Found this at Antique Mommy awhile back, and it fits the bill for today . . .

Still amazed: that Jesus would die for a wretch like me.

Still getting used to: the new freedom of being in my 40's. That used to sound so old! Now it sounds like just gettin' started.

Still loving: my DP after 14 short years together.

Still proud of: having three children sans epidurals and pain meds. No need to share the details of hating needles more than pain itself, now do I? (Oh, guess I just did!)

Still not proud of: lies I've told to somehow make my life less complicated. Never really worked anyway, and I've spent many years confessing and asking forgiveness.

Still hoping: to be involved in the cause of adoption, either personally or helping others to adopt.

Still worried: about way too much of everything.

Still never going to: wear a tube top or eat anchovies on purpose.

Still pretending: that I'll get "discovered" someday.

Still reading: just about anything I can get into my hands. Must have bathroom reading! Currently reading this.

Still wanting to read: more than this list can contain.

Still interested in: blogging, (though I've not given it much time lately) floral arranging, painting, scrapbooking, singing, and shelling (Sanibel is definitely calling my name.)

Still not interested in: celebrities in general and all their sad escapades that make the news.

Still looking forward to: riding horses with my husband someday while wearing my favorite red boots.

Still not looking forward to: putting my feet in "those kind" of stirrups. (a yearly event, unfortunately)

Still failing: to leave it all in God's very capable hands.

Still grateful for: every single day of life and those who share it with me.

Still praying: for a little dark-eyed girl who may someday join our family.

Still not believing in: the image our media wants us to believe women should carry.

Still believing in: Jesus and being created in His image alone.

What are YOU still doing?

* * *

Be still and know that I am God ~ Psalm 46:10

Labels: meme, mind dribbles, randomness

When I got married I registered for flatware. DP and I were in agreement on the pattern, so we chose this.

Though it was interesting/odd to me that people would actually buy one piece of the flatware as a gift, I was thrilled that once it was all said and done we had a full service for eight, including the iced tea spoons (a must if you are going to live in the South). I even bought an extra four spoons at the Oneida outlet.

In addition to the Louisiana, we also received another boxed set of flatware. It had four place settings + an extra eight spoons.

Now, I am not good at math, but I can do simple addition. I started out with 24, count them, 24 teaspoons.

Today as I was about to sit down to my bowl of Fruity Cheerios with vanilla soy milk, I almost had to eat with one of these, because I could not find one clean teaspoon . . . and that would never do, not at all!

So, I'm wondering, am I the only woman around who has disappearing items from her home? Where do the spoons go? Or the socks? Or the mittens? Or . . . You fill in the blank.

I'm going to look under JD's bed. Last time I checked under there, I found an empty jar of strawberry jam . . . and . . . you guessed it, one of my teaspoons.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Labels: fun, mind dribbles, randomness

Chilihead is hosting "Inquiring Minds Want to Know" Carnival. If you want to participate, go sign up on her Mr. Linky here!

Tell Your Blogging Story

How did you start blogging?
I started reading blogs right around the time we started thinking about homeschooling. I wanted to get other's opinions and expertise on the world of homeschooling, so I scavenged for any tidbits of info. I could find. I found a blog that encouraged me and bookmarked it. One day my DP was reading along with me and said, "You should start a blog. You have just as much to say as she does."

So, in August 2005, I started "Homeschooling in the Peach State", which then turned into "Peachy Keen Homeschooling," which morphed into "Just Peachy" when I quit blogging about homeschooling much at all. Then, back in March I decided to return from Typepad to free blogging and changed my focus again, marking the debut of "Without Fear".

Did you intend to be a blog with a following?

No, I never thought I'd have anyone read besides my husband and my best friend. That is all I had for about the first four months, then the "meetin'" started! I am thrilled with the friends I have made and the friendships renewed through this forum. I am blessed to have anyone who stops by read what I write. Yet, I hope it will remain a place for me to pour out my thoughts, my questions, and my musings.

What do you hope to achieve or accomplish with your blog? Have you been successful? If not, do you have a plan to achieve those goals?

I think if I had to narrow it down to one primary goal, I want those who come and read here to continually be reminded of God's blessings -- great or small. We all lead busy lives, and I pray my blog will call its readers to slow down for a moment and intentionally thank the One who gave it all. Those who comment on Thursday Thanks Tanks sure seem to understand and respond to that goal, so I would say God is successfully blessing my efforts.

A secondary, yet no less important goal is to keep my life verse and its message on the forefront of my reader's minds. God calls us to a life without fear, and I plan to encourage others as I walk my own fearless path.


Has the focus of your blog changed since you started blogging? How?

Somewhat. My blog no longer centers on my homeschooling journey, but it is sprinkled throughout all I do. I found I am not always the "funny story" mom, but I am always a thankful one. So my posts reflect the areas of my strength and my own personal focus here at home.

What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?

I wish I'd been more aware of how much of an addiction this habit could become. Although I don't know that it would have made a difference. Blogging has taught me a ton about myself, my habits, my time management, my relationship development skills, and more than I can record here. I am glad to know what I do now. It has given me the wisdom to proceed more astutely from this place.

Do you make money with your blog?

No. Sure wish I did. It would maybe compensate for the time I spend here. I'd love to be invited to make money from BlogAds, too. I would also be up for reviewing products so I can try cool, new things, too.

Does your immediate or extended family know about your blog? If so, do they read it? If not, why?

My immediate family all know about it and read it regularly. My kids love being spotlighted for something they have done, funny or otherwise.

My folks and my brother do not choose to have access to the internet, so they have never read my blog at all. My mom appreciates all the prayer warriors I have met and will share prayer requests that I can tell my blogger friends : )


What two pieces of advice would you give to a new blogger?

Be yourself! Find your own niche and write about the things you love. Don't try to duplicate what you determine is "popular" and go with that. Authenticity is what keeps readers coming back for more. (I guess that was four pieces . . .)

I am a better blogger now than I was in the beginning, simply because I have re-discovered my love for writing and reading. I no longer am concerned with the number of comments or whether people are telling anyone to come visit me. I participate when I can, and I enjoy it immensely when I do.

So, I do blog . . . I am . . . and I am happy. That's all I have to say about that.

Labels: blogging, creativity, friends, mind dribbles

Nothing really cohesive going on here. I've been flitting and fluttering this way and that lately. One moment I am faithful, strong, and steadfast. The next I am griping, grumpy, and faithless. I want to do right. I want to be good. Yet, the rewards seem so far out there. I struggle. I fail. I miss the mark. (I know you're probably thinking, "So, don't we all?")

Yet, I desire to be firm, to hold fast to my convictions, to finally feel able to have others follow the Jesus in me. I barely feel like I am making any head way in this journey much of the time, though I pray, I read, and I regularly meet with other believers on the path with me.

Our pastor spoke on heaven last night, and he asked at the beginning of his message how many of us were ready to go there right now. A smattering of hands shot up, but more of us were in the next group, "How many of you want to go to heaven some day, just not. right. now?"

That is me all the way. I remember when I had to do the biopsy thing back in Feb. My first thought when I contemplated my mortality was . . . not yet, God. NOT YET!! Why is it that I am so not ready to go to my eternal home, though I know it will be more than I could ever hope or imagine? I want to be with my Father, because I know He is waiting for me. Yet, I can't loosen my grasp on the temporal things in front of me.

Now, I don't mean that I am some material girl who can't let go of all the "things" that I consider treasures here on earth. Very little I own or possess fits into that category at all. I think I've learned via parenthood to hold my "valuables" quite loosely. I've found true joy and fulfillment in the "treasures" that have no monetary value whatsoever. These are a few:

• The twinkling eyes of my JD Green when he sees me first thing in the morning
• The sound of my DP's voice when he begins the day, comes home from work, or tells me I am beautiful . . . just one more time.
• The unabashed, uninhibited laughter of my Sweetcheeks when she is fully enjoying God's creation around her.
• The cackling of my Libbyline when she has clued into a new "funny" to her.
  
• The newfound grace with which Libbyline moves now that she's taken dance.
• The tenderness found in the mundane routine of bed time, snuggling, praying and sharing from the heart.

I could go on and on, but I hope this paints a bit of a picture of why I struggle with wanting to be with these dear ones and leaving for eternity with my Father in heaven. I want to be with Him, but I can't imagine my life any differently than what is before me day in and day out. The rewards of heaven are but a filmy mist in light of the reality of today.

I watched Elizabeth Edwards interviewed tonight, and I was in tears over her words regarding her cancer and her relationship to her children. She said that the scariest part of her having cancer is having to someday, sooner than she'd planned, have to "tell these sweet children and unbelieveable man goodbye." I am not in her shoes, but my mama's heart, my wifely heart is linked with hers.

Death is a reality for all of us. One other statement from this interview struck a chord with me:

"Everybody who's sitting at this table who isn't going to die, raise your hand."

So true. It is so simple and yet so complex all at once. My prayer is that I would live my life to the fullest each and every day God gives me. Though I want to go to heaven some day, I still have much to do here on earth. May I be a good steward of the days, redeeming the time. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

I'll leave you with a quote. It spoke to my heart today. I pray it resonates with yours as well.

As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in His prayers.
As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in His vision . . .
His final prayer was about you. His final pain was for you.
His final passion was you.
~Max Lucado

Labels: blogging, mind dribbles