Welcome!!!

Yesterday my husband, Mark, join the blogging world with his own devotional blog.  I am so proud of him for embracing the blogging world.  He also joined Facebook in the last couple of weeks.  He is moving up in the world.  He has lots of great devotions and insight to God's Word, and I am thankful that God is using him in this new aspect of a ministry.  Enjoy the blogging Mark!!

Time Marches On!!!

In just 14 short days, the phrase "39 and holding" will have new meaning to me.  I don't think that I will be holding on too strongly (after a while you look ridiculous).  I have dreaded this upcoming birthday all year long for some reason or another.  40 somehow seems to say old or at least something negative to me.  Then as the time approaches closer, it doesn't seem to bother me as bad.  Maybe this is because in the last 3 weeks someone thought I was around 30 or 32 (and these people were not bribed either. LOL).  Now they could have been lying, but I will take it any day of the week.  I have been told that age is only a number...and I guess that is true.  I have small goals set before me to accomplish this coming year...the year that I embrace 40 and make it the best year ever.  You might as well embrace it, because it is going to come; and I had rather face it with a good attitude than a bad one.  If you are going to turn 40, at least you don't have to look 40.  But what does 40 really look like???  I see people all the time who are probably 40 or older and they don't look it.  What is age really?  The amount of years you have spent on this earth.  I had rather people talk about what I did with my life rather than my age, and when they talk; I hope they think that I have touched other people's lives for the better.

Rocky Point vs Rocky Top!!!

For months me and our Associate Pastor's wife, Bethany, have been trash talking each other on Facebook about who is the ultimate Yahtzee champ.  We decided to have game night at their house one Saturday night.  Let me say that I call Bethany, Rocky Top, because she is from Tennessee...didn't want you confused.  I'll admit that I was a little nervous, because most of the trash talk had come from me.  LOL  I am very competitive, but not a sore loser...just a rub it in your face kind of winner.  Mark and I get pizza and off we go to Brock and Bethany's.  They have 3 adorable children, so we are not without presents to keep little ones occupied while I whip up on their parents.  Bethany already had this part figured out as well...movie and popcorn.  Dinner was delicious...pizza and her girls made some taco dip (delicious) and she had the best dessert ever.  First of all, let me say that when I came in...she had Rocky Top playing.   I was not intimidated one bit, then she brought out this University of Tennessee cup out that her head could fit in...still not intimidated.  I was here to bring Rocky Top down (trash talk still going on LOL).  Lindsey came over to play with us, and maybe to console Bethany afterwards.  I was concerned a tad on the first game when I didn't get my bonus at the top.  Then the dice rolled out of my hands like I was in Vegas.  Only I was at the Tharpe's house, and what happens there...doesn't stay there.  I walked away the Yahtzee Champion!!! Although they didn't have me a trophy handy, that is okay...I can buy one.  Rocky Top went down, but not without a good fight.  All kidding aside, we had a great time with them.  It was so much fun, that we declared we had to have monthly game night.  I promise that to beat ya every time.  LOL

 I think they brought the children out hoping to distract me or something...DIDN'T HAPPEN!!

 Deacon gives me his winning smile, but I press on to WIN!!!

 Brock tries for a Yahtzee...FAIL!!

 Bethany shakes those dice hard for a Yahtzee...NOT!!!

 Rocky Point is not intimidated by Rocky Tops tricks.

 Tallying those losing scores!!!

 My first Yahtzee of the night!!!

Another Yahtzee for the YAHTZEE QUEEN!!!

We did have the best time with The Tharpe's and with Lindsey.  We will have to do this again.  I will try not to rub it in so bad every time I win.  LOL  Thank you guys for having us over.  Thanks for the laughter and the friendship.

Servant!!

 Tonight at church, we had a Deacon Ordination Service,  This was a very special service for us.  Mark was ordained into the Gospel Ministry on November 29, 1992.  That was just 2 months after we were married and it was on his 33rd birthday.  Tonight he was ordained as a deacon at Riley's Creek Baptist Church.  We have now been married 18 years and he is 51 years old.  God has led us into a different aspect of ministry for the time being.  To be a servant and serve along side our pastor to minister to the needs of the people of our church.  We have both been honored that the congregation of RCBC elected Mark to serve in this role.  What a great honor for people to entrust this office in the church to you.  I love the fact that RCBC does the Deacon Family Ministry.  We have 16 families that were given to us to minister to, and to help with their needs.  We look forward to getting to know our families.  Most of our families go to the second service, while we go to the early service.  We look forward to helping with the growth and the needs of our church. 

 Mark and Tracey Garner, Deacon Ordination January 23, 2011 at

 Riley's Creek Baptist Church

 Jody, Felicia, Chase and Mati McPherson

 Ronnie and Melinda Horton

 Bobby and Sandra Green

Mark and Pastor Herchenhahn

The corsage that the church gave me as a deacon's wife

There were five men ordained tonight, Dannie Rivenbark was the other man.  His wife Patsy was my second grade teacher (got away before I got a photo).   I loved the prayer that our Associate Pastor, Brock offered.  It was just touching and started the water works with me.  I loved how Pastor Herchenhahn emphasised how this office was a team effort.  That is the way our ministry as Pastor has always been.  We work together to serve the people.  This truly was a touching service.  When the other deacons came to pray over Mark, they included me...that touched me.  It is nice to know people are praying for you.  May we serve the congregation of RCBC with love, compassion and always with a Christ like spirit.

Teacher of All!!

As I have talked with people over the years, there is one thing I realized.  Most had almost no parenting in their life.  No one who was their biggest fan or helped them in the failures and success' in life.  I can't imagine that, because of the way I grew up.  My mom was constantly teaching me things about life.  I remember she spent countless hours with me on how to apply make up and tricks she had learned to have really big hair (hey it was the 80's).  She never tipped toed around the facts of life talk, which meant I was way more informed (correctly informed) than some of my classmates.  I always took for granted that every mother was doing this with their daughters.  That why I was so shocked as people shared how they were cast off or ignored with their problems growing up.  My mom and dad were always my biggest cheerleaders and always told me that I could do anything that I wanted to do.  I guess because of this up bringing that I am not afraid to try anything, whether I fail or succeed.  That was their point...at least try and do your best.  When you do your best, then you are not a failure.  I can't even imagine parents not supporting their children in the activities that they do.  My dad chased a many volleyballs in our yard, and my mom sat through a game with a blood clot in her leg before going to the hospital.  My biggest moment in my growing up years where I realized just how fortunate I was, is the night that my first boyfriend broke up with me.  As mom had voiced her concerns earlier, I was sure she was happy and on cloud nine that this was over.  As I cried my heart out in our swing, she came out to me.  I braced myself to hear, "I told you so."  Instead she sat down and hugged me and joined me in crying.   When I told my friends, most said that their mom's didn't even know whether they had a boyfriend or not.  Through the years she has been a teacher of all things, and my biggest cheerleader in my endeavors.  I am proud to call her mom, and I love her. 

It Continues!!!

The snow has decided to stay around for a few days.  Cabin Fever???  Not quite sure, although I would love to get out, but I am not dying to leave or anything.  I will say that our candy stash is emptying pretty fast, and that can't be good.  I will also admit that I might be the one emptying it out....GASP!!!  I have not got a lot done in the house like I thought I would.  It is hard to clean and be in the bed sleeping at the same time.  I guess I was really exhausted and didn't know it.  The snow in our yard seems like it is waiting around on something, and goodness...I hope not for more of the white stuff.  Hoping that we will be able to get out and about tomorrow.  Costco is calling my name.  LOL  For now I am a little restless from being inside.  Our pastor challenged us Sunday to memorize bible verses, and so far I have learned 2 this week.  Not bad!!  I have enjoyed the snow, but I am ready for the sunshine.

The white stuff stays around.

The white blanket outside is pretty, but I am finally ready for it to go away.

Looks like it might be finally slowly melting.

SNOW!!

Yesterday, we were suppose to get a light dusting of snow....NOT!! 8 inches here at our house and then last night ice on top of that.  Very pretty to look at, but I don't get out in it anymore.  We just go on the porch and take pictures.  No snowman making for us.  Just enjoyed the snow from inside.  I have cooked...a lot.  We have played games, played on the computer, watched TV and slept.  I think that we really needed the sleeping part.

 At times it looked like a white out at our house.  This picture was taken after it had only been snowing about 30 minutes.

 There were apples and orange slices on the picnic table for the birds, but the snow quickly covered them up.

 Our feathered friends brave the weather for some seeds.

A beautiful cardinal comes to feed.

Maybe he is sitting on top to get a "bird's eye" view.

 I love the way the snow looks in pines.

 This is my favorite picture of the snow.  Such purity and peace when I look at this picture.

Our bird haven...the feeders, bird bath and houses.

It snowed another 3 hours after this picture was taken.

My gazing ball sporting a snow hat.

I love the snow, and don't have cabin fever.  This is good because according to the weather man, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.