Kala's Picnic

The past week our precious little puppy, Kala, has been terribly mischievous! Four days in a row she tore stuffing out of one of our couch throw pillows. Now, these came with the couch and they are not the cutest, so we didn't really care about the pillow...it is just the principle. She has never chewed on anything or torn anything up that wasn't her own toy. So this new found chewing of our things was disturbing to us. We thought she was over it because for 3 days in a row, we came home to a clean house.
Then she went NUTS!!!
Tuesday night I came home to a trashed living room!!!!! She had chewed up my sermon notebook, papers, and got a candle off the table and chewed it to pieces!! She got a spankin' to say the least!!
Then another 2 days of 'Kala the Angel'.
Then today...I came home to find that Kala had a candlelight picnic (minus the fire) while we were gone. She got the pizza box that I had put behind the trash can, a loaf of bread off the kitchen counter (my bad for not putting it back in the bread basket after making my sandwich this morning), and she got all four of my cloth napkins off the kitchen table and carried everything to her "couch". (This is an ottoman that we cover with a blanket so she can lay on it and look out the window.) Apparently pizza box sandwich sounded good to her today. And in the middle of the mess of shredded pizza box and bread crumbs was a candle (except this time it wasn't chewed up). If only she had thumbs she could have lit the candle. After I spanked her and sent her outside, I looked at the mess and chuckled to myself at the thought of her having a picnic. We always joke about her acting so human...if she only had thumbs.

Mathematically Speaking

We saw this in a mid-week update from EJ's old church and thought it was worth sharing.

What equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%? How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:
If A=1, B=2, C=3....Y=25, Z=26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96%
but,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100%
AND, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E O-F G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4=101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: while hard work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, it's the love of God that will put you over the top!

Wyoming?! Really?!

We had a good time on our date and it is a day that I will always remember. We did not however see a good game. Tennessee lost to the Wyoming Cowboys, really? I still can't believe it! So the best thing I saw all day was the mullet pictured below. Enjoy!

Prayer for Governing Authorities

Our pastor did a sermon a few weeks ago entitled A Message to World Leaders. Last night for our Wed night prayer service, he used the same scriptures and outline as a guide for us to pray for our country's new leadership. He reminded us that as Christians we are to submit to governing authority in obedience to Him. I needed to hear it and wanted to share the outline.
1. Governing authorities are to be yielded to-Romans 13:1 a. Father, help us to be obedient civil citizens so that people around us will notice a difference in our attitude. May you shine through us as we follow You in our days on this earth.
2. Governing authorities are appointed by God-Romans 13:1b-Father, help us to remember that You are in control.
3. Governing authorities must praise good and punish bad-Romans 13:2-7. Father, show our great nation's leaders wrong from right so they can lead by example.
4. Governing authorities need wise counsel-Proverbs 31:1-2. Father, surround our decision makers with men and women of God so that Your will is sought.
5. Governing authorities must avoid immorality-Proverbs 31:3. Father, protect the eyes, hearts, and thoughts of our leaders. Keep them from stumbling so that they may set a good example for others.
6. Governing authorities must be sober in all things-Proverbs 31:4-7. Father, may our leaders understand the importance of their decisions. May their minds be clear and sober at all times so they do not fall prey to plots and schemes.
7. Governing authorities must defend the defenseless-Proverbs 31:8-9. Father, show our leaders needs in our country and give them wisdom to help.
8. Governing authorities are to be prayed for-1 Timothy 2:1-2. Father, keep our country and it's leaders fresh on our hearts and minds, so they we do not fail to pray for them.
9. Governing authorities need to be led to Jesus-1 Timothy 2:3-5. Father, give us the courage and wisdom of Esther and Daniel so that we may speak Truth to everyone around us especially those in a position of influence.
10. Governing authorities can have power taken away-Daniel 4:1-37. Father, protect the attitudes of our authorities. May they not boast in anything but You for You have given and can take away. For to whom much is given much is expected.
Regardless of who you voted for, I encourage you to pray for our president of this great nation, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, as well as their children Sasha and Malia. Pray for the vice-president, Joe Biden and his wife Jill. Pray also for our House and Senate and the President's cabinet of advisers.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

A Date with my Daddy

My daddy and I are going to the UT football game on Saturday! I have watched him watch the games on TV for years, and he is so animated on the couch so I can't wait to see how he will react in the stadium. EJ will be out of town Friday night and Saturday so my daddy is spending the weekend with me, and I am so excited!