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Oh dear!
Today I'm supposed to write what Boo would say back to me after what I said to her.
I don't think I really want to hear what she'd have to say.



Knowing Boo, I think she would forgive it all and continue to shower me with her unconditional love and I would feel incredibly guilty.

Okay Guys---

I just got home from running a couple of errands and KLOVE radio was playing in my car.
They just announced that some lunatic is going to allow himself to be eaten alive by an
         ANACONDA!
And the Discovery Channel is going to televise it!
         Are you you kidding me!!!





He is going to be dressed in a snake proof suit and be eaten alive by the snake with a rope tied around him for research purposes and then they are going to pull him back out.
Let me just say that this WILL NOT be scheduled to record for my TV viewing pleasure.
There is absolutely NO research that would entice me to do such a thing and I DO NOT want to watch someone else do it.
I'd tell those of you who watch it to let me know how it goes, but frankly, it freaks me out just to think or hear about it.

Now I have to get that image out of my mind while I give my poor Peek-A-Boo a hair cut.
YUCK!!!!

Has a Very SPARKLY Nose

Today I noticed this picture on my phone of the little Rudolf gift bag I made as a door prize at my first home party and thought I'd share him with you. Isn't he cute?
And he was so easy!

The bag itself is one of our new poly-lined Petite Cafe' Gift Bags #135826 which are food safe.
We have two other new gift boxes in our Holiday Catalog which are food safe as well. Perfect for those cookies and candies we'll be making for family and friends this Christmas.
His snout and eyes were made with our extra large #119859 and small oval #120908 punches .
His eyeballs and sparkly red nose from a circle punch.
And his antlers were made from our Blossom #125603 and Pansy #130698 punches.
Looking at the picture now, I wish I had gotten out one of my inks and dabbed on some pink cheeks.
Oh well. Next time.

I first made a smaller version that I felt was too small for the bag, but it's going to be really great on a card!

If you need these, or any other Stampin' Up supplies give me a shout out or place an order online putting me as your hostess and using Hostess Code #AQS24YFT.

Talk to the Animals

Today's Challenge...

Someone or something you can't communicate with through writing (a baby, a pet, an object) can understand every single word you write today, for one day only. What do you tell them?

I would definitely have a conversation with my little dog Peek-A-Boo.
That's the way my poor sweetie looked when I got her.
I'd definitely have to give her a huge apology.

"My darlin' I'm so sorry that I have been unable to care for you in the way you deserve.
I'm sorry that I have to "groom" you myself instead of taking you for regular trips to the pooch beauty parlor. I know that you need a haircut and a bath right now and that I've been to busy or too lazy to get it done.
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to keep your teeth clean, giving you such bad breath and I'm sorry that  they are now in such bad shape and falling out, and I can't take you to get them cleaned.
I'm sorry I don't spend more time just sitting and lovin' on you.
I'm sorry I didn't train you better and then get unhappy with you when you don't behave the way I want you to.
I'm sorry I can't take you with me more. I know you love it.
I'm sorry I don't take you on more walks.
I'm sorry I can't feed you the best of food. You do deserve it.
I'm so sorry for all of these things and more.
Through it all you have loved me anyway. No matter what, I have been your person. Are you getting tired of putting up with me?
I'd totally understand if you wanted to go live with your Aunt Vicki"

Oh dear! I cleaned my entire house yesterday and was feeling so accomplished about it while my poor Boo is a mess.
Maybe, just maybe, I should add her to my To Do List today.

Hoops and Bliss

Here's a fun fact fro my son-in-law (because I'm sure he reads my blog....daily. HA!)
Today would have been the 153rd birthday of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and KU’s first coach in the sport.
Happy Birthday Jimmy!

I have been getting some assignments for pictures to take for another thing I signed up for and today it asks me what is my idea of bliss.
Bliss: complete happiness, great joy, paradise, or heaven.
My complete bliss will not be reached until I someday come face to face with my Savior, but it's a very easy assignment to post a picture of bliss for me right here, right now.



There he is! The little guy that makes me deliriously happy just by being himself. I cannot even imagine how my heart will hold it all when I have two of them in my life.

Heart by Heart

For today I am asked to recite a poem (or song lyrics) from memory -- what's the first one that comes to mind? Does it have a special meaning, or is there another reason it has stayed, intact, in your mind?

First song that came to mind for me?----
Jesus Loves Me
"Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so."

It's probably the first song I learned in Sunday School and probably the first song I taught to my girls.
It's such a simple childlike song, and yet to sing it now as an adult is as full of meaning, power and inspiration as any other.

Instead of a poem, I thought of a Bible verse--
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world,  He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

These were so important to me as a child because what I wanted more than anything in the world was to be loved. Just to be loved. Still do, and that love is not so easy to get as some might think. I am so very thankful that no matter what else happens and no matter how many people may disappoint me in that area, I have a God that loves me more than I can possibly imagine. Amazing that I can count on that no matter what happens and no matter how I may fail Him. Amazing grace. Amazing love.
(Too funny! As I write this, the song "Jesus Loves Me" comes on the radio. Not the same version of course, but with the same wonderful message)

Another verse that has stayed with me over the years is one given me by a sweet lady at a church I went to years ago. I needed to hear it then so much, and it's something I constantly need to keep in mind now.

Isaiah 26:3
"Though wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee"

I consider that as I write these challenges, I may be coming off to my readers as some kind of Jesus freak---and you know what? That's okay. If I'm going to be consumed by something, please let it be Him. Those of you who love the Lord, will understand how important He is to me and how often He comes to mind. For any of you who don't know the Lord, it is and will be my prayer that He will touch your heart in some way and bring you into a relationship with Him. Believe me---You will never be sorry.

Oh, the Irony!

Today I am challenged to write about irony---or sarcasm.


This sure made me think of myself.
I must admit that I am often sarcastic. My sense of humor is very sarcastic, but I am just as often sarcastic in serious situations.
 I will always remember my daughter Tracy calling me on it. I would be scolding her for one thing or another and she would find it funny. That wouldn't go over well. "You think this is funny?!" She finally told me that she did find it funny. When I said sarcastic things that were funny, she couldn't help but find it funny.     
My bad.

My sarcasm is most often evident in my humor though and often directed at myself. Here's a recent for instance. I am taking part in a women's Bible study and we are really becoming quite intimate with each other. One of the young ladies there had shared about an older woman in her life that she lunches with about once a month and about all the wisdom the woman pours into her life. I ma the oldest one in the study group and after the things they had heard me share, I had to pipe up with---"Well, I'm sure all of you are just dying to have a monthly lunch with me, now that you are aware of just how well adjusted I am"---Funny, I didn't get any takers. I did get a laugh though. See what I mean.

One friend of mine always asks permission for the strangest things, which brings it out in me. For instance we stopped at a fast food restaurant where I said that I had to go use the restroom and she asked if it were okay if she went too. I had to announce--
"Absolutely not! This happens to be my own personal bathroom!"
                                                       
                                                       
                                                                                                                   

I'm thinking that it often shows up in my writing as well, so all of you have probably noticed it already.

I'm so glad that the people in my life understand that this is just part of my humor. Thank goodness it is almost always directed at myself. It would be easy to insult someone who didn't get it. So-----If I have inadvertently offended any of you out there with my sarcasm, I truly do apologize. I mean that---really. It is NEVER my intention to hurt or offend. It would sadden me to know that I had. I truly find much more ridiculous in my life to make fun of than I will ever find in that of anyone else. A HUGE lifetime of it, and I continue to add to my material daily.