13 National Championships!

I love this picture! I didn't take it, I googled it... But I love it! We did it!

I'm not afraid of 13!

Tristadecaphobia...

They say the number 13 brings bad luck because there were 13 men present at “The Last Supper." The reason the Friday the 13th is brought in is because Jesus was crucified on a Friday. So, just for something to do, and to poke fun at 13 (which is my favorite number btw), I chose my 13th file and the 13th picture... A wonderful memory, my daddy grilling some steaks this year for Memorial day... That was a memorable day... pun intended... lol It is also the file that that umbrella pic came out of btw... I might just start a 13th day post, and post some of my favorite things on the 13th of each month... Cool.

Here's What I Am.

A beach Umbrella!

It's a whole lot easier when you have the whole picture!

Does God Cheat.

According to Webster, cheating is to trick or outwit. Also as in baseball, to position oneself defensively near a particular area in anticipation of a play in that area. Based on that I'd have to say God cheats!
Let me explain. I have an iPhone I love it! There are so many apps, it is so useful. I have an app for everything from finding the best price to bible reading. There is even an app for sign language. You just type in the words and it shows you how to sign it.
During this state of limbo we are living in, since I am not on the worship team, I have been googling all the worship lyrics. I then copy and paste them onto a note, and then paste a section into my sign language app, so I can sign the song.
Today as I was attempting to grab some more lyrics, God tricked me. I had been praying on and off all morning about our limbo. We were the pastors of an awesome church, but due to finances we had to close the church. Now, thru a series of unimportant events we are currently unable to apply for another. This had me pretty bummed. All of this was on my mind as I attempted to grab some lyrics, copy and paste them on a note. When I opened the blank note, and hit paste, this is what I saw;

Isaiah 49:16I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.

Is that not cheating? I know God cares about me, but it is so comforting to think of Him writing my name on the palm of His hand. Just like I know you have, you are on the run and short of paper, so you grab a pen and write yourself a note on your hand. How awesome to think that God not out of need, necessity, or shortage of supplies but out of love has engraved my name on the palm of his hand. How awesome!

I looked up that verse three weeks ago and pasted it into a note thinking it would be great for a Microburst one day. Little did I know God had the same idea, but He cheated, He prepared in advance. He was ready for today and now so am I.

My little Angel

This is one of my favorite Nativities too! I like the angel... She is sooooo cute!

Auten Family Christmas Tradition

When Q and I were dating, we saw an ornament at Cracker Barrel that was a blown glass pickle... We were like who would want a pickle on their Christmas Tree... Then we found out the story of the pickle;
According to German tradition, the pickle brings good luck. After all the other ornaments were hung on the tree, the pickle ornament was hidden somewhere within the branches. On Christmas morning the first child to find the gherkin was rewarded with an additional small present left by St. Nicholas. The pickle tradition encourages youngsters to enjoy the many ornaments on the tree before checking to see what St. Nick has brought them.
We don't do St Nick, but we adapted the Pickle Ornament to become the Candy Ornament! Every year we hide the candy ornament, and the first child to find it gets a special bag of candy.

They get rather intense in their searching. They search,

And search... until finally,


The shout of VICTORY!

I think this is the fourth year in a row Tym has won it...

He got Skittles and Air Heads... He was happy! lol

Family Fun

Let me just say my children are special... Yeah, my daughter, Nana, and her twin cousin Rebekah were jumping on pogo sticks shaking hands... Nice. lol

We call them twin cousins because they were born 10 days apart.

Then we each had boys born 5 days apart... as if that weren't enough, then Shann got twin boys in foster care... lol

Since I can't post recognisable pictures of the twins, this is as close as I get. It is really cool, Shann has these figurines, and they really closely resemble her family right now. She has two older girls, a slightly younger boy, and then the twins.
Some children are birthed in the womb, others are birthed in the heart.
We were playing a card trick, a special way of identifying the card, and they had to figure out the trick... We had so much fun!

Before they could guess I had to whack them with the magic spatula to endow them with the knowledge of which card had been chosen while they were out of the room. At the end of the night, all of us but Uncle Jimmy had figured it out... He gave up. We'll get him next time.
Me whacking mama... Musta worked, she got it!

What Am I?

This one is for YOU Becka Bean!!!!!

Final post of 2009

I usually do something deep and thought reflecting.... But hey why look back and hit a tree when you can look forward and walk around the tree! 2010 is about to begin!! Sheash I need some of those huge new years glasses... 2010 is perfect for glasses, two 00's... I digress... This will make you smile...

Young Raccoons Saved from Pepsi Machine @ Yahoo! Video

Awwwww ain't they cute!!!!!

wow he's grown!

This is Granite... Remember the scrawny little rat we rescued from the church parking lot? You can read about him here.

I'd say he is one blessed little kitty...

She's Worth It!

God blessed us with this ring to be able to give to Nana for Christmas. The cool thing is it is three diamonds, and three sapphires. Nana's birthstone is Sapphire. I told Nana that the Sapphires represent her and the Diamonds represent Christ and as she grows, the bigger she gets, the bigger Christ gets in her.

True Friends

“Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.” ~ George Eliot
I am thankful for my true friends... Most especially my husband.