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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Images from Christmas














Friday, December 21, 2012

Cozy things of the season

I joined a cozy holiday link up and here are the coziest things of the Christmas season..
This baby

 and this one
 This big baby....
 This crazy hubby
 my art
 coffee....yum
 the Jesus Calling app which I received from mom in law as early gift..

And of course all the classic movies and songs that complete the Christmas season. Last night we National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Classic Comedy.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

My latest winnings...


From Jan's Crafty Blog 
and
 www.littlepinkplum.etsy.com



From a giveaway by Shannon Hearts, jewelery made by Love of Pretty



A giveaway at Two Classy Chics blog, I won this Toilet Tree Products skin care system

I have used it everyday since I received it and my skin is super soft already.

I also won this shirt from Shabby Apple, but I can't remember which blog it was on. I'm so sorry giveaway sponsor.



The ugliest thing I've ever seen...and it's in my kitchen

My husband enjoys salt water tanks. Anyone who has had one and kept it up knows that it can be time consuming and is rewarding. It takes talent; it's an art. Chris likes to explore new sea life and decor for his tanks and I typically go with the flow. Our kitchen tank has been in need of updating and I suppose he thought last night would be perfect. I was in and out of the kitchen, checking on dinner and then would head back to my room to wrap more gifts. I saw the eel in the Petco bag and really didn't think much of it. I mean, we have had an octopus. What's the big deal about an eel? So I knew we wouldn't eat until the hubby was finished with his project, so when he yelled for us to come eat I headed for the kitchen as usual.....and stopped in my tracks.....the ugliest thing I've ever seen
 This hermit crab is the most appealing thing and it's still not really appealing.

 Look at this...Not only is it a dino head or something weird, but the eel itself is a mini loch ness monster.
I literally went to bed mad at Chris. Really upset. He's not the kind you can really throw your weight around with. I'm having trouble convincing he has to take this down...

Also, I'm trying to upload a video of this stupid thing. Can't seem to get it done. Any tips?

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Advent Update #2

Let me tell you this: I have just barely made it through Lent each time I have sacrificed during that season.
But I totally bombed this giving up thing for advent.
But only the giving up part.
I have absolutely added more prayer time.
My mother-in-law surprised me with an early present, the Jesus Calling app for iPhone.
I have used it daily and it is a great devotional and I feel like I have a whole year to catch up to,
therefore I have read two or three or four a day.
I do love it so far.
I also went to mass an extra day this week and plan on it again this week.
These are the things I must do in order to not only move closer to God, but to move past the guilt of failure.
Ok, so it's not as if I committed any crimes or mortal sins
but I really lack self control.
I feel the need to start it over but now advent is closing in on us.
 

Sunday's Songs

Feel the Tide * Mumford and Sons
I Hear Them All * Old Crow Medicine Show
Seven Spanish Angels * Willie Nelson and Ray Charles
Luckenbach, Texas * Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Jar of Hearts * Christina Perri
Windfall * Town Mountain
Kathleen * David Gray
The Starlit Sky * The Workday Release
Waiting for My Ruca * Sublime
Winter Wonderland * Bing Crosby
Baby, It's Cold Outside
I simply love Christmas songs.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Advent update

Surprisingly, I haven't gone into convulsions for lack of chocolate. I suspect that making room for Jesus has something to do with Him helping me through these first few days. I am always amazed that no matter how far away I feel I am from Him, I can always see the ways He is working in my life. Sometimes it's in order to help me, but sometimes He is teaching me and pointing out my errs. The latter, clearly, is harder for me to absorb but frankly more necessary. I have always marched to my own beat. I am impulsive, impatient, and plenty of other "im-s" and for these I tend to feel guilt and completely removed from all forms of life. I shrink into my mind and find contentment in solitude. This is comfort. This is not what I was made for. I am a wife, a mother, a healer, and a child of God. Solitude should some after responsibilities have been fulfilled. God is my reminder. And sometimes it is hard to hear. Advent is a season to bring that voice closer while removing obstacles, obsessions, and impulsivities(which may or may not be a word). Good night all and may this season bring you to the place you most belong, not the place you are most content.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

This Week's Top Tunes

This Year's Love by David Gray
That Particular Time by Alanis Morissette
February Seven by The Avett Brothers little side note: Feb 7 is my anniversary.
Out Loud by Dispatch
I'm On Fire by Town Mountain
Let It Be Me by Ray LaMontagne
The Guy That Says Goodbye by Griffin House
New York City Christmas by Rob Thomas
Beast of Burden by The Rolling Stones
Carol of the Bells by ANYONE
  

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Today is the first day of Advent

Advent is the season in which Christians, especially of the western denominations, prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus as well as the second coming of Christ. Although Catholics are no longer held to the fasting tradition during this season, some do so on their own volition. I have been a Catholic for only three years and have only fasted during Lent. This season I would like to prepare in a similar way but have not exactly decided what I will do. I know that I will refrain from red meat on Fridays, but I will add to that.

I want to share with everyone that although fasting and prayer do not sound like they'd be all the rage, the combination is cleansing and peaceful. Removing things that you don't have the most control over and focusing on allowing God to speak and move through you are great ways to prepare our minds and souls for a wonderful season. It is also a great way to remind ourselves what the season is truly about and not be taken by the commercial aspects the world has made out of Christmas. This does not mean I don't enjoy shopping, eating, and playing "reindeer games"; It simply means I know and I'm teaching my children what Christmas really is. I plan to share as the season moves on.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Elf's name is Thurman

Avery has a knack for names. They're usually a bunch of syllables thrown together and for a few weeks at a time everything will include some particular favorite sound. Thurman came from nowhere. Now, she does have a little baby doll she named Sherman, but that was last Christmas and she hasn't used any if those sounds recently. The important part here is how adorable this little elf really is.




Saturday, November 24, 2012

An Unforturnate Reminder

I'd like to share an experience that my honest, protective, and safe husband, Chris, had only a few hours ago. Let me preface this with some of our views and history. In spite of potential backlash I'm going to put this out there, mainly because I know I'm right. We are not gun toting rednecks or paranoid doomsday preppers. We do not think all people are bad; we know that many of them are. We believe in God, we believe in fiercely protecting ourselves, learning self defense tactics, learning and teaching others about guns, what they should be used for, and what the bad people will use them for. We do not pretend like our heavy purses will save us from a rapist, murderer, robber, but a bullet will. Our home town is no stranger to crime. It has never been a particularly safe city, but there are many safer areas. Those areas are growing smaller, not only in our city but throughout the country and the world. The blinders that some people wear in order to continue in their fictional utopia is uncanny. They tend to ignore or deny reality and fear guns unless they're on the hip of an officer. My husband and I both have concealed weapons permits, but in Louisiana open carry is legal. We also teach our children to hunt...with guns and how to use them safely. So, today...

The family all went in separate directions: our eldest went shopping with her grandmother, I took the youngest Christmas shopping, and my husband took the toddler to Kroger. With his .357 Magnum on his hip. This is not unlike him. Again, we in live in Louisiana; honest people like guns here. We are sportsman, we can live off the land, we can kill our food, we can also kill a guy in ski mask who comes through our bedroom window or a crazed shooter at a movie theater. One bullet halts him. One. Bullet. Not long after his shopping trip began, he was approached by a terrified manager because a woman had complained that she was uncomfortable with this visible weapon. Of course we have the right to bear arms, open carry is legal here, and Kroger has no policy against it. But this woman had decided that she didn't like it. The manager could not legally do anything, but my husband obliged and concealed the weapon. A few minutes later the woman walked by Chris humming and smiling in triumph. I find this appalling. Not only the adolescent behavior but the thought that she just imposed on an innocent man. A man that most likely is the only man in the building able and willing to defeat any actual criminal and thereby saving her pretentious rear end.

We have become a society that allows child molesters to be punished with probation and a little flyer sent out with each new address and then suppresses the rights of honest, hard working tax payers.

Ask any inmate what he or she is most afraid of. They are most afraid that their proposed victim will be armed or that someone within shooting range will be armed. I truly wish that people would learn self defense, gun safety and use. We cannot allow ourselves to be victimized due to trepidation. We should not be finicky around weapons, we should embrace them. There was a time in this country when very few would have argued with this post. What happened to those days?

Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving success

We spent the day at my parents'. My husband's parents joined us. Mom in law makes the best gumbo ever. 
My mom refused to let me cook. 
I had three patients to see early that morning, then I came home to my family, my favorite people on Earth.
They are what I am thankful for, and of course, out Savior. Thank you, Jesus. None of this is possible without the Father and the Son.
Chris made a peach cobbler that he swore was a gourmet recipe.
I don't eat peach cobbler. I ate that peach cobbler.
It was delightful and delicious.
Then my issues sank in...and I ran three miles.
Hey, I had to finish the day with another cup of gumbo.
 

What are you thankful for?
What do you do the day after that much food?

Monday, November 12, 2012

Some days

are just harder than others.
anhedonia sets in.
I feel unsatisfied, sad, overwhelmed with have-tos.
wishing for time for want-tos.
 
some days i have to work just dilligently just to remain on an even keel.
i have to make a list, at least mentally, of the things i love.
that i am thankful for.
not everyone believes what i do.
i hate having to prove myself.
defend my beliefs.

I think the world is ugly.

I am not always calm.
my job is hard.
i fear the future of health care. not only because of the health care act.
but because of my job as a nurse.

shall we just line them up and hope we get to them
and let the government choose our wages
instead of allowing companies to compete for our skills

i want to stay home and paint and hold my family
and read and write
and cry
and explain why they're wrong

i want to allow myself to treat everyone the same
i know too many truths
those truths are difficult to swallow

I absolutely fear for the ignorant planet.
and for my babies.
 
 

 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

This Thursday's Tunes

For some of us this hasn't been a great week. I'll not go into that because I want this post to be lighthearted, simple. So...Here is a list of pretty, soul soothing, mind moving, tear jerking songs that everyone should hear....

Ain't No Reason by Brett Dennen
I Will Follow You Into to Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons

Til the Sun Turns Black by Ray LaMontagne
No Envy No Fear by Joshua Radin
Say Hello Wave Goodbye by David Gray
To Travels and Trunks by Hey Marseilles
Atlantic City by The Band
I'm Gonna Hurt Her on the Radio by Keith Whitley
The Boxer by Jerry Douglas
Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
Arms of a Woman by Amos Lee
Things That You Love by Pepper
Society by Eddie Vedder
Home by Phillip Phillips

Enjoy

Love, Shelley  
           

Scriptures to get me through

Proverbs 31:25  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

Psalm 32:1  How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Ruth 1:16   But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.





Sunday, November 4, 2012

Politics

I have very few followers and I just might lose them all after publishing this. I found this article and would like to shake the writer's hand. I think it sheds like on America's current welfare state. We are living in a place where a sense of entitlement, "you owe me" attitude, and lack of responsibility is running rampant. There are far too many people oblivious to this trend and I'm afraid that soon it will be too late.  Eventually we will be populated by less people willing to work and more people who don't work continuing to procreate. But, I digress.

Here is what I want you all read and think long and hard about what might happen if we continue down our current path and reward such thinking...

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
  • The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
  • The fifth would pay $1.
  • The sixth would pay $3.
  • The seventh would pay $7.
  • The eighth would pay $12.
  • The ninth would pay $18.
  • The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers”, he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20”. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men – the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his “fair share?”
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
  • The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100%savings).
  • The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
  • The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
  • The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
  • The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
  • The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. “I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, “but he got $10!” “Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!” “That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!” “Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!” The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
by David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.

Friday, October 19, 2012

I love books

A Song of Ice and Fire series
The Glass Castle
Eat, Love, Pray
The Door to December
Velocity
Intensity
Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood (wonderful book)
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Flowers for Algernon

Thursday, October 18, 2012

30 Day Blog Challenge?

I've had this blog for several months, but its been only for the purpose of reading others. 
I am suddenly interested in making my plot on the web somewhat more interesting, if I have it in me..
But where should I start?
I found a gaggle of these 30 day blog challenges, but none completely suit me.
I mean...I'm 31..I don't have a crush on anyone.
So, maybe I'll write my own challenge. 
At any rate, I think it only natural to start with a picture since my name is in the blog title
Alrighty now.

Me, Shelley
      

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

TEN BLOGS I ENJOY READING

The Weigand's
In Honor of Design
Kendi Everyday
Beck Valley Books
Shannon Hearts
Start Thinking Right
Pastor Matt
Across the Pond
I believe in Unicorns
Lulu and Sweet Pea


There are plenty that I like to read but these have inspired me the most lately. Thanks bloggers

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Ten Songs


Murder in the City by The Avett Brothers
A Closer Walk with Thee by the Avett Brothers
Little Steps by Rob Drabkin
Empty by Ray LaMontagne
Wedding Song by Matthew Brookshire
Simple as it Should Be by Tristan Prettyman
Duet by Rachael Yamagata and Ray LaMontagne
Mighty Leviathan of Old by Vandaveer
Sinning Hands by Iron and Wine
I Love the Rain the Most by Joe Purdy

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

I think of these things

Time--and how there's never enough
Politics--I worry, and I lean
Music-and it's beauty
Religion-what it means to me, what it should
Spirituality-how I can be moved
Art-paint and wonder
Love-all the people I love..The little ones and the big ones
Movies I want to watch again
Songs that I'll never hear though I would have loved
People I'll never see again-though we shared so much
What my next step should be
My endless to do list
Times I can't go back to, times I wish I'd seen, times I wish I hadn't
Humor
Happiness
Fashion

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Movies that love me

Here lies a list of movies that make me happy. Some are actually great films. Some are not so, but are touching or witty or nostalgic. And, maybe, one brings about a perfect moment for me. And sometimes simply watching one of these films, alone, in quiet, with nothing on my to do list...I might exhale.

Without further ado and in no particular order....
Almost Famous
The Banger Sisters
The Big Lebowski
The Family Stone
Dazed and Confused
Juno
Riding in Cars with Boys
Grease 2
Raising Arizona
The Holiday
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Garden State
Scent of a Woman


Good night

Friday, May 4, 2012

Ten Songs I Love Right Now



Divide and Conquer by Vandaveer
Signs by The Avett Brothers
Trying to Live My Life Without You by Bob Seger
1901 by Birdy
We Are Young by Fun
Damaged by Plumb
Powerful Stuff by Sean Hayes
Trouble by Ray LaMontagne
Swept Away by The Avett Brothers
Naked as We Came by Iron and Wine

These are in no particular order. Just enjoying them equally..for the most part. The Avett Brothers are beautiful. I only discovered them within the last couple of years. I wish I could have enjoyed them all along.  Below is a video of another great Avett song. Enjoy.



Monday, February 20, 2012

Lent Season

Ash Wednesday is only two days away. I am very much looking forward to Lent this year. This will be my third year and I fear I did not give my all the previous two. I intend to grow in many ways this season although the path that I will take is not completely planned yet.

For those of you who have never taken part in lent, or never heard of it for that matter, I found this article helpful:
http://marshill.com/2011/03/09/why-bother-with-lent


Thursday, February 2, 2012

So Much Noise

These walls hold a family of five. Not a quiet brood. I long for a moment of silence, a moment of being unplugged, disconnected from people and the world for just a few minutes. Decompression can soothe a soul.

So, for about six minutes today I sat in a hot bath all alone, closed my eyes, and took several long, deep breaths. It was not enough time to find clarity. Suddenly, the husband is playing with the dog, and the toddler is whining about something, and the baby, well, is just a baby!

I found myself feeling extremely guilty. Those little noises mean health, heartbeats, life. The life of my sweet family...

Monday, January 23, 2012

Far Away Places, Far Away Thoughts

Places I remember...
I didn't always capture the moment.
...other than in my mind.
My mind holds them well enough