had to start renting cars. ; )
Memories of so many beach trips that we kept swim noodles and beach chairs in the trunk year round!
But most of all and maybe best of all, were the gazillion trips to church! Three or four or more times a week, (44 miles round trip) that I wouldn't trade for anything. Those trips were for not only worship services, but youth group band practices, fine arts practices, choir practices, Junior Bible Quiz matches and Teen Bible Quiz matches and all kinds of fun things that helped us raise our kiddos! Well worth every trip! : )
Zac is loaning me his car tonight so that I can go and teach my last small group Bible class for the high school girls, since the program is ending. -We aren't really studying tonight since I found out that they have never seen Frozen!!! (how can that be?!!?) ; )
Friday morning Zac graduates and several of us will have to ride with him, so that we can even get to the ceremony. LOL But, after all the fun festivities surrounding that, we'll be used car shopping!!! (Hubby's been searching Craig's List for weeks)
Our mini van days are over and we can now get something more fuel efficient for those 44 miles we love soooo much!!! After all, this is the home stretch of raising kids for us!
Prayers that we choose a good one, much appreciated!
~Becky
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