Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Psalms, and Critters, and Spiritual Songs

Conversation on the way home from church Sunday morning:

Jessie: Did Ashlee sleep at home last night?

Me: Uhhh, yes .... why do you ask (giving hubby that oh my word, now what look)?

Jessie: No reason. I'll tell you later.

Me: Andrew, why did YOU sleep on the couch last night?

Andrew: Oh ... no reason.

When we got home, I asked Jessie if it was "later" enough, but she said she would maybe tell me in a couple of hours why all the bed shuffling took place.

Then I got a text from Ashlee telling me to come up to her room.

I knew I was in for it. Or Ashlee was in for it. Or SOMEONE was in for it.

I tiptoed up the stairs, reached for the doorknob on Ashlee's door, and barely cracked it open, as if there was a hibernating grizzly on the other side, and found all three of my children staring at me with their little angelic faces.

My skin crawled. My heart beat a little quicker.

And out jumped this little critter (okay, so she didn't jump ... she slithered her body against the edge of the bed):





Next comes, "Can I keep 'er, Mom?"

Yeah ... you know the drill.

It's still undecided as to whether this Prairie Mama will allow the cat to stay. Let's just say I'm giving it a trial period. And Ashlee is contemplating a possible move, which obviously means that cat wouldn't be staying.

But she already named it. And we all know what that means.

Actually, several of us have named it.

Ashlee named it Lily.

Andrew named it Kiki.

Jessie named it Harvey Dent (the evil man on Dark Knight - apparently they have the same facial markings).

And I named it Ratatouille. Because she's about the size of a rat, same color as a rat, and well ... she kinda smells like a rat.

Kitty names are really for the owners anyway. Pray tell, when have any of us ever called a cat by it's name - and actually had the cat respond? Hmmm?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a more serious note ... here's my recitation of Psalm 1.

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the path of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither,
And whatever he does, shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

I cheated and looked on that very last line.

Just so ya' know.

I'm pretty close to getting it exactly perfect, but it looks as though the KJV is somehow in the back of my mind. I'm saying sitteth instead of sits, etc.

Maybe I need to relax a little, huh?

And ... I wanted to share with you a song we sang in church on Sunday morning. It's entitled Psalm 1 (how fitting!). :-) I wish I could post the music to it also, but I can't find it anywhere on the internet. So the words will have to do. It's basically Psalm 1, in words that make the meaning a little clearer. I hope you enjoy, and I hope it helps you in your memorization. Understanding what I'm memorizing always helps me.

Psalm 1

How blest are they who turn to God,
Forsaking sinful ways;
Renouncing haunts of worldly minds,
And unbelieving days.

They make the teaching of the Lord
Their quest and great delight;
And to its guidance daily turn,
With ever clearer sight.

Like trees they stand, so full of life,
The living stream beside;
They yield their fruit and strong endure,
No matter what betide.

But those who to this boasting world
Commit their hope and trust,
The coming Day shall drive away,
Like worthless chaff, or dust.

O might grace, that we may stand
Among the sons of love!
When Christ the Lord, our coming King,
Shall life our souls above.


I really, really, really want to have clearer sight, and yield fruit no matter what betide.

I hope you do to, and renewing our minds with Scripture will most assuredly get us on that path.

God bless all Lovely Lurkers as you go through your week,

~Brenda

P.S. I've enabled the pop-up comment box, in the hopes that Lovely Lurkers will not have as much trouble commenting. I hope it works better for you. Please email me if you still have trouble.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Tween Cupcakes and a Cold Weekend

Remember this boy? He's Andrew's friend, our Pastor's son, and his new nickname at home ...

is ...

Cupcake.



Any questions as to why?

Thank goodness these tween boys are secure enough in their manhood that they can wear cupcakes, unicorns, and other girly tattoos.

Either that, or they promised one another that they would wear whatever tattoos the machine gave them when they visited the rec center this past week.

Either way ... I think they're stunning big hunks whom the girls will be swooning over for the next ten years.






As for this weekend ...

It was cold. It was rainy. We had tornadoes and hail.

Sigh ...

I want summer. I want sunshine. I want to sit out in the sun and get a sunburn mild tan. And I want my flowers to perk back up.

Here's some pictures of our Prairie hail storm, taken at my sister-in-law's house on Sunday:





This wicked looking twister touched about fifteen minutes away from us. Sorry for the poor quality ... you're looking at a picture of the tv. :-)





But as Shaun said, we even got a personalized Prairie Snow Cone Machine out of the whole ordeal, which all of the children (and Uncle Ricardo) took advantage of - cuz he's secure in his manhood too:




I have more to share with you from this weekend. As a teaser, I'll just tell you it has to do with Scripture and animals.

Curious?

Good. I'll see you later today, or early tomorrow. In the meantime, keep working on Psalm 1.

((Hugs)) to all my Lovely Lukers,

~Brenda

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Hidden Talents (Photo Contest Winner)


"Ok, I got the ventriloquist thing down.... now how was I supposed to close his other eye?"

Baahahahhaaaa!!!! Andrew really does look like a ventriloquist doll. And Jessie looks like she's having way too much fun puppeteering. I wonder what other hidden talents that girl has up her sleeve ...

Congratulations, Rachel!! Email me at Tuppermom77@yahoo.com with your snail mail information, and I'll get the Starbucks card to you asap.

And thank you to everyone who participated. ALL of you made me smile and laugh.

And for another great contest going on, visit Mama M. over at My Little Life.

It's a contest worth your time.

~Brenda

Single Sentence Saturday



Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.

~Socrates

Friday, June 5, 2009

(Not) Slackin' Off

The last four days have been filled with going to the rec center, mailing packages, baseball games, and generally trying to keep these two twelve year old, hyperactive, ridiculously silly, highly entertaining, cheek pinchin' cute dashing and handsome boys occupied:








More on that later, but I did not (nor will I ever, ever, ever) forget my Lovely Lurkers, or the Phrase that Photo contest. I will be choosing the winner within the next 24 hours.

So hold on to your prairie bonnets.

I'm waivering between two entries, and this Prairie Mama happens to be somewhat of an indecisive soul.

Good thing I'm the oldest around here, and I make up the rules, huh?

Muahahhahahahhaaaaa!

Stay tuned!

~Brenda

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Phrase That Photo!!

I know, I know ... it's supposed to be "Name That Photo."

But this is my blog, and I like alliteration. So this is a Phrase That Photo contest.

Give this photo a cute little phrase to help figure out what in heaven's name Jessie and Andrew are doing here:



... and you'll win a $10 Starbucks gift card. Like this one:




Catch? You think there's a catch?

Ok, there's a catch.

In order to win, please leave an entry in the comment section below (or email me if you have trouble entering), and let others know through your blog when and where this contest is taking place. If you do not have a blog, then I'll trust you to spread the Starbucks love by word of mouth, email, or whatever means you deem appropriate (please share in the comment box how you spread the Starbucks love). If you do have a blog, I'll be stopping by to make sure you've done your homework take a look-see at your beautiful blogs.

It's just a ten dollar Starbucks card, you say? Why all the rules?


Well ... because I was the baby of the family and never got to make up the rules as I went (all eldest siblings please stop giving me that angelic look). And I think it's high time I got a chance to do so (and I must say ... it's more fun than I thought!).

Besides ... it's Starbucks. And I know you can just taste that espresso dark chocolate grande mocha frappaccino carmel macchiato latte with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

Ok, so I'm not a coffee drinker, nor could I rattle off an order, but only because my restricted diet doesn't allow it. The important thing is that you or someone you know is a coffee drinker.

So start your engines phrases.

Contest ends when ... when ... when this baby of the family says so.

~Brenda, the wannabe coffee drinker on the Prairie

**UPDATE:
Please remember when you leave a comment to let me know where you've "spread the Starbucks love."

Monday, June 1, 2009

The Tree On That Tee!!!

I came across a company through MckMama's blog that makes these really cool tees. Then I was flipping through the blog on the Wild Olive website, and came across this t-shirt:





And I am loving my new find!

Why?

Because this theme goes PERFECTLY with my our new journey and commitment to memorize Psalm 1!!!

The tree on that tee is what we wanna be!!!

Say it with me!

The tree on that tee is what we wanna be!!!.

We want to be that tree planted by the waters. Grounded. Unmovable. And, as the tee says ...

Rooted.

Ok, one more time.

The tree on that tee is what we wanna be!!!

I was a cheerleader in high school. Can you tell?

If you want to order one of these tees, go click on the ad in my sidebar. I might have to save my change, or cash in my rainy day money to get one, because I'm a bit low on funds right now.

Where there's a will, there's a way, right? ;-)

Have a great Monday, my Lovely Lurkers. May you be rooted in His love and care for you!

~Brenda