$166 lesson

We've all done it before.

Texting and driving.

I'll admit, I have a horrible habit of this. I have heard it so many times..

DO.NOT.TEXT.AND.DRIVE

Seriously, I now realize there's nothing so important that it can't wait until the car is in park.

I was on the road yesterday evening and was distracted by texting. I was pulled over by an umarked police vehicle.

I am human, I made a mistake and know I should never have been doing that.

Statistics show that texting is worse than drunk driving.

I was distracted and my car swerved to get back center in the lane and thus I was pulled over.

The first thing the police officer asked me is if I was texting while I was driving. And I was honest and said I was. And he said this is exactly why they are trying to make it illegal.

And he did say they are trying to make it a crime by the end of the year.

Then I was slapped with a $166 traffic ticket for careless driving.



Totally deserved.

I was totally embarrased and really had no excuse.

In the grand scheme of things $166 is nothing compared to what could have been, which it could have been way worse.

Texting while driving is no joke and I learned a huge lesson from this whole experience.

I'm sure there will be people who may read this who have been affected by accidents or deaths contributed to texting while driving and I don't make light of that.

Do you have a habit of this?

If you text while driving, STOP!

It's not worth it. I don't just say this because I got a ticket but you can kill yourself or someone else.

And I'm glad to pay that $166 and take the class to keep the points off my license if it means I will stop.



I saw this bumper sticker before and it's so so true!!!

Prayer requests!

I am always in awe at the way the blogging community comes together when people are in need and the prayers that are lifted up on behalf of others. It blesses me to the core and I am always so humbled and amazed by it.

I just wanted to give a couple of links out to ya’ll.

If you have a minute, please go here and read sweet Ava’s story. She is 5 years old and is facing the battle of her life. She and her family would covet your prayers.



I attend the church here in FL where Ava’s grandfather is the Pastor. This family is beyond precious. The Pastor briefly for the first time this past Sunday spoke about her battle with this rare form of cancer and gave us all an update and it took all he could to not break down.

You might have seen Kelly from Kelly’s Korner mention it here. Please spread the word and please keep her in your prayers.

Also, please keep sweet Adrienne’s precious boy Bennett in your prayers. He was born at 27 weeks. He is currently doing very well and thriving so far but it’s going to be a long road. I’ve had the privilege of meeting Adrienne and her adorable family during my trip to Nashville earlier in the year.



How precious are these little feet?



Adrienne’s story of how she came to be a mother of just 1 to 4 in one year is nothing short of a miracle.

Thank you in advance!

Have a great Wednesday!

Why does the mind always feel like a battlefield?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discover that the huge battle wages in our mind and in our thoughts.

What direction is our mind taking and where are we placing our thoughts?

I have to ask myself this daily.

Joyce Meyer has a book called “Battlefield of the Mind.” And isn’t that exactly what it feels like?

It’s like we’re in a constant battle and have to have our guard ready for when the enemy declares war.

I’ve been in a major struggle for sometime lately and I know a large majority has to do with where my thoughts are placed.

I started school in May 2006.

Here we are in July 2010.

And guess what, I’m still in school.

Has it been easy? No.

Have I always enjoyed the almost hour ride to and from three nights a week? No.

Has my heart always been 100% into it? No.

On the flip side...

Is this where I’m supposed to be? Yes.

Have I met some amazing people and friends along the way? Yes.

Will the sacrifices be worth it? Yes.

Will the tears shed have been worth it (oh, I have cried)? Yes.

And that’s just it, there’s always a positive.

It is so hard to picture life outside of school because I’ve been at it so long. I know in the end no one is going to ask how long it took me to complete it, but just the sheer fact that I completed it will be all I’ll need.

There are still times when I doubt if I can do this. Times where I lose sight of how far God has gotten me in this journey, forgetting how much he has blessed me along the way. His hand has been on this from the very beginning, and his hand is still there.

My motivation has been lacking. Doubt has been creeping in. I’m just tired and worn out and frankly just want school to be over.

But I still have a job to do, and a bright future to look forward to.... and that job is to finish the task that God has put before me. He opened this door for me. A chance to have a career I can be successful at, and now it’s up to me. How badly do I want to get through that door and how hard am I willing to work to make that happen?

The mind, it’s a HUGE open battlefield.

BUT I can and I will do this.

I don’t know if any of ya’ll are like this, but I tend to be afraid of success and I think that’s holding me back. Kind of crazy and it doesn’t make sense, but it’s true.

From hereon out I will no longer surrender to this type of fear! The enemy will no longer have control over my mind and thoughts in this area of my life.

I just needed to write this down for myself today. And hope it encourages someone along the way who battles with the same thing!

And my God will supply all my needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to me in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

July 4th weekend!

Hope everyone had a great July 4th weekend!!!!! :)

Friday night I went to grab sushi with my friend Lisa and we stuffed ourselves silly!


Then we went to go see Toy Story 3. Here we are with our glasses ready to go!


It was such a cute movie and cried at the end. I love all the Toy Story movies, they are so sweet. And it was so funny, and my favorite part was the monkey, ha!! It was a fun evening!!

Friday night my sister came in late for the long weekend and stayed with me Friday evening. And she brought her cute little beagle pup she just got named Chevy!!



Sooooo precious. I know it looks like I'm choking him, but promise I'm not, ha!!

My parents also got home from Costa Rica on Friday and we got together around lunch time on Saturday and ate with them.

My sis and I at lunch!


My dog and my sister's dog playing! The eyes are crazy in this picture, ha!


Saturday night my sister, granny (My Mom's Mom), and I went over to the parents house to spend the night.

It was a rainy start to the July 4th weekend!!


In the kitchen getting dinner ready!


We had a hodge podge of stuff. Yummy pork chops, broccoli, asparagus, potatoes, cottage cheese, and pasta. It was a delicious dinner. Always love my Mom's home cooking. Nothing like it.

Then it was time for a game of Mexican dominoes!!!


And I am proud to say I won BOTH games!!!

The winner deserved a treat! :)


It's so fun and we had the best time and laughed so hard. We ended up playing till midnight!


Sunday we all went to church and it was a great service as always. I'm really thinking of ways that I can get more involved and have some things in mind, so I'm really excited!

After Church we went and ate at Crispers. So yummy!


My sis and Granny!!


I got delicious flat bread and tomato bisque soup!




We spent a low-key day back at the parents house.





We napped, played games, watched TV, ate leftovers for dinner and didn't do the July 4th traditional cooking out. And then of course it rained AGAIN....


We were worried that it might interfer with the fireworks but it cleared up and we were able to go. We went to the city fireworks at the lake near where my parents live.

We got there about an hour before the fireworks began and there was an out-of-this-world sunset!


All the cars lined up for the fireworks!


Isn't this gorgeous?


Our watch station!


Mom's hubby broke out the cowboy hat, ha!


People setting off sparklers before the fireworks!


Let the fireworks begin!






It was a great end to a wonderful day!

I came home this morning and just relaxing and enjoying the day off. My sister left to go back to school and I'll leave you with one last picture of the pup who was laying with me this morning. Sad to see him go, ha!


Such a wonderful weekend and I love spending time with my family and love when we're all together. Sorry my pictures aren't the best quality, were all taken with my phone camera. Happy Monday!!

Ask not what your Country can do for you....

But what you can do for your Country!!

~John F. Kennedy



Happy July 4th!!!!!!!!!

Independence Day!!

July 4th always reminds me of Martina McBride's song "Independence Day."



This song is one of my favorites. This is the only video I could find on youtube.

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays!!!

Freedom
Country
Land of the Free
Our men and women in the military
Home of the brave
American flags hung high
Red, White, & Blue
Fireworks
Hamburgers and Hot dogs
Day off
Pool
Family
Friends

July 4th means all of this and so much more. How will you be spending it. What does it mean to you?

Enjoy your long weekend and Independence Day!!!

COHEN