Got my Jesus on!!!!

Haven't been to church in a while because I really haven't found the right church. I know all churches are "right" but want to find one that I know is the right fit for me and the girls. I leave my husband out of the picture because he doesn't go to church as much as I would. Went to visit small church here in our town because my favorite pastor, Denny Burris, was speaking about how he died twice and how God brought him back because he wasn't done with him yet. I love to listen to him preach. His sermon was very emotional and you could see how much it touched his life. I love it when a grown man can cry in public and not feel bad about it. He talked about how his family and friends took care of him while he was laying there and knew nothing was going on. This man is a walking miracle. He should not be alive after all that he went through. It was so nice to see old friends from Lancaster there and all his family members. It brought back many memories when I used to cut through the neighborhood yards to go over to the Burris' house to hang out.

I am going to make a promise to myself to find the "right" church for me and the girls. The girls are older now and I think that going to church to hear the message is important for them. When I go to church it just starts my week off right. I am in a better mood and feel ready to conquer the world.

Denny's message really hit home for me. He said that God is there all the time. There are many times that we ask him "Why is this happening?" He said it is the enemy trying to take over. So, I am going to fight off the enemy and not let him take over.

Some good things have finally started to happen in my life lately that I felt weren't going to so as far as I can see it, the scoreboard reads:

Shawn 1 Enemy 0

LOTS means a lot!

The dictionary meaning of lot(s):

A large extent, amount, or number.

b. Used adverbially with a or in the plural to mean "to a great degree or extent" or "frequently."

2.

a. A piece of land having specific boundaries, especially one constituting a part of a city, town, or block.

b. A piece of land used for a given purpose.

3.

a. The complete grounds of a film studio.

b. The outdoor area of a film studio.

4. An object used in making a determination or choice at random.

5.

a. The use of objects in making a determination or choice at random.

b. The determination or choice so made.

6. Something that befalls one because of or as if because of determination by lot.

7. One's fortune in life; fate.

8. A number of associated people or thing.

9. Kind; type.

10. Miscellaneous articles sold as one unit.

Now, what it means to me and my family:

When my girls, my nieces, and my nephews were younger when we ended a conversation or left each other we would say "love you lots!". The kids were young and all they got out of it was "lots!" So, my parents started ending our visits or conversations with "lots!" many years ago. So, that is the story of "lots!"

These days so many families forget to say "I love you" or express their feelings. I think that it is so important to make sure you let people know how you feel about them and how important they are to your life. I hurts me every time I think about the last visit I had with my Nannie. I was with her all alone at her house when I just stopped by out of the blue to visit her. She carried on a conversation with me for a good 20 minutes or so before she asked me who I was. She was getting older and she just couldn't figure out how she knew me. She thought I was the daughter of someone from her church. Even though she didn't know me, it hurts because I didn't tell her that I loved her when I left that day. That was the last conversation I had with her before she passed away in 2005.

My other grandmother Mamaw has always ended our visits and phone calls with "I love you." Even if you forgot to tell her something and called her right back, she would still say it again before hanging up. Mamaw is now in her 80's and can't remember a conversation she had with you 5 minutes so there are no more instant "I love you!" before she hangs up. You have to tell her first and she will say it back because you said it. Even though she won't remember in 5 minutes that I told her that I loved her, I will always tell her because I never know when it is going to be my last "I love you!"

Even though "LOTS!" might sound stupid to others, it means a lot to me and my family. Take a moment with your family to come up with some quirky word or saying that has a special meaning to you and your family. I will always cherish every "LOTS!" I get from my nieces, nephews, parents, kids, etc.

So, until next time ~LOTS~

Looking back

Ok, I have decided to try blogging again. I think I need somewhere to vent. I already open my mouth too much already so why not write what I have to say all over the internet and let the world read it too. It's funny because I started looking back on my blog and I said the same thing about blogging on a regular basis two years ago. I am going to write something at least once a week no matter what. That's my promise (for now anyway). :)

Funny how looking back through my blog I see that two years ago I said that I was also going to get my yard landscaping done. Hmmmm, two years later and that hasn't happened either. Well, I have made a little progress since then. I had a bunch of stone delivered last week to start the beds with so I guess I have gotten somewhere.

Well, it's a start. Stay tuned to see what I will open my big mouth and say next. Till then, LOTS!!!

FYI: My family says LOTS when we leave each other or end a conversation. I will explain in my next blog what LOTS means to me and my family.

Spring is in the air!!!

Gosh, I love spring!!! I really got into the "spring" mood today because I bought a great smelling candle at The Hydrangea House this morning and brought it to work. The scent is "Sweet Melon" and smells delicious. Everyone that walks by wants to know what that smell is. It makes me think of a picnic outside with a bucket of fried chicken, fresh fruits, and a great big glass of sweet tea.
I am so ready for the beautiful spring weather so we can go outside. My girls love to be out in the yard or fishing with their Papaw. They fish almost daily when the weather is pretty. As soon as they get home they are ready to get out on the boat on our lake we had put in behind our house. We like to use the word "lake" because we have a large 4 acre "lake" and we also have a little 1/2 pond. So, that is why we say lake!!
I am really going to try this year to have a beautiful yard. I want to plant some flowers and/or make some flowerbeds. We have lived in our house and have yet to plant a tree in the yard. I AM going to get some planted this year for sure.
Spring is in the air!!!

Economy vs. Termites

I am probably the only person that wishes that termites would show up!!! It is about to be what us bug people call "termite season". This is the time of year that we make all our money. We are busy from usually the end of March until around Aug. Termites treatments cost hundreds of dollars so we can do less work and make more money!!! Gotta love that!!!! We are concerned this year because of the economy. Will people still spend the money to treat or just let the little suckers keep eating away at their house?
We have really had to think about this and how we can help our customers so that they can get their homes treated and still be able to live with the economy. We have notice some drop in pest control because several customers that we have had for 13-14 yrs. have lost their jobs and have to cut back. Some consider pest control a luxury. I guess everyone has to adapt so they can afford what they really think they need.
Hopefully this economy will not affect us during our "busy season." We will see!!!!

Get off the damn phone!!!

People! We don't want to hear what your conversation is about. My husband and I like to go to lunch daily where we can sit down, enjoy a conversation without kids, and get away from the busy office. Lately though, we have not been able to enjoy our lunch because people around us are on their cellphones having loud conversation that I really care nothing about hearing. We were at Blackeyed Pea the other day and 2 women come in and sit in the booth across from us. I can hear this lady talking really loud and turn to see that she is on the phone. She sat there the whole time on the phone and had a woman with her during lunch. Why bring a friend to lunch when you are going to stay on your cell phone the whole time. Then, that same day a lady sitting at the next table over had her phone ringing loudly during lunch and she got on her phone. At least she was quiet and got off the phone quickly.

This doesn't just happen at lunch, it happens everywhere. I have been in Chevron twice in the last week and both times the people in front of me were on the phone talking so loud that I could hear everything they were talking about. The one guy could not even swipe is credit card right three times because he was too busy talking. I wanted to grab the phone and throw it on the ground and break it in a million pieces.

Don't get me wrong about cell phones. I am so addicted to mine. I have one with all the "bells and whistle." I can get email, texted, talk, surf the internet, and crazy as it sounds I can even do a Excel spreadsheet or a Word document on mine (not like I have ever used it for that though.) I don't have a home phone anymore because I only used my cell phone. It wakes me up every morning and it has to be by my side or I panic. I keep my conversations private though. I step away from a group if I need to use it in public or I talk when I am alone.

People just think about the people around you. Don't pollute their air with your noisy conversation. "Respect" is all I am asking for.

Privately yours,
Shawn

I hate bugs!!!

Why did God have to invent June Bugs? I hate, hate, hate these bugs. They freak me out with all the buzzing and those sticky legs. You would think that I would not have a problem with bugs owning a pest control company but I do. These bugs need to be eliminated from the face of this Earth. Another thing. Why do they call them June Bugs when they are abundant in March, April, May, and June? I loved it the other morning when I pulled out of the girls' school and there were hundreds of them dead in the drive of the school. Yeah, at least those cannot repopulate this Earth. I know it is stupid to be blogging about bugs but they drive me crazy. Maybe I can invent some kind of pesticide that will elimate them all. I will have to work on that. Stayed tuned to see if I am the next greatest inventor of "June Bug Eliminator". Maybe I can get my own reality show about killing bugs---LOL. PS. If you have not watched "The Exterminators" on TV, don't because it is sooooo stupid and that is NOT what most pest control companies do or act like.
On a mission to kill those crazy bugs,
Shawn