Looking forward to church tonight.  It's so great to be in His house with the "family" (church family). 

Been VERY busy the last few days.  (work, meetings, a trip to Little Rock, etc)

Got a new haircut.  (Might get brave and post some pics later)

Our church is in a corporate fast for 21 days in preparation for revival.  Normally, when I fast, I keep it VERY private.  My kids have never known when I was fasting before.  If they would ask why I wasn't eating with them, I would usually say, "I'm just not hungry."   Since this is a church fast, Eric and I decided to let the kids in on it. 

No, we're not forcing our kids to go without food and water.  We explained what fasting meant and why we do it, etc.  Anyway, we had them decide if they wanted to try giving up something for the 21 days, replace that thing with prayer and Bible reading, and see what happened.

At first, Jerry decided that he would give up candy and soda.  Cool!  It's a big thing for him.  Tiger decided to give up BBQ sauce.  Okay!  You have to know how addicted he is to BBQ sauce.

[Side note:  Eric told Pastor Morris that he was going to fast the Food Network. (eyeroll) No, he is really going to do what I call a REAL fast.]

Anyway, I was proud that we were going to do this as a family.

The boys decided that they wanted McDonald's food one night, but being the mean Mom that I am:

I said, "No.  I'm cooking supper."  Which btw, is probably why they wanted McD's.

They were quick with, "but Mom, you could eat THAT with us." 

I said, "What are you talking about?"  

Their answer, "Because it's FAST food!" 

Picture me (in a classic Charlie Brown) "Good Grief!"

MAY YOUR YEAR BE FILLED WITH GOD'S ABUNDANT BLESSINGS!!!

MAY THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT BEAR ABUNDANTLY IN YOUR LIFE!

MAY YOUR JOYS BE MANY AND YOUR BURDENS FEW!

MAY PEACE AND HAPPINESS BE YOURS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND BEYOND!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU!

MAY GOD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU!

MAY GOD TURN HIS FACE TOWARD YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE!

BE BLESSED!  GOD LOVES YOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

What are your plans for ringing in the New Year?  or Are you going to simply sleep through it?  Right now, the second option doesn't sound 1/2 bad, but we'll probably stick with the first option and include a lot of coffee.

Great Christmas moments and memories:

This Christmas is a miracle for us.  God came through for those wonderful boys!

I have a sparce-looking tree because a box containing our tree ornaments went missing after the move.  It made me physically sick.  They say you lose at least 1 or 2 boxes/items.  It still doesn't make it any easier.

This child has been a HUGE Toy Story fan all of his life.  So, naturally, it was on his list.

This young man has been wanting more games and accessories for the Gamecube.  He had some $$ from Debbie for games, and we got him some accessories.

Can you tell that he got one of the top things on his list?  Lego Spongebob

Does it show that he got something he's been asking for....forever?  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is an Erector set.

There were a few other items, but not all the pics turned out.  Bummer!  Well, let's just say, the dramatic faces were priceless.

Hope you had a joyous Christmas!

What's in a name?

(stolen from Kerrye's site, who also stole it from Hannah) 

That is it!!!  No one else can die this year!  That's final!  I don't care who you are or how bad you want to be in Heaven right now.  You just have to wait. 

Kay was a kind and sweet soul, but she used to drive me batty sometimes.  She would call me 8-10 times a day, yes, per day, until I started working outside the home.  Bless her heart, she would have us over for dinner, but she had a different way of cooking.  Well, let's just say, I'll never look at candied apple slices and ham the same way again.....or beans......or peanut butter cookies made without peanut butter.......or a list of other interesting delights.

I had a friend (Debbie) from Harrison at my home Monday when I got the first call from Rita (her mother and Kay were roommates).  Kay had been taken to the hospital, and they thought she might have had a heart attack.  Later, a second call, "They don't think she'll make it through the night."  Not 30 minutes later, "She's gone."  Then the phone calls start, one after another, "Hey Sebrena, just wanted to make sure someone let you know about Kay."   It's not that we were SUPER close, please, don't get me wrong.  It's just been a year of sudden deaths, and FRANKLY, I'm tired of it!

After Debbie returned to Harrison (after putting up with my rant and rave, bless her heart), she sent me an e-mail:   "Oh, Have you heard from God yet about the sudden death thing not happening to anyone you know? Please e-mail me when you do."

I'm at home with a booger of a cold, and I started running a fever yesterday that's not letting up much.  So, I'm kinda-sorta cranky, and I doubt I can go to the funeral.  Thanks for putting up with my rant. 

Please pray for Kay's family. 

Kay Mann, age 57, of Harrison, died Monday, December 18, 2006, at the North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison. She was born February 3, 1949, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, the daughter of Jimmy Bullington and Lois (Thompson) Turner.

Kay attended Faith Assembly of God Church. She worked at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in the Housekeeping department. She loved her church and shopping at Wal-Mart.

Kay Mann is survived by her father and step-mother, Jimmy and Helen Bullington, of Higdon, Arkansas; her mother, Lois Turner, of Harrison; her daughters, Gena Kay McFall of Harrison and Veronaca Rene Brown of Cabot, Arkansas; her sisters, Glenda Mahan of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Shirley Dickey of Harrison, and Carolyn Foster of North Little Rock; five grandchildren; and a host of other family and dear friends throughout the community.

Visitation is 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday, December 21, 2006, at Christeson Funeral Home.

Funeral service is 10:00 AM, Friday, December 22, 2006, at Christeson Funeral Home, with Rev. Gary Crawford and Rev. Arlis Thrasher officiating.

Pallbearers are Kevin Dickey, Jason Dickey, Ken Breedlove, Bryan Wheeler, Seth Willess, Zane Willess, Tristan Laxson and Blake McFall.

Interment is in Anderson Flat Cemetery.

Moma would have been celebrating her 55th birthday here on earth, but instead, she's celebrating with Jesus.

Some things about her:

• was abandoned and adopted at age 2
• has 10 biological siblings (only found one so far) but no adopted siblings
• played the piano, organ, guitar, autoharp, mandolin, and just about anything else and sang since age 3
• worked as a DJ on Christian radio in the 80's
• was only 4'9'' tall and a card-carrying member of the Little Peoples Society International
• favorite weather was snow
• loved board games and card games

One time, when I was home from school for a week because of snow, we played a game of Monopoly that lasted for 6 days!

• Loved chocolate cake
• Always got the industrial-size box of Goldfish Crackers for the boys
• Was overly-trusting of people

My relationship with her is a testimony to God and his good Grace.  I hope one day to be brave enough to share it with you.

Pa called to tell me the latest news.  I'm expecting a list of who's been to visit, how everyone's doing, etc.....

Instead, I get this:

Pa:  "Boy, Nanny and I thought we'd never get to Sunday School!"

Me:  "Why is that?  Your back bothering you again?"

Pa:  "Nope.  We couldn't get the T.V. to turn off."

Me:  "What?"

Pa:  "Well, we looked and looked for that thang that turns it off, but we couldn't find it anywheres."

Me:  "Did you find the button on the T.V. that turns it off?"

Pa:  "Nope, just had to unplug the thang."

Me: "You unplugged the T.V. to turn it off?"

Pa:  "Yep, then we went on to Sunday School, and when we got home Nanny was lookin' in her purse fer somethin' or other, and guess what she found."

Me:  "What?"  [there's really no tellin'.....great, now I'm talking like him!]

Pa:  "That black thang that turns the T.V. off and on!  She took it to church with her.  I guess she thought if that preacher got too wound up, she could use it on him.  Isn't that right Nanny?"

She just laughs along.  They both laugh a lot, and it's precious.  "Never a dull minute", as Pa says. 

Might as well laugh and focus on the humor of it as to focus on the other.

Just do this

Even if you feel like this 

It's called Merry Christmas for a reason, right?  I know a lot of us are tired, stressed out, worn out, etc.....so I'm hoping to find something 1/2 way funny and light-hearted to post on here soon.  In the meantime, just keep smilin'!!!