MarytheKaytheBlog

Royal Weddings, Card Baskets, and Prayers Linky Dinks

  Oh, why am I even posting today?  I know all of you are glued to your televisions anyway, watching the Royal Wedding.  Come on, now, admit it! 

Well, while you're drinking your tea and eating your crumpets, please think of me.  I will be crying my eyes out, slaving away in my garage, working my fingers to the bone...all so that we can trick some people into buying our junk.  Yes, yes, yes, we're having a garage sale.  Can you tell how much I loooove having garage sales?  I like them just about as much as I like having my eyebrows waxed.  It kills me while it's happening, but I SURE DO like the results after.

So, during the Royal Wedding commercials, here is a fun link for you.  Here are the Wackiest Royal Wedding Souvenirs.  My favorite?  the tea bags.  The creepiest?  Tie between the bedding and the nail decals.  The Funniest?  The royal mug...with the WRONG brother's picture!  The Most Awkward Conversation Piece?  The refrigerator.  Enough said.  Most nostalgic?  The replica engagement ring--My great Aunt Mae bought one back in 1981 before Princess Diana's wedding.  I was 11 at the time and thought it was the most beautiful ring in the world.  I just loved trying it on!!!   (Ginny, do you remember?)

 

Card Baskets:  What a WONDERFUL IDEA!!  I first saw the idea of a card basket on Kristen's We are THAT Family blog.  Kristen is asking for people to send cards to Heather of Especially Heather blog.  Heather's sweet daughter Emma went to be with Jesus on Good Friday.  Click here to add a card to Heather's card basket.  DaySpring is picking up the cost.  They just want people to send encouraging messages to Heather.  Look to the right of the page to see a short video tutorial on DaySpring's Card Baskets.  Maybe you know someone who could use some encouragement today.  Wouldn't a Card Basket be a heartwarming surprise?

 

Need some extra prayers?  Then click on over to Stuff Christians Like to read what Jon wrote about Grandmothers who Love Jesus.  Evidently, his own Jesus-loving grandmother told him last Christmas that she reads every comment on his blog, and PRAYS for every single person.  Can you imagine?  I'd like to know a lady like that!!!  And I'd surely love for her to pray for me!  You betcha I left a comment!

 

Well, that's all she wrote, folks.  Think of me this weekend as I'm trying not to get eye contact with our garage sale customers.  See, eye contact = questions.  And, I'm not allowed to negotiate with any customers.  I tend to give whole boxes and bags of junk garage sale items away.  So, you can understand why my husband has banned me from setting prices or chatting with customers.  *grin*  I'll be the mute one in the corner, taking the money...and making very "helpful" runs to Sonic when necessary.

Happy weekend, dear readers!  Let's plan to meet back here Monday and chat about our weekends!  I sure hope yours includes at least a bon bon or two...

What are your weekend plans?

If William and Kate had a Wedding Shower in the South...

 I don't know about you, but around here, we just love to have wedding showers for couples.  You know, so the gift-giving is more interesting, and frankly, so is the conversation.  Ya add men to the mix, and it becomes more of a PARTY, and less of a let's see how many forks and spoons the bride can open this morning.

Around these parts, we call these wedding showers--Honey Do Showers. 

The Shower.  In honor of the Royal Wedding this week, I'd like to take this opportunity to invite William and Kate to a good old fashioned Honey Do Wedding Shower--just like we do it here in the South.  I just know they'd feel welcome, and I'm sure they'd love the creative gifts.   Plus, there's no better party food than at a Southern shower. 

The Food.  Forget the uptight brie and salad nicoise bites.  Honey, we'd fix it up right for the Royals--Oh, there'd be pigs in a blanket, or just the cocktail weiners, for those watching the carbs.  (Complete with frilly toothpics for serving, since royalty and all.)  There would be at least 3 different jello salads, in an array of pastel colors.  Lime, bing cherry, and blueberry for sure.  Delicate petit fours decorated with assorted "honey do" tools piped with icing on top are a given.  I know Sherl would want to make her mini rice krispie tiaras.  She's been dying to try them out, and is convinced her Rice Krispie blog would go viral.  And what do you say to the preacher's wife?  No self-respecting Southern shower forgets to have a silver dish of mixed nuts and pastel mints at the end of the buffet table.  To top it off, we would put out our best crystal punch bowl, and serve our favorite rainbow sherbet and ginger ale punch.

The Venue.  Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself!  First, we'd greet William and Kate at the front door.  Why, of course, it would be at a home, silly!  Of all the hostesses  
throwing the shower, it's always understood that the fanciest house of the group is the shower house.  Especially if that house is in a Country Club neighborhood.  Nothing adds class to a wedding shower more than a golf cart or two in the vicinity.

The Greeting.  We'd station Miss Martha at the front door, because she knows everybody in town.  Plus, I think she's been to England before, so she would make the Royals feel right at home.  She'd help Kate pin on her pink rosebud and wire whisk corsage, and would get Kate to help William pin on his white carnation and screwdriver boutonnière.

  The Seating.  The Royal couple would be ushered to the seats of honor.  Thankfully, the Smiths have matching leather barcaloungers--which we'd decorate with yellow caution construction tape.  The barcaloungers make the perfect setting for all the pictures we'll take as William and Kate open their presents.  And, of course we've secured W. I. to do the photography. Our family doesn't compromise on 2 people, and they are W.I. and Miss Barbara.

 The Gifts.  Oh, don't worry about the gifts!  We made sure to help out the couple by registering for them at the local Walmarts and Ace Hardware.  We tried to think of everything that might help the Royal Couple get their new home set up in style.  Here's a sampling of what we registered for the happy couple:

1. 
Screwdriver set - No self-respecting groom is without one of these sets in his garage.  It's even better if it comes in a molded plastic box.

 

 

2.   
A Lil' Smokey charcoal grill - These are always one of the biggest hits at any Honey Do shower.  William and Kate will be able to invite the Queen over for some hot dogs once they get settled in their new place.

 

 

3.  

Lawn chairs - Well, the Queen does have to sit somewhere at the weenie roast!  We felt red was the royalest of colors offered at Walmarts.

 

 4.   

Ice chest - filled with the IBC Root beer.  We've heard that the Royal Couple can't get enough of the stuff. They especially love the glass bottle style! 

 

5. 

Waffle maker - We hear the Prince fancies waffles for breakfast.  This dandy will help Kate whip up morning waffles in no time at all!

 

6.  

Trash can - Or as the British are so fond of saying, "rubbish bins."  The stainless steel finish will help the Royal couple dispose of their rubbish in style. 

 

7.   
Laundry basket - filled with cleaning goodies.  We don't want to ignore poor Kate altogether!  Brides especially love a laundry basket filled with all the tools she'll need for a Saturday morning cleaning...laundry detergent, dryer sheets, toilet scrub brush, window cleaner, feather duster--and of course hot pink rubber gloves.  We wouldn't want Kate ruining her manicures on cleaning day, now would we?

 8. 

Picnic basket - We hear Kensington Palace Garden is especially nice for picnics. 

 

 

 

 9.   
 

Ice cream maker- One of my personal favorite gifts to give young couples.  Nothing says carefree summer days like homeade ice cream.  Plus, ice cream is fancy in any language!  Every time the couple makes ice cream, they'll smile as they remember their one-of-a-kind American Honey Do Shower.

 

 

10.  

The Mack-Daddy of all Honey Do Showers:  The Wet-Dry Shop Vac.  This gift will gather a crowd of men like no other gift.  Men with glazed eyes will began muttering things like HP numbers and CFMs and accessory attachments.  Sweet Kate will have no idea what the men are talking about, but William will understand what a gem of a gift this one is!  This gift is proof to the extended Royal Family that William knows his way around a garage.

 

 

 The Invitations- We'll get the invites out just as soon as we get them back from VistaPrint.  They are a little behind schedule, because for some reason, the Queen needed to approve the wording.  She had to call us to find out exactly what a "Honey Do" Shower was...

 

*This topic was inspired by, and linked up with:

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Soul Surfer - A GREAT Family Movie Night Out!

 

This past weekend, our family loaded up for a good old-fashioned Saturday matinee.  Our oldest daughter had read about the true story behind Soul Surfer, and really wanted to see it.  After we checked out the movie's appropriateness for our 6-year-old, we decided to make it a family outing. 

And I LOVE family movie outings--especially when they are not cartoon ones.  Ya with me on that one?

If you are not familiar with the story, Soul Surfer (click here to view the trailer) is based on the true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton.  Bethany's close-knit family surfs together in their family's beautiful Kauai home.  Bethany loses her arm in a shark attack, and courageously overcomes all the odds to become a champion surfer again through sheer determination and her unwavering faith.

The movie stars AnnaSophia Robb (of Because of Winn-Dixie and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Bethany, with Dennis Quaid (love him!) and Helen Hunt (love her more!) as her parents.  A fun surprise of the movie is to see Carrie Underwood acting as Bethany's supportive youth leader.

We knew ahead of time that the shark attack scene would be too intense for both our daughters.  (They're delicate souls, you know)  We had discussed it beforehand with both of them, and gave them the option either to take a bathroom break at that point, or cover their eyes and ears.  (Hey, we know from many 'a sleepless nights that we needed to plan ahead for a life-like scary scene!  This ain't our first rodeo, you know.)  Our oldest chose to hit the bathroom, while our youngest planned to cover her ears, and close her eyes.  We had a false alarm about 3 minutes ahead of the real attack.  In case you'd like to know ahead of time when the attack occurs here it is:  (If you don't want to know--skip to the next paragraph!!)  The attack occurs on Halloween morning, when the surf coach takes Bethany and her friend Alana and Alana's brother surfing.  The attack is sudden, and although it does not show the actual bite, it does show plenty of blood, and lots of heart-stopping action as they rescue Bethany from the ocean, with the remaining part of her arm wrapped in the surf coach's shirt.

Our whole family loved the movie!  As is typical for me, I cried many times throughout the movie.  The sweetness of the family's tight bond, combined with Bethany's raw emotions, as well as her parents' sorrow over seeing their daughter's struggles--all of those things tugged on my tears several times.  Bethany's determination had our family cheering and grinning from ear to ear by the end of the movie.

The movie's underlying message of a family bonded together by their faith was like a breath of fresh air in a movie.  I'm sure to some, the faith message may be a little heavy-handed at times.  But, those little snippets, although meaningful to the movie, are short and sweet.  I think the movie does a wonderful job of showing the delicate balance between Bethany's loss, and her drive to do the one thing that thrills her soul:  Surf the waves.

What do you think?  What's the best movie you've seen lately?

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Rain Rain Go Away...Some Branson Flood Pictures

There have been lots of jokes around here about animals lining up 2x2.  I haven't seen any animals lining up...but if I were offered a seat on a big ark, I would HOP RIGHT ON!!

Today, our little town of Branson, MO, received over a FOOT of rain today.   Plus, it's been raining for the last 40 days straight.  (Okay, maybe not that many days...it just feels like it!)

There are flash flood warnings, tornado watches and warnings covering all the states surrounding us.  Many of our friends' houses along Lake Taneycomo have flooded, and our friends have been evacuated.  Many roads are closed because of flooding.  My brother-in-law in Northwest Arkansas has been on rescue calls due to flooding for 2 straight days, with reports of some tragic deaths. 

In other words, it's a BIG MESS around these parts!

 Here are a few pictures we snapped driving around this afternoon.

(Click on any picture to see full-sized version)

 
 

 
 
 
 

 

And Table Rock Dam opening all 10 of its flood gates this afternoon will only cause more flooding along Taneycomo...

photo credit:  Chris Myer 

 But, because of this promise

Photo credit 

Our girls are able to play, carefree

And ENJOY the rain

That the rest of us around here, are ANNOYED with 

 

 

 

I'm praying for everyone affected by these terrible storms.  And, ever grateful for God's promise...

⁸ Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: ⁹ “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you ¹⁰ and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

 ¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”  -Genesis 9:8-16

TOP TEN Ways I'm a Fashion Loser

(I would like for the whole world to note that in 1987, I could tie a bandana around my waist.  Yes, I sure could.  Thank you for noticing.  And thank you for not looking for a bandana around my waist anytime in the near future.  The end.) 

 In honor of all the Easter gussying up everyone did, I thought it would be appropriate for me to step out and confess to the world how--even though I would love to be stylish and hip--I am a fashion drop-out.  Because guess what?  Would you like to know what joyful and beautiful colors I wore for Easter Sunday?  I wore charcoal trouser pants and a slate grey blouse.  Now, isn't that cheery?  I felt like I had a good reason for my drab outfit...I just didn't have it in me to wear my white linen skirt in the pouring down rain.  I figured white linen skirt + rain = embarrassing moment waiting to happen.

Plus...maybe I didn't feel like ironing it.  Maybe.

So, while I'm on a roll confessing my fashion loser status, I might as well get it all over with, and come clean.  Here are the TOP TEN ways I just might be a fashion loser:

(Oh, save your confessions for the end...it's my turn first!)

10.  I can't for the life of me blow-dry my hair with a big round brush.  Okay, I exaggerate a little.  I just can't BEAR to take the time to section my hair 900 times and blow-dry 1 centimeter of hair at a time.  I just can't do it.  I can't and please don't make me I just might go crazy if I had to do it that way.  I'd rather have frizzy, ugly hair.  There, I said it.  I feel better.

9.  Plus, I'm over 40 and *said in a whisper* still wear ponytails.  I know.  I'm a hair loser.  But, my stylist Charity still loves me.  And accepts me for all my hair issues.  Plus, it keeps her in business.  And she can blow-dry like a professional.  Because, well, she is one.

8.  Because I blow-dry my hair like it is still 1987, I use a curling iron.  Yes, they still make those things with the round barrels.  But, I have to order it from a catalog called Finger Hut. 

7.  When getting dressed and I notice a stain on my shirt, most times I will still wear the shirt...and hope people think I *just* got the stain.

6.  I think that what #7 also means, is that I often wear dirty clothes.

5.  When getting dressed for the day, I frequently use the word "eh" when peering in the mirror.

4.  I like to select my daily outfit by the level of comfort it brings to me.  Shoot, isn't that the motto for SAS Shoes?  I'm doomed...  (I wonder what rubber-sole sensible shoe SAS would suggest pairing with grey sweats?)

3.  In warm weather, I wear Chaco sandals daily.  Which, come to think of it, is the hipster's version of SAS Shoes. 

2.  The fact that I just called myself "a hipster."  Curvy hips, maybe.  Hipster?  Survey says:  BONK.

1.  I buy my make-up in stores that also sell toilet paper and automobile tires.

 

Oh, but, good news, people!  Evidently, I am not alone in my fashion status.  My sister just told me that she thinks I dress CUTE.  So, at least my sister and I can grow old together...in our grey sweats and stained shirts.  Plus, we will provide wonderful moral support for each other when selecting our first SAS shoes.

 Come on, now--it's YOUR TURN TO CONFESS!!  What is your worst fashion faux pas??

Happy Easter!!!

He is not here!

For He is risen!

 

(no, no, no.  It's not Casey Abrams.  But, play the song anyway--It's such a happy little tune!!)

Happy Easter, dearest readers! 

 Now, please come back next week.  (As we used to say back home:) All this seriousness this week is like to kilt me.   I promise to tickle your funny next week.  As long as that doesn't mean anything strange...  Now, go eat your jelly beans and chocolate eggs.  But, please don't eat any Cadbury eggs in front of me.  Those things creep me out a little.

Day 4 - A Last Dinner, Dear Friends, and a Message

Welcome to Day 4 of getting my heart ready for Easter!  In preparation for this holy holiday, I wanted to be a little more serious this week, a little more deliberate with my words here. 

If you have read my blog last year at Easter, you saw Jesus enter Jerusalem on Day 1, the same day the Jews were to select an unblemished lamb for sacrifice.  On Day 2, Jesus cleansed the temple of the dishonest moneychangers so that he could enter the Temple to teach Parables and answer the Pharisees questions with questions and scripture on Day 3.  (Most of  today's post is from last year's Day 4.)

 Day 4 of Easter Week tugs at my heart a little.  Day 4 Jesus chooses to spend with His dearest friends--his disciples.  He knows His time left on Earth is short, and He wants to spend it explaining some of the things about to happen to Him to his beloved disciples.  I just love what He tells them as they all gather together in the upper room for their Passover feast,

"I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."     -Luke 22:15-16

 Wouldn't it be amazing to be one of Jesus' chosen to spend His last meal together in communion?  To be there at the table with Jesus as He explains what is about to happen...

 And, yet, I am chosen.

 Not for that table, in that time.

 But, now.  In communion with Him now.  And forevermore.

Wow.

His love for me overwhelms me.  Humbles me.   Mystifies me.

What about you?

Do you know this love?

He gave his life to prove it.

  

The Super Secret Easter Bunnies of Madison Street

 (I'm taking this walk down memory lane today, in case it sparks an idea for a new tradition for your family...)

Growing up, my mom started a wonderful tradition for our family at Easter.  My brother, sister, and I were the super secret Easter bunnies of Madison Street.  I'm sure all the sweet widow ladies who lived near us knew who was ringing their doorbells every Easter Eve, leaving little Easter baskets, and giggling and running to hide behind a tree to watch the door being opened.  The neighbors came to expect us those Saturday nights, and left on their porch lights to help us find our way.

For about a week before Easter, our mom would line the kitchen counter with 6-8 assorted baskets.  Some years, these baskets would be the green plastic strawberry "baskets."  Other years, we'd use small baskets collected throughout the year.  (Remember, this was before Hobby Lobby--or any craft store in our small town.  Gathering enough baskets was a secret gift of our mom's.)  Many times the neighbors would return their baskets...for a mysterious re-filling. 

My sister and I would help adorn the baskets with ribbon--carefully weaving ribbon through the green strawberry baskets, or tying bows around basket handles.  (Our brother only participated in the egg manufacturing and delivery departments.)   Mom would also select the treasures for the baskets--sometimes cute little yellow chicks or bunny figurines, or little soaps or lotions.  Always, there would be pretty pastel candy to divide up, like robin's egg jelly beans (decidedly better than the regular ones!), a foil-wrapped chocolate bunny or two, some malted milk eggs, and sometime starting in the 1980's--the interesting to look at, but kind of sickening to eat Cadbury egg.

Of course, what is the centerpiece of any respectable Easter basket?  Why, the dyed eggs, of course!  That was always an early Easter Eve activity.  Smelling white vinegar always takes me back to those days--dunking the warm hard boiled eggs into the tinted vinegar water.  My brother, sister, and I took turns decorating those eggs.  The solid bright blue ones were always my favorite, and usually found spots of honor in our neighbor baskets.

After we'd fill all the baskets, my brother would be in charge of the delivery tactics.  We liked delivering within view of each other--watching the drop-off and heart-stopping run to hide was always the highlight of the night.   A tumble over a tree root always had the other sister and brother rolling on the grass laughing.  Silently laughing, of course.  Stealth delivery was of utmost importance, and one we took very seriously!

At the end of the Easter basket deliveries, we'd always walk together through the front door of our home, laughing and telling our parents about each drop-off, each near discovery by an eager door-opener.  I remember always feeling very satisfied afterward, thinking about each sweet widow, each neighbor,  knowing that on Easter morning everyone in our neighborhood felt loved.

Kind of like how God feels about the gift He sent to us.  Isn't there a verse about Jesus knocking at each of our doorsteps?  I'm so glad He didn't run and hide before I could answer.  Aren't you?

What about you?  What are your fun Easter memories?

What memories are you making with your family this Easter?

 

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me."  -Revelation 3:20

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Easter Week - Day 2

As you can see, I am trying to do things a little differently this week.  No funny stories or TOP TEN lists (but please come back--I have some really fun stuff planned!!)  No crafty, cooking--or even decorating update today...  (Not to sound too cheesy...but)  today, I want to work on decorating my soul. 

 

And if this all looks familiar.  I am re-posting this from last year's Easter week.  I hope you don't mind.  If you've been following my blog lately, you'll remember that I've been with my dear friend and her family this weekend.  I just got back this afternoon from a loooong road trip with some girlfriends.  We left Dallas this morning at 5 am.  I bet you didn't think I ever saw what 5 am looked like, did you?  Well, there's a first time for everything...  So, I'm re-posting these Easter Week thoughts.  These words about Day 2 of Easter Week just seemed appropriate.  

 

In honor of the Holy Week of Easter, I want to spend that time here reflecting, slowing down, and preparing my heart for what God wants me to learn this Easter season.

 

I know I need to do this all year long. 

 

Sometimes in the busyness, I don't take time for the important.  Only the urgent.

 

And for me, this holiday is the most important.

 

Eternally important.

 

Day 2 - Cleansing the Temple

 

In Jesus' last week on Earth, the 2nd day of the week--Tuesday, by our calendar--Jesus went to the Temple.  Before He even got inside, He took care of some important business.  You see--in the holiest of places for the Jews, Gentiles had set up booths to sell animals for sacrifice to the Jews.  You know--kind of like a fair where the hawkers are calling out, taunting you to their booth, with the promise of something wonderful, but the reality of taking your hard-earned money.

 

Before Jesus could even enter the Temple, He had to make his way through the greedy hawkers and money changers, who were cheating the Jews trying to buy sacrifices and getting their money changed for an offering.

 

Jesus took care of the important before entering the Temple.  He fashioned a whip out of some cords, and drove out the animals, overturned the tables of the money changers, and scattered their coins. 

 

"Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

You know, that is just like ME in some ways.  (Not the Jesus part...the hawkers part.)  Before something can sink deep into my heart, I have to get rid of all of the noise and JUNK around me.  Before God is able to whisper into my heart, sometimes He has to get my attention to cleanse the distractions--the sin--that is in the way first.

 

That is my prayer on Day 2...that God would reveal the JUNK, the sin, that is in the way of my heart being changed.

And I pray that for you, too.  What is surrounding you, that is keeping your heart tucked away and hardened?

Are you willing to release the chains?   To be set free?

Will I let Christ cleanse my temple, so He can enter in?

  

Hope

"But now this is what the Lord says...Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine!  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior."

-Isaiah 43:1-3a

 Photo credit