RANDOM JUNK

This is a "dump" post. One reason is to let you know that I am still alive and kicking. I hope to get on a regular, or at least more consistent, posting schedule.

So, let's see.

My anniversary was this past Monday. You knew that. 18 years....that's a lot. :)

Last night, my oldest went to spend the night with his best friend. The other 3 spent the night with grandparents while hubby and I went to a hotel for the night. Every summer, we take a weekend trip to some far-away place. Then, we take a night for just ourselves and stay the night somewhere. We ate good food at some dives...but they were all like 5 star dives. VERY good!

The big news, and most fun, is that I got a tattoo. I really did!

I had been told that it would hurt because of the placement....the foot. I was nervous, to say the least. I can handle pain, but I don't want to....I mean, who does? A round fellow named Caesar did the deed. ^-^ We told him what I wanted....a Christian fish....they drew the design then made a stencil. They put it on my foot (as a stencil) to make sure of placement. Then, they started drilling, or needling, or whatever you call it.

I was mildly freaked, at first. The doo-dad sounded exactly like a dentist's drill. Most of you may know that I don't like the dentist. On of my hubby's best friends is a dentist. I like him, the man. But, him, the dentist? I don't have much use for. In fact, when I go in for a cleaning, our friend's staff calls MY hubby and arranges for the cleaning. I don't even know until we are about 2 blocks away that I'm going in. I will NOT drive myself. Nope. Uh-uh! No way, Jose!

It was a bit uncomfortable, but not unbearable. In fact...I'm ready for another one. You kind of get an adrenaline rush, I guess. It was thrilling! And I'm SOOO glad I got it.

Off to another topic.

School is going alright. I have already been there to help out and hope to be able to help out a lot more. It is fun being there and visiting with so many teachers we have either had (or I have worked with), but not have the "job" to focus on. Does that sound bad?

I was browsing facebook the other day. The daughter of a cousin has some "not so nice" stuff on her profile and pictures. I am disappointed...not as much in the girl, but more in her mom. I wonder if she knows. If not....SHAME ON HER! If she DOES know, then DOUBLE SHAME ON HER! I know the girl is trying to appear cool and/or mature to her friends. I guess the old-lady in me is just disappointed in her, you know? It is not cool for me to read the language or see some of the pictures.

I have several more posts that I have on a back burner. I need to get to them. My hubby and I have been busy, though. We still haven't fully recovered from being out of town and taking so many little day-trips. We have been switching bedrooms for 3 of the kids....but that involved 3 of the 4 bedrooms in the house.

The 3 older kids are at Hawaiian Falls for the day. The older 2 earned it by getting another seal for JBQ....which I still need to post on. It's coming...I promise. I am here with the younger. He wanted to go, too, but he needs man-on-man defense. That usually falls to me, but my tattoo cannot be submerged for a few weeks and needs to avoid the sun. So.....I am here, they are there.

There is some Japanese entity leaving comments on my blog. I think it's a phishing site or something, but still....quite bothersome.

I need to work on cleaning the house....at least the front bathroom, living room, dining room and kitchen. We are having my folks out for church and lunch tomorrow. We will have grilled salmon and mahi-mahi, baked potatoes, steam asparagus, heirloom tomatoes...and especially for my hubby, tiramisu....the real stuff....with the rum and everything. Personally, I don't like tiramisu, and I don't think my mother will, either. SO, I will make a coconut cream pie for us.

Considering all that I have to do, I better get busy. I have trouble working for a long time. I was sick as a dog last week. Won't go into details, but I did lose about 5 pounds. Now, the most I can eat is the equivalent to 1 kids meal and 1 appetizer each day. I ate breakfast (migas with smoked turkey) this morning about 10:30. I only ate about 1/3 of my meal....and I'm STUFFED! It is almost 3:00. If that is a result from being sick, that is OK....maybe I'll lose more weight. But, I sure do miss my food. :)

Well, I should scoot. Lots to do and daylight's burnin'!

JUST STUFF

Hey, guys. Does anybody miss me when I'm not on? I haven't blogged in awhile. Sorry.....

I didn't get my Making a Happy Home Monday post up, nor did I connect to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday because my family and I were out of town one last time for the summer.

The trip was totally cool....not something that a majority of people get to do...well, not in the way we did, anyway.

My hubby is a pilot. You know that if you have read this blog for any length of time. He doesn't fly for a typical airline. He flies business jets....not for one particular person/business, but for the rich and famous who need to fly out to the Caribbean for the day or night or to North Hampton for lunch or what have you.

Whereas pilots for American get several one-way vouchers to share per year and get to fly immediate family for a nominal fee, my hubby's company allows its pilots to fly on their planes for free....wherever they may be going. AND, immediate family can join him....for free.

Some might think this isn't a very good trade off. I mean, you can't plan where you will go...you just go. You might have to rent a car back (which we did). But, we flew on a PRIVATE JET! It had first-class accommodations. It sat 8. It sat 8 VERY, VERY comfortably. Comfortable as in 4 of the seats faced the other 4. The seats can swivel out into the aisles, turn 360 degrees, and lay back (all the way). That flight, if we just bought tickets for the entire family through a similar private charter company, would have roughly cost $28,000. Not joking....we just looked. We got it for free.

THE PLANE


INSIDE THE PLANE

Some other benefits he gets are hotel points because he stays in hotels 10-16 nights per month. That works out nicely for us, as we haven't paid for a hotel for years. So this expensive trip really didn't cost us that much.

We had so much fun. It was a last minute flight. So last minute, in fact, that we only had 30 minutes to get ready and get to the airport. My hubby even forgot his clothes. LOL!

We didn't get to San Antonio until late. The next morning, we lazed around, then swam for awhile. We changed hotels and got on the Riverwalk. We did a boat tour, saw the Alamo, had a snack, then went for rest. After that, we went down to the Riverwalk and ate dinner. We swam for a little bit, then went to bed. The next morning (Monday morning) we went tubing down the Comal in New Braunfels. We went through Austin and saw some great friends. Had a few of their pretzels (YUM!), then ate at Hula Hut with Mommy Spice and Spicy Girl. (See Hunan Spice in my sidebar.

We got home LATE Monday night, or properly stated, early Tuesday morning....yesterday.

Yesterday was also the day we welcomed a new boy into our family. His name is Moose. He is really cute and has fit in nicely.

I have found out the teachers for my children and am thrilled that they will be working with my boys. I am going to be room mom for the kindergartner, but will help with my 3rd and 5th graders.

Other than that, we are slowly getting into a routine. School starts this Monday. I'm sad, but glad. I will be back in a few days. I have a lot to do. A lot to blog about. A lot of reminders about where we are in holiday planning. really, y'all....only a month before WalMart starts putting out their Christmas stuff!!! WOOHOO!!

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

The above clip is from a British comedy show called, "Keeping Up Appearances." My friend Les should like this. If I remember, she enjoys British comedy.

I haven't really planned this out, nor have I thought it out, so I apologize if this seems scattered and unorganized.

The phrase, "Keeping Up Appearances" seems to often have negative connotations. I was thinking about it while preparing for my high school reunion. I was thinking back to the people I hadn't seen in the past 20 years, as well as the people I had seen at the 10 year reunion. It is funny how an event like that makes people act. I mean, I haven't seen this one lady for YEARS! Why is important that she convince me that she can keep house better than June Cleaver, or that her hubby is at the top of his company? Why is important that I make sure that people know I WANT to stay home with my children and that I make an outstanding lemon cake?

It spreads through blogs, emails and Facebook, too. We just can't stand for someone to think that we aren't better....period.

I was talking to a good friend of mine about one such incident with a person. She asked, "Do you think that she does all that she says she does?" (Now, before anyone gets huffy, I have had this conversation with at least 2 different people concerning 2 different people. You might think you know who it is, but really, only 2 of you know of this conversation. If you don't say anything, nobody will know. ;) )

So, anyway, they asked if I thought that this woman had it all together the way she says. Um, in a word? NO! I mean first off, in one of these cases, I have seen evidence of the daily struggles, the normal life, that this woman lives....though she tries to shove that under the rug, so to speak. For the other case, just watching and listening (i.e. reading) showed cracks around the edges. In one case, you have all talk and little walk. In the other, you have some of the walk and a whole lot of stumbling.

Why do we do that? Why isn't it OK for someone to know that, despite the fact that I have cleaned off my counter for Making a Happy Home Monday once, that I have to clear off the counter about 3 times a week....and THAT is only because I don't want to do it for all 7 days.

I know of a lady who wouldn't buy generic soda because, "We just don't do that."

I mentioned my attempt at gardening once to a friend I was catching up with. I was immediately trumped by another person as to what she is about to do with the produce of her garden. I, personally, wasn't bragging. I hadn't had the chance, yet. No, I was just thrilled to death that I had something planted. But, the way she talked, you would think she had pooped her own fertilizer. LOL.....THAT is funny. But, it was hitting a bit below the belt. GET IT??? OMG'sh ROFLMBO!!!!!

OK, when is keeping up appearances good and necessary?

The answer is simple.

It is necessary, I think, when you are a Christian.

I'm not saying to keep up the wrong appearances. I'm not saying to brag about what you have going on. BUT, when you claim to be a Christian, you are being watched. Judged. Scrutinized. Everything is put under a microscope.

I'm not bitter. That is as it should be. You can't be a good witness if you only talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. I try, with God's help, to walk the way I should. It is hard in some....ok in MOST cases.

Let me give you 2 examples of what has happened to me in the past 6 weeks.

Drinking. I'm not talking about water, I'm talking about alcohol.

I don't think that drinking is a sin, per se. It depends on who you are, why you do it and how you act when done. I enjoy a few things....margaritas and Hot D@mn shots. BUT, I am on the worship team. We have been asked not to drink. Why? Because when I am in leadership and someone sees me with a drink in my hand, it doesn't necessarily set a good example. Let's take it further. If an alcoholic sees me, as a leader, with a drink in my hand, then I have mislead him/her. God tells us not to mislead our brother.

If I go somewhere and my hubby or my friend has a drink, that is fine by me. If I am in my home, with my hubby, and I choose to have a drink, that is fine. But, few of the people I come into contact with will ever see a drink in my hand. It is the appearance I choose to keep.

Another situation happened at the swimming pool at the Y. This little boy came up to me and my kids.....he looked vaguely familiar. But, remember, I was director for our church's Sunday School program (over 150 kids), teacher at a local school, and home room mom for 2 of my boys (getting to know all their classmates). I hadn't a clue where I knew him from.

Normally, when a wayward child attaches to me and mine, I would rather they just splash away and let me have my fun. I mean, really? I have to watch my own sweet angels, I'm not getting paid to watch your brat cherub while you sit and sun. I watched the boy swim off to his guardian....still wondering where I knew him from. Then I heard him say, "She was my Sunday School teacher at church."

AWWWWW......there is a certain appearance that goes with that. Hypocritical? Probably a little bit. I mean, as a Christian, I should have the same countenance in every situation. But, I am human and I often forget that people are watching and looking for certain behaviors and mess-ups.

It was a humbling moment, to be honest. It hit me that no matter what MY environment is, I need to wear my heart on my sleeve. That is the only way people can see the Jesus that I know is there.

And, that's all I've got to say about that.

THE RE-MAKEOVER

I have blogged on this a few times...if you want to read it, or need a reminder, read this here.

I am often fascinated with the freedom people assume to reinvent themselves on New Year's Day. You don't see it on the first day of the week or even the first day of the month...only on the first day of the year. It's on THAT DAY that it is totally OK to stop this, or start that...to make HUGE lifestyle changes. And nobody asks "Why?" If such a change was made on March 15, I would expect to hear an explanation. If none was offered, I would certainly speculate as to the reason.

BUT NO....tomorrow is New Year's Day and so many people, myself included, are embarking on the new...dropping the bad habits like yesterday's fish and HOPING that the good sticks and that January 1 magically makes it possible to end negativity....to turn a new leaf....to be the person that we have never managed to be...up till 2009.

With this post, I wish us all good fortune.

Without further ado, I will now share some of my goals for the new year.

BLOG:

I will continue with my Making A Happy Home Monday. I don't know how to promote it...just "word of blog," I guess. I thank the 5-7 people who DO participate. It helps me to get something done. It's meant to be easy. It's meant to be fun.

I will also continue with the Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. I am considering a "piggy-back." (Don't bother trying to figure out what I mean....LOL...I just threw that because I don't know how else to describe it. I need to talk to the authors of TMTT as I don't want to be seen as hijacking their idea.)

I also want to be sure to blog 1-3 OTHER times during the week on various things

I have made a few changes. I updated the Christmas update. I will not take that away. Christmas is coming....and in the words of Buddy the Elf...."TREAT EVERY DAY LIKE CHRISTMAS!"

Also on my book list: last year, I intended to list what I had read, what I was reading and what I wanted to read. That lasted a few months....not the 12 that you typically find in a year. :) So for this year, I am going to list the books as I read them. I don't know what is a lofty goal. I've never kept up with how much I read. I think that for this year, at least, I will set a goal of 35 books. A lot of the books will be re-reads. I will note that. The Bible will stay on the list as that is something I read throughout the year.

FACEBOOK:

Out with the old and in with the....old. I have reconnected with some old friends, whom I thought were lost. I have had some realizations about some...well, one person that I have actually blogged about. I saw that she was a friend of another "Chica." I nervously asked her to "be my friend." She accepted. I was happy...until I never got a "hello" from her. I sent a note....a LONG note, carboned to her hubby, asking about everything. I STILL haven't heard from her. SO, tomorrow, I will "de-friend" her.

That's empowering. I'm going to DE-FRIEND my former friend....acquaintance, I guess. Was she ever a friend? Out with the negativity! It's a new year.

HOME:

This is a touchy subject for me. I'm NOT a great housekeeper. I'm not even a GOOD housekeeper. My kids are clean. We don't eat nasty foods. We wear clean clothes. But, if I find out you're coming over, I have to run like a mad-woman to vacuum the front room and clean the boys' bathroom. That is something I want to improve.

That being said, I need to work on my Home Management Notebook. I might even blog about it. I have seen this on another person's blog and liked the idea. I know some of you probably won't like it, as they don't like the other lady's site. I do like some of her ideas, though she seems a bit fanatical, even by my way of thinking.

Anyway, working and blogging on my household notebook and holiday journal are things that I would like to do. Part of my notebook will have lists (I love lists) dealing with housekeeping. I don't know that I'll just put them up, but I will certainly share with those of you who want them.

MONEY:

My hubby is, this week, working on a budget (again.) Seems like we have to rework this several times a year. This rework is due to some pledges we have made to a few organizations and also because we are starting new college funds. My sweet darling took a bit of a pay cut during the summer...a sacrifice made so that he could spend more time with me and our children. A sacrifice that we agreed to...and I love him for the willingness to make it. However, it did set us a bit behind in some things.

Then, during the holidays (MY holidays) I didn't coupon. I know, I know...that is a horrible thing, but I didn't coupon AT ALL. :( That is changing this weekend! My hubby, I know, will allow plenty of money. We won't be stuck eating beans and rice 4 days a week. I won't be forced to fry up some "Spamburgers." He will leave me enough to be happy in the kitchen. My goal, though, is to NOT "need" all of my allowance. That will be really hard for me.

HEALTH:

This is really uncomfortable for me. My hubby and I need to lose weight. My hubby, being a pilot, needs to be in tip-top shape. He's not. There are some things that aren't allowed for pilots. You can't have heart problems, and be a pilot. Some meds that would help (heart meds, high blood pressure) are not allowed. He has some goals for his health. I have some goals for his health. Since this is so personal, I will not share his goals. They are not for me to share. I will say this: if I meet MY goals, his own goals will be met.

Now to me. I'm fat. One thing that helps is that I'm a bit tall (not Amazon, but well-proportioned.) I don't want to put my weight out there. I'm too embarrassed. But I will say that 40-50 pounds would be great. I have mixed feelings on HOW to do all this. My SIL has had a tummy-tuck and takes some meds that cost $350 a month. WHOA!!! Remember my budget goals? Well, there isn't room for that $350/month.

Do not think that I'm judging her for doing this. She looks GREAT! And if she can afford it....fine. I can't. I suppose that if I REALLY wanted to use this, my hubby would OK the spending. But, honestly? I know that if I cook better and cut down our portions AND use the membership to the YMCA, as it is meant to be used, that I WILL lose weight. Basically, I have to stop being lazy and change the way I cook.

CHILDREN:

There are so many things I want to do...so many things I need to do with them. I read once that a parent, on average, spends only 10 minutes of quality time with each child. I found that so sad...until I started thinking about how much quality time I spend with each child. Having 4 kids, it can be hard to fit the time in. Even saying that, I find it incredibly sad and shameful. But, it's a fact. I don't count helping with homework or studying JBQ as the quality time I think they deserve. I mean sitting and talking with them - alone - nobody having to compete for my undivided attention.

I'm sure that there are some out there who have the answers and can do all this, TWICE, in one day. But, I am not there....YET! My goal is to get there while my kids still find me beautiful, smart, and fun to be around. I ache because I'm running out of time...and there is so much I still need to teach them.

ME:

I know that all of the previous is "me" but some of my other goals don't really fit in the other categories. I NEED to grow in the Lord. (Even as I say that, I can imagine how many of you are rolling your eyes...not that you don't believe, but you think I'm a religious freak. Heh....my answer to that? You obviously need to grow, too. :) )

How am I going to do this? I don't know.....read my Bible more? Pray harder? I just know that it is so easy for me to stumble, get distracted, be lazy. I just don't do what I need to do.

Some people I know strive for perfection. That will never be reached, this side of Heaven. That is not my goal. I don't' think it is meant to be our goal. Yes, we are to be Christ-like, but He knows that perfection, right now, isn't possible. (Even talking about anything religious always upsets me because of those who often call me judgmental...I've never judged the person. I do judge the behaviour. Sorry...ADD kicking in.)

I do feel that the more "in-tune" I get with God, the more my other goals are going to fall where they need to. That being said, this is my main goal.

As I end this post, so ends the year. For some reason, I always feel a bit sad. I feel sad when a TV series ends. I feel sad when I reach the end of a book...especially if it is a series. Why? I don't understand....I really don't.

To all of you, I wish you much! I wish you better health. I wish you greater happiness. I wish you provision. But mostly, I wish you Jesus. If you know Him....great. Get to know Him more. If you don't....DO! If you don't know how, call me. I'll introduce you. If you THINK you know Him, you probably don't...fix it. Please.

I love you all. I appreciate you all. I enjoy your comments and participation. And for those who follow me...I follow you, too. Thank you for your thoughts.

Numbers 6:24-26

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

WHAT a DAY~

So last night, I was going to start on my candy....well the humidity was about 70%. That would have messed me up. (It would have made the sugar that I was turning into caramel get crystals and then not set properly.)

I didn't start my candy. :( But, I did get to spend some time with my DH. He has been gone for almost 3 weeks solid. I've missed him.

The plan for today was to make candy, do some baking, then have some outside pictures taken of the family. Great plan....we can do it......

Until we woke up to windy, cloudy and 30 degrees!!! And that was the high.

SO, we cancelled the portraits for another, WARMER, day.

Couldn't work in the kitchen for 2 reasons.

We are having new windows and siding put up. (Thank you hubby, for a wonderful Christmas gift.)

WELL....as they were busting out the windows, I noticed projectiles popping all over.

"Um....excuse me, sir. That is NOT a pecan. It appears to be a hunk of dry-wall....perfectly preserved in a sugar crystal because my millionaire didn't set right because it is raining. SO SORRY!"

And, since they WERE busting out windows, it was freakin' COLD in the house. The little boys, hubby and I were forced to flee from room to room, fully-clothed, including jackets, and keep covers around us. All we did was watch TV and play games. Fun....but the noses were runny.....except for #4. He has an issue with clothing. He doesn't like it (unless it's his soccer monster shirt or scooby-doo "swim soup.")

He ran around half-naked all day. It'll be interesting to see about tomorrow.

It kinda sucked though. Cold as it was, I watched the humidity hover around 30%. Decided to make my candies tonight. Well...humidity is up to 55%. Hmmmmmm......

So I guess I'll do the OTHER stuff that doesn't have to set and pray that the humidity is down tomorrow. The windows are in, so nothing should be flying around the house.

Bitter disappointment if I don't get all my yummies made....BITTER disappointment.

MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER

We still get it.

It is truly a small-town paper. It is printed once per week and during a good, full-of-news, week...the paper has 10 pages. Sometimes, it's only a 4 pager. Either way, the paper seems to be 75% filled with school-related news. The rest contains some local news, rarely state, never national news and short, mind-numbing blurbs telling everyone about who went on what vacation and if their rheumatism acted up or not.

Though my husband and I have been gone from our home-town since 1989, we have always received the paper - thanks to my grandparents.

For a long time now, I haven't recognized the subjects of the stories. Every now and then, I recognize the name of someone I used to babysit, but those times are getting fewer and farther between.

Most people consider writers to be professionals. They consider editors to do just that.....edit. And what does that entail? Several things....

• Does the story flow?


• Does the story make sense?


• Are there any grammatical errors?


• Is everything spelled correctly?

I personally think that these are reasonable expectations.

I mean, with computers, the holidays and all of the "educated" minds floating around my small-town of 3600, why am I baffled to see that "SANTA CLAUSE" is coming to town?

OMG!

I'm mildly freaked about this.

My 2 oldest boys are on their first deer hunt.

I'm very nervous.

I trust their father.

I trust the people who are with them (friends from high school).

That is not the issue.

The issue is having my children hold, and shoot, a gun.

I am not anti-gun.

Not at all!

In fact, Hubby and I hope to get our conceal and carry license in the near future.

But, for my babies to be to holding killers....not something that will merely put an eye out.

I mean....YIKES!

That's hard-core.

OK....I just remembered something else and NOW I'm totally freaked! (This is funny, though.)

Hubby shot his best friend (who is going on the hunt with HIS son) in the buttocks with a pellet gun (or was it a B.B. gun, my love?) at several paces.

WHY?

I asked that a few years ago.

His response?

"To see if I could."

I repeat:

OMG!

PANIC ATTACK

Mildly.

I mean, I'm not in full panic mode, but I'm almost there.

As often, this post is for me....mainly to get it all out there. I'm not looking for kudos or "are you kidding me"s? or anything like that. If you know a way to help (particularly some ideas) PLEASE leave a comment.

SO....the death of Leonard really set me back a few days. I was busy trying to keep him comfy, not fall apart, and do SOMETHING around the house....don't know how I did on anything. All I know is that today has been the longest, most horrid day. First, I keep looking for Leonard. No, I'm not in denial. I know he's gone. But for 14 1/2 years I have had another baby to take care of. I keep wanting to check the water, make sure he is warm and fed...etc.

ALSO, I've been getting sick...it is full blown today. No matter how many tears I shed, or don't shed, I'm still snotty and coughing a lot.

And finally, (this is TMI, but it's coming out) I started today......WILL THIS DAY NEVER END?

OK....back to my panicked belly-aching.

That is me, today. I'm behind on my cards. My cards are usually MAILED by TODAY! Are they? NOPE! I still have to make about 30 of them. I don't have the picture of the boys for the inside, I haven't done our newsletter yet. *sigh*

I have a photo-shoot on Monday morning. (Doesn't that sound exciting?) Really. We have a local magazine that is published monthly. They feature a person each month for their cooking section. Well, I'm going to be featured sometime soon. COOL, HUH? I think February or March. I'm pretty stoked. So I need a sitter for that Morning.

That night, I have a Bunco Christmas party. I will be late, 'cause my sitter will be just getting off work.

Tuesday, my 2nd son has a field trip. I go on all field trips. (I'll get to drive with some really fun and great friends and then we'll eat at Chipotle.) I'll have a sitter for that. Then that night, I have a cookie swap.....that I'm organizing. I have to make the cookies for that....when? I haven't figured that out.(I'll get a sitter for that, too.)

Doesn't look too bad, huh? I forgot to tell you about this Sunday.....I have a worship team Christmas party for which I need to make a side-dish. I'm thinking deviled eggs. That is from 1-3. Then at 5:30, I have another Christmas party for which I'm making pecan bars.

(Still don't have my cards done, remember?)

Then, I get to breath until the 14th. I have another Christmas party that day...don't think I have to bring food for that. (Everydaygrace? Is that true? Just show up?)

The 15th, we are having some portraits done...I hope. They are scheduled, just don't know how we'll look with the 4 boys and 2 adults. Around that, for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I'll be baking and making my candies. THAT takes me a long time. A LONG time. This was the only time, before Christmas, that my hubby is HOME. SO...in a nutshell...what do you have? The nut!

The thing I need help with is this.....I have 2 Christmas parties to plan for school. That is not an issue. This is the 3rd year I have been homeroom mom for 2 rooms. The issue is my 2nd grader....they (2nd grade) are studying Christmas around the world. They have decided to each "be" a country and bring foods traditional to that country for the party.

We are Sweden.

Sweden.

I know of meatballs, and the hard, yucky, gummy fish candies.

Do you see my problem?

Sweden.

Help would be appreciated.

Done...gotta go procrastinate.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

What do you think?

MAKING A HAPPY HOME MONDAY

Hey, y'all. It's time for another installment of Making a Happy Home Monday. I hope you will join me.

The whole point is to take one thing per week and change it to make it prettier, or more functional...whatever to make your home a bit happier. I want to inspire and encourage other women to find happiness in the little things.

If there is something you want to share, please link up with Mr. Linky. I KNOW that we are all busy, with the holidays coming and all. Just take a few pics and share with us....OK?

Well, this week, there is a new twist to this. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do. I have some I need to do, but they are big projects and I'm not quite ready for you to see it. As I was unloading some groceries, I realized I was smiling and humming. I know that weather has an effect on moods, but it was so obvious.

It is cool enough that jackets are needed. It is windy...I LOVE wind. The leaves are colored and falling AND we are in the middle of the holiday season. So, I just want to say thanks to God for making my home a happy home. He does so all the time, I just have to learn to see it and enjoy it.

WHOSE LINE IS IT, ANYWAY?

OK, y'all. I won't keep you waiting. I really figured these were easy to guess. I'm either about to date myself, or show you what a dork I really am.....heh....did I just date myself by saying, "dork?"

Here goes:

"Where you at, Desmondo?" The Fugitive
"This ain't like dustin' crops, Boy." Star Wars
"Don't ANYbody move....a fuse is out" A Christmas Story
"I can add." Apollo 13
"It's them balsams." A Christmas Story
"Negative, negative. It just impacted on the surface." Star Wars
"Fra-geel-leh" A Christmas Story
"Oh, Mr. Rhett, you is bad." Gone With the Wind
"Aw, gee." A Christmas Story
"Think me up some donuts with sprinkles, while you're thinkin'" The Fugitive
"You'll get worms!" A Christmas Story
"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings." It's a Wonderful Life
"Stupid is as stupid does, Ms. Blue." Forrest Gump
"FUDGE!" A Christmas Story
"Concentrate!" Star Wars
"May I have some more red cabbage?" A Christmas Story
"Get my pies outta the oven!" Under Siege
"Never cross a Sicilian when death is on the line." The Princess Bride
"You ever been on a real shrimp boat? No, but I've been on a real big boat." Forrest Gump
"Don't start that again." The Jungle Book
"We got cows!" Twister

Can you tell the movies that have the greatest impact? And even as I was typing this, I was thinking of others that I forgot....like "ASTEROIDS!" (Star Wars.)

So, there ya go. I'm off to finish my Thanksgiving shopping list, then on to my addresses to for my Christmas card list. Tomorrow, or Monday, I will start making my cards......all 100 of them. YIKES! :-O

"Frankly my dear...."

I don't know how it is in your family, but around here, my hubby and I use movie lines....a LOT. Sometimes, well usually, they ONLY make sense to us; not our kids and certainly not our friends.

Some of these lines fit into the situation appropriately. Sometimes, they don't, but because we always seem to know what the other is thinking, we can say the line and then laugh our butts off. A LOT of the time, we both start to say the same line at the same time.

SO, without further ado, here are some of the lines. I've worked on this list awhile, and as I have said, or heard my dh say an oft-used line, I would write it down. See if you know what movie these lines are from. I'll come back in a few days and tell you. Please, don't spoil the fun by listing the movies in the comment section.

*these might not be direct quotes, but they are close enough to identify and they are listed how we use them*

"Where you at, Desmondo?"

"This ain't like dustin' crops, Boy."

"Don't ANYbody move....a fuse is out"

"I can add."

"It's them balsams."

"Negative, negative. It just impacted on the surface."

"Fra-geel-leh"

"Oh, Mr. Rhett, you is bad."

"Aw, gee."

"Think me up some donuts with sprinkles, while you're thinkin'"

"You'll get worms!"

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings."

"Stupid is as stupid does, Ms. Blue."

"FUDGE!"

"Concentrate!"

"May I have some more red cabbage?"

"Get my pies outta the oven!"

"Never cross a Sicilian when death is on the line."

"You ever been on a real shrimp boat? No, but I've been on a real big boat."

"Don't start that again."

"We got cows!"

WELL CRAP

This, too, shall pass....it'll only take 4 years.

BUT, God is still in control and sits on the throne.

Remember, we are to pray for those in authority, even if it's an authority figure we don't agree with.

A good friend of mine shared this: she said that during her prayer time, she suddenly felt a peace about the election. She felt that God was saying, "What is the bigger miracle? That McCain get into office? Or that I change Obama to influence nations for Me?"

Wow! Isn't that something?

Remember, good things come to those who diligently seek Him. As Christians, we have nothing to fear. We all know how it will end. We, as a nation/world, have to go through tribulation of some kind. God never said, "Easy." He said, "I AM."

"I AM your healer."
"I AM your provider."
"I AM living water."
"I AM the author and the finisher."
"I AM the alpha and the omega."
"I AM the beginning and the end."

SO much more that HE IS.....ALWAYS!

Isn't that comforting? It is to me, anyway....and that is what I am reminding myself, because I am quite disappointed in the results. (to the point that a great friend called me to make sure I wasn't laid out on the ground having a fit and my hubby asked if I was going to be in a funk for the next few days.)

Like I said, I am disappointed, but at the same time, I think He is telling all Christians to lean NOT unto our own understanding, but to lean on Him.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

Did it just end? Or start? I don't remember how they word it. All I know is this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE when it gets dark early.

Crazy, I know. Most people I talk to don't like it. I can't imagine why.

Because I have a streak of strangeness, I feel like my day is actually longer when it gets dark early. My kids seem to settle a bit earlier...they don't go to sleep earlier, but they calm down earlier.

And I love to have it dark outside while I sit and do whatever. I know that I have a bit more time before bed.

I just love it!

THE ELECTION

Hey, y'all. This letter was an email forward from a friend, from a friend. I don't know the author and frankly, it doesn't really matter. The words are powerful and they are good. The author has given permission to forward this at will...if you agree, please put it on your blog.

If you are like me, you have already voted. But, it's not too late to intercede for the country and to pray about the decision that others have to make.

Dear Friends in Christ,
Are you sensing that there is something
different about this presidential election? I was telling
someone just recently that it seems like this election is
far more serious than those in the recent past. Something
in my spirit is very uneasy. In the past I have felt the
need to pray for different elections but I have never felt
so strongly the urge to pray, and pray fervently, for an
election as I do for this one. I truly believe that if the
wrong person (Obama) is elected this nation will be changed
forever. We may not be able to undo the things that will be
unleashed during an Obama presidency. My concern about an
Obama presidency is not based on politics; it is based on
righteousness. Look at any of the major moral issues
(abortion, homosexuality etc.) and you will find Obama on
the wrong side of the issue, and Palin and McCain on the
right side of the issue. What makes this so disturbing is
that the Obama team has raised far more money than
McCain/Palin and the media is unabashedly supporting Obama
with every story and headline they write. Currently
McCain/Palin is behind in the polls and is having a very
difficult time. Some in the media have suggested that the
race is over and there is little or nothing McCain can do to
change the outcome. Oh how wrong they are!

Let me briefly share a story I recently read in
2 Samuel Chapter 5. David had just become king of Israel
and the Philistines went up to wage war against him. So
David inquired of the Lord and said, 'Shall I go and
attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?'
The LORD said, 'Yes I will surely hand them over to
you.' So David went and defeated them. He said,
'As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my
enemies before me.' After suffering a great loss in the
first battle the Philistines must have thought they now knew
David defense strategy and they would be ready for him the
next time, because once more the Philistines came up to
attack David. So once again David inquired of the LORD, but
this time the Lord gave different instructions. He said to
David, 'Do not go straight up, but circle around behind
them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon
as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam
trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has
gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.'
David obeyed the Lord and was victorious.


This story holds a very important lesson for us
at this time. In most presidential elections a frontal
assault, a face-to-face battle, is what is needed. But this
is no ordinary election. McCain is trying all the normal
tactics but he is not prevailing. It seems no matter what
he says or does it is not effective. I am convinced this
election CANNOT be won using normal methods. Just as the
Lord told David to go around behind the enemy and attack him
there, so we must go around the face of this election and
wage war where the battle is truly raging...in the spiritual
realm! The fact that the normal physical methods are not
effective this time should tell us that this is a very
important spiritual battle and we can only win by using
spiritual methods.Prayer!


What about the sound of marching in the
treetops? What is that? I have read on the Internet
several accounts of fellow Christians being stirred up in
their spirits to pray. Many have been drawn into times of
deep prayer and weeping as they intercede for Palin and
McCain. Some have woke up in the middle of the night and
sensed a great need to pray, other have told of how when
they heard about Sarah Palin being chosen as VP that
something came over them and they wept and felt a need to
pray for Her and McCain. Many others are feeling the
calling and urging of the Spirit to enter into a time of
fervent prayer and fasting for Palin and McCain and our
nation. What is this unusually stirring that is occurring?
I believe it is the Sound of the Lord marching in the trees,
calling his children to act quickly to pray and fast for
Palin and McCain. Think about this, what would the marching
have sounded like to David? It may have sounded like the
rustling of leaves as when wind blows through them, but was
this time something was different and out of the ordinary.
Maybe it was like the sound of the great wind when the
Spirit moved on the day of Pentecost. Also, God's people
are referred to as Trees of Righteous in Isaiah 61. So the
sound of the Lord marching in the treetops in David's time
is a portrait of the Spirit of the Lord moving among and
stirring up his children today.

So what are we to do when we sense this
stirring of the Spirit? Two things, first we are to take it
as the sign that the Lord is moving out in front of us.
Anytime the Lord calls us to do something he goes ahead of
us to prepare the way and fight for us. When Joshua
returned from spying out Jericho the Lord gave him insight
to see that the Lord had removed the Jericho 's protection
so Israel could defeat them. When the Lord calls us into
battle he goes ahead of us, removes the enemy's
protection, and fights for us to give us the victory.
Secondly, the Lord tells us when we sense the stirring of
the Spirit we are to act quickly and join Him in the battle
(through prayer, fasting, praise and obedience)

This election is by no means lost. For God
would not be stirring up his children all across this nation
and indeed around the world, to pray, if he did not want to
give us the victory in this election. And he wants us to
join him in the battle. God will hear the cries of his
children if we will only cry out to him with fervent,
earnest, prayers for this election and this nation. If
those who are being drawn to prayer by the Spirit will
indeed enter into a time of prayer and seeking His face,
then God will have mercy on America spare us from having an
ungodly leader, I'm sure of it!

One more thought, after the last debate,
so-called 'conservative' David brooks gushed about
Obama,

'I thought Obama had the night he needed to
have. You know, through this whole 20 month marathon, I
think what struck me is how incredibly even he is. And how
frankly reassuring he is. It is like you're camping, and
you wake up one morning, and there is a mountain. And then
the next morning, there is a mountain, and there's the
next morning, there's a mountain. Obama is just the
mountain. He is just there.. He is always the same, he
doesn't hurt himself. McCain can sometimes lob a
cannonball at the mountain, but the mountain doesn't
move, and the mountain doesn't care. And so I think his
steadiness, his temperament has been the dramatic theme of
this campaign, dramatic in being undramatic. And it was on
display tonight. And the good part of the mountain is that
he is reassuring and reliable.'

I'm really glad he used the word
'mountain' to describe Obama. It caused me to remember
what Jesus said about unmovable mountains. Jesus said, I
tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard
seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to
there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for
you.'
And it only takes a little faith!
This election can only be won by going around
the face of the election and attacking the enemy where he is
vulnerable, through prayer, fasting and praise. If you hear
the sound of the Lord marching in the tree tops, if you feel
the stirring of the Spirit calling you to pray, then move
quickly into a time of prayer, for God is moving ahead of
you at that time to give us the victory. May God give us
ears to hear the marching!

Together with you in the battle,

Scott Whitley

THAT Mom

I have often threatened to be "THAT Mom."

You know who she is. You may have even been her from time to time. I'm thinking of the readers whom I know of....YOU have definitely been "THAT Mom" before.

You remember? She is the one that is in your face...well, maybe not YOURS, but whomever might need to be told to "step off." She hovers at the school....just showing up to make sure that things are done the way she thinks is right. She has no problem pushing her agenda when it comes to her child.

The problem comes in knowing when to be "THAT Mom" or when NOT to be. You see, "THAT Mom" can bring some definite good. (As long as she keeps her cool.)

Well, "THAT Mom" showed up at soccer today.

I thought I was going to have to kick her butt.

Seriously.

First off, it is just a game...the kids are under 8.

Secondly, it is a TEAM SPORT! You know the whole "Together Everyone Achieves More" saying? Well....it ain't about your kid lady.

Thirdly, I paid a decent chunk of change to have my son coached by a COACH! (Go figure.) If I wanted a blond female yelling at my son from the sideline, I would have pushed your fat-tushie out of the way and done it myself.

Finally, SHUT-UP!

Seriously!

You are driving me insane. I'm about to have to become "THAT Mom" just to make sure YOU step off.

Know when to use it, lady!

Know when to use it.

You don't use it in the face of a 7 year old child.

And you certainly don't use it in front of me!

There ain't room for 2 of us!

Have a nice day.

STUFF

I am no theologian. I haven't been to seminary. I only know what I read in the Bible and what I feel in my heart. There are certain things I KNOW will happen....I'm just not sure when. Lots of things are being said and I guess I just want to jump on the wagon and share my own thoughts. I have no doubt that this will bug some people, but I haven't (to my knowledge) made anyone mad in a bit, so.......

I thought about linking you to some specific articles, but I will let you research a bit. (Heh....I can't find what I'm looking for.) One site I like to look at every now and then is a gal on Xanga who goes by annamatrix. She looks into prophecy. I don't know if she is or considers herself to actually BE a prophetess. I think they exist, but I don't know if she is one. I do not necessarily agree with all she has to say....and I don't care for her language at all...so a disclaimer, should you look her up. She is a Messianic Jew and has said some interesting things. I don't read her all the time, but I have seen some interesting things on end-times.

Some think that Obama is the Antichrist. I don't know. Part of me....the "pre-trib" part of me....wonders if we will know for sure who the Antichrist is, or if we will just have a few "inklings" about certain people. The "mid-trib" part of me says that we WILL know. I am not ready to put money on anyone...YET. (Though Javier Solana has caught my eye.)

I do feel that Obama is totally wrong for this country, but honestly, I have a peace about it all. Keep in mind that NO MATTER WHAT....GOD IS IN CONTROL. He still answers prayers and there is a measure of protection over the saints (Christians). If you aren't comforted by this, you should be. It reminds me of the book of Judges. Israel fell into great sin and was appointed judges. It was a cycle of being away from God, being closer to God. I think that is what we, as a nation, are going through. We have to go through hard times. It is in the Bible. We will possibly go through tribulation. How much of it? We won't know until we go through it. Pray for the best, plan for the worst.

That is in the back of my mind when I stockpile. I do not have my own cattle to butcher, nor do I garden enough to can and store. But I do buy a few extra staples every now and again. There are a few trains of thought about this. I have spoken to friends....just to get their ideas on this subject.

Matthew 6:34 says: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

BUT, Proverbs 6:6-8 says: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

What do I get from those verses? I get that I, as a follower of Christ, will be taken care of and that I shouldn't needlessly worry. I also get that I should not take a lackadaisical attitude about it all. Yes, what will be will be, but I shouldn't just sit back and watch it happen. I still need to take care of my family.

So, what are we (my hubby and I) doing? Well, we are still planning our future. We are about to open up more college funds. I still coupon. We are stockpiling, but not because we may, or may not, be in the first part of the Tribulation. We stockpile because when I shop correctly, I get twice the food for my money and don't have to go to the store as often.

We are making sure that our kids are brought up in the Word. Not because we are worried about the future, but because we are supposed to do that. We are still working in JBQ, which is a great way for us to teach the Bible to our children. We are training our children in the way that they should go....planning for another 50 years....though I personally give us less than 10. BUT like I said, I am no prophet. It is just my thought.

My friends, (heh...now I sound like McCain), if you are a Christian, then you are not to fear. WE have the Blessed Hope. We know that we know that we know that Jesus is coming back and that we will be taken up, in the twinkling of an eye. These are exciting times! Remember....GOD IS IN CONTROL!

LETTER

I got this through email. I did verify this through Snopes and read Brown's response to the check. I know that there are some out there who will disagree and probably try to rip me a new one. That's OK. Those of you who DO agree...please copy and post this letter on your own blog.

*I did not correct any spelling or grammatical errors.

Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating... First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.

Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader. I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter. We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007. NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008) To beat Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:

A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

God help him.

There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law. Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years. Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?

Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 "Go and make disciples of all nations." This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you, believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a ...
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace t he White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.

Would you support a President who went to a church like that? Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside. This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church.

The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world. A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it’s a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote. O

bama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him.”

Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?

So what does all this mean for the nation? In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment. Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king.

First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 "Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." Then God says 1 Samuel 1:18 " When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

Here is what we know for sure. God is not schizophrenic He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.

Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will l be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy. I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions.

Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends. Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,

1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.
2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings, Huntley Brown

Pizza Hut Tuscani Pasta

REALLY?

Now, I haven't tried it, so I might be a bit too judgmental, a bit too soon. But do they HONESTLY expect me to believe that I can go to a nice restaurant, which appears in the commercial (judging by the linens and such) and get THIS?



But I think I'm getting THIS?

Hmmmmm.....that's gotta be some GOOD PASTA!

Join me on Mondays for "Making a Happy Home Monday."