IPad Mini!!!!

Heart be still!  

Last year I purchased the Ipad 2 to take with me on a business trip to North Carolina.  It was so much easier than toting around my laptop which is on the brink of dying.  I loved (still love) it! I have easy access to websites, files, and even programs where I can type out notes and permanently store them between all our devices.

There was only one little problem.  I bought the Wifi version and found there were key moments when I could not use my device.  Often when on a business trip and the hotel had sketchy wifi.   


As a matter of fact, on my very first trip to North Carolina last year, they were working on upgrading and installing wifi in the rooms. Long story short, I could not use my Ipad in my room to connect with my family.  (Imagine me sneaking down to the lobby in my robe to get a signal)  Though, it worked fine in our meeting place!

Overall, it's been wonderful.  But the mini kept woo'ing my heart.  I knew we could use it, as we have a large family. 

As the mini was being released I kept trying to justify the cost and simply couldn't. I completely put away the idea and moved on.

Four weeks later.......

Scott and I are getting ready to go shopping and glance down at our mail, where lo and behold, it showed that our AT&T store was offering $100 off all Ipad mini's that week. 

Long story short:

With our $100 off we were able to use Christmas money given as a gift to purchase the mini and it would not cost anything to add it to our data plan.  The sales person explained that I had 6 Gigs in my current plan and that I was using less than ONE.
  

As you can tell from the pictures we were SOLD!  

  

 This is the Otterbox case that the manager threw in as part of our deal!  


Update!  I just purchase a new case that includes a wireless keyboard, as I'm preparing to fly to North Carolina for more training.  I'm sure I'll be taking lots of notes.  

What do I think?

It's like it was made for me!  I love it more than any other device I own, including my laptop.  It's simply easier and more convenient to use.  The data plan makes it accessible everywhere and the size let's it fit easily into my purse or my hand.  I do still need my laptop because Ipad's do not work when you need to install a CD-Rom and we use teaching textbooks for our math program.  But, generally speaking I use my mini the most! 

As much as I love my new mini, it will never be my first love!  May HE always take first place in my heart......

 

The Source Of My Strength!!!!

I see God moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise.


His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One!


Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord ! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!


The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (Habakkuk 3:3-6, 17-19 NLT)

Week In Review! (Or more)

My beloved Grandma

 

My grandma has given us a couple of scares this year.  Back in May she was in the hospital with Congestive Heart Failure, and then more recently (October) she began having shortness of breath and was diagnosed with a faulty Aortic Valve.  She now lives with 24 hour a day oxygen.  As you can tell from the pictures she complies well. (Smiling and shaking my head)  At least she let me bring the tank with us. 

 This was the first time Grandma had been out since being put on oxygen and the gal at JCon did totally pampered her!

DAD

As I continue to walk through the loss of my dad I am amazed at how it's the little things that catch me off guard.  My dad was a HUGE pepper/hot sauce lover.  He even grew his own.  After the hair grams and I had gone to lunch and as I moved these bottles out of my way I had a memory of him introducing my Brandon to hot pepper juice. (Which by the way, Brandon is a HUGE fan of now)



ZOE

Our little Zoe continues to grow.  She is in that fun toddler phase of having a mind of her own, but we can't help but love her.  She thinks she's a baby and desires us to walk around cradling her in our arms.  Let's just say, she gets her wish more often than not. (smile)  She has been such a Godsend for our Colton who grieved deeply over the loss of Precious.  



THE BOYS

One of the things I love about our break time is the freedom to just "be'.  We have been reading through some of our all time favorite picture books, talking about our Savior who was born in a manger and what that means to us.  We get to play games, bake cookies, and simply hang out as a family!  The older boys are getting to go and do things together and with their friends.  I love that they desire to do things together and it is a pleasure to watch them spread their wings and fly!

RECONNECTING WITH PRECIOUS FRIENDS

My sweet friend Heather celebrated her birthday last week and my friend Horsan graciously had us over to her house to celebrate the birth of this incredible Christ-filled, Jesus-loving woman!  


I pray that we all are able to pause, breath, and draw near to Jesus as we celebrate our Messiah!


Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for HE is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.  ~  Psalm 95:6-7

Most Amazing Ministry Experience!

I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.  With my whole being, body, and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God! ~ Psalm 84:2

Yesterday, the Lord allowed me share HIS love at Starkey Road Baptist Church.  This incredible group of ladies have one of the most well run moms groups I've ever visited.  It was their Moms Of PreSchoolers organization and it was truly refreshing.

This wonderful team was overflowing with warm hospitality from the moment I walked through their front door.  From their greeters, to their decorations.....from their outstanding newsletter.....to their outgoing friendliness, these girls had it going on!  They were a well oiled machine working together to pour HIS love into the hearts of hungry-for-more moms.

My Strength radar was overstimulated with so many obvious giftings being used to make it a day of refreshing and renewal.  I truly enjoyed watching the Lord weave together HIS beautiful Masterpieces (ladies) into one place with a strong purpose!  

Just look at some of the work these incredible women invested, and you can see HIM!

 I was very impressed with the attention to detail put into every single table.

 Not only did I feel welcomed and loved by their personalized newsletter sitting at each spot, but I also happen to be forever friends with a graphic designer (Hi Christa) and was in awe of how well this precious gal laid out each article and picture. 

 As I first laid eyes on their speaker sign I couldn't help but think of all the time invested behind the scenes when putting together this meeting each month.  The leadership team at Starkey Road Baptist has an obvious heart for others.  You know that every single woman walked away inspired, refreshed, and renewed!  

Everything was put together to make each person feel special, wanted, included.  (and you girls would know that my includer would notice that!)

Even the staging area was designed with detail and thought. 

Listen, I love talking about my Jesus!  I am energized and blessed by helping women discover their God-given strengths and who HE made them to be.  It's my delight, passion, and in this season it's my purpose.  The truth is, I would stand in the middle of Wal-Mart if God told me too.  But I simply cannot tell you what a blessing it was to be ministered to and blessed in the process. 

Thank you for having me Starkey Road Baptist MOPS Ladies!

Challenge A Strengths Dinner #3!

We had a special December, Challenge A Strengths Dinner.  Our precious friends husband gifted our group with a huge gift certificate.  

We were able to meet in The Melting Pots private dining room which allowed us to surprise our precious friend and mentor, Lynn Doto for her birthday.  It was such an incredible night of connecting.  

As a matter of fact, FOUR of us have connectedness and we had incredible conversations about what the SUPER POWER and KRYPTONITE of this particular strength theme are!

Connectedness is what helps us pull things together. (information, scripture, people, relationships)  

The SUPER POWER is when we use our connectedness to connect to the Lord and then to help those around us get to HIM too.  

The KRYPTONITE is that when we are not connected to the Lord we can connect to the wrong things. (Idols that pull our hearts from  the Lord)

Happy birthday to Lynn!

 Sweet Sisters In the Lord!

 Dee Dee loving her white chocolate fondue!

It's such a chore to lead these Strength Dinner Clubs.  (smile)

Thank you, Mr. Larreau for blessing our dinner club.

Falling Head Over Heels In Love With Thirty-One!

 See my friend, Dee Dee?  Sure she looks innocent and sweet, but........ If you spend more then five minutes with her you will fall madly in love with Thirty-One products too!

Seriously, I LOVE THEIR PRODUCTS!!!  This company was created for women!  I mean look at their big beautiful hot pink and white shopping bags.  Sold!  

Thirty-One is an incredible Christ-centered company put together to serve women by helping them organize their lives.

  Bags, purses, wallets, organizational products, etc...

No, I'm not going to become a distributor.  I just LOVE these products. 

 Cindy Tote!  My new personalized purse.

 Beautiful red Thirty-One accessory scarf!

 Though I love ALL my new goodies my wallet is my absolute favorite is my Thirty-One Wallet.  I think I will do a post on just this one product when I have time to work on it.  It's soft and the most user friendly wallet I've ever owned.  

 My lunch cooler for CC days!  

 My birthday present!  Heart be still, look at that red paisley!! 

Thank you, Dee Dee for all the time you invested in helping me host my catalog party.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  I'm very thankful God put you in my life!

2012 Christmas Card Party

How blessed I am that The Lord has given me such precious forever friends. Some friends I see all the time, others in seasons. I am thankful beyond words!