Being a small business steward, it is very easy to get nervous when we have an especially slow day or week. But, if I pay attention, I can see the blessings of encouragement that God sends my way. Sunday was a perfect example.
I had met a young couple from my church on Saturday at a group dinner. I had seen them before, but didn't know them. I saw and greeted them at church on Sunday and met their children. I looked down at their 3-year-old and said hello and he lifted his arms up to me. I picked him and and we became instant friends! What a blessing!
Another blessing came when a 13-year-old young lady came up to me and said "Thank you for opening your store". I have known her for several years and she has been to the store and she always asks me how it is going. This was different, however. She just gave me that little encouraging nugget to carry me through the day and into Monday.
If we pay attention, we will realize how he shows us in even the little way that He loves us.
All real estate is local. Yet the national media tends to overlook this fact in their coverage of the real estate industry. It is a "Buyer's Market"...what does that essentially mean to you? Basically, it means there are great deals for buyers. Does that mean it is a bad market for a seller, and you should not be selling a home right now? Not necessarily! Through 2005 Atlanta experienced a very active Seller’s market, and locally we saw increased home values; our present Buyer’s Market is predicted to remain in effect through 2010. If you have a home to sell right now, take heart. Homes are selling. I like to tell my clients that we are in a "
Price War and a Beauty Pageant"...it's the homes that look great and are priced competitively which are selling!
Currently, Buyers and Sellers each have a perception of the market. Let’s look at them--
SELLER PERCEPTION:We don’t want to sell our home in a down market and lose equity.
TRUTH: The Atlanta market is not near as bad as other markets. We are #5 on the list of the BEST markets in the U.S. It is true that your home in Atlanta is not appreciating as much as it was 2 or 3 years ago, but in most areas, your home is still holding steady. Another way to look at this is…if you don’t make as much money when selling your home, you will still SAVE that money when it comes to purchasing a home.
BUYER PERCEPTION:We don’t want to buy a home when the market is down, because we will lose equity if it continues to fall.
TRUTH: You won’t know what the bottom is until it goes up. The current market is a
perfect market to find a great deal on YOUR terms! Now is a great time to INVEST in real estate.
I have just returned from a wonderful weekend in Highlands, North Carolina. It's one of my favorite places to go for a weekend get-away and my sweet husband planned this trip to celebrate my birthday which is coming up this week. (However, I think the award for the best birthday gift has to go to my Mom for keeping up with both kids and both dogs all weekend!)
What better place to get away for a tranquil weekend than the mountains? But I have to admit that the first thing Mike and I did when we got to our cabin was pop open our laptops. After about 10 minutes of silence (except for the typing and mouse-clicking) we happened to glance at one another over our screens and we both just started laughing when he said "Wow...this feels just like home!"
Isn't it amazing how difficult it is to "disconnect" in this day and age? When Mike and I started going to Highlands on our honeymoon almost 13 years ago we didn't even have cell phones!
Understanding that we needed to unplug, but being the web-geeks we are, we decided that once (ish) a day would be sufficient to check on work and email. Until then, the computers would just have to wait! On the second day we were there, I was emailing several people including Janet Huffman from "A Cup of The Word" Christian bookstore when I mentioned to her that we were in NC for the weekend on vacation. Her very next email simply said "Disconnect and 'Be Still'....". It was amazing how she hit the nail on the head with what we had been struggling with the day before.
I think God must have known that we needed to "disconnect" because as it happens, our cabin was the only place in Highlands where there was no cell phone signal! Then it rained on Saturday and Sunday so there was nothing to do but relax.......and it was wonderful!
On our way home today I found myself humming the song that our church choir sang this morning while I was gone. (It's one of my favorites, so I was bummed when I found out I wouldn't be there to sing it with them.) It's an arrangement of "You Raise Me Up" with "Be Still My Soul."
As we were entering the congested traffic of I-85 and were re-introduced to the hub-bub of the city, I thought about the words from both of these songs and I couldn't help but smile.....I think God intended for me to meditate on these words rather than sing them this morning: "Be Still My Soul".........."You raise me up so I can stand on mountains."
We want you to find out just how good the food at Entree Vous tastes, so this Saturday we will have samples available of our entrees, desserts and sides. In addition to our tasty samples, we are bringing out the ever popular prize wheel. Buy three entrees and take a spin, you just might win delicious free food. We are open from 10 to 1:00, The West Cobb Entree Vous is located at the intersections of Acworth Due West and Kennesaw Due West Roads, behind the CVS and across from Due West Elementary. Call us at 675-354-5221, or check out the web site for our complete menu www.entreevous.com . See you Saturday!!!
Last weekend I realized that it was Easter already and I still had an Autumn wreath on my door! So I stopped by a store called Pomegranate on Dallas Highway to see if I could find something more "Springy."
Pomegranate is a great home decor store and they have a lot of beautiful silk flowers and greenery to choose from. I even found out while I was there that if you bring in the container you are using they will make you a complimentary arrangement with the flowers you purchase.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my container with me so I had to put it together myself. This is what I came up with and I think it's rather pretty (if I do say so myself!). Now I'm ready for Spring!
Are you a new parent, or know of one? All babies are a gift from God, even those who don't sleep through the night or cry because...well just because. Don't let that bundle of joy frustrate you. There are resources to help you. One such resource lives right here in West Cobb county and will be be featured on FamilyLife Today with Dennis Rainey for 4 programs next week beginnng Monday March 31. Laura Hunter and Jennifer Walker will be discussing such topics has how to get your baby to sleep and what you should do when the baby gets sick. For more information on these programs go to http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.3204549/k.56BD/Listen_to_a_broadcast.htm
You can even schedule a consultation with Laura or Jennifer. For more information, see their website, www.momsoncall.com
Laura and Jennifer have also written a book to help parents with those first 6 months. It comes with a DVD and a swaddling blanket and sells at our store for $39.00. A great baby gift!
I am a sophomore at Georgia State University with a major in Speech, but with a passion for fashion. I hope to enlighten you with some of my thoughts on life in the BIG city!
If you or your children are (or someday) will attend college, please let them know that Advance Placement (AP) classes are worth the struggle! I just found out that I am a sophomore in college, even though this is my second semester. Thanks to the wonderful teachings at McEachern High School, I have propelled my college scholastic time forward.
As Miss Georgia State University 2008, I will be competing in Miss Georgia in June, however the time that will be put in up until that date is way more than I bargained for. I once thoughts pageants to be hokey, but winning this title and exhorting so much effort into preparations has changed my mind. This experience is pushing me to find out who I am, so that I can let 1,000's of other people know, and I think it is a position to be respected. And besides all of the "soul searching," I got around $2,000 to boot! As Miss Georgia State University, I have been given the opportunity to become involved in many activities not only downtown, but here in West Cobb as well. If you would be interested in having me at an appearance just contact bgbwatts@hotmail.com........WOW! That sounds so official!
More to come about fashion in the spring and what to do if it is chilly in the morning yet in the 70s in the afternoon.
If you have a child who will be a Kindergartener next year or a First Grader that is new to the Cobb County School System, Wednesday, April 2, 2008 is the day to register for 2008-2009. All Kindergarteners must be 5 years old before September 1 and First Graders must be 6 years old before September 1.
Report to your LOCAL school between 8:30 and 11:00am on April 2nd and bring the following documents:
1. State law requires a certificate of immunization (form#3231) and a hearing, dental and vision form (form#3300) available from physicians or the Cobb County Health Department. Certificate must be dated w/in 12 months of the first day of school.
2. A certified birth certificate (not a hospital certificate) from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics
3. Social Security Number (optional)
4. Two proofs of residency in school attendance zone
Also needed are the names and phone numbers of persons who may pick up your child if you cannot be reached, and the name and phone number of your child's doctor.
Juniors start thinking about your high school senior portraits. It will be gone before you know it! Capturing your last year before you are off to begin your new life can be exciting and fun. We make it fun it Cherry Berry Studio and Design. We have makeup artist available too! Call us to schedule your summer portrait session at 678-438-4870 or email lisa@cherryberrystudio.com.
Entree Vous has the answer. Did you know that Tuesday - Saturday you can stop by our kitchen and pick up a freshly made delicious meal ? You are going to love our food! Call us at 678-354-5221 to find out what is in the cooler today. Here are a few of our selections:
Bacon Wrapped Chicken with an Herbed Cream Cheese Stuffing - it is an Entree Vous favorite.
Chicken Piccata - An elegant Chicken entree served with a garlic, butter and lemon sauce.
Southwestern Chicken Casserole - The kids are going to love this one!
Italian Beef Kabobs - Spring is here so fire up the grill, these tasty Kabobs are great for a cook out.
Shrimp Scampi - Classic dish with no shortage of shrimp.
Mesa Verde Flank Steak - perfect for entertaining!
and more.....
We also have salads, sides and desserts. So come by soon for a home cooked meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant without the price or hassle. Visit our website at www.entreevous.com for other menu options. Entree Vous is conveniently located at the intersections of Acworth Due West and Kennesaw Due West behind the CVS and across from Due West Elementary School. We are looking forward to meeting you!
I know, I know, nobody likes going to the dentist, right? But going to my dentist is not so bad because everyone there is so nice.
My family has been going to Dr. Mark Caceres for over 10 years. Dr. Caceres and his friendly staff always make you feel so comfortable. In my opinion, they go above and beyond for their dental "family". Dr. Caceres has even called me personally when I had a dental problem and the office was closed! It's obvious that he truly cares about his patients.
Our family's dental hygenist, Lori, is so sweet and she always helps us keep track of dental health. Sheila and Karen work in the front office and they are so friendly. They are always willing to work with my schedule to make it convenient for us to come in to the office. And whenever I need to come in for anything outside of regular cleanings, they always work me in to the schedule.
Dr. Caceres offers the latest advanced technology in dentistry including cosmetic dentistry. In addition to regular preventative cleanings and check-ups they offer porcelain veneers, restoration of dental implants, whitening treatments, crowns and bridges, white fillings, root canal treatments, non-surgical gum treatment, replacement of missing teeth, nitrous oxide sedation, and sealants.
Dr. Caceres has been practicing in the West Cobb Area since 1991. After graduating with honors from Emory University, he received his dental degree from the Medical College of Georgia where he received several awards. He has also been awarded Mastership from the Georgia Academy of General Dentistry which required 1100 hours of intense study in 16 dental disciplines. You can trust Dr. Caceres!
So if you need a dentist, and you want a dentist who cares, go see Dr. Caceres....you'll be glad you did.
His dental practice is located in downtown Powder Springs on the square. Visit their website at brightandhealthysmiles.com .
Did you know that the Mable House offers a wide variety of art classes for adults and children? They have classes in pottery wheel, glass fusing, watercolor, oil, jewelry, stain glass, knitting....just to name a few!
The Mable House also offer camps for Spring Break and Summer Break. Just visit mablehouse.org for more information on how to sign up!
I just read about this story and wanted to share it. I'm so glad "Max" is going to be okay!
"A donation of new medical equipment to Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services came just in time to help save a small dog named Max.
Cobb County Animal Control recently gave the department 52 animal recovery oxygen masks purchased with donations received from county residents and organizations. On Tuesday,
March 18, units responded to a house fire off of Piedmont Road and Bells Ferry Road in northeast Cobb. Firefighters found heavy fire in the kitchen and living room area of the house with extension into the attic space.
During the blaze, firefighters found a small dog that had been overcome with smoke in the living room. They took Max out and administered oxygen using the new animal masks. The dog’s condition improved and animal control took him to an emergency veterinarian for further treatment. The veterinarian reported that Max was doing well and he was reclaimed by his owner the next day, officials said." (From cobbcounty.org)
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne,
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,
Arose victorious in the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round his pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
Text: Matthew Bridges, 1800-1894, and Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903 Music: George J. Elvey, 1816-1893
This morning after my oldest finished her soccer game (I still can't believe I'm a "Soccer Mom"!) we went to the Easter Egg Hunt at McEachern Methodist.
I've mentioned before that my youngest has special challenges, so we were excited about this year's egg hunt because it is the first time that she really seems to be excited about hunting for the eggs.
So there we were, lined up around the taped-off square of grass that had a ga-zillion eggs laid out in plain view. All the children could hardly wait to run out and grab them. Then came the count down: On your mark! Get set! GO!
It was amazing...those kids swarmed the field like a giant, giggling egg-vaccuum cleaner. But not my girl....she saw that crowd of children converge and thought "No thank you!" and ran the other way!
It was so funny! We did manage to get her to come back to the edge of the field and she grabbed about 10 eggs before they were all gone. She was so proud of those eggs too....she's been carrying them around all day long!
I have several friends who collect the Willow Tree products - Angels, Figures, Nativity set, Ornaments, Memory Boxes and Keepsake Boxes. When these friends (Buffie, Robbin and Sandra) learned I carried these items in the store, they suggested I develop a registry. In this way, their friends and family could come in and help them add to their collection without duplicating what they already have. So, who can be on this registry? Anyone! Just come into the store with the list of Willow Tree items you have. Or you can email the list to me at jchcpa@bellsouth.net. If there are items that you do not have, but you would like, send me your "wish list" and I will add that to the registry.
How does it work? When someone comes in to buy you a gift, they can simply tell us your name and we can verify that you do not already have the item, or help them with a suggestion from your wish list.
What if I get a Willow Tree and it didn't come from A Cup of The Word? Please just come in or email that information to us, and we will add it to the registry.
I am so excited about this new section! As you've seen, I love to highlight local businesses and organizations and write about things going on in West Cobb.
When I think about any local business, I think about it more from the perspective of "Who are the
people behind this?" The people behind these businesses, churches, and organizations are a vital part of our community.
This section of "mini-blogs" will give local people a place to get their message out and it will give you (the reader) a place to browse and see what is going on around town.
If you are interested in having your own blog in the "West Cobb Blogs" section, contact me for more information on how to get started....it's easy and it's free, so sign up now!
I just read about this and it is so sad. It happened at a boarding stable in Northwest Cobb County late Thursday night, just after 11 p.m.
Firefighters were called to Westbrooke Farms, a large horse stable located at 5146 Burnt Hickory Road near the Paulding County line. When firefighters arrived, a 60 by 100 foot metal barn was engulfed in flames and the roof had already collapsed.
Firefighters also said it took a while to get water on the blaze because of the distance from the nearest fire hydrant. “It’s a very large complex, way off the road, approximately 2,000 feet off Burnt Hickory Road,” said Lt. Dan Dupree with the Cobb County Fire Department.
Thankfully, they were able to keep the fire from spreading to barns nearby with more horses.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but fire investigators believe it was probably an accident.
When I posted the photograph of the Atlanta Tornado (below), I didn't know who shot the picture and I mentioned wanting to give credit to the photographer.
One of our readers sent me this information from 11Alive today.
"As an EF-2 tornado swept across downtown Atlanta, one local photographer snapped the shot of a lifetime.
Shane Durrance was on top of his condominium off Howell Mill Road when he saw the potential for a great photo of the downtown area. He took the photo just as 11Alive's Paul Ossmann was talking about tornado warnings in Atlanta.
Durrance, who is an acquaintance of Ossmann's, sent the photo to 11Alive and said he believed he'd missed catching the tornado on film. But after Ossmann reviewed the picture, he assured Durrance that he had indeed gotten the shot.
The picture shows a light-gray vertical strip of what looks like clouds connecting the cityscape to the larger clouds above. That is the actual tornado. Ossmann said it didn't look like the usual sort of funnel cloud because it was embedded in rainshowers at the time of the photograph."
The Church @ West Cobb is happy to invite the community to their Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 22 at 2:00pm. The egg hunt will take place on their recently purchased property at 1410 Corner Road (next to Echo Mill Subdivision).
A core value of the church is to be a meaningful and contributing neighbor and member in the West Cobb community and they hold many community events during the year, such as the "Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival", the "Christmas Candy Cane Hunt", and an outdoor Vacation Bible School.
This egg hunt has become an annual tradition that the children and families of the church and the community look forward to. Just like last year, there will be over 2000 eggs on the property for preschoolers and elementary children to "hunt". There will be two separate age groups to ensure that both young and older children are guaranteed to fill their baskets.
Introducing the sleek new customizable Mary Kay Compact. Fill it with all-new mineral powder eye and cheek colors. Switch to mineral highlighting or bronzing powders or pop in a sheer pressed mineral powder.....easy as that!
My friend sent this amazing photograph to me today. I don't know who took the photograph (I wish I did so I could give them credit) but this one has been making it's way around Georgia through emails.
What a vivid shot of the destructive tornado that caused so much damage in downtown Atlanta last weekend!
The Tornado that tore through Atlanta, Georgia on March 14, 2008.
Residents routinely are not sure who is soliciting in their neighborhood. Understanding this, we will gladly respond to any call from our Cobb County citizens to check these individuals out and ensure adherence to the applicable laws. While we would prefer this type of call come in on the Cobb County Communication Center's Non Emergency line at (770)499-3911, if a person does not have this telephone number handy the use of 9-1-1 is certainly acceptable.
Lastly, your entryway signage is a good thing so leave it up. Past history indicates that these signs may reduce the number of solicitors you get inside the subdivision, however, please understand that it is totally unenforceable by our Department.
It’s that time of year when we can expect to see an increase in
Door to Door Solicitations. The below information is from the Cobb County Police Department:
It's important to KNOW THE LAW regarding Door to Door Solicitations:
- A solicitor is defined as a person selling door to door any product for monetary exchange.
-Each solicitor must have with them at all times a card which identifies who they are and the Company with who they are affiliated (includes telephone numbers).
-They must have in their possession a sufficient number of cards containing this information to leave one with each resident if it is requested.
-The only acceptions to this law are two groups identified as "Religious" and "Political/Government" solicitors who routinely sell a product or ask for donations and/or contributions as part of a fund raising effort.
-The law clearly states that any resident who does not wish to receive solicitations must exhibit, in plain sight at their front door, a sign clearly stating "No Solicitation".
-Unfortunately, the law does not allow for an Association to make a blanket prohibition for an entire subdivision (i.e. Entryway signage).
Come join us for a fun and educational cooking class for kids in the Entree Vous kitchen! This month's theme is Campfire Cooking and we will be making S'more Cheesecake!
3/29/2008 - Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Call 678-354-5221 to sign up
I'd like to invite you to join me at 9:00 on the 18th for the simulcast, or feel free to click on the link below to access and/or download the simulcast after the fact - the duration will be about 5 minutes. The simulcast will give details of the upcoming Links SE Vision Banquet. People will be able to sign up for the banquet at the below link.
EVENT: Links Players Vision Banquet 2008
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 18th at 9:00pm Eastern
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)
TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW... http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=2279622
Imagine if all of a sudden you had a talent that you'd never had before? That's exactly what happened to Paige DeFreece of Powder Springs. Paige says she was never good at art before, and even dreaded art classes in school because of her inability to draw. Then one day in 2004, she says she felt the sudden urge to pick up a pencil and draw her daughter even though she had never drawn anything before......and that's when she discovered her gift.
"I seriously could not believe I could all of a sudden draw. I was so excited!! I started drawing everything - a vase of flowers, animals, even my feet!! Since then, I try my hand at everything - sculpting, painting, building, sewing. . . you name it, I've tried it. I love it all. While other women are receiving clothes and jewelry as gifts, I am begging for paints, saws, grinders, glass, wood, etc. I just got a pottery wheel and kiln for my 40th birthday and Christmas!" said Paige.
Paige describes her gift for art as a puzzle piece that had been missing, "God assembles our lives like pieces from a puzzle, providing a new piece just when we feel we have nothing. I felt so depressed
after my sister's death, and felt that God had given me this newfound ability as my own missing puzzle piece."
Paige is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and she was a licensed CPA before becoming an at-home mom in 2000. Paige and her family moved to West Cobb in 2006 and she now has an art business called Artsies.
Artsies offers completely unique art pieces that are completely customizable. Children love her paper mache creations.....dinosaurs crashing through walls and ceilings, football players bursting through a wall to catch a pass.....what child wouldn't love that? "I love to watch the expressions on children's faces
when they see some of the things that I have created," says Paige.
At Artsies.com, you can see many unique art pieces, jewelry, custom painting, personalized gifts, and even custom Halloween costumes and photo-quilts! You can reach Paige at artsies@comcast.net or call her at 678-206-7539.
Okay, I'll admit something to you all that is actually quite embarrassing.....I love watching ABC's "The Bachelor." I know, I know, it's cheesy and corny and totally shameful, but I just can't help myself!
Last night ABC aired a show called "The Bachelor, Where Are They Now?" to catch up with all the previous bachelors and bachelorettes and contestants from the show. It was interesting to see that most of them had changed very little over the years. The shallow were still shallow and the vain still vain. But some of them have gone on to live somewhat "normal" lives it seems.....so I guess there is life after reality television!
But one Georgia girl, DeAnna Pappas, who was rejected by last year's Bachelor is going on to be the next Bachelorette. She is a 26 year old real estate agent in Newnan, but her family lives in Woodstock, Georgia. For those of you who watch the show, you'll remember that they went on a "meet the family" date to Woodstock last year. Her family was really great, but they
are from Georgia so we know they're good people!
At the beginning of last season, DeAnna wasn't one of my favorites....but she grew on me through the course of the show and I ended up rooting for her in the end. Then Brad (last year's bachelor) wimped out and didn't pick either one of the finalists. I felt so bad for DeAnna!
I think DeAnna Pappas will make a great Bachelorette. She's spunky and honest and she says what she thinks....and she says it with a nice Southern drawl. It's going to be fun watching her on "The Bachelorette" this summer, that is if I haven't kicked this embarrassing "Bachelor" habit by then!
As much as I hate sitting in traffic, my car is kind of like my little personal sanctuary. My car is a little motorized extension of me. Some of my good is reflected in my car; e.g. the uplifting c.d.’s I listen to and the big duffle bag full of my t-ball team’s equipment. There is a hidden place in my car that reflects a not so great side of me. It’s the space under my seat.
One of my challenges is a junk food addiction. I mean, I know it’s bad for me. I know eating nutritionally empty junk may even shorten my life, etc… but, at this point, it’s still a struggle for me to choose right. It’s a part of me I’m not proud of. So, when I’ve yet again made that poor eating choice, the evidence usually gets stuffed under my seat, where hopefully nobody will see.
There is a dumpster in our office complex which has become a symbol of hope to me. Every so often I pull my car over next to it and take a few minutes to reach under my seat and empty my trash. I throw away the empty milk shake cups, the empty package of nutter butters, and the moon pie wrappers. It feels good to have that place cleaned out. And I am strengthened by the hope of progress going forward. I am, after all, a work in progress and I am learning to make better and better choices.
Church is intended to be that dumpster. It’s the place where you can come and learn how to throw away the “under the seat” stuff of your soul. It’s where hope and strength to move forward can be found. It’s where each work in progress can continue to learn to make the better and better choices. It offers the peace of a clean space under your seat and the joy of a fresh start. Maybe it’s time to pull your soul over to the dumpster.
My husband is addicted to weather and watching radar....especially when there are storms. I appreciate his addiction, however, when there are storms because he is always the one tracking them in the middle of the night so I can sleep.
Early this morning, my husband woke me up to tell me about the huge storms that were on the way. After the damage from the tornado in downtown Atlanta last night we weren't taking any chances (I still can't believe downtown Atlanta was hit!). He wanted me to help get the kids and dogs and go down to the basement.
Of course, the storm this morning missed us in West Cobb and it didn't last very long. But when it was all over I couldn't help remember other storms and tornadoes I've seen.
I remember when I was a Senior in high school and worked at the Ace Hardware in Austell. A tornado came through one Friday evening that Spring and the next day at the hardware store almost everyone that came in bought tarps and chain-saws to clean up the damage.
The very next year, in March of 1991, an F3 tornado devastated the same area of Cobb. I know some people who had just finished repairs on their homes from the year before and then were hit again!
The 1991 tornado just missed my Grandmother's home and my aunt and uncle's home which was across the street. But it totally destroyed Ewing Road Baptist Church......a church my Grandfather had built and where my other Grandfather had formerly been pastor. Thankfully, no one was killed in these tornadoes.
In November, 1992 Cobb was hit yet again by devastating F3 and F4 tornadoes that injured 153 and left 6 dead in Cobb and Putnam counties. I don't remember as much about these tornadoes because I was away at college at the time.
In April, 1998 Cobb was hit again by a deadly tornado in Marietta. I was living in Gainesville, Georgia at that time and had just lived through the horrible surprise tornado that had killed 14 in Hall County in March of that year. My husband had left early that morning before the storm and he said something had compelled him to go into the nursery to pray over our 8 month old daughter. Later, I awoke to sirens in the distance and the power was out, it was such a scary time, especially because all of my family was here in Cobb and they couldn't get in touch with me to see if we were okay.. Several families in our church at the time lost loved ones and many more lost their homes....it was a terrible disaster for the town.
But I want to end with a more light-hearted "tornado" story. After we moved back to West Cobb in the fall of 1998, we bought a house in a small, friendly neighborhood. My friend who lived across the street was from England and was terrified of tornadoes because she had never experienced them in Great Brittain. One day there was a Tornado Warning and she called me and asked if she could come over because she was so frightened and didn't know what to do. We didn't have a basement at the time (I still can't believe we lived through that Gainesville Tornado and bought a house without a basement!) so me, my daughter and my friend huddled in the hall bathroom downstairs with the radio.
We were still sitting there when my husband came home from work. He opened the door and said to us "What in the world are yall doing in here??" We told him about the tornadoes and he started laughing and said that despite what the radio was saying about tornadoes seen in the area, the sun was out and all the neighbors were out on the street talking with each other......no bad weather in sight. Needless to say, we felt a little foolish! But it 's better to be safe than sorry, right?
Last weekend we had such crazy weather with tornadoes Friday night and snow Saturday morning. Because of the cold and snow, Cobb County had to cancel the annual Egg Hunt at Jim R. Miller Park. However, local community organizations and churches have collaborated with the Parks and Rec department to sponsor mini egg hunts in each community.
The egg hunts are for ages 3-12 and there will be arts & crafts, inflatable’s, Mad Hatter Contests and much more at various sites. Participants will also receive candy eggs and goodie bags. You can find out more by contacting the individual recreation centers listed below.
Fair Oaks Recreation Center 1465 West Booth Road, Marietta
770-528-4333
Nighttime Egg Hunt (Bring your flash lights)
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 6–8 pm
Cosponsor: Partners for Changes (Fair Oaks Community Leadership)
Fullers Recreation Center 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta
770-509-2737
Location: East Cobb Park
Date: Saturday, March 15
Time: 2–4 p.m.
South Cobb Recreation Center
875 Sixth Flags Dr., Austell
770-819-3240
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m. (ages 6-8)
5:30-6:30 p.m. (ages 9-12)
Cosponsor: Michael Grant Boys & Girls Club
Ward Recreation Center
4845 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs
770-528-8885
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 5 p.m. 3 years and younger
5:30 p.m. 4 & 5 years old
6 p.m. 6 & 7 years old
6:30 p.m. 8 and older
*Special Population Hunt will be held the Ward Rec. Center.
Ron Anderson Recreation Center
(The hunt will be held at the Crown of Life Baptist Church)
3030 Old Villa Rica Road, Powder Springs
770-439-4611
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: 1– 3 p.m.
My oldest daughter will soon be singing in the school talent show and of course that meant that she needed a new outfit. So yesterday we made our way to Limited Too at The Avenue. (I had a 25% off coupon!).
I didn't even know they were running their "Too Bucks" campaign so I was pleasantly surprised when the greeter told us that they were actually doing DOUBLE "Too Bucks!"
You may be thinking "What in the world is a 'Too Buck'?"....and if you are then you probably don't have a young daughter or have never even heard of Limited Too. But you may, however, know
someone who could benefit from this very important Limited Too jargon - so pay attention! A "Too Buck" is basically a coupon. For every $50 you spend now, you get a "Too Buck" for a later date. Each "Too Buck" gives you $25 off of every $50 purchase when it's redeemed (it's like a 1/2 off sale). So yesterday I got two of these "Too Bucks" for every $50 I spent!
Don't you wish gas stations had "Too Bucks"?
Limited Too is running the campaign through March 23rd and then you can redeem the "Too Bucks" between March 24 - April 13.The sales rep said that they didn't have set dates for the double rewards and they were just going to run it until the manager said to stop.
Of course, my husband hates these deals because it's just another motivator for future shopping.....but he's crazy, no woman needs
motivation to shop!
As a parent of a child with special needs, I am so excited about the new ball field and playground in Acworth. How wonderful that Acworth is doing something that is so needed and so special for these children and their families!
This Saturday, March 15th, Kaboom! and Home Depot are building a special playground that will be inclusive for everyone, accomodating children with special needs and people of all abilities.
Everyone is invited to attend the KaBOOM! Build Day located at the Acworth Sports Complex and Future Special Needs Field, 4000 South Main St., Acworth, GA 30101. The kickoff will be at 8:30am and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30pm. The best time to view the playground under construction will be between 11:00am-1:00pm.
McEachern UMC has been a part of Powder Springs history for over 150 years and they are still going strong.
The mission of the church is to "Love God. Love Neighbor. Make Disciples." and they are doing just that. Through varied worship services, bible study, community outreach, missions, student ministries, Fine Arts, pre-school and MMO, and Upward sports, McEachern Methodist is still a vital part of our West Cobb community today.
My family and I have been attending McEachern UMC for 3 years. We started going for probably the least "Spiritual" reason there is. We have a child with special challenges and when we were looking for a church, we always had to worry about leaving her in the nursery. Then we found out that McEachern has a hired (not volunteer) nursery staff that is consistent every week. What an awesome ministry this is! It made it so much easier for us to visit the worship services because we knew that our daughter would be with the same people every week and they were trained and competent and we wouldn't have to explain our situation every week to a new person.
We might have come to McEachern because of their great nursery staff, but we have stayed because of the great people. It is a wonderful place with people that truly care about each other, and they care about serving God through serving the people of our community.
Dr. Jim Higgins, Senior Pastor, came to McEachern in August of 2007 after serving our country in Iraq. He preaches at the 3 traditional services on Sundays (8:15, 9:30, and 11:00). You can hear some of his great sermons on the McEachern UMC website. There is also a contemporary worship service on Sundays at 11:00 in the Christian Life Center (gym) led by Allen Richburg, Evangelism Pastor.
There are so many opportunites for worship, fellowship, bible study, and service at McEachern Memorial United Methodist church. As it says on their home page, "
McEachern has a place for everyone - young or old, male or female, married, single or single again, Black, White, Asian, Hispanic; you name it! We want to model on Earth what Heaven will be like; all people working and living in love and praising our God revealed to us through Jesus Christ."
I'm a musician and I sing in the choir on Sundays at church. So yesterday morning our small ensemble was scheduled to sing at the 8:15 service. I got up, got dressed, and was out the door at 7:55....I was actually on time for a change!
Then on the way there the clock on my car dash caught my eye....9:00!!! Then it struck me that Daylight Savings Time had occurred and I had failed to "Spring Forward" with the rest of the world.
I assumed my husband had set the dash clock on Saturday....but then again maybe he didn't. Did that mean it was really 10:00? I glanced at my cell phone and it still said 8:00......at that point I was REALLY confused!
I ended up calling my husband (who had stayed home with the kids for the early service) and found out that it was, indeed, 9:00. I had missed the 8:15 service. But, hey, at least I was early for the 9:30 service!
I didn't feel TOO bad, however, when I found out that only 2 people showed up and even the director was late because of the time change. Obviously I'm not the only person in West Cobb that forgot to set my clock forward.
However, I did really enjoy the extra daylight last night.....we used the extra hour to go on a family walk because the weather was so beautiful.
Do you have any funny time-change stories? Share them in the comments section!
My husband works for a missions agency called Adventures in Missions (AIM). The director of AIM, Seth Barnes, is a long time friend of ours and he has an awesome blog at www.sethbarnes.com.
This week I was reading his blog and came across this title "God and Southern Women" and I literally laughed out loud. His point in the article, however, really made me think. Many Southern women (women in general) have deeply rooted, even cultural issues with how other people "see" us. It made me think to myself, what is more important....how other people see me or how God sees me? The answer should be obvious, but do my actions support that?
Seth writes:
Here is what I love about Southern women:
They tend to be hospitable.
They tend to enjoy people.
They sure can cook.
(Seth obviously hasn't eaten at our house much!)
Here are some things that trouble me about Southern women:
They tend to skate on the surface of things.
They tend to be cliquish.
They tend to spend an inordinate amount of time on their looks and wardrobe.
"If you feel yourself starting to get offended, please relax. I'm talking about people that remind you of Paris Hilton in their superficiality. They're more interested in church as a social club than they are in helping widows and orphans. They want to be noticed, but don't notice what is on God's heart."
He goes on to tell about one of the AIM missionaries, Ericka Bennett, who was a beauty queen and gave it all up to work in the mission field in Swaziland and India. What an awesome, inspiring story! I know that most of us can't drop everything to go do missions like Ericka did, but if we have that same attitude there is so much we can accomplish for others right here in our hometown.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has denounced the appeals court ruling that would not allow California parents to homeschool their children unless they have teaching credentials. He promised to support changing the law if it was necessary in order for parents to retain the freedom of homeschooling children.
"Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education," Schwarzenegger said. "This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts, and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."
Go Arnold!!! I hope this will put an end to this decision, but it IS California we're talking about. I'm sure they'll be up to another crazy stunt before too long.
I have a friend in Orange County who does not homeschool her children but she has many friends that do. She told me last night that her husband has always wanted to move to Georgia (I don't blame him!) and after this latest news she's starting to think it would be smart just to get out of California altogether.
Many of you may have read today that a California Court of Appeal has declared it illegal to homeschool children in that State unless the parent is a certified teacher.
Now, I have to tell you...I am a certified teacher and I don't know if I could homeschool my children! But we are very fortunate to have a wonderful school system here in Cobb County and many great, affordable private schools to choose from as well. If I lived in a different area (such as California) then I would probably feel differently about homeschooling my children. But California is trying to take that freedom away from parents.
I found out today that there is a petition that anyone in the country can sign asking the State of California to de-publish the Court of Appeals opinion.
The Egg Hunt 2008, scheduled to take place at Jim Miller Park on Saturday, March 8, has been
cancelled out of concern for Saturday's weather forecast. The Egg Hunt will be rescheduled for a later date.
Yes, I guess you could say it was inevitable. I live in the suburbs, have children, and drive a mini-van. But there was something missing that kept my life from being a complete stereotype......soccer!
My oldest just started playing with an Upward Soccer Team last week. I've actually tried to get her to play in the past because she is very athletic, but she has never shown interest until her friend that lives next door started playing. Last week they kicked the ball around outside and she told me that evening at dinner that she had "fallen in love" with soccer. Oh well.....at least it's soccer and not boys!
For all of you other soccer moms and dads out there, I wanted to let you know about the great soccer package at Dick's Sporting Goods in Kennesaw (770-281-0200). The package includes a pair of cleats, a ball, shinguards, socks, and a mesh bag all for $39.99. I thought that was a great deal!
Now I'm headed out to the garage to put my soccer magnet on the back of my van!
***By the way, the lady in the picture is not me.....but she looks pretty happy about being a soccer mom, doesn't she?
I went to a baby shower last weekend and they served this DELICIOUS dish. It is kind of a caserole type thing and it is so yummy.
I haven't tried to make it at home yet, but it doesn't look like it would be all that difficult ........now if I could just figure out where to get cubed chicken! (Yes, I am THAT ignorant about cooking!)
Chicken Spectacular 3 cups cubed chicken
1 package Uncle Ben’s Long Grain Wild Rice (Cook as directed)
1 small jar of pimentos
1 cup mayo
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 small can of sliced water chestnuts
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can French style beans (cut and drained)
Mix all ingredients. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes in covered casserole.
Serves 12
They call it the Twice Blessed Consignment Sale because it only happens twice a year and all the proceeds go towards children's ministries.
This is a fabulous sale, there are all kinds of great clothes, shoes, toys, baby furniture and baby items. I always find great things every time I go to this sale.
The Twice Blessed Consignment Sale starts today at at 5:00 until 9:00pm. Friday hours are 9:30am-6:00pm. On Saturday the hours are 9:00am-1:00pm and many items are marked 1/2 off!
It's located in Oaks Hall on the McEachern UMC Campus (on the Macland Road side).
Those of you who have read my Dorito Chicken article know that I am not what you call a great cook! I am always looking for new ways to feed my family without having to spend too much time in the kitchen. That's why I am so glad that I discovered Entree Vous at The Shoppes at Due West!
Entrees Vous is different than other meal prep places because they cater to the individual customer's needs. There are no minimum orders and they will even do 1/2 orders. You can order your food at www.entreesvous.com or by calling 678-354-5221. You can then either come in to assemble the meals or have them assemble the meals for you. Or you can just drop in like I did to see what is in the
refrigerator for fresh take and bake, no order necessary...it's easy to just grab it and go!
With entrees like "Pesto Parmesan Chicken", "Asian Baked Tilapia", "Honey Gingered Pork Chops" and sides like "Three Cheese Bliss Rosemary Potatoes" you can't go wrong! Entrees Vous is also doing a special meal for Easter that includes a Bone-in Ham, glazed and spiral cut with 2 sides and a dessert.
While I was there, I grabbed an entree called "Coq Au Vin". It sounded yummy.....chicken marinated in red wine sauce and mushrooms and garlic. The big question was "Would the KIDS eat it???" Well, they ate it and loved it! I will definitely be getting more meals from Entree Vous!
You always know what you're getting at Entrees Vous; they use only fresh ingredients and fresh herbs. They have a working oven and stove so they do sauces and such from scratch. Because they have the stove, they are also able to sear some of the meat to lock in flavor and moisture which makes for tastier recipes.
While the coorporate headquarters are in Lexington, Kentucky, Debbie Jennings is the owner/operator of the West Cobb Entree Vous. Debbie has a background in Business, Human Resources and Accounting. She is originally from the Midwest, but her husband's job brought her family to Georgia. She was a stay-at-home mother and
she says, "People think that means you’ve got all kinds of time to go grocery shopping, research recipes, cook, etc. But even stay-at-home moms need help sometimes." So she decided to open Entrees Vous to help other people that needed convenient, easy, healthy alternatives to cooking every night. Whether it's stay-at-home moms, working moms, dads, or empty nesters, Entrees Vous gives people more time to spend with their families.
Debbie has some help in the kitchen from Entrees Vous Kitchen Manager, Jennifer Reece. Kelley Long is the
marketing Director and she also organizes children's cooking classes. They will also organize parties if a group of people want to come and do the meal prep as a party, which sounds like a lot of fun!
Entrees Vous gives back to the community as well. They have been involved with fundraisers for several local churches, schools and charitable organizations. They also work closely with the Cobb Center for Family Resources and have donated meals for the center.
Entrees Vous is open Tuesdays through Fridays from10:00-6:00 and Saturdays from 10:00-3:00, they are closed on Sundays. They will stay open until 7:00 in the Spring and Summer. Sessions for meal assembly are on Wednesday and Saturday. Entrees vous is located in The Shoppes's at Due West Pavilion, 3960 Mary Eliza Trace, Suite 600, Marietta, GA, 30064.
I’ve been hearing a lot lately about something called the Daniel Fast. Many people use this particular fast as a dieting method, but it really is about relying on God rather than your desires.
The Daniel Fast is based on the first chapter of Daniel in the Bible. Daniel did not want to eat King Nebuchadnezzar's royal foods and he challenged the king. He said if after 10 days of not eating the choice royal foods and wines he didn’t look better than the young men that were eating the royal foods then they could do with him as they wished. Guess what? After the 10 days, his skin was clearer and he looked healthier and God continued opening doors for Daniel.
The Daniel Fast is not a complete fast, it basically means giving up meats, dairy, sugar, fried foods, soda, etc. and relying on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is up to individuals to decide what foods to eat or not eat. Many people do the fast for 10 days, but some do it longer.
Seth Barnes, director of Adventures in Missions, talks about his experience with the Daniel fast in his blog. “Actually, the longer I go without foods I am used to, the less I want them. At first I wanted them all the time and thought about how long 30 days was.” He goes on to say, “But the longer I go without them the more I can grasp at how much of a want they are versus a need. Also, I find that the indulgences don't always fulfill me in the way I had hoped for in the first place. The only thing that can truly fulfill me is an active relationship with God.”
I’ve been considering trying the Daniel Fast because it seems like an attainable goal; I mean 10 days isn’t really that long. And the health benefits make sense as well.
Just last week, I decided to forgo Diet Coke for a few days. I refer to Diet Coke as “the sauce” because I rely on the stuff so much, LOL! But after a few days I found that I didn’t want it as much and my skin did look better. If I can give up Diet Coke, even for a few days, then I guess I can pretty much do anything! Maybe I’m ready to try the Daniel Fast.
Amy Price, WestCobbLife.com Developer 
A Cup of The Word Christian Bookstore, Janet Huffman
Cherry Berry Studio, Fine Art Portraits
Benny's Bear Factory, "Stuff, Fluff, Dress 'n Love"
Casy Walker, Miss Georgia State University
Entree Vous West Cobb, Delicious and convenient meal preparations, and Fresh "Take and Bake"
Dr. Jim Higgins, Senior Pastor of McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church, Powder Springs
Kelli Phillips Real Estate, "Welcoming you home..."
Mark Caceres, DMD, MAGD. Dr. Caceres has a cosmetic dental practice in Powder Springs
Martha Joyce, Independent Sales Director for Mary Kay
The Daily Grind Coffee House and Cafe, "Coffee and a whole lot more!"
The Mable House Arts Center and Amphitheatre
Tom Gray, Pastor of The Church @ West Cobb and
I have just returned from a wonderful weekend in Highlands, North Carolina. It's one of my favorite places to go for a weekend get-away and my sweet husband planned this trip to celebrate my birthday which is coming up this week. (However, I think the award for the best birthday gift has to go to my Mom for keeping up with both kids and both dogs all weekend!)
Last weekend I realized that it was Easter already and I still had an Autumn wreath on my door! So I stopped by a store called Pomegranate on Dallas Highway to see if I could find something more "Springy." 
I know, I know, nobody likes going to the dentist, right? But going to my dentist is not so bad because everyone there is so nice. 
Dr. Caceres offers the latest advanced technology in dentistry including cosmetic dentistry. In addition to regular preventative cleanings and check-ups they offer porcelain veneers, restoration of dental implants, whitening treatments, crowns and bridges, white fillings, root canal treatments, non-surgical gum treatment, replacement of missing teeth, nitrous oxide sedation, and sealants.
So if you need a dentist, and you want a dentist who cares, go see Dr. Caceres....you'll be glad you did.
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne, 
The Church @ West Cobb is happy to invite the community to their Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 22 at 2:00pm. The egg hunt will take place on their recently purchased property at 1410 Corner Road (next to Echo Mill Subdivision). 
It’s that time of year when we can expect to see an increase in
Imagine if all of a sudden you had a talent that you'd never had before? That's exactly what happened to Paige DeFreece of Powder Springs. Paige says she was never good at art before, and even dreaded art classes in school because of her inability to draw. Then one day in 2004, she says she felt the sudden urge to pick up a pencil and draw her daughter even though she had never drawn anything before......and that's when she discovered her gift. 
"I seriously could not believe I could all of a sudden draw. I was so excited!! I started drawing everything - a vase of flowers, animals, even my feet!! Since then, I try my hand at everything - sculpting, painting, building, sewing. . . you name it, I've tried it. I love it all. While other women are receiving clothes and jewelry as gifts, I am begging for paints, saws, grinders, glass, wood, etc. I just got a pottery wheel and kiln for my 40th birthday and Christmas!" said Paige.
after my sister's death, and felt that God had given me this newfound ability as my own missing puzzle piece."
when they see some of the things that I have created," says Paige.
At Artsies.com, you can see many unique art pieces, jewelry, custom painting, personalized gifts, and even custom Halloween costumes and photo-quilts! You can reach Paige at 
Okay, I'll admit something to you all that is actually quite embarrassing.....I love watching ABC's "The Bachelor." I know, I know, it's cheesy and corny and totally shameful, but I just can't help myself! 
As much as I hate sitting in traffic, my car is kind of like my little personal sanctuary. My car is a little motorized extension of me. Some of my good is reflected in my car; e.g. the uplifting c.d.’s I listen to and the big duffle bag full of my t-ball team’s equipment. There is a hidden place in my car that reflects a not so great side of me. It’s the space under my seat.
Of course, the storm this morning missed us in West Cobb and it didn't last very long. But when it was all over I couldn't help remember other storms and tornadoes I've seen.
Last weekend we had such crazy weather with tornadoes Friday night and snow Saturday morning. Because of the cold and snow, Cobb County had to cancel the annual Egg Hunt at Jim R. Miller Park. However, local community organizations and churches have collaborated with the Parks and Rec department to sponsor mini egg hunts in each community.
My oldest daughter will soon be singing in the school talent show and of course that meant that she needed a new outfit. So yesterday we made our way to Limited Too at The Avenue. (I had a 25% off coupon!). 
McEachern UMC has been a part of Powder Springs history for over 150 years and they are still going strong.
I'm a musician and I sing in the choir on Sundays at church. So yesterday morning our small ensemble was scheduled to sing at the 8:15 service. I got up, got dressed, and was out the door at 7:55....I was actually on time for a change!
My husband works for a missions agency called Adventures in Missions (AIM). The director of AIM, Seth Barnes, is a long time friend of ours and he has an awesome blog at 
Yes, I guess you could say it was inevitable. I live in the suburbs, have children, and drive a mini-van. But there was something missing that kept my life from being a complete stereotype......soccer! 
They call it the Twice Blessed Consignment Sale because it only happens twice a year and all the proceeds go towards children's ministries. 
Those of you who have read my 
refrigerator for fresh take and bake, no order necessary...it's easy to just grab it and go!
While I was there, I grabbed an entree called "Coq Au Vin". It sounded yummy.....chicken marinated in red wine sauce and mushrooms and garlic. The big question was "Would the KIDS eat it???" Well, they ate it and loved it! I will definitely be getting more meals from Entree Vous!
she says, "People think that means you’ve got all kinds of time to go grocery shopping, research recipes, cook, etc. But even stay-at-home moms need help sometimes." So she decided to open Entrees Vous to help other people that needed convenient, easy, healthy alternatives to cooking every night. Whether it's stay-at-home moms, working moms, dads, or empty nesters, Entrees Vous gives people more time to spend with their families.
Entrees Vous gives back to the community as well. They have been involved with fundraisers for several local churches, schools and charitable organizations. They also work closely with the Cobb Center for Family Resources and have donated meals for the center. 
I’ve been hearing a lot lately about something called the Daniel Fast. Many people use this particular fast as a dieting method, but it really is about relying on God rather than your desires.