A Lesson in Faith

The phone rang today. It was my stepdaughter, Stephanie, calling to say that she had just learned her grandmother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. After assuring her that I would be praying for her grandmother and asking her to be sure to give me regular updates, I handed the phone to Olivia - knowing that by talking to her youngest half sister, Stephanie would be cheered up.

A few minutes into the conversation Olivia asked Stephanie why she was sad. Stephanie replied, "My grandmother is sick." Olivia said, "Well, we'll just have to pray for her - okay? Hold on. Dear Jesus, please help Stephanie's grandmother feel all better. In Jesus' name, Amen." She then said to Stephanie. "Okay - now you don't have to worry about a thing because Jesus is in charge." She then went on to talk about something else. As far as Olivia was concerned, the situation was handled.

Oh...the faith of a child. So matter-of-fact. So certain. No worries. Jesus is in charge. May we all learn from Olivia today and trust the Lord with total abandon - not worrying about anything that we lay at His feet - because Jesus is in charge!

Photo Friday -- Theme: Baby

This week's theme for Photo Friday is "Baby". Here she is...our little Olivia --when she was a baby! Today she's almost four! ...sigh...she is growing much too fast for my liking!

Today's Thought:

...this quote appeared on one of my favorite blogs today:

“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks incognito. The real labour is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.”
–Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

Olivia's Art Project

This morning, immediately upon awakening, Olivia had to make "Jonah" the Whale. She didn't want to eat breakfast, didn't want to watch Noggin, didn't want to do anything besides an art project - Jonah the Whale - with "sprinkles" on him. (Sprinkles = glitter). I asked her if she talked about Jonah the Whale in church last night. Her reply - "No, we talked about the Mud Guy." "The Mud Guy?"... "Yeah, Jesus put mud on the guy's eyes and then he could see that his house was dirty and he needed to run the suck-up sweeper." ?!...out of the mouths of babes. Here's Olivia's art project: Jonah the Whale:

Illustration Friday - Simple (Submission #2)

This is a small painting I did years ago - 1997.
Entitled "A Pot of Geraniums" --just a simple pot sitting on the window ledge.

Self Portrait Tuesday 2-14-06

It's Wednesday.
I'm a day behind in posting for Self-Portrait Tuesday.
What else is new?

Here's my submission:
The Theme: All of Me
We're supposed to be capturing ALL --warts and all.
As I said before, I don't have any warts.
So --I took a photo of my teeth.
If I could - I would change my teeth.
They're yellow - there are two on the top that are slighly crooked.
Up against my RED lipstick which I applied for the Valentine's Day dinner last night --they REALLY looked yellow. So - I had to wear a different color lipstick. I applied and wiped off seven different shades before I settled on the same one that I always wear. It looked the best. Why mess with a good thing?
Okay --here's my TEETH PORTRAIT --altered, of course. My teeth really don't look THAT BAD!

OUR GOD IS AWESOME!!!!

I just read the long-awaited news on Rebekah's Page that Rebekah is CANCER FREE!!!!!!

...and I have just done a dance before the Lord!!

Earlier this evening, a friend said to me that when you know that something is of the Lord - there are no words to describe the emotion. She was right. There are no words!

All I can say is - God is Good - All the Time!!

Take a moment to visit Rebekah's Page and continue to pray for this incredible Champion who has been such an inspiration to all who have been walking with prayer with her through her journey!

Glory to God...Glory to God...Glory to God!!!!
Yes!

Illustration Friday - Simple

Randy and I played a game of Scrabble last night.
He won.
He cheated.
He played words that don't exist.
Here's an example....He plays "Q-U-A-R-T"
I say, "KWART? KWART is not a word!"
He looks at me like I'm from Mars and replies...
"It's QUART - as in a QUART of Milk..."
Duh.
Sometimes I wonder about myself.
Inspired by the game....and my simple mind...here's my
submission for this week's illustration friday:

Attention: All Who Pray!

To all the prayer warriors who are reading this entry - please take a moment to pray for a seven-year-old boy named Damien. He is in the Intensive Care Unit with kidney disease. He has not been responding to medical intervention. Please pray for wisdom for the medical staff as well as a divine intervention and complete healing for Damien. Also pray for his Mom, Lauri Jean, as she makes decisions regarding Damien's care. Pray for strength and peace for her as well.
Thanks!

Photo Friday -- Theme: Blur

This week's theme for Photo Friday is "Blur". The first photo is that of our daughter, Olivia --who is in CONSTANT motion! Most times, this is how I view her!

The second photo is one of the plant which sits inside our front door --no flash -- camera in motion. I thought it made for a nice composition.

A Favorite Blog : A Sojourner's Journey

There are so many great blogs out there in cyberspace, but I have to say that "hands down", one of my all-time favorites is A Sojourner's Journey. Never a day goes by that I'm not encouraged and challenged in my Christian walk when I read what the author has to say. When you have some time, stop by and visit. Tell her that Deb sent you!

Self Portrait Tuesday - 2-7-06

Theme: All of Me
Part One:

I thought about showing a photo of my warts - but I don't have any warts. Since the theme is "all of me" and we were instructed to "dig deep" - "show the dark side" - "be grumpy" (ha! Never! Not ME!) - "photograph the stretch marks" (uh....no.) (come on...you've already seen my "crooked hangy down thing" a.k.a. my uvula). This photo is the beginning of a collage I'll put together for the end of the month. It will all work. Trust me.

go steelers.

I saw on the news last night that Pittsburgh won
the superbowl. go steelers. yeah. (I'm not at all
a football fan --can you tell?)

here's my thought --all of us need to get as excited about Jesus as we do our favorite sports team. There were people everywhere dressed up in steeler black and gold - bank tellers, grocery store clerks, restaurant waitresses and patrons. I even saw some young people who had black makeup under their eyes - obviously so they would have no glare from any source which may impede their view of the big screen HDTV.

Everyone whooping and yahooing about a football team.
Let's whoop and yahoo about Jesus.

Let's wear His colors.
Are we dressed in His armour?...

the belt of truth

the breastplate of righteousness

the gospel shoes

the helmet of salvation

the shield of faith

the sword of the spirit

praying always

All the pieces of the armour of God, listed in Ephesians 6, are different aspects of who Jesus is to us. To wear the whole armour of God is to focus on Jesus. Each piece helps us to defend ourselves against Satan's wiles, while at the same time, advancing ourselves even further towards being more like Christ. Notice that every area of our body is covered - from head to toe --with a shield and a sword to protect and defend.

anyway...just a thought --always my thought whenever I see people going oogoo aagaa over sports. There's nothing wrong with going oogoo aagaa over your team --it's okay to love your team --but how about loving Jesus too?

that's all.
I'm off my soapbox now.
have a blessed day!

Why don't we seek Him first?

This past week - as you may know,
if you've followed this blog -
our microwave died.
dead.
kaput.
done.
finished.
the end.
may it rest in peace.

Randy and I spent TWO HOURS trying to install the new microwave.
For some reason, one of the two bolts that held it to the cabinet
above the stove just wouldn't screw in. The threads wouldn't catch.
Randy tried everything, including drilling a larger hole in the cabinet
to insure that the bolt had plenty of room to go in straight.

We took took it on and off the wall bracket twice. That bugger was heavy
and it was awkward trying to hold it in place while Randy attempted to
secure the bolt.

No matter what we did - we couldn't get the bolt attached.

Finally --after two hours of frustration, I said, "Lord, please help us get this microwave installed --I'm about at my wit's end."

Then I suggested to Randy that he take the bolt out that was already attached and try it in the other side - just so we could see if the threads in the hole on the microwave were defective or something. Or maybe it was the bolt itself? Who knows.
He took the other bolt out and put it in the place where we were having trouble --it went in. So now we know it's not the threads --it must be the bolt. I thought, well, that's okay, we can go to the hardware store and buy a new bolt. But before we do that...let's just see if it will go into the hole on the other side. Whala!
It worked! Microwave installed.

So...why didn't I ask the Lord in the first place to help us with the microwave installation? We could've saved a whole lot of aggravation.

We all could save a whole lot of frustration in this life if we would just put the Lord first. He deserves first place. Not second, or third. He desires that we seek Him - that we spend time with Him on a daily basis. ...not just when it's convenient or just when we "need" something.

Seek His face today. Not His hand.
Let Him do a work in your heart - so that you are changed for eternity.

A Typical Day

A typical day in our household.....

The microwave quit in the middle of cooking our lima beans for dinner. It's an above-the-stove wall mount. Randy took the whole thing down to look for the fuse - which he was convinced was in the top - under the cabinet. wrong. It was behind the front panel. I refrained from saying, "I told you so."

Later that evening --He and Olivia were playing --all of a sudden I hear this HORRIFIC yell from Randy and then Olivia started crying (screaming--because his HORRIFIC yell frightened her.) Apparently, she had kicked him or hit him or something. Needless to say, he was in a LOT of pain and rolled around on the floor for a few minutes trying not to puke. He then proceeded to tell me that I needed to go on the internet and find a photo of the male anatomy and explain to Olivia that she needs to be careful.
yeah. right.

Even later that evening....Randy goes downstairs to his office --I hear a huge yell and a big thud (not necessarily in that order) and then a lot of screaming at Chauncy, our dog. (Chauncy has been downstairs for the past few weeks as he recuperates from his accident - hit by a car - doing well.) I fed him a different brand of dog food yesterday. Big mistake. Chauncy had pooped all over the place --Randy stepped in it on his way down the steps - fell the rest of the way down the steps....and broke his big toe in the process. He's now on his way to the ER since he said that the pain is an 8.5 on a 1-10 scale.

So --typical day here at home.

Randy said I can't tell people that he skidded down the steps on a pile of dog poop --that I need to make up some other story. Here's my story: In honor of the upcoming start of the Winter Olympics, Randy was excited about practicing his poopboarding, I mean, snowboarding....

If he thinks that this story is staying off the blog --he is sadly mistaken.

Good thing he loves me, huh?

Illustration Friday -- Chair

Here are two illustrations for this week's Illustration Friday submission:
Come, Sit a Spell and The Old Wingback Chair. Both are 2.5"x3.5" - Artist Trading Card Size.

Look Mom! I'm BLUE!

After breakfast, Olivia insisted on eating a Blue Raspberry Ring Pop and then discovered that her tongue was blue!

Photo Friday -- Theme: Disguise

Here is this week's submission for Photo Friday.

Every day, Olivia and I try to do an art project together. On this day, she wanted to make masks. Here she is --Incognito as a Pig!

And Then There Was More Art

The colors are more vibrant in "real life" --here are some illustrations of my last few days. Olives for Olivia --black olives are one of her favorite food items. She would eat an entire can if I would let her. She wanted olives. She ate them. I turned them into an Artist Trading Card.

Randy brought me a single rose several days ago. It was such a nice surprise!

And the squiggles...that's pretty much what goes on in my brain at any given moment.

All of them up for trade. Any takers?

Ground Hog Day Tree

Since it's now February, I guess it's time to take down the Christmas tree.

Yep, our tree is still up.

It makes a nice nightlight.

I was thinking of leaving it up until July and throwing a big Christmas-in-July party....but if I did that, then when July rolled around, I would think, "well, it's only five more months until December, so we may as well just leave it up..."

okay. It's coming down.
soon. I think.

Here's one last photo:
-----------------------------------

Feeling the Pressure

I'm feeling the pressure.
I want to apply to be a part of the Blogs Illustrated webring. That would mean that I need to start blogging my art.

Okay.

I'm blogging.

These are three pencil drawings --the originals are much larger than they appear here and they've lost a lot of the detail --but, you get the drift.

When I was in Junior High School, my art teacher, Mr. Harry Miller, gave us a weekly assignment which was to turn in three pencil drawings --realism. By the time we reached ninth grade, we had to turn in five drawings per week. That assignment instilled a lot of discipline in me - although, truthfully, as an artist, I already was pretty much a perfectionist. I wouldn't say that I'm a perfectionist in other areas of my life, (housekeeping, to name one), but with art - I'm a perfectionist. Which is one reason why I'm probably not submitting things professionally as much as I should --fear of failure that my art won't be good enough or perfect enough or whatever. Anyway...that's another subject...one for my psycho blog (which is yet to be created.)

Pencil will forever be my favorite medium.

Mr. Harry Miller from George Washington Junior High School - if you're out there - thank you.

MY FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME!

Yes...all of you SKEPTICS (and you KNOW who you ARE!)
....just take a look at the featured picks for this week's Self Portrait Tuesday:
Now, you're glad you know me, huh?

self portrait tuesday: Lauri's Next 3 Picks for Week #4

Photo Friday -- Theme: Vanity

vanity, originally uploaded by beyondhope.

Vanity.

Here's Olivia --"posing for Vanity Fair".

I don't recall exactly when this photo was taken. I'm guessing she was approximately 18 months old at the time.

I thought the photo worked as my first entry to Photo Friday.

View From our Bedroom Window

View from our bedroom window, originally uploaded by beyondhope.

In the early morning, we often awake to this site outside our bedroom window.

One of the largest Great Blue Heron rookeries in the state borders our land, making these birds frequent visitors to our pond.

This photo was taken from our bedroom window on a rainy day this past summer. How I long for those rainy summer days to return! I'm ready for winter to be over!

The TEMPLATE

I've been messing around with the blog template --trying to figure out how to make this blog look better. I did away with the standard green tile design that is one of blogger's choices for a header background and finally figured out how to put in a different background.

It's not the background I want...but it's a start.

I need to get rid of the double green line and move the mountain scene over to meet with the right margin as well. And the header text needs to be moved to the left. Eventually, I want to redesign and publish a whole new blog template.

I'm determined to figure out all this HTML stuff on my own and not hire someone to create a blog for me! I think I should buy a book. There's probably an "HTML for DUMMIES" book published. In fact....I think I remember buying a copy a couple of years ago. Who knows where it is?

If you could see my garage (warehouse) then you would understand.

Somewhere in the stacks of boxes and bins are my watercolors and the HTML book.

I'm seriously considering baking some cookies and calling Marilyn!

Illustration Friday -- Glamour

Who
is
more
Glamorous
than
Her
Majesty,
the
Queen?

Artist
Trading
Card
for Illustration Friday

more dollhouse art

Here's another tiny painting I sold on Ebay awhile back.
the size of a wallet-size photo - maybe slightly smaller.
I titled it THE EDGE.

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

YEAH! Thanks to Sultry Painter Woman for her help with placing the Illustration Friday Button on my sidebar. For weeks, I've been trying to use the HTML provided at the IF website...it just wouldn't work. I happened across her blog and asked for help. Ask and ye shall receive!

And Then There Was Art

For awhile
I was painting
these tiny paintings
and offering them
for sale.

Someone on Ebay
was buying them
and decorating
Dollhouses with my works.

Somewhere...in somebody's
Dollhouse...I'll be famous
when I die.


This one was approximately
3" in length. A Watercolor.
My watercolors are packed
in the garage - still - after living here in this new house
for almost two years. Half of my studio is still packed
in the garage. I'm thinking of asking Marilyn to come
over and help me unpack.....

smile.

Poetry by Deb

THE END (of LIFE as I KNOW IT)

The laptop fell on the floor
It fell on the power cord plug
The plug jammed inside the computer
Two hours of taking the computer apart
Fixing the plug with superglue (don't ask)
The computer now works.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BEEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
"Should you wish to continue working
please connect to a power source."
oh no. The "fixed" connection didn't work
Another 30 minutes of trying to fix it
Broke the whole stupid thing off the motherboard
oops.

$200 to replace the motherboard.
Friend offers to try to solder the piece back in place.
Meanwhile....no laptop.
No files.
No recent backup because this wasn't supposed to happen.
Computer headache.
Argh.

I'm addicted to the laptop

How can I live without my laptop

Someone FIX MY LAPTOP!

The End

Self Portrait Tuesday - 1-24-06

---

---

It's after midnight - so technically - it's Tuesday where I live.

Last week, I was behind.

This week, I'm ahead of the game.

Here is my submission for Self Portrait Tuesday - subject: Personal History.
What better way to keep track of your personal history other than keeping those dental records up-to-date?! (Hey, it could be worse...I could post the close-ups I took of my nostril....I'm thinking of turning that one into an Artist Trading Card...)

...just another wacky self portrait by moi!

Enjoy!

---

---

COOKIES!

Olivia and I made cookies this afternoon. I found a recipe for Bisquick Pudding Cookies on somebody's blog last night...I can't remember which blog --I was blog surfing all evening....

ANYWAY....The cookies are really easy and fun for a three-year old! They're also quite tasty! We chose chocolate pudding for our recipe and added one cup of chocolate chips. Incidentally, the recipe specifically says to mix the dough with a wooden spoon. The dough won't stick and it mixes well.

After she added all the ingredients (even cracking the egg with minimal loss and no shell in the batter --YEAH!), she mixed the dough as best as she could and I finished it up. She had fun rolling the cookies into balls --and had even more fun eating her finished product! Although it was REALLY tough keeping her from eating all the raw dough! The cookies were a big hit with Dad too!

BON APPETIT!!

Self Portrait Tuesday --on Sunday - so, I'm a little behind...

So much for following the rules posted on the Self Portrait Tuesday website...we're supposed to post our self portraits on Tuesday --hence the name, duh. I was busy cleaning on Tuesday. Someone was coming on Friday. On Tuesday, I started cleaning. I hate cleaning. Anyway --that has nothing to do with my portrait. My portrait is an altered photo of my left foot. It isn't really this color --although those colors are kinda neat in a neon sort of way. But --the story is this....The topic for the portrait is supposed to be personal history. I remember (like it was yesterday) years ago asking my mother why her feet were so rough. She told me that she was old and once I had walked around on my feet for over 40 years that they'd look like that too. They do. I'm old. (and I think I'm getting a bunyon.) Enjoy the foot ---oh, and if you're Maria --don't look at the photo --because we all know that Maria can't tolerate anything to do with feet! (I sent Maria a free sample of foot fungus gunk in the mail once --complete with a huge photo of some feet with fungus. That grossed her out. It was my job. She freaked. I laughed.

Illustration Friday 1-20-06 Cats

---

Whiskers is a watercolor kitten --a greeting card illustration.

Lounging Feline is a pencil drawing of my beloved cat, BJ. This was done over ten years ago and measures approximately 16"x20". BJ is now in Kitty Heaven --I'm sure getting into all kinds of mischief!

The montage is a collection of four cats I did several years ago.

I will post a NEW illustration later on in the week --but in the meantime, I wanted to share a few with you now. Enjoy!

Dolly

Dolly, originally uploaded by beyondhope.

Okay....I'm changing the "eye that is creeping everyone out" to the Dolly.

Here she is...Olivia's Dolly.

You're welcome. :)

Illustration Friday -- E is for....(my second post)

Okay --Even though I said before that I wasn't going to post an elephant...and I did something different....after the eggs digested (refer to previous I.F. post)...I just had to post this pacaderm.

So...here it is: E is for Elephant
(taken from my original pencil drawing which is MUCH larger than this photo. The photo also loses something in the translation as not much of the detail shows. I really, really, really need to get a new scanner. How can you be an artist without a scanner?

Enjoy!

The Eye

Okay...I just got an email from my sister who says that the photo of my eye which appears as my "profile" photo is creeping her out.

I thought it was kind of funny - kind of twilight zone -- kind of artsy --kind of NOW.

Anyone else feeling creepy? I guess I could change it to something else if I have to.....

Illustration Friday -- E is for

Okay --here's my illo for Illustration Friday --E is for... egg. Yeah, I know, not very original. I may try to come up with something more creative and post it at a later time. For now - WYSIWYG. This is done as an Artist Trading Card - 2.5"x3.5" Pencil and marker. No frills. I'm actually not real fond of fried eggs --unless they're made with whole wheat bread --Eggs in the Hole --you know --tear a hole in the bread --butter one side --place it butter side down in the frying pan --crack an egg in the center --fry --add freshly ground black pepper and salt --eat. yum.

more ATCs

Here are some more results of my 'addiction' to creating Artist Trading Cards. Some are sized down to very small images --therefore they've lost some detail --but you'll get the idea.

If the Shoe Fits

Artist Trading Card #170 -- If the Shoe Fits.

My first total collage/decoupage card.

I think it turned out okay. It was fun finding all the components. I started with one sticker of a shoe. That was the inspiration. By the way --you'll never catch me in a pair of those heels. I'm definitely the tennis shoe and hiking boot type!

Self Portrait Tuesday

Another thing to do ---a self-portrait every Tuesday....yet ANOTHER thing to keep me from cleaning my house! I'm lovin' it!

This was killing two birds with one stone because not only is it my first entry in "Self Portrait Tuesday" - but it is also an Artist Trading Card --so it's feeding my addiction!

Actual Size 2.5" x 3.5" --marker drawn on printed cardstock.
mood: I am NOTHING like that person I was at 25 --in more ways than one! It's a good thing!

Keep Creating all!

Artist Trading Card

I sat up until 4am this morning creating ATCs....I really need to stop.

I'm not getting enough sleep these days --my creative juices seem to flow best after midnight when the house is quiet.

Here's one with funky retro wallpaper and an old-fashioned blender.

Lemonade ---sounds good --maybe I'll go make some!

Illustration Friday 1-6-06: SEA

Okay --Here it is --the very first illustration I have done for Illustration Friday. http://www.illustrationfriday.com

I've decided that I need to do MORE ART!!!

So - In addition to the Artist Trading Cards that I've become addicted to --I'm now going to do this Illustration Friday thing....just what I need...more reasons to keep from cleaning my house!!

one month

so what?
it's been a month since I've posted in this blog.
where have YOU been? I haven't seen you around either.
the Christmas tree is still up.
I was asked today if I'm ever going to take it down.
Nope. not until the end of the month. at least.

what have I been doing this past month?
i have a new addiction....it's a good thing
...keeps me from eating so much food late at night.
i'm surrounded by scraps of paper and art supplies.
in the living room.
forget the studio.
this is art - 24/7
i have to have access at all times
because i have to be creating at all times.
it's an addiction.
i can't help it
it's not my fault.
ARTIST TRADING CARDS!!!

If I can remember how to post photos on this blog
(it's been almost a month, remember?)
then I'll post some photos....
my scanner isn't working --too bad - because scanned images would be way better....

anyway...are you an artist?
do you make ATCs?
do you wanna trade?!

later....gotta go create!

Hysterical

Okay...I'm trying really hard not to lose it. My laptop has found itself in this continuous loop ---it will attempt to start ---then it goes to a screen that asks if I want to start it in "safe mode" or "safe mode with networking" or "safe mode with something else or the last known working configuration ....and maybe a few others that I can't figure out. It will count down the seconds and attempt to start - then goes to a blue screen for about a second --not even long enough for me to see what it says - then it shuts down and does the whole thing again ---over and over and over. It's been "looping" for over an hour and I can't get it to stop.

What has me near hysteria is that all my digital photos of Olivia are on that computer --and I can't access them. I'm afraid that they may be lost forever. Can anyone help?

Does anyone know how to stop the loop and get windows to start again?

I'm using my husband's desktop to type this.

When I think of the lost files on my laptop --I could just freak.

Ouch.

Well. My friends and I have been doing a Bible Study together - reading and studying a book written by Stormie O'Martian entitled, The Power of a Praying Wife. I have decided that EVERY married woman should read this book. It is incredible! I've already begun to see changes in my marriage ---which ALL have to do with my attitude changing toward my husband. Ah, yes, the Lord has to change me before He's going to change Randy. That is, IF he's going to change Randy. The Lord created Randy just the way he is --I'm sure that a lot of ways in which I hope he'll change --he won't. And I'm finally beginning to see that that's okay. And something else that the Lord reminded me this morning is that often whenever we don't particularly like something that someone does - or we can't appreciate certain character traits --it's because we ourselves do the very thing that we are most critical about, or lack the character trait that we're compaining about. ouch. Are you a married woman? Read the book!

Fun Website

There are a lot of these little quiz things at this website --here was another one --I am Milk Chocolate. I don't know about BEING milk chocolate --but I know that at this moment I'm CRAVING milk chocolate. Fortunately, for me, I have a stash of Hershey's Kisses in the bedroom! Anybody who knows me knows that I ALWAYS have a stash of something somewhere! (I inherited that trait from my Dad.)

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds.You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life.Also nostelgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

Where Do You Belong?

I did this little quiz thing --interestingly, I have been to Rome and it's one of my favorite places on this earth!

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city girl with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

December Blues

December didn't start out very well for one member of our household. Chauncy, our beloved pet Lab/Springer mix dog was hit by a car. He's going to be okay ---but it was a nervous night for us filled with lots of tears and lots of prayers. He's going to take some time to heal. And then there's the issue of the masses that showed up on his chest x-ray which are unrelated to the car accident. (We'll deal with those in a week or so after most of his bruising heals and the vet is able to examine him better.) That has me worried. Chauncy still has a lot of life left in him --and I'm not willing to accept that he may have something that would cut that life short. It never ceases to amaze me how a pet can grab hold of your heart. They are truly like members of your family --like your children. And their love is unconditional. No matter what mood I'm in --or if I neglect Chauncy because I get busy with something else --or if I forget to give him fresh water....or no matter that I've committed one of countless other "sins" toward him in his nine years of sharing his life with me --He still loves me - unconditionally. People don't do that. We have baggage. We hold grudges. We live with unforgiveness in our hearts. We criticize. We think we're better than the next person. We put conditions on our love. You know what? We all need to be more like our dogs.

where does the time go?

It's been over a week since I've posted on this blog...how did that happen?

I guess I haven't had anything profound to say ---not that anything I've said in the past has been profound.

I did do something this past weekend which was life-changing for me. A church in a nearby town was hosting a prayer and worship weekend. It was called "Ascribing Unto God". I felt the Lord's presence the moment I stepped into the room. There in the midst of beautiful praise and worship music - worshippers took turns going to different worship stations that were set up throughout the room. Every hour the shofar was blown, calling us to prayer and worship. We were encouraged to move around as we felt led... walk around as we prayed... wave flags... bow... kneel... lay prostrate... dance unto the Lord. We could visit each worship station and stay as long as we wished or go back as many times as we liked.

The whole experience was a journey through life with Jesus and was so awesome. Every time we, as Christians, make a concentrated effort to spend time with the Lord - to sit as His feet - to worship Him without distraction --it's life-changing. He meets us there in that place. He speaks to us, directs us, reminds us of how much He loves us.

I wish I could bring this worship experience to everyone who reads this blog entry. May I just encourage you today to make an extra effort to spend time with your Savior. He longs for your company --and you will come away feeling renewed and refreshed.

Home Sweet Home

Ten years ago today, my Dad went home to be with Jesus.

As I try to think back on all the events and happenings in my life that he has missed, I'm overwhelmed. I remind myself of the Scripture that says "...we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses..." and I like to think that Dad sees glimpses of things that go on in our lives.

The most important events being my marriage and birth of our daughter, Olivia. Grandpa Bob would be so very proud of Olivia. She is most definitely the biggest blessing that the Lord could have ever given me. She is bright and articulate and she succeeds in making me laugh often. Just the other day, she did something particulary goofy, and I caught myself shaking my head and saying, "Olivia, you are beyond hope"!
I stopped when I realized that I said the very thing that Dad used to say to me so often. And then I smiled when I realized that he was up in heaven, looking down and shaking his head in agreement...

I love you -- and I miss you, Dad.

The Bug Invasion

Yesterday was Randy's birthday --so Olivia and I celebrated by going caching. Randy doesn't know this --but as soon as he reads this post, I'll be busted!

At one point, I found myself in the middle of an old cemetary --not an unusual place to find a cache, but this day was unusual in that I was surrounded by hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of ladybugs! And every one of them was yellow! Hundreds and hundreds of yellow ladybugs --pelting me from every direction! I've never seen so many bugs before in one place! One had no spots. I've never seen a 'spotless' ladybug either.

Anyway, after finding the cache, signing the logbook and returning to the van --I had to scrape these bugs off of me so I could get back in the van without filling the inside with flying insects. I went to flick one off my sleeve and noticed that it was RED. Only one red bug amongst all those yellow ones. Odd. I picked it up ---it crawled on my finger and just as I went to flick it out the window - it relieved itself on my finger! LadyBug Pee --on me! ...and it was YELLOW. ...so they WERE all yellow after all!

Case closed.

Olivia Sings

Sunday night in church we had a sectional Singspiration. What happens is every month where there is a fifth Sunday ---the evening service is all music. Several churches in the section get together and anyone who wishes may sing, play an instrument, recite poetry etc. It's always a great night of fun and fellowship. And then, of course, afterwards we all go eat together in the annex.

As I was practicing my song for the service, Olivia said that she wanted to practice a song too. I asked her if she would like to sing in church and she got all excited! "Can I stand on the stage and can I have my very own microphone?!" "Yes, you can stand on the stage and have your very own microphone." She practiced singing her favorite song a few times: Days of Elijah

When it came time for her to sing, she marched right up on the stage, grabbed the microphone from Jim (our worship leader) and looked at it - then looked at me (in the front row) and then looked at the congregation and said, "This is a really big microphone!" Everyone laughed, of course. I asked her if she wanted to sing....she said, "YES!" ...and then proceeded to belt out the tune - several times!
"Behold He comes
riding on the clouds
shining like the sun
at the trumpet call
so lift your voice
it's the year of Jubilee
out of Zion's hill salvation comes"

Except she sings, ...out of Zion's hill salbation comes,

Of course, she received an enormous ovation ---and is ready to sing again real soon. I was SO proud of her! She did an awesome job! We're already practicing our next number for the next Singspiration.