(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??
My favorite thing is celebrating Christmas with my 4 grown sons,their wives and children and listening to the squeals of delight and the laughter as gifts are exchanged. No one cares what they get (well, maybe the younger children do!) but it’s being together and loving each other that matters. Praise God for special times of celebration like these.
My favorite frozen yogurt is Ben & Jerry’s Low Fat Chocolate Fudge Brownie! Soooo yummy!! 🙂
My favorite meal ever is when my hubs, Eddie, gets up on Saturday morning and fixes breakfast! He is the master of the skillet! He goes out on the back porch and cooks the bacon perfectly. He cooks it outside so my hair doesn’t smell like bacon all day!
My favorite thing at the moment is Jan Karon’s Mitford Series. I am reading the final book and it makes me so sad that it’s almost over. I think my husband is getting tired of hearing about Father Tim.
Dawn
Green Bay, Wi
I love that series!!! I want to live in Mitford!!
I got the cookbook so I can pretend I’m in Mitford!
They have a new related series, The Father Tim series, also by Jan Karon. Book two just came out last fall. It is not as good as the original, but hey, who doesn’t want more of Mitford folks.
Awesome books!
Oh, I love the books and the characters too! I still have to read the last one. One of the reasons is that I do not want this journey to end either.
Jan is my second favorite author! I love that series. I met her at a gathering in Philly. She is very inspirational & charismatic. Loved her!
Love the books too. They make me wish that I could always smell like wisteria.
The Mark of the Christian by Francis A Schaeffer “Through the centuries men have displayed many different symbols to show that they are Christians. They have worn marks in the lapels of their coats, hung chains around their necks, even had special hair cuts. /Of course, there is nothing wrong with any of this, if one feels it is his calling. But there is a much better sign- a mark that has not been thought up just as a matter of expediency for use on some special occasion or in some specific era. It is a universal mark that is to last through all the ages of the church until Jesus comes back. /What is this mark? /At the close of his ministry, Jesus looks forward to his death on the cross, the open tomb and the ascension. Knowing that He is about to leave, Jesus prepares His disciples for what is to come. It is here that He makes clear what will be the distinguishing mark of the Christian. /Little children yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me and as I said unto the Jews, Where I go ye cannot come; So Now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love to another. John 13:33-35) /This passage reveals the mark that Jesus gives to label a Christian not just in one era or in one locality, but at all times and in all places until Jesus returns. /Notice that what He says here is not a ststement of fact. It is a command that includes a condition: A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this all men shall know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” An ifis involved. If you obey, you will wear the badge Christ gave. But since this is a command, it can be violated. /The point is that it is possible to be a Christian without showing the mark; but if we expect non-Christians to know that we are Christians we must show the mark. /In 1 John 3:11 John says, For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” Years after Christ’s death, John in writing the epistle, calls us back to Christ’s original command in John 13, Speaking to the church, John in effect says, ”
Don’t forget this…Don’t forget this, This command was given to us by Christ while He was still on the earth. This is to be your mark.”
My favorite thing is: a Trapp candle- scent Orange/Vanilla. It’s heavenly! I can be in a bad mood and take one sniff of this candle and my mood lifts.
My favorite planner ever is my “myAgenda”. It is the single/college version of “mo
Agendas”. It provides sections to place different portions of your schedule and gives you a week at a glance. Being slightly OCD, I use different colored pens for each section. I love it 🙂
Trust me on this ( I’ve done a lot of research and shelled our way too much $$) My favorite mascara is made by BLINC. It coats the lashes with those “tubes” and it stays put ALL DAY LONG. I am not joking. This is very important for my 50year old contact wearing, wrinkled eye balls! Comes in black and brown. I buy it from their online site- don’t know of any stores that carry it.
PS. I love Bermuda, Starbuck’s Mocha, a warm fire in my fireplace, and a good book,
I was reading everybody’s favorites the night before and wrote down some things that I wanted to get and one of them was the book Jesus Calls by Sarah Young. The next day my husband came home from work with a copy of that very book! He had a meeting that day with a wonderful christian man and he gave my husband a copy of that book. Isn’t it amazing how God works!!!
My favorite skin lotion ever is Jergen’s Ultra Healing Lotion. It’s not that expensive and makes my hands feel luxuriously soft for a long time!
My favorite thing is hearing the name, “GiGi”, from my granddaughter and seeing my grandson blow kisses to me as soon as he sees me on Skype! Georgia to Maine is a long distance apart….
Oh! My Grandchildren call me GiGi, too! My oldest granddaughter came up with the name when she first started talking. And I agree….it is about the sweetest sound on earth. Grandchildren are such a precious Gift from God. 🙂
My favorite food is eating Cincinnati Chili. Either over spaghetti (4-way Bean..i.e. Spaghetti, Chili, Beans, Cheese) or as a Cheese Coney. I miss my hometown sometimes and having some Cincinnati Chili makes me feel like I’m back in Kentucky (just south of Cincinnati Oh) having fun with my family.
There is nothing like CIncinnati chili!!!
Ahhhh Jessica!!! Hooray – a fellow Kentuckian!! …..I’m from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky and there is no other Chili but Chili from here!! 😀
Christina – Edgewood, KY
My all-time favorite candy? Peanut M&M’s. My husband loves me so much that he only ever buys me a small bag at a time (Christmas stocking, Valentine’s) so that I don’t gorge myself on a pound of them! 😉
Laura
I totally agree with you. My mom actually puts each of us a bag of Peanut M&M’s in a box and wraps it up for us to open at Christmas. We all look forward to that present. LOL
Tracy
Favorite Christian singer/storyteller/artist of all time — Andrew Peterson. He’s a combination of James Taylor, Rich Mullins and your most comfortable pair of jeans. His simple, powerful lyrics will catch you up short — sometimes in praise, sometimes in conviction, always in awe of this God we serve.
Daffodils!! Love the color and the hope of spring. God didn’t have to make flowers so pretty but he did and I thank him for it!
My favorite (Provider) is the Lord. He took care of me during an abusive marriage, divorce,being a single mom, getting fired, losing my home, and disability. NEVER has He let me down. He has always provided food, and housing and everything we needed. I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world because my relationship with Jesus has grown so much sweeter because of them. Glory to His name!
This makes me weep!!! GOD…You are SO good ALL the time!!!!
Update! The spreadsheet with all the favorites on it that I promised to share with those who want it ([email protected]) will be sent tonight to all requests sent yesterday & today (then I head out of town for the weekend). I’ve just added a footer to number the pages. It only goes through page 28 of the blog, so you’ll have to add all of the additions since then that interest you.
I had a funny image come to my mind this morning, Beth. I could just picture all of us Siestas at one of your tapings with the PLUMP LIPS and I pictured all of us with those big red wax lips. Too funny.
Have a great weekend, Siestas!
Thank You! I always loved those RED WAX Lips
All these mascara favorites. 🙂 I need a favorite or best ever remover!! Anybody have one that works great, especially with the water proof kind?
I love the Mary Kay oil-free eye make up remover. Works great and leave your skin feeling soft!
Ooh yah, that stuff is the BEST. And I’m just about out. Time to reorder. 🙂
Yes – I agree! Mary Kay has the very best eye makeup remover about $15.00.
I love the Almay eye make-up remover. It does wonders. Also, Walmart has their brand of the Ponds Clean Sweep moist towelettes. The walmart brand is so cheap! I work all day and then teach Zumba at the gym. I love those things because they just wipe off and clean EVERYTHING! I always have them in the gym bag:)
Yes!! Have to agree Mary Kay has the very best eye make up remover. It is wonderful! Christina – KY
I like to use vegetable oil as an eye makeup remover. It’s cheap and it just takes a tiny bit.
I know I’m a little behind all of you this week. I just got an opportunity to catch up with you. My favorite thing is in the evening when my son curls up on the couch with me and watches TV and we talk. He’s ten now and I know those days will be few and far between before long as he gets older. These are truly cherished moments. At least for now, he still thinks Mom is cool and fun to be around…(LOL)….
My favorite book is Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. It is written in the 1800’s but is just as down to earth and readable as if written this year. Anyone who likes Beth’s writings would love it, because it deals a lot with our inner man (or woman)and the struggles we face to overcome thoughts and circumstances. She has several other books back in print too.
Leslie
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
I loved that book, too. Read about it in an Elisabeth Elliot book, whose books I also love.
I read !that in high school and was so inspired as well. I have an original copy that I keep with all my antique books. I think it was my mother’s or great grandmother’s. I never knew anyone else even know about it
This has been so much fun!! I hope you do this again Beth so we can add more of our favourite things. Maybe it could become tradition twice a year. Some of us only connect here and it is so great to hear someone else like what you like. Winter and depression has been hard here, so this has been a good chuckle!!!
My favorite thing is a letter from our Compassion sponsored children. Better yet, a picture. I thought God would bless one life because I sponsored, but He blessed two-a child in poverty and me!
My favorite dessert EVER is Tiramisu at Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden! I know heaven will have this on the menu.
I am not a huge blogger, but I do have two favorites that I check regularly and God uses to teach and encourage me…
This one, of course!! I love the fellowship of the siestas everywhere and the love, laughs and encouragements from Beth and fam!
And I adore http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com …God is always teaching me something huge from the life of this precious young woman, Katie Davis. She first went to Africa as a teenager and now, just a few years later is the mom to 13 darling African girls and feeds, ministers to and gets sponsors for hundreds of others! You siestas would love, love, love reading her story (hopefully a book will be coming soon!). I just love Katie to pieces and I love the Lord for using a young lady in Africa to teach me so much of Him, even though I have only met her once! You avid reader siestas will love her blog as much as anything you’ve read lately!
However, I cant say that I even like technology in general (especially as a mom of teens). But I do love being connected to so many godly women thru the internet!! Even when I stay on too long reading everyone’s favorites! And I am going to go out and purchase a copy of “Jesus Calling” today at the recommendation of so many!! Can’t wait!
GrEETINGS FROM EL SALVADOR in Central America!!!
My favorite thing: MY DOGS!!! Best dogs ever!!!!!! My dogs really, but really make me happy! (my husband and kids know this and are not jealous!)
I have to agree on the dogs, I just love love love my Dog Pumpkin and also my husbands dog Charlie. Pumpkin is the most loyal and dedicated friend, never leaves my side. Maybe God made dogs so we could continue to see on earth what real devotion looks like.
My favorite powder ever is MAC mineralize skinfinish. I have many more significant favorites but I thought this would be a more useful favorite to share with my fellow sisters in Christ. Mainly because this powder mimics natural skin better than anything else out there! So go give it a try on!
I love candles! I cant stand for my house to smell like cooked eggs or meat.. blah! My MOST FAVORITE candle of all time is Circle E Candle company’s Bird of Paradise… oh my good gracious it is amazing and puts off a strong scent that lasts! It is strong enough to handle the lingering smell of whats left after it was your husbands turn in the “poop closet”! awesome! Love Love Love! 😉
My favorite thing is a Great cup of coffee. You know the kind that smells good and with the right creamer is just the perfect cup. Now you do need a special coffee cup that just makes it even better especially if it was given to you by a friend.
Tracy
This is ridiculous but my favorite pen ever is Paper Mate Profile BLACK (I am a nurse) in Medium. I buy them by the box and have converted many to them. I become rabid if someone steals my pen, luckily God forgives me.
My favorite thing is every Saturday morning, going with my sweet girlfriend (and fellow Beth fan) Kim to our ladies bible study and watching Beth’s *Esther* series DVDs. I’m NOT ashamed to admit it, one of the best and exciting parts of every session is when the camera is zooming in on Miss Beth and we get to see what cute outfit she is wearing, how she has her hair done, and her lipcolor, makeup, earrings, etc. We just LAW-ve [in Beth-speak] Miss Beth’s outfits, we want to know where she shops and just think she’s adorable whether we watch her in our Esther bible studies, or see her in person, or catch her online. Beth let’s God work through her to speak to our hearts ~ she also ministers to the girly-girl in all of us! :o)
My absolute favorite thing EVER is. . . . going to a BETH MOORE conference with one of my BEST girlfriends. We plan these things out nearly a year in advance. My sweetest friend ever Sarah and I are on the edge, hoping we can make it to Kentucky in June for the Deeper Still conference. WHY?! Because Sarah and I are both Beth Moore stalkers 🙂 (We’re harmless Beth, really). But spending a few days together, devoting our time to Jesus and some serious quality girl time. It keeps us focused. I have the itch so bad to see her (She only lives 20-30 miles from me). But we are both busy moms and it’s hard to find time to slip away. But in June, it is on! <3
My favorite thing so far in life is the miracle of getting to feel my daughter move in my tummy. We didn’t know that we’d be able to get pregnant or that we’ll be able to have any more so I’m trying to enjoy this for the next few months. (and not dwell on disappearing ankles, headaches, lack of sleep or any of that stuff) 🙂 God is good!! Phil 4:8
Blessings on that, girl! I only got to have one child, and that pregnancy was absolutely the most amazing, wonderful, precious time ever. Enjoy every moment.
My favorite thing EVER is when I get home from work and as soon as I walk in the front door my two sons say MOMMY and run up and give me a hug and kiss! Lord, please don’t ever let them grow out of that!
My favorite movie is Enchanted April. I watch it whenever I get the winter blahs. It is all about unconditional love and grace and beautiful Italian scenery.
I love Enchanted April. One example of a movie being just as good as a book.
There’s a book….? How lovely!
I bought a painting for our bedroom because it reminded me of the movie.
Oh I love this movie too! So delightful and heartwarming! I need to go watch it again. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Some of my favorite things:
being with my mom at aunt freda’s house and eating at the big table, dipping “snuff” with my grandpa- his was copenhagen and mine was crumbled cake crumbs in one of his empty snuff cans- that was so awesome then, something just him and me did- then we’d go fishing on the river bank him using a real big hook and me using a real tiny one- holding my 3-weeks-old great-nephew in my arms while he slept and smiled last saturday morning-that was pretty cool too. kitty cat kisses and doggy tail wags.
My favorite thing is playing with my grandkids. I never would have believed they could bring so much joy!
I just love tulips! I can’t wait for spring each year.
The favorite thing right now in my life is making brownies with my 4 year old granddaughter once a week. She gave me the best ever brownie pan for Christmas and a variety of brownie mixes. She spends the afternoons with Nana and Da (grandpa)after preschool until Mommy is home from school (she teaches). She loves brownies and so does her family so at least once a week we make some “best ever brownies” for her family!
OK… I am a bit behind on reading your blog… life has gotten in the way.
My favorite lotion EVER is Johnson & Johnson nighttime baby lotion. I bought it for my grandson & it smells soooo good I started using it for myself.
My favorite smell is…newborn babies heads. Intoxicating. When I finally got to hold my premie in the NICU, I felt her warm tiny body curled up on my chest, learned down and took my first breath of that smell and thought…this is Heaven. It still chokes me up to think of that precious moment. I’ve still never smelled anything that comes close to that smell.
I can completely relate! When I finally got to hold my sweet ones in the NICU, I believe that all my senses will remember the moment forever! Almost a touch of heaven.
PLEASE tell us which Loreal Mascara you used that was discontinued!! I love a good search, and I love to find great products! Oh DO tell us which one it was! Cheryl
My favorite product is Jane Iredale ‘Circle Delete #2’ ~ Simply amazing! You’ve got to use it and see what it does in order to believe! Give it a try!
My favorite thing ever is a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. It’s like drinking a hug.
One of my favorite things ever is the smell of a new book. I know, I am a nerd:)
One of my favorite things it that when I leave for work each morning my husband walks me to the door and then goes and stands at the kitchen window and waves at me as I pull out the driveway, it stays with me all day.
My favorite article of clothing right now is my grey tank top- I can’t stop wearing it under everything. I bought a second one so I don’t have too!
My favorite ice cream of all time = Hagen Daz Rum Raisin! My husband buys me a pint for special occasions and I sit with a spoon and the container and down it goes! All in one sitting! But it tases soooooooo good! Good thing there aren’t special occasions every week!
One of my favorite things is doing a puzzle!! It’s a family tradition – my fam use to go to Colorado, up in the mtns outside of Colorado Springs, every summer! We set up a table for the puzzle, and all of us took turns putting the puzzle together! Somehow the last piece would find its way to complete our picture, before the week ran out!! We never stayed silent while finding pieces that fit – guess that’s the great memory of it all – companionship/fellowship/loads of laughter!!
One of my favorite things is the Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake @ Tommy Bahama’s restaurant! Yummy 🙂
My favorite flower is gardenia. It is truly a smell of the summer in the south. Not moonlight and magnolias, but gardenias make me glad!
My favorite thing to do is go to coffee with my sister, Tricia. She is the funniest and wisest person I know. She can put any problem in the right perspective for me and no one can make md laugh like her. My next favorite hing to do ia play Scrabble on facebook.