Pottery making

I had a doctor's appointment in Anniston on Friday. Daphne and Ben went with me because her family lives there so we spent the night with them. Her family is really into making pottery. They have the whole set up! This morning, her dad insisted that I try my hand at it. Take a look at the process and how it turned out!

Here is Dr. Wallace giving me instructions over the potter's wheel.






Me with my finished art. Please forgive my natural look...I hadn't had a shower yet!


A close up of my pottery. I was told this was the best "first attempt" Dr Wallace had seen! I am 1/16 Creek Indian...maybe it's my heritage coming out in me!

Ayah Auntie

As I was leaving Ben this afternoon to go home, we were going through our usual "bye bye routine" where he says "bye bye" then gives me a kiss or two. I said, "I love you Ben" in which he replied "Ayah Auntie." Those words melted my heart. "Ayah" is how he says "I love you" Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?

Here are a few pictures of my precious little godson from the beach.

The Word

I love it when God speaks to me....it usually is a very obvious moment for me. Like last night...

I had a date, and, as it usually goes, there was no connection on my end. Recently, I can't seem to meet a guy that I want to get to know past the first encounter. When I got home, I was discouraged...I even commented that I was about to take a dating sabbatical. I posted as a status on my Facebook that I wonder when I'm gonna get to go on my last "first date." Quite frankly, I'm tired of the first dates. It seems to be same song 100th verse! Will I ever get to sing that different song?

So, God decided to tell me what he thought. I'm doing a 1 year Bible reading with my church, and the Psalm last night was Psalm 27. Psalm 27:14 says

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

There you have it! I love it when the Word speaks!

A True Diva

On Thursday night, I got the opportunity to see Celine Dion live in concert at the BJCC. Gordie Brown opened for her. If you have never seen or heard of him, you tube him to see a clip. I would call him a music comedian. He impersonates singers, and actors, and makes fun of them singing their songs. It was hilarious!

Celine has an incredibly amazing voice! It is so pure. She doesn't have to strain at all to hit any of those notes that she reaches. She sang all of her popular songs with a few of her new ones mixed in. Yes, she sang the Titanic song...amazing! She had a center stage with dancers, video, treadmill type belts, stage parts that spun, and stage parts that rose. She entertained for sure! I will also describe her by saying she is an eccentric diva! She also did many movements that I can now call classic Celine! It was a great night, and I'm so happy that I can now say that I've seen a true Diva in concert!

Here is a clip of Gordie Brown when he was on David Letterman


As always, enjoy my pictures from the concert.


Classic Celine face




This picture gives you a small idea of the stage


Here she is doing a duet of "The Prayer" with Andre Bocelli. Of course, the just videoed him in, but this picture shows the hand movement she did ALL night!

Humility

I was so proud to be a Carrie fan last night. She performed/attended the People's Choice Awards. She won Favorite Female Singer, "Last Name" took Favorite Country Song, and she was also tabbed Favorite Star Under 35. She beat out a lot of good singers and stars to win these awards. Once again, she won everything she was nominated for.

In her acceptance speech, she said, "Thank you so much. God has blessed me with a wonderful life, a wonderful career and the most amazing fans I could ever dream for. People being fans and people voting for me are what gave me a career in the first place, and it’s so amazing that they continue to support, come out to concerts, buy albums and of course give me People’s Choice Awards. It’s been an amazing night. Thank you so much, and God bless."

That's humility to me.

Watch here to see the win and the speech.


Also, referencing back to my last post, I'm so happy to hear her say blessed and not lucky! I know many of you make fun of me for being such a big fan, but I was proud last night!

Here is her performance from the show.


I needed a lesson in humility, and I love that it came in the form of Carrie Underwood!

Lucky or Blessed

**This post is long, but I'd like you to take the time to read it and let me know what you think.**

While I was in my hometown for Christmas, I attended a Christmas Eve service at the church that I grew up in. The preacher preached about grace, but he said a couple of things that stood out to me. The first thing that he said was when it comes to God, you aren’t lucky, you are blessed. That got me thinking about a few things. How many times have we said, about ourselves or others, “That was lucky.” I know I have thought it and heard it many times. Webster defines luck as a chance happening in which one has no control. Webster defines a blessing as a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness. When I stop to think about it now, I must ask myself is the luck I talk about really a blessing from God.

Who are some people that you may consider “lucky?” One person that comes to my mind, especially since I’m a huge SEC football fan is Tim Tebow. Florida has a great football team, and that guy is really talented. He is also a Christian who serves others. You can often see Phil 4:13 written in the eye paint under his eyes. He also does mission work. It is noted that each summer, Tebow returns to the Philippines, where he was born, to lead evangelistic crusades and minister in orphanages. Though I don’t know the guy, I honestly believe his belief and conviction. The preacher at my home church also said that if you seek out His purposes, God will honor you. I truly believe that, even though Tim Tebow is talented, his winning is not luck, but a blessing from God. I do believe, after hearing his story, that Tebow seeks out God’s purposes. I believe God uses him and his success to bring others to Him

Another person that comes to mind is Carrie Underwood. Now I know many of you will laugh at me for saying this because you know I’m a huge fan, but I really think it’s true. Like with Tebow, I don’t truly know Carrie’s heart, but I believe you can see her faith in her actions. She doesn’t get out there and preach, but she lives it. She always thanks God when she wins awards. When she sings songs like “Jesus Take the Wheel”, “How Great Thou Art”, “So Small”, and “The First Noel”, I truly believe she is worshipping the Lord. Just watch her…just download any video of those songs from You Tube and see for yourself. Another reason I believe she is totally grounded is because of her lack of drama and trouble since she has become a “celebrity.” You don’t hear about her getting arrested or sleeping with this guy or that guy, or any other typical celebrity drama. It has been over 3 years since she won American Idol, and she is only in the news and known for positive stuff. How many of us could say that we are only known for positive things and we don’t have the pressure of being famous! I think human nature without the control and conviction of the Lord, would lead us into the negative things. I have had the opportunity to meet her and have brief conversations with her a couple of times. If you’ve ever done that, you know she is a genuine person and is not just putting on a show. Now…I tell you all of that to say that I’ve read and heard interviews where she says that she’s lucky. But knowing what I know, I must say that I think she is truly blessed! I don’t think you get to be the top female vocalist, sell as many albums as she has, have 10 number one songs in 3 years, have as many fans as she has, and touch as many as she has touched just off of luck, a chance happening. She had a fan attendance of 1.2 million people over this past year. She had the opportunity to come into contact with a lot of people! I believe that God used and is using her and her success, as with Tebow, to not only bring honor to Him, but to bring others closer to Him, while blessing His followers along the way!

I tell you all of this because I want to live 2009 in a life full of blessings. I know that means that I must seek out His purposes and follow His ways for my life, but I believe it’s the blessings that make life full. A wise friend of mine, Cynthia, told me “In a book I’ve read there is a line in there that talks about people praying that God will bless what they are doing. But, what if people prayed, "God, let me do what you are blessing”…that would be a completely different prayer. God will never bless what is outside of His Will for you, but He WILL allow you to do what He is blessing for you, if you follow His Will.” I know I won’t be famous and will never be able to sing, but it’s the simple blessings that others may call luck that I’m hoping for. I pray that my life will be one in which brings honor and glory to Him! I want to pray as she stated, “God, let me do what you are blessing.”

I know there are many stories of blessings from ordinary people like me and you. I just used the famous ones to make my point; however, I’d love to hear your story! I hope you all are blessed as we start 2009!

Merry Christmas to all!

Before Ben was in the States, as his godmother, I bought him things all the time. I saw a Santa outfit at a consignment sell one time and had to buy it....even before I knew his size. It is a 6-9 month outfit...and he is almost 15 months old. He tried it on for the first time today, and it's a perfect way to say Merry Christmas to all of you!





I hope Santa brings you just what you want!