Disneyland

I am 50 years old and I had never been to Disneyland or Disneyworld. I used to get them mixed up but now I know Disneyland is in California and Disneyworld is in Florida.

As you can see I have a pretty little sling on. I had shoulder surgery on the 29th of January. James had a business trip to go to California. It just so happened that my niece lives very close to where he had to go. I was excited that I got to go. I had to take it easy with my shoulder but we enjoyed ourselves so much. Chass took me shopping to some really neat places and Scott went with James to take care of his business. The rest of the time for James was play time.

Saturday they took us to Disneyland. I was more excited than the kids. It was rainy and California people thought it was cold so it kept the lines pretty short. The longest we ever had to stand in line was 30 minutes. And yes, I even rode Space Mountain. Everyone just packed me in and protected my shoulder. Donald Duck is our very favorite Disney character and we saw him almost immediately. I knew the day was going to be good.

Sunday we spent most of the day in airports and planes coming home. Last Monday and Tuesday I don't think I ever got dressed -- I was so tired.

Thanks to Chass and Scott, and of course, Jadyn and Mason, for showing us a great time and being such great hosts.

I AM STILL AROUND

I hope you didn't think I had fallen off the face of the earth. I am still here.

I had shoulder surgery on January 29th. This is my first day without James. He has really taken great care of me. You can't imagine the things I have NOT been able to do without my right arm.

I appreciate everyone's prayers, gifts, etc. I have had an outpouring of love and I thank all of you for that.

I can only do a little at a time right now. I managed to get a load of clothes in the washer and I should be able to get them in the dryer but then what?

Have a blessed day and hang with me -- I'll write more later.

Thirty Eight Plus Years

I recently signed up with Facebook. I am having a blast. The above picture is one of a dear friend that I had not seen in (we think) 38 years. This is Lana. We came together on Facebook. If you have never tried it, it can be lots of fun. You know my first name is Karen and if you know my maiden name and my last name now, you can find me.

My daughter, Amanda (Mandi) got me started on this and then I found out my son, Joshua and his wife, Desiree, are on there too.

It is an amazing way of keeping up with great friends and finding friends you thought you would never see again.

I am a Hair Stylist. Lana drove MANY miles to come to my salon and I did her hair. We had so much fun. I did all the work and she just sat there, but it was so wonderful. I caught up on all kinds of people.

Facebook is a blast!

Zekey Zoomba

Happy Birthday, my precious boy!

Ezekiel Walter

MiMi loves you so much!

Officially Lost All My Marbles

As most of you know, in August I began Weight Watchers. I began with determination that "this TIME I'm going to DO IT". My best inspiration was my friend, Lory, who has lost 50+ lbs and is not needing to lose another ounce. (Ounces count.)

Lory did this cool thing. She had two jars. She started out with what her goal was -- that many marbles in one jar and as she lost lbs she would transfer a marble to the other jar. I liked her idea and I thought it would be fun. I went to the dollar section at Target (sometimes I never make it past that section). I found plastic martini glasses. I bought a purple one (my favorite color) and a green one (I love the two together). I had already started my weight by then so I put the marbles for the ones I need to lose in the green martini glass. I put the marbles representing the ones I HAD lost already in the purple one (my favorite color and martini glass).

As of yesterday, the green martini glass is empty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! James was out of town and I sent him a text for him on his way home from the airport. I told him I had a surprise for him when he got home. I wrapped up the green martini glass and put it in a gift bag for him. He is my biggest fan. He has been a big supporter (pardon the pun) and is always cheering me on. He told me once that he would love me even if I weighed 350 lbs but he would probably not take me anywhere. :) He is soooo funny!

By the way, the martini glasses have no significance other than they were $1 each and they happened to be colors I like.

So, I have officially lost all my marbles!

Joshua and Josiah

29 years ago, today, I gave birth to Joshua Shayne Livingston.

6 years ago, today, my daughter, Amanda, gave birth to Josiah Wilson Hayes.

Happy Birthday Josh! I love you.

Happy Birthday Josiah! MiMi loves you.

LET GOD BE GOD

Prayer changes everything. I have adopted a new way of doing things. There is no way we can go through life without being offended and without offending. I believe what God wants me to do is pray instead of confronting. Confrontation is just that -- it leads to arguing and people saying things that should never be said. Once words are out there, it is hard to forget them.

Our Pastor has challenged our congregation to a month of fasting and prayer. There is no way you cannot get closer to God when you combine the two -- prayer and fasting. I love Matthew 17. Jesus rebuked the devil from a child. The disciples had tried and failed. When they saw what Jesus did they asked Him how He could do that but they could not. Jesus said, "Howbeit this kind goeth out but by prayer and fasting." (That is KJV -- Matthew 17:21. You will not find that scripture in NIV). So, there must be power in the combination.

Saturday I was at one of the lowest times in my life. My marriage is wonderful, and there are no problems there, but there are other areas I cannot seem to conquer. One precious lady gave me this: Habakkuk 3. She wrote it down in a song that she had composed in years past when she was going through much the same thing as I am at this time. She gave it to me. I will keep this in my Bible forever and I will read it often. Basically, the song (based entirely on scripture) says this: Although there are no figs on the trees, the vineyards are bare, no sheep in the field and no cattle in the stalls -- HE IS STILL LORD OF ALL.

I cannot tell you how this ministered to me. When everything is crashing in all around you and you are consumed with fear, doubt, shame and guilt, you can know that GOD IS STILL GOD. He's not a baby in a manger or the Jesus on the cross. He is God on His throne. He is our sovereign Lord. He is my strength and He will cause me to walk in high places.

In Romans 4, we read about Abraham being justified by his faith. I love verse 17.
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

When I got the "song" from this lady, I came home to read it in the Word. At the end of Habakkuk 3 I had underlined the last two scriptures and had written this prayer. Judging by the pen it was written in, I believe I wrote this about 4 years prior to this day.

Lord, help me to remember that You are always with me - - I am never alone. You are my strength. You are my provision. I will praise You and rejoice in You. I will take joy in You and bless Your name. Everything I have You give me. Everything I am You make me. Without You I am nothing and I have nothing. It's all about YOU. You are my joy, my peace, my comfort, my everything.

Sometimes God takes us full circle, doesn't He? I know that from this day forward, I will remember this: It doesn't matter what it looks like around me, God is still there. I do not have to have fruit on the tree to know that God is still there and God is still working to accomplish what HE wants to accomplish. I truly have to let go and LET GOD BE GOD.