(OK, I’m coming back on here about four or so hours after putting up this post so that I can tell you that it turned out to be one of “My Favorite Comment-Sections EVER”! I’m not kidding. You guys are the world’s biggest blast. But, I’m now in the shopping mood again.)
Good Monday Morning, Sweet Things!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you were able to observe some Sabbath rest and be still for a few moments, knowing that He is God. I had an usually wonderful weekend with unexpected joys. For starters, this was a weekend off. That means I got to awaken slowly on Saturday with no plans whatsoever then had an impromptu call from Amanda saying that she had a few hours to hang out. Turned out Melissa did, too. (The joys of having her back are too many to count!) As we were trying to think of what we wanted to do (and were shopped out and grossed out at the thought), Amanda said, “Let’s go see Aunt Gay’s new apartment!” I’m hoping it won’t be long before you get to know my big sister here on the blog. She has a story that might hit those of us presently slogging around in faithlessness with a fresh bolt of lightening. Her boys (25 and 15) also headed over to her new place at the same time and the thought of us all being together was better than a bubbling plate of cheese enchiladas with chili gravy running all into the rice and beans. (Man, I hate that I just did that to myself.) The six of us were inseparable in the early years when my mom, our Queen of Everything, was still alive and in complete control. (I say that with great affection…and without deception.) I have almost as many pictures of my sister’s boys as I do my own girls. Then a whole lot of life happened and that’s a story for another time. We had a blast together Saturday and laughed our heads off, which has always been a Green (my maiden name) family trait. What we lacked in emotional health, we made up for in humor. As my older brother, Wayne, says, we all have a keen sense of the absurd. And I might add, we earned it.
If you only knew the whole story…but, then again, you could say the same thing to me. Some whole stories don’t need to be told in public but they do indeed need to be redeemed. (To me, the line is drawn where the glory to God and the good to the listeners profoundly exceeds the pain of the testimony. If the listener will likely be left with graphic visuals and oppressive thoughts or pervasive sadness, we need to refrain from telling it in detail. In those occasions, generalities are best. We don’t have to tell people everything to tell them an important something. We also have to be very sensitive to the other people – often family members – whose secrets are inadvertently told as we tells ours. These are HUGE issues that need to be worked through with great sensitivity. Mind you, I’m talking about audiences here. I’m not talking about counseling sessions. We do indeed need to find someone trustworthy and mature in the faith, with a gift for counsel, to hear our whole story.) All this to say, if you’re alive enough to read this blog, you’re story is not yet finished and you’ve got time for a really great turn in the narrative that leads to a brilliant finish. I know that for a fact.
OK, can you switch tracks really fast? I thought we’d do something fun today. I was thinking again yesterday while I was putting on my make up and getting ready for church how ticked I am that L’Oreal discontinued the mascara Melissa and I used to use. It was our favorite EVER and no other mascara does lashes like it did. It’s so annoying when that happens. And what a double whammy after my favorite pen got discontinued! Some of you remember that nail biter. No wonder it’s been such a hard year. (Of course, I’m being ridiculous. I don’t want to insult those of you going through tremendously hard times. Like many of you, last year actually was really rough but, oh, that it would have been over pens and mascaras.) I decided it would be fun today to share your favorite ___________ ever. By all means, don’t share something that’s been discontinued or you will dangle a plastic carrot in front of your Siestas. Beyond that, it can be anything! (Suitable to this blog, of course) It can be your favorite mascara. It can be your favorite book. It can be your favorite recipe. It can be your favorite meal. It can be your favorite memory. It can be your favorite song. Share ONE FAVORITE THING of yours (only 1!) with your Siestas today. It may mean that some of us find a new favorite something this very day.
Start it like this: My favorite (fill-in-your-blank) EVER is… (then, for crying out loud, tell us)
I think this is going to be fun. I’ll start with a really stupid one.
My favorite lip plumper EVER is Sally Hansen “Lip Inflation.” It’s dirt cheap and it feels like you’ve rubbed Tabasco all over your mouth. If it plumps like it hurts, move over Angelina.
What’s your favorite something, Siestas??
One of my favorite things to do is shop resale shops. I’ve found items with the tags still on, never worn! (ex-a pair of Talbot wool pants for $7!!) I save lots of money. Money I can spend on other favorite things. Like vacations!!
me too-Citizens for Humanity, 7 for All Mankind jeans for $10 !! I can afford to have them shortened even!
My favorite smell is that of sheets that have dried on the clothesline.
Sharon, MS
This makes me smile 🙂
I LOVE e.l.f makeup. Great colors and dirt cheap prices!
My favourite french fries EVER are what we call BRIDGE FRIES from Sarnia (Point Edward), Ontario, Canada. The Bluewater Bridge connects Sarnia (Point Edward), Ontario, Canada to Port Huron, Michigan in the US. They are chip truck fries with power sprayed vinegar, under the bridge, overlooking the St. Clair River, as it opens up to Lake Huron and they are the BEST fries EVER!
I live close to Port Huron, and my best friend is Canadian. She LOVES chip truck fries!
My favorite lesson I have learned so far in all the studies I have done is the one I watched today…Session 4 of Breaking Free…Beth, God has used you so miraculously in so many ways to bring Him glory through His women…thank you!
One of my favorite things: Cinnamon Suckers by See’s Candies. They are only available during Valentines and Christmas Season. It is probably a good things, because they can be addictive.
My very favorite feeling is walking in to our church buildng and having such a strong feeling of God’s presence being there. God is truly “awesome in this place.”
My favorite ice cream is haagan daz coffee and I like my coffee just as sweet and creamy.
Beth – the Bic Pro+ pen writes smooth as butter! I love it, but it’s not my favorite thing. I would have to go with any form of chocolate I guess. Thus, why I’m about to die to unfasten these pants right now! Oh that sweatpants were all the rage.
I’m back too, my new favorite is reading everyone’s favorite thing! So nice to be able to sit a minute and soak up smiles. Thank you Beth, for this topic!
My favorite treat would be a Krispy Kreme Donut, plain regular glaze….yum….
I moved from the city to the country. I miss the days I could drive through the Krispy Kreme bakery and get a dozen warm glazed donuts. Your post made me smile.
They make a pumpkin spice donut for just a few weeks in the fall! My husband get those for me and makes a birthday cake stack out of them. YUM is right!
My favorite time is kitty time – when the black cat I rescued from a shelter jumps on my bed early in the morning. If it’s really cold – I live in Colorado – she hides beneath the covers.
My favorite of all time is snuggling with my kids when they will actually sit still! The older they get the more they wiggle so I have to take advantage of every still moment I get with them!
My favorite thing is mushroom hunting in the spring. Being in the woods when everything is just turning green. My next favorite thing is eating them…..yummmm!!!
My favorite thing ever is a lemon souffle covered in dark chocolate (Russel Stover’s Private Selection) My grandma’s town has a Russel Stover’s candy factory and durning our spring break we drive 7 hours to spend time w/my grandparents and shop the candy store. I have bought 3 pounds of chocolate in 3 heart boxes so I could have more than one of these wonderful chocolates. Too bad there is only one in there though……
My favorite thing is coming home after I have been gone on a trip.
My favorite marriage book is “Sacred Marriage” by Gary Thomas.
Just got back into town from a Tennessee trip with my daughter (to visit a possible college) and saw this post… how fun!!! WELL THEN~
My favorite PUBLIC RESTROOM “ever” is “BUCKEYS”! If every public restroom could be as clean and beautiful as Buckeys, road trip pit-stops would be wonderful.
OOP’s wrong spelling… it’s “BUCKY’S (in Texas)
Well, actually, it’s Buc-ees! 🙂
Buc-ees is on our GPS now! We stop on every trip into Houston…love their ice, too!
Thanks (for the correct spelling). This place is a new experience for me and my family when we road trip… spelling aside, this place is MY FAVE!
My favorite thing is my tattoo eye liner. I’m 55 and have gorgeous eyes….even first thing in the morning…I may have bed head…but my eyes look beautimus! It was worth every cent!
My favorite things are: 1)vacationing with my family somewhere with a beach, 2)walks on the beach, 3)reading a book while laying on the beach in the sun, 4)studying the Bible while on vacation (He always seems to show me something special and new on vacation), and 5)trying new foods on vacation. And…about the Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark, we just ran out of it at our house this week 🙁 We had restocked at the Ghiradelli store in Chicago in January.
My favorite place to be EVER is with my family. (Husband, 3 sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter)Whether it be around the dinner table, playing a board game, going for a walk in the woods on our farm, taking a beach vacation together or just having a cup of coffee on our back porch (and we love our coffee). Those times are most precious!!
My favorite thing is the love letter my husband (then boyfriend) wrote to me after our first date! It was beautiful and we were married 6 months after that (guess I’m a sucker for the written word ;)) It’ll be 25 years this year!!
My favorite toothpicks:
Tea Tree Therapy toothpicks.
They are infused with tea tree oil, menthol, cinnamon, peppermint, and fennel. Cleanses my mouth and makes it tingly fresh! Works great for those times when I’m not able to brush after a meal. (This is a whole lotta info on toothpicks, I know, but one last thing…) I like how they help curb my sweet tooth. I tend to want something sweet after a meal, anybody else? But I figured out that’s, in large part, me actually just wanting a DIFFERENT taste in my mouth, not necessarily something sweet. And these babies due the trick!
OH HOW I LOVE A PIECE OF WARM TOAST WITH BUTTER…
THE SMELL… AND IT ALWAYS GIVES YA THAT WARM FUZZY
FEELING…yUMMY….AND THE FIRST TOMATOE AND CORN ON
ON THE COB.
My favorite thing is Carmex! I prefer the good ol’ stick…and it’s a whopping 97 cents!
(My Bible study group had a “favorite things” party once! There are about 16 of us and we picked a few of our (cheap) favorite things…brought one for every girl in the group….and then had a slumber party…stayed up all night…eating and sharing testimonies!! SUCH fun!)
my favorite ice cream ever is Blue Bell Groom’s Cake… OH MY!
oh, might have to try that one!
Yes, DO! It is so good. Chocolate icing, chocolate ice cream… Little Chocolate Hearts (Hard candy chocolate) with strawberry yummy inside and strawberry syrup swirled in… with little chunks of chocolate cake to boot. Makes my mouth go – OH MY!
ohhh how I miss blue bell ice cream… we moved from texas to nc 6 years ago and they have a very slim section of blue bell ice cream….
My favorite thing is hearing my grandkids call me Grandma,its a gift! Next to that is having a Mac laptop,doing video’s with my granddaughter!
Me too, I remember so well the first time my oldest grandson called me “Greandma” when I walked into the room! Oh what that did for my heart!!
My favorite bible study is Believing God by Beth. Even though I was a Christian already, that study (6 years ago) changed my life. Love your passion, Beth. It revs me up when I see your videos.
My favorite food is Orange Chicken from Applebee’s and CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES!!!!
I am facilitating Believing God now in my church. Life-changing! Thank you Beth for setting the bar high..to love our Lord with EVERYTHING we have to offer and to BELIEVE Him to use us to His glory!
My most favorite thing EVER is sitting in Bible study with all my Christian interdenominational sisters…Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Charasmatic, Catholic…all are precious in His sight!!!
love this too Stephanie, and as a special addition to that when it is a new Beth Moore study and the workbook is all new the anticipation of time with the women knowing we will all be such good bff’s at the end and studying with Beth in His Word oh heavenly.
My favorite song of all time Avalon’s Testify to Love… it is my ringer on my cell phone…know what you mean about mascara I would be big time upset if mine was d/c!!
One of my favorite things is lightnin’ bugs! I just think God was so creative when He made them! They fascinate me! And I love to catch them with my kids on a warm summer evening.
Good one Shelly! I had not thought of lightnin bugs! Precious favorite for sure God made.
My favorite movie is “You’ve Got Mail”. Makes me wish a had a bouquet of sharpened pencils and reminds me I still haven’t read “Pride and Prejudice”.
My favorite beach time EVER with my two precious sons (6,8 years old)… is watching a full moon moonrise over the ocean.
The ocean is calm and peaceful as the moon rises over the edge of the horizon. The moon casts a beam straight towards you that gets wider and brighter as the moon rises up into the sky. It is a Truly Spectacular Sight!
Although, the Most Precisous part about it is when those two presious souls instinctively stop jumping, wrestling and rolling around in the sand for a moment, it’s like the ‘wind’ whispers in their ear to cuddle up close and my heart just burst with Gratitude and Love, Love, Love!!! We watch in awe as the waves pick up and crash down the shore like an accordian applause.
We say Thank You Jesus, Good Night Mr. Moon, Thank You too for peaking out for us tonight!!!
Delray Beach, FL
…..nothing better than in the fall when it is orange! My singles group from church
(all over 49 ) did this as our monthly outing last fall. It was just perfect.
My favorite Christian fiction-“The Mitford Series” by Jan Karon. You will love the well-drawn characters in this series, who reside in a small town in North Carolina. The way the author interweaves and applies Scripture within the story line is nothing less than inspired.
You can order the series online at Amazon.com, starting with the first, At Home in Mitford. I buy used paperback copies for as little as $5 each (including postage). Order TODAY, you won’t regret it!
Love the Mitford books! I adore the simple life, the warm and hilarious characters, the sense of community. It makes me long for a home in a tiny town.
My favorite Christen fiction writer ever is Elizabeth Musser (most recent work is ‘Words Unspoken’ with a new one coming this summer) … and it was a special treat from God to visit my dear friend just this past weekend as we finished up a ministry trip in France, where she ministers and writes!
My favorite thing is Clicker Training with my new puppy, Ruth. A click that says ‘you are doing exactly what I want you to be doing’ and then you give them a treat!
SHARPIES!!! Sharpies!!!! SHARPIES!!!! I love sharpies…red ones, blue ones, magenta ones, fine tipped, fat tipped!!!! I love the way they write! I use them to make prayer cards or doodle or whatever…I always have them with me and I get them in my stocking every year. (yes, I still get a stocking at 30 something years old) he he he he he SHARPIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!!! This is so much fun!!! Beth…Thank you for opening up this conversation.
I love movies…one of my very very all time favorites is Fiddler on the Roof!!
Christina – KY
One of my favorite moments right now is saying prayers with my 2yr old. They pop up through out the day by demand and once she is on a roll it’s hard to get her to stop and we cover all accounts….from those who are sick, away from us, and new favorite is poo-poo in potty (not hers but her cousins) :)…..I wish I could just record them for you all esp. how she reclasps her hands for each person; but requests usually go like this…..”Prayer Me Mommy! Prayer Mrs. Bobbi… Prayer Mary Jane poo poo in potty… Prayer My Sissy… Prayer My Doctor… Prayer My Doctor poo poo in potty :…Prayer Pops coming…etc.” we continue through the whole extended family, thanking God for them, asking healing for all their boo boos, & praising every poo poo in potty (can you tell we are potty traning) Ending with a huge, southern AMEN! She’s the best reminder to pray without ceasing and in all things big or small.
My favorite way to wake up in the morning is to have the windows open with a soft breeze coming in, birds chirping, an the sun coming up over the trees! THE B.E.S.T.!!!
My favorite smell ever is my husband’s neck. He’s taller than me and my nose rests gently on his neck when I’m hugging him. Oh, how completely safe and at peace I feel when he returns home from a business trip and holds me in his arms and I can just snuggle into his neck!
I am divorced, however I was married 28 years. You describe the neck thing perfectly, it is such a precious and sweet memory .
My husband is currently on a business trip. I will be oh so grateful to nestle in his arms.
Peg, Naperville, IL
My favorite thing is napping on a rainy afternoon, snuggled in my cozy quilt, a handmade gift from my sister on the occasion of my 50th birthday.
With a good book in case you are not sleepy…..
My favorite book ever….oh good grief….I thought I could tell you straight out just one: Peace Like A River by Leif Enger; but, then I can’t leave out Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon…..and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
So….these are my FOUR favorite books ever.
My favorite thing in the whole world is snow. Snow skiing, snow sledding, snow anything. Just walking in the snow in the total quiet. I’m in my mid fifties, and not a single flake is lost on me.
Love to snow shoe because it is sooooooooo quiet…..
Had to share my own “lip plumper” story. My friend and I were shopping and trying on lotions, perfumes, etc. She was wanting a lip plumper, so I handed her a trial tube. She applied some and began complaining about the stinging sensation. I then put on my reading glasses and discovered I had handed her plumper all right, but not for lips. I didn’t know there was such a thing for the “chest area”!
Goodness, trying to pick just one is impossible. Everyone has touched on such different topics.
My absolute irresistable snack is Caramel Corn.
Clean sheets and towels straight from the dryer smelling like Lavender.
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered corn, lemon meringue pie that my mother used to make. Mine never equaled hers.
Gel pens, write as soon as they hit the paper.
I apologize for my going over the limit, I just couldn’t stop once I started and may begin this on my facebook status.
FAVORITE NEW CHOCOLATE! Trader Joe’s French Truffles. Oh my. Simply melt in your mouth. Rich, smooth, luxury–for just $3 or something. If you ever get to Trader Joe’s, buy 4 boxes.
oh my. these are SO GOOD!!!!
My very favorite ending to the day ever is to be able to watch the sky filled with the colors of a hill country sunset. It always fills me with such hope and love from my daddy God!
My favorite Jet Stream pen, it writes so smooth that it glides across a check when I’m paying for anything.
On a heavy heart note, would all my Siestas please pray for my friend Pam. Her son (age 24) was a US Marshall and last week he was shot and killed just 10 years ago her husband died of a heart attack with no warning. She leads all of our Beth Moore bible studies and is a wonderfully strong lady in her faith.
DEar Cefie,
Please know of my prayers for your dear friend Pam’s unspeakable loss of her precious son. May she receive the supernatural comfort only a Loving Heavenly Father can give to her. I also give praise to Him that she is committed to God’s Word and trusting Him to see her through this dark valley of the shadow of death. Hearts understand what words cannot say.
Lovingly in Him,
Pam H.
I will pray…
My favorite thing…..a sweet Christian sister feeling her Christian sister’s pain.
Prayers for her, praise for you
Dear Ceffie,
Prayers for your sweet friend, Pam, are coming your way! I too, lost my husband at the age of 40 and then 6 years later my 24 year old son was killed in a car accident….Is it fair? NO, but God is still sovereign and in control!!!! God carried your sweet friend through her husband’s death and He will carry her again through this tragedy! As she clings to God and applies the promises of the Lord she has so faithfully taught, He will give her the grace and peace to make it through each day! And as a testimony in my own life…..God has used me to have a greater testimony to other ladies as to no matter what life deals you, God is faithful and He can give you a peace that passes all understanding! Amen! May God be glorified!
On a side note…………Heaven just gets sweeter and sweeter! My daughter had a miscarriage a few months ago and in her pain she said, “Daddy has Matt and now a grandchild with him!”
Please tell you friend, Pam, if she needs someone to talk to who has been there, she can call or email me (Eleanor)at [email protected].
I will continue to pray as God brings Pam to my heart and mind. As her friend there is no greater gift you could give her than to love on her and pray for her daily! This is where the body of Christ is so beneficial in the healing process!
II Cor. 1:9-11
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
AMEN!
Your Siesta,
Eleanor
My favorite lip balm—Softlips. Any flavor. Seriously addictive but feels so fabulous!