Fantastic teacher . . .

Here is a great first audition for the Britain's show X-factor... Check it out and let me know what you think about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zLkailhsqk

McDonald's and a Show

These guys are great! Check them out - gotta love a cappella music and these guys made it sound as good as it is....

Encouragement

I ran across the new website (in)courage and it asked us this morning what encourages us. Encouragement comes in many different avenues.. ..here's a few for me.

• Music - Music can stir up a boatload of emotions and there are many songs out there that are such an encouragement to me. "It Is Well With My Soul", "Heart of Worship", "Everlasting God" to name a few. These songs immediately bring me encouragement when I hear them - even if I'm not realizing that I need encouraging yet. But my Heavenly Father knows that I need encouraging and He always provides a song at the right time - in the right place and my focus shifts to the place I should be - focusing on God and who He is and what HE will do for me.
• Scripture - In the same way that music encourages me, so does the scripture and many times the songs I am given include scripture. The verse that gives me encouragement no matter my mood is Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you future and a hope..." What better encouragement is there than that I ask you?
• Nature - Rain specifically. I love the sound of falling rain and thunderstorms. I love to sit on my porch and watch the rain fall and relax and reflect on God's promises during this time. Also as part of nature is seeing the gorgeous scenery that God has put here for us to enjoy. lately I have seen many "picture perfect" spots and that in itself is encouragement that God would love me enough to give me that scenery to enjoy and reflect upon His goodness and greatness through the "shot".
• Family - this includes my children, grandchildren, mom, sister, brother, husband, cousins, aunts - anyone who is part of my family at some time or another has encouraged me sometimes even without even knowing it.
• Friends - same as family - they are there when I need something or call at just the time I need to hear their voice - encouraging me through the situation.
• This kind of goes with the scripture but just being still. Sometimes I get so busy in my own little world that I am afraid I will miss something that God is giving me. I need to "Be still and know that I am God" and allow myself that time to reflect, be encouraged and rejuvenated in able to serve in the best way I can.

Farkle Anonymous, Anyone?

It is a well known fact (to those who know me well) that I am a facebook junkie. I love the fact that I can connect with people I haven't talked to in some time and have reignited some friendships. .... I have 3 farms (my farm, farmville and Farm Town) and now I have a home on Yoville. I tried the Sorority Life application but didn't like it too well and quit that life.

Well, I have seen posts from people talking about Farkle - and thought I would never get into that. It sounded stupid and who wants to go around saying "FARKLE" all the time? No, not me. So I ignored those posts and went on my merry way. Well....this week was my first week on summer break and I saw one of those farkle posts and decided "what the heck, let's take a look!" And now I am addicted! What a stupid dice game and I am addicted. I reordered all my bookmarks at the bottom to include my farms, yoville and Farkle... When I don't have any thing to do - I farkle. While Dave is watching baseball.. I farkle. I even downloaded the farkle application for my IPOD! I love farkle.. have you tried to farkle yet? If not, what is stopping you? the fact that it is addicting? the fact that all you are doing is rolling dice, (well, really the computer is rolling the dice, but what's a little semantics?)? the fact that if you farkle you lose your points for that round? Go ahead - give it a try? Farkle a little bit.. and I'm sure we will meet in that quiet room, downstairs one day. You know the one - where everyone at one time or another will say. "Hi. My name is Judi and I am a farkle-addict."

Happy Farkling!

Dang! Is this awesome - or scary!?!

A few pics of the last month

Here are a few pictures of the events of the summer so far......

Shayne

waiting for a quick game of hoops

thumbs up....

Keith Urban in concert...

I'll Keep You Posted

So, I started this blog with the multi-intention of chronicling my weight loss and keeping up with the family. It appears that I have not done such a great job of keeping it updated so I am making a promise to myself (and you if you care) that I am going to blog at least 2 times a week. That's not that much to ask - I'm on the computer all the time anyway so why can't I take 5 minutes and at least update my blog?

So there it is... I'll chronicle a little of what has transpired in the last month...

End of June started summer school and I continued working through the days. Not that bad, it gives me something to do and keeps me from getting totally bored. July 17 Dave and I drove to Fresno to see Sugarland and KEITH URBAN!!!!!! Amazing, awesome, fantabulous show! They are both amazing and I loved seeing Keith. Of course, the weather in Fresno is much warmer (10+ degrees) so when we got there it was 110 and when we came out of the concert at 11:3o pm it had cooled down so much! It was only 90!!!!! Dang, did the air conditioner feel good in the hotel!

As we were leaving the concert we drove by the semi's that haul Keith's equipment and I was able to talk to one of the drivers for a minute. They were heading to Las Vegas (Sat) for a show and then to LA (Sun). Busy weekend. As we pulled out of the driveway Keith's bus pulled out in front of us - with police escort and Keith's motorcycle trailer behind it... (sigh).... It was a great weekend!

Then Thursday, July 23 - Nanci, Dave & I head to Sacramento to .....

see KEITH URBAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Twice in one week! Ahhhh - heaven!

The show again was amazing and, since I had seen it the week before, knew exactly when he would leave the stage and walk through the crowd heading to his back stage. Nanci and I headed down and actually was able to touch his arm as we walked by us... NICE!!!!!! (I know, such a teen-age comment.. lol)

Anyway... another amazing show. Sugarland was not there for this show but Keith was totally worth it all by himself!

On Sunday, July 19 I was voted in at church to be the Sunday School Director so that is keeping me busy in between everything I am doing. I am very excited to be involved in this way and am looking forward to bringing some life back to Sunday School.

Summer School is now over and I am enjoying my 2 weeks before I go back to work on the 17th. Again, just enough time to relax before I start getting bored out of my mind.

Summer - bring it on...

I'll keep you posted!