He is

The below poem was shared with the ladies at our LBF (Ladies Bible Fellowship) this past spring. I asked Mrs. Sargent for a copy of it and reading it again tonight and reflecting on certain things lately I thought I would share it with you as well.

When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient.
When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.
When you feel the most dependent, He is absolutely dependable.
When you are your weekest, He is the most able.
When you are the most alone, He is intimately present.
When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest.
When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.
When you feel the least secure, He is your rock and fortress.
When you are the most humble, He is the most gracious.
When it is the darkest, He is the only light you need.

It's easy to forget that the Lord is really the one who is really incharge when we are focused on our own inadequacies. We should continually look to Him for the security that we inwardly seek after.

Who needs lines to color in?

My cousin sent this email to me and I've seen Julian Beever's work before, but every time I see it again I'm totally amazed at how realistic his sidewalk art looks. So I'm posting some of the pics for your enjoyment as well.

Self Portrait

Kill the Bug

Feeding the Animals

The way he captures depth in the sidewalk is amazing

White water rafting anyone?

Where are the water conservationists at?

Do you see how people are avoiding the "whole" in the sidewalk?

Kids exploring nature, is there anything cuter?

I definitely think that Julian was the kid coloring outside the lines in kidegarten.

If at first you don't succeed shop, shop again

For quite a long tme now I've been looking for a basic black dress that I can dress up, or down. It's really difficult sometimes trying to find clothes that are modest. For they are either modest in length, but the neckline is to low. Or the neck line is fine, and the dress is to short. Then there are sometimes that you are able to find a dress that you can make modest by simply putting a camisole underneath. This was what I was able to find this afternoon on a shopping trip with Kali and Nicki.

This is another summer full of wedding planning. Amber and Dave are getting married in 2 weeks (from today), Kali has some family ones to attend and then we are both going to our friend Amy's wedding in September (Kali is Maid of Honor and I've been asked to do the photography). Kail's dress is of course taken care of, but mine is another deal. Of course I want to have something that I can wear again, and it must be something that will breathe decently due to the humidity. But what should it be? Though I'm not actually in the wedding party I still don't want to completely clash with the festivities, which leave the basic and elusive LBD (Little Black Dress). I have been on this hunt for a good couple years. Ever since my 10 year HS reunion, 2 years ago. Of course everything I found online was out of line, and if it wasn't I was going to have to spend over $100 on it. So I've kept it in the back of my mind a a future must have item (really I think every girl should have one). Well today was the day that my vision came to fruition.

After many little errands the girls and I finally made out way to the Dress Barn. Of course I went over to the 50% off rack first, but didn't find much. Then as I was scanning the racks my eyes were drawn towards the black dresses near the front of the store. It was like the heavens parted and started shining the florecent lighting in the direction towards the perfect black dress. It really wasn't much to look at on the rack, but I picked it up and decided that I could find a camisole to wear underneath it. Well I did and it looked terrific! Kali and Nicki were in agreement on it as well. I'm very happy to have that hurdle over with. So now I'm in the process of purchasing my camisole, which will add the modesty factor to it. Besides that all that I need to do is get rid of my slight farmers tan and tone up the arms a little, September is right around the corner.

Let this be a lesson to all of those looking for the perfect outfit. . .

If at first you don't succeed shop, shop again!

Right Kali (she had a succeful trip as well)?

A new favorite

I have a favorite thing simple as it is I feel I must impose my thought's on it into the blogosphere.

If you've known me for any length of time you know that once upon a time, when I was in the Navy, you know that I was lucky enough to live in Sicily for a couple of years. Some might argue that point, but for a gal that loves to travel living overseas, for me, was the highlight of my five years. Granted I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had not been chained to the front gate, and subsequent out posts, but all in all I can't really complain about it. A lot of my buddies from that time are still sacrificing time away from their loved ones in order to protect US interests and for that they deserve all the respect in the world.

Anyway, due to my time spent in Sicily there was certain food fare that I came to enjoy quite a lot. The sad irony is that most of that food I can no longer eat because of Celiacs disease. The joy of a sweet Canoli, spilling over with chocolate or pistachio filling or a hot savory Calzone, oozing with sauce and cheese are not mine to have. I do miss a real Pannini too, no not the little flat sandwiches that you can now lamely buy at a Starbucks near you, but a real Pannini, filled to the brim and stuffed with anything that you can think of. Seriously, nothing beats the Pannini carts in Catania. But I digress, beacause like my friend Levi says, I might turn into a pillar of gluten like Lots wife did for looking back on what she was leaving in Sodom (it's our own little joke).

However, one of the things that I did learn to appreciate over in the med was olives, no not the kind that you have to use a can opener to get at (I hate those kind), but the real kind, you know the ones that have been aging in brine. My favorites are Kalamata olives and tonight while getting some stuff to make a salad for dinner, I had some left over steak that I needed to use and that was a perfect post cardio dinner, I found the below salad dressing on the shelf at the local super market. It was awesome! It's a creamy vinagrette, so a little goes a long way.

In one word it's simply, Delicious! I think I found a keeper. Ranch may go with everything (I think it's a better condiment that katchup), but sometimes it's OK to break out of a rut. Consider my salad dressing rut broken.

Poll Results

Back at the beginning of the month I posted a poll asking when people liked to celebrate their birthday's. The choices were on the day, the Saturday after, or all week long. Well, well, well the mighty voters have spoken and the power of the poll says that there is a 3 way tie between the choices. Interesting. I usually like a clearly defined winner, but it's interesting to see that people are devided. Ultimately I think the importance or what makes it special is that it is celebrated. After all it is the day that the Lord gave you to be born on.