Amazing Statistics!

I love to research. I found that Americans spend six billion dollars a year on gear for their babies. Of the four million babies born here each year, a million of them will be registered at Babies R Us. I'm wondering if they end up selling the baby items on e-bay....how much? I've been in Babies R Us many times and their items look great for the money. It's so much easier when I get invited to a baby shower and they are registered there b/c they can get what they want. FYI: You can also go to Toys R Us to get a gift certificate for Babies R Us.

On another note....I'll be spending approx.8 hours still researching and mailing. + looking for wedding pics............looking forward to a fun day. My husband is brilliant at power point! I hope your day is filled with many blessings and fun things. I recently purchased a "Little Rascals" Video to watch to have some laughter...definitely worth a chuckle.........can't hardly wait to show our grandkids what I watched on TV when I was a kid.....oh boy...and in black and white at that!!!!.........and those are my caring thoughts. Sending hugs, Carol

November - My Favorite Month - Thankful Thoughts I Truly Love

Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.

Cute Kids

We have the cutest kids in our Nursery at Church. One little girl is seven months old and her Mom dresses her so cute with one of those precious head bands that match. She doesn't pull at the head band and keeps it on the entire time. She loves sitting up. Saturday I had the great time of spending time with her and loved to watch what she does. She's so petite, but she is really set on just sitting. Her Mom said she is going through separation anxiety, but after seeing me on Saturday and then on Sunday.....the trust she had for me was to come to me, willingly, from her Mom and she even reached out for me. Her Mom wanted her to go to the Nursery, so I took her after the song service and she went right in and felt right at home. Her Mom was so happy because she knew she would get lots of caring from our Nursery Worker.

Sometimes we take for granted, all those things that seem so small, like one of God's great treasures.....a small handprint on the wall.

I can say one thing. The kids sure enjoyed all the candy corn given to them that was leftover from Halloween that someone gave us.

This week is starting out so grand! After I saw with the new time change that it is light outside at 7 a.m. now.....I'm a morning person and can really dig this!! I hope your Monday is fantastic!

Sunday Nap.....the Time Change Today

Okay, I have to chime in about the Time Change. A Sunday nap will be of utmost importance in the Donnelson home today. I don't know about y'all, but I do not always wake up refreshed from naps! More often than not, I need to have another quiet time to shake me out of the grumpies!

What extra hour of sleep? Not hardly; I hear my body saying....oh just another time to let me have another hour to be up earlier.....ugh-a!!!! I can dig it!!!

What about you? Did you really get an extra hour of sleep???? To play video games????? To watch movies????? To read????? To walk the dogs????? To journal??? To study???? What do your wee morning hours consist of????

I have been told ladies don't comment on my blog, because they forget their password and would like me to forward them to them via e-mail. When someone that is brilliant on this monster thing called "computer" and you know how to do it, please let me know....I have no earthly idea how to do all the fancy things like "Feed" "RSS" even do pics......I'm a computer geek wannabe; but I'm learning. When our Son put in my blog for me in March of this year...I knew zero; there's a lot I know, but it's just not quite enough. I'm not putting myself down; I'm just facing the fact that I need to learn more; but then again as much as I love blogging, it has given me a interaction with other bloggers and being a people person that I am; it is of utmost concern that in the world of bloggers; reading their's is so rewarding for me!

Today I'm looking forward to W.O.W. Women of Worth Class @ 9 where ladies truly rock! The subject is "Do you really believe the Put-downs?" - a very relevant subject. Character Assissins....see you there! 'N-joy the time change and your Sunday nap also.

How's Your Spaghetti Level?

It seems that everywhere we turn, we hear talk about how healthy spaghetti sauce is to your brain! Physicians are calling it "brain food," thus adding a lot of serotonin to the brain. So, last night on our date night, we went to an Italian Restaurant. We ran into some friends we hadn't seen for at least seven years. They were on their date night also and have been married 55 years!!!! Can you imagine? Our's is coming up on 40. They were saying after being married that long you tend to sit in the corner of a Restaurant and just look at each other......you don't say a word! Just enjoying each other's company....how cool is that???? Mostly, on our date night, I listen to my husband's heart; he shares with me what is going on in his life, stressful issues, etc. I am truly tuned in to listening....he doesn't want any advice, just sharing......I love it because I know all of his time is spent helping families facilitate the process of reaching an agreement on acceptable behavior during family times together. I believe in just about any family, people can get so entangled in disputes and hurt emotions that they need help from a Pastor to restore peace. And I know, without a doubt, we both are burdened and care; that is our passion.

The spaghetti level comes in and to be honest I cannot remember at what year in our marriage, he shared with me that spaghetti is his first choice for food. At this point I'm not sure whether it's because it tastes so delicious or the serotonin level is low. So, since that time when he suggests going to an Italian restaurant; he'll say "I'm pretty sure my spaghetti level is low, let's go." Last night I tried ravioli...........hmmmmmmm I'll have to think on that one.....toss up....I think spaghetti is my choice from now on!

REMEMBER: to set your clocks back 1 hour tonight!!!!!! See ya in Church!

Carrying Each Other's Burdens

Charles Dickens once said: "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else." One of my other favorite quotes is by Milo Gates:
"The finest test of character is seen
in the amount and the power of gratitude
we have."

And then the question boils down to "What can I do to help this situation be better?"

Always looking to carry each other burdens........ One more thing: I love to read inspirational quotes from ANYONE, and then find a Bible verse that goes along with the quotes:
Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Are You A Supportive Person? ....random thoughts

Can you not be supportive because you have not forgiven someone for wrongs you think they have done to you? I read over the Bible on what it means to forgive; forget; go on with life....it will seep over into your "supportive" life as a friend, family or others. Support means even if you are "ticked" off at them, you still believe in them, in other words, they don't go down the scale; you still are there for them and will be there for them, through thick or thin!


Whatever it is, no matter how large or small a thing, if you commit to forgive and still support them (including emotional support); it frees us up in serving others, God will use you to build a lasting influence. That's what Christianity is all about. You only hurt yourself when you build walls.......that's another subject.....but I've seen it happen time and time again. So the person had a not so good day......it always gets better.......give it time.....but I believe we all need a dose of good ole' loyal support and I'll give it!!!! Will you?

Happy Halloween/Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Halloween/Happy Birthday Son. I hope our Son has a phenomenal birthday. I know he's sure brought a tremendous lot of joy in my life.

This blog will be brief. I've been asked to go help a Mom sew her kids' Halloween Costume(s); apparently they are wearing them to school. Wearing them to school should be fun.

All You Need Is Love..........

In my teen years, the song by the Beatles was extremely popular "All you need is love.....love is all you need...." And I can still hear the repeated phrase at the end....love is all you need....love is all you need; they always ended their songs with fading out the real meaning of the song. Maybe they thought in the 60's we just didn't get it....we got it!!!!!

One Author of a book I read on "Love" (Frank Clark) said "A baby is born with a need to be loved and never outgrows it." True, true, true. When love weakens, I remind myself (& so does my husband)...hey we are forgetting to say I love you at the close of our phone conversations. It's never to late to begin saying it! I truly have so much love to give and when I feel like life has a tendency to go sour (like lemons) I pull the reins back and say I need to give out more love.

Believe you me, I've seen so many women go bitter for no unknown reason at all...mostly just because they don't get their way....when if they would just check their "love tank" and see how empty it is; they would begin filling it back up and could graciously sing the awesome song "All you need is love....." and begin to have a joy beyond comprehension. Can you say it?.........I LOVE YOU! How abut the Julie Andrew's Song, "Love makes the world go 'round....." Of course, I deeply love my husband, our kids (of course, all inclusive, daughter-in-law, grandkids; brother and sisters and families..........the list can go on and on.) Christ loved us enough to die on a rugged cross............now that's love!

I've almost memorized I Corinthians. 13 - THE LOVE CHAPTER in THE BIBLE...........MY daily prayer is "God please let me love more...." Today is a great day to spread a little love around and share the joy that you have found......I always start out by saying, i just love the way you are so kind.......or......i love the way you express your thoughts.....or........i love the way you're wearing your hair ........something to spread a little love around. This should be a super Tuesday ...I think I'll begin by making a "Carol's Creative Card" for my hubby, my true love!!!

Fall Time Change

I'll have to quit thinking about it. I've read so many articles in the newspaper about the fall time change. Getting an extra hour of sleep.....now come on....how many people are really going to do that? Having an EXTRA hour in the day will make everyone want to be happy!!! We all do so much for others, we don't think about the EXTRA HOUR of sleep.

But, reminder: at 2 a.m. on Sunday is the time change.....NOVEMBER 4th.

I think the computers and clocks on cells that change have already changed because it usually falls on the last Sunday of October. So don't freak out if you think your time is off. It is! This blog will say 6:19 a.m. on the computer as I am typing it; it's really 7:15 a.m. and it will show that time on the blog. Time is of essence in so many of our lives, of course, but remember to have a happy Monday................sending love and prayers, Carol

Where Is God When You Need Him?

He is there.
Always
Just call upon Him.
Ephesians 3:14-19 is what I read when I ask the question "Where is God when you need Him?"
I promise.........Bears repeating.....He is there.

People Who Purposely Inflict Pain......

........they're not happy.
........are very miserable.
........are untruthful.

Wasting time and energy on revenge is unnecessary.

They are more miserable than they try to make you.

Just keep on being the fun loving, kind, joyful, giving person that you are.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending!

Super Friends

We had some super friends call and wanted to stop by and give our church some office supplies (i.e., 1,000 legal envelopes, file folders, name tags, & paper). Wow! How cool is that!!! We were just talking about the fact that we needed to get some envelopes because we were out.

They were telling us they recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary! She is getting ready to retire and he was teasing saying he is a "couch potato." Anyway, it was nice to drop what we were doing and visit with them. It was hard to believe they stayed about an hour, but we all talked about how time flies so quickly these days! They are "cat lovers" and we are "dog lovers" so you can imagine how much fun we had since all our kids are grown adults, but wish our animals would behave accordingly!

Definitely super friends and we wish for them many many more happy years as she was 15 years of age (mind you) when they got married!!! Happy Friday eveyone and God bless your entire day!!!!! :)

Q&A

......or better yet known as "Stump the Pastor".......even though we give honor to the Lord for serving a nice meal to all present, yet, still, there remains anyone who has a question that my husband has not been able to answer. Hark! A couple that have been faithful each week have commented that this week (Sunday after this a.m. Service; 10/28) have a question that they believe will stump him!

It's all in fun, of course, but I've seen some pretty interesting questions and he calmly answers them. As you can see, I love to BRAG on my husband and his quick thinking ability to answer the questions. What a tremendous ability!

One more comment............Sunday's menu is "homemade" tacos, quacamole, and spanish rice! How about some home-grown jalepinos? Yum, yum! We hope we see you there!!

Some Sort of Role Model or Wisdom

For a while, my husband and I were home to watch the "Seinfeld" series at 6:30 p.m. And it seems the major discussion now on "Home" television is the real Jerry Seinfeld's wife has discovered how to keep the right vitamins in the foods for kids to eat....disguising it so the kids will eat sweet potatoes, cauliflower and the many veggies that make for great health. I've seen her on television demonstrating her new recipes to help kids eat healthy foods.

On the other hand, Jerry made a comment "A two-year old is a kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it." From my point of view, it's nice to have a family (in our era it was "Ozzie & Harriet") that has great goals to at least seem normal for a "role model" ..... something to think about.

My prayer and goal is to look carefully to how I walk! I live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as a wise sensible, intelligent person; making the very most of my time - buying up every opportunity to prize Wisdom and when to use it HIGHLY! (II Cor. 5:17)

Attitude of Gratitude Day!

I am very grateful. Today I am grateful for people who take the time out to say "Thank You." I call it an attitude of gratitude. I went over to the church and there was a really cool envelope sticking out of the mailbox with an adorable ribbon tied to it. So, I opened it and it was a beautiful thank you note to "me for being so kind" to a lady I had been communicating with.

All the time I had been thinking how KIND she is and here she sent me the "kind note about me."

It'll make your day! Especially when it comes seemingly out of nowhere. Go ahead make someone's day..........send a warm and fuzzy thank you to someone that means a lot to you....via cell, 'puter, transporting the note to their mailbox, text message, work phone; awe come on; it's heart touching and warming!

Living Today On Yesterday's Blessings

Not only was the church service superb, as well as W.O.W., & 2nd & 10, but KFC had a super special on fried chicken so we invited my husband's Assistant over and her family to eat, complete the administrative work, and watch the ballgame! Just before they were leaving a devout friend of the family came over with a guy who comes to our church and we even had enough chicken to go around the second round! What a blessing with all the activity.

Thank you all for the many prayers for my husband as he has been recovering from a pulled muscle in his back. He says he does not have the spasms anymore and feels so much better!

According to the Barna Group, the average Pastor lasts only five years at a church and churchgoers expect their Pastor to juggle an average of 16 major tasks. Pastors are among the nation's most overworked and underappreciated group of professionals. I would like to personally thank each and everyone for the appreciation they have shown both of us during "OCTOBER PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH."

Yesterday went by so quickly, so we think we'll just live today on yesterday's blessings (which are many) and will be enough to go around the second time! Oh, and may you be blessed a in a marvelous way TODAY ALSO!

Where Do You Put Your Trust?

Interesting question........How about this question: Can you be trusted???

Self???

Wife/Husband???

God???

Kids???

Medicines???

Significant Other???

Friends???

Banks???

Magazines???

Liquor???

Church???

See ya at 9 a.m.- TODAY -W.O.W. Women of Worth and find out the REAL ANSWER.

Defining Woman

It takes valuable time to answer the question "How would you define a woman?" In the environment where I grew up it was understood that the woman would stay in her place at home and in the church. Then when I went to Bible College, the question remained "Was this place God's place for her?" Who decided that she was too emotional to make decisions, and that her ideas and opinions were invalid?

God declares that we are capable, intelligent, and virtuous --- more precious than jewels, and our value is far above rubies or pearls. (Proverbs 31:10). God honored, defended, and valued women. He delivered those in bondage to sin, forgave them and restored them to wholeness!

After many years of fighting to breaking out the mold designed for me by others, I came to know the God who created me. There seemed to be no escape from my prisons of guilt, shame, fear and intimidation. Instead God provided a way of escape and that was to FULLY RELY ON HIM. He would supply my needs and wants! Through prayer I could express the emotions and I could depend on Him second by second!!!! Come on, women, we're so awesome, as He uplifts us to be secure, trustworthy, and cool!

My TODAY is a result of choices I made yesterday. I chose to serve a living God who cares about me, my needs, my wants and my empowerment to make wise decisions. As I assume responsibility for my decisions, I will reap the rewards for trusting Him.

I find that some women are angry with God for His failure to intervene in situations that they actualized by THEIR unwise choices. It is time, I believe for each individual woman to arise, determine her worth, and set positive standards and let God guide, according to His will and purpose.

If you don't fully understand all of this.......set your alarm clock early, and attend W.O.W. Women of Worth (spelled MOM upside down) at 9 a.m. tomorrow in Fellowship Hall. Refreshments will be served. We've had a steady attendance and women are commenting how much it has helped their life to find ANSWERS! Tomorrow's subject is "Authentic Women"............come on out....you'll be glad you did! I promise!

I Cratered....Random Thoughts/Candy Corn

For my husband's b-day (in September), I wrapped his present with corn candy (Brach's)........the best in the whole world! It was a small bag (9 oz.). It was been unopened because he said if it opens, he'll end up eating the whole pkg. in one setting!

Rest of story.......last night for supper I fixed his favorite meal; tender steak, baked potato and steamed cauliflower. That being a lot of carbs, I decided since we didn't have any cookies or sweets.......I would open the candy corn.....so I cratered. As I was quietly opening it, he appeared! He was so surprised because normally I NEVER WANT SWEETS....you can scrape me off the ceiling, especially since I have enough energy for today, tomorrow, and the next day!

That candy corn was so sweet, I don't think either one of us will want ANY candy for the duration!!!! It's going to be very tempting since I OPENED IT....Betcha can't just eat one....I ate four and he ate four, believe it or not. He put the leftovers back in the bag!

It added some humor, we stayed awake discussing why do we always want candy corn at Halloween?? Or, is it just in the fall???? Here's a thought....eating candy corn that late at night is not worth the consequences.... sleep deprivation.......oh well, it won't be the first time I've lost sleep, but rest assured, I will make it up!!! A good thought: Rest assured I will remain sweet and sensitive, eating just one candy corn was like a spoonful of honey; actually the main ingredient is pure honey....it says so on the package! ahhhhh - sweetness....have an awesome and sweeter than ever Friday! I know I will!!!!..........(Be SWEET, that is!)