One More Video

Ask and you shall receive! This one is for Kay because she wanted to hear my southern accent. I showed it to my daughter and she laughed -- I don't know why, maybe because I was narrating my little video? Anyway, you won't get the full-effect southern accent here as you would if you heard me talking to my family and sisters. I was trying to talk more properly. But anyway, here is one more video of Little River....

The Passion of the Christ

A few years ago a movie came out called The Passion of the Christ. It was a huge success and widely supported by Christians. Churches rented out theaters so their members and friends could all go see the movie together. I think almost every Christian I know went to see it. I heard amazing reviews about it from everyone. I almost felt like as a Christian I was obligated to go and see this movie. I felt like other Christians expected anyone who claims to be a Christian to see this movie. But I was hesitant and I kept holding back, not going to see it. I had already heard a preacher describe in great detail what Jesus went through, and I had heard that this movie was very graphic. I didn't go, mainly because I am not good with movies that have a lot of graphic and violent scenes. I almost started to feel like I wasn't doing my part as a Christian because I had not seen this movie. Almost. That was until I heard a pastor say something that I think I already knew in my heart. He said that though it was a great movie and he encouraged everyone to see it, it wasn't necessary. Here is the part that stuck in my mind to this day......he said the scripture is sufficient. And that is so true. I no longer feel bad for not having seen the movie. God's word is sufficient to speak to our hearts of everything God needs to tell us. It always was before the movie came out, and it always will be.

We actually bought the movie a couple of years ago, so maybe I'll watch it this weekend.

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27:26-31

Alabama the Beautiful

Little River Falls



Little River

The top part of DeSoto Falls

The inside of the church built around a big rock. Eddie is at the pulpit and the big rock is just behind him.

The outside of the church -- I'm standing there beside the big rock.

DeSoto videos

These are very short videos I took at DeSoto State Park. Be sure to turn your sound on.

Spring Break

This week is spring break for the school system where my husband teaches. I took off work Monday and Tuesday so that he and I could get away for a couple of days. We had a great time and went to northeast Alabama to DeSoto State Park, home of DeSoto Falls and Little River Falls. I don't know if the people who live in the southern or central part of this state even know about the beauty that is in that part of Alabama. They've had lots of rain recently which made the waterfalls the best I've ever seen them. Tomorrow I hope to have some pictures posted. At DeSoto Falls, I can't get the complete magnificence of the place into one picture, but here is one on DeSoto's website. We did some great hiking trails, one that followed Little River. The water in the river was so beautiful and green. I have never seen it so pretty. Tuesday, after we left DeSoto, we went to Scottboro to the Unclaimed Baggage store, and then to Grant, Alabama and saw Cathedral Caverns. After that we stopped in Boaz where they have a bunch of outlet stores. It was a fun trip. We had planned to camp out in the tent, but we ended up staying in the lodge at DeSoto because my hubby felt bad about having me sleep in a tent without "facilities" nearby. The lodge was great and came with a free breakfast the next morning.

With all the hiking we did, it was easy for me to get past my 10,000 steps while we were away. And it was a lot more enjoyable than a treadmill! BP asked me to tell what changes I've made in order to reach 10,000 steps a day. On the days when I'm at work, I have tried to start walking for about 10 minutes on my morning and afternoon breaks (weather permitting) and to walk a little longer during my lunch break. And then, in the evenings I have either taken a 30-minute walk in my neighborhood, or walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes to finish out and reach my 10,000 steps. I've even gone over 11,000 a couple of times. But my husband thinks my pedometer cheats. It really does seem to add up those steps quickly! But the main thing is, I know that I'm getting more exercise than I was before.

Check back in tomorrow for pictures of our trip!

Update and Friends

A few days ago I mentioned that my goal is to start walking 10,000 steps a day. Since that day I have gone over 10,000 steps each day and am also trying to eat less without actually going on a diet. I have to be realistic. I don't want to go on a diet and lose weight only to gain it back after I am finished. I want to learn a lifestyle of exercise and eating the right amounts to maintain the weight I hope to be soon.

I would like to thank Kay of Loop de Loops in La La Land for presenting me with this friends award. It really means a lot to me that Kay considers me a friend. I love her blog and her writing style. I hope to be reading a book that she writes in the future! Thank you Kay!

Friday Favorites

This year's presidential campaign has been so different from any other that I can remember. I'm not big into politics and I don't feel educated enough on the issues to even discuss it, but there is one thing I do know. I know who I don't want to vote for in November. But no matter who wins, I can take comfort in the fact that God is still in control because Romans 13:1 says this....Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

My favorite for today is not a blog, but a statement made in an email I read recently. The statement was made by a close friend of mine, a young yet mature Christian lady. She let me read her email response to someone else who apparently had said some not very nice things about a certain presidential candidate. I thought my friend's response was very mature and very Christ-like. Here is what she said, though I will leave out the name of the presidential candidate......
"As far as politics, I am called to uplift and pray for leaders, so I have nothing negative to say about [insert name of the candidate] or any other political candidates. I plead the blood over my family (to not be deceived), our nation, world, Hollywood etc.. I pray that and thank God that He is in control and that Americans will use biblical wisdom and discernment when choosing our leaders."

I like this so much because I realized that so many people, me included, say such negative things about the candidates that we don't like when we should really be praying for Americans to use biblical wisdom and discernment when we vote. I do believe we need to let the truth be known about where each candidate stands on the issues, but that can be done without attacking the person. And then, after we've researched each one and prayed for wisdom to vote wisely, if the one we feel is wrong wins, we need to remember what Romans 13:1 says --the authorities that exist have been established by God.