Not a fan of change...... But this layout change was LONG OVERDUE!

Hi All:

As you can see........ you are now viewing my blog on a pretty pink background. It almost killed me to let go of the beautiful, blog template. However, to upgrade to the new blogger "layouts", I had to. It is nice for a change though to see a bright pink. I still have the background saved on the computer, along with my old template...... just in case I ever wanna go back. HAHA

This week has been loooooooooong. I really thought a snow day was in the mix, but it didn't happen. Hopefully this week will bring one. I really should be working on my work for my classes this semester. I have this theory that if I can spend countless hours working and get all my homework completed ahead of time, my life will be a lot easier. That theory worked wonderfully last year when I did such with a couple of classes. I have already worked some, but I feel so guilty when I am taking "me" time instead of getting something done. Is that a female thing or what?

So, I want to share with you a couple of thoughts. Two situations, very different, yet similar.

One occurred 3 weeks ago today in Corbin, Ky. It was the week before my surgery and I was out with my parents because I had been in bed for days with gall bladder attacks. We had a great dinner (grilled chicken salad for me) at Cracker Barrel and decided to head to Wal-Mart. Boy..... did satan have a field day with that. As my dad drove down the aisle (let me pause to say my dad is the most humble, considerate man I know) slowly we came upon a car waiting on a parking place. That space just happened to have a large van and an older lady going very slow at putting her groceries in. Being the females that we are, my mother and I convinced my dad to go around the car so we could go on down another isle. He did and much to our surprise, 2 other spaces had opened up further down the aisle.

I told dad to just pull into the closest space and so he did. OK, ARE YOU READY FOR THE DRAMA? We had barely pulled in when we heard a horn sounding behind us. It startled us all. My mother and I turned around and glanced out the rear window to see the car that we had went around coming straight at us. The car came a few inches from our back bumper and then the driver, a middle aged lady, unbuckled her seat belt and marched up to my dad's window. Now dad, being the calm person he is, rolled down the window to see what on earth was wrong.

The lady started screaming "EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME! WHY DID YOU TAKE MY SPACE?" Dad tried to explain that he didn't, rather he took a space further down the aisle since she was waiting on the other space. She wouldn't have it. She kept yelling and yelling. Now, I have changed a lot over the years. I use to be more "mouthy" than I am now. I have actually been praying to be able to "turn the other cheek" for the past few years. I take a lot and never say anything back because I believe that Jesus would want me to show kindness to others instead of the anger that they show. However, my temper got the best of me on this day.

There's something about biting your tongue when it involves you, yet when it involves those that you love, you tend to lose your grip a lot easier. I kept thinking about how my dad had done nothing wrong and I could feel the anger boiling inside of me. I spoke up just as she was leaving and said " You need to grow up and act your age." That did it! She was back. The next part is kind of funny because she called me a "young lady in the backseat" to which I replied "I am not young, thank you very much!" However, dad told her he would give her his space and we ended up parking across the aisle in the other space that was even closer (GO FIGURE?).

As we got out of the car, I was still hot and letting satan take hold of that. I said to my brother, "some folks need to head to church" and the lady apparently heard me. She replied, "some folks need to stop judging." Believe it or not guys, even though I know this lady was completely in the wrong for what she had done; I know that she was right about that statement. Even though I did not mean what I said as a judgement, it sure sounded like it. And even though I didn't mean for her to hear it, she sure did.

So I bet you are wondering what happened next? Well, she actually followed my mother and I around in the store and came right up to me in the make-up section and stared at me. I rolled my eyes and pretended to not even see her. I then vowed that if she continued to follow us, I would let security handle it. However, she didn't and the next time I saw her, she was at her car waving her arms frantically to two college aged boys as she told the story. I only watched that inside the foyer of Wal-Mart as to not get the whole thing rolling again.

The second story I want to tell you about deals with a personal situation and obviously I am going to be brief because I do not want to be too detailed with such. I began tutoring this past week. I was pretty excited to have the opportunity to work with my students after school and so I was in a good mood Monday evening as the tutoring began.

I walked my students to get their snacks. I found another student that would be staying with me from another grade. Now, that student is a sweetheart. He really is. But, my rules given by my boss were to ONLY work with my grade level and 5 students per day. I already had surpassed 5 barely, so this would continue to break that rule. That wasn't what bothered me. It was the fact that we had denied other students this opportunity because they weren't at my grade level. It was a rule that I had no control over. However, I believe in being consistent because not only does it keep a lot of situations from arising but it also helps to be fair to everyone.

Much to my surprise, another colleague did not see it this way and voiced her opinion loud and clear to me in front of everyone. I realize that this colleague is a different personality type than I, however, I strongly felt that a response in such manner was uncalled for. To make a long story short, I spoke up for myself (in a Christian way) and mentioned it to my boss so that she could handle the situation. I then stressed the whole rest of the evening because I absolutely hate conflict.

The situation has since been handled and things are fine. However, I have come to realize that not everyone in this world can be a "good buddy." I am naive. I always believe that I can get along with most everyone, and most of the time I do. However, it really hurts me when I run into a situation that involves someone that I have trouble getting along with because they have a preconceived notion that I am something other than me.

Now, why did I tell these two stories? Good question. I wanted to share that I'm not perfect. HAHA Yes, its true, Alesha is a big screw up a whole lot of the time. I'm kidding! We all know I'm not perfect, I have never claimed to be such and I never will. I messed up in the first situation by opening my mouth and letting my wicked tongue take over. And in the second situation, I messed up by stressing over a situation that I should have just given to God at the first second of stress and let it go instead of running wild with it.

It's at times like these we discover that we are so dependent on God. We know that we are, but sometimes we forget. And satan can really get his claws deeper in us when we mess up because we let him beat us up and tell us we are failures. He's right, we are failures....... EVERY DAY, EVERY WAY, EVERY MOMENT, AND WE ALWAYS WILL BE. However, we only see this magnified when he uses it to bring us away from Jesus. If it were totally about what we do, how good we are, how good of a job we did; we would never amount to anything. We have to remember (and this is for me) that no matter how much we mess up, God is still in control and still taking care of things for us.

You know something else. I don't dislike either of the two folks that I was involved in conflict with. I have nothing of substantial importance against them. Yes, there are going to be people we don't necessarily "jive" with, but that doesn't mean that we can't pray for them. Have you had a situation like these? Are you angry with those who hurt you? Join me in a prayer for those folks.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you today in complete humility. I know that I am nothing without YOU! Please forgive me for sins I have committed against fellow believers and nonbelievers. Please help me to bite my tongue and to turn things over to YOU instead of harboring them inside so that satan can use them against me. Please forgive those who have hurt me in the past and in the present. Please shine your light in their life so that they may see YOU in all your glory. Bless them Lord and provide opportunities for them to make things right in their lives with you and with others. Bless me to make things right with you and with others daily as well. Show me those that I hurt intentionally and unintentionally and forgive me. Help me to make things right in all situations so that my light will not be dimmed with sin. I praise you for all that YOU are, all that YOU always have been and that all that YOU always will be.

In Jesus' Precious and Holy Name I Pray,

Amen.

I feel better just praying that again. You never know, there may be someone that you have unintentionally hurt throughout your day. Maybe they are feeling this way, too. It's a good thing to request for discernment in our everyday lives. God is sooo Good!

Melancholy....... And Blessed!

"A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES......" PROVERBS 17:17

Ever had one of those days that leaves you in a melancholy mood? I'm not sad, not excited, not stressed, not relaxed, just melancholy. Melancholy is probably one of my favorite words. It's just a pretty word to write and it just rolls off your tongue with ease. The dictionary definition of melancholy is "Pensive reflection or contemplation. " That describes me perfectly tonight.


I have been through so much in the past few weeks, sickness and surgery. However, I am not sad, if anything I am grateful. I could have died, yet God saw it fit to provide me more time on this earth to work for Him. I really have been blessed. I have seen God's hand in every step of this situation. He let me feel the pain that led me to the hospital. In turn, I ended up in surgery. I want to share with you yet another awesome blessing that God sent my way this week.


I have a lot of good people to work with at my school, however, there are not many that I can honestly say that I really trust. Ms. Rebecca Hurst is one of those people. She has always been a shoulder for me when I have really needed it. I feel as though I can talk to her beyond most anyone! This week she handed Tina a card for me. She knew that I had been sick, and being the person that she is, she was concerned. Tina and I didn't end up catching up with each other until I went back to work on Wed. Tina gave the card to my mom and she gave it to me. I placed it in a folder with a Guidepost book to take home and read. Wed. evening was a blur and Thursday was even more so because I was so worn out. I never opened that folder.


Today Ms. Hurst came to my room to work on my computers for a new reading program that is beginning. She and I were laughing and enjoying each other's company when she asked if I had received her card. I had to stop for a moment and think and then I realized that I had. I thanked her and mentally decided that I need to get it out of my folder and read what she had written. At the end of the day I was beginning to feel so tired and pain was kicking in from my surgery. I decided that during my seventh period class I would try to take it easy and let the students continue their math game with me being a little less involved. I began to go through my folder of things and I came across the card. I opened it and began to read the front. I smiled and flipped open the card to find a beautiful note and a gift from Ms. Hurst. Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized just how much of a blessing that God had given me by letting me work so closely with her. Not many people these days would think enough of a colleague, a friend even, to take the time to let them know how much they cared. Yet here she had selflessly spent time to make me smile. How precious!


I was reminded, even after a rough day at work, just how precious a true friend is. I saw Jesus in Rebecca Hurst today and it was such a beautiful encounter. I hope that each of you reading this receive a visit from Him through a beautiful person in the coming week. And if you do, please take the time to thank Him for the selflessness of that person!

More Holiday pics..... the little tikes and us at Cumberland Falls with their Granny and Mama, My Christmas Decor, and My little (not so little) bro!

My LOVE baker's rack... one shelf is for Michael and I and the other is for My mama and I!
My Fairy Lamp and Plant table!
My lil bro... Billy B. He is so handsome!



My Christmas tree with Santa and Ms. Claus posing nearby.
My Danielle Ornaments.
My Christmas Tree decor.

Judy (mother-in-law), Kids, and hubby posing!The Falls!

Kiddies posing in front of the falls!
Judy getting nervous haha
Posin' again!
And again!
And again!


Lea runnin' on the rocks!
Alec, Me, Michael, Judy, Lea .... posing in front of the Falls!
Lea... the angelic look.
Alec... the goofy grin!
posin' again

FeFe takin' pics, Judy watchin Lea run.
Again
FeFe with her babies!
Again!
FeFe looking around!

Lea with the relief figure on the rock.
The kiddies posing!
Again.
Again.
Runnin' around.

Lookin' around!
Again.
The Beautiful Falls!
Beautiful!
Lea again!

I am Blessed! Truly Blessed!

Hi all:

This post will not be a long one. I wanted to touch base with everyone and let you know that I did, in fact, have my gall bladder removed on Thursday of this past week. I am extremely blessed because as the surgeon removed my gall bladder, it ruptured. The surgeon found a ton of stones and found that it was severely diseased and inflamed. Normally, I wouldn't think that would be a big deal, but just 2 days prior to my surgery, another lady related to one of my colleagues, was found dead in her bed. Her gall bladder had ruptured while she was sleeping and it had went to her heart and killed her. I feel so extremely blessed that I had this surgery and got all this taken care of. I am glad that God let the pain set in 2 weeks ago and let me go to the ER to see what was going on. Imagine if I hadn't have done that. I could have died like the other lady!

I've had a rough few days. I have 5 holes in me and I am unsure if they did something a little different with my surgery. Everyone had spoken of the surgery as though it would be nothing major. It wasn't for them. I guess it just depends on your personal body and how it reacts and what exactly they have to do while they are in there. Anyway, it's been a lot worse than I expected. I am up and about as much as I can be. I made it to the shower all by myself today and I fixed my own dry, flip-flop waffles. I am really working hard to get myself going. However, I am still very weak and sore. I can't imagine how sore I'd be if I hadn't have pulled myself up and made myself do things and walk and stretch.

I have thanked God a lot in the last few days for my family. They have been so wonderful through all of this. My daddy called the morning of my surgery to let me know he was praying and that I was going to be ok. He doesn't handle waiting at the hospital well, so he worked to stay busy and called ever so often to check on me. My mother and brother both took off that day to come help me out. My mom has been down every day to help me and to keep me company. She bought ingredients last nite to make my favorite dinner tomorrow. She is my rock! My mother-in-law has called a few days a day to check also. She talked with me to keep me company and listened contently. And my husband! He has really stepped up to the plate to take care of me. He laid with me the night after my surgery and was so scared. He kept taking my temperature (possible infection from the rupture) and commenting on how pale I was. He started making me eat to get energy after I passed out. He ran out to the store about a million times to get anything I needed to help me. He took off work, even though he could have gotten in trouble, just because he was scared to leave me Friday morning. He has really been awesome! I am so blessed to have the family that I have.

However, I have to admit, I have been slightly depressed from being unable to do anything. I guess it's worse because of the fact that I was out of work the week before and stuck here in bed hurting. I feel like I've lived in my bed for the past 2 weeks and I pretty much have. It's depressing to be unable to do anything for yourself. I actually came home the day of the surgery and tried to fold laundry. My husband and mother flipped out on me. By that night, I was in so much pain from the air that they had sewn up inside me, that I collapsed on Michael and was out cold. It was horrible. But I made it through and I am a lot better today than I was then.

Please, don't think I am complaining. I'm not. I could be dead. However, I have learned that my body doesn't respond as well to things as others. I am truly blessed that Jesus has cradled me in His arms through this whole thing. He has been my friend in the early morning hours when I couldn't lay flat in the bed and I had no one to talk to. He has watched the salty tears roll down my face when I've been lonely as everyone left to get back to their jobs and responsibilities. He is truly my ever present help in times of need. A comforting passage through the whole thing is this:

Psalm 6
1O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
3My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
10Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

God bless each of you. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. I appreciate each of you for everything that you do, say, and pray. I love each of you!

A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES...... *WAVING TO EACH OF THEM* HI GUYS!

Hebrews 12:1-2 King James Version

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Wow! This is today's verse on my www.myway.com page. Amazing! This is the exact verse that Danielle's mother and I look to when we ache to know what she is doing in Heaven. Look at this verse in break down with me.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
THINK ABOUT IT. ALL OF OUR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE US ARE WITNESSING OUR LIVES. THEY ARE WATCHING US RUN OUR RACE. SOME PEOPLE ASK IF THIS IS SO? IT'S IN PLAIN TEXT RIGHT HERE IN THE KJV OF THE HOLY BIBLE, GOD'S WORD. HOW AMAZING IS THAT? THINK ABOUT THE TIMES THAT YOU ARE FEELING SO HEAVY WITH BURDENS AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY MAKE IT THROUGH, THERE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND, YOUR PAPAWS, YOUR MAMAW, YOUR SISTER, YOUR CHURCH FAMILY, ETC CHEERING YOU ON FROM HEAVEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS, GOD'S MIND IS SO COMPLEX THAT HE CAN CREATE THINGS FROM NOTHING, HE DID WITH ME, BUT HE HAS SPOKEN THIS INTO ORDER AND HERE WE HAVE OUR LOVED ONES, PRECIOUS SAINTS WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE US, CHEERING US ON EACH MOMENT!

let us lay aside every weight,

THIS PART SAYS TO LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT. OK, IS THAT TALKING ABOUT OUR BODY WEIGHT? HOPE NOT! HAHA NO, IT'S ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE WEIGHTS THAT WE CONTINUALLY ADD ONTO OUR SHOULDERS AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH DAY OF OUR LIFE IN THIS WORLD. WE PLACE THE WEIGHT OF GUILT, THEN A COUPLE OF POUNDS OF SHAME, A POUND OR TWO OF SORROW, 5 POUNDS OF GRIEF, ETC. HERE WE STAND ON MONDAY, AND BY FRIDAY, WE ARE SO DISCOURAGED AND WEIGHT BEARING THAT WE CAN BARELY STAND NO LONGER. NO WONDER FOLKS DON'T WANT TO BE CHRISTIANS! IT'S EASY TO DO! I DO IT MYSELF. BUT THIS PART OF THE VERSE IS TELLING US TO STAND UP AND SHRUG OFF THOSE WEIGHTS. WE HAVE THE GREATEST PROMISE POSSIBLE! NO MATTER WHAT WE GO THROUGH HERE, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE BETTER IN HEAVEN. WE SHOULD WALK WITH OUR HEAD HELD HIGH AND A SMILE ON OUR FACE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO WANT WHAT WE HAVE! BEING A CHRISTIAN IS A BLESSING, NOT A BURDEN!

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

OOOOOOH...WE ALL HAVE 'EM. THIS PART SAYS FOR US TO LAY ASIDE OUR BESETTING SIN! MY PASTOR PREACHES ON THIS A LOT! A BESETTING SIN IS ANY SIN THAT YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS ABOUT AND THEN CONTINUALLY PICK BACK UP AND CONTINUE TO SEEK PLEASURE IN DOING SO. IT MAY BE DRUGS, LUST, OR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS BARELY WORTH WORRYING ABOUT LIKE CURSING OR BEING HATEFUL ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE TO GIVE THESE TO GOD AND DO OUR VERY BEST TO NOT INTERFERE AND PICK THEM BACK UP!

and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

I LIKE THIS PART. RUN WITH PATIENCE. IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OXYMORON DOESN'T IT? WHENEVER YOU ARE RUNNING YOU ARE USUALLY TRYING TO HURRY WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT YOU ARE IMPATIENT FOR THE GOAL. SO, GOD IS TELLING US, YOU'LL REACH YOUR GOAL IF YOU JUST STAY THE COURSE. BE PATIENT, RUN AS HARD AS YOU CAN NOT TO HURRY AND FINISH, BUT SO THAT YOU WILL BE BLESSED WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID ACCOMPLISH DURING YOUR RUN!


Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

LOOKING UNTO JESUS! HOW BEAUTIFUL. NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A MORE BEAUTIFUL NAME! IT SAYS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH..... HE GAVE US A START AND HE WILL OPEN HIS ARMS TO US AS WE CROSS OVER JORDAN TO BE WITH HIM. LOOK TO HIM IN EVERY SITUATION. DON'T THINK EARTHLY! TOO MANY OF US DO THAT TOO MUCH OF THE TIME. THINK HEAVENWARD. 93 AND A HEART ATTACK ISN'T GONNA BE MY END, BUT MY NEW BEGINNING (HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING THAT IS!)

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

HE ENDURED THE CROSS. FOR OUR JOY TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH HIM! WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN IF HE HADN'T HAVE DONE THIS!

despising the shame,

HE DESPISED THE SHAME THAT HE WENT THROUGH. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HANG NAKED IN FRONT OF YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER? NOT ME. JESUS DID THAT. IT EMBARRASSED HIM. HE HUNG THERE IN PAIN AND IN SHAME, HERE'S THE BEST PART, FOR YOU AND ME!


and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
BUT THE BEST PART IS THIS.... HE DIED YES.... BUT HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE AND HE HOLDS THE KEYS TO DEATH, HELL, AND THE GRAVE IN HIS NAIL SCARRED HANDS. HE IS SITTING AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND ON HIS THRONE WHERE HE DESERVES TO BE!

TO FINISH, I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE. EVEN IF IT'S BEEN YEARS, I CAN PROMISE YOU, THEY ARE STILL HURTING. I PRAY THAT THEY EACH HAVE GOD TO TURN TO. SEND THEM ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRAYERS. TAKE TIME OUT TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE LOVED ONE IF THEY SO DESIRE. HOW BLESSED OF GOD ARE THOSE THAT CARE FOR THE GRIEVING HEARTS! I ASK THAT ALSO READ HANNAH SOBESKI'S WEB JOURNAL WHICH IS BEING CONTINUED ON AFTER HER DEATH. THERE'S SOME BEAUTIFUL WORDS FROM A GRIEVING MOTHER THAT TOTALLY RELIES ON GOD THERE. HER AUNT IS PRETTY AMAZING, TOO. CHECK OUT TODAY'S ENTRY FROM HER MOTHER. IT SO REMINDED ME OF WHAT MY BEST FRIEND DANIELLE'S MOTHER VERNA MUST FEEL DAILY. GOD BLESS HER HEART! SHE IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF JESUS TO ME.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

***THE PICTURE ABOVE IS OF HANNAH WITH A COUPLE OF STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL I TEACH AT! AMAZING. I NEVER MET HER BUT WE HAD CONNECTIONS. THE LITTLE GIRL IN ORANGE KNEW WHO SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY AND TOLD ME OF HANNAH'S EXPLANATION OF GOD TO HER:

"HE'S LIKE A GREAT WIND, YOU CAN'T SEE THE WIND, BUT YOU CAN FEEL IT AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT DOES!"

THIS SAME LITTLE GIRL HAS REQUESTED THIS PICTURE FROM ME (I FOUND IT ON ONE OF THE REMEMBERING HANNAH SITES) BECAUSE HANNAH MADE SUCH AN IMPACT ON HER! GOD USES THOSE WHO ARE WILLING AND HANNAH WAS WILLING! I WANT TO WILLING, DON'T YOU?

Greetings from my bed!

Let me first begin by saying, THANK YOU to all those who have been praying for me. I am feeling a lot (not totally) better. I went to the doctor today and they are going to run another test on me on Tuesday afternoon to see if they can pinpoint exactly what's going on. So whether or not I'll have surgery next week is not certain. I ask that you all continue to pray for God's will to be accomplished.


Let me also mention that Michael is now working at Legend Suzuki in Corbin, Ky. He started on Thursday of this week. Send anyone you know or even yourselves out the see him if there is a need for a car in the future. I (he) would greatly appreciate it. Anyone in sales knows that in order to do well you must build a customer basis. Please, help us by PRAYING for him daily to do well and secondly by spreading the word. Just for kicks I am going to copy and paste my little ad for him onto this post. Feel free to copy it and send it to whomever you wish.

Ms. Alesha Brittain-Goodlett’s Husband is now at a new location:
Legend Suzuki of Corbin, Ky
If you or anyone you know needs a new or preowned car, please send them to Legend. Tell them to specifically ask for
Michael Goodlett
and I promise that he will treat them right!

Ps. Legend has more than just Suzukis! Various preowned vehicles are available of various brands. Also, Suzuki will be opening a new Suzuki Motorsport Store in the next little while.

Cute huh? Also, check out their website www.legendsuzuki.com . There's something called a bird dog club and it's a pretty cool referral program. You can actually make money by referring customers to Michael. Click on that link to learn more.

America the Amazing.... Gerald R. Ford is laid to rest after a 6 day state funeral.

After watching the final moments of the state funeral for President Gerald R. Ford I was reminded, once again, just how amazing our wonderful nation is.

God has truly blessed America and we so easily forget it. How beautiful it was to watch President Ford be honored with a beautiful flag draped across his casket while folks passed through the capital rotunda to pay their respects.


How astonishing it was to watch his casket be carried to his burial site on his museum grounds by the soldiers who so carefully honored him by following their duties eloquently.





Amazing to see the 21 gun salute and the 21 jet planes fly overhead to honor President Ford. More amazing, the parallels to our precious Heavenly Father's number of perfection 7. When we use that number of perfection and multiply it by the Triune number of our Godhead (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit... 3) we get 21. Is it coincidental? I think not.


It's all in God's plan to bless America for honoring and standing up for Israel. Thank God we have a Godly, Christian president President George W. Bush, who is continuing to follow God's lead in leading our country. As sad as it is that we have soldiers dying and that we are still at war, America is doing the right thing. God's holy word proves it and I fear what will happen to our nation when the next Presidential election is held. Lord help us!


I leave you with a biography of Gerald R. Ford from The White House website.

Gerald R. Ford
When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts."
It was indeed an unprecedented time. He had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign.
Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks. There were the challenges of mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace.
The President acted to curb the trend toward Government intervention and spending as a means of solving the problems of American society and the economy. In the long run, he believed, this shift would bring a better life for all Americans.
Ford's reputation for integrity and openness had made him popular during his 25 years in Congress. From 1965 to 1973, he was House Minority Leader. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1913, he grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He starred on the University of Michigan football team, then went to Yale, where he served as assistant coach while earning his law degree. During World War II he attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy. After the war he returned to Grand Rapids, where he began the practice of law, and entered Republican politics. A few weeks before his election to Congress in 1948, he married Elizabeth Bloomer. They have four children: Michael, John, Steven, and Susan.
As President, Ford tried to calm earlier controversies by granting former President Nixon a full pardon. His nominee for Vice President, former Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, was the second person to fill that office by appointment. Gradually, Ford selected a cabinet of his own.
Ford established his policies during his first year in office, despite opposition from a heavily Democratic Congress. His first goal was to curb inflation. Then, when recession became the Nation's most serious domestic problem, he shifted to measures aimed at stimulating the economy. But, still fearing inflation, Ford vetoed a number of non-military appropriations bills that would have further increased the already heavy budgetary deficit. During his first 14 months as President he vetoed 39 measures. His vetoes were usually sustained.
Ford continued as he had in his Congressional days to view himself as "a moderate in domestic affairs, a conservative in fiscal affairs, and a dyed-in-the-wool internationalist in foreign affairs." A major goal was to help business operate more freely by reducing taxes upon it and easing the controls exercised by regulatory agencies. "We...declared our independence 200 years ago, and we are not about to lose it now to paper shufflers and computers," he said.
In foreign affairs Ford acted vigorously to maintain U. S. power and prestige after the collapse of Cambodia and South Viet Nam. Preventing a new war in the Middle East remained a major objective; by providing aid to both Israel and Egypt, the Ford Administration helped persuade the two countries to accept an interim truce agreement. Detente with the Soviet Union continued. President Ford and Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev set new limitations upon nuclear weapons.
President Ford won the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 1976, but lost the election to his Democratic opponent, former Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia.
On Inauguration Day, President Carter began his speech: "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land." A grateful people concurred.
For more information about President Ford, please visit the Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum

God's Grace .... It wasn't my acid reflux!

I am writing to inform everyone that God has awesome Grace. Seriously, His grace on me this week has been amazing. What is grace? We hear it all the time. But can we define it? Merriam-Webster defines grace as 1 a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace. God has definitely had grace on my situation of sickness this week. I know He will continue to do so with the upcoming decisions to be made regarding this situation.

My Sunday morning post talked about how sick I woke up being. Well it continued until Monday night and I finally couldn't handle it any longer. Michael took me to the ER and they ran tests and gave me pain meds (which knocked me for a loop since I've never even had a sip of alcohol in my whole life!) They found out that I'm having gall bladder attacks and I have a bacteria in my stomach. So now I am having to take a pain med and Phenegran every 6-8 hours plus a Prevpack with 3,000 mg of antibiotics and stomach acid medication. I have had to call in to work today (our first day back) in order to go have an ultrasound on my gall bladder. I have a doctor's appointment on Friday at 1pm to get my results. Even though it sounds nuts, I am hoping that they have to remove it so that I don't ever have to go through this again. However, God's will will be done in the situation.

It's amazing how God works. I could have went down with this sickness while I was out of town or while I was watching my niece and nephew, but He helped it to hold off until the right time. Grant it, I would never wish this pain on ANYONE, but pain is a part of life and is a sign from one's body to let them know something is wrong. I guess we will soon see what exactly is wrong with my body.

I request that each of you reading this remember me in prayer. I am so up in the air with what to do right now. I have saved up days at work for the past few years just so that I could have a child down the road and I really hate having to miss days upon days. I am in limbo because I feel a lot better than I did Monday night, and I feel ok with my pain medication; however I don't know whether to go on to work tomorrow or to just wait it out. If I do end up having surgery, the receptionist said that it would probably be next week, so I hate missing all these days before having that done and then having to miss even more after it is done. But, as confusing as this situation is, God will guide me through it and everything will work out the way that it it suppose to work out.

I am including below various information about the gall bladder and its attacks and symptoms. I had no clue this was what was hurting me for months and someone reading this might just be in the same boat. So here ya go:

What are the symptoms of a gallbladder attack?

Symptoms may include one or more of the following: chest pain in the right side (caused by stones in the bile duct or inflammation or swelling of the gallbladder itself). Nausea or queasiness, vomiting and gas are frequent. There may or may not be belching or burping. The gall bladder, which sits just below the rib cage to the right of the stomach, is very tender to touch. It can be so painful that it takes your breath away.

You may not be able to walk without bending over. Sometimes the pain radiates through to the back shoulder blade on the right side or in the middle between the shoulder blades. This is pain from the gallbladder being referred to the back of the shoulder. This back shoulder blade chest pain is one of the most common yet unknown symptoms of a gallbladder disorder. This can come and go or be constant. It may be sharp, excruciating or dull. It may also occur especially at night.

An gallbladder attack will typically last for one to four hours.

What causes gallbladder attacks?

The pain can come from a stone making its way down the biliary duct (or bile tube) toward the (duodenum) small intestine. It can also be caused by a back up of bile in the gallbladder (with or without stones) that causes it to swell from fullness causing discomfort. Or it can come from an infected gallbladder itself that becomes inflamed (cholecystitis).