Deb's Discoveries

Welcome back! Today I wanted to share a prayer (I shared it on my FB page too.) with everyone. I realize I have a lot of friends trying to make a lot of different decisions - and hopefully this prayer will give them a little bit of peace. :) God bless all of you!

Prayer:

I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His word
Which tells me prayer is always heard.
And will be answered, soon or late.
And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought;
But leave my prayer with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest,
Or send some answer far more blessed.

Author - Eliza M. Hickok

Of course, I believe EVERY day is a wonderful day! Today I'm trying to clean my house in "5 minute room rescues." LOL You'll understand that if you're a fan of FLYLADY. (www.flylady.net) I believe today's plan is to sweep up around the front porch (according to the e-mail I received) - which will probably be a good thing since the guy who mowed my yard blew grass clippings all over the place - including my front porch!

I've been up and went for a walk with my neighbor this morning. Isn't it always easier to "exercise" with a friend? I am so proud of my daughter! She has been involved in a walk/running program and is looking great. I told her, "Oh, I can't do that. I'm 50." She said, "So?" LOL

Well, as you can tell I'm just rambling today. I have friends coming over to swim. (Yes, they were invited!)

My daughter has had my granddaughter in swimming lessons - I can't wait for them to visit! Iris will be 2 in August and she's already jumping off a diving board! Oh, stress for Granny! (me)

Have a blessed day and be a blessing!

Blessings,
Granny Deb

If you have any interest in volunteering - how about becoming a CASA worker?

A CASA workier is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children. As a CASA worker, YOU are the voice of a child who cannot speak in court!

Here's a link to find out more about being a CASA:

http://www.nationalcasa.org/

Yes, I'm a CASA worker!

Just wanted to say that I enjoyed a great Tuesday afternoon (I know today is Friday but I'm writing about Tuesday! LOL) at my pool with lillpluta and her two boys!

She followed Rule #10! Thanks!

#10
Do not leave YOUR children at MY pool without YOU! I am NOT your babysitter!

She could not follow rule #9 as I don't have any good floats!LOL

#9
Grown-ups get the good floats!

She followed Rule #8!
#8
Bring your own pool toys!

Okay, Rule #7, here's where there was a bit of a problem. LOL :) Of course, boys will be boys and they were having a blast. And, after all the "yelling" wasn't too loud. However lillpluta almost had to be rescued as she slipped on the slippery slope of the pool! Fortunately, we did NOT have to call the firemen to the house. (Or, that could be unfortunate - LOL - although my dh probably wouldn't appreciate that comment! LOL)

#7
Do not yell for HELP - unless you really need help! (I live by the fire station - they may hear you! I really need to be able to have them over in case of a TRUE emergency!) If you really need help then do yell - and call 911 !!!

Yes, Rule #6 - followed! In fact, lillpluta even shared her snacks with me. Although, we could have had more cherries if her one son had brought the big bag and not the "for one person" bag. :) LOL lillpluta says, "That's what happens when you ask two boys to help you pack for a trip." LOL Thanks for the delicious snacks!

#6
If you want something special to eat you need to let me know in advance or bring your own snack!

Rule #5 - followed! I'm just glad everyone wore a suit! :)
#5
Please wear a CLEAN suit. (I'd rather spend my money on more pool toys NOT on more chemicals to get rid of the algae you bring from your trip to the lake!)

#4 - Followed!
Bring your own towel. (I may not have done the laundry.)


#3 - Let's hope this rule was followed! : )
Use the bathroom NOT my pool. (Many thanks!)


#2 - followed!
If YOUR children are in MY pool - YOU should be in the pool too! (Unless, of course, you can't swim.)


# 1 - Blessed! And enjoyed because I was with friends!


Beneath the sign: "Our Only Liquid Asset"

Love & Blessings,
Granny Deb

After I read a post from goadingthepen about pool parties and snow cones I decided to share some pool rules ...

#10
Do not leave YOUR children at MY pool without YOU! I am NOT your babysitter! (However, if I've invited you and your children we'll have a blast playing in the pool!)

#9
Grown-ups get the good floats! (It is MY pool after all! LOL)

#8
Bring your own pool toys! The public pool doesn't provide goggles and scuba gear. (You're welcome to what I have - it's just that it probably won't be want you want!)

#7
Do not yell for HELP - unless you really need help! (I live by the fire station - they may hear you! I really need to be able to have them over in case of a TRUE emergency!) If you really need help then do yell - and call 911 !!!

#6
If you want something special to eat you need to let me know in advance or bring your own snack!

#5
Please wear a CLEAN suit. (I'd rather spend my money on more pool toys NOT on more chemicals to get rid of the algae you bring from your trip to the lake!)

#4
Bring your own towel. (I may not have done the laundry.)

#3
Use the bathroom NOT my pool. (Many thanks!)


#2
If YOUR children are in MY pool - YOU should be in the pool too! (Unless, of course, you can't swim.)

# 1


Beneath the sign: "Our Only Liquid Asset"

I love having a pool (most of the time) and I try to be a responsible pool owner. I also love sharing my pool with my friends!

Love & Blessings,
Granny Deb

Yes, these are a few pool rules! If you have a pool please let me know some of YOUR pool rules. Thanks!

Apparently, I let my "paid" account ... become "unpaid" so I guess I'll just have to have a "plain Jane" account for awhile. I'm sure with the economy there are others here doing the same - right?

If you've friended me I hope I've friended back! If not, please re-friend and re-send as I LOVE friends!

Blessings!
Granny Deb

Forgive me for not posting here in a long time. Life has been crazy and busy or busy and crazy! However, since I've had "friend" requests - I thought I better get on here and be a friend!

Here's one of my favorite sayings about friends:

"A true friend warms you with her presence, trusts you with her secrets, and remembers you in her prayers."

Sometimes people get upset because a friend can't be at an event - even though there are other people there. I believe that you should cherish each moment with your friend when they can be there. You can be sad they're not there - but honor the people who are there. You can probably catch up with your friend another time. : )

I have lots of acquaintances and I have several friends. But, I do have those very special friends - the ones I could call at 3:00 a.m. if I really had to call them for something. I've been friends with one of my "best" friends since junior high school and we're both 50 now! We've been through both laughter and tears - and if it's awhile before we get together we can pick up right where we left off.

Another "best" friend and I have known each other for years! We survived teenage daughters together! : ) LOL Today, both of our daughters are beautiful young women with families of their own! We are so proud of our daughters! We're also proud of the friendship we have and we treasure our "friend" time and make it a point to make sure that we have "friend" time together.

I have lots of "online friends" too and I'm very happy for the friendship with each of you!

I have been truly blessed by the friendships I've had in my life. I've lost a few friends too. I'm sure some of you have lost friends or loved ones in your life. I miss my friends but I can remember the happy moments we spent together.

So today I challenge you today to tell a friend how much they mean to you. In fact, when I end a phone conversation I always say, "Bye, Love Ya!" I truly mean those words - for if something were to happen to me or my friend I can know that the last words they heard from me were, "Love ya!"

So to my dear online friends today I say, "Love ya!"

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times ..."

Sundays are a wonderful day. Sometimes we try to fill them up with way too much! My challenge to you today is to take at least 15 minutes just for YOU! : ) Relax, reflect, meditate, pray - just "be" - because we don't do that too often.

Speaking of prayer, I found this in our church hymnal and I love these words:

When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words be without heart. - John Bunyan, 17th century English author

On a fun note, I sold something on craigslist and made a few dollars. : ) It was my first posting and first sale. Perhaps I'll have to look for something else to sell. : ) Anyway, when the lady came to pick up the item, her daughter was with her. She told me she had posted video on you tube of her daughter singing the National Anthem. She gave me verbal permission to share on my cyberspace pages: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/m2u00193mpg/4024973931

Wow! She does a great job! I told her that her name just sounds "famous" - LOL Oh, and for all of my writing friends - watch out - this little girl loves to write too! :)

Blessings to all on this wonderful day!

Granny Deb

A belated Happy New Year to all my friends! I pray that I will be a blessing this year to the Lord. He has so richly blessed my life with family and friends!

For Christmas, I received a small plaque with this saying:

"Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak Kindly. And leave the rest to God."

I feel as if I already do most of this, but I can certainly try to be better in every area of my life.

And, please know, whether you're a friend I've met in person or a friend I met online - you're loved and prayed for! : )

Blessings!
Granny Deb

From Rothenburg, we went to the village of Gebsattel and stayed overnight at the Schwarzer Adler Hotel (Black Eagle in Enlish) http://www.schwarzeradler.rothenburg.com/

The hosts at our hotel served us schnitzel, potatoes, vegetables, tomato soup and ice cream. (There was a LOT of ice cream on this trip.)


Wed, May 14:
Sights today included a trip down Germany's Romantic Road. Lots of small villages nestled amoung rolling hills. One word = BEAUTIFUL! Here's a link to some great pics:

http://www.romanticroad.com/

In Germany, you often have to pay 50 cent Euro to use a public restroom. Here is a funny sign one member of the group pointed out:



Then we traveled south to Fussen - where we toured the Neuschwanstein Castle. (There are HUNDREDS of steps in a castle! And this is after a 30 minute UPHILL hike! Actually, my friend and I cheated and took a coach part of the way and only had to walk about 10 minutes!) Pictures weren't allowed inside the castle. (I'm sure that's because the tour ends at the gift shop. LOL) However, we saw the King's quarters, the Throne Room, his dining room, his bedroom (the top of his bed is adourned with intricate carvings),and a private chapel. We also saw the servant's quarters and kitchen.

The Marienbrucke Bridge provides a place to get an awesome view of the castle, the mountains, and the gorge - 300 feet UNDERNEATH! (BTW - I am terrifed of heights.) However, I summoned up all my courage and managed to stand on the bridge (I did not walk across.) and snap a pic:



Although we didn't tour the Hohenschwangau Castle, a castle built by King Ludwig I, we did get a glimpse of the outside:



To be continued ...

Hi, all!

I had an opportunity to travel on a "budget" tour to Germany in May and it was a wonderful tour! It was my first time to fly across the ocean and my first time to travel to another country. I was blessed to be with a friend who had traveled to Germany before. Although - she had gone prior on a "not so budgety" tour. : ) Here's the beginning of my pic & trip blog - I hope you enjoy it!

May 12/13:
We left the OKC Will Rogers Airport for a 9 1/2 hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Arrival at Frankfurt: We had to wait on some other tourists, so after meeting our tour director we headed for a short visit to Old Towne Frankfurt. Later, after we picked up the other tourists we traveled to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a walled medieval city.








I also purchased a Schneeballen, or "snowball" - a type of round pastry popular in Rothenburg. Sorry, I don't have a picture of this because I ate it! : )

Well, here is a link to a store in Rothenburg. In fact, this may be where I purchased my Schneeballen. : )


http://www.terragalleria.com/europe/germany/rothenburg/picture.germ2631.html

To Be Continued ...

Blessings!

some pics of my GERMANY trip ...










More to come ... whenever I figure this all out! : ) Until then, I do have some posted at flickr.com.

Blessings!
Granny Deb

I recently went to San Antonio, Texas on weekend business trip with my husband. We stayed at the Marriott Rivercenter - easy access to the Rivercenter Mall and the Riverwalk!

We ate a few of our meals at Sazo's Restaurant inside the hotel. Here's the recipe (they have this printed on cards) for Sazo's World Famous Tortilla Soup:

The Goods:
1 Large Diced White Onion
3 Large Diced Tomateoes
4 1/2 Cups of Chicken Stock or Chicken Bouillon
2 Cups of Picante Sauce
3 Chicken Breasts
Salt, Pepper, and Cumin to taste
1/2 Cup of Chopped Cilantro

What you gotta do:

Bring the chicken to a boil in the chicken stock. Once the chicken is cooked remove from chicken stock and add tomatoes, onion, picante sauce, salt, pepper, and cumin. Let broth simmer for 10-15 minutes. Once your tortilla soup is done, then add cilantro.

Cut corn torillas in strips and fry in olive oil until crispy. Place tortilla strips, guacomole, and cheese in a bowl. Serve soup and ENJOY.

Serves 4-6 pp.

My note: This was DELICIOUS! : )



Sharing Scripture:

Good News Bible
Proverbs 24:26 "An honest answer is a sign of true friendship."

Okay, so I haven't updated my livejournal for the past 38 weeks! : ) I've been busy! : ) Haven't you?

I wanted to share this link with you:

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Set a time limit or an amount limit for yourself; otherwise, it's difficult to stop playing the game.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Granny Deb

Hi! I haven't posted in quite some time. I'll try to do better - after Christmas. : ) Here's a poem I've enclosed in many Christmas cards. Christmas Cards? What? I SHOULD HAVE already sent cards! I SHOULD have already purchased all my gifts. I SHOULD HAVE ...

I'm NOT going to be SHOULD ON - anymore! : ) So, don't you let yourself be SHOULD ON anymore either! : )

**
I don't know the author (if you do, please let me know!) but here's the poem I have put in cards when I've sent them. : ) Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book
And every year at Christmas time, I go and take a look
And that is when I realize that these names are all a part
Not of the book they’re written in … but of my very heart.

For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime
And in that meeting they’ve become the “Rhythm of the Rhyme”
And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim
I really feel I am composed of EACH REMEMBERED NAME.

And while you may not be aware of any special link
Just meeting you shaped my life more than you can think
For once you’ve met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face.

SO NEVER THINK MY CHRISTMAS CARDS ARE JUST A MERE ROUTINE
Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to YOU
It’s because you’re on that list of folks I am indebted to.

For we are but a total of the many folks we’ve met
And you happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget
And whether I have known you for many years or few
In some ways you have had a part in shaping things I do.

And every year when Christmas comes I realize anew
The BIGGEST GIFT that life can give is MEETING FOLKS LIKE YOU.
And may the spirit of Christmas that forever and ever endures
Leave its richest blessings in the heart of YOU and YOURS.

Deb's Discovery: Christmas is so many gifts ... all wrapped up in one. : )

Weigh-In: LOST (I'll have to check my total!)

Is it just me? Or does anybody else go on an "eating binge" after a weekly weigh-in. Good grief! You'd think after all that hard work I wouldn't attack the food. LOL Okay. I did go walk after I ate all that stuff! (Nope. Not telling what all I ate! LOL)

I've done pretty good with my walking and with drinking my water. However, I guess I could have done a bit better on my WISE CHOICES this week. Oh,well - guess that's a good goal for this week.

Happy Weight Loss Journey to anyone on this journey with me! : )

Blessings,
DebS
(Granny Deb)

Deb's Discovery: If you find a bill in your mailbox, it's not very fun! But, if a friend sends you a card - it brings a smile to your face. (And your heart.)

Scripture:
Good News Bible

Isaiah 43:2
"When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you."

Goodness! I haven't posted in TWO WEEKS! That means I've missed posting two of my MONDAY WEIGH-INS. Well, the first Monday Weigh-In brought WEIGHT GAIN! TWO POUNDS - ACK! Of course, that's because I ate a bunch of delicious stuff while I was in Eureka Springs, AR.

I attended the annual Ozark Creative Writers conference. I even got to meet two writing buddies from BIW (www.book-in-a-week.com) - how fun! I didn't enter any of the writing contests; however, one of the ladies I sat with at the banquet on Saturday night won THREE! It was her first time to be at the conference!

If you ever get to go to Eureka Springs, remember to take some WALKING shoes! : ) Even if you ride the trolley around, you'll still end up walking A LOT! If you love to shop, the town is full of treasures to empty your wallet. : ) I only purchased a pair of socks (for my grandbaby) and they cost $4.95. I left them at the restaurant and had to pay $4.00 to get on the trolley and go back and retrieve them! LOL $8.95 is a lot to pay for a pair of BABY socks. :) I bought them at Jake's store. (That's the store with the LIFE IS GOOD saying on everything.)

****

Scripture: Hebrews, Chapter 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Special Prayer Request: Please keep all those affected by the California wildfires in your prayers. A special thanks to all the brave firefighters!

***
FUN QUOTE:
Eventually you will reach the point where you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it. :)

***
SILLY STARTER WRITING EXERCISE:

Write what it is like to live with a shoe that can talk. (Well, this is what came up when I turned the pages randomly. LOL Have fun!)

***

Deb's Discovery: A heart can hurt for those thousands of miles away.

LOST! 1 and 1/2 pounds. Losing weight is a LOT harder than putting it on! LOL Good luck to those of you joining me on a weight loss journey.

Total Lost: 5 1/2 pounds (in about a month)

Here come the EATING HOLIDAYS! I'm not giving in to them. Nope. Not giving in. Not giving in. Not giving in!

Remember - water, walking and wise choices! :)

Blessings,
DebS

May the Lord bless you and keep you always in His care.

Discovery: Holding in your breath DOES NOT HELP during weigh-in!

LOL! I forgot to post my weight loss progress. I'm down ONE MORE POUND. Geesh - I sure do wish this poundage went off faster! I think it must be related to super glue, because it sure STICKS on longer than I want! : )

I think my total pounds lost so far are 4 1/2. And it's taken a LOT of work for that! : )

For those of you joining me in this journey, I'll post again about weight on Monday. (I'll at least try!) Would you like to share any of your tips for losing weight? (Perhaps we'll compile all this collected information and sell a dieting book. How about, "LOSE IT - LIVE?" (as in LIVE JOURNAL, but losing it to live would work too - lol)

Blessings,
DebS

My daughter was at Barnes & Noble yesterday when she overheard the following conversation:

"Mom, can I have these books?"

"You can have some of these books, but not all of them. You'll need to put these back."

My daughter watched as the little boy carefully put the books on the shelf. And then she heard him tell the books, "Don't worry. I'll be back to collect you later."

*************

As a writer, this sure made me smile! I hope it made you smile too!

*************

Scripture: "13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Do all your work in love." Good News Bible

*************

Deb's Discovery: Sometimes you need to just BE. :)