Must be spring

shear nut, originally uploaded by mainterm.

Today Internet the sun came out....gasp! I know it is scandalously shocking for me as well. When spring finally does arrive it means two things.

Firstly.....your house windows are disgustingly overdue for a good cleaning.

Secondly.....it is time to find the gardening shears.

Oh Internet....why do my shears always look like this each spring? Could it be that they did not enjoy being left next to a rock in the flower bed all winter?

Encourage one another,

Jodi

"Wicked"

For my birthday (which used to last a day,then a week, and now a month), my sisters treated me to a fabulous dinner(complete with fabulous drinks and even more fabulous desserts) as well as tickets to see the Broadway production of "Wicked".

Loved the music!
Loved the Acting!
Loved the Company!

I loved it all Internet. If you get a chance to see it...I bet you will love it too!

Encourage one another,
Jodi

loving more

a visit with great grandma, originally uploaded by Ed from Ohio.

Did you know that your need to love never goes away?
We are born, we love.
We are children, we love.
We are young and in love.
We grow and we love.
We grow old, and frail....and we want to love.

Today I was kissed by four newly adopted grandma's. My heart was so blessed. I rubbed hand lotion on their hands, I fed them when they were hungry, I laughed with them, I settled them in for a cozy nap. I get to hold Ray's hand when I feed him. I get to reassure Bertha that everything is going to be alright...she doesn't need to be afraid. I get to sing to my sweet Audrey(and she doesn't even mind that I'm not so good!).

Remember Internet to love.
Love more than you think you can.... your heart will overflow.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

a whirlwind

Dearest internet,

I've missed you and I know you have missed me. :) Life has been moving too fast. I promise to update you though sometime soon. Check back often.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

~*Graceful*~

Also known as Olivia Grace, Gracie, and Olive. Lover of lip gloss and sparkles and fancy shoes. Old enough to do it "all by myself".....in everything.

Happy 4th Birthday dearest darling.

May it be filled with rainbow cake, pretty pink dresses, artichokes and tape gum. We love you to the moon and back again and our hearts runneth over with joy.

Love mommy and daddy

Pop*u*lar

Pop*u*lar! I want to be pop*u*lar....


Encourage one another,

Jodi

Love affair with hair

Today was my "hair day" Internet. I have to admit it....I love getting my hair done. A few years back I was so frugal that there was no way I was going to pay someone that much money to cut my hair. My idea of color came from a box on the shelf at Walmart (and not just any box...the cheapest box). Then one day....I had the most terrible hair experience of my LIFE (seriously, I'm not being dramatic here...well maybe just a little).

I went to a salon almost two years ago and my hair was BUTCHERED (you know the kind where you wake up the next morning and you think "oh my gosh, how did my two year old cut my hair in the middle of the night without me noticing!!")

I am not the type of person to complain (well o.k., ummm...maybe I do...just a little...) and I went back to the salon to confront the staff. I had disguised the bad cut with a ponytail and a hat (I love hats). When I took my hair out to show the staff, the entire room broke out into an audible "gasp"....so it wasn't just me who thought the cut was inhumane...I sighed a sigh of relief.

The gal that had destroyed my beautiful locks wasn't working that day and this nice "new girl" named Carrie offered to "fix" it. The new girl.....hmmmm....risky. But Internet, when a girl is desperate...you will try anything (even the"new" girl).

It turned out that the Carrie was the BEST hairstylist I have ever had! She fixed the cut by cutting each side upside down! It was crazy! But more importantly...it worked.

Since I met dear Carrie, we have been having a "love affair with hair"and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

I dream in cream

Who wouldn't want to dream in this fabulous bed!!

Hunny bunny...my birthday is coming and I think I want this bed. :~)

Encourage one another,

Jodi

Passionate Patience

There's more to come:

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!


God is so good Internet...even in the hard stuff.

Encourage one another...and be passionately patient,
Jodi

Joy is found...with every kiss

IMG_9976, originally uploaded by parker_6_pack.

I tiptoe...

Hush hush...

Pitter pat

Goes my heart...

Your beauty

Your innocence

Joy is found

With every kiss

My sweet, my lovely

My sweet, my lovely

So sweet, so lovely

Close your eyes

Close your eyes

I stare into the bluest eyes

Time stands still in your smile

You weren't there

And now you´re here

I dreamed of you

But I never knew...

How...sweet and lovely

My sweet, my lovely

So sweet, so lovely

Close your eyes

Close your eyes

Lyrics: "My Sweet, my Lovely"

by: Plumb

Encourage one another.

Jodi

To Kati...who became a "mommy" today!

I Am 'Mother'

I am the model, for the minds in which I mold,
For the many faces of young dreamers, in which I hold,
I am the hand, that supports a weary head from tilting,
I am the voice, that protects a fragile mind from wilting,
I am the force that pushes a timid child to try,
I am the soft shoulder that waits, for the moment they cry
I am the wheel that turns them out of mischief,
I am the accelerator, that speeds their minds to quickness,
I am that beam that grips them in place when they lean,
I am one of the many influences, which inspire them to dream.
I am the future self with which they aspire to be,
While being their mentor, their parent, I still find time to be me.

~Phantom Anonymous~

Encourage one another,
Jodi

My Castle.....

Well, O.K.....it is really Walt Disney's Castle but I still love it.