When I was 16, my mother gave me a little princess ring. I thought she told me that her daddy gave it to her when she was 16, but I later found out that she bought it herself because my dad said she couldn't have it. So, she scrimped and saved until she was able to buy it for herself. I wore that ring every day until I gained weight and it would no longer fit my ring finger. I took it to Coins and Such (now Coins and Bullion) and had it cut down to fit my pinkie. Fast forward to my adult years. I was married and we had two sons. We lived in a house on a quiet street, except for the house next door. We befriended a teenager who lived in that house. They were renting the house and were always having fights over there. The young boy was always being mistreated, so my boys would ask him over to eat supper and play even though he was a few years older than they were. They had BB guns and would shoot targets in the backyard. They just happened to mention that I had a real gun - a snub-nosed 38 Smith and Wesson police special - that I kept in our bedroom. We would feed him most nights because he said his family wouldn't let him eat. I could hear them screaming at him, so we did our best to make him feel like somebody cared for him. A few times, he or his mother would come over and ask us to call the police to come break up a fight. That always made me very uncomfortable. One morning, I had left for work and my oldest son was getting ready for school. The boy came over and asked to use the phone. My son let him in and went to take a shower. The boy left, my son got his lunch money out of the jar I filled up every weekend with money for lunches and snacks for the entire week. We kept the jar beside the phone. My son locked the door and went to school. That afternoon, we noticed that our neighbors had moved out. We knew they were going to move; just not when. The boy told us that his brother had gotten out of jail and they would be moving to a trailer park on the beach. We went about our daily activities and started getting ready for bed. My husband went to bed without turning on the light in our bedroom. I followed a few minutes later and tripped over a bunch of clothes when I went to my side of the bed. I turned on the light and that's when we saw that our room had been ransacked. The curtain was almost pulled down, there were clothes all over the floor and my gun was gone. Our window was right next to their driveway, so they just blocked the view from the road with a truck while somebody climbed in our bedroom. I'm sure the reason the boy came over was so he could unlock our bedroom window. My husband called the police the next morning after I went to work. No need in losing sleep over it that night. We also noticed the jar of money was gone with four more days of lunch money in it and the only ring I had forgotten to wear the day before, my little princess ring. I had left it laying on the bathroom vanity. It was also gone. I tore that bathroom apart and even made my husband take the pea trap apart just in case it had been knocked down the drain. I dumped the cabinet drawers and searched through all the contents. It was nowhere to be found. I was heartbroken. I really loved that ring. I knew where the neighbors had moved to and told a friend at work who was in the Sheriff's Auxiliary what had happened. He set up a sting operation by getting an informer to go around in the trailer park trying to make friends with the family. He was hoping to get a glimpse of the gun, but he never really got close enough to be allowed inside. I found out that criminals actually have more rights than victims in a case like this. Even though we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what happened, the police are not allowed to go question them. That is a violation of their rights. Fast forward several more years. I was sitting in a pew at church after practice for the production "The Promise." We were to perform in a few weeks at a local Theatre. Several of us were sitting around talking and somebody mentioned they had lost something and prayed for God to bring it back to them. I said "You know, I have a little princess ring that my mother gave me when I was 16. Several years ago, it was stolen from my house. I pray that God would take it off the hand of the person who has it and bring it back to me." They all agreed and we continued practicing. I went home that day and opened the drawer in the bathroom to get my makeup remover and there on top of my makeup was my little princess ring! I know you are probably saying it was there all the time, but I had dumped that drawer out several times since the ring was stolen. And why would it show up the same day we prayed if God hadn't answered my prayer? I believe that ring miraculously disappeared off someone's finger and reappeared in that drawer because God answers prayers and wanted to give me the desires of my heart. Now, it's the day my youngest son is about to get married. The bride needs "something borrowed", so I grab my little princess ring and carry it with me to the church. She was so excited to get to wear my ring. I really don't think she wanted to give it back, but she did. After she gave it back, I put it away for safe keeping and never wore it again. About a month ago, the Lord started prompting me to give the ring to my daughter-in-love. She was my first daughter by marriage and her daughter was my first granddaughter. It just seemed right to pass it on to her, but I couldn't remember where I stashed it for safe keeping. I looked and couldn't find it, so I dismissed the thought. A couple of weekends ago, my daughter-in-love wanted some "Mama time." It was Saturday morning and we were calling each other to see how far along we were progressing in getting us all ready for me to go pick them up and go to the Waffle House for breakfast. It takes at least an hour for my shower and hair fixing. I have to blow it dry and then straighten unless I just want to walk out the door with wet, curly hair. Before putting on my makeup, I started rearranging my jewelry basket. Right on the bottom of the basket was a little black pouch with the princess ring in it. So, I grabbed it and put it in my purse and then put my makeup on and headed to their house. During our very filling breakfast, I pulled out the ring and gave it to her. She was so excited. She had always loved that ring and it was special because she wore it on her wedding day. With her starting a new venture as a Mary Kay Consultant, I believe the Lord just wanted to bless her in some way and this seemed the perfect way to do it. That's why it appeared once again when I really wasn't searching for it. She called me a couple of nights later and asked me if this was the ring with the miracle story behind it. My son had told her the story of the ring and she thought that made it even more special. She told me she couldn't stop looking at the new ring on her finger and what it means; that we have a very special bond between us - brought together by A Loving Father God. She is not my daughter-in-law; she is my first daughter from a different mother, and she is now wearing a most amazing ring.

Thanks to Kim Stone

I had the most wonderful time this past Saturday hanging out with my photographer friend, Kim Stone of KimStonePhotography.com

I met Kim two and a half years ago on Facebook and saw the beautiful photographs that she had taken. I became a Friend. Her Water Shots photos captivated my interest. I decided to do something that I am not comfortable doing - being the model in front of the camera. I'm always the one behind the camera taking all the photos. It's been a hobby since I got my first Brownie camera in the 5th grade. That was a long time ago!

My 40th wedding anniversary was approaching and I thought water shots would be a great surprise for my husband. I contacted Kim and we set a date. I almost backed out; I was so nervous.

To show you how good God is, my sister-in-law "just happened" to be visiting from South Carolina and offered to go with me. I worked that morning and could not keep my mind on my work. All I could think about was the photo shoot and all the emotions I was experiencing - nervous, excited, scared, excited, terrified.... I picked up Robbie and we headed to Look and Tremble Rapids on the Chipola River.

The minute I met Kim, I knew I had found a friend. She made me feel so at ease. It took a couple of minutes for all the tension to melt away, then I began to have fun. When I was a teenager, I had dreamed of being a model; but I was way too short. I was plenty skinny enough, but was vertically challenged. That day with Kim, for just a few minutes, I realized my dream. And, I had a blast! We laughed and she got some really great shots. So many, in fact, that it was hard to choose just one to have enlarged and framed for my husband - so I chose two!

The hardest part for me was hiding the photos from my husband for three months before our anniversary. I don't like keeping secrets from him. I had told him Robbie and I were going to see a professional photographer work (which was true). I came home wet and told him I fell while walking in the water (also true). Ask Kim. My fall was hilarious. No, I didn't get hurt. I was trying to sit, missed the rock and sat right down in a hole. The whole idea behind water shots is to start out dry and work your way into getting completely wet. I was just getting there faster than planned.

On December 11, 2010, I presented Vance with the photos. He loved them! He hung one in the living room and one in our bedroom. For Christmas, I made him a calendar out of 12 more. He took it and hung it up at his job. He liked it so well that he brought it home the beginning of this year for me to put up for safe-keeping, because he didn't want to throw it away.

Since the day of the photo shoot, Kim and I have kept in touch on Facebook. Last week, I decided to buy a new camera and Kim suggested the best camera for what I had to spend - the Canon EOS Rebel 60d. I purchased it on Thursday and posted on Facebook that I was itching to get out Saturday and shoot. Kim contacted me and asked if I wanted to go to St. Joe and shoot a wedding with her. She didn't have to ask twice! I was so excited to get to see her at work and play with my new toy.

Saturday morning, I could hardly contain myself. I couldn't wait to get to St. Joe. Kim brought along a young lady named Camilla to help her. I was just there to play. It was great having three photographers working together. When I shoot a wedding, I'm usually the only photographer and it is so stressful. Believe me, I do a lot of praying. Having three people, we had everything covered.

Since I had just gotten my camera and hadn't had a chance to read the whole book or take any photos, it was such a blessing having someone like Kim to share her knowledge and show me how to work some of the settings.

Following Kim around was a dream come true. She is such a professional, but is so nice to others who want to take pictures. She is willing to help you get a shot and she is so inventive with her shots. And, she is so much fun! Her "through-the-window" shot rocked! I got a couple, but they were not nearly as good as hers. The best one is posted above. One reason, I don't know how to set the camera yet so that the window and the couple behind the window are both in focus. I will study up on that and try it out at a later date. (Hmmmm, now to find a door with a window to shoot through so I can practice.)

All in all, I had a fantastic time playing with Kim Stone on Saturday. I want to thank her for allowing me to tag along and try out my new camera and for showing me things I didn't know about it. She's a joy to be around and I was truly blessed being able to watch her work. And thank you, Kim, for suggesting the 60d. It is a great camera! I know I'm going to like it.

Last Day Off - Back to Work Tuesday

It sure has been fun being off for a few days. But, I don't think I could make a habit of it. I really love my job and the people I work with. It has been fun spending time with the family, but tomorrow is back to normal once again.

My youngest son woke up this morning and could not turn his neck. If you are reading this and pray, please pray for his healing. When I went over to check on him tonight, he was sitting up in bed and that's the only way he can get even a little relief.

My oldest son has been trying to figure out a way to come over and pick up a free car from our house. Didn't know it was going to be such a hardship to give away a car. With all government offices closed today, that just added to the problem.

Watching Joel Osteen on TBN and he's talking about speaking positive things over our lives. When we speak negative things, we get negative results. When we speak positive things, we get positive things. For those of you who are following my blog because we are in the same weight-loss group, start speaking over yourself that you are going to lose weight, you will get healthy and fit, you will get out of debt this year. Quit speaking death over yourself with words like: I will never lose this weight. I will never get healthy. I will never get these bills paid, etc. Remember that life and death are in the power of the tongue. You become what your words say you are.

Okay, gonna cut this short tonight since I have to go to work tomorrow and it's 11:30. I want to watch Perry Stone and then get to bed.

May God bless and keep you all.