Bright Sunshiny Day

Not Smart....Yet

But I haven't given up on my dream!  Just put it on hold.

Here's why:

I haven't finished Key Lime Pie Murder yet and so technically I don't have to start on my smart reading.

Wrapping up the school year.  It's. Nearly. Over.

Still with the two dogs.

Dallas Stars Hockey.  We made it to Round 2 of the playoffs!  I will be staying up later to  do my part to win the Stanley Cup.  It's that important.  The later I stay up, the less likely I will be doing ANY kind of reading. 

Late nights with old friends!  Tuesday night we shut down Johnny Carinos.  One of my dearest friends from childhood has moved back to the Metroplex!  We met up for the first time in twenty (ok, just ten) years along with our precious friend from childhood that sends her children to the same school as me.  Aside here, but God has blessed this little ol life with some wonderful, long lasting friendships.  Each one is such a gift, and I don't take one minute of the time I spend with my friends (espcially the ones who knew me way back when....) for a second.

For the rest of this week we've got soccer, a party, haircuts for all the girls, and life to be lived.  Tomorrow the girls are busy with a homeschool day, Super Bubbie will be busy doing all kinds of stuff,  and my sweet mentor was here for part of Thursday!

And I'll leave you with this from The Valley of Vision

"Teach me that if I do not live a life that satisfies Thee, I shall not live a life that will satisfy myself"

It's All About the Food...

1. I can no longer eat things I used to without setting my esophogus on fire.  Unfortunate, I know.

2. Once, I ate All-Bran Wheat flakes for breakfast four days in a row.  I discovered that I cannot eat All-Bran Wheat flakes for breakfast four days in a row.  Some people who live here and shall remain nameless can do that.  Not me.  On the fifth day, I had cheese toast.  Much Better.

3. Red Bell peppers, Life Cereal, hard boiled eggs (at times) and Dominos Pizza are no longer on my list of great foods.  Neither are too many tomatoes.  See # 1.

4. My Crock-pot pintos with Gebharts Chili Powder.  See #1.  I eat them anyway.  Had some for dinner - which prompted this post.

5. Shrimp.  Just gross.

6. Sushi.  Again with the gross.  (but I never ate it anyway, so technically it does not belong on my list...but I needed a filler)

7. Tequlia....or is it rum?  That they put in margaritas?  It wakes me up at night - and I'd rather sleep than have a rip-roaring good time...unless I'm at Mi Cocina, on Vince Gill's birthday watching him eat enchiladas before Amy's show.  Or before going to see Lyle.  Take you pick.  For them, I risk my sleep.

8. Most things Italian.  Or Chinese.  I am well aware that I am no longer nearly as fun as I used to be....

9. However, for all things Mexican, I will suffer.  See # 1.

10. Birthday cake is still my favorite food.  Cheeseburgers from McDonalds are my third.  Ice cream is number two.

11. I will never eat tuna anywhere but at home.  And it has to be the white albacore packed in water.

12.  I love fried chicken, turkey and dressing, and the Market Chop salad from Market Street.  We call it "The Salad".

13. I eat avacado nearly everyday. Not a whole one. Love. them.   You can never have too many nachos, apples, or chicken faijtas...or chocolate.

It's My New Thing...

Well.  I came up with something the other day.  Brace yourself.

Driving down the road....maybe coming home from piano, or school....doesn't really matter.  I decided to start on an adventure to become......

are you ready for it?  Wait.....wait.....here it comes......

To become smart.

Yes.  "This is Aj.  She's my smart friend!"  "Look at that aj.....she is just so smart! 

Who is with me?  We can do it!  I am refraining from all sorts of frivolous fiction (well...as soon as I finish up Key Lime Pie Murder)  and am going to spend the summer working on being smart.  Reading the good stuff.  Serious Christian writers both dead and alive.  Biographies.  Great commentaries....and whole books of the Bible.  Done with TV shows and done with fluffy.   Care to join me?  You are inivited as long as you take care to not get smarter than me.  (just kidding)

And while you think I am not serious...and I am.so.serious just wait until you see me next time and ask me a hard question.

And in other news, was last week stormy or what?  One of my neighbors found their chimney in the backyard!  They've not said a tornado hit our neck of the woods, but it was pretty darn close.  Big HUGE old trees uprooted and I saw a camper turned upside down few streets over.  At our house? Nothin'  and guess who slept through the whole thing?!

Your new smart friend, Aj!

((who still has two dogs))

((but they had surgery last week and are on painkillers so this week doesn't count))

In Case You Are Wondering

The dogs did in fact get spayed.  Yesterday. 

AND WE PAID FOR IT.

WITH MONEY.

To thank us for our loving kindness in providing them with food, toys, grass to pee in, crates to sleep in, collars with cute name tags with their cute names on them, AND two little girls who think they hung the moon.....

They got in a huge, HUGE fight in our livingroom last night.  Complete chaos. Children running, baby screeching, husband yelling and throwing things at the dumb animals.The clock is ticking. A bag is being packed...and one grumpy pooch will find herself hitching back to East Texas - if she doesn't change her tune.

((And let me live in the past people.  Punkin and Molly - bought on a whim from some backyard breeder *never* fought.  EVER.  Yes.  I'm holding a grudge against two puppies who don't know better))

And The Two Shall Become One?

We've got issuses.

On top of that....we've got a dog (puppy) with issues.

A Golden Retriever with an aggression problem.

*sigh*

We've not given up hope - yet.  However, in MY opinion.....ONE dog  fight is one too many.  And we've had several more than one dog fight.

We'll see.  For now, the kids can't go in the backyard at doggie dinner time....and have strict instructions to head for the playground if the dog goes trolling for trouble.  Thankfully, she only shows her nasty side to her sister....

What gives?

The next thing is getting them fixed and continue our *intensive* behavior training....but if it continues, she is headed back to the breeder.

Whatever.

Bluebonnets Make Me Sneeze.....

....and a few other interesting tid-bits.  How about it?

I finished up the Shopping for Time  by Carolyn Mahaney and her four daughters yesterday.  It's a great little book about priorities.  And who  doesn't need to get their priorities adjusted?  Frequently?  Well, I do.  Here are some GREAT bullets. 

• Do you plan ahead to maximize your fruitfulness each day, or do you simply let life happen?
• Do you make choices based on Scripture or on what feels good at the moment?
• Do you strategies to use your talents to bless your family and church, or do you employ them primarily for your own personal fulfillment?
• Do you evaluate every opportunity in light of biblical priorities or do you do whatever it takes to get ahead?
• Do you consider whom God would have you serve or do you try to please everyone all the time?  (pgs 16-17)

How's that for a go-to list for the to-do list you go to everyday?!

And since I read that book, the scripture that they often referenced has been running through my already crowded head:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5:15-16

Do I really, really make the best use of time?  Or do I spend way too much time pondering things like.....why DO the bluebonnets make me sneeze?  Or where can I get a decent tee shirt that is not too tight, to short or too see-thru? Or what book am I going to crack open next.....get my drift?

All these things are necessary ponders, but they don't need to be all consuming.

Nope.

Just one thing.  If that One Thing is all consuming....then everything else will fall into place.