Picture Perfect- Roadside

This picture was taken from the window of our rental car in Custer State Park, SD, last summer. As you drive through this park, wildlife roam free and often you have to stop because they think the road is theirs. The donkeys have learned that tourists have yummy things in their cars, and will walk right up and stick their head in the window to see what you have. Talk about a roadside ambush!

~ Each week a theme will be posted up on Wednesday, and you are invited to put up your best picture with that theme in mind, it should be

only ONE  picture please and it should be YOURS

 not off the internet, not a friends picture but your very own

No slide shows please, and no automatic music on the page

Stolen from Dave and Abby

Ok, it is another question blog. You'd think I would get tired of these after a bit, right?

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you.
My younger son's girlfriend

2.Where was your first kiss?
In 7th grade- on the steps at my best friend's house. It was her older brother (9th grade)

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property?
no, unless you count planning it in my dreams

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
Only my little brother when I was younger. Unless you count playful jabs on the arm.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
Plenty of times.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Usually their eyes and their smile.

7. What really turns you on?
Someone who listens- who really listens!

8. What do you order at Starbucks?
Usually something that has so much cream, sugar, and flavoring in it that it doesn't taste like coffee. My favorite is the pumpkin spice latte they have in the fall.

9. What is your biggest mistake?
Hmm... that is a good one. I can't say  marrying the ex, because then I wouldn't have the kids. I can say allowing him to buy a way too expensive truck 3 months before he left-- with my name on the loan. If I had known he was cheating at the time, I would never have signed.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
I do plenty of hurting myself on accident- why would I do it on purpose?

11. Say something totally random about yourself.
I really don't like pizza.

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
No, I have never had anyone tell me that.

13. Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?
With an 11 year old in the house, are you kidding? Right now we're watching Suite life of Zach and Cody.

14. Did you have braces?
Yes- for 5 years!

15. Are you comfortable with your height?
I'm 5'8". I'm glad I'm not shorter- I'd just be fatter!

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the opposite sex has done for you?
Wow- I can't really think of anything. I'm learning that I didn't have a really caring husband- Scott has done more for me as a friend than he ever did.

17. When do you know it’s love?
Good question- anyone have an answer?

18. Do you speak any other languages?
I would like to learn Spanish (so I can talk to my fellow Americans) but I'm not doing a good job of learning it!

19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
Not in the past 20 years.

20. What magazines do you read?
Reader's Digest

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yes, from the airport in Indianapolis to a hotel.

22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away?
My grandmother and my father.

23. Do you watch mtv?
You have to be kidding. Why would I watch that?

24. What’s something that really annoys you?
People who take up the entire aisle in a store with their cart on one side and them on the other- and then pretend like they don't see you.

25. What’s something you really like?
Exploring- adventures. Going and doing or seeing something I've never seen before.

26. Do you like Michael Jackson?
Not after the Thriller album.

27. Can you dance?
As long as no one watches. I have two left feet.

28. What’s the latest you have ever stayed up?
I was a camp counselor during the summers I was in college. Some nights we didn't go to bed.

29. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
No, but I rode in one with my (then) husband once..

30. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out?
Depends on how bored I am- and how much I really like the person.

Stolen from Silly

Ok, it is Friday night and I'm bored, so I'm going to answer Silly's questions that she posted on her blog.

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE ?

On the top of a mountain overlooking a lake.


2. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?

I love my yoga pants! They are so comfy!

3. FAVORITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?

Blue eyes! I'm a sucker for blue eyes!


4. WHAT’S THE LAST CD THAT YOU BOUGHT?
 
WOW Hits 2008

5. WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?

On vacation- anywhere! Just not at home with not near as many responsibilities!

6. WHERE’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?

At my ex in-laws house. Should need no explanation.

7. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED?
 
My shoulders, expecially when I've had a stressful week.

8. WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN BODY? 

Strong in mind. You can always hire a strong body, but without the mind you wouldn't be much good!

9. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?

On workdays the alarm goes off at 6:20am. Saturday morning? Probably about 8:30am!!

10. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?

The dishwasher! I could live through anything else being broken but that!

11. WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?

It is a toss-up between my oldest step-son and my ex husband. Both are irresponsible and self-centered.
 
12. IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I can play piano and saxophone- I suppose my wish would be to be able to play them better!

13. FAVORITE COLOR?

For what? Flowers should be yellow, red or pink; grass should be green; clothes should be red, brown, or black; cars should be silver or white.....

14. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV?

I love my Toyota 4-Runner! I have enjoyed this vehicle more than anything else I've ever owned.

15. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE?

Absolutely!

16. FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOK?

Wow- this is a hard one! It is hard to pass up anything by Dr. Seuss, but I loved the Secret Garden.

17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?

It is a toss-up between spring and fall. I just love the cooler air and the pretty colors!

18. WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE HOUSEHOLD CHORE?

Mopping. I don't really know why- but I don't like to mop.

19. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

The ability to discern the truth (like Wonder Woman's lasso!)

20. IF YOU HAD A TATTOO, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I don't think I would ever want a tattoo.

21. CAN YOU JUGGLE?

I did learn once- but I can't do it for very long before I drop one.

22. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK WITH?

My best friend Drew in college. We were inseparatable before he got married, then she was jealous, so we didn't talk so much anymore. I haven't seen him in years, although I do know where he is and what he is doing.

23. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?

Any day that I am with my family. Ok, and Scott.

24. WHAT’S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?

4-Runners don't have trunks.. but in the back there is a case of water, a folding chair and several books.

25. WHICH DO YOU PREFER A HAMBURGER OR SUSHI?

If I'm eating either, you should ask me what is wrong. Neither are my food of choice.

26.  WHAT WAS YOUR BEST JOB?

The one I have now. I love being creative, I love being partly in charge, and I love working for the church.

27.  THREE PLACES YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO VISIT.  

Going to Linville Caverns next week- that has been on my list for a long time. Then, I'd say the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls.

28 FAVORITE FLOWERS?

Any! I just planted verbena, begonias, and dianthus.

29.  IF YOU HAD TO BE NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE FIFTY STATES, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I'd take Virginia! At least it sounds like a girl's name!

30. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST DREAM?

To have a husband who fits with me, who completes me and I complete him, and we are able to do so many things together that neither of us could do alone.

Picture Perfect- Broken

I had a little difficulty finding a good picture this week. I don't tend to photograph broken things, I guess. This is a picture that I took as we entered the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana last summer. I think of "broken" because of the way we have treated this native race- we have broken a once-proud people, given them broken land, and the broken our promises to them time and time again.



Please go here to see the host of Picture Perfect and check out some of the changes being made.

Pictures to Words

I know it is said that whenever God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window. However, I wonder if he intends you to climb through that window? Does He mean that window for you to pass through, or is it only there to let in some fresh air?

Sometimes I feel as if there are multiple doors open- and I do not know which one to pass through. How do you choose from the banquet behind each one? Some bounteous banquets come at a steep price- of pain, sorrow, and hurt. Some are meager offerings that bring the most satisfaction. So how do you decide which door is for you?

This is for "Pictures to Words" which is an offshoot of Picture Perfect Friday!

Just helping Guy drive everyone crazy!

Ok, you know what to do- answer the questions in the comments. Then you're supposed to post it in your blog so I can do the same- unless you already have!

1/.....whats your name....

2/.....are we friends....

3/.....what do you think of me....

4/....do you have a crush on me......

5/....would you kiss me..

6/.....would you love me...

7/.....describe me in three words....

8/.....if you had me for 30 minutes, what would you do to me...

9/.....what was your first impression of me.....

10/....do you still think the same...

11/....what reminds you of me...

12/....if you could give me anything, what would it be......

13/....how well do you know me....

14/....what do you like best about me...

15/....ever wanted to tell me something, but couldn't...

16/.....could you ever love me...

17/.....give me a nickname, then explain why...

18/.....are you game enough to put this up on your blog, so I can answer it for you....

19/....anything you wanna say, before you go.....

Mom's Tough Love

I kicked two teenagers out of the house on Sunday. We had a big blowup last week that has been building for awhile. They are married, living in the basement- no jobs- are 18 and 19- and one quit high school. They pretty much refused to clean up after themselves- and any time they did they acted like they were doing me a favor. I let them stay here free, eat out of my fridge, use my laundry detergent, washer and dryer, water, power, food... basically I supported them.

Friday, they made a huge mess in the front yard cleaning out their car. I asked them to pick up their things three times. The third time, Chris snipped at me that it WAS cleaned up. So I went out and threw everything all away. I figured if they had "cleaned it up" the rest was trash. He got mad and was cussing me and yelling, told me he was going to throw all my things away, that I didn't know what he did for me, that he was tired of slaving all day for me. So I told him to get out. If he can't respect me and appreciate all I was doing for them, and all they had been given, then they could figure out how to support themselves.

I don't know where they are, except she came by yesterday to get some more of their things and was very sheepish and apologetic. I did let her know that they could no longer live here, but they were welcome to visit and would still be included in family events. I said that I thought it would be good for them to establish a life on their own.

I'm really at peace with this decision. Brandon and Savannah have already been happier and less stressed, so I do know that was a good decision. I worry about them, because I don't know where they are or how they're going to support themselves. (He gets $155 a month from the National Guard.) I also know that I'm going to have to let them fall in order to learn that everything will not always be given to them.

Scott helped, because he pointed out that they were not obeying the 5th commandment- honor your father and mother. He also pointed out that the children of Israel had to wander around in the wilderness for 20 extra years because they didn't obey. Moses didn't even get to make it to the promised land because of his disobedience. So being tough on your children is sometimes the right thing to do! Hard, but right.

Picture Perfect Friday- Magical

When I first saw the theme for this week, I thought of my trip to Montana last summer. The entire trip was magical! We flew into Rapid City, SD and rented a car to drive to see Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore. Both sites are magical, when you realize that man is conquering nature to carve images into stone. Then we went to Devil's Tower, WY (which if you don't know is the mountain from Close Encounters of the Third Kind), a magical God-created structure unlike anything else in this world! Then it was on to the Crow Agency, MT and the LIttle Bighorn battlefield. To me it is magical to see the soil where a battle was fought and courageous men died for a crazy, unworthwhile (in my opinion) cause. Then we went on to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and spent a magical week working on one of the poorest reservations in the country. Most magical of all was the trip to Glacier National Park. Majestic mountains rise above green waters in the most beautiful country I have ever seen! I had so many pictures to choose from.... then I found this one: (taken with my Pentax Optio555 digital camera)

This is right outside Mt. Rushmore- and I took it because of the trees growing on the rock. It is so magical to me to see that life clings to every little crevasse. I know these will not get to be large trees (the roots have nowhere to go) but the fact that they even exist in such extreme conditions makes me believe in the magic of life!

Welcome to

Picture Perfect

~ Each week a theme will be posted up on Thursday, and you are invited to put up your best picture with that theme in mind, it should be just

 ONE and ORIGINAL,

 i.e not off the internet,

Then come back and post a comment on this page
so that everyone can link to your blog and see your pic.

By all means mention your camera and lens used, and if the picture has been altered or enhanced in anyway! Out of the box thinking is encouraged!!

Please open your page for viewing for all for that day...and then visit as many others as you can! Try and post a decent size pic on your blog page, so much is lost if the pic is too small or too big.

The entries will close at midnight on Friday

oOo

 

The theme this week will be

 'Magical'