The rain is gone...

Often in life God gives you options....

Option A: 3+1=4

Option B: 2+2=4

Option C: 2+3+1-2=4

So you see Internet, no matter which way you go...He has you where He wants you.

So you take a breath and you step off your securities and your realities...

I think it is called faith.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

the end

Imagoism Thursday # 40 [End of the Rope], originally uploaded by lenareh - busy.

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.
Thomas Jefferson

I couldn't help but laugh when I read the above quote. Can I get an "Amen" internet??

Encourage one another,
Jodi

done

En Masse, originally uploaded by thejoyof.

Stick a fork in me...and call me done.

Even the best cheerleader can have a bad day...
but the sun will come out tomorrow Internet...I promise.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

where you will find me...

Lemon drop cocktail, originally uploaded by Valerie Everett.

Where trouble melts like lemon drops...thats where you'll find me.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

days like these...

food....that I love :-), originally uploaded by FotoCath.

I love slowing down Internet. I know that we value your speed and that we can become rather impatient when you don't meet our expectations...but sometimes...expectations don't matter so much.

Today, we read books in our beds, we dressed all up and curled our hair, we watched the kids sing songs to us and receive awards, we took pictures, we visited with friends, we ate cookies and we drank tea, we felt the warm breeze in our hair, we took a walk in the sun.

Today we didn't have plans or demands pulling at our hearts.

We just enjoyed...life. We laughed with our neighbors, we danced, we made chicken salad...and we ended it all with....artichokes.

I "heart" days like these.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

Sunshine

Today the sun shined... and it was good.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

Happy Day

Mom and dad, originally uploaded by parker_6_pack.

Are you wondering who those civilians are in the photo Internet?

Meet...Mom and Dad...and the mouse( ya know...what's his name).

Today they have been married for 36 years! YES! It can be done believe it or not....and it can be done with style.

Dearest Momsie and Popsicle...

I am honored to be your daughter and so blessed to share the ups and downs of life with you both.
A "toast" to you, to your love, and to the Thread that binds us together!

French …….. “A votre sante!”
Italian ……... “ Alla Salute!”
British……… “Cheers!”
Hungarian…. “Egé szé gé re!”
Japanese…… “Kanpai!”
Polish……… “Na Zdrowie!”
Russian……. “Za vashe zdorovye!”
Greek……… “Yasas!”
Chinese…… “Wen Lie!”
Irish……….. “Slainte!”
Swedish…… “Skal!”
Brazilian….. “Saúde!”
Spanish…… “Salud!”
German…… “Prosit!”
Zulu(Africa). “Ooogy Wawa!”
India......"Tulleeho!"


Encourage one another,
Jodi

Blah,blah,blah

Internet...have you ever had one of those days?? You know??..the kind where you want to put your head into a paper bag and crawl back into bed. I've had one of those days (yesterday in fact).

After mulling over the disappointment in my life and after thoroughly feeling sorry for myself (by eating excessive amounts of chocolate, drinking my third coffee drink, and stomping my feet in denial)... I exhaled.

Sometimes...we just need to breathe. Then we muster the courage and we get back up again and we look right into the eye of Satan and yell...NOT TODAY BAD BOY...not today, not tomorrow, not EVER!!

Then, I get up and I look for someone to help, someone to bless, someone to serve and somewhere in all this...my strength is renewed. So if you are having a "blah, blah, blah" kinda day Internet.....First, eat some chocolate, scream into your pillow, beat up your stove (while you clean it).

Then...breathe....remind Satan who YOU are and that no one (No WAY, No HOW) messes with a child of God without a fight.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

I believe

Cross, Sunset, Holy Island, Northumberland, originally uploaded by freefotouk.

I believe in something more...

Encourage one another,
Jodi

Darkness is Light

Darkness is as Light to You, originally uploaded by honey 77.

Even this dark day is not what it seems to you...for darkness never wins when you are our strength.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

Easter PowerPoint Graphic, originally uploaded by RobAlexander.

Loathing

I find mysef loathing the "wait" again Internet.

Waiting...
Waiting....
Waiting.....

Loath...
Loathing....
Loathing some more....

Sigh....

Encourage one another,
Jodi

School

Walt Disney's school desk, originally uploaded by caniswolfie.

Yesterday I had my nose in the air Internet. I do this from time to time. Thinking that I am the top banana, the big cheese, the cat's meow. I had a test that I was so prepared for...I could have aced it in my sleep...hah!

The funny thing in life is that frequently we aren't as awesome as we think we are(I know...can you beleive it?). I went to class last night thinking I had it all figured out only to discover with minutes before an exam that I didn't study all the material I was supposed to(insert panic attack here).

I have only had a handful of panic attacks...last night was one of them. I immediately began to sweat, I couldn't breath, my eyes filled with tears, and my stomach felt like rejecting dinner.

I crammed for as long as I could and I had some amazing support from fellow classmates (who had actually read the lab handout and studied everything that was on the test...go figure)!

Surprisingly...I did well (I'm not bragging here...God was definetly pouring down some grace...and speedy short term memory recall...which is unusual for me).

Sometimes...falling on your face and having a little panic isn't such a bad thing. I of course don't want to repeat this too often...just enough to remind me who I am now and then...and who I am not.

Encourage one another,
Jodi

P.S. An interesting factoid...the desk above belonged to Walt Disney and is currently on display in Hollywood.

simply myself

"What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, your going to end up flat on your face. But if your content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." Luke 14:11 (Message)

Encourage one another,
Jodi

alluring

alluring, originally uploaded by Dawn Ashley.

They are back Internet...and we couldn't be more delighted.

Happy Spring

the dandelion

TtV dandelion, originally uploaded by Gellybean.

Perfect as a necklace...
Makes for lovely rouge...
Garnishes mud pies like no other...
Blooms...everywhere...

My favorite bouquet when given to me out of love

Encourage one another,
Jodi