Fall: I'm Lovin It

In no particular order...this is why I love fall:

• I don't immediately start sweating when I walk outside.
• Random fall scents, especially this candle I got from Bath & Body Works called 'leaves.'
• Getting to sit outside at a restaurant to eat and not leave completely drenched in sweat...Joe T's, here I come!
• I get to wear my boots. (Not cowboy boots, though I secretly want some for fun)
• I get to wear my scarves! I love scarves!
• Thanksgiving: turkey and dressing and green bean casserole and pies. And spending time with family.
  
• FOOTBALL (though my Red Raiders and the Cowboys are having a tough year).
• Time off from work for Thanksgiving.
• Christmas is just around the corner, though I wait until after Thanksgiving to bust out with decorations and Christmas music.

And the list could go on. Happy Fall!
Cass

Halloweens Past

Remember when Halloween used to be so fun when you were little? Or how creative your parents could get with your costume? I sure do! There was one picture in particular that I was looking for and couldn't find...me, my brother and sisters all dressed up as crayons one year for Halloween. We were each a different color and even had hats...it was so long ago that at the time, my youngest sister wasn't even one (and she's now 22). So to commemorate Halloween's past, I thought I'd share some random pics:


This was in 1986...I was a jelly bean bag (filled with balloons). My brother was a Care Bear and I have no clue what my sister was.

















This was either my freshman or sophomore year at Tech...several of us went as Army girls.

Me and Beth...2 of the 3 Charlie's Angels (the 3rd was around there somewhere). Like our guns?












This was probably 3 years ago at my church's Trunk Fest. I was the school girl on the left, with my Christian pumpkin...and my roommate at the time was a cowgirl.














My all time favorite costume though...Wonder Woman!!

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween. If you live in the DFW area, swing by First Baptist Euless' Trunk Fest tonight from 6-8pm.

Cass

Staples

My meal planning pretty much consists of a few staples. Why? Because they are so quick and easy to make. That and the thought of trying something new is always good in theory, but I never seem to get past the "oh, this looks like a good recipe. I'm going to print it off and try it soon." So what's on my list? Well, you can pretty much guarantee that one night we will have hot dogs, another night will be baked chicken, then Mexican casserole or tacos, throw in either spaghetti or ravioli another night, and probably sandwiches or cereal another night (usually on Wednesday nights when I get home late from church). Every now and then I will make something different...not necessarily something new...but something I haven't made in a while. AND, once in a blue moon I'll have my husband cookout on the grill. I ALWAYS make a list before I go to the store. I usually look through my fridge, the freezer, and the pantry and plan out my meals based on what we already have. A lot of times I buy things in bulk from Costco...such as hot dog buns, ravioli, chicken, spaghetti sauce. I try my best to stick to the list, but I usually end up buying stuff I really didn't need. Like those Oreos! Or M&Ms. So, my meal planning isn't very elaborate...it's pretty much the same things week after week. And if/when my hubby complains, I tell him, "next time you can cook." HA!

Cass

The Results

So remember a few months ago I decided to try Mederma? Well, it has been a little over 3 months and I thought I would update you with my results.
Before:














After:














I feel that the picture doesn't do it justice because I can really tell a difference when I look in the mirror. The marks are not that dark in person. As you can see though, I haven't started working out yet. : ) I've been quite pleased with Mederma and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

On a different note...here's my cute little pumpkin (I just had to share):




















Have a great week!
Cass

Yellow Submarine

For some reason I named my first car 'the yellow submarine' even though it was a tiny little car. Anyways, my first car was a Plymouth Horizon (see picture to the left, though invision it being yellow). I don't even know what year but I'm thinking sometime in the 80's.

The only reason I got a car when I did was because my grandad wanted to give me his old car...and it was OLD! But it was a car! It also had a manual transmission and every car I've had since then has had a manual transmission.

I remember me and my dad driving back from Lubbock in the car. I was so excited. Once we got home I wanted to go drive around, so I headed out and while I was sitting at a light my car died. It overheated or something (must have been that 5 hour drive from Lubbock), but it took me FOREVER to get it started again. I was so embarassed just sitting there trying to get my car to start. I also did my best to avoid hills. There is this HUGE hill in Arlington, where I grew up, and I hated waiting at that light, especially if a car pulled up behind me. You basically had to gun it and hope you didn't die and start rolling back.

My car had its share of issues: one of the side mirrors fell off and eventually so did the rearview mirror, and more often than not you had to open the passenger door, lean over, and try to get the driver's side door to open because the outside handle was broken...but then you also had to wiggle the inside handle for it to open. That was always fun! It was a good little car though.

I tried to find a picture of my car and this is the only one I could find...it'd be the little yellow one on the left. And those two adorable kids...well that's me and my husband back in high school (me in my color guard uniform and Scott in his band uniform).

Fun memories.

Cass

These are the Days of My Life

Monday through Friday are typical days for me...Saturday and Sunday are like mini-vacation days from work. So here we go:

My alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. every morning, Monday through Friday. I usually hit the snooze button twice (ten minutes each) and then there's another 10 minutes or so that I just lay there. On this particular morning this week, I got up at:

















As I'm getting ready, my dogs take over my side of the bed now that I'm gone:














Finally leave the house.
















And this is my lovely drive...there's always a lot of traffic.














Surprisingly, I actually get to work a few minutes early.















Here's me at my desk.












Work, work, work until about 10:45ish, then I take a break and pump.



Here's my pumping room a/k/a the conference room:
















Lunchtime varies...it depends on if I bring my lunch or not. If I bring my lunch then I'll eat at my desk while working and then later on I'll take a break to run errands or sleep in my car (I've done this several times). On this particular day I go to Target:
















I love the $1 aisle at Target. My finds for the day were all for Jackson: 3 little books, a little Halloween bucket, and this cute hat for Thanksgiving.

The afternoon consists of more working, another pump break, and then:



5:00 BABY!!!














My drive home is pretty much like my drive to work, traffic.














I do a lot of this on my drive home:











I get home anywhere between 5:45 and 6:00. My evenings consist of transporting the pumped milk to baggies, getting dinner ready, cleaning up, and then getting ready for the next day. My favorite time of day though is getting Jackson ready for bed. I put his pajamas on, nurse him, sing a few songs, sometimes read a book, and then kiss him goodnight. A perfect way to wind down from the day.
















Cass

Serve Others

We are all given various gifts/talents, and it is God's desire that we use those gifts/talents to reach out to those around us, whether it be in church or in our community. I encourage you to think about what you enjoying doing and then find something in your church or in your community and get involved. For example, I like working with younger kids, so I will help out on Sundays in my church's Preschool Ministry. I also recently started helping out in a program our church started up for 3-5 year olds called Faith Builders. I signed up to tell the Bible story to the 3-year-olds and also help our coordinator, but as God would have it, our coordinator had to move off and so now I am taking on that role. It fits my personality though, so I don't mind one bit.

I am also involved in my community, through the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. I previously shared my experience with the Relay for Life in this blog before, which you can find here, so I won't go into detail. I just want to say that I got involved with this event because I wanted to find a way to honor my Grandad Moseley and Mema, who both died of cancer. The Relay was a way for me to remember them and also raise money in the fight against cancer. I'm excited as preparations are underway for the 2011 Relay and this year I'll have a more active role on the committee. If you're interested in participating in the Relay, let me know as I'd love to have you on my team...or you can form your own!

So really, serving is just finding something you're good at or finding a cause that's important to you and then getting involved in some way.

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

Cass

Things that make you go "Hmmm"

Or "AAAAGGGGHHH"

A few things that drive me crazy:

1. Chewing or talking with your mouth open...I don't need to see your food!

2. Crunching ice.

3. Honestly, any kind of loud eating drives me crazy! (just ask my family)

4. People who can't drive...those who weave in and out of traffic like they own the road. And don't even get me started on those that own what I'd like to call 'crotch rockets.'

5. Laziness. I could get on a soap box with this one, so I'm just going to leave it at that.



I had to dig down deep for things that probably drive people crazy about me:


1. Inability to make a decision. I'm not talking about really big decisions either. I'm talking about small, insignificant decisions such as where to go eat or what to do. My husband can't stand it, and I'm sure others can't either. There are rare times when I can tell you exactly what I want though, or what I don't want for that matter. I'll try to work on it.


2. Putting my makeup on while driving. Yes, I realize this can be dangerous, but I only put makeup on while traffic is stopped. Not an excuse though. I'm sure people around me are shaking their heads or cursing at me. Sorry!


3. Punctuality, or lack thereof. I know my employer would appreciate me being on time to work I love sleep. I can't help it. I DO! (this would explain #2 above.) This one actually drives me crazy too. I hate being late. Now I have a little person to get ready as well, so you can only imagine how late we are now. It all comes down to this: GET UP EARLY, CASSANDRA!


4. I don't have a lot of mercy. I know I need to work on this.

5. And really, I don't have a lot of compassion sometimes either (just ask Scott when he's sick). Again, something I should work on and will probably have a greater chance now that I have a child.

So there we have it. Whew, that wasn't too hard!
Cass

Snail Mail

This isn't really a hobby, but I love to make cards. I was first introduced to card-making several years ago when one of my friends invited me to a Stampin Up party. I had so much fun that I hosted several Stampin Up parties of my own and would buy items here and there for making cards. In the age of e-mail and Facebook, I find there's something really special when you take the time to send a card...I know I get excited when I receive a card in the mail! So over the years I've accumulated ink pads, stamps, craft paper, ribbon, etc...all the essential tools for creating a card. I love to get creative with my cards and try to make them extra-special. I also find that it's cheaper to make a card than it is to buy one. The best places to go for supplies are craft stores such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's. You can buy anything and everything there: blank note cards, scrapbook paper, ink, stamps, ribbon, buttons...whatever you will need to create a card. I usually try to buy the ribbon when it's on sale. Oh, and occasionally the $1 aisle at Target will have all kinds of scrapbooking items that you can use too. Making cards does take time, but the finished product of brightening someone's day is totally worth it!

Cass

Let the Children Laugh

I will do absolutely anything in order to make my child laugh...and as I write, Scott is in the living room making these crazy noises in order to get Jackson to laugh...I just love the sound of his laughter. The sweetest sound! (and you could have enjoyed his sweet laughter too but I was having technical difficulties and the video was taking an hour to upload...sigh...so here's a picture to enjoy instead):






Have a great week. And laugh a little, it's good for the soul.
Cass






BTW, my favorite quote from the weekend was, "Mommy doesn't like to blow." Guess which ADKS blogger said that.

Walker Jack Rainey

My heart has been heavy this week after learning that little Walker passed away Tuesday morning. So many mixed emotions...sadness for his mom and dad, yet joy that he did not have to suffer and now gets to spend eternity in Heaven. Please be in prayer for Chad and Missy today, along with their family and friends, as they celebrate Walker's life and lay him to rest.

Below is Walker's obituary, so beautifully written by Chad:

Walker Jack Rainey (2009-2010) Walker Jack Rainey was granted his angel wings on August 10, 2010. His final days were spent in the arms of his adoring family. Seventeen months ago Walker was welcomed into this world by two loving parents who had anxiously awaited his arrival. Sent with an agenda of warming hearts and opening eyes, he wasted no time doing so. Walker reminded us of how wonderful, fun, and innocent life can be, and that the value of a life is defined not by duration, but rather its work and witness.As God unfolded His plan for Walker's life, He did it in a way that would capture the attention of many people. It would be in vain to try and summarize all that our Lord has done with this child. But, those whose lives he touched know precisely. Perhaps the greatest lesson from Walker's life is the peace and hope that Our Father gives us when we really believe ... Walker enjoyed every little boy's dream of fishing, baseball, bubbles, and ice cream. Among his favorite things were GO-GOs (turtles), playing in the water, and pointing to things he wanted you to see. He always lit up a room and put smiles on the faces around him. We anticipate the same scene at the Gates of Heaven, as he is welcomed home. Walker is survived by his proud and loving parents, Chad and Missy Rainey of McKinney; maternal Grandad and Mimi Mike and Linda Barnes of Sherman; paternal Pops and Gram Lan and Sharron Rainey of Commerce; his Great "NeNaw" Hazel Shrader of Healdton, Okla.; Uncle Steve Barnes, Uncle Matt and Aunt Marci Barnes of Dallas, Uncle Lance Rainey of McKinney; cousins Haleigh, Blake, Bailey and Abigail Barnes of Dallas; and various great aunts, uncles, and cousins. We would also like to acknowledge Walker's friends Dr. Paul, Dr. Scott, and the infantry of angels/nurses at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. Visitation to be held Friday, August 13, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Sherman. There will be a celebration of Walker's life at 10 a.m. August 14th, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Sherman. The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Tiny Sparrow Foundation, 12181 Flynt Drive, Frisco, Texas 75035 http://www.tinysparrowfoundation.org/ (please memo: Walker Rainey) Children's Medical Center, c/o Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, 2777 Stemmons Fwy. Ste 700, Dallas, Texas 75207 (please memo: Walker Rainey)



God Bless, Cass

LYLAS

Dear Cassandra:

I'd love to take this time to tell you all the things you should avoid in the next 16 years but those are some of the very things that will contribute to the woman you become. I'd also love to say that things will be easy but then I'd be lying to you. You are going to have some rough times ahead but you will come out on the other side stronger.

Follow your dreams. Go where you want to go and do what you want to do...and don't let anyone tell you you can't do something. Try your hardest and never give up.

Your parents are not stupid and they really do know what they're talking about. You may think they're being unfair, but their rules are in place because they love you. And honestly, nothing good happens after midnight anyway! Also, you may not think this will ever be possible, but your mom will become one of your best friends later in life.

Your brother and sisters may drive you absolutely crazy right now and you may sometimes wish you were an only child, but try to go easy on them. You will one day become fiercely protective of each of them. The sounds of fighting and bickering may fill the house right now, but down the road there will be lots of laughter and the occasional sounds of Rock Band (try to let loose).

Boys! Ah boys! Live and learn my dear, live and learn. All I can say is stay true to yourself and what you believe. And your thoughts on those three BIG words and how they aren't meant to be thrown around so freely, well keep telling yourself that and you will be rewarded in the end. Trust me. I'd love to tell you who you marry but then that would spoil all the fun. You two are going to have such an adventure!

Friends come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. You will be blessed by each and every friendship you make, but there are a certain group of girls that you will meet during your college years that will be your friends for a lifetime and will bless your socks off.

Finally, remember this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

On a lighter note:

• Go to your ten year high school reunion...it's fun to see old faces/friends.
  
• Never forget the yellow submarine!
• PLEASE stop wearing big bows in your hair.
• Easy on the perms.

• So what if you're a "band nerd," flags is fun and you're pretty good at it too.
• You do not always have to come back from camp or mission trips with a boyfriend.
  
• The boys were always intimidated by your dad. Little did they know that it was your mom they needed to be worried about.
• Remember to have fun!

LY,
Cass

Same Song, Different Dance

I, like my fellow ADKOS friends, also came to know the Lord at a young age. Nine years old to be exact. I am so horrible with details that I honestly cannot remember where I was when I asked Jesus into my heart, plus I have mommy brain, so everything is a little hazy on top of that. I can safely say that I was either at church or at home though. One thing I do know for sure, I was baptized on May 10, 1987, at Lamar Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. I can also tell you that two of my classmates, Matt Wills and Billy Peel, were also baptized on that date. (I do remember that oddly enough). I am blessed to have Godly parents who have always lifted me up in prayer and who thought it was important to have me and my siblings in church (which was pretty much every time the doors were open) when we were growing up.

My relationship with Christ is just that, MINE. While we all have similar stories on how we came to know Christ at a young age, we do not have similar testimonies of what God has done in our lives since that first step of faith. Thank you God for that. How boring would it be if we all had the same story! It's like I mentioned a while back in my Hot or Cold post, we were all created uniquely and we all have a unique relationship with God...so my relationship with God is not like anyone else's relationship.

I can tell you that my relationship with God has had its share of ups and downs, times when I was on fire for God, and times when I walked down the wrong path. Through everything God was right there with me, even sometimes carrying me through those dark times.

My testimony right now is this: I am a sinner, saved by the grace of God! I am not perfect. I am a work-in-progress. God is teaching me to trust in His provision for my family (my husband was laid off in May, just 6 weeks after our son was born). My relationship with Him is not strong right now, but I'm working on it through daily Bible reading and time in prayer. (And you know what, I think that pleases Him.)

So even though we've all asked Jesus into our heart (Same Song), it's our unique relationship with Christ that sets us apart (Different Dance). I for one have enjoyed reading everyone's testimony this week and hope you have too.

Blessings,
Cass

Bienvenidos

I have to say, it's been tough trying to pick my favorite vacation. I've been to some really fun places with family and friends: a cruise many moons ago with my family, two trips to Las Vegas with friends, New York City, Destin, Florida, several trips to Mexico, and so forth. This post made me think back to all those trips and the fun memories made, and I'm so glad to have pictures that documented each adventure. If I had to pick though, I think my favorite vacation to date would have to be my honeymoon.

Scott and I went to Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico on our honeymoon and stayed at the Grand Velas Resort. We enjoyed a breathtaking view of the ocean from our room, meals that were truly delectable, and a staff that catered to your every whim. While all this was fabulous, it was our excursions that definitely made the trip so memorable. One day we went and swam with the dolphins. I have always loved dolphins and how beautiful they move in and out of water, so to be able to swim with them was so exciting. I was pretty intimidated at first, but these dolphins were so friendly and well-trained.

Our other excursion was to go on a whale watching tour. We just so happened to be going to Nuevo Vallarta at a time when Humpback whales migrate to the area, so we jumped on the chance to go on a tour. We loaded up in this little motorized raft boat (no joke - I could have leaned over a bit and put my hand in the water - Mary would not have approved) and set out into the ocean. Our tour guide was awesome and taught us all about the whales we would be seeing. There were several other tours going on in various size boats, but what made our little raft so fabulous was the ability to take off quickly when someone spotted a whale. I was truly blown away at my first whale sighting. Remarkable. Graceful. Beautiful. God's magnificent creation. I fell in love instantly (which is probably why I love watching Whale Wars on Animal Planet). An unforgettable experience!

To top it all off, I was able to experience everything with my new hubby!

It's Gettin Hot in Here

So take off all your clothes! It is so stinking hot that we've stripped down to the bare essentials at our house. I love Texas, but man, the summer can be brutal. Makes you want to just stay inside and hibernate.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. I'm off to go stand in front of the freezer door for a bit.

Cass

Clinically Proven

Ah stretch marks...gotta love em, right? My body went through the rigors of pregnancy and now my tummy is adorned with lovely stretch marks. At my six week appointment after having my baby I asked the doctor if there was anything I could use to get rid of them and she said no. Well this was the doctor I do not like, so I didn't take what she said very seriously. Fast forward a few months and I finally decided to do something about my stretch marks. I am using Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy. Now on the box it says "clinically proven to reduce the appearance of stretch marks" and "noticeable improvement in 4 weeks." Well we're going to see about that. I debated on whether or not to try it out because it is pricey ($39.99 for a 5.29 oz bottle), but I found a coupon online that I could use and took the plunge. I've been using the product for almost a week now and following the directions:

"Gently massage into all areas of the body where stretch marks occur 2 times a day. For best results, apply a sufficient amount to the affected areas in the morning and evening and massage into your skin in a circular motion until absorbed."

It says that with consistent use, I should begin to see noticeable improvement in about 4 weeks and optimum improvement in 12 weeks. The cream is supposed to reduce discoloration, improve texture, and enhance softness.

This may seem a bit silly to do, but I don't care. I'm willing to try it out and see if a) the cream works and b) if my stretch marks disappear even a little bit. (Every little bit helps, right?)

So here's my before picture (I'm comfortable enough to show you my belly...stretch marks and post-baby flab):

(a picture adds 10 lbs, right?)














And in 4 weeks, I'll post another picture to show if there's been any progress. (here's to hoping...and maybe I'll start doing some crunches during that time too)

In the meantime, I wonder if there's anyone out there willing to share what they did in order to get rid of their stretch marks...would love to hear from you.

Cass

A Pinch of This

Let me start off by saying Happy Father's Day (to maybe the handful of men who read our blog). Hope you were blessed beyond measure today.

To finish off our week on recipes, here are a few you might enjoy:

Recipe for a Happy Marriage (for the husband and wife)

1 cup consideration

1 cup courtesy

2 cupfuls flattery carefully concealed

1 gallon faith and trust in each other

2 cupfuls praise

1 small pinch of in-laws

1 reasonable budget, a generous dash of cooperation

3 teaspoon pure extract of "I'm sorry"

1 cup contentment

1 cup each confidence and encouragement

1 large or several small hobbies

1 cup blindness to the other's faults

Flavor with frequent portions of recreation and a dash of happy memories. Stir well and remove any specks of jealousy, temper or criticism. Sweeten well with generous portions of love and keep warm with a steady flame of devotion. Never serve with cold shoulder.

Inedible Play Dough Recipe (for the kids)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 tbls cooking oil

1 cup water

2 tsp cream of tartar

Food coloring

In heavy aluminum saucepan, mix dry ingredients. Add oil, water, and food coloring. Cook 3 minutes or until mixture pulls away from sides of pan. May add a few drops of oil of wintergreen, cloves, or cinnamon to give a more pleasant aroma. Knead slightly, almost immediately. Store in airtight container. Will keep several weeks. Has a pleasing texture.

Probably cheaper than store bought play dough and the kiddos will love helping make it.

And finally, I'd like to share a yummy staple we had growing up and which I've used several times since I got married (though my husband would probably say every week if not every other week):

Enchilada Casserole (for the whole family)

2 lb. ground chuck (hamburger meat) (though for just me and Scott I usually use 1 lb.)

2 cup grated cheese (we like cheese, so I use more than 2 cups)

10-12 corn tortillas

1/2 medium onion (chopped) (I do not like onions, so this doesn't go in my casserole)

1 (14 oz.) can enchilada sauce

In heavy skillet cook chopped onions and ground meat until done. Line a large baking pan with a layer of tortillas (usually 4). Layer meat and onion mixture, cheese and sauce over tortillas. Repeat. Place remaining tortillas on top and pour sauce over all covering all tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.

Serve with your choice of beans and/or rice and chips and salsa. YUM!

Have a blessed week!

Cass

Hot or Cold

You know when you've had something on your mind that you know you need to work on and then God affirms those thoughts by either a sermon or bible study lesson at church or an encouraging word from a friend? Well that is exactly what has happened to me in the last couple of weeks. I'm about to be vulnerable and let you know that I have been struggling in my spiritual life for quite some time now. More specifically, my prayer life and my time spent in God's word has been, shall we say, lukewarm. Sure, I can say a prayer here and there when something comes to mind, but there's not a set aside time of my day that is spent in prayer. The same goes for reading my Bible. This has been on my heart lately and God, in his own special way, has shown me that he knows my heart.

Last Sunday we were in our Connection Class (like Sunday School) and the guys and girls split up for a more gender-specific lesson. Well lo and behold, the ladies lesson was about being lukewarm in our spiritual life and how God would rather us be either hot or cold. Revelation 3:15-16 says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Talk about a slap in this girl's face. God doesn't want me to be lukewarm in my spiritual life...He'd rather me be either on fire for him or cold as ice. And oh how I long to be on fire for him. The lesson was also about how we need to be praying for our husband, another area that I need to work on, and how we need to be accountable to one another as wives. I don't know about you, but when I know that someone is going to be asking me how I'm doing in a certain area I want to be able to have a good answer...I want to be able to say "yes, I'm doing that."

Another God moment happened this morning, again in my Connection Class. Our teacher was talking about our spiritual life and the ways that people 'get close to God.' What I loved about the lesson was that he said that we were all created uniquely and that we all have a unique relationship with God...so my relationship with God is not like anyone else's relationship. He also said that the main measure of your relationship with God is not your devotional life but simply your life (and how you live it). He then asked us what kinds of things we do to renew our spiritual growth. And again, it's not the same for each person. Some may find that listening to worship music does it, or helping others, or reading books/devotionals...this is your unique relationship. So the question is, "what brings you life?" I encourage you to sit down and figure out what it is that you do to renew your spiritual growth.

Thank you for letting me be vulnerable here. As you can see, I am not perfect. I am, however, a child of God, whose sins have been forgiven and am covered with His grace.

Have a blessed week!
Cass

I Like It Hot, Hot, HOT

Yesterday Scott and I went to Chick-fil-A to try out the new Spicy Chicken Sandwich. We headed to Chick-fil-A during our scheduled time frame and were treated like royalty upon arrival. I had printed off my "reservation" and when I handed it to the cashier he immediately called over another lady, who took us to a table and placed a sign down that said "Reserved for Spicy VIP." Now we knew that we were getting the sandwiches free but then she said that they were treating us to a full meal...SWEET! Or should I say SPICY!! SO we got two sandwiches, two medium fries, and two medium drinks FREE. The Spicy Chicken Sandwich was so good...lots of spicy flavor...even more so than Wendy's or Jack-in-the-Box's spicy sandwiches. I like spicy things and this sandwich had some kick to it...I definitely give it two thumbs up! So if you're into spicy things, then I highly recommend the Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich...that is, if its available at a Chick-fil-A near you. (Sadly the picture I took with my phone is taking its sweet time uploading to Snapfish or else it'd be right here).

Has anyone else tried the Spicy Chicken Sandwich yet? If so, what'd you think?

Cass

The End is Here

Well, the end of LOST that is. In about 20 minutes the series finale of LOST will begin. I'm super-excited! I've been watching this show since it first came on and it's weird to think that at 10:30 pm there will no longer be new episodes to look forward to next week and all my questions will be answered (hopefully). I'm ready to find out what the island is really all about. I'm ready to see what happens to everyone that is left and whom I've come to love. I'M READY people. Are there any other die hard LOST fans out there who can't wait for the finale either? We've got ten minutes people. 10 MINUTES! I need to go now and get ready...gotta get my food together and my place on the couch. I'll be posting my comments about the show tomorrow as a comment to this post...I'd love to hear from the rest of you and see what you thought about the finale.

Cass