Put an 'x' next to every true statement. Add up the 'x's you have....the number of 'x's you have is equal to how old you are going to be when you get married.

[ ] You know how to make a pot of coffee.
[x] You keep track of dates using a calendar.
[ ] You own more than one credit card.
[ ] You know how to change the oil in a car.
[x] You do your own laundry.
[ ] You vote every election.
[x] You can cook for yourself.
[ ] You think politics are exciting.
[x] Your parents have better things to say than your friends.
- - -
TOTAL: 4
* * *

[ ] You show up for school / college / work everyday early.
[x] You always carry a pen in your pocket / purse.
[x] You've never gotten a detention.
[x] You have never smoked a cigarette.
[x] You have never gotten completely trashed.
[ ] You have forgotten your own birthday at least once.
[x] You like to take walks by yourself.
[x] You've watched talk shows.
[x] You know what 'credibility' means without looking it up.
[ ] You drink coffee at least once a week.
- - -
TOTAL: 7
* * *

[x] You know how to do the dishes.
[x] You can count to 10 in another language.
[x] When you say you're going to do something, you do it.
[x] My parents trust me.
[x] You can mow the lawn.
[x] You can make adults laugh without being stupid.
[x] You remember to water the plants.
[x] You study when you have to.
[x] You pay attention at school / college.
[ ] You remember to feed your pets. (If I had pets, I would remember)
- - -
TOTAL: 9
* * *

[x] You can spell 'experience' without looking it up.
[ ] You work out on a regular basis.
[x] You clean up your own mess.
[ ] The people at Starbucks know you by name.
[ ] Your favorite kind of food is take out.
[ ] You have gained weight since middle / high school.
[ ] The first thing you do when you wake up is get caffeine.
[x] You can go to the store without getting something you don't need.
[ ] You understand political jokes the first time they are said.
[x] You can type quickly.
- - -
TOTAL: 4
* * *

[x] You have realized that the weather forecast changes every hour.
[ ] Your only friends are from your place of employment.
[x] You have been to a Tupperware party.
[ ] You have realized that no one will take you seriously unless you are over the age of 25 and have a job.
[ ] You have more bills than you can pay.
[x] Most of all your friends are older than you are.
[x] You can say 'no' to staying out all night.
[x] You use the Internet every day.
[x] Your wardrobe hasn't changed in a while.
[x] You can read a book and actually finish it.
- - -
TOTAL: 7

31 years old..... O_o  I guess we'll see. lol

I just wanted to say..... 

♥Happy Valentine's Day♥.... to you! 

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's, and remember... Jesus loves you!!!!

 ♥Lydia♥

Happy Birthday, Charity!!!!

I love you so much... and I hope you have a wonderful, fabulous, abundantly blessed day!!!!=D

*HUGE HUGS*

♥Lydia

I have a new background!! It's so pretty... *sighs* ; )

Finish the sentence, as if you wrote each one yourself.

1. I've come to realize that my last kiss... was 2 of the best kisses I've ever had... they came from Susanna and Damaris.;)

2. I am listening to... Susanna read a book to Damaris.=)

3. I talk... a whole lot, when I'm talkin' to my family and friends.... but most people that don't really know me, probably wouldn't believe that. ;) lol

4. I love... my family and friends SO much!!!!

5. My best friend(s)... are my sisters.;)

6. Number six is... the month I was born in.

Where's #7?

8. I hate it when people... lie!!!!

9. Love is... the greatest gift you could ever give, that anyone can afford.... Love is a precious, wonderful, amazing gift!

10. Marriage... is also a precious, wonderful, amazing gift.

11. Somewhere, someone... is praying for me.

12. I'll always... live in the country.=)

Where's #13?

14. The last time I cried was because... I had a ton of things running through my mind.

15. My cell phone is... cute! I put little pink and white heart stickers on it and also a little music note sticker.;)

16. When I wake up in the morning... I throw my alarm clock across the room..... NOT. lol But I have been tempted. Naw, really, I locate my phone and my glasses.

17. Before I go to bed... I read my Bible and pray.

18. Right now I am thinking about... needin' to be down-stairs vaccuming and cleanin' the bathrooms.

19. Babies are... so beautiful and sweet and cute and little and I love their little fingers and toes and I love how soft and precious they are.... *sighs*;)

Where's #20?

21. Today I... got up, took my vitamins (www.mannapages.com/carolneal), ate some cornbread and milk, put wood in the stove, spent WAY too much time on the computer, should've been cleaning, ate dinner, should be cleaning now....

22. Tonight I will... do school work and clean and play my guitar, and more than likely I'll get on the stinkin' computer again.;)

23. Tomorrow I will... get up, take my vitamins, eat breakfast, clean or do school or play my guitar or somethin', eat dinner, clean or do school or play my guitar or somethin' and then go to a youth service at church tomorrow night.

24. I really want to be... like Jesus. I want to be in His perfect will always! I want to be an instrument in His hands.

25. Someone who will most likely repost this is... Whoever wants to.;)


~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~

Quick note....

I have a new layout! It's got a "loverly" theme....;)

Got this from Emily sapphire_swirl. Thought it was pretty funny.;)





Cut down to ten rodeos a day?!?! Impossible!! ;P lol I have a secret fear of pickup trucks? Glad I found out about that now. lol I think I need more art in my life....;)

Just wanted to say Happy New Year, and I hope you all have a blessed year 2007!!!!

*Lydia*;)



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(I know Christina already posted this quote, but it's become one of my absolute favorites, so I thought I'd post it too.=))


I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." He replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God, that shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."
~ M. Louise -----

So.... I have a new background picture on my LJ! It's one of my favorite pictures.... So many memories! *sighs* Such fun!! ;)

I just wanted to say... I'm SO happy for Johanna and Aaron!!!!!!!!!=D (And all the other new couples.;))

I wonder who the love bug will bite next....


Btw, Merry Christmas everybody!=)

My little sisters, Susanna and Damaris, decided to have a tea party the other day and they invited us older girls to join them. To their delight, we excepted the invitation, and we had so much fun!;D Here are some pictures.....

I just thought I'd post a random picture.


Me and Damaris.;) I love her SO much!!!♥

From Random pictures

Good night everybody!!

Tagged by Missy misshoneybee.;)


~~~~~~~~~~~~


*I'm not sure what to write.

*I want some ice cream.

*I've been craving ice cream for several weeks now.

*I'm chattin' with Missy right now.;)

*Missy is eating chocolate mint chip ice cream right now.=P

*Chocolate mint chip ice cream is like, one of my most favorites!!

*Everybody is probably thinking, "This is really boring!"

*My Dad just got a massage from Abigail and he is snoring.=P lol

*JoAnna is standin' next to me.

*I just felt a little dizzy.

*I've been at the computer WAY too long.;) lol

*I'm listening to music

*Missy just got offline.

*How long is this thing supposed to be anyways?

*JoAnna, Damaris and I helped Dad cut wood today... well, we hauled it and I chopped a little bit.;)

*My hands are cold.

*God has blessed me with absolutely wonderful family and friends!!!

*Christmas lights are pretty!

*I think they shouldn't just be put up for Christmas.

*I Want to see Charity and Judy!!=)

*Judy and Keith might come down here pretty soon! YAY!!

*I think I've wrote enough random thoughts. lol

*I'm gonna end this.... now.


~~~~~~~~~~~~


I tag:
Christina countrymaiden

Johanna livingmemorials

and...

Kelsey kayjay88

Hey ya'll,

I won't be on much, if any, until Saturday. My Mom, sister, a couple of friends, and I are headed to Branson.;)

Please keep us in your prayers.=)

God bless, and have a great rest of the week!
*Lydia*

This has been such a wonderful week....

As most of you know already, Charity redbandannaand Johanna livingmemorials, are here at my house right now!!!!!! They've been here since Monday and we were able to extend their stay... so they will be here until this Monday!!!

I'm so happy, beyond words, that they got to come down here and stay with me and my family! We've had SO much fun ridin' 4-wheelers and horses and just relaxing around the house takin' it easy.;)

The fall colors down here are just gorgeous right now! God is so awesome!!!!! I enjoy all the seasons of the year, but fall and spring have to be my absolute favorite seasons!

I now have LJ IM, so feel free to message me if I'm on!!;)

I hope you all are having a wonderful week!!!!

I am looking for recipes using ground beef.  If you have any you would like to share, I would be happy to have them.=D 


The reason I'm looking for ground beef recipes in particular, is because we have a freezer full of ground beef and we've made just about everything we know how to make with it.   

The reason we have all of that meat is because,  when a cow gets injured at the sale barn, and the meat of the cow is still good, they give it to my Dad and let him butcher it and keep the meat. (My Dad has a degree in meat sience and is in the process of opening his own meat processing shop. At this time he uses another mans shop when he has a cow to butcher.) We thank God for the meat, we're just trying to figure out some other ways to fix it. = )

Mom sent this to me in an e-mail.=) Very good story.....



A note from Momma....
This little story makes an excellent point!
see my note at the end of the story

Great illustration!!



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Brownies ............ by David Kirkwood

Some years ago when I was a pastor, I walked into my church office after a
Sunday morning service to find a sandwich bag on my desk containing three
chocolate brownies. Some thoughtful and anonymous saint who knew my love
for chocolate had placed them there, along with a piece of paper that had a
short story written on it. I immediately sat down and began eating the
first brownie as I read the following story:


Two teenagers asked their father if they could go the theater to watch a
movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some reviews about
the movie on the internet, he denied their request.

"Aw dad, why not?" they complained. "It's rated PG-13, and we're both
older than thirteen!"

Dad replied: "Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality,
which is something that God hates, as being normal and acceptable
behavior."

"But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That's what our
friends who've seen it have told us. The movie is two hours long and those
scenes are just a few minutes of the total film! It's based on a true
story, and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes
like courage and self-sacrifice. Even the Christian movie review websites
say that!"

"My answer is 'no,' and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay
home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one of the good
videos we have in our home collection. But you will not go and watch that
film. End of discussion."

The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down
on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of
their father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the
wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers
said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he's going to try
to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with
lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go
to that movie after all."

About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and
wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and the
brownies in the story. I kept reading...

The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate
of warm brownies which he offered to his kids. They each took one. Then
their father said, "Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love
you both so much."

The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was
softening.

"That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I've
made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic. The best
organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium
vanilla and chocolate."

The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little
impatient with their dad's long speech.

"But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I
added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from
our own back yard. But you needn't worry, because I only added the tiniest
bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is
practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what
you think."

"Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we
eat?"

"Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won't
even taste it." "Come on, dad, just tell us what that ingredient is."

"Don't worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients."

"Dad!"

"Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic...dog poop."

I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into
the waste basket by my desk I continued reading, now fearful of the
paragraphs that still remained.

Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began
inspecting their fingers with horror. "DAD! Why did you do that? You've
tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half
hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can't eat these
brownies!"

"Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the
ingredients. It won't hurt you. It's been cooked right along with the
other ingredients. You won't even taste it. It has the same consistency
as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!"

"No, Dad...NEVER!"

"And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go watch that movie. You
won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you
tolerate a little immorality in your movies? We pray that God will not
lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain
ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that
will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?

I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the entire
untouched third brownie. What had been irresistible a minute ago had
become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance that what I
was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it wasn't...but I couldn't
convince myself.)

What a good lesson! Why do we tolerate any sin? On the day of
the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven
from their homes. Sin is like leaven - a little bit leavens the whole lump
(1 Cor. 5:6). Jesus, "our Passover" (1 Cor. 5:7), and sin, don't mix.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



I would not have made a batch of brownies with dog poop in them, but I confess I have used a similar illustration in training my own children.
Living in the country with cattle in the surrounding pastures, we have at various times discussed the fact that sometimes cow poop is referred to as "meadow muffins". My children all were disgusted when they first read in history lessons that "Buffalo chips" were used to build the fires the homesteaders cooked their food on. With those things in mind, when my children would want to do an unwise thing with the argument that a friend or acquaintance was allowed to do the desired activity, my reply, including good and wise reasons for not participating in the questioned activity, was usually followed by, "If your friend were eating cow patties, would you eat one, too?" Of course they would disgustedly reply with a resounding "Absolutely Not!!!"
I know that may seem a harsh comparison to some, but as the story above points out, we often are tempted to allow or overlook just a little bit of something that God would refer to as a stink in His nostrils. Sin is disgusting to God, and it should be to us! We allow our eyes to take in things that appeal to our senses in ways that we would never think of behaving in reality. And all the while we know the words of Jesus, "If you so much as look upon a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery already in your heart." That is very strong teaching spoken from the mouth of Jesus himself. He knew our weaknesses. We are taught later in scripture to keep our minds on things that are pure and honest and just and lovely..... If we would measure the things we watch, read, or desire to participate in according to those requirements, we would never be accepting cow patties!
Enjoy the Blessings of God!!!!!
Carol

Just thought I'd post a few random pictures.;)

More to come.....