Thanks to all who commented on my last post and especially thanks for the prayers for my friend.  She called me on Monday and when the phone rang, my dh and I looked at each other - we were both thinking that it was her calling and it was!  She was almost in tears as she thanked me for the flowers, she was so surprised.  She emailed me with more details and she is getting better, is off the antiobiotics now and her incision is healing.  However, she said that her husband had slipped on the driveway and broken his ankle in two places!  (She also said, "No flowers for him!")  I sure hope the Lord uses this time in their lives to really reveal Himself to them.  They are in their early 60's.  My prayers for them will definitely continue!

Now, I've been tagged by Babean and I'm unsure of the name of the tag but here goes:

1. What is your school's name and why?

--- Would it shock you to know that our school has no name? We’ve played around with a few names but none have sounded right. So, since we are not required to name our school, we haven’t.

2. How is your weather today?

--- It actually got up to 83 degrees here today! Clear and blue skies! The wind was warm and we were actually feeling like summer! Who knows how long it will last so I’m enjoying it all I can!.

3. What steals your joy?

--- Worry. Worry is a long-standing family tradition that I’ve inherited. A cycle that is hard to break. For me, I now realize that my worrying stems from my desperate need to control a situation - usually one that I have NO control over whatsoever. Worry can completely steal the joy out of something that I might otherwise like doing. When I find myself obsessing about something and worrying over it, I try to give it to God, who really DOES control everything. It also helps to pray for others besides myself and then my focus is shifted.

4. Name 5 blessings you've received this week.

--- 1. The Lord woke me up at 3:00 a.m. (dh was working) just so I could see the lunar eclipse a couple of nights ago. Awesome! And I never would have gotten up on my own!

--- 2. My husband, my sweetheart, has always been a blessing but I can think of some especially sweet things he said to me this week. Thanks for making me feel special!

--- 3. My kids are my daily blessings if I make sure to stop and listen. I’m not the world’s best cook but a few days ago, my middle son said, “Mom, you may not be a chef, but no one can beat your cooking.” High praise!

--- 4. The sweet phone call I received from my friend who just had surgery. (See above.)

--- 5. My friends here on HSB and at blogspot. (Here’s where you all say awwwwww!) Your comments mean so much - your encouragement, your prayers, your humor, just saying hi. Means so much to me - really! Thanks!

5. Favorite scripture passage.

--- Philippians 4:6 (of course) “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

I first memorized this verse out of the Living Bible, which goes, “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for your answers.” The LB version certainly spoke to my 13 year old heart, when I first read the verse. It is my life verse, the one I cling to.

6. Who in the Bible do you think you are most like?

---I can’t answer this. I just don’t know. There are times I long to be at the foot of Jesus like Mary and other times I stumble around like, I don’t know, an Israelite lost in the wilderness. I’m definitely NOT Martha. Maybe Timothy, who learned about God from his mom and grandmother. I always feel like a student, always something new to learn spiritually. There you have it, I guess I did answer it somewhat!

7. The passage of scripture you last read was?

--- 1 Peter 1:3 “Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us a new birth and a hope that is alive. It is alive because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.”

8. Have you ever praised God for something weird?

--- Of course. We all have! The first thing that came to mind (since #7 mentions birth) was the hospital birthing stool that I used when my first two kids were born. An awesome thing, for me anyway. My daughter’s birth was too quick, it was really weird to give birth in a hospital bed! Oooh, did I just reveal more than you wanted to know? Sorry! Let’s move on …

9. If you were making a greeting card to God, what would it say?

--- Thank you - written about a million times. And, of course, I would send along the biggest bouquet of flowers every created!

10. What is the best miracle that God has performed in your life, or your favorite answered prayer?

--- This is so predictable but here it is - I honestly thought I was destined to be alone, that I would never marry or meet someone who would truly love me. After a long-term relationship that left me feeling unlovable, after lots of guys who either “wanted to just be friends” or were basically users, God dropped Todd into my life. The first time I prayed for a future husband was at the same time Todd became a believer in Jesus. It took about 2 years before we met and about 3 months before we dated but I knew I would marry him the day before our first date took place. Todd is my favorite answer to prayer.  When I was a child, my mother was told that I might not have children therefore I never expected to be expecting - so, my kids are my 3 miracles!

11. What is the most fun thing you have done lately?

--- My nice neighbor across the street had a garage sale 1-1/2 weeks ago and we had so much fun there, we went back twice! I REALLY love to shop but usually only get to buy groceries (we are NOT rich!) So, a good garage sale with nice people and great deals on good, quality items was a lot of fun.

12. How did you choose your screen name?

--- Have you ever seen “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara? Maureen plays an Irish woman with a quick temper named “Mary Kate”. We love that movie.  I am Irish and quick-tempered so now my husband “calls me Kate”.  Think of it as a combination of Broadway's "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Call me Ishmael", the first line of "Moby Dick". 

Now, I‘m supposed to tag 5 others but I‘m going to wimp out and open this tag to whomever would like to do it. I have always balked at writing assignments which is why it takes me awhile to answer a tag. I‘m such a rebel! But I would love to hear your answers. Who‘s game? Let me know if you are going to answer this tag!