Susie's Steps

Well, I woke up to drizzly skies outside today, so no park day/jogging or walking after church. But that's okay. I improvised. Thanks to my brother Andy, I have a nice CD of Isaac Payton Sweat's "Cotton Eyed Joe and Other Bandstand Favorites". So, today, my workout consisted of teaching my kids the Cotton Eyed Joe and the Schottische. Oh gosh--it was SO fun! It had the especially long/fast version of the Cotton Eyed Joe. And following my baby brother and sister's tradition, we hollered, "OKAY!" whenever the song asked us what we stepped in [blushing]. I don't think the kids ever thought it said anything else. I know my brother and sister never had a clue when we were younger [giggling]. Daniel got bored of it fairly quickly, but Madeline wanted to do it over and over. Then she wanted me to show her how to waltz. What did I start??? But we really did have a good time. And we worked up a pretty good sweat, too. Malachi had a good time running around and hollering, "HI!" whenever the people in the song hollered "HEY!" on the Schottische. It was too cute.

As a side note, I've found that I can't listen to it in the car. It just makes me want to pull over and dance. ; )

And tonight, Daniel got his medals at church. He got gold in Chorus, Christian Art and Daily Devotional Challenge. He got silver in Speech, Live Christian Drama, Puppets and Song Leading. He got participation in Bible Bowl (we'll work harder next year). We are very pleased with Daniel and all his hard work, and thankful to God for Daniel's natural talents.

Well, it happened. You are reading the blog of the new dispatch supervisor. My supervisor gave her two week notice today. I hope she will be happy at her new job. I'm pretty excited and a little apprehensive. I was bad and celebrated with some Taco Bell (my favorite). : ) I'll try to jog a little harder this weekend.

Daniel had a good time in Birmingham today. : )

And John is off tomorrow. : )

Sunday we have our first Bible classes in the new building. I'm pretty excited about that too. I've missed my Bible class. : ) Both of them.

Madeline has a birthday party to go to this weekend. She's very excited about that. I've got to go find a birthday present tomorrow. Can we say, "Momma's a procrastinator?".

And I'd like to write more, but OH. MY. GOSH. Kai is in SOME kind of a mood! No typing for me!

Well, I hope tomorrow is nothing like today was. I could have done with 23 less hours of what I had today. And someone substituted two of my three kids with Imps!

Tomorrow, Daniel gets to go to Birmingham to see the Alabama Symphony Orchestra! Then, his band is going to the Galleria. I'm so excited for him, and I think he's pretty stoked, too.

Tomorrow is John's last day of work for the week--YAY! I do like to come home when my husband is there.

Well, I've found two things to look forward to tomorrow. I think I can sleep now. : ) Have a very restful night!

Well, tomorrow it's back to work again. I really do love the days off I have with my family. But I guess it's a good thing that I like my job, too. So, I won't mind too much going back. I hope everyone will be having a good day tomorrow. It's much easier to keep someone in a good mood than to try and improve a bad one.

My knee was kind of bothering me today, so I forewent the jog, and paid the one-day fee at the gym. I did 45 minutes on the elliptical trainer. I would have liked to have done more, but it was time to pick Malachi up from daycare. But I felt good for having worked out, anyway.

I got my catalog for Atlanta Mania today. I'm beginning to miss teaching aerobics. I'm not sure what to do with this nostalgia for teaching. I'm just contemplating for now. I stopped teaching because it's a very competitive and superficial job. The pressures really got to me. So, I don't know. I've thought of talking to the powers that be about starting a rather informal class in the new church building. But I don't know how it would be received. I don't know . . . I have more weight to lose first, anyway . . . Guess I have some things to talk to my Father about, huh?

It was the most beautiful day today. I got almost nothing done in my house. But I jogged 5.5 miles and walked 3 miles. LOL--I may be crippled tomorrow, but it felt so good to run in the sunshine with a nice breeze cooling me. And God sent some honeysuckle to scent my path. Yes, today was the best jogging day ever.

Tomorrow I work--LOL.

Hope your night is as enchanting as my day was . . .

Ugh. Not eating well, and not exercising enough. But it's just been one thing after another today. LOL--but SG just made me feel better about my day! Click here.

Today, I struggled with something rather silly, but it bothers me nonetheless. But to be fair, I am a type A personality, and stupid things bother me. I'm working on it . . .

But have you ever had someone tell you something that they did--even while knowing you didn't approve of this thing that they did, and you had to wonder why they felt the need to rub it in your face? I mean, why tell me? It is their life, and they do have the right to make their own decisions. But I don't know, if I know that someone doesn't approve of something that I do, I try not to talk about it when they are around. I always thought it was good manners. I don't lie about it, and if asked I would straight up tell you, but I don't flaunt it. For instance: I occasionally drink alcoholic beverages. I do. If this bothers any of my blogville readers, I do apologize--I wouldn't mention it if I knew it bothered you. But I do know for a fact that my grandmother is HUGE against drinking any alcoholic beverages for any reason. So, I simply don't mention the wonderful pina colada I had when I ventured into a wet county one day. Am I making any sense whatsoever? Or am I talking in circles? If you made it this far, congratulations on muddling through my thoughts this evening. But I'm a little agitated. I'll get over it. ; )

Wishing you an un-agitated evening. : )

Today was a neat day! We had our first church service in our new church building! It was really nice! This was the first time I had been in the building since we all wrote our favorite verses on the foundation of the building. (Mine was Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise unto our God". I wrote it in what looked to me like a perfect choir loft--little did I know it was just the sound equipment area.) I missed the cookout that they had yesterday. It was from 4pm to 6pm, and I got off work at 6pm. I was so disappointed to miss it. But today was glorious! The new auditorium was PACKED (surely we need more pews?), and the sound of the singing was incredible. Malachi made it through to about halfway through communion before I had to take him out. So, I took the opportunity to walk with him through the building and familiarize myself with it. It was really nice. The feature that I think I liked best was the speaker system that played the sermon throughout the building hallways. So, everywhere I walked with Malachi, I didn't miss any of the sermon. Cool, huh? And they left the back doors of the worship center open to the foyer--so whenever they sang, I could slip in the back and stand and sing along. When the song was over, Malachi and I walked on. He'll sit still for the songs, it's mostly the quiet parts he gets restless for. We walked into the beautiful chapel, and then quickly moved on when Malachi discovered that when you stomped your feet on the raised portion (I know I shouldn't call it a stage) of the room, it made a horrific noise! I wanted to go into the training room, but I hadn't brought any coloring books, toys or snacks, and it looked pretty crowded, so maybe we'll try that next Sunday. Bad Momma for not being better prepared.

After church, I wanted a park day (so I could jog!), but John didn't feel well, so we went home. Just as well. Daniel & I needed to get the yard done, anyway. Afterward, the kids and I relaxed in the kiddie pool for awhile (yes, I get in, too). So, weather-permitting, I will jog tomorrow morning.

It was such a nice day . . .

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said,"Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's . . . he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window, and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter? Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done . . . and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, (etc.) . . . whatever it is . . . You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a friend and always remember: God is at the window. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. :-)

Okay, my name is Susie, and I'm addicted to these quizzes! : D But there was much to be admired about Reep, so I'm not unhappy. : ) Thanks to Terri for this one.

We got back at around midnight Sunday night. Yesterday, I spent most of the day trying to get caught back up on laundry and putting together my new page in my website. Check it out if you have time. We had such a marvelous time!

Daniel did well. They will be presenting his medals to him at church on Sunday night, the 30th. Then, I'll post the results. We are very proud of him.

It's been an eventful weekend. John had to work on Friday night, but Daniel had Bible Bowl on Friday night. So, the kids and I hopped on the church van to go to Mobile. The church rented an extra van, so we took 2 vans to Mobile. I got the van with the new youth minister and his wife in it. It was very enjoyable talking with him and his wife. They also had pictures of their wedding, and it was beautiful! So, the 5 hours of traveling went pretty quickly.

The motel is still recovering from the hurricane, so they only had 2 elevators open. Wow. So, it took us about a half hour to get to the church's suite on the 8th floor and find out that we were on the 14th floor (LOL). So, off we troop back to wait on the elevators. Meanwhile, while we're waiting, Daniel begins tiring of the wait, and he carried our luggage up bit by bit up the 5 flights of stairs to the 14th floor! Bless his heart! What would I do without my Daniel?

One of our ladies decided on Friday night that she was uncomfortable judging, and asked me if I wouldn't mind judging chorus. Wouldn't mind? I was THRILLED. It was so fun to write encouraging things on these very talented kids' judging sheets. I hope they ask me to do that again. : )

We competed in all of our areas and had a really nice devotional/awards ceremony. They sang one of my favorite songs--"Days of Elijah"! Then, our church went to The Original Oyster House to celebrate. We waited a bit over an hour to be seated, but they had a nifty sand based playground underneath the restaurant. (Madeline and her friend Natalie had the best time here, I think!) They also had a live singer there, and he sang some gospel tunes that he had written (I really enjoyed them!). He also let several of our girls sing on his microphone, too. Those girls really did well! It was like our own party while waiting for the party (LOL). I think when everyone did get to eat, we all ate too much! But we really had an enjoyable time, and there was such a spirit of unity on this trip.

Sunday morning, my family got up and packed up. We went down the street where we found a Krispy Kreme donut shop open on Easter Sunday! Not the most nutritious breakfast, but it is my favorite one. : ) Then, we headed out for the beach! And what a beautiful day God painted for us! Usually, we go to the beach on Good Friday. Since we were unable to go on Good Friday, we went on Easter Sunday (the kids are out of school this week, so it was okay to stay out later). And usually it is beautiful on Friday, but rainy on Sunday. Well, don't you know, God gave us a beautiful Sunday to go to the beach on? We had the best time.

And when we had played all we were able to, we left there and ate at Lambert's Cafe on the way back. Have you ever eaten here? I have a new favorite place! Oh. My. GOSH! They give you more food than you could eat in a month! We ordered our food, then came this lady offering fried okra (YUMMMMM!) to munch on while we waited. Then, a man came out, and when people in the restaurant saw him, hands went up everywhere! Before I could wonder long about this, he begins throwing yeast rolls across the dining room! I mean really humming them! It was so fun to watch. And when John caught a few for us, they were hot and melt in your mouth fresh! Then, they brought out our food--HUGE portions of it! John's food came in this monster skillet! And as we were eating, a lady came by with blackeyed peas, a girl came by with macaroni and tomatoes, and yet another lady came by with fried onions and potatoes tasty enough to give my grandma some competition! The food just kept coming! And the jokes! People were also coming around with practical jokes. One lady had a mustard bottle. She would ask you if you wanted some mustard, and then squeeze it all over you! But it was just a string that looked remarkably like a string of mustard. There was also a lady with a ketchup bottle doing the same thing. A lady was also carrying a pitcher of what looked like coke. She would pretend to stumble and "spill" the pitcher contents . . . but they stayed in place in the pitcher. Lots of tricks. The kids LOVED it!

LOL--boy were we tired on the way home, though. After a day at the beach and a full stomach, we were so sleepy! But we made it!

Exhausted am I. It's 12:38am, and I've been up since 4;30am and worked 12 hours. I think I've gotten everything done that I could get done tonight to be prepared to leave for Mobile in the morning. I'm glad I'm not driving! The kids and I are taking the church van. Please, please keep John in your prayers. He has to work Friday from 4pm to 2:30am, then drive the 5 hours to Mobile by himself. I'm a little concerned about that. But I will feel better the more people I have bringing him before the Father. : )

Daniel will be competing in public speaking, song leading, drama, puppets, chorus, photography, scrapbooking, Daily Devotional Challenge, Bulletin Board, and Bible Bowl. He has really enjoyed working on this stuff! : )

Well, I'll be staggering off to bed now . . . ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

Thanks to Terri for this one. How fun!

Four jobs you've had in your life:
1. Aerobics Instructor
2. Police Dispatcher
3. Nanny
4. Waitress

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone
2. Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Good thing there are only 4 movies so far, huh?

Four TV shows you love to watch: (I'll have to list old ones. I don't watch anything current)
1. Diagnosis Murder
2. Beverly Hills 90210
3. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
4. Golden Girls

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Galveston, Texas
2. Gulf Shores, Alabama
3. Nashville, Tennessee
4. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Four websites you visit often:
1. September Sprouts
2. Mugglenet
3. Bloglines
4. Harry Potter Fans

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Chocolate!
2. Cheesecake
3. Nachos Bellgrande
4. Donuts

Four places you would rather be right now:
1. Gulf Shores, Alabama
2. the gym
3. Galveston, Texas
4. with my husband (he's at work until 2:30am)

Four people who are tagged to do this:
1. Donna
2. Terri
3. JettyBetty
4. Amy

I keep waiting for God to use me in this blog for some nifty stuff like Donna's blog, but maybe I'm not blessed with that teaching gift as she is. I'm good at teaching cradle roll or aerobics (LOL).

I've had a fun day today. I mean it didn't start out fun--I was working with that supervisor that hates me, and trying to stay positive. It was easier today, though, because I'm leaving for Mobile on Friday. So, I only have to work 4 hours today, and 12 hours tomorrow, and I'll be done until next Wednesday. YAY! I also got to meet with two of my good friends that I used to teach aerobics with. Matter of fact, we all went down and took our certification together (10 hours of aerobic testing--written and practical). For three years we taught together. We would go to Atlanta once a year (just us 3 girls) to a fitness convention where we did aerobics for 12 hours a day for 3 days to get new ideas. And we'd stay up all night giggling like a slumber party. I hadn't seen them since I had Malachi and gave up teaching aerobics. Malachi is now 2 and a half, and I've missed them. We are as different as three women can be, but aerobics brought us together. Can I just draw a conclusion there and say that's how we sisters in Christ should be? All so very different with different backgrounds and personalities brought together by a common Lord? (I wasn't going there, but the message just showed up!) In any case, I had a wonderful afternoon. Hope you did as well.

Has anyone tried the Coca-Cola Blak? What did you think?

It was a good day today!

I got up and went jogging. John wanted to walk with me. That was interesting, because John doesn't jog, and I really wanted to jog. So, with him pushing the stroller, I basically jogged circles around him, so I could still keep him company and not jog off and leave him. LOL--this was actually a kind of funny thing in that John has such long legs that when we both actually walk, I have to kind of trot to keep up anyway. So, this was a nice switch. : ) We were also carrying on a steady stream of conversation throughout these 3 miles, so I figure between jogging in circles and talking while I jogged, maybe I burned even more calories. Then, I walked the 3 miles with Mom and jogged 1.5 more. So, that brings me to 4.5 miles jogged/3 miles today.

Daniel had a band concert tonight, and that was really neat, too. And Malachi was so good and sat pretty still for the whole hour and a half. That's a lot for a little boy! But LOL--by the time we walked in our door at home, he started HOWLING for the potty! Poor thing! He had to GO.

And today, God took one of my elephants away. We finally got the previous owner's title to our car! Long story, but we've been trying to get a clear title to the car we bought since January. Praise God, it came today.

Please keep praying for the biggest elephant (I seem to have a small herd--LOL). But at least God has given me joy today.

Hope you're having a joyful night. I've got to go to bed for now. I have to work tomorrow!

I just had to post something else. Dennis the Minister (our interim pulpit minister) spoke on many things tonight. And maybe this wasn't the best thing I could have come up with from the sermon, but I guess I missed it before in previous readings.

Terri, I'm so sorry I didn't read your blog in time to give you any weather alerts. It was quite a night, wasn't it?

I had a rough day Friday. The night before, I had stayed up praying and crying about the elephant, so I got no sleep. Then, Friday was rough at work. People called me all day for the goofiest things. Then, the daycare called and said they were closing at 1pm for the weather. Great. Thank God for mothers. Mine came valiantly to my rescue and took my 3 kids in until I could get off work. The school had let out at 1:30pm, and John had to be at work at 3:30pm. So, when my workday FINALLY ended, I picked my kids up from Mom's and headed home. Mom had already fed them (I was SO glad), so I organized baths and into my bed we 4 crawled. I had to take a Soma (I have 6 bulging discs, and stress really gets them excited!), and then if I wasn't exhausted enough, the weather radio kept going off to tell me about THUNDERSTORM warnings. Okay. Tell me about Tornado warnings, but I'm pretty sure I can figure out the thunderstorm one. Then, the hail came, and my kids snored blissfully on. Good--that was 99 less verses of "With Christ at my vessel, I can smile at the STORM, smile at the STORM, smile at the STORM!" I had to sing. So, I alone laid there shaking the bed in my fear. Happy, I could have done with some of that wine, I guess. LOL.

Terri, I'm assuming Lawyer is a pet??? LOL. When you said you grabbed Lawyer and your cell phone, I thought, "Well, that's one way of dealing with a storm!" LOLOL!

Donna, I wish I could watch the storm valiantly like you instead of cowering with covers over my head. ; ) Guess I'd better sing a few more verses of that song . . .

Well, in case you're interested, I've updated my website. Visit at your own risk. ; )
http://dispatchsunshine.tripod.com/index.html

Starting a little earlier tonight . . .

What a day! It started fairly early and was just one thing right after another. My officer would go in service from a call, and I'd have another ready for him to go on. Wow. Then it was pick Madeline up to take her to Southern Starlets, come home, fix dinner, serve my boys, leave them home to eat while I go back and pick Madeline up, then back home again. Thursdays are hectic!

John seems to like his new job. I'm so pleased. If Daddy's happy . . . well you know. : )

Pray for me and my elephant. I'm trying so hard not to worry, but it's hard sometimes . . .

Soooo . . . something positive. Tell me about your favorite childhood memory . . .

Mine is playing kickball on our street. We lived on a cul-de-sac, so we played ball in the circle a lot. It was me and a bunch of boys, but they wanted me on their team, because I could kick the ball far. It's nice to be accepted, isn't it?

I don't think I have anything to write. My head is empty. Well, that's not entirely true. I just don't have anything pleasant to write about. I have plenty on my mind, but nobody wants to read a bunch of complaining, so I'm still trying to think of something positive to write about. Something interesting . . .

and I'm trying not to eat that ice cream that's in my freezer!

Okay, Blogville! Let's play the count your blessings game! I'll start . . .
I'm thankful for my family! But I'm thankful for that everyday . . . how about . . .I'm thankful for the inches God has taken off my hips!

Now you! What are you thankful for today?

Why do I always wait so late to post in my blog? I'm always so tired when I get here.

I jogged 3.5 miles/walked 4 miles. It was a nice day, but the wind was pretty cool. So, when I got home, all sweaty, but cooling, I was COLD. But my body is complaining today, so maybe I should do step or something else tomorrow.

It's Tuesday, the end of my days off until Sunday. At least I like my job.

John starts a new job tonight. He still works for the same company, but he bid for (and received) a different job in the company. It comes with a slight raise in pay, and it's not quite as physical a job. Much easier on him. I'm so glad. That's an answered prayer, that is. Maybe next time he is eligible to bid out on a job, it will be a first shift job. That would be nice. I'm not complaining, mind you--but there's always something better out there.

I'm reading Fame of the Firstborn Series by Karen Kingsbury. Again, if you have not read any books by Karen Kingsbury, GO GET YOU ONE! ; ) (Can I get an amen, Mom? Daisy?)

Guess I'd better go to bed for now. I have to work in the morning. Just 4 hours tomorrow, but I still have to get up at 6am.

Good night y'all! : )

Madeline just came in and asked John, "Daddy, can we play S-I-N I-T?" (she spelled it--but I'm not sure who she was trying to hide it from by spelling) John, confused, asked, "Sin It?" Madeline says, "No, Daddy, that Harry Potter game--SCENE IT. We laughed and laughed.

It brought to mind another miscommunication John and I had when we were dating. I don't remember where we were going, but we got in the car, and I reached over and hit the automatic door locks. "I locked us in," I said. John gave me the strangest look while his eyebrows shot straight up. "Really." was all he said. I frowned, puzzled, and said slowly, "Yes. I locked us in for safety." John laughed until he had tears. "I thought you told me, 'I like to sin.'"

Well, I didn't post yesterday. I couldn't. Yesterday, I was a bit stuck in a cloud-filled valley. Today is some better. Still in the valley, but at least it's not so cloudy.

I walked/jogged my 7.5 miles today. Still trying to find a Christ-filled analogy to jogging, but nothing yet. (LOL) That doesn't mean I'm ready to spin yet, Terri. It was such a nice day for jogging. Yesterday was beautiful, too. I jogged 3 miles yesterday. The kids played on the playground with Daddy, and we all got the tiniest bit pink from the beautiful Sunshine. All I could think of while I was jogging was:

I saw this on a billboard today, and I needed to read it. Maybe someone else does also?

"Sometimes God moves mountains one stone at a time."

LOVE IT!