Sunday, August 29, 2010

picture collage


I was visiting a great blog last night (http://www.kevinandamanda.com/) they had a link that explained how to make a picture collage. I wanted to put all of my pictures of grandchildren in a heart shaped collage but I am having trouble dragging and dropping just the pictures I want. I was able to make one using every picture on my camera card so I will share it with you so you get the idea. These are pictures I have taken to use on my blog. (many of them I have already used). There are over 650 pictures included in this image and it is hard to tell much about each picture. I think about 150 pictures would be ideal. I will keep trying and upload the picture on my blog when I master it.
Terreckly,
Kathy

Gone to Church!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Prayers For The Ronne Family



I had planned to post on my blog today but I have not been able to get my mind off of a family that needs your prayers. If you want to be inspired by a love story of a young couple and their faith in Jesus please, visit their blog. Ryan and Kaci were missionaries in Albania for 17 months. They have a son and two daughters. In March, when their youngest daughter was 2 months old, they began a mission of another sort. Kaci was diagnosed with a very aggressive malignant brain tumor. The blog was started by Kaci while doing mission work and is now being updated daily by Ryan. You can go back to older blogs if you are interested in following the family before the diagnosis. Be sure to click on the many comments at the end of each post as they are heartfelt and inspiring. I have been following and have learned so much from him about my own faith. God Bless!

the blog is: www.theronnes.blogspot.com

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Shhh...A Few of St. Augustine's Best Kept Secrets




























































Ahhhh, it is a gorgeous day here in St. Augustine!! I want to share a few of my favorite hangouts with you. First things first, FOOD! If you are hungry, St. Augustine offers an array of tasty choices. If you want something healthy and light, Diane's Health Food is on A1A near the Lion's Bridge or my favorite organic yogurt shop is located downtown. (see last blog) If I am on the beach, I usually throw on a cover up (not necessary) and head to "Stir It Up". They share a building with a surf shop just off the beach at Anastasia Island. I recommend the turkey avocado melt. Yummmmy! They use an entire avocado on one melt. I promise you won't be disappointed. Another favorite lunch spot is Stephen's Fine Foods, located in the Treasure Beach Plaza. He is only open for breakfast and lunch and serves fresh fried fish, (caught locally) and fresh vegetables (locally grown) along with hoe cake and sweet tea. The food is very "fine" indeed in my opinion. If I am going out to dinner and craving seafood, Osteen's has the best fried shrimp around (for the best price around, too). Expect at least an hour wait, no matter what time you go. They also serve some scrumptous fresh southern veggies. Trust me, it is worth the wait! Salt Water Cowboys on the inter coastal is delicious as well, just expect a wait. (esp. on weekends) If I am in the mood for Italian, it is Napoli's at Crescent Beach. (Don't be surprised if you run into a coach or two on the U of F staff). When I am in St. Augustine on Sunday, it is brunch at Cafe Eleven after early church service. (The french toast is out of this world!) It is located on Anastasia Island and it was once a 7-11 store that was converted into a restaurant. (hence the name) These are just a few of my personal favorites.

If I have some free time to browse, I like to go by the Drift Ashore resale shop. My daughter has purchased a couple pieces of furniture there in turquoise that I absolutely love. They sale on consignment and always have new things. If you like consignment shops, Christie Blue (named after her daughter) has good "stuff" and great jewelry.

If you are fishing and need bait, etc. Devil's Elbow at Crescent Beach has everything you need, including a boat ramp and adorable cabins.

When I have my little guys for the day, we can usually be found at the beach or a local park. A couple of great places for kids that are totally free would be Fort Matanzes National Monument at Crescent Beach. They have a boat ride across the inter coastal to the fort and the kids loved it. Another is the splash park located beside the St Augustine pier. Parking is good and bathrooms are there, too. The five year old loves going up to the top of the St. Augustine lighthouse but my little guy is still not tall enough. (He keeps asking me to check and see if he is tall enough yet) If we are downtown, my boys love to take the train ride. There is a fee for the later two, but it is not too bad.

St. Augustine has been a favorite city of mine for many years. As a child, we would spend most weekends and vacations at St. Augustine and Crescent Beach. Love the city, love the fishing, love the beach!!!!!
Terreckly,
Kathy

Monday, August 23, 2010

Back To School, Time To Hero Up!













I am soooo excited I can hardly wait to pick up my little guys after their first day of school. I have sent prayers up for both (teachers too). My car is packed, I am headed to the gym, then off to St. Augustine for a couple of days. Actually, today is bittersweet. It is a milestone for both of my "little guys". The older one starts kindergarten today. I am so nervous as he has severe food allergies. (Much more about this in my upcoming "new" blog.) He is convinced he is a superhero and will "man up" to anyone, no matter the size. I feel some better knowing there is a school nurse on campus everyday.(not just for the allergies, but in case he decides to "hero up" and scale a building to save someone.) We have benedryl and epi-pens in a few locations around the campus for the allergies. My little sweet and innocent guy who will be three next month is starting to preschool today. Not one, but two preschools. He will be at a Baptist preschool two days a week and a Presbyterian two mornings. We are Methodist, go figure!! (At least he will be a well rounded Christian, right?) I am sure he will be just fine and absolutely love having playmates. He is unselfish, compassionate, thoughtful, loving, kindhearted (I could go on and on), so I know he will be a joy for his teacher just as he is for me.

After my two hour trek through the woods, I got to town in time to run by " another reason I like to come to St. Augustine". I am sharing a yummy picture with you. I am addicted to their original flavored yogurt. (with a few dark chocolate morsels) A girls needs her calcium, right? It was my lunch after all and I did workout this morning. I ate in the car and got to preschool at 2:15 to pick up my little guy. He was sound asleep on his mat along with donkey and "blankie". After gathering his lunchbox, backpack, and donkey, I slipped out trying not to wake the others. We were off to pick up his big brother. There were a gazillion cars and the line was a mile long at the elementary school. While we were waiting, the little one realized he had left "blankie" at the preschool and was terribly upset. Luckily, my Mom was in town and passing close by there when I called her. She picked it up and brought it to him. Thank the Lord for cell phones (and Moms)!

It was a great day for both! No tears! No wet pants at preschool. (we are about 90% potty trained). When I inquired about the wet shirt in the zip lock bag inside his backpack, he said he accidentally peed on it. (Oh, how did that happen? OK, whatever?!?) The little box of raisins was left in the lunchbox. When I ask about them, he said, Mrs. Deborah said he could not have them for a snack, he would need to save them for dessert after his lunch. I said, guess you were too full after lunch, huh? No, KK I don't like raisins for dessert. Imagine that? The teachers sent notes home with great reports. I thought we are off to a good start until I unpacked the five year olds' lunch box! Where in the world did you get this oatmeal pie? I don't know how it got in there. Did someone sitting beside you at lunch swap anything with you? No ma'am. Well, this is not acceptable. You are allergic to tree nuts, artificial dyes and flavors. This is why I am so worried about him being in "big" school now. This is really scary. His backpack and lunchbox have special stickers on them about the allergies. Mommy covered all the bases. The teacher, office staff, principal, school nurse, lunchroom ladies, everyone that needs to know has met with Mommy and understands the danger. How could this happen? We are not talking hives we are talking full blown anaphalactic reaction (life and death). Been there, done that! Guess Mommy will be going in late tomorrow so she can meet with someone at the elementary school. And so it goes in the life of a child with severe food allergies. You do everything you possibly can to prevent an accident and you PRAY a lot!

Ter-reck-ly,
Kathy

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Exercising Your Body and Spirit



Sundays inspire me! I am a Christian. I believe that God created the earth and that he sent his son to die for all of mankind. On Sundays, my hubby and I rise early and enjoy breakfast and coffee together as we catch up on life as we know it. Many times during the week, he is traveling on business and I am so privileged to spend several of my days each week taking care of grandsons. On Sundays, we attend church together for spiritual growth and guidance. We always say, it gives us a great start to our week ahead.

I am in a different frame of mind on Sundays. I walk whenever I can for exercise but on Sundays, my husband and I take an extra long walk. When we are done, I feel relaxed and rejuvenated. I feel empowered. During the week, when I work out at the gym, I have a workout partner, a good friend. (There are friends, and there are really good friends) When we are there, we push and encourage each other. We both know that it is easier with a partner as you are always reminded, someone is counting on you. Ecclesiastes 4:9 states, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work." This verse proves why we need to encourage one another. I love exercising. (once I get there) It relieves stress, it makes me feel more fit and it allows me to bond with friends.

The bible reminds us that we also need to be exercising godliness. If my rewards are this good with physical exercise, imagine if I spend the same amount of time on exercising godliness. It says in 1 Timothy 4: 7-8 "Rather train yourself for godliness: for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
Just as you are careful about the food you put into your body, God commands us to consume good and wholesome things - filter your thoughts. When we were in St. Augustine for the month of May, we attended the Good News Presbyterian Church. One Sunday, the youth minister spoke and at the end of the service, he passed out laminated cards with the following bible verse. I love this scripture and I keep it on the dash of my car so I can read it daily. I will leave you with this thought. Phil 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."
God Bless,
Kathy

Daily Thought:
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. - Booker T. Washington

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Shhhhhhh, he's asleep!

















































































Silent Thursday?!? Today has been anything but silent. I spent the day with my little monkeys at their home. I did manage to bake a fresh peach cobbler(before all the peaches went bad), do a couple loads of laundry, take the little one to his "meet the teacher" at his new preschool, read instructions on another computer game for the umpteenth (is that really a word?) time, helped turn over all the puzzle pieces (several times), take the dog on a few walks (with the kids in tow), fold and put away laundry, read books, and played superheros. Oh, we squeezed breakfast and lunch in there somewhere. Now that the little guy is all tuckered out, I can catch my breath and share a few pics of the day. (and enjoy a helping of peach cobbler) Shhhh...it is so peaceful here. (for the moment)