Sunday, December 28, 2008
It's Finally Ready!!!(well sort of)
We now have the master copy of our new CD. The copyrights are all in order (best I can tell) and the cover is ready to go. Now we are ordering the copies this next week and we start selling.... God willing. We might even have to record a second one, if this one is successful, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. It's just been an interesting project and there are things we would do differently next time, but hey it all works out in God's timing.
Ice, sleet and snow storm last night here. I have not gone outside to look at the damage, but we still have power, so that's good. I raked lots of snow off of the roof (with help from Luke). Now I have to get some more work done outside. I get cabin fever. Who would have guessed I would when you consider my job, but I do. I need to be outside doing something. Strange I know.
Everyone is still sick, although Jake is the healthiest with Jessalyn not far behind. Will is still miserable. Poor thing. He tries to feel better, but it ain't happening. What a way to spend their vacations. Just as long as they DO NOT share it with me. I do not have time to be sick.
Well, hope you have a great day. I'm going to get busy around here. I have to "de-germify" the whole house.
God bless,
dea
Ice, sleet and snow storm last night here. I have not gone outside to look at the damage, but we still have power, so that's good. I raked lots of snow off of the roof (with help from Luke). Now I have to get some more work done outside. I get cabin fever. Who would have guessed I would when you consider my job, but I do. I need to be outside doing something. Strange I know.
Everyone is still sick, although Jake is the healthiest with Jessalyn not far behind. Will is still miserable. Poor thing. He tries to feel better, but it ain't happening. What a way to spend their vacations. Just as long as they DO NOT share it with me. I do not have time to be sick.
Well, hope you have a great day. I'm going to get busy around here. I have to "de-germify" the whole house.
God bless,
dea
Friday, December 26, 2008
It's all over but the coughing and sneezing and coughing...
Christmas has come and gone... but it left in it's wake, colds for the rest of the family. Will and both kids are sneezing, coughing, snorting and hacking to no end. Poor things. I feel so bad for them and I pray that they do not share it with me! The rest of them are off work and school until the 5th. I have to work, so I do not need it.
I would love to say that Christmas Eve went off without a hitch, but it would be a lie. The first kicker was the weather...what a pain!!!!!! I am so, so tired of snow. Will says a "White Christmas" is not all it's cracked up to be and he is right. Driving around in this mess is a pain in the butticus. My mail jeep is like driving a bar of soap around the bathtub. I spend half my time throwing it into neutral so that I can stop. It gets stuck at almost every box. That means that I am stuck over 400 times per day.....what a great time that is, let me tell you.
When I finally got done almost 2 hours late, I still had to stop at Wally World for a few last minute things and most of the shopping for the party. Since I was running so late, it was a year to cheat with the food. I bought ready made frozen wings etc. Usually I would make them myself, but you know it actually turned out cheaper to buy them premade. I might do that again next year, if only because my Mom said that she really enjoyed the "turkeyaki wings". She's such a hoot! Both my parents are great people to be around, but I digress. It took me ten minutes to get the food and almost an hour in line.
I finally got home after 4:00 and church started at 6:00. It was not a pretty picture. My husband was harried and frazzled. He had worked so hard and nothing was going right. We all pitched in and prayed....it was touch and go there on whether we would be ready or not, but we made it. We did not make it to church, but we did get the open house done and put together. Due to weather and people being out of town and a few other circumstances beyond our control we had a smaller crowd, only about 20 or so, but it was very nice. Each and every person here had a special time, I think and they all have told us so. Some of them it's pretty much a large part of their Christmas, so it's all worth it.
Christmas morning Will and I got up and wrapped presents. We had not wrapped any before that due to time etc. We got er done and then had a quiet Christmas with the kids. Wrapped some more and went in to my parents for a WONDERFUL meal. My Mom makes the best turkey around. We all sat and ate and enjoyed each other and then came home and took naps. Our friend Luke and I went out and raked snow off the roof (almost 18" worth) and Jake and Luke helped me shovel the driveway, because guess what happened last night again????
Yep, you guessed it. Snow and more snow. Ice too. I am thrilled beyond belief. Now they say in the next couple of days another 6-8 inches. This will leave us with almost 3 feet on the ground. Probably more in some places. I am sooooooooooooooo happy about that. If there were longer periods between the storms it would be ok, I think, but this driving in falling snow that has not been plowed every day on the route is wearing me out. Not to mention the injuries it causes carriers when they fall on the ice in a not shoveled drive or yard. We are all exhausted. I just keep telling myself that I have less than 80 days of delivering in snow left and that in 3 months or so the weather will be much better. I just have to hold on.
Well, time to get ready to go shovel my way out of the driveway. I pray the snowplow has gone through or life could be interesting on the way to work.
Have a great day!!
dea
I would love to say that Christmas Eve went off without a hitch, but it would be a lie. The first kicker was the weather...what a pain!!!!!! I am so, so tired of snow. Will says a "White Christmas" is not all it's cracked up to be and he is right. Driving around in this mess is a pain in the butticus. My mail jeep is like driving a bar of soap around the bathtub. I spend half my time throwing it into neutral so that I can stop. It gets stuck at almost every box. That means that I am stuck over 400 times per day.....what a great time that is, let me tell you.
When I finally got done almost 2 hours late, I still had to stop at Wally World for a few last minute things and most of the shopping for the party. Since I was running so late, it was a year to cheat with the food. I bought ready made frozen wings etc. Usually I would make them myself, but you know it actually turned out cheaper to buy them premade. I might do that again next year, if only because my Mom said that she really enjoyed the "turkeyaki wings". She's such a hoot! Both my parents are great people to be around, but I digress. It took me ten minutes to get the food and almost an hour in line.
I finally got home after 4:00 and church started at 6:00. It was not a pretty picture. My husband was harried and frazzled. He had worked so hard and nothing was going right. We all pitched in and prayed....it was touch and go there on whether we would be ready or not, but we made it. We did not make it to church, but we did get the open house done and put together. Due to weather and people being out of town and a few other circumstances beyond our control we had a smaller crowd, only about 20 or so, but it was very nice. Each and every person here had a special time, I think and they all have told us so. Some of them it's pretty much a large part of their Christmas, so it's all worth it.
Christmas morning Will and I got up and wrapped presents. We had not wrapped any before that due to time etc. We got er done and then had a quiet Christmas with the kids. Wrapped some more and went in to my parents for a WONDERFUL meal. My Mom makes the best turkey around. We all sat and ate and enjoyed each other and then came home and took naps. Our friend Luke and I went out and raked snow off the roof (almost 18" worth) and Jake and Luke helped me shovel the driveway, because guess what happened last night again????
Yep, you guessed it. Snow and more snow. Ice too. I am thrilled beyond belief. Now they say in the next couple of days another 6-8 inches. This will leave us with almost 3 feet on the ground. Probably more in some places. I am sooooooooooooooo happy about that. If there were longer periods between the storms it would be ok, I think, but this driving in falling snow that has not been plowed every day on the route is wearing me out. Not to mention the injuries it causes carriers when they fall on the ice in a not shoveled drive or yard. We are all exhausted. I just keep telling myself that I have less than 80 days of delivering in snow left and that in 3 months or so the weather will be much better. I just have to hold on.
Well, time to get ready to go shovel my way out of the driveway. I pray the snowplow has gone through or life could be interesting on the way to work.
Have a great day!!
dea
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Today is the day...and boy am I in trouble!
Tonight is our open house. Boy do I have a lot of work to do. As soon as I get done blogging, I need to finalize the menu and figure out my shopping list. That sounds like a lot, but cooking for crowds is a joy for me and it's something that I'm kind of sort of good at, so that part will be fun.....but the house.
Let's just say this about the house. It's not a disaster by any means, but we are still in limbo on so many projects that nothing is where it should be. My office is in rubbermaids, the living room has a couch and a tv and that's about it, the new room is full of building materials, plumbing supplies and Christmas boxes filled with decorations that we will never have time for. Did I mention that Will had to replace about every part of the family bathroom toilet this last week and by the time that was done he was not a happy camper. Now this morning I get up and go to clean that bathroom and the toilet is plugged. I think I will deal with it before he gets up. No need to add to his stress.
So.......I have a plan. This morning before I go to work, I am going to spend 30 minutes in each room and then see what's left. Thank you God that the snow that was predicted never showed. That is a great big help.
I went to LaCrosse yesterday afternoon with my Mom. We powershopped. Well, let me just say that I powershopped. I don't think she bought a thing. Things are tight this year, so I had to consider every angle to get the most for our money. I think that I came up with something pretty cool for each of the kids and with the money that they are receiving from others for gifts, I think they will be having a great time shopping the after Christmas sales. It all works out in the end.
Today is a very heavy day for mail and then I have to get home. So I need to get busy on the house.
Everyone have a Blessed Christmas Eve and I wish you could be here. I'd cook for you!
dea
John 3:16-17
Let's just say this about the house. It's not a disaster by any means, but we are still in limbo on so many projects that nothing is where it should be. My office is in rubbermaids, the living room has a couch and a tv and that's about it, the new room is full of building materials, plumbing supplies and Christmas boxes filled with decorations that we will never have time for. Did I mention that Will had to replace about every part of the family bathroom toilet this last week and by the time that was done he was not a happy camper. Now this morning I get up and go to clean that bathroom and the toilet is plugged. I think I will deal with it before he gets up. No need to add to his stress.
So.......I have a plan. This morning before I go to work, I am going to spend 30 minutes in each room and then see what's left. Thank you God that the snow that was predicted never showed. That is a great big help.
I went to LaCrosse yesterday afternoon with my Mom. We powershopped. Well, let me just say that I powershopped. I don't think she bought a thing. Things are tight this year, so I had to consider every angle to get the most for our money. I think that I came up with something pretty cool for each of the kids and with the money that they are receiving from others for gifts, I think they will be having a great time shopping the after Christmas sales. It all works out in the end.
Today is a very heavy day for mail and then I have to get home. So I need to get busy on the house.
Everyone have a Blessed Christmas Eve and I wish you could be here. I'd cook for you!
dea
John 3:16-17
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
How completely negative did that sound?
I just reread my last blog entry.....note to self....do not write when you are tired. I know I needed a little crackers and cheese with my whine. I'll try to do better today.
Last night was our final Christmas concert of the season. It was Jake's holiday concert. They were wonderful. Jake can really concentrate on the director while he is singing and pays attention. As someone who has directed (badly) that's important and not common. For some strange reason, Jake's favorite song that they sang was "Mr. Grinch". I wonder why? It must have been the part about the stinky socks and all the gross stuff. What is it that makes that stuff facinating to a 16 year old? He did a very good job and really looked nice. I could tell that he was proud of his girl too. When she was singing he only had eyes for her. Of course she was wearing the necklace he gave her for Christmas too. She's a really, really nice girl and we like her a lot. Better yet, she likes him a lot for who he is and that's nice to see.
Jessalyn's concert was last week. She had one of the solo's and she sang it beautifully. We were really proud of her. If you knew how shy she really is, it's amazing that she can get up and sing solo's in front of huge crowds. She even sings in front of the Cranfest visitors and at any time there can be a couple of thousand people walking around her listening. She is a trooper. Her cousin just got into show choir with her and she has now found this new great friend in it too. I think that she will be in show choir for awhile if she gets to. For the first 3 months of the year, she was not so sure. Now everything's peachy and she seems to have found her niche in school. I'm glad.
Will is off to his last day of work for 13 days. Twerp. He usually gets this much time at Christmas time. My job is just the problem. There will still be presents flying back and forth for a week or two. In a couple of days we will be hit with millions of spring catalogs and I'm sure pretty soon the tax notices and books will come out. I am very glad though because it's job security and in these times that what most people are looking for.
Our annual Christmas Eve open house is tomorrow night and I do not even have the menu planned. Wow. I don't think I have ever been this "not prepared" for Christmas in my life. What a weird feeling. Wait kid crisis..be back.
The joys of motherhood. Jessa is going with show choir today to sing Christmas Carols at the local nursing homes and assisted living homes. She needed to be able to wear her special tshirt for show choir. Guess what is missing? 1 hour later and we still do not know where it is. Great. After all of this she tells me the teacher has extras....why didn't you tell me this BEFORE we tore through the house looking for it? Not what I needed to be doing this morning. I wonder if we should just cancel Christmas Eve, but then I remember all the people that count on this for their "Christmas event". I guess I need to just pray about it and have faith that God will provide a way.
Today is another trip to LaCrosse for me. I had to work last week very late on the day that Will and I were supposed to go and shop. Now I NEED to go and finish today. The only problem is ....snow. We now have 3 inches of new snow on the ground....another 2-4 due today and another 3-5 due tonight. You've heard the saying when it rains it pours...well when it snows........it SNOWS!!!!!!! I think that counting the snow that all melted a couple of weeks ago, we have had almost 3 feet of snow and still more is coming.
Well, time to get busy...again. Have a great day.
dea
Last night was our final Christmas concert of the season. It was Jake's holiday concert. They were wonderful. Jake can really concentrate on the director while he is singing and pays attention. As someone who has directed (badly) that's important and not common. For some strange reason, Jake's favorite song that they sang was "Mr. Grinch". I wonder why? It must have been the part about the stinky socks and all the gross stuff. What is it that makes that stuff facinating to a 16 year old? He did a very good job and really looked nice. I could tell that he was proud of his girl too. When she was singing he only had eyes for her. Of course she was wearing the necklace he gave her for Christmas too. She's a really, really nice girl and we like her a lot. Better yet, she likes him a lot for who he is and that's nice to see.
Jessalyn's concert was last week. She had one of the solo's and she sang it beautifully. We were really proud of her. If you knew how shy she really is, it's amazing that she can get up and sing solo's in front of huge crowds. She even sings in front of the Cranfest visitors and at any time there can be a couple of thousand people walking around her listening. She is a trooper. Her cousin just got into show choir with her and she has now found this new great friend in it too. I think that she will be in show choir for awhile if she gets to. For the first 3 months of the year, she was not so sure. Now everything's peachy and she seems to have found her niche in school. I'm glad.
Will is off to his last day of work for 13 days. Twerp. He usually gets this much time at Christmas time. My job is just the problem. There will still be presents flying back and forth for a week or two. In a couple of days we will be hit with millions of spring catalogs and I'm sure pretty soon the tax notices and books will come out. I am very glad though because it's job security and in these times that what most people are looking for.
Our annual Christmas Eve open house is tomorrow night and I do not even have the menu planned. Wow. I don't think I have ever been this "not prepared" for Christmas in my life. What a weird feeling. Wait kid crisis..be back.
The joys of motherhood. Jessa is going with show choir today to sing Christmas Carols at the local nursing homes and assisted living homes. She needed to be able to wear her special tshirt for show choir. Guess what is missing? 1 hour later and we still do not know where it is. Great. After all of this she tells me the teacher has extras....why didn't you tell me this BEFORE we tore through the house looking for it? Not what I needed to be doing this morning. I wonder if we should just cancel Christmas Eve, but then I remember all the people that count on this for their "Christmas event". I guess I need to just pray about it and have faith that God will provide a way.
Today is another trip to LaCrosse for me. I had to work last week very late on the day that Will and I were supposed to go and shop. Now I NEED to go and finish today. The only problem is ....snow. We now have 3 inches of new snow on the ground....another 2-4 due today and another 3-5 due tonight. You've heard the saying when it rains it pours...well when it snows........it SNOWS!!!!!!! I think that counting the snow that all melted a couple of weeks ago, we have had almost 3 feet of snow and still more is coming.
Well, time to get busy...again. Have a great day.
dea
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Santa must be our neighbor because...
it's cold enough here to be the "NORTH POLE"!!!!!!!!
Tonight it's a low of -12 with 30 mph winds. Tomorrow it's going to be pretty cold again on the route. Add into that the over 1 foot of snow we have on the ground that is now blowing around in the wind.....yuck. Tis the season I guess.
I'm having a terrible time trying to come up with some Christmas spirit...any Christmas spirit to be exact. Normally, I am the one brimming with ideas and plans for the season. As far as I can tell.....my body and mind think it is July. Or at least it must be longing for July...the cold is really zapping me this year for some strange reason. I guess it's mostly because it was warm for so long and now it's instant cold. No getting used to it.
We finally went and got our Christmas tree yesterday, in between snow storms. There was a window for about 45 minutes that it had slowed down snowing for a minute and I was finally home from delivering mail...we took the chance and ran over and picked out a tree and brought it home. I had every intention of getting just a small tree this year. Something simple...right..... I think this might be the biggest tree we have had in years. It's beautiful, no doubt about it, but boy is it BIG! Tomorrow we finish decorating it. Today was too filled with other things.
I sure have dropped the ball the last couple of weeks as far as Christmas. Of course it could be that we are 6 people short at work right now and I am delivering my route and about 1/2 of two others many days. It is mind numbing work in the cold. I am worn out. Then the guilt sets in because I am letting my family down by not being more "Christmas-ee". Pressure. Just what I need more of. Oh well, Christmas will happen whether I am ready or feeling holly jolly or not.
Well, 25 dozen cookies were baked today and some of the gift bags handed out, the tree is slightly decorated, the house is partially cleaned, the menu for the open house barely planned, the presents are naked (not wrapped) and I am running low on energy, so I'm heading to bed. Tomorrow's another day, and frankly Scarlett, I'm glad. I need another day to catch up to myself.
If I don't get the chance to post between now and then...... I pray that you ALL have a blessed Christmas this year and that Christ will be alive in your hearts and lives throughout 2009. Merry Happy Christmas....God Bless us everyone.
dea
Tonight it's a low of -12 with 30 mph winds. Tomorrow it's going to be pretty cold again on the route. Add into that the over 1 foot of snow we have on the ground that is now blowing around in the wind.....yuck. Tis the season I guess.
I'm having a terrible time trying to come up with some Christmas spirit...any Christmas spirit to be exact. Normally, I am the one brimming with ideas and plans for the season. As far as I can tell.....my body and mind think it is July. Or at least it must be longing for July...the cold is really zapping me this year for some strange reason. I guess it's mostly because it was warm for so long and now it's instant cold. No getting used to it.
We finally went and got our Christmas tree yesterday, in between snow storms. There was a window for about 45 minutes that it had slowed down snowing for a minute and I was finally home from delivering mail...we took the chance and ran over and picked out a tree and brought it home. I had every intention of getting just a small tree this year. Something simple...right..... I think this might be the biggest tree we have had in years. It's beautiful, no doubt about it, but boy is it BIG! Tomorrow we finish decorating it. Today was too filled with other things.
I sure have dropped the ball the last couple of weeks as far as Christmas. Of course it could be that we are 6 people short at work right now and I am delivering my route and about 1/2 of two others many days. It is mind numbing work in the cold. I am worn out. Then the guilt sets in because I am letting my family down by not being more "Christmas-ee". Pressure. Just what I need more of. Oh well, Christmas will happen whether I am ready or feeling holly jolly or not.
Well, 25 dozen cookies were baked today and some of the gift bags handed out, the tree is slightly decorated, the house is partially cleaned, the menu for the open house barely planned, the presents are naked (not wrapped) and I am running low on energy, so I'm heading to bed. Tomorrow's another day, and frankly Scarlett, I'm glad. I need another day to catch up to myself.
If I don't get the chance to post between now and then...... I pray that you ALL have a blessed Christmas this year and that Christ will be alive in your hearts and lives throughout 2009. Merry Happy Christmas....God Bless us everyone.
dea
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Okay, Okay...
...I admit the last couple of videos weren't exactly the Christmas Spirit we should be promoting. So here's a couple that should get you in the proper frame of mind...
Friday, December 19, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
It takes your breath away!
It's windy here in the great white north. For 2 days we had above average temperatures and yesterday it actually even got up to 45......then it turned nasty. Temps dropped to -1 with 30+ mph winds. Wind chill factor is about -30 right now. I am not thrilled....work will be cold today. Not only is it cold, but I end up having to chase mail over people's yard, because it blew out of my hands orout of the mail box. Not fun.. Thank you God that I am not a city carrier. I know that I am a wimp and would not be able to walk for miles in this trying to hang on to letters. I have great respect for them and the trials they endure with grace under pressure. A day like today and people will still call and complain because their mail is late. I feel sorry for them.
If you have little kids and are looking for a great easy, no bake cookie recipe for any age....check out Dea's corner (link to the right).
Yesterday was our Christmas musical at church and they did great! I was really, really proud of our youth group and choir. The youth group acted as narrators and the choir sang. It turned out really well for the few practises that we had. I'm am very thankful for the effort that everyone put in. It turned out great. Then we had potluck and let me tell you there are some good, good cooks at our church. It was too much!!! Of course that didn't keep any of us from eating way too much food and loving every minute of it.
I came home and spent another 2 hours (total 5) chopping an ice dam off of our bathroom roof. We got so much snow and then it turned warm. It created this huge dam which in turn created leaks.....I just love living in Wisconsin in the winter. Although I complain about this time of year, the truth is that snow is beautiful sometimes. When you have the time to stand there and enjoy the fresh snow on a calm sunny morning, when the world seems at peace, it's wonderful. Everything is so quiet that you can hear the trees groan and crack. The birds sing, but even they seem in awe. Then the world intrudes and life goes on and it isn't so pretty any more.
Still all in all it's worth it to have a white Christmas and mostly to enjoy spring like we can here. There is nothing quite like that first patch of ground showing itself in the sun light when spring first comes. You can smell the earth warming. You can actually watch life begin again. It is an awesome sight and my favorite time of the year. Guess what? It will be here in less than 4 months (God willing). We just have to hang on until then.
Enjoy this holiday season.
dea
If you have little kids and are looking for a great easy, no bake cookie recipe for any age....check out Dea's corner (link to the right).
Yesterday was our Christmas musical at church and they did great! I was really, really proud of our youth group and choir. The youth group acted as narrators and the choir sang. It turned out really well for the few practises that we had. I'm am very thankful for the effort that everyone put in. It turned out great. Then we had potluck and let me tell you there are some good, good cooks at our church. It was too much!!! Of course that didn't keep any of us from eating way too much food and loving every minute of it.
I came home and spent another 2 hours (total 5) chopping an ice dam off of our bathroom roof. We got so much snow and then it turned warm. It created this huge dam which in turn created leaks.....I just love living in Wisconsin in the winter. Although I complain about this time of year, the truth is that snow is beautiful sometimes. When you have the time to stand there and enjoy the fresh snow on a calm sunny morning, when the world seems at peace, it's wonderful. Everything is so quiet that you can hear the trees groan and crack. The birds sing, but even they seem in awe. Then the world intrudes and life goes on and it isn't so pretty any more.
Still all in all it's worth it to have a white Christmas and mostly to enjoy spring like we can here. There is nothing quite like that first patch of ground showing itself in the sun light when spring first comes. You can smell the earth warming. You can actually watch life begin again. It is an awesome sight and my favorite time of the year. Guess what? It will be here in less than 4 months (God willing). We just have to hang on until then.
Enjoy this holiday season.
dea
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
There's no business like snow business
Well, it's official winter is here....so.....I'm counting down until spring! In 4 months it will be April and the weather will be much nicer. It's all in the way that you look at it. I need a silver lining so I'm going to find one. I'm pretty sure that I have less than 100 days left for this season of me driving in the snow. If I get my other route, it will be even less than that.
I ended up shoveling our driveway 5 times, 3 of those with 2 inches of snow, 1 with 4 inches and another with 4 inches. You do the math, I'm too tired. My shoulders hurt too much last night to take my sweatshirt off to get into pj's. I slept in my sweatshirt. I know I could have woke Will up and had him help me, but as I was thinking that he let out this great big "snore" . Scratch that idea. He was sleeping too soundly, I didn't have it in me to wake him.
The apple butter turned out wonderful. We have already broken into one of the jars and I think it's getting close to gone. My daughter is a toast and jam kind of gal. She is really enjoying the fruits of our summer.
Oh yeah, remember when I overflowed the coffee pot? Well...... oops I did it again. Do NOT think about that Spears chick when I say that. It's too early to even bring her to mind. Besides me being on the floor mopping that mess up is more like watching a well..... I don't know but it sure ain't like watching her dance. Speaking of that have you noticed how the dancing now is not so much dancing and moves as it is "wiggling"? The more things they can get to jiggle the happier they are. Shoot, I got plenty of stuff that wiggles when I walk and I don't even have to dance.
That moves me on to another study I was reading the other day. They were talking about using stems cells out of fat and that it was working. Where do I sign up to be a "donor"? I could cure the world! Then after all the fats gone, I could donate extra skin to people who need it. Just think of the opportunities.......
Ok, so I'm silly. God put me on this planet for comic relief. I know this. I'm fine with it. I'd rather make someone smile than about anything except maybe feeding them, but that's another story.
Have a great day. Merry weeks before Christmas from snowy Wisconsin.
dea
I ended up shoveling our driveway 5 times, 3 of those with 2 inches of snow, 1 with 4 inches and another with 4 inches. You do the math, I'm too tired. My shoulders hurt too much last night to take my sweatshirt off to get into pj's. I slept in my sweatshirt. I know I could have woke Will up and had him help me, but as I was thinking that he let out this great big "snore" . Scratch that idea. He was sleeping too soundly, I didn't have it in me to wake him.
The apple butter turned out wonderful. We have already broken into one of the jars and I think it's getting close to gone. My daughter is a toast and jam kind of gal. She is really enjoying the fruits of our summer.
Oh yeah, remember when I overflowed the coffee pot? Well...... oops I did it again. Do NOT think about that Spears chick when I say that. It's too early to even bring her to mind. Besides me being on the floor mopping that mess up is more like watching a well..... I don't know but it sure ain't like watching her dance. Speaking of that have you noticed how the dancing now is not so much dancing and moves as it is "wiggling"? The more things they can get to jiggle the happier they are. Shoot, I got plenty of stuff that wiggles when I walk and I don't even have to dance.
That moves me on to another study I was reading the other day. They were talking about using stems cells out of fat and that it was working. Where do I sign up to be a "donor"? I could cure the world! Then after all the fats gone, I could donate extra skin to people who need it. Just think of the opportunities.......
Ok, so I'm silly. God put me on this planet for comic relief. I know this. I'm fine with it. I'd rather make someone smile than about anything except maybe feeding them, but that's another story.
Have a great day. Merry weeks before Christmas from snowy Wisconsin.
dea
Monday, December 08, 2008
Snow in the hills and every where else too.
We are scheduled to get 8"-12" of snow tonight and tomorrow. Guess what Will's working.....are you surprised? I've shoveled everything once to get a head start and will continue to shovel every two inches or so because it's easier.
The house smells wonderful. I have 20 lbs. of apples stewing into apple butter in the roaster and the aroma just fills the house. I need to start the spaghetti, but dread the mixture of the smells. Oh well, no way around it. The restless natives must eat.
It's been a really, really busy weekend, but very rewarding. Saturday the youth group (21 kids and 5 adults) met at church and baked cookies. Some of the ladies in the church had baked some sugar cookies before (about 250-300) cookies. The kids decorated those with the trimmings and then we made other kinds too. All in all we had about 800 cookies when we were done. I had made potato, cheese and ham soup as well as chili earlier in the day, so the rest of the church came for supper and cookies. We fed 45. The kids had decorated bags for cookies and we bagged up 400 to take around town.
Sunday 28 of us met and rode around on one of the Cranfest floats and sang Christmas carols. It was fun caroling as the snow fell. At each house we dropped off at least 20 cookies. It was good for the kids to see the fruits of their labor and also to learn about giving. Then we met at the retirement apartments on the hill for cookies and hot chocolate/coffee.
Today it was back to the mail route driving around on roads that are still not plowed very well and here we are getting more snow. Great googamooga. I am already tired of snow and it's not even Christmas. I just keep telling myself that in less than 4 months the weather will be better. Just hang on....
Will is due to head home in another half hour or so. That means, Deanna gets to get out there shoveling in another 30 minutes so that he can get into the driveway.
Have a great night. Think warm thoughts. I know I am..... dry socks, heating pads, hot showers, coffee, hot chocolate, soup......see warm thoughts....
dea
The house smells wonderful. I have 20 lbs. of apples stewing into apple butter in the roaster and the aroma just fills the house. I need to start the spaghetti, but dread the mixture of the smells. Oh well, no way around it. The restless natives must eat.
It's been a really, really busy weekend, but very rewarding. Saturday the youth group (21 kids and 5 adults) met at church and baked cookies. Some of the ladies in the church had baked some sugar cookies before (about 250-300) cookies. The kids decorated those with the trimmings and then we made other kinds too. All in all we had about 800 cookies when we were done. I had made potato, cheese and ham soup as well as chili earlier in the day, so the rest of the church came for supper and cookies. We fed 45. The kids had decorated bags for cookies and we bagged up 400 to take around town.
Sunday 28 of us met and rode around on one of the Cranfest floats and sang Christmas carols. It was fun caroling as the snow fell. At each house we dropped off at least 20 cookies. It was good for the kids to see the fruits of their labor and also to learn about giving. Then we met at the retirement apartments on the hill for cookies and hot chocolate/coffee.
Today it was back to the mail route driving around on roads that are still not plowed very well and here we are getting more snow. Great googamooga. I am already tired of snow and it's not even Christmas. I just keep telling myself that in less than 4 months the weather will be better. Just hang on....
Will is due to head home in another half hour or so. That means, Deanna gets to get out there shoveling in another 30 minutes so that he can get into the driveway.
Have a great night. Think warm thoughts. I know I am..... dry socks, heating pads, hot showers, coffee, hot chocolate, soup......see warm thoughts....
dea
Sunday, December 07, 2008
They're in Cohoots I tell ya!
We live in an older building that was remodeled by the hands of an amateur with the direction of his expert Father in law and friends. I am surprised I still have friends and that my father in law still speaks to me. It couldn't have been easy. Still, with our very limited budget which consisted of "what can we scrounge?", to say it could still stand some improvement would be an understatement. One area is insulation. We have serious drafts. So besides the loss of heat and the expense, there is another equally disturbing problem. All the rodents in the surrounding area recognize a nice warm possible home. I have two cats. I have many mouse traps but now the rabbits and squirrels are getting into the act. One of my two cats is quite adept at catching all of the above, however neither cat could be called perfect at killing what they catch. I have had at least one squirrel living in my attic for some time. I just didn't realize that said squirrel is indeed the leader of the gang. He has the mice doing his bidding.
I have a furnace/hot water heater/ storage area. It shares a wall with my bedroom. I have heard the parties the rodents throw. Deciding that the squirrel must be the first to go (thereby confusing all of his underlings), My wife bought me a set of traps. Live traps. She's soft hearted, and hey, I'm not crazy about the mess, so okay; live traps it is. They came as a set with one large enough for a large cat for small lap dog, one that would be the right size for the squirrel and a larger one for say a family of four to live in when they give up their house to the rodents...
I followed the directions, (I'm secure enough in my manhood to read directions before I mess things up. It doesn't prevent me from messing up it just gives me a ready excuse.) I baited with peanuts and set the trigger.
The next day I check the trap to find the peanuts gone and the trap unsprung. No squirrel. No mice. No peanuts. I don't believe the trap is functioning properly. (I come to this conclusion because there is no squirrel in it. Clever aren't I?) So, I tinker. I reset the trap. Same results. Only now when I lay down to bed at night, I am sure I can hear tiny squirrel laughter somewhere.
More importantly is that my wife is getting tired of their late night parties. This was evidenced by my wife coming home the other day with bonafied rat traps. These are not mice traps. They just smash your finger if you set them wrong. No, these are spring loaded RAT traps. They will take your whole hand should you place it where you shouldn't. Evidently my wife had taken the proverbial gloves off. There was no more being humane. I have to say, I'm no longer concerned about the mess either.
I tinker more with the first trap and following the directions, I set the one of the two rat traps next to the live trap and the other rat trap I put just inside the attic access door in the pile of old nut shells I found there. I figure it must be their dining room table. This time I used peanut butter.
The next morning I check the furnace room traps and both traps look new. They cleaned the peanut butter from the trap sets so well I couldn't tell there was ever any peanut butter there. I took a broom handle and tripped the rat trap. It flew across the room!
All I can figure is the small mice must be clearing the traps and taking a share to the squirrel.
He probably made them an offer they couldn't refuse...
Numbers 6:24-26
Will
I have a furnace/hot water heater/ storage area. It shares a wall with my bedroom. I have heard the parties the rodents throw. Deciding that the squirrel must be the first to go (thereby confusing all of his underlings), My wife bought me a set of traps. Live traps. She's soft hearted, and hey, I'm not crazy about the mess, so okay; live traps it is. They came as a set with one large enough for a large cat for small lap dog, one that would be the right size for the squirrel and a larger one for say a family of four to live in when they give up their house to the rodents...
I followed the directions, (I'm secure enough in my manhood to read directions before I mess things up. It doesn't prevent me from messing up it just gives me a ready excuse.) I baited with peanuts and set the trigger.
The next day I check the trap to find the peanuts gone and the trap unsprung. No squirrel. No mice. No peanuts. I don't believe the trap is functioning properly. (I come to this conclusion because there is no squirrel in it. Clever aren't I?) So, I tinker. I reset the trap. Same results. Only now when I lay down to bed at night, I am sure I can hear tiny squirrel laughter somewhere.
More importantly is that my wife is getting tired of their late night parties. This was evidenced by my wife coming home the other day with bonafied rat traps. These are not mice traps. They just smash your finger if you set them wrong. No, these are spring loaded RAT traps. They will take your whole hand should you place it where you shouldn't. Evidently my wife had taken the proverbial gloves off. There was no more being humane. I have to say, I'm no longer concerned about the mess either.
I tinker more with the first trap and following the directions, I set the one of the two rat traps next to the live trap and the other rat trap I put just inside the attic access door in the pile of old nut shells I found there. I figure it must be their dining room table. This time I used peanut butter.
The next morning I check the furnace room traps and both traps look new. They cleaned the peanut butter from the trap sets so well I couldn't tell there was ever any peanut butter there. I took a broom handle and tripped the rat trap. It flew across the room!
All I can figure is the small mice must be clearing the traps and taking a share to the squirrel.
He probably made them an offer they couldn't refuse...
Numbers 6:24-26
Will
Friday, December 05, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
I've been telling him for years.....
Will laughs at me, but I have proof positive that it mainly snows the large amounts on the days that he works. For the last couple of years there has been this trend.....snow while Will is working. Result: Deanna gets to shovel. Today is no exception to the rule. Over 3 inches of snow last night and supposedly another 2 or 3 today. Great. I already had enough to do today and now I have to shovel. Oh joy....can you feel my excitement? To make matters worse, my favorite shovel broke.
Unless it gets lots warmer we will now have a white Christmas. Now if I can just get everything else done. Today is work, decorating the village Christmas tree for Cranfest, choir practise, youth group and whatever else falls into the mix.
Tomorrow is baking, decorating, cleaning and then playing piano for a benefit tomorrow night.
Friday, more cleaning, baking and work.
Saturday cookie baking with youth, soup supper for church and then old fashioned family night that night, including a "taffy pull".
Sunday: church, choir practise and then village wide caroling with cookie get together.
I think we are going to be very, very busy the next couple of days, BUT the great part is aside from the Christmas program at church on the 14th, I'm pretty much done with outside stuff for Christmas after the 14th. Pretty neat. There are a couple of concerts for the kid's choirs but other than that I can hunker down and enjoy this season, God willing. We are usually busy right up until Christmas Eve so this will be different. I think I might enjoy this.
Have a great day!
dea
Unless it gets lots warmer we will now have a white Christmas. Now if I can just get everything else done. Today is work, decorating the village Christmas tree for Cranfest, choir practise, youth group and whatever else falls into the mix.
Tomorrow is baking, decorating, cleaning and then playing piano for a benefit tomorrow night.
Friday, more cleaning, baking and work.
Saturday cookie baking with youth, soup supper for church and then old fashioned family night that night, including a "taffy pull".
Sunday: church, choir practise and then village wide caroling with cookie get together.
I think we are going to be very, very busy the next couple of days, BUT the great part is aside from the Christmas program at church on the 14th, I'm pretty much done with outside stuff for Christmas after the 14th. Pretty neat. There are a couple of concerts for the kid's choirs but other than that I can hunker down and enjoy this season, God willing. We are usually busy right up until Christmas Eve so this will be different. I think I might enjoy this.
Have a great day!
dea
Monday, December 01, 2008
Black and White And Christmas Lights!
Today is "Black Monday". This is the day that the Internet becomes loaded with shoppers. It's supposed to be the biggest Internet shopping day of the year. For those of us who are counting pennies and too smart (prideful) to "charge it", it just means we may have to deal with Internet slow downs, crashes and page reloads. As I am one of those counting pennies...okay, let's be honest..with no disposable income that I haven't already disposed of...It isn't as if I have anything really important to do on the net, except try to keep myself entertained cheaply. I was hoping for a video call with my mother and slow networks can mess that up royally. Anyway, if you experience these problems you can chalk it up to Black Monday.
How's this for timing? I just got pleasantly interrupted by my very good friend John Roman! I had a tab with my Facebook page open and he rang in with a chat line. We start to chat and my Internet explorer crashed! Can I call it or what?
Now for something completely different!
White: The snow on the ground and all over the cars. I just came in from helping Deanna get her car cleaned off. The poor girl has to drive around all day with her window open to deliver the mail. Brrr. Makes me cold just thinking about it. I may have to put another log on the fire that is all of three feet behind me as I type this! The forecasters must be stumped. They at first said less than half an inch. Then less than a inch. Then Ooops! winter advisory! I wake up to two to three inches of the stuff. It's pretty to look at from inside my nice warm house but otherwise...Yuck. Especially as there is stuff outside that I wanted to bring in before this happened and I wasn't able to get it done. Yeah, yuck.
Deanna and I (mostly Deanna) have really been getting into the Facebook website. There is this family of friends that we all kind of grew up together. I consider them as much a part of my family as if we were blood kin. Via Facebook I got to see some pictures from that family while they celebrated Thanksgiving and it made me really nostalgic. There was one pic of Bekah (who writes the blog Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe) and her brother Pete. Seeing the two of them together reminded me of years ago. There were two or three Christmas' in a row where the three of us would go looking at the Christmas lights in Tallahassee Florida. There were some great ones too. What made it so much fun and interesting is that I would just drive. Bekah and Pete would get to take turns telling me which street to take. If Pete wanted to get to one side of town while Bekah was aiming for a different point, well we certainly wound up in some interesting places! What a great time! Fun, Laughter and Christmas lights!
Definitely a memory to treasure.
Keep Christ in Christmas
Will
How's this for timing? I just got pleasantly interrupted by my very good friend John Roman! I had a tab with my Facebook page open and he rang in with a chat line. We start to chat and my Internet explorer crashed! Can I call it or what?
Now for something completely different!
White: The snow on the ground and all over the cars. I just came in from helping Deanna get her car cleaned off. The poor girl has to drive around all day with her window open to deliver the mail. Brrr. Makes me cold just thinking about it. I may have to put another log on the fire that is all of three feet behind me as I type this! The forecasters must be stumped. They at first said less than half an inch. Then less than a inch. Then Ooops! winter advisory! I wake up to two to three inches of the stuff. It's pretty to look at from inside my nice warm house but otherwise...Yuck. Especially as there is stuff outside that I wanted to bring in before this happened and I wasn't able to get it done. Yeah, yuck.
Deanna and I (mostly Deanna) have really been getting into the Facebook website. There is this family of friends that we all kind of grew up together. I consider them as much a part of my family as if we were blood kin. Via Facebook I got to see some pictures from that family while they celebrated Thanksgiving and it made me really nostalgic. There was one pic of Bekah (who writes the blog Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe) and her brother Pete. Seeing the two of them together reminded me of years ago. There were two or three Christmas' in a row where the three of us would go looking at the Christmas lights in Tallahassee Florida. There were some great ones too. What made it so much fun and interesting is that I would just drive. Bekah and Pete would get to take turns telling me which street to take. If Pete wanted to get to one side of town while Bekah was aiming for a different point, well we certainly wound up in some interesting places! What a great time! Fun, Laughter and Christmas lights!
Definitely a memory to treasure.
Keep Christ in Christmas
Will
Saturday, November 29, 2008
I can tell you why it's called Black Friday.
The reason it's called Black Friday is really not because of shopping- that's just a rumor/myth. It's really called Black Friday because of how much ink gets on mail carrier's hands from all of the MAIL we have to deliver on that day. My hands still hurt, but think about it..... what a great thing. Think about how you feel about getting your mail during this time of the year. The magazines are beautiful, the catalogs are fun to look through and imagine and the Christmas cards are so special. If you manage to get a package.....WOW! I really love the Christmas season.
Delivering the mail at this time of year is busy and hectic, but what a feeling knowing that you are bringing a little happiness into people's lives.
Although yesterday I was more like the Grinch or Scrooge. Bad day for me personally for no particular reason, just everything jumbled up together. You know the interesting thing about it was that I found myself singing one praise song over and over, well at least one part of it anyway..
"Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say, Blessed is the Name of the Lord".
With all the crazy stuff going on in the world, how do people who do not know God deal with it? Where is the hope? Where is the peace, even when your world is crashing down around you? It sounds so "scary" to me thinking about dealing with any of this stuff in my life without God. Where is their anchor?
Of course, the main problem that Will and I are dealing with right now is finances, which I'm sure that everyone is dealing with. It's just compounded on our side that I am up for a I guess you would call it promotion in the next couple of months that will result in worst case scenario a $22,000 raise for me. That in itself would fix the problem, but God's timing is not ours and I have to wait until at least March unless something happens that is unforseen in the next couple of months. I do not know what God has planned, but it is a very frustrating thing to know what is going to happen (at least the general idea of what will happen) but to also know that God's perfect timing is what is going to happen. I have never been a good "waiter" for anything. In fact the worst thing I ever did was pray for patience... So here we are waiting and let me tell you it is not a comfortable place. It is not warm and cozy and reflective. It is not even anticipation any more (although it probably should be, but right now it's not). It is like waiting in that hunched over posititon at the starting line, only we've been hunched over for almost a year now. My back hurts, my legs are sore and when the starting pistol goes off.....I will probably fall flat on my face. BUT the course is set and it will begin....in God's time.
Now let me tell you this, even though I am tired and worn right now... I know that when he finally says "GO", it's going to be great. It's going to be what's best for us. His word promises that and that is the promise that I have clung to for the 19 years that Will and I have been together. Even though sometimes it didn't seem like anything was changing or getting better...if I look back at it, there were so many changes we were just too close to see. Now these growing pains will end and who knows what will be the end result, but I know that we will have grown in God, in each other and as a family. It's going to be fine.....
I've been counting my blessings trying to get out of this mood...Wonderful hubby, GREAT kids, good dog, nice cat, grumpy cat, huge messy house, car/truck that run, jobs, great church, fun youth group, family and friends. What else could a person ask for?
Although there are a few things I could imagine, but then you hit that old "wants vs. needs" thing. I'm not even going there, because so far God doesn't seem to be too "in tune" with my whole idea of April through Jan 2 in Wisconsin, Jan 2 through March in Florida and then March in Tennessee. I'm thinking it would be great since spring is my favorite season I could enjoy spring in Florida, then Tennessee and then come home for spring again. Seems like the perfect plan to me, but it's not coming together, so I guess there's something else in the mix for us. sigh.
Have a great day!
dea
Delivering the mail at this time of year is busy and hectic, but what a feeling knowing that you are bringing a little happiness into people's lives.
Although yesterday I was more like the Grinch or Scrooge. Bad day for me personally for no particular reason, just everything jumbled up together. You know the interesting thing about it was that I found myself singing one praise song over and over, well at least one part of it anyway..
"Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say, Blessed is the Name of the Lord".
With all the crazy stuff going on in the world, how do people who do not know God deal with it? Where is the hope? Where is the peace, even when your world is crashing down around you? It sounds so "scary" to me thinking about dealing with any of this stuff in my life without God. Where is their anchor?
Of course, the main problem that Will and I are dealing with right now is finances, which I'm sure that everyone is dealing with. It's just compounded on our side that I am up for a I guess you would call it promotion in the next couple of months that will result in worst case scenario a $22,000 raise for me. That in itself would fix the problem, but God's timing is not ours and I have to wait until at least March unless something happens that is unforseen in the next couple of months. I do not know what God has planned, but it is a very frustrating thing to know what is going to happen (at least the general idea of what will happen) but to also know that God's perfect timing is what is going to happen. I have never been a good "waiter" for anything. In fact the worst thing I ever did was pray for patience... So here we are waiting and let me tell you it is not a comfortable place. It is not warm and cozy and reflective. It is not even anticipation any more (although it probably should be, but right now it's not). It is like waiting in that hunched over posititon at the starting line, only we've been hunched over for almost a year now. My back hurts, my legs are sore and when the starting pistol goes off.....I will probably fall flat on my face. BUT the course is set and it will begin....in God's time.
Now let me tell you this, even though I am tired and worn right now... I know that when he finally says "GO", it's going to be great. It's going to be what's best for us. His word promises that and that is the promise that I have clung to for the 19 years that Will and I have been together. Even though sometimes it didn't seem like anything was changing or getting better...if I look back at it, there were so many changes we were just too close to see. Now these growing pains will end and who knows what will be the end result, but I know that we will have grown in God, in each other and as a family. It's going to be fine.....
I've been counting my blessings trying to get out of this mood...Wonderful hubby, GREAT kids, good dog, nice cat, grumpy cat, huge messy house, car/truck that run, jobs, great church, fun youth group, family and friends. What else could a person ask for?
Although there are a few things I could imagine, but then you hit that old "wants vs. needs" thing. I'm not even going there, because so far God doesn't seem to be too "in tune" with my whole idea of April through Jan 2 in Wisconsin, Jan 2 through March in Florida and then March in Tennessee. I'm thinking it would be great since spring is my favorite season I could enjoy spring in Florida, then Tennessee and then come home for spring again. Seems like the perfect plan to me, but it's not coming together, so I guess there's something else in the mix for us. sigh.
Have a great day!
dea
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving...
...To all of our friends, both in the United States and out! Thanksgiving is for everyone after all.
Learning to be Thankful for how much or how little you have is one of the key steps to Joy. It's a step I have been missing a lot lately. I have it in my head that "yes I have a lot to be thankful for but I have so many things to worry about too..."
Nothing like a "but" to mess things up. Instead of worrying, I pray more. Don't get me wrong, I still have issues with this; but I have a direction to go in. So, today especially, Thanksgiving is Special.
In this Global Climate it's something we all really need to focus on. In the news just this morning the headlines only hold horrific, terrible and painful news about terrorists attacks, personal murders, rape and even worse. If this economic downturn is the worst you have facing you; you have a lot to be thankful for. If any of the above is currently affecting your life -I can't imagine and I won't pretend to know what you are going through- but I know that God Is Still In Control. I know That Jesus Is Alive and Lives in me. If He lives in you then you always have something to be thankful for. If you are like me, it may take a while to get to that place of thankfulness and peace. When you do, Jesus is waiting for you. That alone is something to be thankful for.
Today I am most thankful for my ability to pray. To be able to give my worries/fears to someone else to take care of. To know that there is someone I can trust who has never failed me; even though I have failed Him so many times.
Because God has allowed us to have a REAL Relationship with Him, He comforts me in my distress. Life isn't always the way I want it. I, just like you, sometimes have a hard road to walk. It's just a lot nicer to walk it when you're holding the hand of God.
Today, take your eyes off of the road your on and instead, look where you are going: God.
Okay, lastly some updates for the blog. My wife and I have started using this as our "homepage". Feel free to do the same! In that effort I have been adding links that we use a lot. If you check out the "Interesting things to 'click on' " section you will find some new links. First, at the bottom are a couple of Bible websites that include different versions/dictionaries/commentaries that you can cross-reference online.
Next you will find a new link entitled Living Stones International. It's actually called the Living Stones Fellowship International website. I just didn't have the space, so I dropped "fellowship" from the link.
This site is different from the Living Stones Fellowship link. That is the parent church for this entirely new effort.
If you are looking to learn, we will be adding devotionals as well as study courses. Some of which may even be available for college credit, check the site for more info. If instead you are looking to teach, there is a section for adding your own courses. In fact, if you are a wannabe or even a successful writer, they offer publishing services as well. Whether it's textbook stuff or Christian Fiction, they're interested in helping you. In fact, here is their whole purpose:
To build-up God's spiritual house by evangelizing, engrafting, equipping, and enabling small-town Christians, ministers, and churches to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.To touch 100,000 people before Jesus comes.
So, check it out and let me know what you think. The site is brand new and as a work in progress, a lot of things aren't quite working right yet. Keep checking back. If you have concerns or suggestions about the site, please let me know and I will pass it on. Thanks!
Well, once again, my post is too long! Praise God and pass the gravy!
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You and Give You Peace! And Joy!
Amen!
Will
Learning to be Thankful for how much or how little you have is one of the key steps to Joy. It's a step I have been missing a lot lately. I have it in my head that "yes I have a lot to be thankful for but I have so many things to worry about too..."
Nothing like a "but" to mess things up. Instead of worrying, I pray more. Don't get me wrong, I still have issues with this; but I have a direction to go in. So, today especially, Thanksgiving is Special.
In this Global Climate it's something we all really need to focus on. In the news just this morning the headlines only hold horrific, terrible and painful news about terrorists attacks, personal murders, rape and even worse. If this economic downturn is the worst you have facing you; you have a lot to be thankful for. If any of the above is currently affecting your life -I can't imagine and I won't pretend to know what you are going through- but I know that God Is Still In Control. I know That Jesus Is Alive and Lives in me. If He lives in you then you always have something to be thankful for. If you are like me, it may take a while to get to that place of thankfulness and peace. When you do, Jesus is waiting for you. That alone is something to be thankful for.
Today I am most thankful for my ability to pray. To be able to give my worries/fears to someone else to take care of. To know that there is someone I can trust who has never failed me; even though I have failed Him so many times.
Because God has allowed us to have a REAL Relationship with Him, He comforts me in my distress. Life isn't always the way I want it. I, just like you, sometimes have a hard road to walk. It's just a lot nicer to walk it when you're holding the hand of God.
Today, take your eyes off of the road your on and instead, look where you are going: God.
Okay, lastly some updates for the blog. My wife and I have started using this as our "homepage". Feel free to do the same! In that effort I have been adding links that we use a lot. If you check out the "Interesting things to 'click on' " section you will find some new links. First, at the bottom are a couple of Bible websites that include different versions/dictionaries/commentaries that you can cross-reference online.
Next you will find a new link entitled Living Stones International. It's actually called the Living Stones Fellowship International website. I just didn't have the space, so I dropped "fellowship" from the link.
This site is different from the Living Stones Fellowship link. That is the parent church for this entirely new effort.
If you are looking to learn, we will be adding devotionals as well as study courses. Some of which may even be available for college credit, check the site for more info. If instead you are looking to teach, there is a section for adding your own courses. In fact, if you are a wannabe or even a successful writer, they offer publishing services as well. Whether it's textbook stuff or Christian Fiction, they're interested in helping you. In fact, here is their whole purpose:
To build-up God's spiritual house by evangelizing, engrafting, equipping, and enabling small-town Christians, ministers, and churches to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.To touch 100,000 people before Jesus comes.
So, check it out and let me know what you think. The site is brand new and as a work in progress, a lot of things aren't quite working right yet. Keep checking back. If you have concerns or suggestions about the site, please let me know and I will pass it on. Thanks!
Well, once again, my post is too long! Praise God and pass the gravy!
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You and Give You Peace! And Joy!
Amen!
Will
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Still cleaning....
There's a light at the end of the tunnel.......a teeny tiny one, but hey it's a light and I'll take anything I can get. I cleaned on top of the frig today....how does that stuff happen to get up there? I bet I found 15 sharpy markers. Cool...you never know when you'll need one of those.
Will is finally feeling better and I have been washing everything he might have even touched, trying to get rid of whatever bug it was. Boy was he sick and I do not need anyone else to get it.
Please note that I put a great recipe on dea's corner. It's a family favorite.(link is to the right)
Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.
dea
Will is finally feeling better and I have been washing everything he might have even touched, trying to get rid of whatever bug it was. Boy was he sick and I do not need anyone else to get it.
Please note that I put a great recipe on dea's corner. It's a family favorite.(link is to the right)
Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.
dea
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Space the final frontier..
(I started this entry on Saturday then got busy)
I went outside on a potty run with the dog and happened to notice how beautiful the sky is tonight. Those of you living in warm weather climates might have a hard time identifying with this, but on cold clear nights, the sky is "special". Will says it's because of the haze caused by heat or some such thing (truthfully it didn't sound romantic, so I kind of didn't listen to the whole explanation). I think it's just because of the air temperature and quality.
When you go out and look at the night sky on cold nights, it's so clear and HUGE! You really "can" see forever. The stars seem endless and really close, but yet there are so many. You can really feel the whole "magnitude" of God's work and the grandeur of it. How glorious. If I didn't get so cold, I could stand out there for a long time.
I took a nap after my mail route today and my feet never did get warm. It was windy and that saps all the heat right out of my body. I told Will that one of the first things that I am working towards is a hot tub. I can just sit in it and get warm. Heaven. For some reason, I am not adjusting to the cold this year. I think it's that there was no gradual getting colder. One day it's 75 and the next it's 30. I'm sure I'll be used to it by March.
I have to keep positive about it, I know the weather will be better by the middle of April, so I have 5 months left of cold. Most of the time I "remember" why living here the rest of the year is worth the cold....most of the time. I don't think right now is included in "most". I could very easily be a snow bird.
Well, 3 days left of work before Thanksgiving. We are going to my sister's house which means I will hardly cook at all. That will really feel strange.
I'm still sorting and cleaning, although I am starting to feel effective in it, so something must be going right.
NOTE: As far as the stupid stuff the other day....nothing at work, but at home I burned the bacon and left the water running into the sink until it overflowed big time.....My tire also died, so today I go and get a new one.
HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!! (I need another weekend to recover from my weekend).
dea
I went outside on a potty run with the dog and happened to notice how beautiful the sky is tonight. Those of you living in warm weather climates might have a hard time identifying with this, but on cold clear nights, the sky is "special". Will says it's because of the haze caused by heat or some such thing (truthfully it didn't sound romantic, so I kind of didn't listen to the whole explanation). I think it's just because of the air temperature and quality.
When you go out and look at the night sky on cold nights, it's so clear and HUGE! You really "can" see forever. The stars seem endless and really close, but yet there are so many. You can really feel the whole "magnitude" of God's work and the grandeur of it. How glorious. If I didn't get so cold, I could stand out there for a long time.
I took a nap after my mail route today and my feet never did get warm. It was windy and that saps all the heat right out of my body. I told Will that one of the first things that I am working towards is a hot tub. I can just sit in it and get warm. Heaven. For some reason, I am not adjusting to the cold this year. I think it's that there was no gradual getting colder. One day it's 75 and the next it's 30. I'm sure I'll be used to it by March.
I have to keep positive about it, I know the weather will be better by the middle of April, so I have 5 months left of cold. Most of the time I "remember" why living here the rest of the year is worth the cold....most of the time. I don't think right now is included in "most". I could very easily be a snow bird.
Well, 3 days left of work before Thanksgiving. We are going to my sister's house which means I will hardly cook at all. That will really feel strange.
I'm still sorting and cleaning, although I am starting to feel effective in it, so something must be going right.
NOTE: As far as the stupid stuff the other day....nothing at work, but at home I burned the bacon and left the water running into the sink until it overflowed big time.....My tire also died, so today I go and get a new one.
HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!! (I need another weekend to recover from my weekend).
dea
Friday, November 21, 2008
Both fires going.....and Mom's burning up
It's cold up here this morning. I have both fireplaces going to give it a cozier feel, but you still know it's cold outside.
This morning is turning out to be one of those mornings where everything seems to happen to me and it's ALL wrong. I woke up only to step on a dog toy and twist my knee that I'd hurt last night falling over Will's shoe in the dark. I walked in to wake up Jessa and tripped over my son's idea of putting the dirty clothes in the hamper. Then I walked past a table to go back to my bedroom and accidentally knocked off Will's cup that he had left in the wrong place, oh great, now I have cold water all over me. Before I changed to dry clothes I decided to take the dog out to potty.....stupid.....now I'm wearing ice cubes where the water had been.
All of this happened before 5:30 am. I have a terrible feeling about today. Yahoo.....I'm overjoyed, it feels like it's going to be one of those "stupid things happen to me" days. I might as well start laughing now, cause it's not getting any better "so far". Some days it's not easy being me.
I just had a melt down because everywhere I looked, nothing had been done yesterday that I asked the kids to do. Some of it was partially done, in order to make Mom think that we did it, but most of it was not even attempted. After my fourth or fifth request from the kids this morning of "Mom can you do this for me?" I snapped. It was not pretty. When the Momma ain't happy aint nobody happy and believe me right now when I say ain't nobody happy in this house at this moment.
Daddy stepped in and they are not allowed any video games or computers for a WHOLE DAY!! You should have seen the pitiful looks that royal decree brought around....you would have thought we had cut off their air supply or food. No computers or video games......the horror!!!! It's unthinkable torture! It's a crime, I tell you, a crime. What will they do?
Jake is still bucking the decree. Jessalyn for once figured out that she should just be quiet and lay low. I'm usually pretty forgiving and easy going about these things, but every once in a while the pressure builds and I end up blowing. This time I'm sure part of it was brought around by my hubby being sick. He didn't do it on purpose and I certainly understand, but when he's miserable, I'm miserable. He is really, really pitiful and has to sleep in the recliner so he can breath, which means that I sleep alone and I don't sleep well when he's not there. For some reason, I need to hear him breathing to be able to sleep. Notice I say "breathing", snoring is another story.
Well, time to get everyone off to school where they can tell all of their friends about their crazy mother and the terrible trials they must go through to live in this household. Who would ever believe that parents would make their children clean their room, put away clothes, clean the bathroom and take out the trash.....and then take away electronics for a day all over stupid chores.....what a life.
Have a great one.
dea
This morning is turning out to be one of those mornings where everything seems to happen to me and it's ALL wrong. I woke up only to step on a dog toy and twist my knee that I'd hurt last night falling over Will's shoe in the dark. I walked in to wake up Jessa and tripped over my son's idea of putting the dirty clothes in the hamper. Then I walked past a table to go back to my bedroom and accidentally knocked off Will's cup that he had left in the wrong place, oh great, now I have cold water all over me. Before I changed to dry clothes I decided to take the dog out to potty.....stupid.....now I'm wearing ice cubes where the water had been.
All of this happened before 5:30 am. I have a terrible feeling about today. Yahoo.....I'm overjoyed, it feels like it's going to be one of those "stupid things happen to me" days. I might as well start laughing now, cause it's not getting any better "so far". Some days it's not easy being me.
I just had a melt down because everywhere I looked, nothing had been done yesterday that I asked the kids to do. Some of it was partially done, in order to make Mom think that we did it, but most of it was not even attempted. After my fourth or fifth request from the kids this morning of "Mom can you do this for me?" I snapped. It was not pretty. When the Momma ain't happy aint nobody happy and believe me right now when I say ain't nobody happy in this house at this moment.
Daddy stepped in and they are not allowed any video games or computers for a WHOLE DAY!! You should have seen the pitiful looks that royal decree brought around....you would have thought we had cut off their air supply or food. No computers or video games......the horror!!!! It's unthinkable torture! It's a crime, I tell you, a crime. What will they do?
Jake is still bucking the decree. Jessalyn for once figured out that she should just be quiet and lay low. I'm usually pretty forgiving and easy going about these things, but every once in a while the pressure builds and I end up blowing. This time I'm sure part of it was brought around by my hubby being sick. He didn't do it on purpose and I certainly understand, but when he's miserable, I'm miserable. He is really, really pitiful and has to sleep in the recliner so he can breath, which means that I sleep alone and I don't sleep well when he's not there. For some reason, I need to hear him breathing to be able to sleep. Notice I say "breathing", snoring is another story.
Well, time to get everyone off to school where they can tell all of their friends about their crazy mother and the terrible trials they must go through to live in this household. Who would ever believe that parents would make their children clean their room, put away clothes, clean the bathroom and take out the trash.....and then take away electronics for a day all over stupid chores.....what a life.
Have a great one.
dea
Thursday, November 20, 2008
oops
New post on Dea's corner. (Only because I hit the wrong button and don't know how to fix it quickly)..
On my way to work. Have a great day!
dea
On my way to work. Have a great day!
dea
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Cuz I'm suppose ta Post....
...So I will try to make this brief. That is one of the reasons I don't post much anymore. My overwhelming need to OVER explain things. I've gotten complaints about my posts being too long; understandably.
There is a real irony here, because one of the other reasons I haven't posted is because I don't have anything to say...
... okay, have the people who know me awakened from their fainting spells?
No really, nothing to say that fits within the format of this blog and is positive in nature.
Still, if I understand the coded message I got from secret agent wife, I'm supposed to post more often. The coded message came in the form of her telling me: "..Oh and I blogged, seeing as how you don't anymore..."
Did I decifer the code correctly?
Here's the news:
Yesterday I returned the chainsaw I ordered from Se@rs. I hadn't used it. I took it out of the box and I wasn't too surprised to find out I had made a mistake. I had done my research to the best of my ability but as usual as of late, it wasn't good enough. I had paid a third more for what should have been a quality machine, but the more I looked at it the more I realized it must have been a bad day at the factory. The assembly wasn't good. The brake wouldn't release (which ironically is why I got rid of my last chainsaw. THAT one only lasted a season). and the manual was too busy telling me not to use it to floss to tell me how to operate it. So I took it back.
Naturally they charged me a 15percent restocking fee...Oh, and the small se@rs store I was at then handed me a gift card because they didn't have the cash on hand...Nice. I could have se@rs send me a check, in a few days...Real Nice.
I've been sick for the last week. This is the week I was supposed to get ready for winter; cutting wood, getting property picked up etc. Oh well.
Lastly, I have removed "The Bible in Context" link. Click the underlined part if you want to go there but I haven't posted anything there for over a year now. I don't forsee me posting anything there in the near future either.
Perhaps in the future I will reformat it and start over. If I do reformat, all the previous posts will be lost. If there were any you wanted to reference to I would suggest you copy them now with my permission.
The site lost it's direction so it's time to close it.
Okay, let's see: this is still too long for what I had to say and still more negative than I wanted to share but on a positive note.....
Mission accomplished!
In case you are worried: God loves me and I love Him. I'm just getting some much needed exercise of my "Grace muscle". Evidently, it needs a lot of "pumping up"!
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You and Give You Peace!
Will
There is a real irony here, because one of the other reasons I haven't posted is because I don't have anything to say...
... okay, have the people who know me awakened from their fainting spells?
No really, nothing to say that fits within the format of this blog and is positive in nature.
Still, if I understand the coded message I got from secret agent wife, I'm supposed to post more often. The coded message came in the form of her telling me: "..Oh and I blogged, seeing as how you don't anymore..."
Did I decifer the code correctly?
Here's the news:
Yesterday I returned the chainsaw I ordered from Se@rs. I hadn't used it. I took it out of the box and I wasn't too surprised to find out I had made a mistake. I had done my research to the best of my ability but as usual as of late, it wasn't good enough. I had paid a third more for what should have been a quality machine, but the more I looked at it the more I realized it must have been a bad day at the factory. The assembly wasn't good. The brake wouldn't release (which ironically is why I got rid of my last chainsaw. THAT one only lasted a season). and the manual was too busy telling me not to use it to floss to tell me how to operate it. So I took it back.
Naturally they charged me a 15percent restocking fee...Oh, and the small se@rs store I was at then handed me a gift card because they didn't have the cash on hand...Nice. I could have se@rs send me a check, in a few days...Real Nice.
I've been sick for the last week. This is the week I was supposed to get ready for winter; cutting wood, getting property picked up etc. Oh well.
Lastly, I have removed "The Bible in Context" link. Click the underlined part if you want to go there but I haven't posted anything there for over a year now. I don't forsee me posting anything there in the near future either.
Perhaps in the future I will reformat it and start over. If I do reformat, all the previous posts will be lost. If there were any you wanted to reference to I would suggest you copy them now with my permission.
The site lost it's direction so it's time to close it.
Okay, let's see: this is still too long for what I had to say and still more negative than I wanted to share but on a positive note.....
Mission accomplished!
In case you are worried: God loves me and I love Him. I'm just getting some much needed exercise of my "Grace muscle". Evidently, it needs a lot of "pumping up"!
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You and Give You Peace!
Will
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
No Secret agent "007"....
Just secret agent "MOM" here. The situation with imaginary people infiltrating our house, caused considerable concern with the governing body of the house. I sent in secret agent "MOM" (yes, I know that's me, but I am incogneto so shhhhh be vewy, vewy quiet we are hunting unknown entities). I started a thorough search of the house.
In my daughter's room-no one, but did find many of the clothes that I washed last week squashed into her sock basket and then covered up with socks. Sound suspicious to me, but she denies any knowledge of the incident. Looked under the bed AHA!!!!! nothing, nada, empty (yep surprised even me)....
Went to the next possible stronghold of the enemy.......Jake's room.
I found the fortress!!! Jackpot! I found right where they have been living....in Jake's closet. Over 30 hangers and 3 loads of dirty clothes later, I had found the bottom of his closet. He had just stacked all the other stuff on top of the stuff that was in there. The surprising thing is that he denies all knowledge of any wrong doing and you know what?
I believe him. My son the 16 year old can beat any video game out there. He can remember every word a teacher says in a lecture and repeat it back to them word for word (or pretty close). He can build huge lego creations in minutes that the directions say should take 4 hours or more, BUT the kid cannot remember where he put things, cannot remember to finish his chores and cannot remember to keep his shoes tied. It is like living with the absent minded professor. It's amazing and frustrating both to live with this kid. I'm very proud of him, but wonder in the future if he will forget his wife and kids when they run to the restroom at a gas station.
That mystery solved we start on the clean up of the situation. I call it mucking out Jake's room. We periodically have to do this with every room in the house. Things get put in weird places and have to be sent back to their original positions, but this room of Jake's is going to take some time because he wants to keep EVERYTHING. He is very sentimental (gets it from me, Will isn't sentimental at all) and it's hard for him to let go of anything which would explain why there was a pair of size 8 pants from 5th grade in his closet. My work is cut out for me on this next mission.
Signing out.
Secret agent "MOM"
In my daughter's room-no one, but did find many of the clothes that I washed last week squashed into her sock basket and then covered up with socks. Sound suspicious to me, but she denies any knowledge of the incident. Looked under the bed AHA!!!!! nothing, nada, empty (yep surprised even me)....
Went to the next possible stronghold of the enemy.......Jake's room.
I found the fortress!!! Jackpot! I found right where they have been living....in Jake's closet. Over 30 hangers and 3 loads of dirty clothes later, I had found the bottom of his closet. He had just stacked all the other stuff on top of the stuff that was in there. The surprising thing is that he denies all knowledge of any wrong doing and you know what?
I believe him. My son the 16 year old can beat any video game out there. He can remember every word a teacher says in a lecture and repeat it back to them word for word (or pretty close). He can build huge lego creations in minutes that the directions say should take 4 hours or more, BUT the kid cannot remember where he put things, cannot remember to finish his chores and cannot remember to keep his shoes tied. It is like living with the absent minded professor. It's amazing and frustrating both to live with this kid. I'm very proud of him, but wonder in the future if he will forget his wife and kids when they run to the restroom at a gas station.
That mystery solved we start on the clean up of the situation. I call it mucking out Jake's room. We periodically have to do this with every room in the house. Things get put in weird places and have to be sent back to their original positions, but this room of Jake's is going to take some time because he wants to keep EVERYTHING. He is very sentimental (gets it from me, Will isn't sentimental at all) and it's hard for him to let go of anything which would explain why there was a pair of size 8 pants from 5th grade in his closet. My work is cut out for me on this next mission.
Signing out.
Secret agent "MOM"
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Proof that imaginary people exist at our house
I now have proof that extra people live at our house. On Friday, I did every little bit of laundry I could find while I had a chance. I asked both kids to bring me their dirty clothes out of their rooms. I checked their floors afterwards, empty....good.
Saturday I get home from work about 1:00 pm and decide to to a quick load of laundry only to find 9 pairs of pants, 12 shirts, 8 pairs of socks, and 3 pairs of underwear in the laundry.....hmmmm.
I now know that there are extra people because according to my last count we only have 4 people living here and I DO NOT DRESS MY DOG IN SILLY OUTFITS! This would mean there is truth to the claims of my children that "I don't know", "not me", "don't ask me" and "it wasn't me" obviously live here too. I must not be able to see them because I am old (kind of like Peter Pan".
Now I just have to figure out which one of them likes to put their dirty shirts back in the laundry basket with a hanger still in them? Any ideas? Probably the one that didn't change their underwear.
Have a great day.
dea
Saturday I get home from work about 1:00 pm and decide to to a quick load of laundry only to find 9 pairs of pants, 12 shirts, 8 pairs of socks, and 3 pairs of underwear in the laundry.....hmmmm.
I now know that there are extra people because according to my last count we only have 4 people living here and I DO NOT DRESS MY DOG IN SILLY OUTFITS! This would mean there is truth to the claims of my children that "I don't know", "not me", "don't ask me" and "it wasn't me" obviously live here too. I must not be able to see them because I am old (kind of like Peter Pan".
Now I just have to figure out which one of them likes to put their dirty shirts back in the laundry basket with a hanger still in them? Any ideas? Probably the one that didn't change their underwear.
Have a great day.
dea
Saturday, November 15, 2008
It takes a computer to show you how dumb you are.
I joined facebook a couple of months ago to see if I could find any old friends from high school. Yippeee! I did.
Actually I found a couple that I used to hang around with alot in band. It is pretty cool to see what they look like now. Of course the down side is that they all look great and it makes me look at myself a little closer. I always thought I didn't look my age, but for cryin' out loud they all look great! What happened? I know that I don't have wrinkles, but I'm pretty sure that the fat keeps them from happening. I'm very active and excercise much more than 10,000 steps per day, don't eat alot, but have this sugar problem. My body does not deal with it well.
Before surgery 18 years ago, I did 175 situps a night. I can see that I am going to have to start doing something again. I'm telling you these people look wonderful! What a hoot.
Now onto why I feel dumb. There are so many things happening on that website, I don't know what button to push next. Shoot, I just figured out email for the most part and now they want me to do what? It's confusing.
Onto other news.....CD is almost ready to be sent for copies to be made. Waiting for the cover from my brother the graphic artist. Hoping to have it ready by the end of November.
Still cleaning and sorting, of course with it rainy and cold here, there's not much I can do outside without catching pneumonia, so that leaves inside. I think that I might go ahead and decorate for Christmas and get it over with. I keep finding more Christmas stuff, might as well put it to good use.
Have a great day!
dea
Actually I found a couple that I used to hang around with alot in band. It is pretty cool to see what they look like now. Of course the down side is that they all look great and it makes me look at myself a little closer. I always thought I didn't look my age, but for cryin' out loud they all look great! What happened? I know that I don't have wrinkles, but I'm pretty sure that the fat keeps them from happening. I'm very active and excercise much more than 10,000 steps per day, don't eat alot, but have this sugar problem. My body does not deal with it well.
Before surgery 18 years ago, I did 175 situps a night. I can see that I am going to have to start doing something again. I'm telling you these people look wonderful! What a hoot.
Now onto why I feel dumb. There are so many things happening on that website, I don't know what button to push next. Shoot, I just figured out email for the most part and now they want me to do what? It's confusing.
Onto other news.....CD is almost ready to be sent for copies to be made. Waiting for the cover from my brother the graphic artist. Hoping to have it ready by the end of November.
Still cleaning and sorting, of course with it rainy and cold here, there's not much I can do outside without catching pneumonia, so that leaves inside. I think that I might go ahead and decorate for Christmas and get it over with. I keep finding more Christmas stuff, might as well put it to good use.
Have a great day!
dea
Thursday, November 13, 2008
UPDATE! NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!
After much prayer on everyone's part God came through once again.....the diamond is found.
Monday after I had discovered it missing I had searched the whole post office, swept most of the floor looking through the dirt pile, looked over the bathroom and gone through all of my mail tubs (I took each one and turned it over and banged it on the counter to make sure it was empty).
Then I went home and spent Tuesday on my hands and knees going over our floors with a broom I had taken the handle off of and swept each surface carefully looking. I then took all of the piles of dirt and put them in a plastic dish pan and swirled the contents like a gold miner would, seperating the dirt from the hard stuff. No diamond.
Through it all I tried to remain calm and tried my best to find things to be thankful for in the situation. After all God says to be thankful in all things and to praise him in every situation. So I tried to do that. It was not easy, but I did find it easier to be less stressed as I was reminding myself that it was just a rock, just a thing. I have a WONDERFUL hubby, 2 loving children, animals that follow me wherever I go, a great family, loving church, food on the table, a house that needs work, but is still ours (and the banks). Things can be replaced. I got a little perspective.
Went to work on Wednesday and was telling people my new perspective. I was actually talking to someone about it when I picked up one of my mail tubs. This was one of the same tubs that I had banged upside down on the counter on Monday and now I pick it up, set it down on the counter top and my diamond flies up in the air about 6 inches and then falls back into the bottom of the tub (plastic dishpan).
Now you tell me what I'm supposed to think about this one.......hold the tub upside down, bang it on the counter and no diamond. Pick up a tub while telling someone that God has it in control and the diamond jumps into the air and catches the light.
Pretty awesome.
I'm still thanking him.
Now let me tell you this...if he can help me in this situation with a little diamond, don't you think we should allow him to handle the bigger stuff too?
Maybe by a problem being too big for us to handle we end up limiting God by thinking it's too big for Him, just because we can't imagine an answer. After this episode, I'm going through all of my problems and rethinking my position. I'm trying to make sure that I have my mind right. Maybe you should too. Nothings too big or too little for God.
Have a great day and remember to give God your diamonds.
dea
Monday after I had discovered it missing I had searched the whole post office, swept most of the floor looking through the dirt pile, looked over the bathroom and gone through all of my mail tubs (I took each one and turned it over and banged it on the counter to make sure it was empty).
Then I went home and spent Tuesday on my hands and knees going over our floors with a broom I had taken the handle off of and swept each surface carefully looking. I then took all of the piles of dirt and put them in a plastic dish pan and swirled the contents like a gold miner would, seperating the dirt from the hard stuff. No diamond.
Through it all I tried to remain calm and tried my best to find things to be thankful for in the situation. After all God says to be thankful in all things and to praise him in every situation. So I tried to do that. It was not easy, but I did find it easier to be less stressed as I was reminding myself that it was just a rock, just a thing. I have a WONDERFUL hubby, 2 loving children, animals that follow me wherever I go, a great family, loving church, food on the table, a house that needs work, but is still ours (and the banks). Things can be replaced. I got a little perspective.
Went to work on Wednesday and was telling people my new perspective. I was actually talking to someone about it when I picked up one of my mail tubs. This was one of the same tubs that I had banged upside down on the counter on Monday and now I pick it up, set it down on the counter top and my diamond flies up in the air about 6 inches and then falls back into the bottom of the tub (plastic dishpan).
Now you tell me what I'm supposed to think about this one.......hold the tub upside down, bang it on the counter and no diamond. Pick up a tub while telling someone that God has it in control and the diamond jumps into the air and catches the light.
Pretty awesome.
I'm still thanking him.
Now let me tell you this...if he can help me in this situation with a little diamond, don't you think we should allow him to handle the bigger stuff too?
Maybe by a problem being too big for us to handle we end up limiting God by thinking it's too big for Him, just because we can't imagine an answer. After this episode, I'm going through all of my problems and rethinking my position. I'm trying to make sure that I have my mind right. Maybe you should too. Nothings too big or too little for God.
Have a great day and remember to give God your diamonds.
dea
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Stupid things...
This time it's really my fault though....
Do you know what happens when you are half asleep when you make coffee?
Answer: You put the water and coffee in and turn it on
Hitch: Only to find out that you had made coffee the night before and the pot was still almost full (because you had forgotten to empty it).
Result: mess
Silver lining: The floor is now mopped
dea
Do you know what happens when you are half asleep when you make coffee?
Answer: You put the water and coffee in and turn it on
Hitch: Only to find out that you had made coffee the night before and the pot was still almost full (because you had forgotten to empty it).
Result: mess
Silver lining: The floor is now mopped
dea
Monday, November 10, 2008
I heard a neat thing....
I was listening to Mark Lowry this morning and he said that his favorite verse was "and it came to pass". I had to think about that for a minute. It's true.
No matter what is going on in your life, it will pass. If things are bad right now, it will pass. If things are crazy, it will pass. Of course if things are great it will pass (figures). It's a great verse (yes I know it's not the whole verse). But thank you God that it will pass.
So no matter what a mess our country is in right now, it will pass. No matter who's in office, it will pass. No matter what trials life keeps throwing at me (like losing the diamond out of my wedding ring) it will pass.
Life is short and we only get one time around on this merry go round, but let the little stuff fall on the wayside, consider the bad stuff temporary and look forward to the good, because all of it shall pass.
I'll tell you now, I'll be really, really glad when some of this junk passes.
Onward, I go........
dea
No matter what is going on in your life, it will pass. If things are bad right now, it will pass. If things are crazy, it will pass. Of course if things are great it will pass (figures). It's a great verse (yes I know it's not the whole verse). But thank you God that it will pass.
So no matter what a mess our country is in right now, it will pass. No matter who's in office, it will pass. No matter what trials life keeps throwing at me (like losing the diamond out of my wedding ring) it will pass.
Life is short and we only get one time around on this merry go round, but let the little stuff fall on the wayside, consider the bad stuff temporary and look forward to the good, because all of it shall pass.
I'll tell you now, I'll be really, really glad when some of this junk passes.
Onward, I go........
dea
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Record a little and laugh alot
We spent 4 1/2 hours in the recording studio this afternoon. It was a blast. A little strange recording with a group, but funny. I've recorded 2 demo tapes before, so I've had the experience of recording by myself. When you are alone you just have your own goof ups to deal with, but with the group there were four other people goofing up too. Not to mention that we managed to forget the words on songs that we have known for years. We'd be going fine and then one of us would screw up. Some times you just had to laugh.
We are going to do some really neat mixing with this CD so we'll see how that turns out. We hope that it will sound like we imagine it. We go and check out the mixing on Thursday. Will with his background in radio and sound is our producer and is working right along with the studio. It's probably better that he does it because if I had my way, we would just turn me down and let everyone else sing. I like being the background support voice.
We had almost 80' weather until Wednesday and then it turned cold. Now it has been snowing for 2 days. Yuck.
I spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning at a tourism conference in Wisconsin Dells. We had a great time, got lots of planning done and learned bunches. I am looking foward to the Governor's Conference on Tourism in March. Lots of exciting stuff happening in tourism in Wisconsin.
The kids went to a lock in at a neighboring church last night. Jacob took Skylar and Jessa had her cousin too. None of them slept at all. This morning, I had kids crashing all over. All except Jake. He was so wound up he could not sleep. Now he's pretty tired, but stil fighting it. I think he'll give up soon and go to bed.
Hope you all have a great day.
dea
We are going to do some really neat mixing with this CD so we'll see how that turns out. We hope that it will sound like we imagine it. We go and check out the mixing on Thursday. Will with his background in radio and sound is our producer and is working right along with the studio. It's probably better that he does it because if I had my way, we would just turn me down and let everyone else sing. I like being the background support voice.
We had almost 80' weather until Wednesday and then it turned cold. Now it has been snowing for 2 days. Yuck.
I spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning at a tourism conference in Wisconsin Dells. We had a great time, got lots of planning done and learned bunches. I am looking foward to the Governor's Conference on Tourism in March. Lots of exciting stuff happening in tourism in Wisconsin.
The kids went to a lock in at a neighboring church last night. Jacob took Skylar and Jessa had her cousin too. None of them slept at all. This morning, I had kids crashing all over. All except Jake. He was so wound up he could not sleep. Now he's pretty tired, but stil fighting it. I think he'll give up soon and go to bed.
Hope you all have a great day.
dea
Thursday, November 06, 2008
What a dog goes through to make you happy
Or maybe I should call it "a day in the life of Sam". Our wonderful black lab loves, I mean loves to bring you a toy. When he comes to see you, he has to bring you something. It's that retriever thing you know.
Well two nights ago he was playing with his "new favorite toy" a laundry basket. Of course after a 100 lb dog plays with it, it's not much of basket. He likes to throw it for himself and then run and fetch it. This has caused the bottom to completely break out of it, so when he carries it around it looks like a basket ball hoop. Of course any time we laugh at him, he has to take it one step farther, so.....
Monday night Will comes home from work and Sam takes him the basket "hoop style" in his mouth. Will says "Hi Sam" and that starts the happy dance. The next thing you know here comes Sam to see me with the basket laying accross his head so that it looks like he is a lion with a main. This silly white clothes basket with a dogs face inside. I laugh and so he has to take it to the next level for Will. He walks away from me towards Will and I see him stop and push it against the floor until it's a big collar type thing. He then parades in to see Will with his new "pretty". What a ham. He ended up taking his new idea around to everyone in the family so they would laugh and that just made him happier. He wore it for a long time before he would let me take it off.
It must have been a lot of work, because as soon as I took it off him, he went to bed. He just turned around like he was done for the day and headed to Jessa's room. I went in to see what he was doing and he walked into the room and just flopped on the floor. I guess making us all laugh had been his goal for the day. Goal accomplished, so time for bed. what a life!
I leave today for a tourism conference in Wisconsin Dells. It's at this resort called Chula Vista. I have not been there since they did this HUGE remodeling project. When I say huge, I mean huge. Millions of dollars went into it, and I am looking forward to seeing the difference.
Watched a musical last night with the kids. It was a tape I had of a musical put on by a church in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Very, very old tape. I think I taped it by accident in 1990 while trying to tape something else. We have watched it almost every Christmas since. It tells the whole story from birth to ressurection. It's pretty cool. Even though the kids kind of groaned during a little of it, they all sat and watched it and didn't talk much at all. It must have been ok.
We start practising for our Christmas program Sunday. We decided to go back and pull out about 6 songs out of musicals that we have done in the past and create a mini musical. The kids are going to be part of it too by doing a play type thing along with it. We'll see if we can pull it all together.
This Sunday is our "potluck" Sunday and we are doing Thanksgiving dinner. Between the conference and recording our CD on Saturday, I need to somehow find the time to make my bread dough cornicopia. I make on out of braided bread dough, bake it with a hard egg glaze and then use it to create a center piece filled with fall gourds, flowers and other tid bits. It's pretty impressive yet extremely simple to do.
The weather is colder now, so I'm going to start using my bread maker again. Something about coming home to the smell of fresh baked bread is very warming. I feel lots of homemade soup and bread nights coming on. Our whole family loves it. A big bowl of thick and creamy potato, cheese and ham soup and homemade bread. Yum, yum.....oh crud now I'm hungry.
Christmas is less than two months away and by the looks of it they will be a very short two months. We am booked solid up until the
14th of December and then we start preparing for Christmas Eve at our house. I think I will cut it back to about 15 kinds of food this year. I'm working on my menu now. Should be fun.
Well, time to finish getting kids ready for school.
Have a great day!
dea
Well two nights ago he was playing with his "new favorite toy" a laundry basket. Of course after a 100 lb dog plays with it, it's not much of basket. He likes to throw it for himself and then run and fetch it. This has caused the bottom to completely break out of it, so when he carries it around it looks like a basket ball hoop. Of course any time we laugh at him, he has to take it one step farther, so.....
Monday night Will comes home from work and Sam takes him the basket "hoop style" in his mouth. Will says "Hi Sam" and that starts the happy dance. The next thing you know here comes Sam to see me with the basket laying accross his head so that it looks like he is a lion with a main. This silly white clothes basket with a dogs face inside. I laugh and so he has to take it to the next level for Will. He walks away from me towards Will and I see him stop and push it against the floor until it's a big collar type thing. He then parades in to see Will with his new "pretty". What a ham. He ended up taking his new idea around to everyone in the family so they would laugh and that just made him happier. He wore it for a long time before he would let me take it off.
It must have been a lot of work, because as soon as I took it off him, he went to bed. He just turned around like he was done for the day and headed to Jessa's room. I went in to see what he was doing and he walked into the room and just flopped on the floor. I guess making us all laugh had been his goal for the day. Goal accomplished, so time for bed. what a life!
I leave today for a tourism conference in Wisconsin Dells. It's at this resort called Chula Vista. I have not been there since they did this HUGE remodeling project. When I say huge, I mean huge. Millions of dollars went into it, and I am looking forward to seeing the difference.
Watched a musical last night with the kids. It was a tape I had of a musical put on by a church in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Very, very old tape. I think I taped it by accident in 1990 while trying to tape something else. We have watched it almost every Christmas since. It tells the whole story from birth to ressurection. It's pretty cool. Even though the kids kind of groaned during a little of it, they all sat and watched it and didn't talk much at all. It must have been ok.
We start practising for our Christmas program Sunday. We decided to go back and pull out about 6 songs out of musicals that we have done in the past and create a mini musical. The kids are going to be part of it too by doing a play type thing along with it. We'll see if we can pull it all together.
This Sunday is our "potluck" Sunday and we are doing Thanksgiving dinner. Between the conference and recording our CD on Saturday, I need to somehow find the time to make my bread dough cornicopia. I make on out of braided bread dough, bake it with a hard egg glaze and then use it to create a center piece filled with fall gourds, flowers and other tid bits. It's pretty impressive yet extremely simple to do.
The weather is colder now, so I'm going to start using my bread maker again. Something about coming home to the smell of fresh baked bread is very warming. I feel lots of homemade soup and bread nights coming on. Our whole family loves it. A big bowl of thick and creamy potato, cheese and ham soup and homemade bread. Yum, yum.....oh crud now I'm hungry.
Christmas is less than two months away and by the looks of it they will be a very short two months. We am booked solid up until the
14th of December and then we start preparing for Christmas Eve at our house. I think I will cut it back to about 15 kinds of food this year. I'm working on my menu now. Should be fun.
Well, time to finish getting kids ready for school.
Have a great day!
dea
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
wordless Wednesday
So much has happened to change my life in the last 24 hours, I am truly speechless.
The one bright moment was Jacob's concert last night. They truly did an awesome job. The men's choir was great! Keep up the good work.
Other than that I am overwhelmed and just pressing on.
God Bless America. We need it.
Have a great day!
dea
The one bright moment was Jacob's concert last night. They truly did an awesome job. The men's choir was great! Keep up the good work.
Other than that I am overwhelmed and just pressing on.
God Bless America. We need it.
Have a great day!
dea
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Election day test
My Dad said something the other day that's been running through my mind. You know there's nothing new under the sun to God. He knows exactly who will win this election. He knows what will happen under the new administration. He knows what supreme court justices will be nominated. He knows it all.
The truth of this election is that it is a test for us. The test is how will we vote and on what reason will we base our vote? Will we base it on party? Will we vote on color? Will we vote on beliefs? Will we vote on morals?
Be very careful how you vote. Consider your reasons.
As for me.......I'm voting the Bible. It's the one infallible thing in this world. The WORD OF GOD. Vote what the Bible says and that's the only way to make sure that your vote counts in ways that it should. Vote morals surely, vote character surely, vote for patriotism surely, vote for beliefs but please vote for what the Bible says is important (you can bet your bottom dollar that it isn't color, charisma, style or empty promises). In my opinion it's babies and where we will stand when the trumpet sounds.
Pray about it. VOTE. Then pray some more.
God Bless America.
dea
The truth of this election is that it is a test for us. The test is how will we vote and on what reason will we base our vote? Will we base it on party? Will we vote on color? Will we vote on beliefs? Will we vote on morals?
Be very careful how you vote. Consider your reasons.
As for me.......I'm voting the Bible. It's the one infallible thing in this world. The WORD OF GOD. Vote what the Bible says and that's the only way to make sure that your vote counts in ways that it should. Vote morals surely, vote character surely, vote for patriotism surely, vote for beliefs but please vote for what the Bible says is important (you can bet your bottom dollar that it isn't color, charisma, style or empty promises). In my opinion it's babies and where we will stand when the trumpet sounds.
Pray about it. VOTE. Then pray some more.
God Bless America.
dea
Monday, November 03, 2008
Usually I love daylight savings time, but...
I always love that day when the clocks fall back and I can get another hours sleep before I need to get ready for church. Yesterday morning started out with me laying in the bed (I went back to sleep after Will left for work). I was just laying there saying thank you to God for "blankets". Have you ever thought about blankets? They are wonderful. I just love laying there being all warm and cozy. Blankets are wonderful until that moment comes when you just cannot lie still any longer. As I get older that moment comes earlier and earlier. This morning it came at 3:30 am. Oh joy.
This morning I made the mistake of thinking about something that I needed to get done today and then my mind went to finances, which are tight right now. Oh great....now there's no going back to sleep. I look over and would love to wake up my hubby and talk to him, so it's time to get out of the bed. I know he's exhausted from working all weekend, so on Mondays I let him sleep in.
Although, no matter what I do unless I really try to wake him up, he won't. I have no idea how he can sleep so hard. Any little noise wakes me up. Any time anything happens, I feel like Gladys Cravitz on Bewitched..."Abner wake up and go out and check on the neighbors".
We had a benefit yesterday for a little girl that lives here in the community who has terrible health problems. It sure makes you appreciate your kids (or at least it should). Then when we came home I spent the rest of the afternoon with Jessa. Jake was at a friend's house and actually came home early. I still wonder what he did. He is forever getting home late. We were surprised.
I read an article the other day that really put things in perspective. The lady was griping because her family was so busy and she had to really work to have them all sit down at a meal together. She had tried to do it one night a week for all of their lives, which due to scheduling was really hard. Then she realized that her girls were growing up and she sat down and figured it out that if she had dinner with them one night a week until they graduated, she only had 104 family night dinners with them left. She went into it with a different attitude and then after it was over said "Only 103 left". Sure puts a different spin on things.
I have resolved to simplify my life. I started deep cleaning last year and each time I can, I still do. I am trying to get things working smoothly and remove clutter from our lives. Not easy when we are all busy and have so much "stuff". I have our stuff, dead people's stuff from my ancestors, Cranfest paperwork, etc and that's just the family stuff. That does not include Will's stuff, Jake's HUGE amount of stuff (he's a collector) and Jessa's stuff. It's hard, but we are working on it. I know that we will never be one of those families that live in a house that has no clutter on shelves, tables, or counter tops, but I'm trying to find a place for everything and sometimes it even works.
Have a great day.
dea
This morning I made the mistake of thinking about something that I needed to get done today and then my mind went to finances, which are tight right now. Oh great....now there's no going back to sleep. I look over and would love to wake up my hubby and talk to him, so it's time to get out of the bed. I know he's exhausted from working all weekend, so on Mondays I let him sleep in.
Although, no matter what I do unless I really try to wake him up, he won't. I have no idea how he can sleep so hard. Any little noise wakes me up. Any time anything happens, I feel like Gladys Cravitz on Bewitched..."Abner wake up and go out and check on the neighbors".
We had a benefit yesterday for a little girl that lives here in the community who has terrible health problems. It sure makes you appreciate your kids (or at least it should). Then when we came home I spent the rest of the afternoon with Jessa. Jake was at a friend's house and actually came home early. I still wonder what he did. He is forever getting home late. We were surprised.
I read an article the other day that really put things in perspective. The lady was griping because her family was so busy and she had to really work to have them all sit down at a meal together. She had tried to do it one night a week for all of their lives, which due to scheduling was really hard. Then she realized that her girls were growing up and she sat down and figured it out that if she had dinner with them one night a week until they graduated, she only had 104 family night dinners with them left. She went into it with a different attitude and then after it was over said "Only 103 left". Sure puts a different spin on things.
I have resolved to simplify my life. I started deep cleaning last year and each time I can, I still do. I am trying to get things working smoothly and remove clutter from our lives. Not easy when we are all busy and have so much "stuff". I have our stuff, dead people's stuff from my ancestors, Cranfest paperwork, etc and that's just the family stuff. That does not include Will's stuff, Jake's HUGE amount of stuff (he's a collector) and Jessa's stuff. It's hard, but we are working on it. I know that we will never be one of those families that live in a house that has no clutter on shelves, tables, or counter tops, but I'm trying to find a place for everything and sometimes it even works.
Have a great day.
dea
Thursday, October 30, 2008
life in the fast lane stuck on "hurry up"
We are in the fall rush here at the funny farm. Our weather the last couple of days and for the weekend is supposed to be warmer than usual. We had almost 60 yesterday and today is supposed to be in the mid 60's. I have a list of a bunch of stuff to do that is about a mile long...all stuff that has to get done before the weather kicks in. The kids are home for the next two days because of some type of conference, so they will help too. I'm hoping we can get most of it done. It would be a great blessing.
Ok, so on to our "miracle" last night. I had the youth group lesson planned around the kids watching the short pixar video in front of the movie "Monsters Inc". We started looking for the movie and could not find it. I was very frustrated because when you are looking for one thing you manage to find lots and lots of things that were not put back where they are supposed to go. It really gets my goat. I was trying to stay calm and I went in to look in our storage room in the apartment when I noticed that the stuffed animals on the floor and the metal music stand were "hot" to touch. This should not have been so I started looking, somehow the electric baseboard heater in that room had been turned on. I quick grabbed everything off and turned it back off. Thank you God for missing movies that saved our house from burning down. If that movie had not been missing, I never would have gone into that room. Possibly no one would have for days. Whew!
What a strange thing that almost immediately after I turned off the heater, I came in and found the movie right on the shelf. Coincidence?
I and two other moms took the youth group to that Reggie Dabbs concert the other night. If he comes to your town.....GO!!! Take every kid you can find and head them in there to see him! He reaches kids with music and skits and then he gets right down to the heart of the problem. The kids need Jesus. When he was done, over 100 kids headed down to accept the Lord and receive counseling and prayer. I was in tears a good part of the night trying not to let my kids see. They always tease their old mother who cries at anything......it was hard let me tell you. He touches nerves on every one attending and makes you think about what is important. He even reached one of the "goth" real Hard cases that I have been praying for forever it seems. This kid is the epitomy of "attitude and hardness" yet there she was down there with tears streaming down her face asking for prayer. It was a great night. Although I would suggest that parents take ear plugs (older ears are just not meant to have that much stress). The music was fine (rock but it was fine) it's just the "loud" part. My whole body was vibrating to the music, Will probably would have loved it.
Well, I'm off to clean my kitchen, make a pot of soup and then off to work.
Have a great day.
dea
Ok, so on to our "miracle" last night. I had the youth group lesson planned around the kids watching the short pixar video in front of the movie "Monsters Inc". We started looking for the movie and could not find it. I was very frustrated because when you are looking for one thing you manage to find lots and lots of things that were not put back where they are supposed to go. It really gets my goat. I was trying to stay calm and I went in to look in our storage room in the apartment when I noticed that the stuffed animals on the floor and the metal music stand were "hot" to touch. This should not have been so I started looking, somehow the electric baseboard heater in that room had been turned on. I quick grabbed everything off and turned it back off. Thank you God for missing movies that saved our house from burning down. If that movie had not been missing, I never would have gone into that room. Possibly no one would have for days. Whew!
What a strange thing that almost immediately after I turned off the heater, I came in and found the movie right on the shelf. Coincidence?
I and two other moms took the youth group to that Reggie Dabbs concert the other night. If he comes to your town.....GO!!! Take every kid you can find and head them in there to see him! He reaches kids with music and skits and then he gets right down to the heart of the problem. The kids need Jesus. When he was done, over 100 kids headed down to accept the Lord and receive counseling and prayer. I was in tears a good part of the night trying not to let my kids see. They always tease their old mother who cries at anything......it was hard let me tell you. He touches nerves on every one attending and makes you think about what is important. He even reached one of the "goth" real Hard cases that I have been praying for forever it seems. This kid is the epitomy of "attitude and hardness" yet there she was down there with tears streaming down her face asking for prayer. It was a great night. Although I would suggest that parents take ear plugs (older ears are just not meant to have that much stress). The music was fine (rock but it was fine) it's just the "loud" part. My whole body was vibrating to the music, Will probably would have loved it.
Well, I'm off to clean my kitchen, make a pot of soup and then off to work.
Have a great day.
dea
Monday, October 27, 2008
A busy, busy weekend
I actually called in sick to work on Friday. It does not happen very often, but I felt yucky. The longer I was up the worse I felt. I tried keeping busy and just ignoring it, but it would not go away. About 9:00 I just quit and went back to bed. I think I slept until noon. What a strange day for me.
Saturday morning our group left bright and early for Rockford. We were singing in a concert that night. It was also the 25th anniversary for Hooters. Doesn't that make a strange combination, Hooters and gospel music? To explain.....my brother is responsible for the graphic art for almost all of the graphic art stuff for Hooter's 25th anniversary National campaign. We figured we should go and see his work. It was fun. My parents in a Hooters is an interesting experience. We ended up watching the Wisconsin/Illinois game. I also got to try fried dill pickles. I've been wanting to for a long time, but never found them in any of the restaurants that we'd been to. They were tasty. I think though that being the pickle lover that I am, that I would make the slices a little thicker myself, in order to get more of the pickle flavor. Anyway, it was something to mark off of my "want to do" list. David did great work on the ad stuff too.
We headed back to my Aunt's house for a wonderful afternoon of pictures, movies and remembering. It was fun and kind of melancholy in some ways seeing movies of people who are not with us any more. Especially my Gram. I still miss her every day and could kick myself for all of the things that I did not ask her, although I tried to ask her as many questions as I could. So much knowledge goes when our older loved ones die. What a loss. Besides the heartache of losing them, look at all the wisdom that's gone. Anyway, it was a fun day.
Then the concert at the church. It was fun too. We left right after we sang. Which got me home around 12:45 am. I do not deal well with late nights. I was so wound up even though I was exhausted, it was hard to go to sleep.
Sunday we took everyone from the church who would come and went out to a huge field and marked out the boundaries of Noah's ark. I think everyone was impressed. I don't think you can really get your mind wrapped around it unless you actually see it. When you hear 450'X75'X45' you think, that's pretty big, but when you see it. WOW. If the weather hadn't been so crappy I think it would have been even better, but I think it was a hit no matter what. Then..... it started to snow.
We had snow showers all afternoon and very blustery winds. We delivered Jessa's fund raiser stuff and then came home for lunch. Will and I ate and then took a nap. We don't get the chance for that very often, but I needed one and he doesn't turn a Sunday afternoon nap down if he can help it. Ask him, he'll agree.
Last night was a benefit pancake supper at our old church and then we headed a couple of towns over for another concert. That was fun. Different and we goofed up like usual, but the people seemed to enjoy it. All in all, I think we got about 15 orders for our new CD that we have not even recorded yet. I guess we'd better get it done now. We start recording the 8th.
Tonight we take the youth group to see Reggie Dabbs, a Christian speaker they saw at LifeFest. He was their favorite and they came home and watched everything they could off the internet about him. He made quite an impression and he is going to be in Sparta tonight. The kids are all excited.
Well, time to get kids rounded up for school. They are supposedly getting ready, but they're pretty quiet, which could mean, many, many things. I'd better check on them.
Hope you have a great day!
By the way, if you get a couple of minutes watch the last two sermons from our church (link on the right lsfw.org). One is called "lessons of a cranberry"and the other is called "wild fires". They are really, really good and very pertinent to today's world and how things should be with us. Try them out. It's worth the few minutes it will take.
See ya,
dea
Saturday morning our group left bright and early for Rockford. We were singing in a concert that night. It was also the 25th anniversary for Hooters. Doesn't that make a strange combination, Hooters and gospel music? To explain.....my brother is responsible for the graphic art for almost all of the graphic art stuff for Hooter's 25th anniversary National campaign. We figured we should go and see his work. It was fun. My parents in a Hooters is an interesting experience. We ended up watching the Wisconsin/Illinois game. I also got to try fried dill pickles. I've been wanting to for a long time, but never found them in any of the restaurants that we'd been to. They were tasty. I think though that being the pickle lover that I am, that I would make the slices a little thicker myself, in order to get more of the pickle flavor. Anyway, it was something to mark off of my "want to do" list. David did great work on the ad stuff too.
We headed back to my Aunt's house for a wonderful afternoon of pictures, movies and remembering. It was fun and kind of melancholy in some ways seeing movies of people who are not with us any more. Especially my Gram. I still miss her every day and could kick myself for all of the things that I did not ask her, although I tried to ask her as many questions as I could. So much knowledge goes when our older loved ones die. What a loss. Besides the heartache of losing them, look at all the wisdom that's gone. Anyway, it was a fun day.
Then the concert at the church. It was fun too. We left right after we sang. Which got me home around 12:45 am. I do not deal well with late nights. I was so wound up even though I was exhausted, it was hard to go to sleep.
Sunday we took everyone from the church who would come and went out to a huge field and marked out the boundaries of Noah's ark. I think everyone was impressed. I don't think you can really get your mind wrapped around it unless you actually see it. When you hear 450'X75'X45' you think, that's pretty big, but when you see it. WOW. If the weather hadn't been so crappy I think it would have been even better, but I think it was a hit no matter what. Then..... it started to snow.
We had snow showers all afternoon and very blustery winds. We delivered Jessa's fund raiser stuff and then came home for lunch. Will and I ate and then took a nap. We don't get the chance for that very often, but I needed one and he doesn't turn a Sunday afternoon nap down if he can help it. Ask him, he'll agree.
Last night was a benefit pancake supper at our old church and then we headed a couple of towns over for another concert. That was fun. Different and we goofed up like usual, but the people seemed to enjoy it. All in all, I think we got about 15 orders for our new CD that we have not even recorded yet. I guess we'd better get it done now. We start recording the 8th.
Tonight we take the youth group to see Reggie Dabbs, a Christian speaker they saw at LifeFest. He was their favorite and they came home and watched everything they could off the internet about him. He made quite an impression and he is going to be in Sparta tonight. The kids are all excited.
Well, time to get kids rounded up for school. They are supposedly getting ready, but they're pretty quiet, which could mean, many, many things. I'd better check on them.
Hope you have a great day!
By the way, if you get a couple of minutes watch the last two sermons from our church (link on the right lsfw.org). One is called "lessons of a cranberry"and the other is called "wild fires". They are really, really good and very pertinent to today's world and how things should be with us. Try them out. It's worth the few minutes it will take.
See ya,
dea
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I've got a big head and little arms
Youth group last night was VERY interesting. All of the kids were tired so they all got very punchy. Just the littlest thing made them giggle. By the time the night was over, I just gave up and went with it. Here we were talking about Zacharia and Elizabeth and someone came up with an imitation of the dinosaur in the movie "Meet the Robinsons". From there it just got worse. Everything seemed to remind them of that dumb movie. We managed to get the lesson done and then I just let them go. There's something about a room full of kids all doing that imitation.....I thought to myself "and there's the future of our country". That made me laugh. What a night.
Tuesday night was Jessalyn's concert. She did a wonderful, wonderful job. She sang in the 6th grade choir and then also sang and danced in show choir. It was a lot of work, but I think her favorite part was the ice cream afterwards. It has always been our tradition that when we got done with any concert from the middle school or high school we go out for icecream at McD's. When she was in elementary school we could not go because her school was in Warrens and the ice cream was 13 miles away. By the time we got there and got back home, it would have been wayyyyy too late. So she has been looking forward to icecream ever since. Kids are cute.
The weather is getting downright nippy lately. I'm not ready for winter. I do not have time for it yet. I still have painting and staining to do. I still have yard work to do. I just wish I had about 7 days at home with no interruptions. Not that I don't love my family, because I really do, but when there are others here it's too easy to get caught up in something they are doing or something that they need. It makes it hard for me to get done the things I need to. When it's just me and my shadows (Sam and Gabby), I can get tons and tons of stuff done. Yesterday afternoon was the first day that I have been home by myself after work in a long time when I did not have prior commitments. Productive afternoon. I hope today is the same.
Our singing group New Journey had a meeting with the recording studio on Monday. We are hoping to start recording on the 10th of November. It should be interesting with a few twists in what we record. We don't do anything the normal way. We have a couple of ideas on ways to make it a special CD. Saturday we have a concert in Rockford and then Sunday at a semi local church here. Things are really busy in that area right now. Strange.
Well, I need to get kids to school. Here's a link to that funny scene that the kids were acting out last night. It's the movie trailer so the dinosaur isn't until the end, but it will make you smile. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S396-fnLldk (hopefully it works, I have not ever done that before)
Hope you have a great day.
dea
Tuesday night was Jessalyn's concert. She did a wonderful, wonderful job. She sang in the 6th grade choir and then also sang and danced in show choir. It was a lot of work, but I think her favorite part was the ice cream afterwards. It has always been our tradition that when we got done with any concert from the middle school or high school we go out for icecream at McD's. When she was in elementary school we could not go because her school was in Warrens and the ice cream was 13 miles away. By the time we got there and got back home, it would have been wayyyyy too late. So she has been looking forward to icecream ever since. Kids are cute.
The weather is getting downright nippy lately. I'm not ready for winter. I do not have time for it yet. I still have painting and staining to do. I still have yard work to do. I just wish I had about 7 days at home with no interruptions. Not that I don't love my family, because I really do, but when there are others here it's too easy to get caught up in something they are doing or something that they need. It makes it hard for me to get done the things I need to. When it's just me and my shadows (Sam and Gabby), I can get tons and tons of stuff done. Yesterday afternoon was the first day that I have been home by myself after work in a long time when I did not have prior commitments. Productive afternoon. I hope today is the same.
Our singing group New Journey had a meeting with the recording studio on Monday. We are hoping to start recording on the 10th of November. It should be interesting with a few twists in what we record. We don't do anything the normal way. We have a couple of ideas on ways to make it a special CD. Saturday we have a concert in Rockford and then Sunday at a semi local church here. Things are really busy in that area right now. Strange.
Well, I need to get kids to school. Here's a link to that funny scene that the kids were acting out last night. It's the movie trailer so the dinosaur isn't until the end, but it will make you smile. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S396-fnLldk (hopefully it works, I have not ever done that before)
Hope you have a great day.
dea
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Boy I'm old......
I remember the days of my youth when I was just getting ready to go out at 10:00 pm. I remember just going to bed at 4:00 am. For some stupid reason, most of those times are fond memories..... most of them. I was never a "drinker" so when we went out dancing I drank soda. I just went for my friends and the dancing. I suppose I was a good one to have around because there was always a designated driver when I was there and believe me they needed one. Thankfully all of them are over it now. We have all turned into quite respectable people these days. The fact still remains though and I proved it last night....I am no longer young. Even more, I am no longer a night owl. I've known it a long time, but it was proven last night once again.
Jacob our almost 16 year old young man wanted to take his girl to the homecoming dance. He was going to meet her there because he does not drive yet, but he had to get there. The dance started at 8:00 pm. and then he wanted to get picked up around 10:00 to go to a friend's house for an all night party. I volunteered to be his driver because Will has to work this weekend. Normally late night stuff is his because he still is a night owl. By the time I got home at 11:30 I almost had to crawl into the house. What a bummer.
When we were planning this, I thought cool I'll just go to a movie. Yeah right. 2 horror flicks, something about porn and something else about a little taco bell type dog were my choices. NO movie. So, the only thing left is eating. No thank you. So I went to the only other thing available "our local Wa*mart" OPEN 24 Hours! Can you feel the excitement? I didn't want to buy anything so I wandered around for an hour looking at stuff. What a night....window shopping. I could only stand it for an hour. I ended up at our local McD's drinking a coke, eating an apple and walnut salad and watching Law and Order (don't ask me which one).
I go back to get Jake who has had a wonderful time and he tells me all about it. He also tells me that he and a friend did this dance for the whole school.....what a hoot. You have to imagine tall skinny Jacob and his shorter friend doing this.I have posted the video so that you can get an idea. I guess they even tried the throw at the end, but the one chickened out. I would think it will be the talk of the school for awhile. My boy the class clown.
Time for church have a great day!
dea
Jacob our almost 16 year old young man wanted to take his girl to the homecoming dance. He was going to meet her there because he does not drive yet, but he had to get there. The dance started at 8:00 pm. and then he wanted to get picked up around 10:00 to go to a friend's house for an all night party. I volunteered to be his driver because Will has to work this weekend. Normally late night stuff is his because he still is a night owl. By the time I got home at 11:30 I almost had to crawl into the house. What a bummer.
When we were planning this, I thought cool I'll just go to a movie. Yeah right. 2 horror flicks, something about porn and something else about a little taco bell type dog were my choices. NO movie. So, the only thing left is eating. No thank you. So I went to the only other thing available "our local Wa*mart" OPEN 24 Hours! Can you feel the excitement? I didn't want to buy anything so I wandered around for an hour looking at stuff. What a night....window shopping. I could only stand it for an hour. I ended up at our local McD's drinking a coke, eating an apple and walnut salad and watching Law and Order (don't ask me which one).
I go back to get Jake who has had a wonderful time and he tells me all about it. He also tells me that he and a friend did this dance for the whole school.....what a hoot. You have to imagine tall skinny Jacob and his shorter friend doing this.I have posted the video so that you can get an idea. I guess they even tried the throw at the end, but the one chickened out. I would think it will be the talk of the school for awhile. My boy the class clown.
Time for church have a great day!
dea
Thursday, October 16, 2008
You're never gonna believe this....
Tah....Dah......Today I drove the piece of junk jeep and NOTHING happened! No accidents, no horn honking at me AFTER I'd gotten out of the jeep, no tire falling off......wierd.
Now what do I do with the rest of my day? No trauma....hmmmmm. wierd.
It's beautiful outside, so I guess I'll go out and weed eat until Jake gets home and then I have to turn him into the "jogging ghost" from Ghost Busters. You see it's Homecoming at Tomah High School. I remember what a big deal it was for me at my High School. No one could ever say that Wakulla High and the War Eagles did not whoop it up at homecoming time. Although we did not really have a parade and that is one of the big things around here. It's held after dark so all of the floats are lit up. We also have a Christmas Parade in December where the floats are lit too. It sure makes for a neat parade. It's supposed to be pretty chilly tonight so we'll take the blankets along. Jacob is not as much "into" his school as I was. I guess he takes after his Dad. Probably a guy thing. He does love a parade though. He sure is a ham.
Tomorrow night is Will's anniversary party for work. We get to eat on the company's check and enjoy prime rib, steak and shrimp. What the heck it's a free meal. Even if we don't really know if we will know any of the people there. You just never know what will happen at one of these things.
A week from Sunday the youth group I'm working with are going to get everyone in the church to help us and we are heading out to a huge parking field we use during Cranfest. We are going to use people as markers and measure out the dimensions of Noah's Ark. The kids cannot wrap their head around the size of it all, so we are going to see just how big it really was. With all the people standing on the perimeter of the dimensions, it should give them a better idea. I think that some of the adults will be surprised too. Maybe we can get a picture.
Well time to go and get ready for the ghost. Hope you have a great day!
dea
Now what do I do with the rest of my day? No trauma....hmmmmm. wierd.
It's beautiful outside, so I guess I'll go out and weed eat until Jake gets home and then I have to turn him into the "jogging ghost" from Ghost Busters. You see it's Homecoming at Tomah High School. I remember what a big deal it was for me at my High School. No one could ever say that Wakulla High and the War Eagles did not whoop it up at homecoming time. Although we did not really have a parade and that is one of the big things around here. It's held after dark so all of the floats are lit up. We also have a Christmas Parade in December where the floats are lit too. It sure makes for a neat parade. It's supposed to be pretty chilly tonight so we'll take the blankets along. Jacob is not as much "into" his school as I was. I guess he takes after his Dad. Probably a guy thing. He does love a parade though. He sure is a ham.
Tomorrow night is Will's anniversary party for work. We get to eat on the company's check and enjoy prime rib, steak and shrimp. What the heck it's a free meal. Even if we don't really know if we will know any of the people there. You just never know what will happen at one of these things.
A week from Sunday the youth group I'm working with are going to get everyone in the church to help us and we are heading out to a huge parking field we use during Cranfest. We are going to use people as markers and measure out the dimensions of Noah's Ark. The kids cannot wrap their head around the size of it all, so we are going to see just how big it really was. With all the people standing on the perimeter of the dimensions, it should give them a better idea. I think that some of the adults will be surprised too. Maybe we can get a picture.
Well time to go and get ready for the ghost. Hope you have a great day!
dea
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I think my arm is falling off
Actually, it might feel better if it did. I am not really complaining because a little tyl*nol and I'm better. You see Monday I had one of the most productive days I've had in years. Everything just seemed to go great. By 10:00 I had accomplished some of the stuff I'd been trying to get done for a long time. I had the day off so I could get started on stuff as soon as the kids got on the bus at 6:20 am. I was ready to go. I would say and then I was off and running but it seems that I'm always running and my hubby tells me I'm a little "off" most of the time.
Everything went really well and just when I was feeling like I needed a break here came my friends Vicki and Judy. They were ready to go to work. What a blessing! They helped me unstack a wood pile and then restack it. You see we have a wood room and the wood in it is very dry, but the wood outside is still wet from being in the weather. We took the dry out, brought the wet in and then restacked the dry on top of the wet. It would have taken me forever by myself, but with their help it went really fast. I think it only took us about 2 hours. What a day! Bunches of stuff done and it's only lunch time.
We came in and ate and then worked some more around the house. I have really, really great friends in them and they love to work. They enjoy helping others and I enjoy being helped. We laugh quite a bit and that's fun.
They had to head out so I kept going and kept working until it was time to get ready for our Cranfest meeting.
The meeting started at 6:00 pm and I finally got home around 10:40 pm. It was a long meeting, but we got lots of stuff ironed out after the festival. Many times that's the best time to do it while the problems that we had during the fest are still fresh in our minds. Still lots of stuff on the list to fix for next year, but all in all it went pretty well. When I finally got home I could not sleep for a long, long time. I don't know if I was tired or if I just had too much going on in my mind (now there's a laugh don't you think?). Anyway, I last looked at the clock at 12:30 and when I needed to get up with Will at 4:30 or so, it took a while to make myself get out of the bed.
BUT what a day! I got soooooo much done and the stupid things rule didn't happen once.... well I did drop a whole container of car wax onto the ground. Green goop all over, but that's minor when I'm around.
But then the other shoe dropped yesterday..... work after Columbus Day. Now we all know that the government makes us take the day off and I'm grateful (this time), but most of the time we are the only place that is closed. Monday was one of those days.....no one else was closed. So, the mail was high, high volume. On these type days, high stands for the stacks of mail waiting for me when I got into the office. If you stood all the mail that I got yesterday next to each other and measured it from one side to the other it was over 32 feet of mail for me to sort by address, take out and deliver. So I started and then finished late and then went out and helped two or three other routes finish their routes by taking the last hour of each and delivering them. Hope I didn't goof up too much.
Although they were both very productive the last two days are the reason my arm is falling off or would feel better if it did. All that stacking and the other work that I did plus handling those heavy, heavy bunches of mail that went into each box for 10 hours will wear one piddly, out of shape arm, out pretty darn quick. It was worth it though 100 times over for all that I got done.
The only spoiler about yesterday was that as I was sitting down checking emails last night just at dusk, I heard someone hit a deer outside with their car. It's a very distinct thud that is made. As soon as I heard it I knew. I headed in to get our light cannon in case they needed it out there because is was getting pretty dark quick. I got there just as the man had pulled the deer into the ditch and driven away. It was a fawn. Now I know that hunting is important to many people and I know they enjoy it, but unless my family was starving there is no way I could kill anything. I'm too much of a softie. I almost started crying looking at that poor little thing laying there. I'm sure glad I made the kids stay home so that they didn't have to see it. Jessalyn still wants to be a vet, so she probably would have wanted to try to do mouth to mouth or something.....it's very traumatic for a 12 year old animal enthusiast to see hurt or dead animals. She really has a tough time when she cannot make things better.
Will came home just slap worn out last night. He's sleeping in this morning. It's raining and they've had him working on the lines that carry the big windows and doors. Not bad if you are only there for a little while, but a whole day of picking up sliding glass doors, french doors or picture windows will wear a person out. He's all tuckered out and in pain. Poor baby. I'll let him sleep and he'll feel better for it when he wakes up. He put me in pain just watching him walk last night.
Hey, I just realized my arm feels better now that I'm up and walking around. Thank you God. Works for me. No pain at all......good deal.
Have a great day.
dea
Everything went really well and just when I was feeling like I needed a break here came my friends Vicki and Judy. They were ready to go to work. What a blessing! They helped me unstack a wood pile and then restack it. You see we have a wood room and the wood in it is very dry, but the wood outside is still wet from being in the weather. We took the dry out, brought the wet in and then restacked the dry on top of the wet. It would have taken me forever by myself, but with their help it went really fast. I think it only took us about 2 hours. What a day! Bunches of stuff done and it's only lunch time.
We came in and ate and then worked some more around the house. I have really, really great friends in them and they love to work. They enjoy helping others and I enjoy being helped. We laugh quite a bit and that's fun.
They had to head out so I kept going and kept working until it was time to get ready for our Cranfest meeting.
The meeting started at 6:00 pm and I finally got home around 10:40 pm. It was a long meeting, but we got lots of stuff ironed out after the festival. Many times that's the best time to do it while the problems that we had during the fest are still fresh in our minds. Still lots of stuff on the list to fix for next year, but all in all it went pretty well. When I finally got home I could not sleep for a long, long time. I don't know if I was tired or if I just had too much going on in my mind (now there's a laugh don't you think?). Anyway, I last looked at the clock at 12:30 and when I needed to get up with Will at 4:30 or so, it took a while to make myself get out of the bed.
BUT what a day! I got soooooo much done and the stupid things rule didn't happen once.... well I did drop a whole container of car wax onto the ground. Green goop all over, but that's minor when I'm around.
But then the other shoe dropped yesterday..... work after Columbus Day. Now we all know that the government makes us take the day off and I'm grateful (this time), but most of the time we are the only place that is closed. Monday was one of those days.....no one else was closed. So, the mail was high, high volume. On these type days, high stands for the stacks of mail waiting for me when I got into the office. If you stood all the mail that I got yesterday next to each other and measured it from one side to the other it was over 32 feet of mail for me to sort by address, take out and deliver. So I started and then finished late and then went out and helped two or three other routes finish their routes by taking the last hour of each and delivering them. Hope I didn't goof up too much.
Although they were both very productive the last two days are the reason my arm is falling off or would feel better if it did. All that stacking and the other work that I did plus handling those heavy, heavy bunches of mail that went into each box for 10 hours will wear one piddly, out of shape arm, out pretty darn quick. It was worth it though 100 times over for all that I got done.
The only spoiler about yesterday was that as I was sitting down checking emails last night just at dusk, I heard someone hit a deer outside with their car. It's a very distinct thud that is made. As soon as I heard it I knew. I headed in to get our light cannon in case they needed it out there because is was getting pretty dark quick. I got there just as the man had pulled the deer into the ditch and driven away. It was a fawn. Now I know that hunting is important to many people and I know they enjoy it, but unless my family was starving there is no way I could kill anything. I'm too much of a softie. I almost started crying looking at that poor little thing laying there. I'm sure glad I made the kids stay home so that they didn't have to see it. Jessalyn still wants to be a vet, so she probably would have wanted to try to do mouth to mouth or something.....it's very traumatic for a 12 year old animal enthusiast to see hurt or dead animals. She really has a tough time when she cannot make things better.
Will came home just slap worn out last night. He's sleeping in this morning. It's raining and they've had him working on the lines that carry the big windows and doors. Not bad if you are only there for a little while, but a whole day of picking up sliding glass doors, french doors or picture windows will wear a person out. He's all tuckered out and in pain. Poor baby. I'll let him sleep and he'll feel better for it when he wakes up. He put me in pain just watching him walk last night.
Hey, I just realized my arm feels better now that I'm up and walking around. Thank you God. Works for me. No pain at all......good deal.
Have a great day.
dea
Sunday, October 12, 2008
No computers for 2 days!!
We have been pulling up the old blue carpeting and installing the new berber carpeting the last couple of days. My hubby is wonderful! Between the kids and Will they really, really did a spectacular job with the room. I'm so happy that it's not blue any more! Now the computers are up and running. Life is getting back to normal or at least our version of normal.
Tomorrow is Columbus Day, so I'm going to do my fall "spring" cleaning. I started today and will keep going tomorrow. I hope that I can get tons and tons of stuff done tomorrow. My main problem is usually my energy runs out before the list of stuff runs out. We'll see how it goes.
Tomorrow night is the first Cranfest meeting since the festival. It should be interesting. People usually write reports on what they thought went well and what they thought didn't , then we read through them all. It can get interesting. It might be a long night.
It has been beautiful weather around here. In the high 70's and sunny. Sure wish it could stay like this a little longer (like about 4 months or so). Winter gets pretty long when you drive around in it with your window open. I'm not looking forward to it.
We had a bonfire with the youth group last night. It was fun. The kids all ran around playing Ghost in the Graveyard and the adults sat around the bonfire. Something strange about that, but it was fun. Hot dogs and smores are always good on a chilly night. Next month we plan on having a hay ride for the fun time. Then in December making cookies with the kids and giving away gift bakets.
Today was potluck and it was good. I made cupcakes and Jessa frosted them with orange frosting and then poked pretzel sticks into the top for pumpkin stems. I also made chicken and dumplings, saucy chicken casserole and corn casserole. I always like to make sure that there is enough food to go around. You never know when everyone will bring desserts and no one brings anything else, or else it's all jello or all salads. I try to bring a whole meal to make sure it's covered. It's what I do.....weird.
We finally have enough money saved to record our CD with our group. I am really looking forward to it. We wanted to do it while Uncle Lloyd was alive, but never could get the money and the time all at the same time. Now we are going to try to get it together for recording the beginning of November. We are really praying that it will all go together quickly and well. I'm still working on getting a copy of the program and parade from Cranfest. I would like to have the tv station's copy so that it might be a little better quality.
Hope you all have a great day tomorrow.
God Bless.
dea
Tomorrow is Columbus Day, so I'm going to do my fall "spring" cleaning. I started today and will keep going tomorrow. I hope that I can get tons and tons of stuff done tomorrow. My main problem is usually my energy runs out before the list of stuff runs out. We'll see how it goes.
Tomorrow night is the first Cranfest meeting since the festival. It should be interesting. People usually write reports on what they thought went well and what they thought didn't , then we read through them all. It can get interesting. It might be a long night.
It has been beautiful weather around here. In the high 70's and sunny. Sure wish it could stay like this a little longer (like about 4 months or so). Winter gets pretty long when you drive around in it with your window open. I'm not looking forward to it.
We had a bonfire with the youth group last night. It was fun. The kids all ran around playing Ghost in the Graveyard and the adults sat around the bonfire. Something strange about that, but it was fun. Hot dogs and smores are always good on a chilly night. Next month we plan on having a hay ride for the fun time. Then in December making cookies with the kids and giving away gift bakets.
Today was potluck and it was good. I made cupcakes and Jessa frosted them with orange frosting and then poked pretzel sticks into the top for pumpkin stems. I also made chicken and dumplings, saucy chicken casserole and corn casserole. I always like to make sure that there is enough food to go around. You never know when everyone will bring desserts and no one brings anything else, or else it's all jello or all salads. I try to bring a whole meal to make sure it's covered. It's what I do.....weird.
We finally have enough money saved to record our CD with our group. I am really looking forward to it. We wanted to do it while Uncle Lloyd was alive, but never could get the money and the time all at the same time. Now we are going to try to get it together for recording the beginning of November. We are really praying that it will all go together quickly and well. I'm still working on getting a copy of the program and parade from Cranfest. I would like to have the tv station's copy so that it might be a little better quality.
Hope you all have a great day tomorrow.
God Bless.
dea
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Can you read a map?
We are going to a corn maze today. I'm excited. I asked Bill our Pastor (my cousin) if we could take the youth group from our church to it. The kids have wanted to go for a couple of years. This particular maze has two trails. Both are over 2 miles long (if you take the whole trail). It's kind of like a scanvenger hunt. You take this map and as you reach each marker you paper punch a hole on your card to prove that you've been there. I think it will be lots of fun.
Afterwards we will take them back to the church for soup and games until church time. Then it's youth group at church time, with a lesson on how life is a maze. It should be a fun night, but I bet I'm tired when I get home tonight.
The bear was back the other night. Not the really big bear, but just the little one. I think that as food gets more scarce they start heading back to their hibernation areas. We have not seen them most of the summer so this is different again. Sam thinks there are monsters in the yard. Between the deer that just look at him and will not move when he is needing to potty and the bear, he just runs around the yard smelling everything. Sure takes a long time to do his business, he keeps getting side tracked.
I got a chance to get my 2 cents worth in on the election the other day. The D*mocr*tic party called and wanted to know my opinion on their candidate. Let's just say I don't think they will be calling me again. Then another independent voting pole agency called and I got to tell them my opinion too. Pretty cool. No one will ever hear it except the 2 that called, but at least I got my say. To me it all boils down to whether you believe in abortion or not. I do not, so my choice is pretty clear. I am for a strong nation, with a commander and chief that has experience. I do not need someone with so many liberal ties to so many questionably radical people. You vote the way you want, but for me I'm voting on my morals and his. If you vote that way there is no choice.
Besides I really like the VP candidate that has not been in Washington long enough to get jaded and become old school. She's still fresh enough to remember how to see things our way and not the way of the current congress. Too many "friendships" and too many special interests in my opinion. Let's get someone that see's it our way in there. Shake things up a bit! Make 'em work for their money. If that's the way you have to act to make the money they make, I think I will gladly stay where I am. Ethics seem to fly out the window in so many of the cases. Enough soap box, sorry.
Things around here are busy like usual. We are of course still trying to get the fall stuff done. Let's not even think about winter and Christmas. My mind gets blown away just thinking about it. Although this next Monday I do not have to work, Will will be at work and the kids will be at school. I hope to spend the whole day catching up. I pray that it's good weather so that Sam and I can get some stuff done outside as well as inside. When I'm home it's me and the dog and cat. They are my shadows almost all of the time, him especially. That's how I know he's sick, if he does not follow me every step of the way.
Well, time to get more laundry in the washer.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
dea
Afterwards we will take them back to the church for soup and games until church time. Then it's youth group at church time, with a lesson on how life is a maze. It should be a fun night, but I bet I'm tired when I get home tonight.
The bear was back the other night. Not the really big bear, but just the little one. I think that as food gets more scarce they start heading back to their hibernation areas. We have not seen them most of the summer so this is different again. Sam thinks there are monsters in the yard. Between the deer that just look at him and will not move when he is needing to potty and the bear, he just runs around the yard smelling everything. Sure takes a long time to do his business, he keeps getting side tracked.
I got a chance to get my 2 cents worth in on the election the other day. The D*mocr*tic party called and wanted to know my opinion on their candidate. Let's just say I don't think they will be calling me again. Then another independent voting pole agency called and I got to tell them my opinion too. Pretty cool. No one will ever hear it except the 2 that called, but at least I got my say. To me it all boils down to whether you believe in abortion or not. I do not, so my choice is pretty clear. I am for a strong nation, with a commander and chief that has experience. I do not need someone with so many liberal ties to so many questionably radical people. You vote the way you want, but for me I'm voting on my morals and his. If you vote that way there is no choice.
Besides I really like the VP candidate that has not been in Washington long enough to get jaded and become old school. She's still fresh enough to remember how to see things our way and not the way of the current congress. Too many "friendships" and too many special interests in my opinion. Let's get someone that see's it our way in there. Shake things up a bit! Make 'em work for their money. If that's the way you have to act to make the money they make, I think I will gladly stay where I am. Ethics seem to fly out the window in so many of the cases. Enough soap box, sorry.
Things around here are busy like usual. We are of course still trying to get the fall stuff done. Let's not even think about winter and Christmas. My mind gets blown away just thinking about it. Although this next Monday I do not have to work, Will will be at work and the kids will be at school. I hope to spend the whole day catching up. I pray that it's good weather so that Sam and I can get some stuff done outside as well as inside. When I'm home it's me and the dog and cat. They are my shadows almost all of the time, him especially. That's how I know he's sick, if he does not follow me every step of the way.
Well, time to get more laundry in the washer.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
dea
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