BEWARE!!! Conficker Computer Worm Strikes Tomorrow!!

Hey didn't know if you all had heard yet, but there is a

computer worm...

No...not a nice one like Lowly here...

a destructive one that is supposed to be

released tomorrow...April Fool's Day.

They don't know if it will do much damage, but

I heard someone say if you do not need your computer tomorrow

TURN IT OFF!!!

That's the only sure-fire way not to have any

problems with Conficker.

Here is a link to help those who are more computer

savvy than I protect against possible damage.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx

I am turning off for tomorrow!!

NO WE DID IT! WEDNESDAY

We will resume next week!!

Please protect your computer one way or another!

Blessings and hugs,

Becky

Can You Stand It???

Well Sweeties, my little feathered friend showed herself yesterday!!

I couldn't snap a pic, but found this one online...

She is a Carolina Wren!!!

AND...absolutely adorable!!

CAN YOU STAND IT??!!!

How cute is she??

She has added so much joy to my days!!
Truly one of God's little blessings!!

I talk to her each time I come into the door!!

In another week or so...we will hear tiny little birdies

CHIRPING!!!

So, I ask again...

CAN YOU STAND IT!!??

Our oldest daughter (28 yo) decided to name her. Her name is...

Wendy Wren!!!

LOVE IT!!!

Carolina Wrens will make their nests just about anywhere,

and have no problem being in close proximity to humans!

The male and female are together for life, and

the male feeds the female while she's nesting!!

AAwww!! How sweet!!

A lovely picture of God's perfect provision for all of

His creation!!

Thank you all for sharing my joy in this new

little front door occupant!!

I'll be keeping you posted!!!

Take JOY in today!!!

Hugs, Becky

PS: MR. LINKY WILL BE UP TONIGHT FOR

WE DID IT! WEDNESDAY!!

HOPE YOU'LL JOIN THE FUN!!

Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart!!

When I thought about Joy For Our Journey today,

the first thing that popped into my head was...

I've got joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!!

So here you go, Sweeties!!

An uplifting song to start the week with!!

I've Got the Joy In My Heart

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay

And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart
And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart.

I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus
Down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus
Down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart to stay.

And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart
And I'm so happy

So very happy

I've got the love of Jesus in my heart.

I've got the peace that passes understanding
Way down in the depths of my heart!
Where?
Down in the depths of my heart!
Where?
Down in the depths of my heart!
I've got the peace that passes understanding
Way down in the depths of my heart!
Down in my heart to stay

And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart
And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart.

And if the Devil doesn't like it
He can sit on a tack!
Ouch!
Sit on a tack!
Ouch!
Sit on a tack!
And if the Devil doesn't like it
He can sit on a tack!
Ouch!
Sit on a tack to stay!

And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart
And I'm so happy
So very happy

I've got the love of Jesus in my heart!!

These three tags are free for you to use if you'd like.
Just right click, copy and paste!!

I will be posting a birdy update later...so stay tuned!!!

Blessings and joy to you all!!
Becky

Great Birdy News and Spring Sensations!!

As of yesterday, there were still no more little birdy
sightings. I grabbed the bottom of the flower pocket on
my door, and carefully lowered it to look inside,
thinking I was going to remove the nest.

Guess what I saw??!!!

Three little eggs tucked deep inside!!
JOY of JOYS!!!

I quickly and VERY carefully rehung it on the door,
and went inside to get my camera and a chair so I could
snap a photo for Maddy to see.

We can't wait for the little chirps to make their debut!!

Thank you Lord, for this delightful blessing!!
You truly do take great pleasure in surprising us!!


Of course we will not be touching the flower pocket
anymore, although we had already touched it plenty
before she built her nest there.


Hopefully I will be announcing their arrival soon!!



Until then, take a look at these lovely,
fun spring decorations I found!
They are either from Martha or Better Homes and Gardens



This is one of my personal faves! So clever!!
Except it would melt in sunny Florida!!!

This is just so PERKY!! Makes me smile!!

Mmm...I'd like to be at this garden party!!

Another one of my faves!! Such a cute little guy!!

A nest...DUH!! Fave?? Of course!

Adorable way to decorate candles!

A charming and cheerful centerpiece!! Love it!

Hope you enjoyed these fresh spring ideas!!

I've got to get busy and perk up my nest for spring!!

Have a delightful day, Sweeties,

Hugs, Becky

We Did It! Wednesday~~Go Kart Night!!

Welcome to the 6th We Did It! Wednesday!

This fun event is designed to encourage investing

in our family's rich heritage by spending one on one time

with our kids and grandys, no matter their age.

As we share we get new ideas of ways to have fun

together!!

HOPE YOU'LL JOIN IN!!

Just fill in your first name and URL on Mr. Linky
and post the above button with a link back here
so people can visit others who are participating.

We have a miniature golf place in the next little town
that recently added a go kart track. My Maddy was
just dying to go!! She had to watch at our last family
reunion until she finally got in a car with her fave aunt,
my sister Cindy. She became totally enthralled with
driving around this track, but there hadn't been a track
close by...

THAT IS UNTIL NOW!!

Here are Maddy and her best friend, Amanda
waiting patiently as a bunch of teens fill all
the cars and they have to wait.

Here they are in their cars before they started out!

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any other pics of
them driving. I can tell you this...

Maddy is ready for Nascar!!

She is constantly asking her sisters, me,
her Dad, anyone with wheels to take her go karting!!
She simply can't get enough! When we go to reunion
in July, we go to a place in Asheville called The Fun Depot
and their go kart track is two story...AND
now she can drive by herself!!

Look out Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and
and all you who think you can drive!!!
Madison is RED HOT, and lightening fast!!
(ok as red hot and lightening fast as you can be
in a little car that goes what...15-20 mph??)
She has some serious skills, now!!
The next Danicka Patrick for sure!!

So what have you been doing??

Blessings to you sweeties!!
Becky

JOY For Our Journey~~Joys of Friendship

I've been thinking a lot about friendship lately,

and I believe it is truly one of the greatest

sources of joy in this life.

I mean, can you imagine a life without friends?

I certainly can't!

I found these beautiful quotes and hope that by

reading them you will have a renewed

sense of awe and appreciation for those special friends

God has gifted you with!!

"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17


"Friendship doubles your joys, and divides your sorrows." ~ author unknown

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same." ~ Flavia Weedn

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." ~ Albert Schweitzer

"A friend is someone who sings your heart's song back to you when you have forgotten the words." ~ David Coppola, Ph.D.



Stay is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary.
~Louisa May Alcott



Treat your friends as you do your pictures,
and place them in their best light.
~Jennie Jerome Churchill

Please know how very much I appreciate each of you!

You add JOY to my days and it is my delight

to call you FRIENDS!!

Have a glorious week!
Hugs, Becky

Bye-Bye Birdy! Or Maybe Not!!!

As some of you know, there has been a little birdy building a nest in one of the flower pockets on our front doors. Here is the one said birdy took over and disheveled a bit.





Here is a picture of the little nest I took while standing on a chair



The sad truth is that we haven't seen our little birdy for a couple of days, so we don't know if she's coming back or not. MEH!!


My joy at the prospect of the little birdy residing on my front door was snuffed out, and along with the other emotions the day held for me, to be honest...I was struggling.


I told my hubby I was going out to Michael's to get some card making stuff, and to have some time alone. I got some cool stuff, and on my way back into the neighborhood, I stopped at my mailbox. I didn't have my key with me yesterday, so there were a few days of mail in it.


I got home, ate dinner, and got the stack of mail and sat on the sofa to go through it. I felt better than when I left, but still not great.


You know that song that says "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me"?

Well, there was a bubble envelope in the mail from Texas, and it was for me!!

I knew exactly who it was from because this special friend won a little something from me a month or so ago.

I read the sweet note she included (also adorable and handmade)




And then I hurriedly opened the package and to my sheer delight it was full of little birdies from no other than the amazingly talented TAMI at Aunt Mimi's Creations!!!



My eyes were full of joyful tears as I pulled out one after another lovely handmade cards and tags.


Here they are all together...absolutely glorious!!
(you can click photos for a closer view)




A bright red cardinal



A Smith's Longspur tag

A beautiful blue bird tag bearing spring wishes

An "inspired" birdy with Bible verse

And a Happy Birthday burlap, button and flower birdy

Precious Tami, you have no idea how much this charming, thoughtful surprise transformed my evening, and lifted my spirits!!

I thank my God for you and how He used you to truly minister His goodness to me...just when I really needed it!! Thank you so very much for these enchanting pieces of artwork that you poured your time into, and blessed me with.

Hope you all enjoyed viewing her work. You can always see more over at her blog!

If you haven't visited her...you should!! You'll find some beautiful things, and a great friend!!

Joyful blessings,

Becky

Sweet Lemonade!!

I want to wholeheartedly thank Magnolia Memories for giving me this award!! It was her first blog award and we all know how exciting that is!!





I hope you will stop by and visit her colorful, friendly blog!! She's a very encouraging and upbeat bloggy friend I know you'll love!!


On a different note, this is the last blog award or tag I will be able to accept. I LOVE getting awards and being tagged, but have found that my time constraints do not permit me to be able to handle either well. I'm always afraid, too, of forgetting to include someone, and after the fact realized I did that last time.

Plus, I LOVE visiting you all so much that I'd like to keep my blogging time available for that.

A great big thank you to all of you who have recognized my blog with an award! It's a humbling honor that gave me great pleasure!

I think if I ever do the award thing again, it will be an award I create that doesn't come with any responsibility to the recipient, except to receive it and enjoy it!!

Thank you so very much for your understanding!!! You all are the BEST!!!

Love and hugs,
Becky

How Does Your Garden Grow??

It's spring, and time to plant our gardens. As you plant, may I suggest the following rules of green thumb to ensure a bountiful harvest:


Plant three rows of peas:


Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul


Plant four rows of squash:


Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness


Plant four rows of lettuce



Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be obedient
Lettuce really love one another


Plant three rows of turnips:

Turnip for church service
Turnip for meetings
Turnip to help one another


To conclude our garden we must have plenty of thyme



Thyme for God
Thyme for study
Thyme for prayer
Thyme for family
Thyme for friends

I do not have the link to credit for this, but it was something I needed to read, so I thought I would share it with my girls!!

The point of it all: We reap what we sow!!

With all the busyness, distractions, uncertainty, and obstacles, we must still always find "thyme" to carefully cultivate the garden of our hearts!!

What is growing in your garden today?

With Joy and HUGS!!
Becky

Attention!! Attention!!

Hi Sweeties!! I will not be posting We Did It! Wednesday tomorrow!! Won't have time for a post 'til later in the day!! I'm just starting to catch up after a crazy week.

Thanks for your patience!! We will resume We Did It! Wednesday next week!!

That will give everyone time to pull something together and participate, too!!

Joyful Blessings, Friends!!

Becky

JOY for our Journey~Sharing Tidbits of My Joy

Yesterday evening, Randy, me, Maddy, and my niece Kristina were driving out of the neighborhood to go to the coast and watch the space shuttle launch, and this is the sky we saw!!



It immediately made me think of the glory of God that is going to shine so bright in heaven that there will be no need for light!!

Do I hear a HALLELUJAH??!! AMEN!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, you all probably know by now that I adore birds. Right?

A couple of days ago I was feeling a little sad because it seems that our backyard bird population is dwindling...everyone else had more birds singing than us...WAAAHHH!!!

Why couldn't the bird lady have more birds?? WAAAHHH!!!

Well, we have a double front door that I have these two cone shaped flower pockets hanging on.

I thought it a bit strange when the one on the door that is never opened kept getting tilted. Hubby gave some explanation on the laws of physics, and I bought it hook, line, and sinker...that is until...
we saw a little birdy on top of it!

A few days went by and when I was straightening it, I took it down and looked inside...and lo and behold...the beginning of a nest was in it!!!

JOY of JOYS!! Front door birds!!!

Fast forward a couple of days to today, and look who appeared bearing more nest building materials...



How adorable is this??








Needless to say I will keep you abreast of this developing story!! I'm so excited!!!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Now to go boldly where no other blog has ever gone!!!

The Flylady (if you don't know who she is you should check her out!) talks about how important shining your sink is...and I agree...

A shiny sink is a happy sink and makes me smile (although mine is porcelain...a bright white sink is a happy sink!!)


BUT, with that said...


Prepare yourselves...this is almost a holy moment...cue the choir...





A fresh, clean organized fridge just makes my face beam with JOY!!!


Speaking of beams...see that light...I told you it was almost holy!!! LOL!!!


So glad to get this done...it was overdue, and I feel so much better now, don't you?? :)


Those are my tidbits of joy to start off the week!!



Be a blessing!!
HUGS!
Becky

YAY!! We Have a Winner!!!

Don't you just LOVE giveaways??? I mean the whole concept of just randomly winning something unexpected is such fabulous FUN!!

Well, I took down the names of everyone who had commented since I posted my giveaway; numbered each name; and put each number on a small piece of paper.




Placed those small pieces of paper in this pretty little crystal dish


And let my niece Kristina draw the winning number!!


She drew the number 25...



AND THE WINNER IS...

DANETTE!! At Hand Knits That Blossom!!!


YIPPEE FOR DANETTE!!!

If you all haven't visited Danette before...YOU NEED TO!!! She is a wonderfully warm and caring person, who is an amazing knitter!! I am so glad to be able to count her among my bloggy friends!! To visit her just click on the title to her blog above this pic!!

Hope you all are enjoying a splendid weekend!!

We celebrated the birthdays of our two oldest daughters tonight and we had such a great time!! I'll post pics soon!!!

OH, Danette, just email me at holidayinthesun_1@yahoo.com to give me your address and I will send your surprises to you on Monday!!


Love 'n Hugs,
Becky

These Uncertain Times

Me and my hubby believe that we personally may soon be facing some very difficult times in our lives, as business with his job continues to taper off.

Many of you may be, too. Uncertainty can bring out the worst in us, but that is not what God desires. He does not want us to be consumed by fear...that is not of Him. He has given us a sound mind, and will give us His wisdom if we will ask.

Today after spending some time with God and praying, He brought Psalm 103 to my mind so I read it, and felt His amazing peace flood my heart.


Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me,
bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits;


Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.





I have had some things to deal with lately that have required me to choose a response.

They haven't been easy, and didn't go the way I thought they should, but my response was much like God's response to us...lovingkindness and mercy...and a controlled tongue!! (ok...it has a few holes in it to say the least!!) What can I say...I am a work in progress!!


But God gave me what I needed to respond the way He wanted me to. Without Him...I can do nothing...nothing that is any good anyway!!


What are you facing today, friends?

Whatever it is...God sees, knows, and will give you ALL you need to get through it in a way that will bring Him honor and glory.


He will guide us each step of the way...He never said life would be easy or fair...in fact He said the opposite...to expect trials, and to know that He will walk through them with us, will work in and through them, and will never leave or forsake us!!

Today, may you find God faithful in supplying all your needs according to His riches in glory.

In His Grip,
Becky



Last day to sign up for my 100th post giveaway!!
You can just comment here and tell me to put your name in!

We Did It! Wednesday~~Nana, will you please?

WELCOME TO THE 5TH WE DID IT! WEDNESDAY!!




We Did It! Wednesday is a meme that celebrates fun times with our children and grandchildren~~no matter their age! It's a way to share ideas and all the joy that goes along with investing one-on-one time with these VIP's in our lives!

So go through those pictures or make some new memories and share them with us!! You'll be glad you did!!!

If you'd like to join in please leave your first name and I will link to your post. Please include a link back to here so people can visit others who are participating!

1. Lois
2. Sue
3. You're next!!





Our precocious, oops I mean precious, little Emily came by for a visit yesterday!!

Her Mommy bought her this carrot that looked just like one she saw a favorite Curious George character eating, and she was sooo excited to show it off!! And she ate the whole thing!!




She then opened the ottoman where we store board games, and said "Who will play the princess game with me? Anyone?"

Well, I have to be perfectly honest, Nana did NOT want to play a game. Nana was really busy vegging out on the sofa for a few minutes...the past week has been really nutty!

SO...she asked again and got specific, "Nana, will you please play the Princess game with me?" batting her eyes and eyelashes fluttering!!!





To which I replied with a marked lack of enthusiasm, "OK Nana will play".




The play only lasted about 7 minutes, but by then I was enthralled with this precious little girl; she was ecstatic that I joined in, and God was smiling because I crawled out of my self-absorption long enough to share some delight with one of His littles!!

And of course, I GOT THE BLESSING!!




So I ask you, "Can it really get any better than this?"

Put your name in for my 100th post giveaway just a few posts down!! Drawing will be this Saturday!!

Sunshine and hugs, sweeties!!
Becky