~Is Anyone Out There~

Wow! It's been a while. This is really just a test post to see if anyone still reads my blog. I haven't posted in sooooooo long! It has been a wonderful year. God has truly blessed me with meeting the man of my dreams that He was preparing for me, getting a new job at my company, and most recently, selling my townhome in a week and a half!!! I have been traveling this year to Breckenridge, Colorado, Las Vegas, Zion National Park in Utah, and Destin, Florida. Upcoming trips include Destin again and the Bahamas in August! I have found a man who likes to travel as much as I do! I met Josef, "Joey," at a pre-ski trip party he was hosting at his home, which is right down the street from my good friend Colleen. To say the least, I did go on the trip and also signed up to be with him!! I never believed that it could happen so quickly and I never really believed in the statement, "you just know," but when God is in control that can happen! I love him so much and thank God for him daily. I hope whoever reads this is well and is experiencing peace and joy!

~Two Great Flicks~

Lovin The Illusionist and lovin Edward Norton. Didn't like him so much in Primal Fear, but he's back on my hot list! Good movie!




Little Miss Sunshine, another good film. "Sweetness!"

~Bella Couture~

Bella Couture - OPENING SOON! 104 Croft St, Mt. Laurel, AL, 35242, 205-995-3444 ...

I haven't blogged in a while, but this post is worth bloggin for. One of my sweetest, closest friends(Colleen A.K.A. "Coco") is opening a Bridal Shop in August 2006 called Bella Couture Bridal Salon in Mount Laurel, Alabama. Colleen has been seeking the Lord for over a year now for His will in her business dream of having her own bridal shop.

I am stoked! I took off this past Friday and we have been working fervently to get the shop ready. I can't believe I helped to etch an entire showroom concrete floor, sealed it, and have helped to paint the office. The store will be beautiful with tan and gray marble colored concrete flooring, ivory painted walls(with a special tissue painting), and satin fabric lining the ceiling. I am also excited because I will be working in the shop part-time. However, I am more excited for my friend Colleen. This is a dream coming true for her. She has committed her plans to the Lord and they are being established(Proverbs 16:3).

This dress is from one of my favorite lines she will be carrying, Alvina Valenta. In addition she will be carrying Justin Alexander, Allure, Marissa, Bellissama, and Enzoani.

On my way home from the shop tonight I heard this song and I thought of Coco and her shop. This post is for you Colleen, for continued favor and blessings to overflowing.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

The Real Me Lyrics
Foolish heart looks like we're here again
same old game of plastic smile
don't let anybody in
hiding my heartache, will this glass house break
how much will they take before I'm empty
do I even let it show, does anybody know?

CHORUS:
But you see the real me
hiding in my skin, broken from within
unveil me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
there's no need to mask my frailty
cause you see the real me

Painted on, life is behind the mask
self-inflicted circus clown
I'm tired of the song and dance
living a charade, always on parade
what a mess I've made of my existence
but you love me even now
and still I see somehow

CHORUS
Wonderful, beautiful is what you see
when you look at me
you're turning the tattered fabric of my life into
a perfect tapestry
I just wanna be me

CHORUS
and you love me just as I am

Wonderful, Beautiful is what you see
when you look at me

~How Beautiful~

I have missed posting on my blog. I wanted to post on Easter, but I had a full day, and unlike I used to, I went to bed when I was tired instead of trying to get a post in before midnight! I am making some small changes in my life that are making all the difference.

I knew it would be a wonderful Easter celebration when I left my home and the song, "How Beautiful" was just beginning. This is one of my favorite Twila Paris songs.

How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty road and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful,
how beautiful is the body of Christ

How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sins and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful,
how beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price Willing to pay the price

How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure love so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serveThe wine and the bread and the sons of the EarthHow Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

The morning was celebration was made complete by Buddy's sermon in which he discussed 5 different Longings we all have that are fulfilled related to Christ raising from the dead. This reminded me of my blog and birthed a desire in me to share this in my post. Buddy shared that we all have a Longing to Trust (1 Corinthians 15:14), a Longing for absolute truth (1 Corinthians 15:15-16), a Longing to be accepted (1 Corinthians 15:17), a Longing to live forever (1 Corinthians 15:18), and a Longing to Live Lives that Truly Matter (1 Corinthians 15:19). This message reminded me once again how all of our longings our fulfilled in Him who overcame death and the world.

I then had lunch with the fam at the Marriott and enjoyed their shrimp cocktail and the best German Chocolate Cake I've ever had. After lunch, my joy was made even fuller when my Moo(nickname for my niece Amanda) asked me to come and watch The Chronicles of Narnia with her. I enjoyed this with a little yorkier curled up on me and my niece beside me on the sofa asking me different questions she had about the symbolism in the movie. She had received this in her Easter basket. I wasn't going to go over to my sister's house to watch this with her because of much housework needing to be done, but then I was convicted and reminded that this was a Holy day and these are the moments that truly matter....my dirty house can wait.

After the movie I met a couple friends for flying kites. It was fun to take my shoes off in the grass and fly a kite in my Easter clothes. I felt like a little girl for a few brief moments! My good friend Scott picked out a Care Bears kite for me. The evening ended by sitting outside in the cool evening and enjoying more shrimp at my fav Cajun Steamer(this was a shrimp filled Easter!). I love to sit outside in the evenings in Alabama. Good night and I hope you all had a special memory from this Easter.

~Animal Profile~

Tonight I was at dinner with several friends to celebrate April's Birthday. Welcome to the 29 forever club my sweet April!!! We had dinner at Petrucelli's, one of my fav's. After dinner we began to discuss animal profiles for people. I began the discussion but it grew into a group discussion. I like to do something fun and active in groups and ok, I consider this fun. I appreciate my friends playing along even if they don't find it fun. I love games and guessing things! So here are the results from the evening. I had some help from my good friends Amy and Kristie, they were channeled into the power. Richard, not so much, but he attempted! I have to give props to Amy, though, she was right there with it.


Brandi-Maltipoo. Ok so I picked Maltese for her but she said she would like a maltipoo which is a cross between a maltese and poodle so close enough!





Amy-I see her with a fluffy white cat with blue eyes. This is not a strong profile, I'm not clear if this is what I'm going with for her.




Wendy and Chris-I picked this dog for both of them and Wendy agreed and I think Chris said a lab.





Noelle(I hope I spelled her name right). I picked a Shizu for her and she told me she had one growing up!





Christina-A Collie. Although I had help from Kristie on this one. She's good!




Mary and Sandy-A black lab. I'm not sure if Mary agreed, but she smiled when I profiled her! Sandy said she prefers a brown lab. Close :0)







April-Amy picked a poodle for our birthday girl and I agreed. April added she would like to get their nails painted! Right on Amy!






Tracey-Amy and I went with a Beagle but I believe Amy also suggested an Irish Setter.






Kristie and Julie-Siamese kitties(which we both have already!) Fellow bloggers, please pick a dog profile for me. I have a few in mind I would like but I'm interested to see what you guys pick for me! I will give a prize to the blogger that gueses 1 of the 3 I am thinking of.




Jackie-I picked a Shnauzer and she said she had one growing up. Jackie also was profiled by Amy for a Scottish Terrier.




Richard-Ok so I picked this for Richard and he was offended. Now this is a picture of my sister's teacup, but I see Richard with a standard size yorkie, but he wasn't having it! So I'll go with boxer for Richard since that was one he likes that I could see for him. I also see Stephanie with some type of Yorkie!

~Luminous~

I watched a movie tonight that reminded me of my love of jazz music. These are 2 great songs. The moon and stars are luminous just as love is. I am in a sentimental mood tonight.





Artist: Duke Ellington
Song: In a Sentimental Mood
(Feat. John Coltrane) In A Sentimental Mood

I can see the stars come thru my room
While your loving attitude is like a flame that lights the gloom
On the wings of ev'ry kiss
Drift a melody so strange and sweet

In this sentimental bliss you make my Paradise complete
Rose pearls seem to fall
It's all like a dream to call you mine
My heart's lighter thing since you made me this night a thing divine

In A Sentimental Mood
I'm within a world so heavenly
For I never dreamt that you'd be loving sentimental me

I Wish You Love
Written in 1946 and performed by many jazz greats, including Ella FitzgeraldMost recently recorded by Gloria Lynn 1964, hit # 28 on Top 40 chartsAlso a great song for Father/Daughter dance at a wedding

Frank Sinatra - I Wish You Love Lyrics
Goodbye, no use leading with our chins,
this is where our story ends,
Never lovers ever friends.

Goodbye, let our hearts call it a day,
but before you walk away,
I sincerely want to say.

I wish you bluebirds in the spring,
to give your heart a song to sing,
And then a kiss, but more than this, I wish you love.

And in July a lemonade to cool you in some leafy glade,
I wish you health, and more than wealth,
I wish you love.

My breaking heart and I agree that you and I could never be,
So with my best, my very best, I set you free.

I wish you shelter from the storm,
a cozy fire to keep you warm,
But, most of all, when snowflakes fall,
I wish you love.
(musical interlude)

I wish you shelter from the storm, a cozy fire to keep you warm,
Most of all, when snowflakes fall, hot time, I wish you love.
All kinds of love, a whole gang of love.

~Whispers~

Whispers(taken from Dayspring)
A line in a popular hymn states, “As He whispers in my ear, I am His and He is mine.” What are the things God is whispering to you today? His voice will speak the best words you will ever hear. Quiet your heart. Hear Him saying to you, “Come to Me. Draw close to Me. Come closer still. Let Me comfort you with My mercies… encompass you with My grace… assure you with My presence… embrace you with My love.” God has so many tender things to whisper to you. Each day He invites you to come close, to draw near, and to listen.

Rachael Lampa ~ No Greater Love
Before I knew Your Name,
You knew my ev’ry breath.
Before I found my way, You knew my ev’ry step.
Before I knew everything that I need,
You gave it all to me.

No greater love than this…
That You should lay down Your life
For someone such as me;
I’d spend a lifetime wondering why.
The Beauty of Heaven Is here in my heart
And I know there can be
No greater love than this.

I never understood How merciful Love could be,
Until I felt His Flame Light every part of me
And I would give everything that I am
’ Cause I have been saved; Yes, I have been saved!

No greater love than this…
That You should lay down Your life
For someone such as me; I’d spend a lifetime wondering why.
The Beauty of Heaven Is here in my heart
And I know there can be No greater love.

Oh, oh oh, oh oh, woah…
The Beauty of Heaven Is here in my heart
And I know there can be No greater love...
For someone such as me. No greater love...than this