New Blog Starting September

Well, I've thoroughly enjoyed my blogging break. There were times I missed blogging, and times I didn't. It was amazing how simple my needed direction was given, once I stopped. God is so good to do that for us. Some times the direction we need is straight and to the point, and other times it takes more learning, more quietness, more time. Happy am I to have been in the former category.

For once in my life.

I'm opening up a new blog and it will be public. I will still share occasional pictures of Q, but will keep things a little more secure. For one, you'll probably see me refer to him by a lot of his nicknames.

That being said, I'm looking forward to getting back into writing. You can check out the new personal blog here - as well as a new blog I've started with a few friends called Cameratismo. We used to have a newsletter sent out in the mail, but decided to put it into blog format. It will have a range of articles from different young women.

See you guys soon!

Blogging Break

Don't know how long, don't know to what extent. I just know that I've been pondering it for a few weeks now, and the Lord has really been trying to tell me some things. We all know what happens when the Lord tries to tell us things, and we ignore those things, right?

Yeah.

My friend Jen made mention of her facebook fast and it sealed the deal. God knocks, and knocks and knocks before eventually sending us a tangible suggestion, and don't you know it would have been a lot easier if I just would have answered the first knock instead of waiting until now?

Blogging is a lot of fun for me, and I don't do it for any other reason but to share thoughts out loud. I don't do it to boast, or brag, or showcase anything, and I'm sorry if you've ever gotten that impression. If you knew me in real life, truly, you would know that what you see is what you get. I'm not a gal for keeping up pretensions. I tell it like I see it, which I've gathered must offend some people.

That being said, it's time for a break. I've got to listen to whatever it is the Lord is trying to tell me, and I've got to learn. If you don't think something as simple as blogging and facebook or even the internet in a whole isn't fertile ground for a spiritual lesson, I beg to differ. Whatever takes up your time, distracts you, or simply becomes more than what it should be, needs dealt with. For me, it is this.

If you're interested when I get back on here, great! If not, then that's okay, I understand. I'm just a blip in this vast vast world of online webbery, but (and this is coming from a girl who has really only ever had long distance friends!) it's becoming more and more aware to me that it's time to cultivate and nurture those who are in direct contact with myself. That includes online friends who are real life friends. Communicating in more ways than just through blogging. Phone conversations, letters through the mail, even an e-mail, all of these things make for much more intimate friendships than mere blanket statements through a blog post. And that is just the tip of the iceberg I'm currently staring at. Its root is somewhere deep in one chilly looking sea, but I'll learn what I'm supposed to learn from it, no matter how many times it sinks my ship. :)

I'm sure I'll still pop in on your blogs, because I love reading them just as much as writing in my own. Just don't expect too much action on these pages for a while. All of you have access to my email and a lot of you have my phone number and/or address.

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Like or not, I'd rather obey than reap the consequences later. Just like the arrow in our Fathers quiver, he pulls us out, whittles away, fires us up, bends us/shapes us and sticks us back in the quiver for a time. Then it starts again, whittle whittle-fire-shape-back into the quiver...until eternity.

It's so worth it, though. And, the good news is that the whole time we're in this process, we're still in His quiver and covered by His hand. Yes, it is worth it all.

I love you guys.

Really, I mean it.

Another Request for Prayer

There are a lot of people in need right now it seems.

My Grandma fell Monday and broke her kneecap. She will have to be off of it for 8 weeks. Good news is that it was a clean break so it should heal well. My poor Mom is the one I'm really sorry for- she has zero help from her brother in regards to her parents and will be the one doing all of the caring for. Grandpa just now got over his knee surgery and that wore Mom out. When I say she does everything for them, I mean everything. She never complains, but it really wears her out. So, if you would, keep both Grandma (Lena) and Mom (Susie) in prayer.

Also, Gene was released from the hospital and is doing well physically, however his heart is still in need of Christ.

Thanks, friends. :)

(real)True Life Tuesday

That's right, it's (real)True Life Tuesday. Time for me to bare my soul random pictures of what real life around here looks like, with you, internets. Behold, my laundry room - circa Monday Morning August 3rd, 2009.

It was a lot worse than this, unfortunately. At the time of this documentation there was a load on the bed, a load in the dryer, and a load in the washer. Praise the Lord.

In other real life news, I bring you Q. Apple Ape of my eye.

Rock walls are his preference.

Being a stinker-head is his specialty.

Golly.

Have a great Tuesday!

Monday Mornin' Mess

Good morning! I'm alive, I'm awake, and I have no less than 962 loads of laundry to do, but praise the Lord anyway. Hope you all had a great weekend. We did!

Q says, "Hey, we really are in Texas."

He spent some quality time with his feet on Mema Jo's carpet.

As well as climbing Mema Jo's fringy pillows.

And also trying to yank Mema Jo's earrings out of her ears.

Q, B, and his Grandpa

Warren had pretty much no idea who we were, but pretended to anyway. He's always been an esteemed member of their community, so he's been pretending to be BFF's with anyone he meets. Kind of comical, in a sad way. He forgot a lot of his words, and kept wanting us to take him to go get a big box of those things you sleep in (pajamas) but come to find out, what he really wanted was his big box of whiskey they took away from him. He is 87 years old and has drank hard liquor, and a lot of it, his entire life. Amazing that his liver and kidneys aren't fossils by now. We had a good visit, he absolutely LOVED Q, and enjoyed holding him. He made sure we knew he wasn't sick, they just put him there because he couldn't remember things. He walked us to the door, thanked us for coming and then that was it. Very sad! However, the assisted living home he's in is one of the nicest I've ever been in. Clean as can be. If he has to be somewhere, I think that's where he'd be the most well cared for. Still breaks your heart, though.

We toured some antique malls in the area, drove through their little town zoo (plan on going back when it's cooler and we can get out!), and went to the Gap outlet where that 30% off coupon scored some great deals (they were already having 20-30% off things...). We ate lunch at Cracker Barrel with Brandon's Mema, and then visited with her a while. It was a nice relaxed trip, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Gosh darn those bucket seats in the pickup, but Brandon and I had enjoyed the time together, very much.

Well, the 1st of that mountain of laundry must be started. I have company coming over tonight, and there are a million other things that need done around here. I think I'll break down and drink some coffee this mornin'.

Oh, if you remember to, please pray for Gene. He is in his late 60's, a kind of friend of B's (they aren't buds, but they talk cows, trucks, and building things and B keeps an eye out for him) He thought he was having bad back pain for a week, but come to find out he has a blood clot in his lung. He's in the hospital, and needs to know the Lord personally. Pray for his health, but also that B would have wisdom if given the chance to minister to him about Christ.

Have a beautiful day, friends!

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1st Peter 4:12-14

A Peek at the End of My Week

It was a beautiful, absolutely beautiful day here today. The air was actually tainted with a touch of coolness, and lack of much humidity (for once!). There was a nice gentle breeze, and plenty of cloud cover. Gorgeous day. I put Q on my hip in his ring sling, and we hung out the cloth dipes.

We got out of the cloth diaper groove, but my stash is all washed and dried, ready to start again.

This morning I made some browned butter blueberry muffins. Delish!

Poor Mister Q is still trying to cut that tooth on through. He's a drooling machine these days.

My Mom's birthday present. It was a big hit! Next time I think I'll skip the shiny ribbon for something matte. There are so many wonderfully fun combinations. I plan on making B's Mom one for Christmas. I love being crafty, I just wish I were more often.

We're going to Texas in the morning to go see B's Memaw and Pa (his Mom's Mother and Dad's Father). They've put his Pa in an assisted living/nursing home because he has severe Alzheimer's and has been declared mentally incompetent. I doubt he will even know who we are (he barely remembers his children), but B wants to go get a picture with him and Q. As with most things on B's side of the family, it's a really sad deal. Here is an 85 year old man who spent his entire life absorbed in his work, neglecting his wife and children, to now have them ship him off to a nursing home. The woman he was living with (yes! He's 85 years old and has a live in girlfriend- the same woman he cheated on his wife with for years.) decided she didn't want to take care of him anymore. She's in her late 70's so I can't say I blame her. B's Granny has been gone for around 10 years now, and it's just so sad to see what sin has done to this mans life. No growing old with the companion of his youth. No children who want to care for him. His life was dedicated to the paper he owned in their small hometown of Texas. In turn, raising a son who did the exact same thing to his own family, pursuing a career way beyond pursuing the heart of his wife and sons.

I am so, so, (So!) thankful that trend stopped with B. My man is a hard working man, he pours his blood, sweat, and tears into his business and works with a fervor that would put a lot of men to shame. However, he still remembers that he has a wife, and a son. Though work is what he often eats and breathes, he still watches over our hearts. Protects us to his utmost ability, and provides not only the proverbial bacon but the milk and cookies, too. :)

If I remember, I'll post this next week the story of how I started hysterically beating my husband in my sleep at 1 a.m. this morning. Apparently I was certain that Q was in bed with us and I couldn't find him. Of course Q was sleeping peacefully at the opposite end of the house.

If you don't hear from me it may be that B has left me with his Pa, and they've declared us both mentally incompetent.

Blessed weekend to you all, may the love of Jesus shine on, in, and around every secret place of your heart on whatever day you read this.

-LeAnna

Excuse the mess...

So, I'm not an HTML rocket scientist and I'm having some issues with my 3 column template at the moment, so excuse the off-centeredness of the text for a while. I'm sure you won't shrivel up from the shock, but me having that oldest child perfectionism thang goin' on just very well may. I would love to say I had all the time in the world to work on my blog, but really that just isn't so.

I have more important things to do like go shopping, for instance.

Do you need an excuse to go shopping?

I didn't think so, but here's one anyway. A link to print a 30% off coupon to Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. Good July 30th-August 4th. You can even choose a charity and 5% of your purchase will go to them. (Awwww...) This coupon is even good at the outlets (Score!) so guess who's headed to Gainesville this Saturday? Uh huh, that's right. Shopping is way better than HTML anyway.