Trying out the New Canon T3i!!

Legoland Florida

Legoland…Yippee! I remember wishing years ago (when my boys were small) that we had Legoland right here in Florida like they had California. Well, wishes do come true…eventually.

Even though Legoland is geared for ages up to 12 years old, my boys and their buddies had a good time when we went a couple of weeks ago. We were able to get in for $5 a piece since we were with a home school group. The regular price is 75 bucks!! How could we NOT go!?

The Lego creations were amazing, as expected. My favorite area was the Mini Cities; major cities across the world with buildings standing up to at least 15 feet tall. It was just incredible. Oh, how I love the creative minds that God has given us!

They had a few roller coasters and we gave them a go. Nothing too crazy…no Sheikras. Ethan experienced his first “bigger” coaster. He’s working his way up to the big boys at Busch Gardens. He was so funny…he was screaming his head off.

Waiting patiently to get in

Josh, Jaret, Daniel, David, Jonathan, Ethan

and uh...R2D2, of course

The Dark Side

I promised I wouldn't put these on Facebook...

This isn't Facebook. The boys loved the Merry-Go-Round...don' tell.

Waiting for our first coaster.

Going up...

Going down...

The next bunch of pics is from the Cities.

See if you can name them:)

Very cool

I love this guy.

Now that's a big brain.

On our way out the door...

Daniel and David met a nice girl.

Secret Church

Heading out to Secret Church tonight. Wish I could zip on up to Alabama, but I'm grateful to have it live streaming here right around the corner! Watch this promo to see this sessions very imporatnat topics!

Secret Church Promo from Mark Warnock on Vimeo.

The Autobiography of God

This was by far the best conference I have been to in a very long time:

The Autobiography of God

Dan and I took off to Sanford near Orlando for a couple of days (one night hotel stay) for this awesome get together of great minds and big hearts. I was moved to tears and blessed with laughter.

RC Sproul

RC was joined by RC Sproul, Jr., Voddie Baucham, George Grant and Michael Morales. During the weekend, Ligonier's new school, Reformation Bible College, was having an "open house" for prospective students. The boys weren't with us, but we were doing a bit of prospecting ourselves! It's a serious school for serious-minded people...who are" serious about God". That's actually their quote in their material. It would be quite an undertaking, but we're are praying that the Gandee boys might hear God calling them there!! We hear Him calling! :)

Can't wait for the National Conference in March!

Entertaining a two-year old

Well, it's been a while since I've had to come up with creative ways to occupy a two year old. The day she grabbed the big scooper and proceeded to shovel a bunch of cat food out of the bag in the closet was the day I realized I needed some ideas....and toys!

I took Lu's lead and moved her and her shovel out to the Legos, where she entertained herself for quite a while relocating them from one bucket to another. This made me think that I maybe an outside sandbox is in order...a project to have completed by next summer perhaps??

Scoop it up...

...dump it! Repeat!

Bath time complete. Time for some "Rio" with Uncle Ethan.

Do you think she wants something to nibble? Gee, I wonder.

Dan's P90X Transformation

I'm so proud of Dan. He's been working so hard for the past two months to lose weight, build muscle and improve his overall health. We've all been working out together using P90X from Beachbody and we've all seen amazing results. What's special about Dan's success is that he's been so excited about his results that he's decided to become a Beachbody Coach himself to help others succeed. You can check out his website at www.HardCoreFitnessNow.com.

We've been working on this video for a bit to show his results up to this point. I think it turned out very well! It's pretty funny at first and then Lorelei makes an appearance at the end!

Enjoy!

When I'm scared and I don't know the outcome...do I really trust Him? When given the opportunity to nose-dive into self or to run to Him...why do I so often choose poorly? I'm so very overcome with thanks that God pours His grace and mercy down upon this undeserving child.

My Rusty is Not Well

Felling sad today. My Rusty just may have heart worms. I'm feeling pretty guilty about not having him on heart worm meds all these years. I guess I just figured he'd be ok. We did spend money on the flea meds because...well...WE didn't want to get bit up!

Rusty has been coughing for a little while now. When he gets excited from running around he coughs, but I really didn't think much of it. It wasn't until Dan mentioned that it could be heart worms that I looked it up and sure enough "coughing" was the big symptom.

This morning Rust and I were out and he got excited and started chasing a squirrel. A second later,he was wobbling all over the place and fell to he ground. He didn't completely faint, but it wasn't pretty.

Vet?? Nope. $$$$$...and from all research I've done, it's too far gone.

We've started our hugs , kisses and goodbyes. I thought he was gone this morning; it was so awful. I don't know if we'll have to put him down or if he's just going to go in his sleep. We'll have to wait and see. Of course, I'm still assuming it's heart worms based on my reading.

We just can't spend the kind of dollars it's going to take to find out what the problem is. I think I'm going to be done with dogs for a while after this. This will be the third dog I've had to let go....yuck.

One Thousand Gifts

This list was begun as a challenge while reading the book, "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I began this list of 1,000 Gifts on the posted date and I will continue to add to it for as long as it takes me. My desire is to pay close attention to the endless gifts that God gives me every day....even the seemingly "insignificant or mundane". Dare I say, even the "bad" things or what I perceive as bad...."All is grace" and the realization of this fact brings my heart into a place of true thanksgiving, gratefulness and worship of the One, True God....Eucharisteo!

1. a husband bringing coffee

2. strength and health

3. words on the page

4. conditioned air

5. swimming pool to break the heat

6. abundance of food

7. new friends...old friends

8. green grass growing endlessly

9. endless grace and mercy

10. cuddles with critters

11. my Lu

12. heart pounding exercise

13. little peek-a-boo hands

August 1, 2012

14. raisins astray on the floor

15. satisfied bellies full

16. memories in freeze frame

17. pages turning in the quiet

18. early morning Bibles in hand

19. passion for the game

August 21, 2011

20. star-gazing...star-dazing

21. unanswerable questions for Daddy

22. little son Daddy stepping

23. cricket songs in the evening dark

August 24, 2011

24. coo of early morning doves

25. fluttering wings

26. bedtime Rusty walks with kitties in tow

27. chocolate n' cream (Oreos!)

August 27, 2011

28. Eucharisteo sistahs!

29. soft water, soft towels

30. clearing out the weeds

31. a call from an old friend

32. decaf before bed

August 28, 2011

33. rain+ run - lightning = mercy

August 29, 2011

34. that I can run at all

35. second cups of coffee

36. tests of faith...do I really trust Him?

September 2, 2011

37. snuggles with Lu and Pooh

38. movies that make me smile

39. recipes that turn out well

40. early bedtimes

September 5, 2011

41. Labor Day...a reminder that the Work has been done

42. sun shining as the breeze cools

September 8, 2011

43. first signs of fall

44. me 'n' Lu barefoot in the grass

45. baby Einstein

46. hawk on the wire

September 18, 2011

47. soooo many books!

48. fruition...only through the vine

September 23, 2011

49. deep thoughts by Ethan

October 7, 2012

50. sad from dear friend passing...grateful for the time spent

October 18, 2011

51. the patience of the Almighty

52. cries the reach Almighty Ears

53. hopes, dreams, vision

54. new mornings...new mercies

55. wake up calls...refocusing

November 3, 2011

56. birthday cake

57. fall flowers from my Issa

58. facebook birthday greetings

59. Rusty still hanging on

60. two new kitty friends

November 22, 2011

61. 19 years with the man I love

November 23, 2011

62. cheerios n banana breakfast

63. Cutter Kitty purring on my lap

64. camera shopping

65. deep brown

66. running in the rain

November 29, 2011

67. Ebay

68. 1100 lights on the tree

December 27, 2011

69. a successful batch o' cookies

70. Tylenol

January 10, 2012

71. new beginnings

72. friends from far away come close

73. reminders

74. encouragement

75. Chinese food

76. evidence of fruit

February 1, 2012

77. eyes to see

78. ears to hear

79. the truth revealed

February 7, 2012

80. crows screaming in the new morning

81. soles of sneakers still hanging on

82. my sweet sons

83. a best friend calls

84. the breaking down of idols

85.. Boldness to share the Gospel

February 22, 2012

86. haircuts

87. rain rain rain

88. decluttering frenzies

89. no broken toes

90. baskets that "contain"

91. God is faithful...Youcef

(March Joy Dare)

3 Gifts Green:

92. Slimy pond to rejuvenate

93. Early Spring

94. green onions to make it just right

3 Gifts Loud: My darling Boys

95. Daniel

96. Jaret

97. Ethan

3 Gifts Round

98. coffee cup full

99. organizing baskets

100. wedding ring promises

September 17, 2012
101. He's in control...I am not

June 13, 2014
102. He's STILL in control
103. Sleeping in
104. Fuzzy Lovey Critters on my bed
105. Crock Pot Cookin'
106. Rain
107. DIY Projects
108. New Friends
109. paint
110. Hubby's manager job at National Cremation
111. When kids say I love you, Mom
112. Walking Lucy
113. Cutter kitty coming home