FOTO FRIDAY

HAPPY FACES

Parker Elton Gordon

You can't tell me that ain't happy!!!

IN LOVING MEMORY

I thought I would post some pics of my mother. The last post both Carre and I wanted to write something so it was a little long. Sorry about that, but it was worth it. Enjoy!!!

Here is a picture of the Ballinger siblings before Jeremy. The good times when everything was nice and quiet!!!

Here is a picture with the baby(and I do mean baby) of the family in it.

I believe this was my first birthday. We had it at my grandmothers house. We never got too far from my grandmothers house. Matter of fact, we always lived within walking distance to her. Me and Mom!!

CHRISTMAS WITH GOD

The Best Christmas Present
Today is a sad day at the Gordon house. It is the 5th anniversary of Jeff’s mothers death. It was an unexpected thing that none of us was ready for. But lets face it , who is ever ready for something like that. I’m very thankful that I had a mother-in-law like her. She treated me like her very own daughter and I thought of her as a mother. She loved keeping the boys and spoiling them rotten. And she loved all of her family. Debbie went to have a procedure to improve her life but the day she was to go home she had some complications and did not recover. On December 9, 2003 she received the best Christmas gift that any of her family could have given her. For you see, Debbie is in heaven, where she has no more pain, no more worries and no more sadness. I wish she was still here but I know she is so better off and that it is selfish that I would wish her back her. I just want her to be here to see her grandkids again, to take a trip to Wal-Mart, go to her house to eat pizza and just to hear her voice again. You know life is short and we don’t have as much time here as we may think . So our actions and words need to be said and done with ease. We never know that what we say to someone might be our last. Treat everyday like it’s your last. Hug and Kiss your kids and make sure that they know you love them.

Carre B Gordon

Today is a date in history that I wish I could forget. December 9, 2003 was the day that the Lord took my mother home. I guess he thought her job was done here and who am I to question him. He’s a lot smarter than me. People always say “It will get easier”. Can I tell you something, it doesn’t get easier. It seems to get harder. Another thing people always seem to say is “I know how you feel”. Can I tell you something else; they don’t know how you feel. I know people are just trying to make a grieving person feel better but it’s the truth. They don’t know how I feel nor will I know how it feels for someone else to lose their mother. The circumstances are always different. My mother died when she was 46 years of age. I only had 25 years of my life to spend with her. Some people get more time and then some people get less, so the circumstances are always different. My mom was the greatest person I knew. She suffered through a divorce and still raised and cared for two children the best way she could. I was never able to get the latest pair of Nike’s but we always had shoes and a nice house that she probably couldn’t afford. But she did so because she loved her kids. My mom was the one that taught me and Jesus dying for me. She taught me that when I became a man and a father that the most important job that I would have would be to my wife and children. I think the Lord puts us in certain families to show us, when we become adults, what to do and not what not to do. I always remember those late night trips she would take to Wal-Mart. Her and my grandmother were best friends. They lived almost next to each other. You could look out my grandmother’s window and see our house. I think my grandmother liked that so she could keep an eye on us. Well maybe it was to keep an eye on me. A person never really knows what they have until it is gone. I remember Christmas morning she would always make cinnamon rolls for us to eat after we opened presents. Today, our house continues that tradition. There were times when she went without something so we could have things we probably didn’t need. When we had Langdon, she would come over on Christmas morning with what else but cinnamon rolls!!! She called the boys her “Lovebugs”. I’m not sure where it comes from, but that was her pet name for her boys. When we started having children, she did everything she could do to help out with them. She never went to the store without bringing something home for them. They loved her more than anything in the world. We still pass by her old house on the way to my grandmothers and the boys would say “That’s where gandma lives”. I know a spelt grandma wrong, but that’s exactly the way they said, with no ‘r’. During her last couple of years on this earth, she was not doing very well. She worked at a factory. At times she couldn’t even stand up. Why did she go?? For her kids and Lovebugs. At times she had to sit down because her feet would be swollen so bad she couldn’t walk. Why did she go?? For her kids and Lovebugs. If you don’t get anything else out of this, get this; be grateful for the ones that care for you. There will be a day when you will turn around and they will gone. Make today a day to go tell your husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother, or any other family member I haven’t named, “I love you and appreciate everything you have done and sacrificed for me.”

Jeff W Gordon

Love…… I have a lot of loves in my life. But I have posted the pictures of the most important loves of my life. I say it a lot at home but when we are around others I’m not one to make a big mushy fuss but I must say that I LOVE MY HUSBAND. A great deal in fact, he probably don’t think so but it is true. We have been married almost 8 years( on the 23rd). We married young and dumb but felt and knew that we were doing the right thing. I have watched him grow from a boy to a man and has developed into a man that loves God and his family. Like every other couple we have had out ups and downs but you learn from them and those are the lessons that make you grow together and make your relationship strong. He is not perfect but has really taught me a lot about being the parent and wife that I long to be for him and our children. Jeff has stayed by my side in my lowest of lows and has given my words of wisdom to help me thru those times. I love this man that I have been given and I’m very thankful to have him in my life and that he as been so patient with me. I may not always let him know but I appreciate everything he has done for me and our boys. Speaking of the boys , they have to be the next in line of my most important loves . Their ganmaw(thats what they called her) would say that they are her love bugs and she has named them right. They love to give hugs and kisses to their mom and dad before bed. They are the reason I get up in the morning and the reason to keep me going thru the day.


I could fill up a hundred pages of things that I love but it would just have been a waste of time if I didn’t mention the most important to me. This is my most favorite picture of the both of us. Jeff doesn’t like it because we are a little bigger in it than we are now.

CAUTION!!! DON'T LOOK IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH

Consider this a warning!!! If you are one of those people that passes out at the sign of anything gross, go somewhere else. On Thanksgiving morning we were all dressed and just waiting for time to leave to go to my aunts house for Thanksgiving lunch. I go to the sink to fix me a glass of water so I could take some medicine.We have been having a problem with the kitchen faucet, because it doesn't shut completely off. So you have to use a LITTLE authority. Of course when I used it Thursday it wouldn't shut off. I had to get it to shut off or else water was going to drip steady until we got home that afternoon. So I decided I would hit it as hard as I could. Now mind you, I've done this before and nothing happened. The water would ALWAYS finally stop dripping. NOT THIS TIME!!!! The handle breaks in half and here are the results. Scroll down at your own risk!!!!

These are really good pictures. These pictures were taken a day after. When Carre heard me screaming(I wasn't crying,not yet)blood was everywhere. It looked like an episode of CSI. Most people post pictures of their children or pets. Not me!!! I post pictures of gaping wounds. Look for more in the upcoming post!!! But anyway, I thought y'all might enjoy those pictures. Good luck with supper tonight. I hope these pictures aren't in your head while you are eating your spaghetti or that steak!!!

Jeff W Gordon

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Psalm 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

FOTO FRIDAY

Today's theme is "SILLY". Finally a theme The Gordon Family excels at!!!

This picture of my lovely wife, Carre, was taken at a zoo. I really cant remember if it was St. Louis or Nashville. I think it was Nashville. She thought it would be cute to "act" like she was kissing the cardboard cutout of the tribal looking dude. Or woman!!! Not really sure!!!! Guess we should have asked that question before she puckered up!!!

This picture was taken at the big fireworks show at Dyersburg High School. You have to get there real early to get a good spot, so since we got there early the boys thought they would fool around a little.

For those of you who don't know, Parker is a little shy when he gets around people he doesn't see often. But when its just us LOOK OUT!!! Its always SHOWTIME!!!

JUST AS I PROMISED!!

Here are some of the pictures from the Icebreaker Service for the young people. Enjoy!

WOW these ladies were out for blood!!

Not real sure what was happening here. I could have been choking!!! This was the part where we tried to chew and swallow 6 crackers in 1 minute. Sounds easy!!! Try it when you get home. With nothing to drink!!!

Everyone always votes for the BIG person to win a food eating game!!! Some things never change!!!

"WOW I could use something to drink"

"I hope Bro. John don't see the three crackers I threw in the floor"

THE CHESS CHAMPION AT HOLY HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH

SUNDAY!!! SUNDAY!!! SUNDAY!!!

What a great time was had by all Sunday. I would like to tell you that my family and I belong to the best church EVER!!!! The Sunday services are always so good. It never fails that on "most" Sundays the Lord shows up and sits right in my lap. Sometimes Sundays seen like they are a hassle. I'm just telling the truth. You get up early. For some of you it is REAL early. You know who you are. You get to church. The services are good. Good congregation singing, good special singing, and O.K. preaching. HA HA!! I know his wife will tell him that I said that!!! Then you have to figure out if you want to eat in town and spend half of your weeks earnings or do you want to drive 25 minutes to get home at 1:15 and eat then. Then by the time you get done eating its time to come back to church. I thought people were suppose to get a Sunday afternoon nap!!!! Where did those times go? That reminds me of the episode of The Andy Griffith Show where the preacher was talking about us living in a nonstop world. We go & go & go & never slow down. So Andy and Barney decided they were going to do just that. They would go home and eat lunch that Aunt Bee made. Those days are definitely gone. HINT! HINT! Then after a good home cooked lunch they were going to sit out on the porch the rest of the day. Most of you know what happens next. Barney starts to reminisce about the time Mayberry had a band. Everyone would go sit out under the trees and listen to the band play. Then Barney had an idea. We could get the band back together. Then comes an end to the relaxing Sunday afternoon they had planned. That sound so much like our family today. Everyday is plan out to the hour. I got to thinking about how sometimes Sunday seems like a hassle. Then I think about Jesus dying on a cruel rugged cross for me. Was that a hassle?? He could have been a king and sat upon a throne but instead he traded all that in for me!!! Now Sunday doesn't seem like such a hassle at all!!!!!
I would like to say what a GREAT time Carre and I had at the Icebreaker for the young people. Those young people are so important to our church. I thank the Lord everyday that Bro. John has taken this upon himself to show these young people how to act and how important reading and studying that old King James Bible is. What a church!!! We might not all see eye to eye on ever situation but the Lord still shows up and show us that there are a lot of lost people that will die and spend eternity in Hell if we don't take it upon ourselves to go out and get the harvest.
I did take some pictures from the Icebreaker service that I might try and post tomorrow.

Jeff W Gordon

Here is an e-mail I received this morning. I really needed to laugh. IT WAS HILARIOUS!!!!


Subject: FW: CFO Executive Decision Fellow Business Executives:
As the CFO of this business that employees 140 people, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama will be our next President, andthat our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, I figure that the clients will haveto see an increase in our fees to them of about 8% but since we cannot increase our fees right now due to the dismal state of our economy, we will have to lay off six of our employees instead. This has really been eating at me for a while, as we believe we are family here and I didn'tknow how to choose who will have to go. So, this is what I did. I strolled through our parking lot and found 8 Obama bumper stickers on our employees' cars and have decided these folks will be the first to be laid off. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. These folks wanted change; I gave it to them. If you have a better idea, let me know.

Sincerely, The Management

I can see you laughing!!!

WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR!!!

I was driving to school this morning and heard a conversation on the radio about the Presidential election coming up. This lady said you can go to MSNBC's website and find an interview with Obama about his "stance" on the Pledge of Allegiance and some other topics. I went there after lunch and it was gone!!! So I had to hunt it down and find it. I have really been on the fence about who to vote for. There are really,in my opinion,no great option that stands out to me. I would rather not vote for either one of them. Anyway,here it is.

From Sunday's Televised 'Meet the Press' Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag. Obama Explains National Anthem Stance Sun, 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, General Bill Ginn' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171... During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, 'Stand and Face It'
Senator Obama Live on Sunday states,
'As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides, Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.'We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice. My wife disrespects the Flag for many personal reasons. Together she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine'. Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America.

WOW!!! This really opened my eyes. This man could perhaps be our next Commander in Chief. These verses came into my mind when I read this:
Revelation 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Revelation 22:20-21
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

This would be a GREAT time for the Lord to come get us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

21 Reasons Why Sarah Palin Should NOT be Elected Vice-President of the United States:

1) She is a Woman.

2) She does not believe in killing babies, born or unborn.

3) She is NOT endorsed by Susan Sarandon, Jane Fonda, Rosie O'Donnell, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Geraldine Ferrara, Barbara Walters, Helen Thomas, Ellen DeGeneris, Ted Kennedy, Keith Olberman, Chris Matthews, Barbra Streisand, David Letterman, or others who fervently believe in a Woman's Right to Choose (to kill babies).

4) She is married to a Foreigner --a species called 'Native American'--meaning her five children are half-breeds.

5) She has on more than one occasion expressed PRIDE in the United States of America .

6) Unlike decent, self-respecting Democrats everywhere, she has a 17-year-old daughter who became pregnant out of wedlock.

7) She is a member of the National Riflemen's Association/actually owns firearms/ and know how to use them.

8) She has killed a moose, among other animals - and spreads the propaganda that it is hunters, through their license fees, that keep American wildlife from becoming extinct.

9) She often does her own grocery and other household shopping.

10) She drives a car, and flies a plane.

11) She chose to give birth to a defective child, rather than allow a skilled Abortion Doctor to kill it for her.

12) She refuses to apologize for seeking the termination of an Alaskan State Trooper just because he applied a gentle taser to his 12-year-old stepson (who, of course, happened to be Gov. Palin's nephew).

13) She is inexperienced. And she refuses to admit that her duties as the chief executive in the State of Alaska are nowhere near equal to those of a public servant who was once a Community Organizer, or that of a United States Senator who has carried the awesome burden of overseeing a staff of political appointees.

14) She has a son who is in the U.S. . Military, deployed to the Persian Gulf --probably making her prejudiced against all the peaceful Muslims in that part of the world.

15) She is on Oprah Winfrey's 'Do Not Invite' list.

16) She professes to be a Christian, but has no 'Spiritual Adviser'-- even though Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who served Sen. Obama in that capacity for 20 years, is now available.

17) She isn't really a 'beauty queen,' as advertised. She was only the runner-up in the Miss Alaska Contest; and Alaska is not a very populous state, anyway.

18) The Obama-Biden ticket is favored over McCain-Palin, 80% 50 30%, by our friendly allies in France.

19) Her children are not properly trained in hygiene. (Did you see her 7-year-old daughter shamelessly lick the entire palm of her hand at the Convention, then use it to slick down the hair of her little brother?)

20) She is of mixed English, German, and Irish ancestry -- and you KNOW you can't trust the Limey's, Krauts, or Micks.

21) Back to No. 1: This is the one that really galls modern, liberal 'feminists.' Gov. Palin is a woman, a female-type wife and mother, who shaves her legs, wears makeup, dresses smartly, often cooks meals for her family, doesn't give a hoot about the National Organization for Women or the all-powerful Teachers Unions--and obviously will never, ever fit in as a member of the Washington Elite. Do we want a person like this to be the Vice President of the United States? YOU BETCHA!!!!!!!!!!!

I HATE BEING SICK!!!

I would like to confess something to each and everyone today. I hate being sick. I have had the worst sore throat that I have ever experienced. I can't talk. I can't even swallow. My wife(the doctor without a degree) says it is my sinus drainage. I don't care. I hate it!!!! I missed Old-Fashioned Day at our church. I usually like this day because it is pretty funny to see other people, other than you, who look funny in their attire. The kids have all been sick. They have been running a fever and cough and all the junk that goes along with that for about a week. Things are still pretty busy. We have a lot of things going on. We also have another date for a nursing home visit. November 2. She also wants to set up a date with us come back every month. I think that says alot about our group. Let me know what you think. The only thing that I'm scared of is calling her in the next couple of months and canceling because we have lost interest. Let me know what you think and some ideas to do the next time we go. Even if you have an idea about something to take each resident that would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Jeff W Gordon

Who are all those CRAZY kids that are clowning around ?

This was taken at The Comedy Barn while on vacation . Who does these kids belong to, anyway ? ? ?


Now on a little bit of a serious matter. I find it crazy how fast the boys have grown. When finding my clowning around pic for foto friday I always seem to go to the ones of the boys when they were babies. It makes me almost cry to see some of the pictures of them when they were shorter than me . Now Langdon is almost taller than me . And Cameron and Parker are right behind him.

Until next time, ( NOT SURE )

Carre

Lost

Oh my gosh, Im so far behind with the lastest post. I feel lost and left out. So let me tell you i have not been able to get on blogspot at work ( I guess they didn't like me getting on there) maybe I got a little obsessed. Anyway , We dont have internet at home so I have had to come up with other options to get on. As I post this I'm at my sisters house . I have been having withdrawals and I have not had time to look at all the post that I have missed.

Carre

FOTO FRIDAY

Today is Foto Friday. Todays theme is Fall. The boys have been out of school for fall break and they have been staying with their Granny. She always has some little project for them to do in order to keep them occupied. Wednesday & Thursday they spent their days carving pumpkins. Here is a picture of the finished product.

I have been going thru some old pictures that have been on my computer and I've been trying to transfer them to Cd's so I can free up some space on the laptop. I thought I would share some of these with one. The first picture is of all the boys. I know you can't see Parker in this picture but he is in there!!! Hopefully you can figure that out on your own!!

Now here is a picture with all of them. This is probably one of the first ones we tried to take with all of them together.

I am going to try to post some of each of them as a baby later on. Its fun and sometimes funny to go back and look at these pictures. Time flies so fast!!!
Jeff W Gordon

Here are the six random things about Jeff

1. Don’t like change (unless its at church)- I usually don’t like change. If there is a plan, I like to try to stick to it. Now church, that’s a different story. This past Sunday we changed the whole “program” around. It was GREAT. It keeps you on your feet. Let me try to give you an example of change I don’t care for. It on Monday we are planning something fun for the weekend and for some reason we can’t do it, it drives me crazy.

2. I don’t like it when people talk about my wife and children(even if they are joking). I don’t know why this drives me crazy but it does. My family is all I’ve got and no one will talk about them if I can help it. I know that’s a little deep but it’s the truth.

3. I don’t like losing. I love to win, even with my kids. If we are playing any random sport outside or game inside I have to beat them. I know that is weird but I figure in a couple of years they will be able to beat me in everything so I better take advantage of my ability to beat them now. There will come a day when I wont be able to hold a candle to them and it is fast approaching!!!!!!

4. I love going to the zoo. I know that is weird. I am not a member of PETA. I don’t think animals are human beings. But I love loading the family and a picnic and spending the day at the zoo. As a matter of fact ,we go to the zoo so much during to year that they informed us that it would be cheaper if we became members. And believe it or not we did. We are actually members of the Memphis Zoo!!! Ask my wife about it. She hates it!!!!

5. I have a hard time meeting new people. I am not the type of person that will run up to someone and say hello. It is a weird quirk of mine. I am really working hard on getting better at it so pray I will. I think I am so self conscience of my weight and appearance, I try to avoid people. PRAY,PRAY,PRAY!!!

6. I have to drive . If my wife and I are going on a trip to ANYWHERE(I mean anywhere)I have to drive. If we go to Wal-Mart, I have to drive. If we were to drive to California, I would drive the whole way. I am scared to death when she drives. It is stressful on all of us. I’m yelling at her, she’s yelling at me, its tough. I have tried. It was just way to stressful. I get real close to the Lord on these drives. Let me give you an example. Every time I ride with her I feel like I’m delivering mail. She drives so close to the right side of the road that I can stick my hand out the window and check their mail. As a matter of fact, she has actually hit a mailbox and knocked the mailbox completely off the post and knocked her passenger side mirror completely off her car!!!! Then she told me “I never ran off the road” . To which I said “Either you ran off the road or the mailbox dug itself out of the ground and ran right in front of you” . Pretty simple right!!! Now I thought that would be the end of conversation. But then she says “ All I know is I never ran off the road”. Even now she says the mailbox was too close to the road. But she took this road everyday for about a year before she finally took the poor mailbox out. This story still comes up about once a week!!!!

Here are the six random things about Carre

1. At work I have to have things in certain a place. I have a certain order that I turn on my lights, my computer and even the a certain order that I open programs. I also have to have things neat at my desk. Unlike at home I don’t care if things are not where they are suppose to be.

2. I don’t care for change. It takes me awhile to get comfortable to the changes. Needless to say I don’t change things very much.

3. I have a loud mouth. When I get excited my voice gets louder. It is like I can’t help it and I don’t even realize that it is even happening. I’m so like my mom and sister it’s not even funny.

4. I don’t like anyone that I know to be mad at me. I will worry myself to death thinking about if I said something or did something to make someone upset with me.

5. I let little things annoy me . I have a short fuse when it comes to that. I might not say anything about it but it crawls all over me like white on rice. And sometimes it causes me to be short and rude to people.

6. This is almost like a quirk of mine! Every night Jeffrey likes to have ice cream before bed. Hey says “ Carre can you lay out the NEOPOLITAN ! But guess what kind of ice cream that we buy! Not Neapolitan, we always buy SHERBERT. It drives in INSANE . One night I told him that I would not lay it out until he called it by the correct type that we had.

A PENNY

I was sent this little story from someone at work and I felt I needed to share it.Its amazing what one little phrase can do to impact someone and make you examine what you are trusting in to help you deal with people, finances, health, or just your everyday little bumps in the road.


A PENNY

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.
He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept a cross the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words

" United States of America "
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes!"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin, I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..





Thought for the day !

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.




Carre

Parker's messy foto.

I just got this from Parker's teacher. I tried to get in time to post for messy foto day. And if you know Parker when he is around his mom and dad he is quiet shy and will not talk to anyone. But... when he is at school he is a completely different little boy. This was taken after they came in from recess on the playground. The schools playground is old shredded rubber tires and everyday he comes home black from head to toe.






Carre

Funny Monday !

I have posted some cute jokes i found on a website.


3-year-old Reese:

"Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen."

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

A little boy was overheard praying:

"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."

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

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"

One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."

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

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.

Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.

"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"


I hope everyone has a good week! Carre

What a Mess !

Messy Foto Friday is here . I have posted a couple of my favs.



Snow Day





Got love those orange stained cheeks!






Carre

WHY AM I HERE??

We are coming upon the time at DSCC when the real fun begins. At first it was REAL easy. Homework was easy,test were easy,teachers were easy. Now things have changed. At first they were trying to get to know you and you were trying to get to know them. THAT'S OVER!!! Now it's time for harder and longer homework and also harder and longer test. Do these people know I have three kids and no time left for homework?? Not to mention Langdon is playing fall baseball and we are still playing softball. These people just don't get it. I sound like I'm in still high school.
I must tell you about my sociology class. It's a little different. You have to think opposite of what a normal person would think. I have already caused alot of problems in that class because I don't fall for all that JUNK. She thinks we all come from 'apes'. Including me!!! She gave us a scenario and asked us what we would do.I'll give you the same scenario and you tell me what you would do.
You are across the street from the Health Department and you see you sisters daughter(your neice)coming out with a brown paper bag. I think we all know what is in that brown paper bag. Do you tell your sister or mind your own business? Now, I might be wrong but if I see a family member coming out of there I'm TELLING. I thinks that is the only right thing to do. Out of 30 college students, I'm the only one that said they would tell. Is something wrong with me? Then I asked her, "What if in three months your sister calls and says you will never guess who is pregenant?" Then she tells you it is the same neice you saw coming out of the Health Department with that brown paper bag!!! Then you tell her "I seen her three months ago coming out of the Health Department but I didn't want to get involved because it was none of my business" I couldnt live with myself. If I saw one of my couisins, who is still living at home ,leaving Wal-Mart with a twelve pack,you can guarentee I'm telling!!! I owe it to them and their parents to let them know what their kids are doing. Now thats a little different but the same principle. These are the people that are getting paid good money to teach me. Thats not the only class I've caused trouble in but we will save that for another time. Let me know what you would do in that situation or am I just dead wrong!!!

Oh how i long to be skinny !

As I have said before,Jeff & I are doing the dreadful diet thing. Well just a little update, we are doing very good and I'm very proud of us both. I try not to weight everyday but I think that I have lost about 9 or 10 pds.I have not asked jeff recently but the last time I did he was at around 12 pds lost. We are on the right track . This diet thing is not easy at all. I'm one of those that is lazy and does not want to stick with something and quit. It's just so much easier and when you see others that are skinny and eating whatever they want, it really puts you down.I think that now that I'm actually losing weight it is helping me get over my discouragement. Oh, and I'm really looking forward to funny foto friday . I cant wait to see all of those messy fotos.

Carre

Put me in coach im ready to play !

As the summer ends and fall begins, baseball is back at the House of Gordon . We have signed Langdon up for fall ball and we are EXCITED. All the boys played this summer and i would like to share the few pics we did take. I will post some from the fall when our games start.

Landgon at the batting cages!



Cam getting ready to bat!



Parker playing 3rd base!


Langdon practicing on his pitching!

LABORS OF LOVE

Today is my grandmothers 86th birthday. And she is as witty and funny as if she were 30 years old. I can not begin to think of what all she has seen and experienced in her life. Can you imagine living 86 years? I for sure can not. She is the only living grandmother I have and probably out of all my grandparents I have I’m the closest with her. When you are young you think that parents and grandparents are old and don’t know anything. But as you get older you seem to realize that they have some truth in what they say and do. I cherish every moment that I spend with my grandmother. I know that as she gets older and as her health ails that she will not always be here. She will not always be here to cook my lunch or to call me my sister or to hear the T.V. on with her favorite show The Price is Right. But she is leaving her mark. For has long as I can remember she has always had some type of sowing project that she works on. She loves to do embroidery. She even taught me a little bit. My mom calls it my grandmothers therapy. I guess to her it is but to me it is memories . I have pillow cases and quilts and little pillows that she has made for me. What a labor of love. The picture above is a pillow case that she did for me. And every time I look at it I for sure think of her . I may be young but I love old things and antiques . And hand embroidery is something that you don’t see anymore . It is a dying art. So to you grandmother I thank you for you labors of love and happy birthday may you have many more. I LOVE YOU ! Carre

As many of the wives probably already know "ITS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE". This is my favorite time of the year. The weather is cooling and it is time for some college and high school football. We have already been to one Dyersburg Trojan game. We usually go to all of them,even away games. So whoever keeps scheduling all this Friday night stuff at church,STOP IT!!! You know who you are!!! Langdon has really gotten into the sport of football. Carre says she don't want him to play because he will get hurt. That's moms for you. He will stand with me at the games and we will yell the whole game. Cam and Parker could care less. They just keep asking when can we get some popcorn. They got that from their dad!!! NO LAUGHING!!! Last night the Vols played and got beat in overtime. I woke the whole family up screaming at the TV. Have you ever noticed with men,no matter what sport is on,they thinking they can play and coach better than whoever is out there!!! Oh by the way,Dyersburg Trojans won 65-14 against Frayser. GO TROJANS!!! So here is to many more weekends full of the Tennessee Volunteers and the Dyersburg Trojans.

This past Saturday we celebrated our youngest son, Parker’s 5th birthday. He is the youngest of 3, all boys. Needless to say The House of Gordon is loud and crazy. My has the time flown by. He is growing up so fast. I can remember the day he was born the first thing Jeff said was “is that red hair ?“ I was so excited. I have always wanted red hair or wanted a child with red hair.


We also went to Reelfoot Lake to celebrate my husbands birthday with my mom, grandmother and sister. Want it guess his age .….well…. He is the big 30. I love rubbing it in his face. Ok, so this was the last meal before he starts THE DIET! Sunday he starts the high protein , low carb diet. We cant eat anything good. I have been on it for 1 week and I must say I think that I have done pretty good. I don’t have very high will power to resist the bad things to eat. I’m ready to change my life and health and be skinny.
Until next time,
Carre B Gordon

Where did the rest of your clothes go? That is a question you ask yourself as your walking through the campus of DSCC. It makes you wonder if people have a mirror at home. I must admit that mostly I’m talking about the “ladies”. And I use that term lightly. You know you have seen them. They walk around tugging on the top of their ‘V’ neck shirt so no one can see. Did the shirt shrink between home and school? Then there is the other group. The group that tugs on the bottom of their shirt so you cant see their butterfly tattoo. And what’s up with the tattoo anyway? Can you imagine how that tattoo is going to look in 60 years. NOT PRETTY!!!!!! This doesn’t just go on at school, it happens everywhere. Even church!!! I was raised with an Independent Baptist Preacher for a grandfather. He probably is opposed to me wearing shorts. He said to me one time, ”Jeff, that girl is only wearing a handkerchief!!!” Now mind you she had on much more than that, but not much more than that. It makes you think about what “ladies” wore 50 years ago. They were completely covered up almost. Now look what we have. Now imagine what we will have 20 years from now!!!!! It will be just like in the garden of Eden. Genesis 3:9 .And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10.And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Let me be the first to tell you, a lot of folks should be hiding because THEY ARE NAKED!!!!!!!

Welcome to DSCC!! Can you imagine going back to school after being out for 12 years? Me neither!!! Yet here I am. Alot of things have changed since I was in school. We will talk about some of those things in later post.
Let me try to explain the decision to go back to school. For the past 12 years I have been on one dead end job after another. Factories I worked at were closing,downsizing,or cutting your pay. I was tired of all that stuff. So finally I prayed. Have you ever noticed we always pray when we need help? Not just to say thanks but when we really get in a bind. Have you ever prayed and the Lord told you what to do but you keep praying thinking His answer will be different?? Me too!!! I said "Lord,I cant do this. I'm too old." So I keep praying.. He keeps telling me the same thing. Finally I give in.
I knew that money would be the issue. So I prayed about the money. The Lord made the money available!!! So next I pray about money for books. Have you seen the price of college books these days? All my books together were about $450. And I've been told that was CHEAP!!! I got a letter in the mail saying that I had received enough money in grants & loans to cover tution and books. And still have a little left over!!!!! Thats the God I serve. Even when it seems he is running late he shows up right on time!!

Hellrrrr!!! I'm going to try this blogging thing and see how it works. I have been very busy at school(I will tell you more about that later)so I have alot to say.