I've Been Tagged

It's been a while since I did one of these, but they are fun. This one seems better than most, though I'm going to do a little alteration on it.

Ideally, I'm supposed to list 11 things about myself, but that can be so ... boring. I think you guys would much rather hear something interesting. So my second thing is to answer the 11 questions that were asked of me by Cathy over at Thoughts on Books. I am going to answer all of those and ask my own set of question. Lastly, I'm supposed to pass this along to 11 other bloggers. I'll see how many I can coax into my camp to join me!

Would you rather go for a run or a walk? Definitely a walk. I couldn't run very well when I ran all the time, so I'm sure not going to jump into that again now. But we have a nature preserve not far away where we love to go.

What is your favorite movie? Pride and Prejudice - the long version with Jennifer Elle

Do you have a pet? Yes - two puppy dogs. My old one is 13 this month, Marcie. My little man, who's as big as a horse, is a year and a half, Captain. Both are mutts and terribly sweet-tempered, though Marcie leans more toward a beagle and Captain favors a Lab. Oh and they talk - yes they really do.

What book in the Bible has moved you the most? That's a HARD question because so many things jump out at me as I recently studied 1 John and James. I think my favorite is Ephesians, though. I've done studies on all three many times, but Ephesians hold both encouragement, moving me to such gratitude, and practical application that I can wrap my brain around when I need the instruction.

What is your favorite meal? Not as hard, though I love both Tex-Mex and seafood. I think my favorite is an enchilada plate at El Fenix (a Dallas original). But I love Tilapia and steamed veggies too!

If you could go back in time to live, what period would you choose and why? The 80's to take advantage of the computer heyday. LOL! Seriously, I did enjoy the 80's. Would've loved the 40's and 50's except for the wars. I'm not sure I would enjoy even visiting any other time period, let alone living there. Outhouses aren't my cup of tea. Though I love reading about them - the time periods, not the outhouses!

Do you enjoy watching sports? If so whats your favorite? I love watching sports. Dear Son's rugby team from UTD went undefeated this year and captured the state title. They'll be traveling to Nebraska next month to challenge for the national championship - their first year to have a team? I also enjoy Mavs basketball, especially if they are playing well. I like post-season baseball for the Rangers, but too much baseball gets tedious. I don't like to watch football anymore. Not the NFL anyway, although I like a good college game and I'm not that partial. But my FAVORITE sport is NASCAR. Yes it is TOO a sport! It's just not a GAME! I love the roar of the engines, the strategy that is put into play, and the speed. Oh boy, do I like the speed!

Country or City Girl? Neither. Literally, I'm a suburban girl. I like being close to the city, but I've never lived in the country - too many varmints. Although I LOVE small towns!

What kind of music do you enjoy the most? Worship music, Chris Tomlin, Gateway, MWS, even old stuff like Glad and First Call.

Photo from tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com

Beach or Mountain Vacation? Definitely mountains! Wouldn't sniff at a beach vacay, but I've never been a summer person. Allergic to sun, prone to burns, heat-sensitive. And WHY do I live in Texas? Ha. I've got a great AC! But the mountains with the regular rain showers and the lush greenery. Plenty of shade and peace. Ahhhh. Not to mention snow and winter sports. I'm all over that!

What author has influenced you the most in your Christian walk and why? In truth, I don't read much non-fiction. I've read some of Max Lucado's and I've read some of Chuck Swindoll's books, never full books, just pieces of them. I did read a book by Lucy Swindoll once. I think she is Chuck's sister. It was about laughter. Not the kind that has a sad twist to the edge of your mouth - "I'm going to pretend to be happy in spite of all of this." But the kind of head-back belly-laughing that doesn't think about anything else. What I got out of that was how Christians should be sincere in everything they do, including something as trivial as laughing. That also brings glory to God, as long as we maintain righteousness. We're supposed to be glad in the Lord with our whole hearts, so it seems reasonable, expected even, that our laughter be as uninhibited as our worship or our effort. 

So here are my tags. Be sure you visit these blogs and say hi from me, too!

• Brandi Boddie at Penning Praises
• Cheryl Linn Martin at Life in Flip-Flops
• Loree Huebner at Between You, Me and the Gatepost
• Jackie Castle at The Castle Library
• Deana Chadwell at Script Spot
• Tracy Krauss at Expression Express
• David N. Walker at Where the Heart Is
• Karen McFarland at Life as it Happens
• Karen Rought at The Midnight Novelist
• Niki Turner at Truer Ink
• Sandy Wells at Cracked But Beautiful

I didn't realize how much fun this little quiz would be. I hope you enjoyed finding out about me. I invite you to choose one of the questions I've posed for my tagged folks and answer it in the comments. Would love to know more about you, too!

Here are my 11 questions for my tagged folk:

1. Book or movie and why?
2. Real book or e-book?
3. Funniest thing you've done in the last 5 years?
4. How would your best friend describe you?
5. Do you put yourself into the books you read/write or the movies you watch?
6. Favorite kind of car and why?
7. Would your choice of party be a catered meal or barbecue out back?
8. What's your favorite season and why?
9. What specific lesson have you learned - Spiritual, educational, occupational?
10. Besides writing, what's your favorite thing to do when you get some extra time?
11. What's one place you can be found at least one time every week?

B is for ...

If A is for Appetite, B is for Balance.

The Bible speaks about appetite. In Philippians, Paul writes that those who live as enemies of Christ are led by their
bellies. "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their

Weekend-spiration - He Is

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Wrap yourself in a good book." In this case it's The Good Book.

What an amazing visual of John's Gospel. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

How distinctly we see the person of Jesus pour from the pages of His book, and not just through the Gospels and letters of the New Testament. Like a thread throughout history, He is also evident in the Prophecy books of the Old Testament, being the One of Whom they mainly speak. He is the loving bridegroom in Song of Solomon, the wisdom of Proverbs, and the muse throughout the Psalms. All of the historical books

Weekend-spiration

I'm so enjoying my mornings lately. No, I'm NOT a morning person, unless you count the hours after midnight. But my mornings have been successfully highlighted for the last two weeks with a Bible study. It's not that I don't regularly study, just not in the morning.

I'm the type that sets her alarm for the latest possible time and then slaps the snooze button at

Weekend-spiration - Am I Up to the Challenge?

This week, I embarked on an online Bible Study with ladies from all across the country. It's sponsored through a sight called Good Morning Girls and my group is a Facebook group of Homeschool moms. Over the next 12 weeks, we will take a walk through 1 John. Have you seen

Weekend-spiration - My Favorite!

I'm really enjoying my visits to Faithful Bloggers. Not only is the founder, Courtney Chowning, insightful in her own posts, she gives suggestions for inspirational blogging that others can do. That's really a ministry when you think about it. She could just serve to build up her own site by keeping all the great ideas to herself, but her generosity shows in how she promotes the sites of others, for the building up of the Kingdom and the glory of God.

Love the "for the good of the whole" attitude! But I digress.

I find there are times I need to visit the site for some fresh ideas. What God is

Twist and Shout

I dream in tornadoes.

They rarely scare me, although sometimes I'll wake in a cold sweat. But they sure enlighten me to whats going on inside my head. Now I'm no psychologist, but I understand where these dreams come from.

I've experienced them over the course of more than a decade:

• when a conflict comes up with a friend
• when the school year is about to start
• when I'm doing something that makes me feel terribly vulnerable or unfamiliar like planning a big party or scrapbooking retreat - especially the first time.

Top 5 Characters

We just finished a week of VBS and this year the program was super heroes. We didn't actually have any real super heroes, although

Weekend-ispiration: His Strength is Perfect

“His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on. Raised in His power the weak become strong.”

Last weekend, I told you about my daughter and her singing tour with a group from Dallas Christian College. She had a humbling experience that had nothing to do with her singing, but everything to do with her spiritual condition. My precious redhead had been consumed with the performance when she met a foreign missionary who had returned to the states with cancer. He was, in her words, spending some of the last moments of his life encouraging the next generation.

Weekend-spiration:

I had a blog for this Far Side (by Gary Larson) cartoon all written and buttoned up, but I just can't use it. See I looked at this and focused on the bitterness of the comment. I know Christians aren't always viewed with smiles and welcomed greetings, but focusing on that just isn't my thing.

That doesn't mean it's not truth. Jesus told us that we would be hated because He was hated. It it what it is.

But I don't want to dwell in it.

I'd rather talk about the picture itself, birds traveling in their little design, sort of like the bumper art on so many of our cars.

There, that's where I want to go with this post! Those little fish bumper stickers that you see on people's cars. I have a friend that has 2 big fish and 3 little fish representing their family. Stinkin' cute idea, but my bumper isn't big enough for my family. And I have a friend with 7 kids - forgetaboutit!

Those Voices In My Head!

Click the play button to hear the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, sing one of her greatest songs ever!


Kristen Lamb's blog today talked about being careful of what you post on Twitter and really any social media, but she reminded me of the lessons I taught my kids as they were growing, particularly through the tattle-tail stage.