GEAUX TIGERS!

Well, first all, I owe you all a huge apology for not being faithful to my blog. We've had a crazy fall season, first with the death of a friend of mine and then Tristan's mom's death following a week later. Crazy doesn't even describe our life lately! I do have a ton to blog about but I'm not going to try to put it all in one blog..that would just be way tooooo long.

When I received the news that my friend had passed away in Houston, Tx we packed up and headed that way. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ivan was also headed that way so our trip was cut short...stuck in Baton Rouge. I say stuck but it was actually the best time. Tristan, Lorin and I stayed with some old and dear friends from my childhood that I haven't seen in probably 10 years. Thanks to Myspace we have been back in touch the past few months and were able to hook up while Tristan and I were suppose to be just driving through Louisiana.

Eric and Michelle Stokes graciously opened their home to us while I was constantly on the phone and the Internet trying to find a way into Houston. Hanging out with them brought back so many memories of Michelle and I growing up together....we use to do the craziest things!

This was also a kind of memorial for Tristan because he is a huge LSU Tigers fan and this was his first time to visit the state. We arrived on a Saturday just in time for some Tiger Tailgating and some good Cajun food. Yes, I actually ate something that sounded very gross but it was delicious! I'll try anything once! After our reunion, we headed off to tour the campus and catch the Golden Band from Tiger Land before they went into the stadium for the game. Lorin absolutely loved seeing the band and the cheerleaders loved talking to her. Then came Mike the Tiger and the actual tiger that lives on the LSU campus in a multi-million dollar facility...lucky him! After all the pre-game festivities we headed out to Tony's, my favorite seafood place in Baton Rouge...the best Boudin Balls you will ever put in your mouth! After picking up our to go order we headed back to Eric and Michelle's to eat and watch the game. I should tell you that thy have two adorable sons that Lorin loved playing with! I also got to see Eric's mom for the first time in ages and that was very exciting. She is one of the most wonderful women in the world and Lorin took to her immediately. The next day, after I found out there was no way we were going to get within a country mile of Texas, Eric and Michelle took us to an awesome restaurant near the campus called Chimes....it was delicious! The best seafood gumbo I've had in a long time...since Florida at least!! Thanks, Eric and Michelle, for a great time in Baton Rouge and I hope we can visit again soon!

Cornerstone Revival Center - First Service

On Sunday, September 21st, our church had a big suprise. Church started at 10:00 Sunday morning at our old location; everyone was geared for what was to be our first "Official" service in the new church building that night. While Bro. Hampton begain to preach the last surmon at our Eva location, Bro. Wilbanks got up and suprised everyone with the news that we are going to the new building NOW! You could see the excitement and anticipation on everyones faces as they rushed to their cars and started a caravan to the building on Hwy 69. I could go on about it all day, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Enjoy!

One Last Sound Check................. One Last Usher

One Last Lap!



One Last Sermon













We're Here!!






Pastor Wilbanks and Sister Wilbanks arrive!

















Bus Kids Arrive!!!

Bathroom initiation performed by Anthony Alexander

Welcome to

Cornerstone Revival Center!!

Here Come the Troops!

Would you rather be a doorkeeper? I think not lol

Message Title

"Us, Here, Now, Why Not?"

Altar Call!!!!!!

Tristan's Mom

Hey,

Just thought I would let everyone know that Tristan's mom passed away yesterday around 12:00 noon. We aren't sure yet what caused her death.


The viewing will be Friday, September 19, 2008 at The Sanctuary in Bessemer, Alabama (The Bertram's Church) The funeral will be at the same location on Saturday at 1:00.

Thank you all for your prayers during this difficult time.

Meal Planning for the Express Checkout!

Now that I am a full-time teacher/Mom and wife, I've really had to work on getting organized (or, organimized as I would say). No one has helped me do this more than the prayers of my mother....yes, she has been fasting and praying for me to be organized my whole life!! haha. Another tool that has been inspirational is my ever helpful "Everyday Cheapskate" email that I receive daily(See homemade laundry detergent in August). This particular one was so informative that I thought I would share it with you all. It's about a weeks worth of meals and only around 20 items to purchase!! I can not attest to the cooking skills of the creator of this meal guide but I'm sure we can spice it up to our families liking.

Something that is said often in these emails has really struck a chord in me. "Mary" often says "Tough times don't last but tough people do". How true is this in our christian walk? If we can just get a tenacity in our walk with God we will be victorious! But, I digress. Didn't mean to turn meal planning into a sermon haha!

Express Checkout Dinners
Here's a meal plan you are going to love: a week's worth of dinner entrees for four to six people, complete with recipes and a shopping list that requires so few items, you just might be able to go through the Express Checkout to save time.Menu

Monday: Chicken Stir-Fry

Tuesday: Taco in a Pan

Wednesday: Vegetarian Penne with Tomato and Mozzarella

Thursday: Sour Cream Mushroom Chicken

Friday: Crazy Cheeseburger Pizza

Shopping List* 2 pounds ground beef

12 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 16-ounce frozen bag of mixed stir-fry vegetables

1 package of taco seasoning mix

1 box of instant rice (8 cups)

cheddar cheese (at least 22 ounces)

1 pound dry penne pasta

16 ounces mozzarella cheese

honey

1 jar of pizza sauce

fresh basil

2 pounds fresh tomatoes

1 24-ounce container of sour cream

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 small can diced mushrooms

*List assumes cook has basic spices, dry white wine or chicken stock, soy sauce, flour, baking soda, vegetable and olive oils, red wine vinegar, milk and eggs.

Simple Stir-Fry with Chicken
4 cups instant rice1 tablespoon vegetable oil6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces1 16-ounce frozen bag of mixed stir-fry vegetables2 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoons honeyHeat oil in skillet. Add chicken pieces and brown. Then, add vegetables, soy sauce and honey. Cook for five to eight minutes, until vegetables are crisp but tender. Cook rice according to instructions on the package, and serve stir-fry mixture over rice. Servings: 4.

Taco in a Pan
1 pound ground beef 4 cups water 1 packet taco seasoning mix 4 cups instant rice1 cup shredded cheddar cheese sour cream 1/2 pound chopped tomatoes

Brown ground beef in a large skillet and drain. Add water and taco seasoning and bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Sprinkle cheese on top of rice, cover and simmer on low for five minutes, until rice has absorbed water. Top with sour cream and tomatoes. Servings: 4 to 6.

Vegetarian Penne
1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, seeded and chopped 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut in 1/2-inch by one-inch strips1/4 cup olive oil1 tablespoon red wine vinegar salt and pepper, to taste1/2 cup chopped fresh basil 12 ounces penne pasta

Combine mozzarella, tomatoes, oil and vinegar in a bowl. Add salt and pepper and let sit at room temperature for one hour. Cook pasta according to package instructions and add to mixture in bowl. Add fresh basil and toss to blend. Add more salt and pepper as desired and serve. Servings: 4.

Sour Cream Mushroom Chicken
1 10.75-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 10.75-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup 3/4 cup dry white wine or chicken stock 2 cups sour cream 1 can diced mushrooms 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a bowl, mix together chicken and mushroom soups, wine or stock, sour cream, mushrooms, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into a glass baking dish. Put chicken breasts on top of mixture. Bake in oven for 1 hour. Servings: 6.

Crazy Cheeseburger Pizza
Batter:1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 2 eggs, lightly beaten 2/3 cup milk Toppings: 1 pound ground beef 1/2 teaspoon pepper

6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded 3/4 cup pizza sauce

Preheat oven to 425 F and grease a pizza pan or cookie sheet with sides. Brown ground beef with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and drain. Mix flour, salt, oregano, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, eggs and milk together and pour into a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Tilt pan so batter covers it evenly. Sprinkle ground beef over batter mixture. Bake for 20 minutes, until crust is golden brown.Spread pizza sauce over crust and sprinkle with cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Return to oven for about 10 minutes, until cheese melts. Cut and serve. Servings: 4 to 6.

Update on Laundry Detergent

Well, I got my laundry detergent kit in last week and was able to actually make it Saturday. I can't believe how much I love it! I even bottled some up for my mother to use and she loves it too. We went with the liquid recipe but I just made the powder recipe so I'll use it on my next load and see how it goes...it's MUCH easier to make so if it dissolves good I'll be using it from now on!! I HIGHLY recommend this detergent because it works great and you SAVE SO MUCH MONEY. I did a little figuring and within a year I will save over $100.00 on laundry detergent alone! (Compare to Sam's Club price for Liquid Tide 100 loads for $20.00 calculated at 700 loads per year). You can go to http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ to get your kit with directions if you are interested.

Soaps Gone Buy (Soapsgonebuy.com)

Every day I get an email from Everyday Cheapskate, a site that tells you little ways to save money. One of the latest articles they sent was on making homemade Laundry detergent. I found a kit and recipe at Soapsgonebuy.com and the reviews were outstanding. Not only is this cheaper (.03 cents per load as compared to .30 cents for store bought) but apparently it has much better results than the more expensive store bought brands and makes clothes so soft that some have eliminated fabric softer or use less! It's also safe for HE washers since Fels Naptha is a very pure soap and doesn't sud much at all.

Here is the recipe I found and I am ordering the ingredients. I'll let you know how it turns out!

First Recipe: (Liquid)
3 Pints Water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer, NOT baking soda though!!)
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
2 Gallon bucket to mix it in
1 Quart hot water Hot Water
Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket completely with additional hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. You may add additional HOT water if the mixture becomes too thick. Mix Well before each use. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load. Makes 64 loads. Cost per load .03.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup 20 mule team borax
Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For light or small loads, use 1 tablespoon. For normal loads, use 2 tablespoons. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons. Cost per load .15.
To make a large batch - grate 6 bars of Fels Naptha Soap and then add 3 cups of Washing Soda and 3 cups of 20 Mule Team Borax. Mix well and store in covered container.

Tea Dying Table Linens!

Hi!



I haven't posted in a while and I have a bit of time on my hands...wait until you hear why lol.



I am dying white table linens in tea water.



You read correctly. I couldn't find any ivory table linens anywhere (at a reasonable price) and I just couldn't bring myself to buy plastic....well, I take that back, I bought plastic and then returned them today lol!


I found a plethora of white but it just wouldn't have matched the "fallish" color scheme for Camille and Jordan's wedding shower tomorrow so I am trying out this crazy method and hoping that they turn out ivory, or ecru...either one..I'm not picky at this point...well...not THAT picky!



I have never done this or even read anything telling me how to do it so I'm just playing it by ear (Yes, I'm sanguine!).

I filled Lorin's tub with hot water and threw a bunch of tea bags in there and let the linens soak for about 15 mins. I plan on putting them on the spin cycle and then drying them on super high heat in the dryer to set the "stain". Here are some before pics...hopefully the after pics will be decent! lol

Ok, I saved this post and actually googled tea dying....turns out I'm not doing it the way any one tells you to do it ROFL! BUT, I just put my first 2 in the dryer and they actually look really good. One encouraging thing I read is that this method is "romantic"...why, I have no idea..maybe it's from the Victorian era....everything was romantic then!

Going to check the dryer.....

Ok, they are a little darker but not much...maybe just 1 shade. Time for a different method.

After reading the little bit that I read I have come to the conclusion that boiling tea is the key to success. The temp sets the stain more effeciently..duh...should have thought of that. I found a relatively easy method online and that is what I'm trying now.

I brought a large pot of water with 10 tea bags to a rolling boil. While this was boiling I turned my washing machine on for a small load and let it fill. I then poured the boiling tea water in the washing machine and let it agitate for a min. Then I added the linens and am now letting them agitate...they are already darker after 3 mins. I'll skip the rinse and go straight to spin and then to the dryer. I'm confident this method will work. It's 3:00 a.m. so if it doesn't then I will just be finding a different solution in the morning! lol

Ok, so far so good. Actually, I am going to let them rinse due to some tea leaves on them. That should take care of that. Ok, I'm going to bed. I'll set these to dry as soon as the rinse and spin are over and I'll post pics in the morning! G'night!

IT'S NOT ABOUT US

WOW! What an awesome, POWERFUL, presence of God! You who attend CRC know what I'm talking about but I'll expound upon the subject for those who do not or those who missed service this week. It actually started a few weeks ago when our wonderful pastor, Bro. Gregory Wilbanks, asked everyone to sign up to pray for a certain amount of time every day that week (15 min, 30 min or 1 hr). Our church services are always awesome but man, that prayer time (Which has continued past the 1st week and has become a staple in our lives) just busted open the door for a SERIOUS HOLY GHOST BREAKTHROUGH!!!

Sunday morning, Bro. Jeremy got up to preach and being sensitive to the moving of the Holy Ghost, asked everyone to just pray for a few seconds....well....seconds turned to hours! The Holy Ghost swept through that place like a MIGHTY RUSHING WIND! I went over to get Lorin from Sunday School and when I got back there was a serious Ladies prayer meeting going on at the alter. A few of us, like myself, got there late but it didn't stop us from jumping in the waters! Our pastors wife, Sister Wilbanks, along with Sister Joann Miller laid hands on every lady there while the rest of us prayed for them as well. It was unlike ANYTHING I've ever experienced. An hour and a half went by and it seemed like 10 min!! The Holy Ghost was SO THICK you could see it! After everyone had been prayed for it didn't stop, it continued to flow and some were sitting, some were kneeling, some were standing but we were all in one accord. All of a sudden, Sister Holly just started shouting and dancing then she got the mic and told us all what God had told her. She said that she heard a gurgling like a pipe that had been clogged and water was trying to come out of it. God told her that the wells that we had been digging, trying to get water in, the enemy had been throwing dirt back into those wells trying to stop revival but it was about to BURST and the water of the Holy Ghost is going to spring up and fill all those wells and pour out over the city. Right after Sister Holly finished, Sister Koehoorne said that she had also saw the same thing! She saw a volcano that was erupting water! MAN, it's so awesome. AND IT DIDN'T STOP THERE! Sunday night it continued. A spirit of prayer has consumed us! Monday night at ladies prayer it was so powerful! It was like Sunday afternoon part 2! All the ladies that had not been prayed for Sunday afternoon were prayed for Monday night and the power of God swept in that sanctuary. One thing that Sister Wilbanks said that was so awesome and really struck home to me was God showed her that the fiery darts of the enemy that were being thrown at her, they can't penetrate! I know that people are saying things about our pastor and his wife and some of the other saints in the church but guess what....it doesn't matter, those darts can't penetrate because it's not about US, it's about GOD! It doesn't matter what people say about me or my family or my church family...it's actually laughable...because this revival is not about me or my family.... it's about JESUS!!!! AND DEVIL, YOU CAN'T STOP IT....(But feel free to die trying!)

2 Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Well DUH!

The Healing Power of Music

I was reading the news the other day and came across an article in which a renown neurologist was studying the healing power of music, more specifically, religious music. In this article, the Doctor also stated that he has found that there is an actual physiological change in people when they pray. WELL DUH! lol We've known this for years! As I recall, it was well documented in a book....what was the name of that book I read once....oh yeah, THE BIBLE! As I read the article I was reminded of the verse of Scripture that talks about using the foolish things to confound the wise. The neurologist is doing the study in conjunction with Harlem gospel choir...I'm thinking we need to invite him to Cornerstone Revival Center!!!!!! Or ARC!!!!! TALK ABOUT A PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGE!

Anyway, here is the article for your reading pleasure.

Neurologist, Harlem gospel choir explore music's healing power during science festival
By KAREN MATTHEWS,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-30 15:33:50
NEW YORK (AP) - Noted neurologist Oliver Sacks has found common ground with the pastor of Harlem's famed Abyssinian Baptist Church: Both men believe in the healing power of music.Sacks, the best-selling author of "Awakenings" and "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," will share the church stage Saturday with the famed gospel choir as part of the inaugural World Science Festival, a five-day celebration of science taking place in New York this week."It should be an exciting and unusual event," Sacks said in an interview this week. "I will talk about the therapeutic and beneficent power of music as a physician, and then their wonderful choir will perform. ... And the audience will make what they can of it."Sacks' most recent book is "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain," which examines the relationship between music and the brain, including its healing effect on people suffering from such diseases as Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's, autism and Alzheimer's."Even with advanced dementia, when powers of memory and language are lost, people will respond to music," he said.A Baptist church is an unusual venue for Sacks, a professor of clinical neurology and clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center who was brought up Jewish but is not a religious believer.But the central role of music in church makes Abyssinian a good place to discuss the myriad ways that music affects the human brain, said Sacks, who was played by Robin Williams in the movie version of "Awakenings."Abyssinian's pastor, the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, said the choir is looking forward to performing with Sacks. He noted that music plays a central role in the healing power of prayer."What we have been studying ... is that when you pray, there's actually a physiological change in the body," he said. "Music is very much a part of this. There are certain notes that generate in the human body a kind of peacefulness."Abyssinian was founded by Ethiopian sea traders in 1808 and is celebrating its bicentennial. It is a popular destination for European tourists who line up around the block in Harlem for Sunday services.The event there is one of two Sacks is participating in during the World Science Festival. The other focuses on vision and the brain.The festival was conceived by Columbia University physicist Brian Greene and his wife Tracy Day, a broadcast journalist."Our intent is to help shift the public perception of science, so that people realize that science is as important as art, literature, film, theater," Greene said.Panelists include Nobel laureates as well as actors, dancers, philosophers and science journalists.Greene said he hopes the festival, which received funding from several nonprofit foundations, will spread to other cities."There's a real capacity to have a national and even global celebration of science," he said.On the Net:http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/http://www.abyssinian.org
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

New Blog

Ok, I have decided to start a new blog for my wii fit journal. This will keep this blog from getting too long since I do want to log every day of my progress. You can access the blog on my profile or
http://wiifitjourney.blogspot.com/

Wii Fit Day 2!!

Two in a Row! Hurray for me ;) I wasn't sore this morning but as the day gradually progressed I started really feeling it in my core and sides! And even though I got home really late tonight I was determined to get my 30 min. in! My BMI has gone down a few notches and I've lost 3lbs!! HAHA I know it's only because I weighed at a different time of day but hey, it's still encouraging!
Tonight I completed 12 mins of Yoga and it was really fun...some poses were easy and some were hard (HALF MOON!!) BUT, all in all it said I had good posture and ok balance. Not bad for a first time! I also did 18 mins of Aerobics which are always fun. I couldn't do the Hula Hoop for long because I am quiet sore from yesterday! Now, I'm going to shower, drink some water and read a good book. G'night everyone!

Wii Fit!

As many of you have probably heard or read, the Nintendo Wii Fit came out this week. Like all good Wii fans, my husband and I pre-ordered it so we would be guarantied one when they came out. There is already a wait for them. I've been needing to really buckle down and get back into my former sports buff shape...yeah, it's been like 1o years lol. I could blame childbirth but it's really just my own laziness! So, today I started my "Life Style Change". Most of the time I make the mistake of jumping in full force and burning out after a month so I'm taking baby steps. I started exercising today and, with the help of my new Wii Fit, I've set some goals; hopefully they are reachable.

So why am I writing about this on my blog? One reason, ACCOUNTABILITY! I figure if I let everyone out there know that I'm starting something, I'll be more committed to finishing. We will see haha! I'll spare myself the embarrassment of telling you all my Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight and just stick to telling you all my goal which is to lose 22 lbs in 3 months....that's my starting goal...I have to lose way more than that!

Today I completed 20 Min. of Aerobic exercise and 15 min. of Strength and Balance training. (remember, baby steps!) Tomorrow I'm going to do some Yoga. The time really flew since it felt more like playing a game than actually just exercising. I can't get over how "smart" the Balance Board is, the technology is really amazing, Hula Hooping has never been so beneficial to your health!! It really is so much fun, my husband and I just kept rolling on the floor laughing at each other while we were trying to learn all the moves! Pray for me!! I'll definitely need encouragement and prayers....but don't tell me I look like I've lost weight until I really do lol!

Ode to Buttons

When I got home from church tonight I got an email telling me that Jimmy's dog, Buttons, died this morning. (see feb. blog "Missing Jimmy"). Buttons was a faithful dog that Jimmy loved dearly so, after a good cry, I decided I would write an "Ode to Buttons"; and maybe explain, with a bit of humor, why we dog lovers are so loyal to our furry friends. Buttons would have been 15 this October.





A Dog is a Dog

By Natalie Hood



A dog is a dog

But never "just" a dog

For dogs are mans best friend.

In the rough times

And even tough times

He'll stand by you through thick or thin.



A dog is a dog

And just about any ole' dog

Is better than none at all.

For who but your dog

Can make it all better

With a lick in the face when you fall?



A dog is a dog

And I'd be dog gone

If I forgot to ask you this:

What other friend

Would share his house

On those nights that your wife is miffed?



A dog is a dog

And there's no friend like a dog

If only for this reason, you see:

Who, but your dog,

Will join in with you

Even when you're singing off key?

THE PENTECOSTALS ARE HERE!!!!!

Hi!

As many of you already know, our choir was invited to sing at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This is actually a pretty huge convention and it was an awesome door that God opened for our church to get out there and reach our community. Our choir was so anointed and I know that God used us to plant the seeds so HE can give the increase. Brother Wilbanks had couples coming up to him telling him they were going to visit our church!!! I'm so excited about what God is doing in Cullman County and all over the state of ALABAMA. I've said it once and I'll say it again, GET READY CULLMAN COUNTY, THE ONE GOD PENTECOSTALS ARE HERE!

Our Awesome Florida Trip!

We are home!! We had a great time in Florida and while we were there we thought of over 1,000 reasons to move to Destin (ALLERGY'S BEING ON THE TOP 10!) BUT, there was this one HUGE negative to the whole idea and that was the fact that we can't move Cornerstone Revival Center there with us soooo....back to Alabama and our wonderful church family!

More Information Than You Wanted to Know about our Florida Trip!!

We arrived at our Hotel around 3:00 Wednesday afternoon. Lou, the sweet lady at the front desk, helped us get settled in. FYI, if you are going to Sandestin, I highly recommend staying at the Hampton Inn there...it was beautiful, and most importantly CLEAN. Anyone who has ever stayed at a hotel with me knows the six point inspection I give each room haha (Pillows, Blankets, Sheets, Toilet, Shower, Sink). I guess I watched too much CSI back in the day. Well, no problems here, this hotel was one of the cleanest I've stayed it...they even wash the duvet covers after each stay...everything is white so it can be bleached!

We decided to eat an early dinner at ACME and walk around Baytowne Wharf with Lorin since she had been cooped up in the car most of the day. It was a beautiful evening and actually a little chilly so we didn't stay out too long.

Thursday morning we took advantage of the complementary breakfast bar that the hotel offered and hit the site seeing road. Shopping was definitely the order of the day so we went to Destin Commons, the newer outdoor mall in Destin. It is a very quaint place with all sorts of wonderful things for children to enjoy. Including a train ride and a waterfall to play in. While we were there I couldn't resist visiting one of my favorite children's boutiques, Hug's and Hissyfits....if you have a little one you will LOVE it! My mom bought Lorin the most adorable outfit there, I loved it so much I put her in it for Beach Pictures.

After shopping, we ate a light lunch at Smiling Fish Camp and went back to the hotel for a nap (when you are in a hotel, Lorin's nap time is every one's nap time!). That afternoon we went to the Beach and took Pictures of Lorin running around. She really loved it but it was still REALLY windy and chilly so we couldn't stay long. After about an half hour it was off to Elmo's for All You Can Eat Crab Legs! YUMMY! They were perfect. They would just slide right out of the shell completely whole (If they are over cooked they tend to stick) then we'd dip them in the drawn butter...sooooo good.

Friday was our outlet shopping day so we decided to get to bed a little early Thursday night.
We had an awesome time at the outlets....though I didn't buy one single thing from there (Tristan must have been praying). The best part was taking Lorin to the park they have there and letting her play her little heart out. She met some adorable kids and really had a great time. You should have seen the look on her face as she was going down the slide for the first time!! It was great.

For lunch we dined outside on the bay at Hammerheads. They do not serve any fried foods there so my Mom and I decided we would split a steamed bucket for two. Though it was $70.00 we thought it would be worth it since 2 whole Lobster were included. To make a long story short don't eat at Hammerheads.

When we got back to the room Lorin didn't want to settle down for her nap so she ended up falling asleep around 5:00 p.m. I thought for sure she would be completely exhausted from the hours we spent walking and playing but I was wrong. Finally, around 7:00 that evening, I decided to wake her up so we wouldn't end up eating so late. Plus, it was suppose to start raining that night so we didn't want to be out late. I was craving some good food with an ocean view so we headed out to Sunset Charlies. Once we got there and went inside the resort it didn't have the cleanest look to it and the menu (posted outside the restaurant) didn't seem very appetizing so we decided to try our luck somewhere else. Unfortunately, Lorin did not like this idea and proceeded to cry her heart out all the way back to the car. Once we got in the car she continued her tirade.

Our main rule of thumb when choosing restaurants to eat at is not to eat anywhere we can eat at home...so places like The Melting Pot and Jim and Nicks are usually not in our favorites list when we are out of town. That changes when you have an almost 2 year old screaming in the backseat.....the rule of thumb is now GO TO THE NEXT PLACE IN SIGHT! This happened to be The Melting Pot....but Lorin obviously didn't approve of that choice either because we couldn't even get in the door without her screaming. We were about to give up and just order pizza in the room when I thought of the Tommy Bahama Cafe with the outside dining option. Thankfully, Lorin did like this idea and we were able to eat a wonderful meal in peace (though it was a late meal). It actually turned out to be one of the best meals we were able to have while on Vacation...God truly turns stumbling blocks into stepping stones! haha. I ordered the Walnut Crusted Snapper with a wasabi sauce and broccolini in a lemon butter sauce while my mom dined on Fresh Shrimp over a Parmesan Rice with Asparagus. Both dishes were equally delicious. For desert we split the Pina colada Cake which is Divine! All deserts are made 'in-house' and are spectacular.

It never rained that night, thank God, it was truly an answer to prayer but it was pushing ten 0'clock by the time we finished eating so it was way past our bed time. Lorin was exhausted from not getting her nap out so we went right to bed. Saturday, our final full day in paradise, was vastly approaching and we needed to rest up for it!

Happy Birthday Lorin!!

Saturday morning dawned with mostly cloudy sky's...PERFECT FOR BEACH PICTURES so after coffee we headed out. There was an outfit at Hug's and Hissyfits that I had fallen in love with so I decided to go buy it since it would be perfect for Beach Photos. Plus, it was Lorin's Birthday and I had to buy her something on her actual birthday. The outfit turned out to be even more adorable than I remembered! We got to the beach and turned Lorin loose while I just shuttered away! The new camera that Tristan bought me has already paid for itself! The forcast had the rain hitting around noon so we only stayed at the beach for about an hour and then headed off to lunch. Since lunch the day before had been such a disappointment we decided to play it safe and eat at Poppy's where we KNEW the food was delicious. I ordered the shrimp and they were HUGE! I couldn't believe it, I took a picture just to show you all how large they were.
Yummy! We ate outside on the bay and enjoyed the live Jazz Music they had. Lorin wasn't too sure about the guy singing...he was slightly grizzly but she loved the music and danced her little heart out. Right as we paid the bill it started drizzling so we hurried to the car and back to the hotel for a nap. By the time we woke up, the rain had gone and the sun was actually shinning again in the brilliantly blue sky. That wasn't suppose to happen. It was suppose to start raining Friday night and not stop until early SUNDAY morning. Isn't God good? He let it rain just during our nap time so we could enjoy our full vacation! We know that He cares so much but it still amazes me when I realize that He is paying attention to such minuscule details!!!

Well, we were rested up again so it was off to more shopping. The Stein Mart in Destin is the best one that I have ever been too so we decided to head there and see what good deals we could come up with. I had bought Lorin her summer wardrobe and then some so now it was time to spend some money on mommy!! And spend money I did. My husband must have slipped in his prayer time because I found SO MANY adorable clothes and they ALL FIT! The good news is that I got a really good deal on them! It helps when you can show your husband the "compare at" price!! haha. I'm pretty sure I heard him pass out when I told him how much I spent..THANK GOD FOR THAT STIMULUS PACKAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT!!

We headed back to the room to put our packages up before dinner and though we would visit Bayou Bills Crab Shack, the restaurant where Amy and Shaun's reception was held. Lorin and I were in the Lobby talking to Elizabeth (another very sweet lady at the desk) and she informed us that it had burnt down!! Apparently within a few days of Amy's wedding reception!! They good news is that they are rebuilding on 30A and will have a better building with an ocean view.

Elizabeth also told us of one of her favorite places to eat and it was a place we had never heard of before. It's called Camille's and it's a little farther down the coast than we normally go but she assured us it was worth the extra couple of minutes. She was right. The atmosphere was warm and family friendly and we were able to sit at the window and have a perfect ocean view while we dined. Elizabeth had raved about their fresh Sushi so I decided to indulge and order a Super Crunch Shrimp Roll....it was heavenly! As good as Surin West (My fave sushi joint here in B'ham). For the main event I ordered the Crab Cakes and they were sooo good. packed full of lump Crab meat with a red pepper sauce on the side....delicious! The green beans that accompanied my entree were equally as delicious, slightly firm with a warm butter garlic sauce. Seriously, you can't go wrong with anything with butter and garlic!! My mom ordered the Fillet with Lump Crab meat and Fresh Blue Cheese crumbs on top served over homemade garlic mashed potato's. Absolutely Divine! We were way too full for desert that night!

We headed back to the room to get packed so we would get an early start back home Sunday and make it for the service Sunday night. Of course, Sunday morning, we stoped by The Donut Hole on the way home and picked up some donuts for Dad and Tristan....and maybe one for ourselves lol. Needless to say, I gained 5 lbs over the week and am now on a diet...but it was worth every moment and I can't wait to get back!

BTW, if any of you need a guide for your Sandestin trip I WILL WORK FOR ROOM and BOARD! haha!

Well, I'm Off.....

It's 7:40 a.m. and we are about to head out to Florida. I'm not sure what accommodations the hotel will have as far as the Internet goes so I may not be back on until Monday. I will, however, have TONS of pictures to share with you from our trip and yes, I will be thinking of you all as I stuff my face with the best seafood and take long strolls along the white sandy beach lol. See you all when I get back...hey, maybe I'll have a tan HAHA!

If Moses Attented an Inner City School....

I'm an Equal Opportunity to Laugh kinda gal

TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. I'm God. Don't play me.

(I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any other gods before me.)

2. Don't be makin no hood ornaments and charms outta me, or like me.

(Thou shalt not! have any graven images)

3. Don't be callin' me for no reason

(Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord thy God in vain)

4. Y'all betta be in church on Sunday,and not just the Sundays when it's Mother's day, Easter and Christmas

(Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy)

5. Don't dis or cuss out yo momma...and if you know who ya daddy is, don't be dissin' him neither.(Honor thy father and thy mother)

6. Don't be goin' on no drive bys.

(Thou shalt not kill)

7. Stick to ya own Boo.

(Thou shalt not commit adultery)

8. Don't be borrow'n stuff and don't give it back.

(Thou shalt not steal)

9. Don't be snitchin' on the otha'man to save your behind.

(Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy brother)

10. Don't be eyein' (skeeming) yo homie's crib, ride, woman, or nuffin.

(Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy brother).

The Best Beaches in the World....ok, the USA.

Sandestin Flordia, also known as The Emerald Coast, is right on the Gulf of Mexico. Water that shimmers like emeralds and pristine white beaches are only two of the many attractions this paradise has to offer.

Nestled amongst the breath taking scenery lies a plethora of both fine and casual dinning establishments. Favorites include Marlin Grill, Finz, Bistro Bijoux, The Marina, Sunset Charlies, and Another Broken Egg (For Breakfast).

Casual dining favorites include Bayou Bills Crab Shack, Elmos, Don Pablos, The Donut Hole, Busters, Hammerheads, ACME Oyster Bar (The best Crawfish PoBoy you'll ever put in your mouth), located in the quaint Villages of Baytowne Wharf (Pictured bellow), plus a dozen others.

Sandestin is also home of Four championship golf courses making it one of Florida's top golf resorts and a golfers Paradise. These courses have won many awards including:

Top 75 Golf Resorts ~ Silver Medalist, Golf Magazine 2004,2006, 2008
Top 75 Golf Resorts ~ Golf Digest, 2006
Four 1/2 Stars ~ Golf Digest "Places To Play" 2006
Gold Tee Award, Meetings & Conventions, 2002, 2003, 2004 - Meeting planners' choice for top golf and meeting hotels and resorts
Top 100 Women’s Courses in the Country, Golf for Women
Best Golf in Northwest Florida, Birmingham magazine

Sandestin also caters to shopaholics boasting over 100 designer and name brand factory outlet stores located at Silver Sands Factory Stores. With over 450,000 sq. ft of shopping (and plans to expand to 700,000.) This is truly the perfect haven for attaining your fashion needs......and wants! Be sure and visit BCBG Max Azria, Michael Kors , Movado, Nautica, Nine West, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, and Greg Norman among dozens of other stores. In between shopping you can dine at Carrabba's Italian Grill or cool down with an authentic gelato at San Gelato Cafe. Also, don't forget to stop by Harry and Davids for their world famous baked goods, candies, fruits and nuts.

Make your plans now to enjoy this Heaven on earth. I've already made mine. I'll be sure and post more pictures when I get back.

Here are some pictures of our past vacations to Sandestin.

A sunset kiss like this could only happen in Sandestin.

Soaking It Up!!

Yes, it's 1:30 a.m. and I can not go to sleep. Why? Because God has really put something on my heart and the more I think about it, the deeper it gets. It started last night at church during alter call. Bro. Wilbanks was praying and this burning thought branded my mind and my heart; and it has continued to do so all day today and tonight.
Have you ever been so deep in prayer that it seems that you can actually hear the thoughts of God and feel His heartbeat? Most of the time, when this happens, I am consumed with a huge weight..like the weight of the world is on my heart. I can almost feel the pain, grief and hurt that this world is consumed by and I feel such an urgency to reach them. It's like you are staring at a burning building and you can hear the screams and you are engulfed by the great need these people have to be rescued.
Last night I felt this but it went deeper. It was more geared toward the Church body and our relationship with God. It felt that God was just wanted to saturate every fiber of our being with Him but we were already soaked with so many things of this world that He couldn't fill us completely. I'm not really talking about sin but I'm referring to "stuff". Just plain old carnality in the literal sense of the word: cares of life, entertainment, Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Coke, Pepsi, Jobs, Houses...just all these little things that are woven into our daily life. It's these little things that can steal our focus without us really knowing it.
When I was a little girl we had an above ground pool in our backyard and the chlorine would just kill our hair to the point that it would look like straw. I remember reading that in order to keep the water with the harmful chemicals out, you should wet your hair with pure water before getting into the pool. This would saturate your hair fibers so that there would not be room for your hair to soak up the water with the chemicals. This came to my mind last night and it felt like God was telling me the same thing. I need to be so saturated with Him that the things in the world that could be harmful to my soul or could distract me would not be able to penetrate me. It's when I get to this point that God can truly use me to reach those hurting souls.

While all these thoughts were pouring through my heart I thought of the song "Lord, I'm Available To You". Here are the words in case you don't know it.

"Lord, I'm Available To You"

V1

You gave me my hands

To reach out to man

To show him Your love

And Your perfect plan

You gave me my ears

I can hear Your voice so clear

I can hear the cry of sinners

But can I wipe away their tears?

Ch.

Lord, I'm available to You

My will I give to You

I'll do what you say

Do use me Lord

To show someone the way

And enable me to say

My storage in empty
And I am available to You

V2.

You gave me my voice

To speak Your word

To sing of Your Praises

To those who've never heard

But with my eye I see a need

For more availability

I see hearts that have been broken

So many people to be freed

v3.

Now I'm giving back to You

All the tools You gave to me

My hands, my ears,

My voice , my eyes

So You can use them as You please

I have emptied out my cup

So that You can fill it up

Now I'm free and I just want to be

More available to You.

Ch/End.

Lord, I'm available to You

My will I give to You

I'll do what You say

Do use me Lord

To show someone the way

And enable me to say

My storage is empty

And I am available...

My storage is empty

And I am available...

My storage is empty

And I am available to You

When I read the first definition of the word "Saturate" my mind was completely blown.

Saturate:

1 : to satisfy fully : 2 : to treat, furnish, or charge with something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained 3 a : to fill completely with something that permeates or pervades b : to load to capacity 4 : to cause to combine till there is no further tendency to combine .

I want to be so Saturated, Satisfied, Permeated, Pervaded, Combined with God that there is room for nothing else!

Happy Easter Everyone!! (Ok, I'm a little late...)

Lorin had a GREAT time this Easter. Though it was her second Easter, she really didn't know what was going on during the first one so this one was sooo much fun. My mom and I made her Easter Basket and it turned out pretty awesome (if I do say so myself). She was in her Easter dress at first, just for pictures, but she was about to get into a seriously "sticky situation" so she got striped her down to her diaper. Oh, my child now wants to eat Jelly Beans 24/7.... Kiddy Crack anyone? After Church, we came home at ate a wonderful Easter Lunch that my mom made. Ham, Mac&Cheese, Green Beans, Squash, Slaw, Rolls...it was awesome.








The Easter Basket

















Dancing With Nana





















At The Botanical Gardens
















Paw Paw showing Lorin her Easter Basket















Jelly Beans and Paw Paw...it doesn't get any better than this!