It's my most favorite time of year! When the temperatures cool enough to open the windows....Yesterday and today are the kind of weather I think I could handle year round! Cooler weather just makes me smile! I went for a walk this morning and in the shade got a shiver! :D One thing I need to be more conscious of though, is my husband isn't as fond of cool weather as I am. My motto is I would rather put on another blanket or sweatshirt than close the windows! :D He's a good sport though! Thank you, sweetsie! 

I am so blessed! I don't remind myself of that often enough!

Jason preached this morning; it was so good, as usual! Something he said really hit me in regard to my struggles with B: He was using Ephesians 6:11-14. He was talking about conflicts with people etc. and how the person isn't your enemy.

 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:12)

Then I read this in Josh Graves' blog:

"We only get one brief shot to make a difference in this world. Most of us might not have the opportunity (or burden) to impact the world to the degree of Eli Wiesel. I am certain, however, that with our very words, we can create and heal more worlds than we'd ever thought possible."

How much of a difference will I make when I stop thinking of him as my enemy and start realizing what a healer God  could use me to be in his life? 

Being a stepmom is still hard. I keep thinking it's going to get easier, but I'm not sure. There are times when it seems like it's getting easier, and then something happens that just slaps me in the face. The most difficult thing for me is how it hurts my husband. There isn't much I hate more than knowing that I have hurt or am hurting my husband. I think I'M in a no-win situation; he is even more so. Yet the selfish part of me keeps wanting him to see MY side. UGH! 

Well, we are home from our vacation! We had a blast in Detroit volunteering at the PGA Championship! The weather was FABULOUS! We didn't have to work until Thursday, so we spent Monday-Wednesday watching golf. We saw most of our favorite golfers and got some great pictures. We even saw Jim Nantz from CBS on Wednesday! Monday we ran into Doug Ferguson about 5 minutes after we got there. We got to have dinner with him Monday night and then saw him off and on while we worked Thursday-Sunday. It wasn't as busy as last year, but it was still fun! The people we worked with were really nice, especially our committee chairperson. Wednesday night, we met Eric, Natalie and Melaina Magnusson for dinner. Of course, Melaina took right to Doug! :D 

We decided that we will do well retired: we loved all the time we got to spend together!

I know, I know....It's been a while. :D

I have been having SO MUCH FUN finding old friends on Facebook! People I haven't been in contact with for YEARS! I just love it! And one of the most amazing things is that I have been finding people on other people's friend list. And I didn't know Friend A knew Friend B! The world is SO small, especially in the church. I LOVE IT!

I've been feeling rather blah lately and I don't know why. Things at our house have been busy, but good. We got B graduated. :D It's still hard to believe! It probably won't sink in until fall when he starts college. 

I'm really excited about starting our ladies Bible study tonight! 

But I am very weary of small group. We met last night to discuss what we wanted from small group. I froze. I didn't say a word. I wanted to, but for some reason, I couldn't. My husband was disappointed in me, which makes me sad. I really feel the need for a break, but I couldn't say it. I have a hard time voicing opinions that I SHOULD voice and a much too easy time voicing opinions that I should keep to myself! 

I am sitting here listening to the rain. It's kind of dark and dreary today, but the grass and trees are so green, it's not all that bad. I started to go out and run around some and then decided I would just come back home. So I have been surfing the Internet and catching up with old friends via Facebook. 

We spent a wonderful week in southern California last week. The first three days were chill time for Doug and I; boy, did we need that! It was so much fun to be away and just the two of us! We went to a See's Candies store which was one of the highlights of the trip for me! We put 600 miles on our rental car just driving up down the Pacific Coast Highway. The scenery is beautiful! On Sunday, we got to go to a Dodgers game which was so much fun! It was really hot, but the experience of being at Dodger Stadium was well worth the sweat! 

The rest of our week was spent enjoying the 65th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures. WOW! We heard some awesome speakers and were challenged to live the Sermon on the Mount. The singing was incredible. I love singing at the top of my lungs and still not being able to hear myself! We saw quite a few friends, old and new. 

Next week is graduation and we will celebrate our FIFTH wedding anniversary!! I can hardly believe it! Where did the last five years go?! It has been a fabulous ride!!!

The Lord's Prayer

This was too cute not to share. Thanks for posting, Tammy!!

Well, another Tulsa Workshop is in the books. It was wonderful to see old friends and hear great speakers; and the singing....oh the singing! It's my first memory of the Tulsa Workshop, walking into the Pavilion on Thursday night, the singing already started. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I grew up in relatively small churches,  and to experience that many people in one place praising God, struck pure awe in me. 

Thursday night this year was another highlight for me. Free Indeed and Jerome Williams were leading worship. They called up Booker Murphy to join them. In 1982, he was the "old black man" leading singing that I loved. I was 18; he's not even old now, so I hate to think how old he probably was back then! (In fact, he was probably about the same age I am now!) The song I always associate with him is "I'll Live in Glory". Imagine the thrill that ran through me when that song popped up on the screen while he was leading!!! It was the best! To top it off, I saw he and his wife on Saturday and got to meet him and tell him this story. It truly was one of the highlights of this year's Workshop for me.

I was able to attend several classes this year, all good. Terry Rush, Dusty Rush, Patrick Mead and Josh Graves, Randy Harris....

I love the Tulsa Workshop! 

Boy is God working overtime this morning with reminders of His presence and that He alone is in control, no matter what I may think to the contrary! :o) I love how God works. From my calendar today that reads: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  James 4:8  I have not been feeling particularly close to God lately. Oh, I still pray and read my Bible, the things you are "supposed" to do; but I haven't felt Him close to me. All morning long, I keep being drawn back to the calendar; it's like God is saying to ME: Danna, HEY! Just stay close to me and I will ALWAYS be there with you and for you. So then He draws me to read some blogs this morning. Lindsay and then Heather; and I am reminded again, that He's ALWAYS there....I just have to open my eyes.

Why is it that when you have the TV all to yourself, there isn't one thing to watch except the thing you would be watching if your husband were home?!?!?

WORKSHOP IS NEXT WEEK!!! I said this out loud to a friend today, and it caught me off guard. Not that I wasn't aware of the dates of this year's Workshop; I just couldn't believe it's NEXT WEEK!!! Workshop is one of my most favorite times of year. I have loved it since the first time I came to Tulsa in 1982, when I was 18 years old. What a privilege to get to be a part of this awesome event, not only as an attendee, but as a member at Memorial and then as co-coordinator for 2005, 2007 and 2008. I've already been dreaming about it, wondering who will be here, what old friends I am going to see. And last night I dreamed that no one showed up. :o( 

VALENTINE'S DAY!! I love it! It's a beautiful day today, although a tad windy. I'll take the wind anyday! After all, I lived in the true windy city, Oklahoma City, for many years!

I am so blessed! I have the greatest husband and friends in the entire universe!!!!

It's another dreary day. I never thought I would say this, but I am really ready for some warmer weather! And SUNSHINE!!! I don't think I would survive in the Northwest!

I've entered the world of Facebook. I have to say, it sort of makes me feel cool. :o) It's a really good feeling to know that people want to be your friends.

OK, OK....Since I have been tagged TWICE to do this, I figured I better get at it! And REALLY: Has it been since JULY that I last blogged??????


The Rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, ORShare the 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list, ORShare 5 things you never pictured being in your future when you were 25 years old.Tag a minimum of 5, maximum of 10 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. The tagees have a choice of which they want to do.

I'm gonna have to go with 5 places I would like to see or see again:

1) Niagra Falls~I am amazed by water falls and cannot even comprehend what this place must be like!

2) Whale watching in Maui~OH MAN! This was one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had! It was amazing....and it was really a God moment for me. Our experiences with God's creation are so....everyday sometimes, that I think we forget His magnificance! These gigantic creatures reminded me how small I am in the scheme of things, but what a GREAT and MIGHTY God loves ME!

3) Alaska~Truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

4) The Holy Lands~I would love to see with my own eyes places I have read about my entire life, places where Jesus walked and talked and loved people.

5) Waynesboro, VA~ I lived here for one year and treasure the friendships and experiences. (Can't say that I treasured the experiences at the time, but looking back, it was good.) It's a beautiful part of the country.

So....I will tag, Theresa, Shane M and Sandy.... :o)

Britains Got Talent - A Star Is Born

Terry showed this clip yesterday morning in his sermon. I have not stopped thinking about it since. He used it to show how we look to God. How we think we aren't much, but what GOD sees is THIS! It is powerful!!!

These are some of my dearest friends in OKC. (L to R: Jan, Robin, Denise, Kelly, Sandy and Michelle.) This past weekend was supposed to be our annual girls' weekend at Lake Texoma, but due to all the rain we've been having the past couple of months, it had to be canceled because of flooding. So we met in OKC at Lake Hefner and had dinner together on Friday night. It was a total blast! We ate and laughed and laughed....and laughed! We shared our favorite memories of lake weekends past. I am so blessed to have such great friends!!

So how was your holiday?

Ours was REALLY GOOD!!! We had a really, really fun day with B. I KNOW! It was so awesome! He came over to mow and ended up washing both of our cars (and his!) and staying for dinner with a bunch of company. He was fun and pleasant. It was cool.

We had a cookout at our house and ended up with 21 people! I know that sounds like a lot, and it is, but it honestly didn't seem like that many people. The food was great (thanks, Eric and everyone who brought way yummy food!) and the company even better! Several of our neighbors had purchased fireworks, so we set up our lawn chairs in the driveway and watched them go off. VERY FUN!

We are SO blessed!!!!

So I have been tagged by the sweet Theresa. I think she does this to get me to blog! :o)

Here are the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.

2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


Here we go:

1) I am a rule follower. Last week my husband told me to park behind this white car and I parked DIRECTLY BEHIND the white car! He laughed at me.

2) I love magazines

3) I didn't get married until I was 39

4) I met my husband at York College 25 years ago :o)

5) I really like Bobby Knight, Texas Tech basketball coach

6) I've been on 4 cruises, but none with my husband.

7) If I am going to any kind of get-together, I want to know what others are wearing so I am neither over- or under-dressed

8) I make my bed every morning


Even though I am a confessed rule follower, I don't have 8 people I can tag. So I tag Doug, Jeannie, Shane May and Tammy.

"IF you believe God is sovereign, you have to take a stance of TRUST. "
That one hit me right between the eyes!

So this week's lecture was on my favorite story in the entire Old Testament: Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. The lecture started out talking about how King Neb built this huge gold image and wanted everyone to bow down to it/him. Beth Moore said, "If Babylon is about anything, it's about building an image. If you and I, in truth, are different from what we seem, we are image builders." As I am typing this, I realize this goes right with our video Sunday night at small group talking about going through the motions of "church". Does God really have our hearts? Or are we just going through the motions?

I was on the verge of tears through most of this lecture. God was speaking straight to my heart. I am an image builder. That is part of why I struggle so much with B. It just hit me!

Beth also talked about three different scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial:
1) we can be delivered FROM the fire
2) we can be delivered THROUGH the fire
3) we can be delivered BY the fire

"Full deliverance means no longer smelling like smoke." I never noticed this before, but Daniel 3:27 says that not only did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego come OUT of the fire, they came out unharmed, not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were not scorched and THERE WAS NO SMELL OF FIRE ON THEM. So often we make it through our fiery trials, but people can still smell the smoke on us. I don't want to be stinky. I want to come through whatever trials God will allow me to experience, bringing HIM glory and honor.

Back to that first comment about if God is sovereign we have to take a stance of trust: pray that I will do that in every aspect of my life, but especially regarding B. God is certainly not finished with me yet; why would I think He was finished with this boy?!