My OSU buddy, Cara

(me with my friend Cara in front of my all-time favorite pizza shop -- Hideaway Pizza, Stillwater, OK)

Cara didn't start out as my OSU buddy. We first met when Cara was in 9th grade. She participated in a Bible study that I led in my home. The Bible study began as a 10-week, one-time study. But Cara and a couple of other young ladies asked me to keep it going.

I didn't realize that the 10-week study would turn into a four year wild & wonderful journey! But along the way, I had the incredible privilege to get to know Cara. She is an amazing gal and I have learned a lot from her over the years.

Now she is in college at Oklahoma State University, my alma mater. Our friendship remains strong. I try to visit her at least once a year at college. And she stops by to see me during her breaks. I love having a friend that is twenty years younger than me. She keeps me hip (or at least I'd like to think I'm hip)!

To my other friends who might be reading this blog... be sure and have a lot of girlfriends. And equally as important, have friends that vary in age, size and personality! It will keep you young, wise, fun, serious, and well-rounded.

So thanks, Cara! I never thought that seven years ago we would have such a fun and great friendship all these years later.

What I'm not thankful for...

Squirrels. Some think they are cute and furry. I think they are pesky. My landscaper, Annika, made some beautiful fall arrangements for me. Well, the squirrels ate all my gourds and pumpkins. They love the flesh of my pumpkins but dislike the seeds. So I have pumpkin seeds all over the yard. Next year, I suspect that I will be mortified and humored when a pumpkin patch begins to grow all over my yard!

And not only that, when I went to the store to replace the eaten pumpkins, guess what? The store no longer sells pumpkins past mid-November. So, my beautiful Fall/Thanksgiving pots have been reduced to a few grasses, cabbage (squirrels don't like cabbage, but who does?) and a couple of pansies.

Next year, I'm putting out ceramic pumpkins in hopes that one of the squirrels might chip a tooth!

Happy Thanksgiving to all. 

my birthday

My birthday this week was wonderful! I think everyone should have a "Celebrate Me" day at least once a year. My husband apparently gets that, as you can see in the birthday card he gave me. Why do I think everyone should take a day to celebrate themselves? Because God celebrates you. Below are a few things that the Bible says about how valuable you are to God. After you read them, I hope you will, indeed, feel a reason to celebrate.

• When you were born, God said that you were "very good." (Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.")
• God rejoices over you. (Isaiah 62:5b "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.") 
• God knows everything about you including the number of hairs on your head and still loves you. (Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love.")
• God gave you the best gift ever -- His Son, Jesus, so that you can be with God forever. (Romans 3:23. 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
• God thinks you are valuable. ("...you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31)

So, this week -- CELEBRATE -- even if it's not your birthday. God thinks you are worth celebrating. I do too.

Tell me how you celebrate the ways God loves you.

Becky & Me: Jumpstart video shoot (part 2)

"Don't talk when you drive away." That's what the videographer and the director told Becky and I when we drove away in the cute car. Problem was, I kept forgetting.

Jumpstart your relationship with God is a four-session Bible study geared to recharge your battery. We use a cool red Corvette for our theme. In the introduction video of both Jumpstart Bible studies, we drive away in the car. 

The intro video is an unscripted and unrehearsed two-minute attempt to introduce the study. It begins with Becky and me sitting and talking at a small bistro table. Then, we are supposed to walk to the car, get in, wave, and drive off -- all of this is to be done with no talking. 

But for some reason, I seem to forget. And what should be the quickest and easiest part of the video shoot turns out to require the most "takes." Now I have a bad reputation for being a Chatty-Cathy!

In January  we plan to videotape our third in the Jumpstart series. I PROMISE... there will be no talking--at least for the final take. (We'll see if I can keep that promise!)

P.S. If you're looking for a short Bible study to do at home or with friends, be sure to check out the free Jumpstart resources available on our website.