Powder Puff

It's homecoming week for CHS and along with it comes homecoming events throughout the week. On Monday night the Powder Puff game was held at Cane Field. Angela being the athlete in the family was on the field playing football on the freshman team. She did an awesome job on defense. She made one interception and numerous tackles (actually it was flag football not tackle). The freshman won in a shut out against the sophomores (12-0)! Then the senior class and junior class duked it out (at times the term duked it out was literal). The seniors won 29 - 20. As always the cheerleaders were a sight to see. A sense of humor is a must to dress up like a cheerleader. It was a fun night watching the girls and the guys trade places for a few hours in the spirit of fun. My friend Kim emailed me this picture of her and has made me a CD. As soon as I get the CD, I will post more pictures (the ones I took aren't as good as the ones she took).

Cool Find for Cool Days

Fall is definitely in the air in South Florida. We woke up this morning to 44 degree weather. For South Florida that is cold. With cooler weather I'm always looking for foods that will warm the body and I just so happened to receive a recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup today. That was a bonus in and of itself, but it made it especially nice that it's a Crock Pot recipe. Let me tell you, the Fountain's love themselves Crock Pot meals. Well at least the Fountain that does the cooking does.
I decided to share my find with those of you that are looking for an easy meal that will warm you up on cool days.

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Bonelss Chicken Breasts (3or4)

Chicken Broth (1 can)
Onion (1/2 of large)
Celery (3 or 4 stalks)
Garlic Cloves (2)
Carrots (approx. 2-3 cups)
Noodles (approx. 2/3 package)
Chicken Bouillon (6 cubes)
Water (8 cups, approximately)
Freshly ground pepper
Oregano, Basil, & Thyme (if desired)

Brown chicken breasts in a little olive oil. When the chicken breasts are golden, add chopped onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent. Turn off heat and transfer to bowl and let cool. Shred or chop chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Then add all of the chicken breast, onion and garlic to crock pot. Add sliced carrots, chopped celery, chicken broth, chicken bouillon, water and spices. Let the soup cook all day while you are away or at home doing other things! About 15 minutes before serving, add noodles to soup. Enjoy!

I wish you were here today. I missed your call yesterday. It seems like forever since I heard your voice. I still catch myself on the verge of asking to talk to you when I call. Oh how I miss your voice. I miss the wisdom you were always willing to share with me and with others. I think back to Saturdays spent running errands, buying groceries for both of our households, and the times where we just enjoyed being together and sharing our love for one another. I'm glad I have those precious memories because it's those memories that help get me through days like today.

You taught me so much throughout the years. Whether it was through words or actions you always instructed me on various things you knew I would need. Some of the most precious memories I have of you are of you talking to me about the Lord. Your love for God was evident throughout the years and you encouraged me to find my satisfaction in Him.

There are so many things I wish I had said to you. You went too fast (but I'm thankful God didn't allow you to suffer). I wanted so badly that last night just to hear your voice one more time. But your eyes spoke what your voice couldn't.

You would be 74 today if you were here. Although I can't call to say "Happy Birthday", you are on my mind and in my heart.

Being 43

Today makes 43 years that I've been in this world. I've learned many things in those few years and I thought I'd share 43 of them with you (not in any particular order).

1. You never stop learning. Anybody can teach you something new, even a child.
2. Less is more. Sometimes the less you own, the happier you are; the less you say, the smarter you appear.
3. When the doctor says "It'll only hurt a little bit", it will actually hurt a lot.
4. When you give without expecting anything in return, often you receive more than you bargained for.
5. If the choice is cleaning your home or playing Barbie’s with your daughter…let the dust accumulate.
6. Friendships are rare gifts. When they are genuine, they stand the test of time and circumstance.
7. Say thank you. We often ask but seldom thank.
8. It’s better to sing off key than not to sing at all.
9. You can’t avoid offending people from time to time. When you don’t mean it, apologize. When you do mean it, accept the consequences.
10. It’s 10 times easier to fall in love than to stay in love. And no matter what the sad songs say about romance, broken hearts do mend.
11. It’s never a shame when you admit you don’t know something, and often a shame when you assume that you do
12. Grudges are poison. The only antidote is to let them go.
13. Laundry is one household chore that is never done.
14. Promptness shows respect.
15. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
16. You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
17. It takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
18. Never lick a steak knife.
19. It's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts
20. You should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
21. Learning to forgive takes practice.
22. Being kind is more important than being right.
23. When you say "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
24. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
25. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
26. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
27. It is taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
28. It's a lot easier to react first than it is to think about it first.
29. Either I control my attitude or it controls me.
30. No matter how much you try to prepare yourself for a loved one's death, you're never truly prepared.
31. Just because someone doesn't say "I love you", doesn't mean they don't.
32. First impressions are completely worthless 50% of the time.
33. It's okay to take a day off and just relax.
34. An enjoyable meal. A casual walk. A stroll through the woods. Time with family. These are the kinds of things that provide deep, long lasting happiness
35. Old habits die hard.
36. Sleep makes me happy.
37. Hair on a barbie doll doesn't grow back.
38. You can't fix stupid.
39. Some people take life way to seriously
40. It's hard to dislike someone when you pray for them.
41. Kindness and hard work will take you further than intelligence.
42. Laughing, crying, joy and anger… All are a vital. All make us human.
43. Take lots of pictures. Someday you’ll be really glad you did

Food For Thought

Breakfast: What's your favorite place in your house and why? Describe it or add a photo. My living room. It's where we spend our time together at whether it's watching television or just talking.

Lunch: If your spouse or significant other were a light bulb, what wattage would they be? 25-60-75-100 or a dim black light? His wattage varies. . . some days he's a 75 watt, the next day he is a 100 watt and then there are those days that he is more of a 60 watt. Regardless the watts he brightens my life by just being in it.

Dinner: Name something that would disqualify you if you were a contestant on Fear Factor. I'd never make it through the tryout stage. I'd freak over the snakes, bugs, slimy stuff, and the smelly stuff.

Midnight Snack: What is something that you do that helps you escape for a while? Reading a good book, playing a computer game, or riding bikes.

Recipe for this week (instead of your recipe for life - what it is for just this week?) Don't let the circumstance you find yourself in determine your mood.

Note from Speech Class

While helping David study this afternoon for speech class I came across the 3 B's for speaking:

1. Begin
2. Be Brief
3. Be Seated

I like those three B's.

New Poll

Until today I was under the assumption that when a person is in prison their right to vote is revoked. Not so! Vermont and Maine still allow prisoners to vote. I found that very interesting. Not sure how I feel about that fact and I'm curious how others feel. Therefore, I'm adding a poll to the blog for the next week. Go vote!

Whenever I See Your Smiling Face

It's hard to believe that you've been in glory for a year now. I still miss your smile and your laughter. Even now I still think you will be in your room when I go out to your mom's & dad's.

Your mom & dad have struggled this year, but it has been humbling to witness their faith sustain them. They still question "Why Jess", but turn right around with an answer of "it was God's plan and we may never understand, but we trust His plan." I've seen them grow closer as a couple this past year and they cherish each day as they walk by faith together.

Although I still grieve for you, I know you are rejoicing. You were looking forward to your wedding day when God called you home. I often wonder how your face looked the moment you walked into glory and down the aisle to the true bridegroom. One thing is for certain, you were smiling and I would even bet you were running towards him.

I wouldn't want you to leave glory just to be with us again, but oh how I miss you and look forward to the day that I am with you again!

Happy Birthday Daddy

Angela and I traveled to Tallahassee on Friday to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday on Saturday. My dad didn't know we were coming so he was surprised to see us. On Saturday, my brothers and their families came to my sister's house to celebrate Dad's birthday. We grilled hamburgers and enjoyed the afternoon being together. It was a short visit, but we were glad to have been able to spend the weekend with him celebrating his life.


Daddy, thank you for your leadership and guidance to this family through the years. You have been a godly example to each of us.

Food For Thought

Breakfast: If you could jump into any book - what would it be and why? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. All that chocolate!

Lunch: Tell how you are feeling today in the form of a weather report (for example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance of rain, etc). Mostly sunny with a light breeze,slight chance of rain in the evening.

Dinner: What activities make you lose track of time? Cleaning house, reading and sleeping.

Midnight Snack: What were you doing one hour ago? Walking Bayleigh and enjoying my first cup of coffee.

Recipe for this week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?): Cherish those you love and make time for the simple things.

Know & Tell: Music Edition

1. Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which one(s)? If not, is there one you always wanted to know how to play? Can't play any musical instrument, but I'd love to learn to play the guitar.

2. Do you sing well? Do you sing in along in the car? Do you use head motions? I can't sing at all. When David and Angela were babies and I would sing lullabies to them they would cry louder. If I'm alone in the car I sing, otherwise I don't torture my passengers. I don't use head motions.

3. Who was your teen music crush? Bruce Springsteen. Don't ask why. Guess my taste has changed as I've aged.

4. What is your favorite type of music? Oldies (talking 70's & 80's) or country music.

5. Who are your three favorite musical artists? Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and Alison Krauss.

6. Does your church play tradition or praise songs, or a combination? A combination.

7. What is your favorite hymn? It's hard to decide on just one. I like Blessed Assurance, My Jesus I Love Thee, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. I could go on and on.

8. What is your favorite praise song? Again, it's hard to decide on just one. How Great is Our God, Enough, In Christ Alone, and I Stand in Awe. As before the list could go on and on.

9. What is the strangest musician's name whose music you like? Hootie and the Blowfish.

Bonus Question: What one question would you like the host to answer in the future? If you had the opportunity to undo one mistake in your life what would it be?

Food for Thought

Breakfast: Would you rather be really hot or really cold? I would much rather be really hot than really cold. That's the one thing I enjoy about South Florida, we rarely have really cold days. The ones that we do have I dread. If it never got below 70 degrees I would be happy.

Lunch: Name three things (modern conveniences) you could not live without? If I learned anything in Nicaragua I learned that things we think we can't live without we actually can. Prior to going I worried about not being able to use a cell phone, internet, not having running water, and flushing toilets. Honestly, I didn't miss them that much. Life in Nicaragua was much more relaxed without those things. I discovered there that material things aren't really important. So my answer. . . my children, my salvation, and my family.

Dinner: If you were the eighth dwarf, what would your name be? Speechless. . . that would be a first!

Midnight Snack: Would you rather live to be 100 and sick, or live to be 50 (dying from a freak accident) and healthy. I never want to be a burden to my children or family. I'd prefer to die at 50 from a freak accident but be healthy prior to that.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?): Don't give the power to people that irritate you!! Don't let them take time away from your life by wasting your thoughts on worry, hate, irritation, etc. Choose to think of your blessings instead!!

It Ain't Worth It

Do you ever get tired of trying to make relationships work? It ain't no easy task and sometimes no matter how hard we try to build a relationship with someone we just never click. Until recently I was the type person that bent over backwards trying to build relationships with others. You know I'd be the one to call, make plans, visit, etc. But I finally got feed up with being the one that poured herself into the relationship while the other person took it for granted. So now I've built a wall and I will admit I could care less about building relationships with people that seem uninterested. I've finally concluded that relationships aren't worth it. If someone really wants to be a part of my life then they will make the effort to reach out to me. I'm sick of being the one that does the reaching out.

Pink for October

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.

But there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

Ladies call today and schedule your mammogram. . . it makes a difference.

Angela and Sports

Since her first Cross Country meet in Lake Placid on September 17, Angela has been diligently trying to improve her running time. At times she grows frustrated that her times are not what she would like them to be. However, at today's meet in Lemon Bay she was pleased with her time of 28 minutes in the 5k (3.1 miles). Her times thus far have been:
Lake Placid: 31:22
Optimist: 32:48
Spanish River: 31:22
Lemon Bay:28:00
She continues to love running and is enjoying the season. They will be going to Disney World to run at the invitational there on October 10.

She tried out this week for the Lady Tigers Soccer team. When we asked how try outs went she replied that she did lousy with her drills and shooting, but went ahead and tried out for goalie as well. The second day of tryouts they had to run a mile while being timed. Her time was 7 minutes. Last night the coaches posted the names of those who made the team, but we were in Palm Beach at the movies. Our friend, Phyllis, subs at the school and had talked to the coach yesterday afternoon to find out if she made the team. As we were leaving the movie Phyllis casually told her, "Hey Angela, guess what you made the soccer team!" Angela jumped up and down yelling, "Yes, Yes, I made it!" So once again I'm a Soccer Mom!

Know & Tell : Decorating Edition

1. Do you have fake plants in your house? No. I have one plant in the entire house and it is a live plant (at least for now).

2. What is the oldest piece of furniture you have that is not an antique? A beside table. It was my grandmother's (on my father's side).

3. Do you have any antiques? Other than the beside table there are no other antiques.

4. What type of dishes do you use? China, stoneware, Corelle, Tupperware, paper plates? I use stoneware for the most part although we use paper plates every now and then.

5. What is your favorite thing in your house? My pictures.

6. Do you like to use lamps or overhead lighting? I love soft lamp lighting. Overhead lighting shows the dust too bad.

7. Are you a pristine white wall person or do you love color? I love color. White is boring.

More from Paul David Tripp

I was greatly encouraged by what Paul Tripp has to say regarding Accountability in his book Instrument's In The Redeemer's Hands.

The concept of accountability tends to carry negative connotations. Yet the biblical picture is very loving in at least two ways. First, as we help restore people to where God wants them to be, we are called to "carry each others burdens" (Gal. 6:2). We are also told to fight the deceitfulness of sin by "encouraging one another daily."(Heb. 3:13). We must love people enough to do more than expose wrong, pronounce right, and walk away. Accountability requires a willingness to roll up our sleeves and get alongside people as they fight the war between sin and righteousness.

Yet as people step out in faith, they are often still confused and afraid. They have committed to a new and better way, but they are not yet ready to be on their own. The disciples provide a wonderful example of this phenomenon. They had been with Jesus for three years and seen the glory and power of his presence. They had learned much about the kingdom of God, but in many ways they were still wobbly and uncertain. In his last few moments with them before the cross, Jesus recognized that they were not ready to be on their own. (John 16:12-16). Their fear and confusion at his crucifixion (which Jesus had warned them was coming) reveal what spiritual babies they were. Confused and afraid, they hid together, wondering what to do next. Even after they saw the resurrected Christ, they were still asking wrong questions (Acts 1:7-11). But Jesus didn't leave his wobbly disciples alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, encourage, warn, convict, and strengthen them.

God calls us to the same ministry by the power of the same Holy Spirit. He calls us to stand with people as they step out in faith, obedience, and courage. This is the ministry of accountability. It is not about lying in wait to catch them doing wrong. The purpose of accountability is to assist people to do what is right for the long run. It provides a presence that keeps them responsible, aware, determined, and alert until they are able to be on their own. It directs eyes that have just begun to see, and strengthens weak knees and feeble arms. We seek to encourage flagging faith and to keep God's goals before people's eyes. We help them to understand when they need to flee from sin and when they are called to stand and fight.

By contrast, accountability is not about being a private detective, trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit, being someone else's conscience, forcing someone to obey, chasing someone who is running, or looking for someone who is hiding. Accountability provides loving structure, guidance, encouragement, and warnig to someone who is fully committed to the change God is working in his life. The person who makes accountability work is always the person being held accountable. He doesn't see our presence and help as scary or intrusive. He doesn't run and hide from it. Rather, he is glad to know that as others stand with him, God stands with him. Accountability works because he is a seeker, not a runner. The runner doesn't need accountability; he needs rebuke. Accountability is help for those who are committed to change.

Accountability provides help on a practical level in way like these:

1. Accountability provides structure.
   
2. Accountability provides guidance.
3. Accountability provides assistance.
4. Accountability provides encouragement.
5. Accountability provides warning.

Accountability brings ongoing help to the person who is fully committed to the "put off/put on" process.

Food for Thought

Breakfast: What actor/actress would be most believable to play you in a movie? I haven't got a clue.

Lunch: If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the five things that you would want to survive? A good book, my laptop with WiFi connection, food, water, and my kids.

Dinner: What terms of endearment does your significant other call you? What do you call them? Don't use them.

Midnight Snack: If you could be a fly on the wall where would you go and why? Again, no clue.

Recipe for the Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week)? If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.