A Couple of Announcements

First of all, City Girl Turned Country Girl blessed me with an award. Isn't this sweet?

This is the Attitude of Gratitude Award

Rules of accepting and sharing this Award:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an Attitude of Gratitude.

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award.

5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for this award. Tell us how you've come to have an Attitude of Gratitude.

Well, I don't have a lot of time, so just off the top of my head, here are five or six for the award:

1. My aunt, Moira -- she is going through some really tough times right now with her job situation (or lack thereof), and a lot of other stuff in her life...and yet through it all she is staying so dependent upon the Lord and willing to trust Him for whatever is going to happen in her life.

2. My friend Mrs. Mishel -- she is going through a major life upheaval as everything that she has depended on and trusted for many years is suddenly jerked out from under her. Her struggles to deal with this, her broken heart and yet trust in the Lord, is such a testimony to me.

3. Bloggie friend Theresa -- she and her husband have three boys and a daughter, and what with a recent move, and constantly trying to lose weight, dealing with neighbors and a house without electricity for awhile...you get the picture.

4. Bloggie friend Connie -- she has lived most of her life, and can now look back on it in gratitude to the Lord for His many, many blessings to her -- her posts tend to be full of words of wisdom, gratitude, thanksgiving, and concern for other people.

5. One of my latest bloggie friends, Mrs.Hester -- her attitude has often been a testimony to me of gratitude to the Lord, to her husband, etc.

6. My bloggie friend Kate -- I have known her for a good two years now, have watched her go through engagement and marriage, and know her to be grateful for the many blessings in her life.

OK, with that out of the way, I must tell you all that I will probably not be back on for a while (hopefully not more than a week or two), because my computer has gotten a virus and we are going to wipe the hard drives and completely reinstall Windows. In the meantime, I will be able to view emails, but I will not be on blogger. Which of course means that I will miss a few Sunday Stills :( (but I would've had to miss this week's challenge anyway, I don't have any barns around to take photos of!!). So anyway, I will miss you all, and look forward to seeing you when I come back! :)

Sunday Stills -- Religion

Yep, today's Sunday Stills theme is RELIGION. Pretty appropriate for a Sunday Stills theme, don't you think?

Now, the problem with it is that I don't consider myself to have "religion" -- I have a relationship with the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth. His Son died to save me from my sins, the Holy Spirit convicts me of wrong I have done, and the three, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are all fully one God and yet three...which is indeed a mystery, but as one pastor once said, what kind of God would He be if we could understand Him?? Obviously He would be inferior to us, if our understanding could comprehend His being -- and therefore I am sooooo GLAD that He is beyond (way, way beyond!) my comprehension!

Anyway, part of this relationship includes frequent contact and discussion -- just like any relationship. The way that we talk with God is called prayer. Now, of course there is no one right way to do prayer, it is not required that you bow your head, close your eyes, kneel down, or even lie on your face like they did in the Old Testament. However, it really does help cut out the distractions if you bow your head and close your eyes, and folding the hands helps to keep your hands still (thereby also cutting down on distractions). Therefore, that is usually my preferred method of praying -- bowed head, closed eyes, folded hands.

The following two photographs are of myself (don't you love self-portraits? I'm getting better at them, still not very good though) and of my friend Mindy:

P.S. I want to put a disclaimer on this, as I know that several people will probably be viewing it. I am in no way, absolutely not, saying that you do not have to obey the other ordinances that God put in place for us, such as reading the Bible, attending a fellowship of other believers, etc. The two photographs of people praying (one of which is of myself) are simply the representation of my first thought when I think of my relationship with God -- talking to Him. I'm not saying that you can simply pray all the time and don't need to do other things in your life that He wants us to do. I'm simply saying that the first thought in my mind as a post on the subject of religion was prayer -- communication with our Lord. Today, I prayed when I was doing my personal devotions (reading in the Bible and talking to the Lord); I prayed before I ate, to give thanks for the food and for other blessings; I prayed while I was in church, both in worship, in thanksgiving, as well as making requests; and I prayed several other times -- all in different surroundings, in different positions of prayer, etc. The point I'm trying to make is not that I am a holy person (because I'm holy only in that I'm a sinner, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus' blood!!), but that communication with my Creator is an essential part of my spiritual life -- as are obeying Him in other areas of my life, like in reading my Bible and in fellowshipping with other believers. So please, please don't mistake me for meaning that you can say a prayer and be done with all your 'religious duty' -- you still need to obey God in other aspects of your life. I just wanted to clarify that, make sure we're all on the same page here. Happy Sunday to you all! :)

A Good Explanation

Somebody sent this to me an email, I thought it was good:

POLITICAL SYSTEMS

FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.

PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.

BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.

FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.

PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.

CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.

DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.

PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.

BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them.Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.

PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.

LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY/CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You convince the rest of the world that the milk from YOUR cows is much "cooler" than the milk from anyone elses cows and sell it to them for an outrageously marked-up price.

Sunday Stills and Easter Words

Happy Easter to you all!

First, let me mention that I am beginning to participate in the Sunday Stills photography challenge, and therefore will probably be posting photographs for said challenge nearly every week. This week's theme is: The Color Red.

Of course, the color red seems to go in real well with the Easter holiday today, since it reminds us of the blood that Jesus shed for us...and that in turn reminds us of His resurrection -- He's no longer dead! Hallelujah!

However, as I do not want to post a photo of blood, nor have I ever taken such a photo, I will stick to red flowers. Boring, I know, but I'll try to do better from now on.

I will leave you with these inspiring words by Julia Bettencourt, and then the red photos:

• The Resurrection Was Decisive. Christ definitely rose again. I don't have to wonder about it. I don't have to worry that well, maybe he didn't. He did. I know that from God's Word and I believe it. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye:for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is nothere: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:5,6

• The Resurrection Means I Have A Living God. If Christ rose, that surely means He's alive. Wow! To me, that's something to be excited about. I can remember when I was little and one of my Sunday School teachers talking about the idols in Psalms where it says that " They have mouths, but they speak not'; eyes have they, but they see not ". I can still hear my teacher saying those words. I don't know why but that had a big impact on me and it still does. When I have days that I think nothing can be done about something, it's then I remember, I have a God that sees all and knows all. He knows what's going on. My God is alive! The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. Psalm 135:15-18
  


• The Resurrection Was For Me. If there was death for Christ and a resurrection, I have to look into what happened before that. What kind of death did he have? He suffered for me. The road to Calvary, the cross, and all Christ endured was for me. It was for my sin that He died. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:5-7

• The Resurrection Gives Me Hope. We are all going to die in this life but because of the resurrection, I have the promise of eternal life. I'm not stuck with just dying. My death, no matter when it comes and whether it is quick or slow, will only lead to a new body and life with Christ. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14

• The Resurrection Reminds Me Who I Know. The "celebrity" of this world really makes me laugh. It seems everyone is always chasing celebrities. Having celebrity status doesn't always mean something good either. If you make a news flash, wow, you're famous--at least for a few moments anyway. Right now we have people chasing the girl that had the octuplets all over. Cameras everywhere. I think about how Lady Diana was hounded by the press. It's a fact. When something's going on or happens out of the ordinary, people want to see it. The resurrection was something way out of the ordinary and what's amazing is that I know on a personal level the One Who resurrected. I know a powerful God. Because I've accepted Him, I know Him and can speak to Him through prayer on a daily basis. I know the Lord of the Universe. One day I'm going to meet Him face to face. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Romans 1:3-4

• The Resurrection Gives Me Joy! The resurrection gives me joy because I know through it my life can mean something. I don't have to have a shallow happiness in my life. I can have that inner joy that only comes from Christ. I think a big part of my joy does come through the fact of the resurrection. There's so much comfort and peace to know that in the end there's eternal life with Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness, through manifold temptations: 1 Peter 1:3-6

A's Visit

As y'all know, I recently had another visit from my beautiful and beloved niece, A. We kidnapped her after church and whisked her away to...Burger King! Of course, it was while we were at said Burger King that something else notable happened, but that's a WHOLE 'nother post... ;)

Anyhow, after Burger King we headed down to my Nana's house because she and Katie and I had to redo a video clip for our American Sign Language 3 class...I know I'm being a little vague, sorry folks...while we were out there we took a few cute photos of A with her Aunt B (i.e., yours truly)...

And with her CG.

When we were finished there, we headed back home...A napped a little in the car but woke up as soon as I tried to move her into the house. Since she was awake, I took her down to the park where we played with some of my young friends (kids across the street)...but since we hadn't taken CG along, I don't have any photos of that time. However, once we got back home and were eating crackers, bologna, and apples (sounds like a real balanced diet, doesn't it?!), I got some photos and videos. Enjoy!

Is this a cute face or what???!!!

Just chillin'!

A absolutely LOVES Elmo, and her diapers have pictures of Elmo on them, so we looked at the diaper and talked about Elmo. I figured I'd explain this so that you'd understand why we were looking at diapers! :)

I will leave you with one last photo. I love this baby-face. Until I have my own children, you will NEVER be able to convince me that there are any cuter babies than my nieces and nephews!! :)

Friends Award

Awwww.... Sweet Mrs.Hester over at Forever Student passed on to me an award -- the Friends Award! Is that sweet or what?

I 'met' Mrs.Hester back when she had first started her blog -- some people would say it was a coincidence, but we who are followers of our Lord know that there are no coincidences with Him... I had been bloghopping, and I had wanted to meet some new bloggie people, so I had gone to my profile and clicked on some of my interests. Now, y'all know that your interests in your profile are actually links, if you click on one of them it will take you to a list of profiles of all the people that have that same interest. I was reading down through the profiles, and somewhat randomly I saw a profile that I liked and clicked on it, and it "happened' to be Mrs.Hester's profile, which took me to her blog, on what (if I remember right) was her very first post! That was back last December, and we have become bloggie friends ever since. I was able to help her on some technical issues, and we have both given each other encouragement at times. Mrs.Hester, I am so glad to be considered one of your friends! :)


So here's the award:






"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find & be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."


I am supposed to choose 8 ladies (and how does one choose just 8??) to pass this award on to...but of course nobody minds if the rules are bent to allow more or less than 8...and then those ladies are each supposed to pass it on to 8 (or more/less) more, and then they're...you get the picture. I had a tough time deciding who to give it to, but here goes:


First of all, my two cousins/sisters/best friends, Danny at A Country Rose and Kryssy at Roses Are Red. I don't get to talk to them as much now that they're in TX, and don't have internet...and I miss 'em like CRAAAAAZZYYY!! Enjoy, girls!

Next, my dear Aunt Moira at The Quilted Snail. I know this is a Friends Award, but hey, if your aunt isn't your friend, I don't know who is!

Then, some of the bloggie friends I've known the longest. I don't even remember when/how we first 'met'. I give it to Theresa at A Note From Theresa, and her mother-in-law, my "Grandma" Connie at Connie's Thoughts From the Heart. These are two of my dearest bloggie friends, and I am honored to pass it on to them.

I have also known Kate at The Days of My Life for nearly as long as I've been blogging. Matter of fact, we started blogging within a month or two of each other, if I remember right. Kate has a habit of making very funny posts that are good for several giggles even when I'm not feeling too hot... Thanks, Kate!

Paula at Broken Y Ranch has also been a good bloggie friend of mine for a long time...she's simply a very sweet lady and I am glad to know her as a bloggie friend.

Jen, aka Ranch Girl, at Thoughts and Going On's of a Ranch Girl, is also one of my dear bloggie friends...however, she has gone private, so if you do not have an invitation to her blog, you will not be able to see it. I suppose in that case I had probably better not tease you by saying that her baby son is sooooooooo cute... :)

Lastly, I want to give it back to Mrs.Hester -- she has been a dear bloggie friend of mine for several months now, and if she hadn't given it to me to begin with, I certainly would've given it to her -- so I want to give it back to her now.

That about wraps that up. I'll post in a few days with more Ariana photos...till then I remain
your friend in Christ,
Rebekah

Guess Who's Over for a Visit??!

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well, you can probably tell by the awesome typing that I have my beautiful niece over!! :) Will post later! :D

Happy (belated) April Fools' Day!

This isn't really the best photo of me, but for a self-portrait, not too bad, hey?

But this is my April Fools' Joke. Yes, I went around the college campus on Wednesday like this! No kidding!

Well, it started with a blue nose, and then because of a skit we did in Voice class, I changed it to a red nose, and then during the break from American Sign Language 3 class, a couple friends egged me on and I did the whole clown thing. White circles around the eyes, blue nose, yellow freckles on the cheeks, huge red grin. My Ballet class thought it was hilarious!!

I'll post more later, just wanted to share my April Fools'!! :)