the lemonade diaries

Maine Get-Away

2008-06-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

For our first anniversary, we went back to the place where we honeymooned--Camden, Maine. We stayed at the same bed and breakfast--the Victorian by the Sea. We ended our stay by traveling to Bar Harbor, Maine. We only got to spend a small amount of time in Bar Harbor, but I definitely want to go back!

Acadian National Park. The wind was just CRAZY up there!

2008-06-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor, ME

2008-06-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

Amazing scenery. Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine.

2008-06-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

I got tired of waiting for the rock to "thunder" but Tyler didn't. He waited and waited, but it never "thundered."

2008-06-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

More from Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine.

2008-06-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

We have no idea who this man is, but we'd like to think that he was praising the Creator of all that beauty!

Tyler at Thunder Rock...

2008-06-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Our roon--the Sunrise Room--was decorated perfectly as a Victorian bedroom.

2008-06-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

The lawn was just so lovely. I especially loved the adirondack chairs.

We went to a really neat restaurant that also sold hand-blown glass. We sat outside until we (I) got too cold!

2008-06-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

This is a scary pic of me in the piano room.

This is the sign hanging near the front door. The other side identifies the house as the Victorian by the Sea.

Tyler enjoying the front porch.

A porch view...

2008-06-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

These nifty hats were just outside our door. I couldn't resist posing with them!

Strike a pose....here is Tyler in the foyer area of the house.

And here he is in front of the fireplace looking surprised that I am snapping his picture!

2008-06-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

I am glad neither of us gets seasick!

If you look on the horizon to the left of the island, you will see other schooners sailing as well.

This "nook" is found on the second floor and was just outside of our room.

2008-06-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Tyler got to help the captain and his mates hoist the sail!

Such beauty! If you look closely, you will see the lighthouse keeper and his family waving at us.

2008-06-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Self pic....

Taken aboard the Lazy Jack II, schooner.

The man in the background is Lazy Jack's captain. He built the schooner himself! It took him about 10-11 months, I think.

An island we passed on our excursion.

2008-06-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

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The view of the sea from the back porch......

Another seaside picnic....

The weather was perfect!

2008-06-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

The long window seat was one of my favorite things about our room.

Tyler is doing his morning Bible reading in the dining room. We enjoyed Ginny's fabulous breakfasts each morn.

The happy couple....

Pink!

2008-06-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that this pic came out so blurry. It was taken at night (about 9:00 PM). This is the view from the back porch of the Victorian by the Sea. As you can see, it is aptly named.

I am famous for my "shoe shots" so I'd thought I'd do another!

The room we stayed in was the Sunrise Room, so we actually set our alarm and got up to enjoy the sunrise. It was just beautiful watching the sun rise on the sea.

2008-06-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Lobster boats like these are ubiquitous in coastal Maine.

The Victorian by the Sea in Camden, Maine. This shot was taken at night. What a beautiful B and B.

We went back to Dos Amigos again. We first dined there as newlyweds.

2008-06-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

Tony Chachere's....NEVER leave home without it! Even when you go to Maine!

good times

2008-04-28T18:25:00.001-07:00

the lemonade diaries commence...

2008-04-25T05:51:00.001-07:00

Getting into the SPRING of Things...

2008-04-23T08:31:00.001-07:00

Mr. D and I went away for five days to Maine. When we returned home late last night, we were excited and amazed to see that Spring had made its way to our home! Our azaleas had bloomed! That was exciting to see. When we got up this morning, though, we were even more excited to see the trees were budded out and the grass was green, green, green! Spring has come! Hallelujah! Mr. D asked me to take a few pics of our "world" and here they are. Enjoy!

This garden statue of St. Francis made its way with me from the South. Last time you saw him, he was covered in snow! By the way, Miss D thinks the statue is Jesus and we just haven't had the heart to tell her otherwise.

In this pic you can see all three of our "girls" enjoying the spring weather. Whiney is in my favorite spot--on the wicker couch. I can't wait to get out there with a good book or magazine!

Home Sweet Home...Look at that HUGE American flag. We bought it a couple of weeks ago, and we had NO IDEA it would be that HUGE. Well, we ARE patriotic, so I guess it suits us!

Spring Break!

2008-04-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

Famous for our self-pics, here is another taken at the Owl's Head Point Lighthouse on the beautiful coast of Maine.

Why, oh why, do I ALWAYS close my eyes for pictures?

It was close to sunset when we were there. What a gorgeous place God has made!

I made Mr. D pose for about a million pics. He didn't complain though.

This is one of the rare ones I agreed to pose for. It is quite cool on the coast...a good 10 or so degrees cooler than inland temps. The wind coming off that cold water is frigid!

At least he closed HIS eyes, too!

I took this pic because the sunlight looked so pretty streaming through the trees. Somewhere nearby was a chipmunk frolicking around.

I really like this shot of Mr. D in front of the water's edge. I am sure he was feeling the cold in those shorts.

Another one of my favorite shots.....

The thing about Maine that is so pretty to me are the rocky cliffs that overlook the ocean. Amazing.

This board told us the names of the current lightkeeper. There is a home near the lighthouse where the lightkeeper lives with his wife and two children.

The sign didn't make Mr. D hesitate. He was down over the steep bank in a flash.

And there he is....

Sock Killers, Community Coffee, and Other Mundaneness

2008-04-15T15:38:00.001-07:00

A Long Overdue Post Written by a Southern Gal Living in Exile

A couple of weeks ago, I heard Beth Moore say something during the end of one of her Daniel DVD sessions. She urged us to live on purpose. That greatly impacted me.

Ok, so just hold that nice thought for a moment while I tell you about my sock-killing cat. I have this cat named Spotty. Spotty is a maniacal killer. Yep. You read correctly. I am living with a cold-hearted feline hunter, and I find her "kills" at the door of my bedroom on a regular basis. And I always know when she has made a kill that she is proud of because she mews in a very unique "I HAVE JUST MADE A KILL" kinda way. Isn't that lovely?

But Spotty doesn't kill mice. Or bugs. Or anything else that is ALIVE. She kills socks. Clean socks, dirty socks, lost-but-now-found socks. Socks. She is Spotty-the Sock-Killin'-Cat.

One early morn as I stumbled out of my bedroom door, I noticed yet another "kill," and I had an epiphany. It was this:

Am I living on purpose? Or am I just killing socks?

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Did you notice my by-line? Living in exile? Hehe. My husband will love my new name for it. Hey, EXILE is a step-up from HELL. :) Just kidding. The Northeast really isn't ALL that bad, even though most people don't say "you're welcome" or wave at strangers just because you pass them on the road. Nor do they have "sweet tea" on their menus or BlueBell in their stores. And they certainly don't have CC's coffee houses where drinking coffee is all about a community of people from different walks of life convening in a small coffee bar, sharing a free wifi, novel from the back bookshelf, or game of checkers. Nope, they don't have that at all.

I miss that. I miss all of that and more. But at least I have my Community Coffee (CC's). It is my connection with home right now. I drink it out of a cup that my friend Beth gave me as a birthday gift. I have come to associate that cup and its content with home, and so when I accidentally left it at the church where I go to my Daniel Bible study I nearly cried. Seriously. And when I found it, I was overjoyed. Seriously. And right now, as I sip my perfectly mixed brew of Community Coffee Between Roast (just used up the last of the Dark!), I smile and think of home--sweet tea, friendly wavers, BlueBell, and community (and I mean much more than a brand of coffee!).

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Ahem...moving on to other mundaneness.

ALL SET. ALL SET. I'm ALL SET. We're ALL SET. Are you ALL SET? It simply amazes me how six letters put together into 2 words can drive me absolutely crazy! Everyone here uses those words over and over and over again. I hear them all day, every day. And I am going crazy! My husband did point out to me that at least they don't say, "Pass a good night, cher!" Well, he is right about that. But is that supposed to be a good thing???

IT IS WHAT IT IS. This is yet another saying here that is used all the time. However, although I have noticed it, it does not have the same "fingernails on the chalkboard" effect on me as does ALL SET. Just typing it gets me all riled up!

Carriages. That is what they call their grocery carts at the store. Carriages. How weird is that?

Pocketbook. AKA to southerners as PURSES.

When you order a salad from just about anywhere (save McD's and Burger King, etc.) it ALWAYS comes with a pita. I am not complaining about that one. Just noting a difference.

A co-worker I really like, forgetting that I was indeed from the South, made this comment about someone: "She is from the South and you know how people from the South are....always wanting you to give them something." I still like that coworker and was able to laugh at what she said, especially at the look of utter embarrassment when our fellow colleague reminded her that I am from the South! Gotcha!

I think it really, really, really stinks that men lose weight faster than us girls. Really, really, really! It is just not fair. Nope. Not fair at all.

Well, folks, that's all for now. But I would like to leave you with one last thought:

"Live on purpose! But just make sure you do it in a place where you can buy Community Coffee, sweet tea, and BlueBell ice cream!"

My Favorites

2008-03-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

This pic is one of my favorites that was taken at my wedding. Here my mom is pictured (left) with her twin sister, Cindy, and three of her brothers--Uncle Benny, Uncle Mike, and Uncle Clyde. If only Uncle Ronnie could've been there. I am so thankful to my aunt and uncles who have cared greatly for my mom every since I moved so very far, far away.

Thanks! You're my favorites!

This Is War!

2008-02-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

Christians are at war. There is a battle going on around us that is so fierce, and the scary thing is that many of us are either oblivious or uncaring. Either way Satan is winning.

The media is so blatantly anti-Christian and they don't even try to hide it. It is time for Christians to take a stand and demand that we have a seat at the table, too.

No matter what you think of Governor Mike Huckabee as a political candidate, as a christian you should be incensed as to how the media is treating him. They, and I am including even Fox News here, are intentionally not reporting the truth in regards to him, his platform, and his successes in the polls. Why? I think it is because he is a man of God.

I for one do not think that the MEDIA should choose our next President. If Mike Huckabee lost fairly, I would be ok with that. But I am incensed that he is getting the short end of the stick simply because he is a minister of the Gospel.

Here is why I like Mike:

He is PRO-LIFE. All life. Unborn life. Disabled Life. All life. Always has been--unlike other candidates.
He is PRO-TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE. He believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Period.
He is PRO-MIDDLE CLASS. He came from poverty and as such he understands how hard it is for some of us to make ends meet in our society. He is devoted to making things better for all Americans--low income, middle income, and the rich.
He is PRO-AMERICA AND HER MILITARY. He believes that our military should be the best in the world. He believes that we need to take care of business in Iraq, and when we have we should leave with honor.
He is PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT. This means that he believes that all Americans have the right to own guns.
He is PRO-FAMILIES.
He is PRO-SECURING THE BORDER. He believes that our borders need to be secured and he has plan for taking care of the immigrants who are here illegally.
He is PRO-ISRAEL. He believes that we should take care of God's chosen nation.

You can find a better synopsis of his views here: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1332

My Summer in the Psalms

2008-01-26T17:37:00.000-08:00

Some people spend their summers abroad. I spend mine in the Psalms. It all started like this...

After my heartbreaking divorce, God gave me some clear words regarding my future. Again and again, those words were confirmed and reconfirmed. And I felt good.

But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, and the months into years I didn't feel so good anymore. I wanted to believe in the promise. I wanted to have a strong faith. I wanted to be all those things that I was preaching to my Divorce Care group. But inside I was dying.

Things always seemed to get worse for me during the summer months. I suppose it was because I was home alone all day with only my thoughts to keep me company. And those thoughts could be real buggers at times. Satan, the author of lies, would whisper over me, "Did God REALLY say?" "Do you REALLY believe that He wants to give you a hope and a future?" "Do you REALLY think anyone would want you since you have been soiled by divorce?" I could go on and on. Summers were tough. Very tough.

One summer things got so bad that I literally breathed in God's Word 24-7. If I were in the car, I was listening to christian music or preaching. If I were at home near a TV, I would be watching a christian program. If I were in a quiet room, I would have my Bible open, and sometimes I would even fall asleep with it on my chest or over my face. It was the only thing sustaining me. In addition to His word, I also prayed through Beth Moore's book PRAYING GOD'S WORD. It ministered to me in unbelievable ways.

But the thing that saved my life was the book of Psalms. I decided that I would read a Psalm or two a day and choose ONE promise to claim throughout the day. Then all day long I would quote that promise to myself. It was my life-preserver throughout my day.

PSALM 27: "The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?"
PSALM 118: "In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered me by setting me free."
PSALM 147: "He heals up the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
PSALM 145: "The Lord is near to all who call on him."

Those four are just an example of the promises I claimed during my Summer in the Psalms. The really neat thing is that I underlined each promise and dated them in my Bible, and so now when I read through the Psalms I am reminded of just how far the Lord has taken me since then.

Although I am now enjoying the fruit of the promise, I will always cling to the Psalms and their timeless message to me.

And I will remember my Summer in the Psalms as one incredible journey--one that I took with my Lord and that that took all of me to complete.

If you, dear reader, are finding yourself in a place of need, I know a good travel agent who can book you your own Summer of the Psalms. And the great thing is, the trip is on Him!

SERENITY NOW!

2008-01-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

This weekend Mr. D and I tackled our first home improvement project together. We painted our master bedroom! This is something I have been itching to do since I got here, and of course, like any good woman, I already had the color I wanted in mind. We chose the color for two reasons--because it matched the complementary colored stripe on our comforter and because it was a very SERENE color.

Early on in the planning of the project, we jokingly began referring to it as our SERENITY NOW project. The name stuck, and, as you will see later in a picture, we still call it that.

One of the great loves of my life is decorating and designing, and if I had a surplus of money I could go crazy! But, one sad thing for me in all of this is that I can't have my friends and family back home (especially my mom and Aunt Cindy) to come and see what I've done. So I decided to blog every last step of it.

Enjoy, I hope!

This is a before shot. You can see the closet door on the left of the shot. Mr. D is cleaning the walls before the painting begins.

Another before shot.

How exciting it is to see the first roll of paint go on the wall!

Looking good! I feel the serenity already. Well, not really.

2008-01-21T07:28:00.000-08:00

This is Mr. D and our Murphy Jay. As you can see, Mr. D is pretty tired from working so hard at painting and moving the furniture. This was my first time having a man to help me do a painting project and I highly recommend it. He was great! Murphy was, well, just cute.

We are nearing the end. The blue painter's tape is still up, but we are liking what we see at this point.

In this one, you can see Mr. D painting near the door to our room. He was the trim guy and he did an awesome job. I just don't have the patience to do that if I don't have to.

2008-01-21T07:23:00.000-08:00

Spotty has found a great place to chill and find serenity--on top of the mattress leaning up against the wall!

And now Murphy wants in on the serenity.

Almost there! We have our new curtains up and the bed back together. Those are two important things!

Ah, yes, feel the serenity. This greets you as you turn to go into our room. We thought it was a fitting place for it. And the way we got it is really funny! We had gone to Linen's N Things to use the last of our wedding gift cards to purchase some throw pillows for our bed. After we found the pillows, I wandered into the wall decorations section and Mr. D did too. He found this really pretty (and smokey slate colored) plaque that said, "FAITH" and showed it to me. I laughingly told him that it was a good thing it didn't say "SERENITY" because if it did then he would have to buy it for. He laughed and went about his business. A few seconds later I found the matching pair for FAITH, and I'll bet you can guess what it was! So we decided to purchase it to help us remember our day together and the memories we made. SERENITY NOW!

2008-01-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

I love the way the white closet doors look against the Smokey Slate paint. So crisp!

This is the more practical side of the room that houses the unattractive, yet very needed, things! I was glad to be able to fit my armoire into the moving trailer. I have big plans for it!

SERENITY NOW! If there in person, you would hear Josh Groban playing softly in the background. Ah yes, sweet serenity. The comforter set was a wedding gift to us from Aunt Cindy, and we really love it! As a matter of fact, we used the stripes on the comforter to choose the paint color for the room. Typically I would've chosen a brown--like a Dusty Trail for instance--but I wanted to do something different AND soothing and relaxing. The throw pillows were purchased at Linen's N Things and The Christmas Tree Store. They are beautiful. Wish you could see the colors in person. Oh, and the bed was a gift from me to us! I purchased it from overstock.com and we just love it! Four poster beds are so great!

Another functional piece--my dresser. It does have some sentimental value to me since my grandma gave it to me a LONG time ago. One day it would be repainted and re-hardwared, but for now it suits its purpose.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

2008-01-08T16:01:00.001-08:00

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1 is the memory verse that my second graders are working on right now. We began it last week, and we spent much time going through the verse word by word and talking about it. We contrasted the two types illustrated--the wise and the foolish--and discussed what each man would earn based on his decisions.

I have built my whole classroom discipline policy around being wise and earnings blessings or being foolish and earning adverse consequences. I use all circumstances to teach them this Biblical truth, and my lesson on Psalm 1 was no different.

Friday God showed up in my classroom. We were just finishing up the chapter and reviewing all the things we had learned. The students were unusually attentive and pensive. And then the questions started. They began to ask me real questions of faith. Deep ones. Hard ones. Questions that you wouldn't normally attribute to eight year olds.

And one by one, as they asked their questions, I began to see the understanding in their eyes, and I could feel the presence of the Lord with us. I felt prompted to tell them the Gospel again and to offer them the opporunity to know FOR SURE that they would spend eternity with God in Heaven. We all bowed our heads and I led us in a very simple, yet theologically strong prayer.

For someone who had been wondering if I was doing what God wanted me to do, it was amazing. I wondered if I had missed his career plan for me because I felt like I was just not as successful as I should be, and I wasn't "feeling it" so to speak. And then Friday happened. And in that moment, I knew for certain that I was right where God wanted me.

I am not sure how many of my students accepted Christ that day. I do know that they all love Him, and I am praying with all that is in me that when they are older and being beaten down by all life will offer them that they will remember a simple prayer Mrs. D prayed with them. And they will find their way Home.

To God be the glory.

A Trek Through Avery Island

2008-01-07T14:01:00.000-08:00

My man, Mr.D, is an absolute Tabasco FREAK. So when I told him that I worked just miles away from the Tabasco plant, he was really intrigued. It took four visits, but I was finally able to take him on a tour of the plant situated on beautiful, stately Avery Island.

Avery Island is dear to my heart. It was the location of my grandparents' first date! I can remember my grandmother telling me the story while we were driving right past it on the interstate.

Avery Island was also home to one of my best and crazy friends in the whole world! Geeze, I miss your accent, your laugh, and your office where many a problem solved and many a laugh had.

2008-01-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love this shot. What a beauty!

2008-01-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorites. I miss seeing the old oak trees.

The Blue Dog

2008-01-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

Mr. D and I were treated to a delicious meal with our very best friend, Lillian. Thanks Lillian! You're the best! Come and see us SOON!

Love,
Mr. and Mrs. D

Cajun Christmas

2008-01-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Mr. D and I spent Christmas this year in Cajun Country. We flew in on Christmas Eve, and got there just in time for the family Christmas party. Those pics are further down.

The first few pics you see were taken on Christmas morning at my mom's house. We had a very nice time together as you can see. Somehow I managed to be the picture taker, which means I am not in a whole lot of shots. Snap! You know how I just LOVE to be in pictures. Right, right.

My mom and I started the tradition of having a family Christmas Eve party during the first Christmas after my father died. Five Christmases have come and gone since then, and I think it is safe to say that the Christmas party is a tradition that will last. The best part of the party is playing Dirty Santa. Mr. D and I had much fun shopping for the gifts that we would bring this year. I am glad to say they were well received!

All in all, we had a very Merry Christmas and are very grateful to God that He allowed us to spend Christmas in God's country! :)

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Mr. & Mrs. D's First Christmas Together

2008-01-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

GrandBea took this pic of G using her new body pillow.

Mr. D is hard at work solving the quest to find his gift--the one in the special Christmas ornament--a tradition that began Christmas 2005.

2008-01-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is G showing off the goods that Uncle Brian and Aunt MaryAnn sent her from Sunny Cal.

And the chef's hat from Aunt Erika completes the ensemble.

This is Mr. D looking like he is up to no good.

Apparently G is quite amazed by the Christmas gift Mr. and Mrs. D got for her.

2008-01-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

The mantle...if you look closely you will see that the stocking holders are fleur de lis. And hanging off of the stocking are some feather ornaments sent to me by my people--Geeze and Janie, that is.

The cat is in the bag.

The cat is in the bag even more...she can smell the catnip toy.

Now her sister comes to see what all the fuss is about.

2007-12-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

Because we will be celebrating Christmas with Mrs. D's family, we had a pre-Christmas celebration with Mr. D's mother, sister, and daughter. Here are the pics...

Mrs. D's fantastic presentation at the dinner table. She really did a great job with this!

The snack spread was absolutely delicious!

Here is our tree that Mr. D's creative and wonderful daughter cut down out of the back yard. Mr. D calls it Chuck.

A White Christmas...

2007-12-21T16:42:00.000-08:00

It started snowing at 7:30 AM on Thursday and didn't stop until after I was asleep. This is what I woke up to. Because of the snow, Mr. D had to drive me to work. As we walked out onto our side porch, we saw a wild turkey wandering around in our neighbor's yard. He was having a hard time traversing the deep snow! By the time we went back into the house and got the camera, he was already out of sight.

All of the pics, except for the last one, were taken by Mr. D on his way to work. The last pic is a shot of our side yard.

Just the day before, my class and I had watched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. My first reaction upon seeing the snow-clad trees was that I was in Narnia. It was a magical moment.

Mr. D's daughter is spending Christmas day with her mother, so we have designated today as Christmas in our house. So, I am getting a white Christmas! God is good!

Here Kitty Kitty...

2007-12-16T12:33:00.000-08:00

This is Santa Paws, aka Spotty...she is ready to give up her prestigious position!

Murphy (gray) and Whiney (black) doing what they do best--absolutely nothing!

Murphy, our lap kitty, is also our resident grouch.

Whiney, lovingly known as Whiney-Hiney, is a fine napper.

My First SNOW Day!

2007-12-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

The snow began to fall on Thursday at just about noon exactly. I know that for certain because I was out on recess duty by myself when it started to fall. Just as I started to play in it, a kindergartner had a bad fall and I had to quickly take him to the office. Once inside, my students and I watched the snow fall from our large windows and we listened to Christmas music. I think they like having a teacher who finds snow amusing and amazing. As they left me, I told them, "No offense, but I hope I don't see you tomorrow!" They laughed and agreed.

This is another pic of our front yard, which most of you are getting quite used to identifying. I love the way the snow looks in the trees.

Here is one of Mr. D's truck covered in snow. He made me drive in a somewhat empty parking lot to get a feeling for driving in the snow. I am still not ready.

This is a view of our side yard. I love all the trees that separated our yard from our neighbors. They are quite beautiful almost year round, and now they are dusted with snow!

A close up of Mr. D's truck and of our front hedges. I really wish I had purchased a four wheel drive for myself.

2007-12-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

The trees still have some autumn leaves on them as you can see in this pic. I suspect that they will be falling soon. The little shed is our wood shed and the place we keep our lawn mower and such.

The bird feeder is topped with snow!

Pretty...

A blanket of white......

Creation Fest 2007

2007-12-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

A Day at the Cape

2007-12-10T04:02:00.000-08:00

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2007-12-10T03:58:00.000-08:00

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

2007-12-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

The view from our front porch...

A view of the back of our house...

Another view of our backyard....

This is the view that we have from our kitchen table. We have sliding glass doors that overlook the yard. I just love it!

It's Snowing!

2007-11-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that I am finally witnessing my first REAL snowfall! How exciting! I am no young'un, as Beth Moore would say, so having to wait THIS long to see this beautiful display is making the here and now even more exciting.

It did snow a few times in the place where I used to call home, but invariably I always missed it because I was out of town. I HAVE been in snow before.....snow that has already fallen that is. And I have been in snow "spits" as my husband would call it. Just a snowflake here and there.

But this is the first time I have ever experienced anything like THIS before! As soon as I saw the snow falling, I commanded my second graders to grab their coats and hats because we were going to play in the snow! The screamed with glee and we all ran outside with a lighthearted spring in our step.

God is so good and so creative. How can anyone not KNOW that HE is the Creator of all this wonder?

My Miracle Shoes

2007-11-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

I wore my "miracle shoes" to school yesterday. I love wearing them because with each step I take I am reminded of just how much God cares about me--even in the little details of my life.

You see, the story happened like this.......

Two Thanksgiving breaks ago I was doing some mega-shopping with some of my friends from school. All fellow teachers, we were a wild and crazy bunch that day as we celebrated having a week off from school. We went here and there and everywhere, shopping at all kinds of outlet stores and such.

Finally we made our way into a huge shoe store. Tabitha, one of the "girls" on the trip" is a self-proclaimed shoe-a-holic. I think I may be one, too, but I digress. Anyway, as we entered the store, I spotted some very fine black boots just like the ones I had been wanting. AND, they were on a great sale. So what do you do when there is a great sale? Of course! You buy a pair in every color! Lucky for me, there were only two colors!

I was so happy with my new boots and could not wait to wear them to school. When school restarted, I donned my favorite black pants and wore my brand new boots. I was high-styling.

And then it happened.

I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Something about the new boots did not settle well with my feet. As a matter of fact, they were hurting me so much that by the time 10:00 rolled around I thought that I would be crippled for life. This really was a serious quandary. I could not go ahead and teach teenagers in my socks all day long, and since my home was about an hour away I could not go home to get new pair of shoes.

So, I did what any self-respecting woman would do. I hobbled to the office to beg my administrator to let me off campus for a while to go and buy a new pair of more comfy shoes.

And then it happened.

I was minding my own business, hobbling into the office, when I spotted "them." They were black. They were cute. They were very stylish. They were Tommy Hilfiger's. And they were my size.

If you haven't guessed yet, I am talking about a pair of shoes. You see just that morning a fellow teacher decided to take some shoes her sister had given her to school to see if anyone wanted them. When I saw the "Free, please take" sign I nearly shouted for joy.

I think I DID shout for joy when I pried my boots off and put the new shoes on and felt their comfy, perfect fit. The reason I think I must've shouted for joy is because all of a sudden a lot of people who were in the office came to see what all the hullabaloo was about!

I know it sounds silly, and I know that I have even written this post in a humorous way, but please don't miss my point. God, in His Heaven, saw my predicament. And in the Grand Scheme of things it was no big deal. Yet, He reached down and met my need--a need I hadn't even asked Him to meet.

This was very significant to me spiritually at that time in my life. I WAS asking Him for some pretty MAJOR things, and while He didn't answer THOSE things for another year, He did let me know, through my Miracle Shoes, that He was listening. That He cared. That He saw.

So, now when I put on those shoes, I am reminded that He is listening. He cares. He sees.

And...that He has GREAT taste in footwear!

His,
Mrs. D

Look Up

2007-10-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

The very first gift I bought my husband after we were married (about 5 months ago) was a birdfeeder. The sliding glass doors in our dining room overlook our beautiful, wooded and expansive backyard, and my husband and I, both being admirers of our Lord's creation, enjoy watching the wildlife and birds in our backyard. I thought the new birdfeeder would increase our joy.

But it was not to be. There were birds all over the place. They would fly high. They would fly low. Some of them would even fly RIGHT by the birdfeeder without taking so much as a glance at it. I found this very frustrating.

And then, it happened. The birds began to notice the bird seed and they would come and feed on it. We just had one problem. They weren't eating the seed out of the FEEDER; rather, they were eating on the crumbs that had fallen out of the feeder onto the ground.

They were eating the left-overs. The scraps. The buried seed.

As I sat there and watched bird after bird desperately hunt for and feed on the seed on the ground, I found myself wanting to yell at them to LOOK UP! Look up at the feeder filled with fresh seed. Look up at the feeder that was filled with food just for you and your family. Look up and see your provision!

God, as He usually does, used this "bird" moment to speak a gentle word to my heart. He whispered to my heart, "Look up. I am here. I am ready and able to take care of you. Stop the panicked frenzy of trying to feed your needs from the left-overs, the scraps, of life. Look up to Me."

Where are you looking, dear reader, to be filled? To your husband? He won't be able to fill you. To your friends? They can't fill you? To your "things"? They can't fill you. To your career? It can't fill you.

Only One can fill you, and He longs to do so.

May we look up to the One and Only and be filled, filled, filled to the full this day.

His,

Mrs. D

My Angel

2007-10-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Please let me have the honor of introducing you to Sissy Girl, my angel. I rescued her nearly six years ago. When she came to me, she was covered with fleas, was malnourished, and had severe skin/allergy issues. Our vet said he believed that she was about two years old, and based on her very poor condition he surmised that she had been kept locked up most of her life in a kennel or worse.

I had been praying and wishing for a dog to call my own for a very long time. And, by circumstances that can only be called miraculous, I was given a chance to love Sissy.

As you may have guessed, Sissy means much more to me than just a pet. She is my baby, and I think she helped to save my life at a very dark time. Shortly after I got Sissy, my father passed away quite unexpectedly. Months after that loss, my husband disappeared, never came home, and filed for divorce. I never saw him again. My world as I knew it was shattered. I clung to my love for Jesus and to my little Sis for comfort.

My mother and I, being two bachelorettes now, became roomies, and of course Sis became one of the girls in our home. It didn't take long for Sissy to completely steal my mom's heart. She became Sissy's grandma, and before you know it, Sissy became her constant companion and shadow.

Years later, as God would have it, He introduced me to the most wonderful man I had ever known. I was quickly swept off my feet, and I continually sought God for His guidance with my relationship with Mr. D. One Christmas morning, with his daughter kneeling at my feet, Mr. D asked me to be his wife. Of course, I said yes. Six months later we married.

As with all good stories, there was a conflict. The conflict in this case was that Mr. D and his daughter lived miles and miles and miles away from my hometown. I immediately thought of Sissy and my mother and what I was going to do. I knew from the very first that I could not separate the two of them. And so I didn't.

And so now as sit here writing this, I am missing my angel more than ever. I KNOW I did the right thing, and I would do it all over again if I had to. But it still hurts. A lot. More than I am ever even willing to admit on most days.

The funny thing is that years ago when I got Sissy I thought I was rescuing her. Little did I know that God was using her to rescue me...and my mom.

Sweet dreams, Sissy Girl. Be sweet to Grandma.

Different

2007-10-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

To that I say, "AMEN and AMEN!".

I used to think I was flexible. I used to think I adapted to new things well. I used to think that I was a pretty "go with the flow" type of gal.

Now I know better.

About four months ago, I left everything and everyone I knew to answer the call God had placed on my life--the call to be a wife and a step-mother. That call involved a move of well-over a thousand miles and the shedding of most of my most loved possessions (i.e. clothes, shoes, and most things pink).

After I arrived in my new home, I realized that not only had I arrived in a different state, but I also had arrived in a n utterly new place with a DIFFERENT mindset, a DIFFERENT attitude towards God, a DIFFERENT way of eating, a DIFFERENT way of dressing, a DIFFERENT way of treating and disciplining children, a DIFFERENT way of talking, and a DIFFERENT way of relating to others. And that's just to name a few.

I have been told countless times, "Things are different here." Really? I hadn't noticed. Right.

So, today I am ever so glad that to know that the Jesus that I loved back home is the SAME Jesus that I love right here, in this very DIFFERENT place. And I am glad that the SAME Jesus that took care of me back home will take care of me in this very DIFFERENT place.

And, I am also thankful that the SAME Jesus who has an uncanny sense of humor is speaking to me here in DIFFERENTville as well. Isn't it just like Jesus to match me up with a ladies Bible study at a church other than my own? With a leader from my long-lost and long-loved home? And isn't it just like Jesus to have orchestrated that we study The Patriarchs--a Beth Moore study that I've been itching to do? And isn't it just like to Jesus to have orchestrated the study to begin with these words to Abraham: "LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY"? (Anyone catch the irony there?)

Ah yes. That's my Jesus. Forever speaking to me in the same old, same old places and in the terrifyingly new ones as well.

What has He been saying to you?

His,

Mrs. D

A God Who Always Provides

2007-10-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

This was first published on my old blog (the one that I had to close) in August of 2006. As I read the words I wrote over again, I was again reminded that God ALWAYS provides. And, I grin that grin that I get when I know the God of the Universe is speaking to me--this sometimes wayward, but always loving, child of His. You see, just a few weeks ago I attended a Beth Moore conference in Rhode Island and He spoke to me there. He told me that He has given me EVERYTHING I need. EVERYTHING. EVER-Y-THING. ALL OF IT. ALL.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Is. 55:9

This has been both a tough and remarkable week for me. It has been tough relationally. I am learning that I can't please everyone, even on the days when I really try. For me, a people-pleaser by nature, that is not an easy lesson to put into practice. What others think of me matters to me, perhaps too much.

As with everything, there must be a balance, and that balance is what I am trying to find. However, as tough as it has been relationally, it has been equally remarkable spiritually. The needs that I have been agonizing and losing sleep over for the past week and few days have been met in the most amazing and incredible ways.

I am reminded of Isaiah 55:9 when I think about the way God chose to answer my prayers. He did not answer them in the way I thought He would. Nor did He answer them in the way I hoped He would. Instead, He answered them in a way that could've only been His way. I know it was His way because I was both blessed and humbled at the same time. Accepting a blessing from someone is hard for me to do, but it is just because of this nasty sin called PRIDE that oftentimes rears itself in my heart.

One of the blessings I received came with this message: "God ALWAYS provides." It wasn't signed, and I really have no idea from whom it came. But God knows. And I am praying that He blesses you abundantly for being His hands and feet to me this week. And for the blessing that came just today--I know who you are, and I am blown away by your kindness to me. How blessed I am to have a dear friend like you in my life. May God bless every area of your life with such utter abundance that you simply won't be able to contain it all!

"No eye has seen
No ear has heard
No mind has conceived
What God has planned for those who love Him." 1 Cor. 2:9

May that be true in the lives of all the saints who allowed themselves to be an outpouring of Him to me this week. God bless you.

P.S. The second blessing to which I referred was given to me by the man I now call my husband. At that time, he was just a man I loved and hoped with all my heart that he would one day love me, too. He did. And that's what I call the greatest blessing of all.

His,
Mrs. D

And they danced...

2007-10-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

Can I have this dance for the rest of my life?

A Toast to the Happy Couple

2007-10-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

What a glorious day! And what's even more glorious is that it is over. Whew! Planning a wedding is a lot of work, and when you don't like to be the center of attention it can be very stressful as well. But in this shot (thanks Beth!), the stress is over and we are finally able to enjoy the fruits (LEMONade) of our labor.

It has been way too long since I have blogged anything, and I have been getting antsy. Some problems that I have encountered here in my new community where anything goes spiritually and otherwise have created some problems and I have had to shut-down my other blog. So, here is the new one that Mr. D (trying to maintain some anonymity) and I will share.

I have had a thousand good blog ideas these past few months, and so I hope that now that I have a blog I hope they all come back to me!

Happy reading and come back soon, ya hear! (My how I miss being able to slip into MY vernacular...)

Much love,
Mrs. D