Animal Kingdom at Disney World

HEY, HEY!!!

Steve and I have returned home and had a weekend of rest from our vacation to Disney World (DW)!  Now to get back in the swing of real world stuff, but I’m going to show and tell about our trip first!  Since we moved to Alabama, our drive has increased substantially so we left on Friday at lunch, stopped at Steve’s parents’ home, then arrived in Orlando late Saturday afternoon.  We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge DVC Resort this time.  We discovered it last December and just love it!  It is a great place for families but the older empty-nesters can enjoy it too!  The Wilderness Lodge lobby is awesome and like all the resorts pretty busy; however, the DVC lobby is much quieter with lovely

nooks to sink into comfy chairs or rockers—all the fireplaces were going even in the summer!  The first night Steve and I found our favorite rockers in front of the main fireplace empty.  We spent a delightful evening with his laptop and my knitting.  I worked on one of two baby sweaters that must be completed by the middle of September.  (That is 2013, not 2014, babies don’t wait that long.)  A young teenager walked past us while we were just relaxing with the comment, “really?  Come on, this is Disney!”  Yes, we actually sat in rockers in front of the fireplace at Disney World!   

We spent a delightful first full day at Animal Kingdom followed by dinner at Boma’s in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Animal Kingdom Park is one of my very favorites!  There is no way to see and do everything in one day for us (remember, we are not 20-something anymore.)  But we do have favorites that are just must-do then we try to visit something different every trip.  

Flight of Wonder never ceases to amaze me!  I’ve had pet parrots for years but am always amazed what the DW researchers are able to prompt these magnificent creatures to during several shows a day!  Guano Joe, the lost tour guide, adds so much humor and lightheartedness!  I’ve been going regularly to Animal Kingdom for eleven years and the same “Joe” has been there every time! Conserving these beautiful creature is the main message during this show and I think Disney and their wonderful cast members convey it beautifully without beating me over the head with it! 

 This guy was flying to retrieve another guest’s dollar bill.  He got the dollar and flew close enough to hit my head as he passed me. He also returned the money to the guest later in the show.

   

Disney is so full of fantasy and wonder, but when Hope, the bald eagle, made her entrance on the arm of a cast member, emotion and pride for my country swelled in my heart!  She is so beautiful and is a great reminder of the great country I call home. 

Kilimanjaro Safari is another “not to be missed” activity for me!  The weather for this ride was perfect, not too hot or humid to ride in the open-sided trucks. That’s our driver guide in the rearview mirror.  Our driver was very informative about all the animals in

throughout the ride.  This is one of those rides where there is no control on how many animals you might actually see, but we were so fortunate to even see the lions napping on the huge rocks.

Look closely for the two lionesses! They are really camouflaged on those rocks!

This big African bull elephant blocked the road for three trucks during our ride.  After several minutes one of the drivers radioed for the inspectors to come
and shoo him across the road.  He was enjoying his day in the sunshine! These trees are often said to be “upside down” trees since it appears their roots are growing out of the ground! (Borrowed this picture from http://sharingflorida.com since my driver went too fast for me and my phone camera!)

Just around the corner from the big bull elephant, this little baby was cooling himself with his ears. Mom wasn't far away either!

You don’t have to ride the safari to see wildlife, just walk through the park! Every nook and cranny holds some wonderful plant, bird, animal or fish! 

This little 

Meerkat was sitting alone in the very large habitat he shares with his friends and family.  I have read before that one little guy has guard duty while the rest of the colony sleeps.  Wonder if they draw straws?

Waterfalls are just one of many beautiful settings throughout Animal Kingdom.  This one is in the gorilla habitat as you cross the bridge going back to the trail.

Speaking of gorillas, the gorilla family was out and active for our Animal Kingdom day!  This little fellow was sitting quietly at the large viewing window, but as the crowd left the pavillon, he kind of followed along until we all got to the bridge.  He climbed trees then proceeded to swing back and forth to the delight of his audience, until Mama left.  Like a small child, when he couldn't see Mama, he was done being big stuff and went looking for her!

The tigers in the Asian habitat were done watching the humans and had settled

down for the afternoon siesta!  No, they are not dead, they were breathing!  I looked to make sure!  :)

We revisited the Festival of the Lion King and could not figure out why we had skipped it the last 5 years! 

The music, costumes and dancing is just phenomenal!  I wasn’t able to take pictures during this show since flash wasn’t allowed but have snagged a couple pictures and links for you to visit.  Don’t miss this show!  Here’s a YouTube link of the show.  Wish I had thought to take the video camera with me!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCCRsPiKzBw

As I mentioned before, we ended our day over at Animal Kingdom Lodge with dinner at Boma, which offers South African cuisine and stimulates your taste buds to the point of no return! Although it is buffet style, the food is excellent!  Just be careful how many trips you make back to the buffet!  The buffet is sectioned off by courses so it is easy to navigate back for more of a favorite food!  The serving staff is just friendly and warm!  I was wearing my “Celebrating” badge since I just completed my graduate work the week before our trip.  My server noticed and after bringing our coffee, she came back with a dessert plate bearing three delicious truffles: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.  Boma’s has been one of our favorite restaurants for the last eleven years; however, this year, they went up in price a bit which makes a meal a bit pricey for us to be able to be able to keep it as a regular visit.  After tip, our dinner for two was about $90. 

After dinner, Steve and I needed to walk off some of the many calories we had consumed!

 The horseshoe curved veranda is inspired by the traditional African Kraal and is designed to view four different savannas filled with over 200 different animals and birds, including giraffe and zebra!  While the animals enjoyed their evening meal, lots of us enjoyed leaning against the fence watching the animals!

Over the next few days, I'll share Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom!

Till next time!

 Just had to show you the Tree of Life!

With a Happy Heart, 

Leigh Anne

Have you ever just had “the can’t help-its?”  My grandmother (I think) coined this term when we grandkids just couldn’t stick with any activity and just kind of floated around the house.  Mind you, I believe this is the same type of behavior my grands exhibit when they state, “I’m bored.”  I learned early not to say out loud that I was bored!  My daddy had a treatment for boredom that one never wanted!  He would find some task or chore around the house or barn for the bored kid to complete!  Anyway, that has been my attitude this morning.  I have a TUIT list as long as my arm but to settle into doing the weekly chores and crossing off those tuit list tasks has just not happened this morning.  I don’t want to tackle that list so much that I’m now blogging about the “can’t help-its”.  Pretty bad, huh? 

I’ve been at odds with myself the last couple weeks because God has been moving me around again.  I was settling into a new job and it ended very abruptly.  I will say if one considers that not accepting a pastorship of a church due to conflicting doctrinal beliefs, then this termination is all my fault. In my defense, when I accepted the administrator’s position, the employers were asked if the church and the assisted living positions were connected.  I was assured a couple times that the two jobs were totally separate; however within about an hour of declining the pastorship, I was dismissed from my administrator’s position for this reason: “based on the lack of mutual agreement as to the terms of employment”.  Keep in mind, I had been working there full-time for a month prior.  One would have thought two full pay-periods collected would have been mutual agreement as to the terms of employment, but alas, in an At-will state, that is not the case.  Sorry for the expose’ but wanted to explain why I, who am never bored or have the “can’t help-its”, am at odds just a bit.   

So…. It appears that God is moving me around again, so I have more time to work on this blog, my writing, and more motivational speaking.  When God closes one door, He always has another one ready to open. 

This past weekend, Steve and I went bumming around and found the cutest little antique/craft mall with a tea room in the front entrance.  It never ceases to amaze me where one might find creative inspiration!  I haven’t been in the creative mode in quite a while but after browsing through the booths, the creative juices started to flow and my sense of Entrepreneurship rose!  I saw some wonderful pieces that just inspired me to no end and I plan to take inspiration from my adventure this weekend and open up my Esty store!  I have been a member with the idea of the Etsy store for years, but have never even put the first item in it.  Time is coming!

This is an extra little post for me this week.  I’ll post a more serious post later this week with the essential oil and herb introduction in it!  If you decide you want to explore some on your own with essential oils, please visit DoTerra Essential Oil website: http://www.mydoterra.com/leighannehaygood/essentialDefinition.html

For ordering ease:  http://mydoterra.com/leighannehaygood

After writing, I did manage to do some laundry, knitting, and gave one of the dogs a much needed haircut!  Maybe Daddy's treatment for boredom works for the "can't help its" too!  Till next time...,

Hugs & Smiles!

                                                                      Leigh Anne

EMPs, Preppers, and other stuff....

I’ve been reading, listening and thinking… a very dangerous combination for me, I know! However, I listened to One Second After by William Forstchen, Ph.D. (2009). This book has so intrigued me and frightened me of the real possibility of an Electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) attack on our country. Although this book is a work of fiction, it is based on very real facts and scenarios. Mr. Forstchen states that EMP “is a rather unusual and frightening by-product when a nuclear bomb is detonated above the earth’s atmosphere” (Forstchen, 2008). There is no fallout from this particular nuclear attack since it is detonated up in the air; however, it just kills all electrical and electronic equipment. No more post-1965 Cars, TV, computers, bank systems, electrical appliances, and the list goes on…. This type of attack would shut down life as we in this country know it and set us back to lifestyles of the 1700s. This has really sparked quite a bit of conversation in our household about getting back to basics. The preppers have received a lot of smirks and eye-rolling as the “voices of doom”; however, there is a lot to consider if and when our country is attacked with EMP.

 Access to medicines, food sources, heat, and cooking will be gone except for non-electrical and non-electronic means. This brings me back to getting back to the basics. I am terrible at goal setting as you well know; however, I realize the importance of setting some very definite goals to prepare for such a disaster. First, educating ourselves in holistic medicines, such as essential oils, herbal remedies and teas; growing our own food and learning to recognize the safety and uses of native plants are the basic beginning of being prepared. I have long had a subtle interest in herbal and home remedies but this very real threat to life as we know it, has me really beginning to study and explore the holistic methods of old. Information must also be printed out in hardcopy since all information stored online or other means of electronic storage will be totally inaccessible should an EMP occur. The preppers really are thinking ahead when we consider that even our water supply would be gone unless we lived close to a lake, stream, river or ocean. Storing water is another smart idea since it is so crucial to our survival. I know this sounds very negative but it is a critical concern for all of us. We need to prepare ourselves for natural and manmade disasters by being as educated and aware of current happenings even though they are not in our own city, county or even country. I promise this blog is not going to turn into a political sounding board or the voice of doom but I do want all of us to be aware and prepared of what is a very real threat. We have to be able to keep life stitched together no matter what happens in our world!

 So, now let’s turn to some interesting tidbits about oils and herbs, then I’ll share some stitching stuff! I want to share one herb and one essential oil every post. I set a goal back in January to blog regularly and I’m very fair behind that goal! (I’ve already admitted to being bad about goals, remember?)

 I know we have all picked dandelions and blown their seedheads to make a wish, but dandelions have very real medicinal benefits to our bodies. Dandelions (Taraxacum Officinale) is rich in potassium and a natural diuretic. It also helps in detoxification and reducing stiffness in joints. Dandelions are also known for inducing the flow of bile from the liver; making it effective in treating cirrhosis of the liver. It has also been known to reduce serum cholesterol and uric acid in the body. European herbalists use it to treat diabetes, liver disease, and anemia. Dandelions have 7,000 units of Vitamin A, much higher than a carrot. The Chinese use the dandelion seed as an antibiotic for lung infections and breast cancer (Ritchason, 1995, p.71-72).

 Throughout the United States and Canada the dandelion is considered to be a weed; however, it is quite the useful plant for culinary and medicinal purposes. The Dandelion can be used in salads, soups, wine and teas. It can even be used as a coffee substitute. The Health Extremist website has several uses listed for it. You can find a link to the website in the references below. Be sure to explore and research all the wonderful recipes and ways to utilize this very common herb. Be sure not to use dandelions that have been treated with herbicides (Lownsberry, 2009). Dandelion is not just a weed anymore.

 Next up… Essential oil! The oil I would like to discuss today is Lavender! It is not just for your grandmother either!                                      
 Lavender is so versatile! It is best known for the relaxing effect on the body; however, it can be used to clean cuts, bruises, and even skin irritations. Lavender is a calming agent. Just inhaling the scent will calm your mind, but rubbing it on your feet, temples, or wrists will provide an immediate calming effect on your body. Use it this way next time you are going into the board room, flying, or need to get some sleep. Lavender is also effective for rowdy kids who need a nap! Smooth some lavender oil on their pillows and watch them slip into restful sleep. Lavender is also effective in stopping the itch and swelling of a bee-sting or insect bite. It is also great to reduce the pain due to a minor burn.  Mixing Lavender with coconut oil makes a great massage oil that is great for that neck and scapula! Lavender is also great to use in cooking! Try adding it into lemon chicken or your honey marinade next time you grill! (DoTerra Essential Oils)

 Now for some stitching! I’ve gotten a bit excited with my organization project of our little house because I finally have some storage space dedicated to my stitching supplies and tools! Yes, most of them have been unpacked.  I'll post more on my sewing room organization later!  In the meantime, I have three things on my knitting needles and crochet hook! One is a baby jacket, that I finished the yoke on last night. The pattern for this is on Raverly.com and is a freebie! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/five-hour-baby-sweater

 The second is an entrelac scarf. I bought Entrelac by Rosemary Drysdale several years ago and had attempted it until the puppies made hay (I do mean literally!) of the pink and white project. I hadn’t thought about it much until someone shared a project on Knitting group on FB @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/23541384636/. So now there is a group of us from the FB group having a KAL (knit along) using this pattern and video:
Free Entrelac Scarf Pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/entrelac-scarf
 Free Entrelac Video Tutorial: http://verypink.com/2011/12/22/learn-to-knit-entrelac/





The third OTN (on the needles) project I have going is this cute little crochet baby owl. I’d show you pics of the work in progress but I just have completed his head and one ear; neither are stuffed yet! So for now ….

Designed by Little Muggles 

http://www.littlemuggles.com/free-patterns/baby-owl-free-pattern/ 

Lastly, I have finished Maddy's poncho and sent it off to her!  It was a free pattern but I did adjust it down to fit Maddy.  Click here link for the pattern.   

 Just a quick update on my home organization. It still isn’t! There has been some progress made but it is far from perfect! The Master’s will be finished this week so hopefully, I will be back on my goals: (1) house that is decorated, comfortable and organized; (2) Weekly menus; (3) regular blogging; (4) Writing; and (5) Being more creative! 

 Till next time!

 Hugs & Smiles, 

 Leigh Anne Haygood 

 References: 

Doterra Essential Oils (n.d.). 101 Tried and Tested Uses. Retrieved from http://mydoterra.com/leighannehaygood

Forstchen, W. (2008). “EMP 101” a basic primer & suggestions for preparedness. One second after: What is an EMP? Retrieved from http://www.onesecondafter.com/pb/wp_d10e87d9/wp_d10e87d9.html 

Health Extremist. (2013). What to do with Dandelions. Retrieved from http://www.healthextremist.com/what-to-do-with-dandelions/ 

Kew Royal Botanical Gardens (n.d.) Taraxacum officinale (dandelion). Retrieved from http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Taraxacum-officinale.htm 

Lownsberry, M. (2009). Yahoo Voices. Great Ways to Use Dandelion's as a Food Source: The Incredible Dandelion. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/great-ways-dandelions-as-food-source-3497839.html?cat=32

Ritchason, J.(1995).  The little herb encyclopedia.  Pleasant Grove, Utah:  Woodland Health Books.

2013 begins a new journey....

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

(Jas 1:22 NIV)

On a late note, I had such fun decorating the den and tree this year!  Due to life circumstances, this was the first time since 2009 we have decorated for Christmas!  The tree and mantel looked awesome!  Steve and I enjoyed celebrating our Savior’s birthday in a quiet way this year that created excitement and Christmas spirit at the same time.  We reconnected with some very dear friends over the holidays and received so many blessings from their stories since we last spoke. 

 

How’s your 2013 going so far?  I’ve gotten off to a very slooooow start!  We did the annual “honeymoon” vacation the week before Christmas, which I must say was lovely!  We spent Christmas at home, then last weekend and this weekend are the extended-family Christmases at each of our parents’ homes.  Lots of travel, not so much cleaning and de-cluttering.  In fact, I will confess the boxes are still stacked in the den.  We have managed to miss the last 2 weeks of trash pickup!  Yikes!  This past week, I’ve managed to come down with Sinusitis which involved three prescriptions with side effects consisting of nausea and dizziness.  This morning, the nausea started.  Wonderful.  I think God has ordered me to “be still” (Psalm 46:10 NIV) and “not merely listen”  (James 1:22) but do what the Word says.  Sounds so easy but is so difficult.  I’ve said for many years God will give me enough rope to tie myself up till I can’t be too busy to sit with Him, listen and then obey His Word and Will.  So today is devoted to being still, listening to His soft whisper and then acting on the instructions placed on my heart.  My first goal for 2013 is to spend more time in the armchair of my heavenly Father.  Being too busy certainly does cause me to neglect the most important relationship I have in my life.  Spending time in the Father’s chair is restful and I always come away feeling refreshed.

I totally detest New Year’s resolutions but I do need goals for my life.  Everyone needs goals!  Goals provide the foundation for work, creativity, and even fun!  Over the last several years, I’ve read several Organization self-help books.  David Allen, Neil Fiore, Peter Walsh, Sandra Felton, FlyLady, and Emilie Barnes have been my organizational resources since the early 1990s!  Scary, isn’t it?  I would like to become more organized in all areas of my life: spiritual, work, creative, and home, but feel accountability helps.  I’m going to begin my journey for 2013 to become more organized in my life areas.  I tend to be a procrastinator, a worrier, and a perfectionist.  Put all those characteristics in one body and the results equal one tired over-stressed woman.  Neil Fiore teaches that free time should be scheduled first in our calendar with all other commitments being scheduled around the free time for guilt-free fun.  While this might work in theory, I am my own worst critic and bestow enough guilt after the fun is over.  The house is still dirty; Notes for the next paper are lacking; I have client notes to type and creative time has slipped by again!  Why, I might have written the great American novel while I was walking with my husband or hitting that last thrift store.  See what I mean about dishing out the guilt?  I feel so guilty on the weekends when my overactive hubby “catches” me sitting down when he comes in from working on a project that I jump up from my chair to push something around in the kitchen.  Not restful. 

While all the previously mentioned authors have devised wonderful systems, I just can’t make them work.  I spend so much time in organizing a household control journal, or chore cards.  I could have cleaned a room in that amount of time!  Well, time to stop procrastinating… my goal is to work in one room in my house each week to organize and clean it thoroughly.  I’m not good at 15 minute increments so I need to allot a time segment of about 2 hours to really begin the project.  Since I’m working full time I’ll need to do most of my project on the weekend but only on Saturday.  Saturday also needs to contain some time allotted for fun!  I get so bogged down when fun and creativity are absent from my life completely! 

My third goal for this year is to write more.  This means I will be blogging here more (not promising a weekly blog, but that will be my goal by 2014).   I also have a couple book drafts that keep whispering my name. 

So now that I have three major goals in my life for the New Year, I’m going to stop for now; otherwise, I’ll start writing resolutions, such as losing weight, exercising more, reading a book a week, yada, yada, yada…. To be continued with my first steps towards my 2013 goals!

With a Happy Heart,

Leigh Anne Haygood

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3:13).

We never have to ask God how many times we are to forgive…. Jesus’ blood washed our sins past, present, and future… that covers a lot of sin!  We are never to stop forgiving! 

Remember to “ Live Simply,Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly,
Leave the rest to GOD....
*Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keeps You
Humble, Success keeps You Glowing,**
But Only God Keeps You Going!*”

Have a blessed day!

Leigh Anne Haygood, BS-MLDS

Life Coach

Blog: www.lahaygood.blogspot.com

haven't fallen off earth again...

Hiya!  I haven’t fallen off the earth again, but have two final psych papers due this weekend.  I’ve also been attending the Global Leadership Summit!  It is just awesome! I have just today to soak up more inspiration with God’s word then I’ll be burning up my keyboard with the last of the frantic writing on my papers (after all, school has to come first, right?).  I really should have been writing yesterday and today but felt like God would restore the hours to me since I’ve been basking in His word and resting in His love!  I honestly felt I was sitting at His feet yesterday as I received His mighty messages for me!  Here’s the link for The Global Leadership Conference so you can browse around and see what you do not want to miss next year!  Find a Live Streaming church and get a seat!  http://willowcreek.com/

I’ve been considering changing my title from Queen of Hysteria to Queen of Procrastination, but realized that title is already taken.  Off to work on papers and get ready for the last day of summit THEN... I’ll be back with a blog about the summit and various other thoughts as well! 

Remember to “Live Simply,Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly,
Leave the rest to GOD....
*Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keeps You
Humble, Success keeps You Glowing,**
But Only God Keeps You Going!*”

Have a blessed day!

Leigh Anne

Not my will, never my will, I make bad choices

I’ve been reading Oswald Chambers’ devotions for several weeks now.  His messages are somewhat deep causing me to read them at least twice but oh, what a blessing they have been! 

http://www.myutmost.org/08/0802.html

I’ve often questioned why so much of my life has been trials, tribulations, and even heartache.  Like Job’s friends, some would say all has been the result of my bad choices.  However, the Christian life is much like physical fitness training for the spirit.  God takes all my bad choices and then puts me through boot camp of the spirit to make my spirit strong and healthy.  If my life for the last 35 years had been smooth sailing, would my faith be as strong as it is?  Now, keep in mind, my faith has a crack or three in its cup but the basic design is very strong. 

Last Sunday, we visited a contemporary praise and worship nondenominational church in our new hometown.  The pastor’s name is Ross Jaeger.  His message was just awesome and touched my spirit to its very core.  I never considered that low self-esteem is a form of pride.  Neither did I ever consider that by not sharing my testimony I was being less than transparent.  God knows what I have done no matter what people know.This is my life, good, bad and ugly.  God has washed me white as snow.  Even more than that, He loves me and has forgiven me of my bad choices, which translates into disobedience, thus sin.  God has worked my bad choices for good according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).  As Oswald Chambers so eloquently put it,

God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome. The strain is the strength. If there is no strain, there is no strength. Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you will accept the strain. Immediately you face the strain, you will get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the step, and God will give you to eat of the tree of life and you will get nourishment. If you spend yourself out physically, you become exhausted; but spend yourself spiritually, and you get more strength. God never gives strength for to-morrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute. The temptation is to face difficulties from a common-sense standpoint. The saint is hilarious when he is crushed with difficulties because the thing is so ludicrously impossible to anyone but God.

Jesus tells us “"With man [that] is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Mat 19:26).  I have worked for several years to find “my place” in God’s work.  I cannot carve a place in the ministry unless God wants me there.  I have searched for the perfect job/career for me, it isn’t happening unless it is God’s will that I be in a particular position.  Sometimes, the Lord says to just sit and be still, patience and wait.  What an impossible task for this procrastinating perfectionist who wants resembles the Little Red Hen who would “just do it herself” (Galdone, 1973).

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42, NIV).

Lord, thank You for Your indwelling Spirit who is willing and able to direct me in the ways You want me to go.  May I not take You where You don't want to go.  May I not enlist You to do my will, but humbly submit to doing Yours. ----- Julie Ackerman Link, taken from Our Daily Bread devotional August 3, 2011.

Even though we have free will on this earth, God has a sovereign plan that supersedes even our plans for our lives.  If we will drink of His cup [plan] and go where He wants us to go, we will go over a smoother path than when we try to force God into our own plans.  God does NOT fit into a box even a well-made one.  When our choices take us on a detour from God’s wonderfully made plan for our lives, we must then endure trials and tribulations to teach us lessons that are much harder to learn.  But those lessons are the spiritual workout for the strengthening of our spirits and the breaking of our flesh. 

I pray the prayer that never fails for our lives ~ “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:10)

References:

Chambers, O. (1935).  My Utmost for His Highest. Grand Rapids MI:  Dodd Mead & Co.


Galdone, P. (1973). The Little Red Hen.  New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Meyers, Rick.  E-Sword Bible Software.  (2008)  New International Version.  http://www.e-sword.net                       

Keepin' all the stitches together on a wing and a prayer,

Leigh Anne

test blog by email

Testing my blogging by email.

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Leigh Anne Haygood, BS-MLDS

Life Coach

 

 Live Simply,Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly,
Leave the rest to GOD....
*Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keeps You
Humble, Success keeps You Glowing,**
But Only God Keeps You Going!*

 

 She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot.
~Mark Twain

 

 

For everything there is a season.

Time really has been flying for me. Since I last blogged, my parents, Steve and I have been to Virginia for my graduation. It was a great weekend and I wouldn’t have missed it if I had been on my deathbed. ;-)

Technically, I finished December 2009, but since graduation only comes once a year, I am a proud 2010 graduate of Liberty University. I’m even prouder that Glenn Beck gave the commencement speech. His analogy of Moses being supplied with a stick to do God’s work made me realize God gives each of us the necessary “stick” to complete the specific work He has for our lives. I’ve completed about half the work for my Master’s now. I had flatly told my family I would not be traveling to Liberty for graduation when I finish the master’s, but…..Here are a few of the multitude of pictures from graduation day.

Graduation marks a special time. The business cards are ordered. The group and individual coaching classes are planned. The agenda folders are being put together. It’s a time for me to hang my life/encouragement coaching shingle! “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Ecc 3:1). While the big events in our lives are important and bring us joy, every day we should look for the small daily blessing that will bring a smile to our face and laughter to our lips. Truly when we are having difficult times, we should remember to celebrate life daily! Our God is a joyful God!

Here’s another of my Worship Study devotionals.

Daily Celebration of Life

Every morning, I wake to the same sounds. We have chickens and we have parrots. With these guys around we do not need an alarm clock. We don’t need a clock to let us know the day is slipping into nighttime either. The chickens and the birds let us know right at sunrise the day is starting and again, about an hour before dark the chorus is repeated. We call this the Haygood celebration of life. The roosters crowing, the hens clucking and calling their chicks, the parrots calling to each other, all to let the world know they are still there.

As Christians, we should wake every morning to begin our daily celebration of our lifestyle of worship for God. We have special celebrations to honor our Lord at Christmas and Easter. We should have a daily celebration to ring in each day as we rise up our hands in song and prayer in thanksgiving for all He has done for us. My husband and I have begun a new journey at the beginning of our day that I truly hope continues for the rest of our lives. We have a little bit of morning coffee sitting in the middle of our bed. We are having a thanksgiving prayer time with the Lord over morning coffee. No requests are allowed, just thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. It has truly been amazing what a positive response we have both had in our mental and emotional outlook. Even our physical energy seems to be better. We are not focusing on the negative things in our lives first thing in the morning, only the Lord and the thanks for all He has already done.

Let us awaken in the morning in His love, and offer ourselves to His love the whole day. This means follow the will of God and live under His eyes, with Him, in Him, and for Him alone.

And when the evening comes, after a dialogue of love which never stopped in our hearts, we will fall asleep in His love.

Elisabeth of the Trinity

God tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine and that a broken spirit will sap a person’s strength. The Haygood morning thanksgiving celebration is our good medicine. We are putting worship into our lifestyle with a choice and act of will. God in turn, will draw us closer into Him for worship throughout our day. Ultimately, as we are drawn closer in, God will show us His glory. The morning thanksgiving session is putting quality in our worship walk and getting us ready for the battles of the day at the same time.

In Ephesians, we are told to put on the armor of God each day. We are to take up the whole armor of God to be able to stand against the wiles of Satan (Eph 6:11). There are benefits to starting the day with a thanksgiving celebration. One is to remind us what God has already done for us previously in the daily battle of living. The other is to sing and praise God so that we might be closer to Him in our lifestyle and see His Glory throughout the day.

A more serious side of the Queen of Hysteria…..

Hi, all unknown readers!
I honestly have no idea if anyone out there is reading my blog, but I’ve decided to share a few of my writings from classes in my undergraduate and more currently, my graduate work. Some will find these essays totally boring, some will find them thought provoking, but it’s my hope it will help hone my witness skills as well.

Yesterday was Steve’s (my dear hubby) birthday. Poor guy had to work all day so his staff could have much deserved time off so I had him a cheese cake with birthday candles waiting on him when he got home. Happy Birthday, baby!

My house projects have been on hold lately but I’ve come to the realization that the procrastination of completing my sort & toss organization and spring cleaning of our home is not only depressing and stifling but it is paralyzing as well. So even if it is only 30 minutes every day, one task will be worked on towards the completion of our home being turned into our refuge.

I’ll continue to write about daily life as well, but since I have deeper thoughts I want to introduce a more serious side to my blog as well. So without further adieu’, here’s the first devotion that I wrote in Worship Studies during undergrad.

this devotional was written May, 2009, shortly before Payton's birthday.

Love Lifted Me

“Smile… it increases your face value!” This is especially true when we as Christians are down in the mud pit. March 1 of last year, our family lost our youngest member to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The name is very appropriate since nine-month old Payton went to bed after a fun night of play with Daddy and his big sister, Madison. Our family members have been left with large holes in our hearts and a lot of “Whys?”
We will never have the answer to the question “Why?” I have spent a number of nights since Payton’s death, walking the floor, crying to God and asking “Why?” “I was worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.

“My eyes fail, looking for my God” (Psalms 69:3). As the days grew into weeks, and now the weeks are growing into months, God has been working on my heart. My grief is so very deep over this dear little grandson, but my thirst for God has overcome the anger I had over losing such a sweet grandchild.
I sat in Wednesday Bible study for the first time in 2 months since Payton’s death; my heart closed and my spirit wounded. That Sunday, I felt God’s hand on my heart. The rip in it was mending. I was able to sing the praise and worship songs, hear the message and hold God’s word close to my heart.

When we are struggling in the pit of despair, it is so important to draw near to the Lord. When we are in the deepest mire of the pit, we should praise God and be thankful for all He has done for us! Paul prayed and sang hymns to God in prison. Prison was not as comfortable as it is now in Paul’s day. Even in the depths of a Roman prison, Paul was able to sing praises and worship God. This wonderful open spirit brought a prison guard and his family to salvation (Acts 16: 25-30).

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2Co 1:3). God is a God of tenderness, mercy, and comfort. He is a God “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2Co 1:4). He will give us comfort so that we can heal, and go forward to be better witnesses for Him and to comfort those in pain and despair greater than ourselves.

As I sat listening to the music in church Sunday night, I knew I was worn out with grief, anger, and despair. As our young minister of music led the congregation through various songs, until he got to “Love Lifted Me” I was able to keep my heart and my feet still. I was determined not to show any emotion, just get through the service, which was my goal.

1. I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,

But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

o Refrain:

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me!

2. All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,

In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,

Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,

Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

o Refrain:

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me!

3. Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,

He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.

He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,

He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

o Refrain:

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me!

Before the chorus the first time, I was on my feet, feeling the grief, anger and hardness melting. When you are deep in the mire of the pit of despair, when you are in pain and distress, God is there. “…Praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving” (Psalms 69:30).

New Year goals should be made in the Spring.

Spring….you know, instead of making goals or resolutions in the dead of winter in January, we should make our goals and resolutions in the spring of the year.  What better time to make goals but as the dogwood trees, iris, and daffodils are blooming in all their glory? So, here’s my goals for the three months.  Today I am setting a deadline for myself that I will complete this list by July 1, 2010.  Although this is a tall order, it gives me a definite deadline.  I work better with deadlines so I’m putting these into effect as of today, April 5, 2010. 

·         Start each day with the Lord, prayer and Bible study

·         Read my Bible daily

·         Write something daily:  journal, blog, or book chapters

·         Order business cards & office supplies for Life Coaching

·         Make a flyer for small group for abortion

·         Finish sorting and tossing in the house

·         Clean the bird barn and set it up like Nanny’s old playhouse

·         Sort and toss the storage building

·         Sort and toss the potting shed

·         Begin the zone work each week as prescribed by FlyLady

·         Clean the yard of limbs

·         Weed the flower beds

·         Prune the shrubbery and roses

·         List books and fabric in eBay store

·         Pot little Disney plants

·         Put away all Christmas décor

·         Wash curtains

·         Make new curtains as needed in each room

 

 

I was listening to the TV spiritual channels this morning.  Joyce Meyer was speaking about letting your soul going on vacation, even though you are physically or emotionally going through hard times.  I think instead of my soul, it is really allowing my spirit to be on vacation each day.  It is so difficult to let go and let God.  What a cliché’ but what truth there is within those words.  So often we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders and we don’t have to shoulder the world or the world’s problems.  Jesus said, “…my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mat 11:30).  I am a natural worrier; just ask my children and husband.  I read a story last year that stuck with me.. 

 

A man had been told by God to take 3 rocks up to the top of the mountain.  The These rocks had been troublesome to the man and God wanted him to unload these problems. 

The Man thought what an easy task. The day is beautiful and sunny.  I’ll pull the wagon up the mountain in no time.  As he left his home, his wife gave him several of her rocks.  His son

dropped a rock or two in the wagon.  The load was a little heavier but still ok.  Man continues down the road, whistling as he walked with the wagon behind him.  His neighbor saw him with the wagon and asked him to take his two rocks to save himself a trip.  The Man agreed; after all, it was the neighborly thing to do.  As he crossed the bridge into town, he ran into the mayor and the pastor.  They both had several rocks they had been meaning to take to the top of the mountain.  Could he possibly take them with him?  The man took the rocks into his wagon and left town.  The longer he pulled, the hotter he got.  What was God thinking giving him this heavy load to carry all the way up that mountain?  Halfway up the mountain, Man stopped wiped his brow.  “Lord, why did you give me this heavy load on such a hot day?”  The Lord responded, “I only told you to carry your 3 rocks to the top of the mountain, so that they would not trouble you anymore.  You chose to pick up your wife and son’s rocks; your neighbor, the pastor and the mayor’s rocks.  The burden I asked you to carry was “easy and light.””