The Long-Awaited Vacation Photos - Part I

Okay --so I've been busy.

And no Char, we were not trapped in an underground tunnel at DisneyWorld.

Here are few of the many dozens of photos that were taken while on vacation: (More to follow in the days ahead...)


Olivia and Brillo Man
in the living room of our resort.
We were about to go hit Splash Lagoon,
one of the many dozens of pools
throughout the property.


Olivia chose to have an early birthday celebration dinner at The Rainforest Cafe. It's one of my favorite restaurants. It's as if you're in the middle of a rainforest while dining - complete with animals, thunderstorms and shooting stars above the canopy of trees. It's a really fun place to eat and I believe that there are several locations throughout the U.S. If you have the chance - go enjoy their Rasta Pasta or BBQ ribs. Oh...and for desert - you can't pass up the VOLCANO!!! Chocolate cake with ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce, walnuts and caramel. Very Yummy! We sang Happy Birthday to Olivia and she blew out the candles. We all ate our fill and still had plenty left over to take home for dinner the next night!





Olivia chose a gift at The Rainforest Cafe's gift shop.
She named him "Stripey"



Starting the day at The Animal Kingdom...


...in our matching shirts!
Brillo Man has one too - but for some reason,
he's reluctant to wear his!
Although we did get him to wear it the day we flew home.
You should have seen the heads turning at the airport!

Olivia LOVED meeting the characters! Here she is with Donald:



This is probably one of my favorite photos from our trip - Miss O and Brillo Man posing outside The House of Blues:



Cooling off in the heat!



We had an incredible trip! ...very refreshing!

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I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
-Jeremiah 31:25

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For your listening enjoyment....

This song has been a blessing to me these past few days....reminding me that God has it all under control!

Somebody stop me!

If I eat one more honey wheat pretzel from the huge barrel of them which we purchased yesterday at Aldi's....I'm going to turn into an even bigger version of the blimp which I'm becoming!

I'm eating because I'm either bored or depressed or both.

Bored because I'm taking some time away from work...depressed because I got my hair cut and it's probably the worst haircut I've ever had in my life.

Yesterday, when arriving home from the StuffMart hair-cutting place (going there was my FIRST mistake), Brillo Man said, "uh...your hair looks nice."
"Seriously, you like it?"
"Yeah. It looks nice."
"...okay..." (but I was NOT convinced!)

Today...after showering and washing the pound of goo and gunk that the stylist had glopped into my hair and then attempting to style it in some kind of decent looking style...I said, "This haircut is pitiful. Probably the worst one I've ever had."
"I don't think it looks bad...it looks better than it did yesterday."

???!?!?!?!?!?! what?

Anyway...it's not a good cut. I hate it.
And no, I'm not posting a photo so you may be the judge.

But picture this...at one point the stylist said to me, "I just made this cut up. It has no name. I was looking at my daughter's fairy book and saw a photo of a fairy and just starting clipping and this is what I came up with."

So, I look like a fairy. Not.

Now I know how Bentley feels:

Before:



After:



He was matted.
He won't stay out of the pond muck.
It's better this way. Trust me.
But he's just not as cute.
We told the groomer --"Shave him - we need to start all over again!"

I look at him and tell myself that his hair will grow again....
....just like mine will! ugh.
Tomorrow, I go hat shopping!
(This is my "before" photo. You don't get to see the "after"!)
(Pat, this one's for you!)

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Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.
Your hair is like royal tapestry;
the king is held captive by its tresses.
-Song of Solomon 7:5

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3 am and all is well....

...a distant train whistle breaks the silence of the night...

...the bullfrogs are serenading one another...

...Bentley is snoring...

...great music is playing in the background from Diane's blog...

...Brillo Man and Olivia went to bed hours ago...

...and I am wide awake!!!

I think it may take a few days for my body to get adjusted to "normal" hours again. It's still on the midnight shift - but I'm not....(and loving it!) It was nice to cook dinner (shrimp tossed with pasta, broccoli and plenty of garlic!), spend the evening making puppets with Olivia and talking with Brillo Man while he played with Bentley...knowing that I didn't have to go to work. I think I may get used to this break from my reality. Even though it's a short-term disability leave and I'm home because I'm having issues with MS...it's still nice to not have to go in to work. Although I'll be trying to let my body rest so this MS will settle down....

And Mom, if you're reading this...I've tried to call you twice today (why aren't you answering your phone?!) to let you know that I'm taking a short-term leave from work. MS junk getting in the way of things...nothing real serious --just enough that everyone (my neurologist, my husband and myself) all agreed that I need to be home for the time being. This too shall pass!

Okay - I'm going to go attempt to get some sleep. I'll probably end up reading (from MY KINDLE!!!!! Yes, Mrs. Mac, I bought a Kindle - a used, damaged one on Ebay - for a LOT less than they are new.) Then Amazon so graciously sent me a brand new one -at NO cost - since mine was damaged!!! Yahoo! God is good! I've been reading books like crazy and don't think I'll ever go back to "real" books again. I even have my Bible on my Kindle. Love it! I'm selling my books on Amazon.com ---listed ten - sold all ten. Will soon be listing more. Gotta make some extra money so I can buy "books" for my Kindle!!

Blessings everyone! Thanks for your prayers! You guys are the best!

Flying High

On Friday we'll be embarking on an adventure! We fly to Florida for a week's vacation. ...praying for good weather. Brillo Man has checked and it calls for rain the whole week!!! OH NO! I'll be taking Olivia to DisneyWorld on Thursday, the 25th, to celebrate her 7th birthday. (Brillo Man has opted out as he is in so much pain from his hip which needs replaced (again) that he's not sure he's up to hiking through the parks.) Anyway...it just can't rain! Olivia has been looking forward to this trip for months!

I hope to catch up on some blogging while we're there. I'm taking the laptop. I'm fairly sure that they have free Wi-Fi access at our resort.

I'll be praying for you all (especially you, Sara!) while I'm gone.

Bob and Sue --keep an eye on the house for us!!

Good News!

The following occurred on May 12th. I started to draft a post that day and never got back to it. I decided it was high time to spread this good news!

...Let me tell you....

Sunday morning in church (May 12th), we had an awesome time of praise and worship. At one point my friend Judy spoke up saying that the Lord was speaking to her and saying that He wanted to do miracles. Pastor Kent grabbed that opportunity and ran with it - he asked if there were any who wanted a miracle, whether it be financial, emotional, physical, etc. Well, God knows that there are a lot of miracles that I need in my life, so I went forward. Not for any particular need - but just to be present for whatever God wanted to do in my life.

I knelt down at the altar. Mind you, I DON'T kneel - for it's not any easy task for me to rise from the floor once I'm there. Between the MS and the bad knees, I'm not as limber as I once was. But, knelt I did, as I followed the Holy Spirit's prompting.

After a wonderful time of prayer and praise and singing and fellowship around the altar with all my brothers and sisters in Christ, I managed to rise without too much difficulty. (Too much difficulty in my book means that I got up without falling down again!)

It being Mother's Day, Pastor Kent told a wonderful story about Mothers (which at this point in writing - a month later - I've seemed to have forgotten the details...) He then gave us each the most beautiful orange/peach rose which graced my table for days afterward.

After church, I came home and went to sleep because I had to work that night. Since I had a bit of a cold and sore throat, when I left for work, I wanted to stop at StuffMart to buy some lozenges to take to work to help my throat while working. The air tends to be very dry in the lab. I didn't take the time to get an electric scooter - which is what I usually do when at StuffMart. Walking around that big store is too much for me. Instead, I hurried to the pharmacy section - then hurried clear to the OTHER end of the StuffMart Super Center because that's the only end where the registers were open - then hurried clear back to the Pharmacy side because that's where I had parked my van. It wasn't until I was almost in my van that I realized that I had just taken all those steps with not one single pain in my arthritic knees! And I worked all night long with no pain in my knees. I have been dealing with arthritic pain in my knees for months - perhaps years. God had indeed given me my miracle - he healed my knees!

I met my dear friend Dawna for breakfast and even she was amazed at how I was able to keep up with her instead of doing my usual hobbling around the restaurant and parking lot! God is good!

It's now been a month --and I still have no pain in my knees! Now if I'm hobbling, it's because of MS stuff and how it affects my legs...but I'm believing that if God has taken care of one issue - He's perfectly capable (of course!) of taking care of the rest --and I'm just waiting on Him to finish the great work He has begun!

I rejoice that He cares for me and blesses me in spite of my neglect of Him. In spite of the sin in my life. In spite of all the times when I should be spending time with Him and instead am wrapped up in myself and what I think needs to be done.

He is an amazing God. One who cares about each detail of our lives. I'm thankful to be His child and amazed by His grace!

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But for you who revere my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise
with healing in its wings.
-Malachi 4:2a

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Tagged by Trish

Trish tagged me. If you would like to play along...

Find your 6th photo file

Choose the 6th photo in the file

Post and tell story and

Tag 6 friends to carry meme forward

Here is the sixth photo in my sixth file...

This is one that I had captured from Olivia's elementary school website. On their class trip to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum, several of the girls were putting on a play production. Olivia (on the right in the purple - her very favorite color - skirt) was playing the part of "The Very Ancient Queen". She was talking to the mean witch telling her to cast her spells out of her castle and leave the princess alone. This was a play that they made up on the spot... Too bad I wasn't there to see it first hand. But here it is...my little drama queen. (If you only knew how true that statement is!)

And here's something interesting that I just remembered; when I was in 1st grade, I played the part of "The Queen" in the school play, Chicken Little. ...like mother, like daughter!!

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The city streets will be filled
with boys and girls playing there.
-Zechariah 8:5

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Eight Years ago today....

I love you, Randy...
...with all my heart!



This was taken by Olivia during our vacation last September.

Shredded Cocos Nucifera

The other day Olivia walked in the door after school and announced with such conviction in her voice, "I'm so done with Mrs. Redfoot!" "Ah," I replied, "then it's a good thing that you only have five more days with Mrs. Redfoot." "But Mom, what if I don't like my second grade teacher?" "Olivia, it's impossible not to like your second grade teacher..."

I then proceeded to share with her that even though she's loved Mrs. Redfoot as her Kindergarten AND First Grade teacher, second grade is going to be an even bigger adventure! Her school 'loops'. For the first two years - same teacher - same students - trying to give them some stability I guess. It works for most of the children and has worked well for Olivia up until this last month when she's just decided that she's "done."

After reading Margie's post it reminded me of what a friend recently shared with me. Studies are showing that it's not the "nurturing years" (from birth to age five) that shape our personality so much as it is age 7-9 (what would be 2nd grade.) Apparently, what happens in our lives at that age rather than the earlier years is far more important in helping to determine what kind a person we will be.

Interestingly, I've heard many people remark how memorable 2nd grade was to them. Margie, for one, shares of her beloved Mrs. Bacile. And I fondly remember Mrs. Levine - one of my favorite teachers - hands down.

Mrs. Levine brought in a REAL coconut in the BIG, outer shell and drilled a hole and poured out the milk so we could all taste its fabulous sweetness. (not so good - but different and interesting none-the-less.) All the while teaching us such interesting facts as how a coconut is also known by its scientific name: Cocos Nucifera. Wow! Until then, I had no idea that things had scientific names! Then she cracked it open and we all tried the coconut meat. That whole thing fascinated me since prior to that I only remembered seeing coconut shredded and in a plastic bag.

To this day, I love coconut. I thought of Mrs. Levine fondly while in the Dominican Republic several years ago on a missions trip. One of the men living next door to the school where I was painting, one afternoon climbed a palm tree in his bare feet and cut down a coconut with his machete for us to enjoy. And years prior, in college, I obtained a coconut from somewhere and mailed it to someone - no box - just a coconut - with an address written on the outer shell with a Sharpie Marker - and some taped on stamps - just for fun. I used to mail all types of strange things...and then there was the time that I received a package of DEAD FISH..(you'll have to ask Char about that!!)...but...I digress...

Of course, it wasn't just the coconut that endeared me to Mrs. Levine. She was fun, full of wisdom and interesting facts and able to keep Richard Ambrosia from flicking boogers on everyone! In my book - she was tops!

I've explained to Olivia that second grade is going to be one of the best years of her school life. She'll have a new classroom filled with some new friends and perhaps some old friends and most importantly, she'll start fresh with a new teacher! Someone who will take her on a great learning adventure and share with her all their knowledge and wisdom and probably will also have the superpower of stopping booger-flicking! Second grade is gong to be grand! And we've got the whole summer to get excited about how wonderful it's going to be!

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Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.
-Deuteronomy 32:2

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My Song

This is my song (well, it's actually Cece Winan's song but I won't tell if you won't tell.) It's pretty much the story of my life - in a nutshell - and I'm practicing to sing this (again) in public (even though I'm getting over laryngitis and it's very late at night so I'm trying to be quiet so as not to awaken Olivia and Brillo Man and I'm crying through the last chorus....) ...but still...here it is. Tomorrow, I'll probably regret posting this. But tonight, I'm exhausted and my brain isn't working - so I'm posting it while I have the nerve.

This is for my friend - you know who you are.

God bless you!

What's with the sound not matching up with the picture? I hate when that happens!! And then there's that tapping and the glitch at the end...and the fact that on the very last line I was supposed to sing up and not down....ugh. oh well. I've almost deleted this several times - but for some reason, somebody's supposed to listen to this very bad version of this very beautiful song. Listen to the message - not me!

And now that I've figured out how to upload videos...you'll see Olivia on here soon. She's a much better singer than her Mommy!

Goodnight. I'm going to bed!

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Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus
to have dinner with him,
so he went to the Pharisee's house
and reclined at the table.
When a woman who had lived a sinful life
in that town learned
that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house,
she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping,
she began to wet his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them and poured perfume on them.
-Luke 7:36-38

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Update

Hello all ---I updated on the prayer blog several days ago, most of you may not have had a chance to read the post. Brillo Man is okay --after spending a night in the hospital for observation, it was determined that he had no heart problems. Although he's supposed to follow up with a cardiologist (knowing him, he won't.) We think he pulled some muscles which was causing his pain. Better safe than sorry - I'm glad he was checked out (he is too!) Thanks for all your prayers and concern!

Urgent Prayer Needed

Hi all ---in case there's anyone up at this hour reading blogs...I just sent Brillo Man off to the Emergency Room as he is experiencing chest pain. Olivia is sound asleep and we have no one closeby to stay with her --so I'm staying behind to watch and pray because the Lord knows I'll get no sleep until I know he's okay. I'll be very surprised if he's not admitted. He'll need to be monitered for at least the night. And probably a stress test in the morning... Thanks for praying! I'll update you as I know more.

My Six Favorite Unimportant Things

Okay Pat, here goes:

Chocolate - in any size, shape or form.

The act of creating art - in any size, shape or form.

Wasting time on the computer.

Scavenging yard sales and thrift shops for big bargains and reselling for big bucks.

Brillo Man's creative homemade soups. (He hasn't made any in awhile...I'll have to start bugging him about that. Lord knows that there's not nearly enough things that I do that bug him. ahem.)

Listening to Olivia sing. If it's not a "real" song, then it's one she's 'writing' on the spot!

How Great is Our God?

The following occurred on May 12th. I started to draft a post that day and never got back to it. I decided it was high time to spread this good news!

...Let me tell you....

Sunday morning in church, we had an awesome time of praise and worship. At one point my friend Judy spoke up saying that the Lord was speaking to her and saying that He wanted to do miracles. Pastor Kent grabbed that opportunity and ran with it - he asked if there were any who wanted a miracle, whether it be financial, emotional, physical, etc. Well, God knows that there are a lot of miracles that I need in my life, so I went forward. Not for any particular need - but just to be present for whatever God wanted to do in my life.

I knelt down at the altar. Mind you, I DON'T kneel - for it's not any easy task for me to rise from the floor once I'm there. Between the MS and the bad knees, I'm not as limber as I once was. But, knelt I did, as I followed the Holy Spirit's prompting.

After a wonderful time of prayer and praise and singing and fellowship around the altar with all my brothers and sisters in Christ, I managed to rise without too much difficulty. (Too much difficulty in my book means that I got up without falling down again!)

It being Mother's Day, Pastor Kent told a wonderful story about Mothers (which at this point in writing - a month later - I've seemed to have forgotten the details...) He then gave us each the most beautiful orange/peach rose which graced my table for days afterward.

After church, I came home and went to sleep because I had to work that night. Since I had a bit of a cold and sore throat, when I left for work, I wanted to stop at StuffMart to buy some lozenges to take to work to help my throat while working. The air tends to be very dry in the lab. I didn't take the time to get an electric scooter - which is what I usually do when at StuffMart. Walking around that big store is too much for me. Instead, I hurried to the pharmacy section - then hurried clear to the OTHER end of the StuffMart Super Center because that's the only end where the registers were open - then hurried clear back to the Pharmacy side because that's where I had parked my van. It wasn't until I was almost in my van that I realized that I had just taken all those steps with not one single pain in my arthritic knees! And I worked all night long with no pain in my knees. I have been dealing with arthritic pain in my knees for months - perhaps years. God had indeed given me my miracle - he heeled my knees!

I met my dear friend Dawna for breakfast and even she was amazed at how I was able to keep up with her instead of doing my usual hobbling around the restaurant and parking lot! God is good!

It's now been a month --and I still have no pain in my knees! Now if I'm hobbling, it's because of MS stuff and how it affects my legs...but I'm believing that if God has taken care of one issue - He's perfectly capable (of course!) of taking care of the rest --and I'm just waiting on Him to finish the great work He has begun!

I rejoice that He cares for me and blesses me in spite of my neglect of Him. In spite of the sin in my life. In spite of all the times when I should be spending time with Him and instead am wrapped up in myself and what I think needs to be done.

He is an amazing God. One who cares about each detail of our lives. I'm thankful to be His child and amazed by His grace!

---

But for you who revere my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise
with healing in its wings.
-Malachi 4:2a

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Mother's Day and Campfires

This weekend Olivia embarked on her very first overnight camping trip for Brownie Girl Scouts. She was SO excited!--bouncing off the walls from the moment she arrived home from school until the moment Brillo Man and I left her at the heated camping lodge complete with modern bathrooms and comfortable bunk beds with mattresses! (Whatever happened to tents in the woods?!) Actually, for a first time overnight trip, at the tender age of six, I'm glad she's going to be warm and dry and comfortable in the lodge. There will be time for tent camping later on when she's a little older.

Olivia at camp with her box oven.
She tells me she baked some delicious cookies!

...sound asleep in the recliner.
Her camping trip completely wore her out!


I read something in a recent post on Connie's blog: ..."from the moment (your children) are born, you are teaching them how to live apart from you. Every step they take will take them further away and every word they learn will move them to greater independence". While Connie and I are the same age, we have two very different family situations. Her four children are grown and she is a Grandma. I have an almost-seven-year-old and am old enough to BE her Grandma! I don't imagine it's any easier though to watch our children transform into independent beings right before our eyes. No matter what their age.

I think about my own Mother. Mom will always be my Mom - no matter how old I get to be. The feelings and love she has for me will never change. I don't imagine that it's any easier for her to watch from a distance her children's independance all the while fondly remembering her days of constant close watch over us. Perhaps there are days when she wishes she still had us all to herself...but then again, perhaps not. Just as Connie has said that she has earned her rest...my Mother has also. She's put in the long hours; praying, worrying, wiping snotty noses, caring for us when we were sick, holding us when we were afraid, doing all the wonderful and difficult things that you do when you're a Mom...and loving us....unconditionally.

On this Mother's Day, I'm reminded, as always, what a great sacrifice my Mother made for me. There will never be words grandiose enough to thank her properly. I have always appreciated her, especially when I became an adult...but OH...how much MORE now that I'm a Mother myself! Unless you're a Mom, you can't possibly comprehend the emotion that goes along with the title. I believe that something happened in my heart the moment I became a Mom. It's indescribable!

Even knowing all the things that my Mom did for me, I'm most grateful for her love. I now understand how much I was (and am) loved by my Mother....and my heart is full!

I love you Mom! May you be blessed in ways that you can't imagine for all the ways that you bless me with your incomprehensible love! Happy Mother's Day!

Of course, the photo that I wanted to post, of Mom doing the motions to "Father Abraham" while singing around our Girl Scout Campfire, is nowhere to be found, so I had to settle for this:

Mom circa 1990 after having just been attacked with Silly String!

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Her children arise and call her blessed...
-Proverbs 31:28

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National Day of Prayer

On this National Day of Prayer...

Father, I praise You for Your greatness, for Your unfailing, unconditional love, for Your faithfulness.

Today I lift up our nation to You and ask forgiveness;
forgiveness for our shortcomings, for our denial and neglect of Your presence.
I ask that in the times when we choose not to recognize that You are our Sovreign King, in times when we don't put You in Your rightful first place in our lives and in our country's agenda, that You would extend grace and mercy to us. Help us to recognize that it is You who we need to honor with our hearts. May we be ever mindful that You are the King of Kings - the Ruler of nations, the One and Only True God.

I pray for our government today. From our local township officials all the way up through to those who govern our nation. Lord, fill them with Your wisdom. May they seek Your counsel as they make decisions which affect our land. Guide their steps and their hearts.

For our men and women in uniform who protect and serve our great nation, I ask first and foremost for Your protection. Keep them safe from harm. Allow them to carry on their duties and accomplish the things which You direct them to accomplish. May they do their jobs effectively and with honor. I pray this not only for those serving in the military, but also for those who protect and serve in our local community of Greenville, and in all the local municipalities and states in our nation. Grant them strength and wisdom, patience and endurance.

I ask that You would turn the hearts of the people of The United States toward You. That in this day of uncertainty, when so many trials so often are set before us, that we would remember to keep You in the center of our lives. For without You, we can do nothing.

You have said in Your Word that if we humble ourselves and pray, and turn from our wicked ways, that You will hear from heaven and heal our land. Help us to do just that. May all the prayers that will be prayed today on this National Day of Prayer not just be lipservice to You, Lord, but may they be sincere pleas for forgiveness and for Your will to be done in our lives and in our nation.

Grant us peace and protection. Fill us with hope. A hope that can only be realized in You. As we strive to place You first, may we be blessed.

I ask these things in the precious Name of Jesus,
Amen.

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Now therefore, I pray,
if I have found grace in Your sight,
show me now Your way,
that I may know You
and that I may find grace in Your sight.
And consider that this nation is Your people.
-Exodus 33:13

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Creature

There is a creature living in the ceiling. I have no idea if it's a rat or a bird or what?!!?! There's a lot of "tapping" going on...which makes me think (hope) that it's a bird and not a rat.

Meanwhile...several weeks ago someone from church came and repaired the place where the soffit had come down so we wouldn't have to deal with critters in our house. ...which makes me think it might be a rat and not a bird, since rats seem to be able to find their way through tight places.

Too bad Bentley can't get to it...it would be gone in two seconds flat!

Pray that it leaves!! It's creeping me out! I have dominion over this, right?!

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Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness;
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
over the birds of the air,
and over the cattle,
over all the earth
and over every creeping thing
that creeps (through the ceiling of your house!) on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26

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Priming....

With all my blog buddies sharing their home projects, it's given Brillo Man and I "the bug" to finally finish the bathroom in the basement. When we moved into this house, there was a bathroom there. However, Brillo Man tore it out after we had been here for two years because the tank under the shower floor had cracked and water began leaking every time someone used the shower. Mold and mildew were having a field day. The under-the-floor shower tank had to go!

Over the past few days, there have been two men working here to help out with this project as neither Brillo Man nor myself have the physical capabilities to accomplish the rebuild ourselves. There are some things we can do however. Painting is one of them. With the walls rebuilt and the drywall in place, it's time to prime and paint!

Olivia insisted on helping me prime the walls. She didn't do such a bad job and actually had less paint on her when all was said and done than I did!

Reading is FUNdamental!

Mrs. Mac, you will be proud to know that I have read four books in the last two weeks. COVER to COVER! ...And I'm halfway through number five! With my computer sick with a virus, it was trying my patience too much to wait for pages to load, so I didn't. Instead, I picked up a book. And now I can't seem to stop reading. I've rediscovered that joy!


When I was younger, I was a voracious reader. Stemming, I believe, from the time my Mom took me to the public library to get my very own library card as a "reward" for going to the eye doctor without screaming in fear over those monstrous-looking lens-fitting machines! I mean, come on, what little kid wouldn't be scared to see this multi-eyed monster coming at her?!

Little did I know then that Mom was getting herself off the hook - library cards are free. Borrowing books...free. I was thrilled and Mom and Dad didn't have to fork out any big bucks to buy me some toy as a reward.

Recently, I tried the same tactic on Olivia. She told me that she didn't need her own library card because I have one and she always uses mine. Instead, she wanted to go to The Dollar Store! oy-vey!

She does, however, share my love of reading and reads often - to Brillo Man and myself, to Grandma, to anyone who will listen! I caught her reading to Bentley the other day. I'm not sure he was getting it, though he did have a smile on his face!

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Books I've read in the last two weeks:

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Mistaken Identity by Don and Susie Van Ryn and Newll, Colleen and Whitney Cerak, with Mark Tabb. This book is the true story of two Christian families both of which had daughters who were in a very serious accident. One survived. One did not. However, the one who survived was mistaken for the one who didn't. For five weeks, the Van Ryn family believed the person whom they were helping to care for in the hospital was their beloved daughter, Laura. It wasn't until she was able to speak and write her name that they learned the shocking truth. And the family who buried their daughter, Whitney, discovered that they didn't really bury her...she was alive. This book was very good - showed two families who live with a fierce faith in the Lord. I highly recommend this book!

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The Penny (a novel) by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford. This book is the story of a girl who was abused by her father and I can't help but feel that Joyce may have put a lot of her own experience into this novel. Despite the sadness, it has a happy ending.

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Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu by Lee Goldberg. If you enjoy the television show, you'll enjoy the book. Although I think that the show is better. I needed something light and funny after the serious heart-wrenching subjects of the previous two - this book fit the bill.

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You Know You Should Be Glad by Bob Greene. (no, not Oprah's fitness guru...the Chicago Times columnist) This book is non-fiction - a story of the author and his five closest friends and the journey they take together as one learns he's dying of cancer. Very touching - highly recommended!) Another emotional read by a wonderful story-teller. I'll be reading more by Mr. Greene.

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Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. A novel about a woman who discovers, when the police show up with an arrest warrant, that her father kidnapped her from her mother at the age of four. He had told her that her mother had died. Truth is...her mother spent 28 years looking for her. I'm about halfway done with this one and it's hard to put it down! (I've just discovered this author and I love her writing! And since I purchased five of her books on Ebay, I have the remaining four lined up to read next!)

Also on my list is one recommended by Connie: Sunk Without a Sound - true story of a couple lost while rafting on their honeymoon. And one recommened by Pat: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

Gotta go...the pages are calling my name!!

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They said to him,
"Sit down, please,
and read it to us.
-Jeremiah 36:15

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Pretty Bird

This robin sits for hours a day staring at her reflection in our woodstove stovepipe. And she preens....undoubtedly making herself pretty for the upcoming egg-laying event. Note how plump her belly is...bursting with eggs!

Her nest (although you can't see it very well in the photo below due to the glare on the kitchen window) is right behind her - on a rung of the ladder which Brillo Man took outside for our neighbor to use while he was helping us clean the chimney.



Brillo Man commented just two days ago that he needed to move the ladder because the birds were building a nest. Guess who didn't get the ladder moved in time? I told him this morning that I hoped he wasn't going to be needing that ladder any time soon because the birds' nest stays! Mama's ready to lay her eggs - and she's in no condition to be building a new nest now!

By the way, my computer is driving me nuts (more nuts that I already am normally.) The virus is unrelenting. I can only visit one or two webpages and then all of a sudden it downloads a bazillion ads. We have tried everything we can think of to fix it and none of the anti-viral programs or registry restorations or system restores or ANYTHING is working! We have spent literally HOURS trying to rid the computer of this virus. Therefore, I'm buying a new computer. A laptop. I've wanted one ever since my old one died several years ago. Also, we'll be able to take it with us when we go on vacation so I'll be able to give vacation updates to all my blog friends and lurking neighbors! (you know who you are, Bob and Sue!)

Gotta go before my computer loads more ads! Besides, Olivia is "snapping" at me that she wants me to go draw pictures with her. She has learned to snap her fingers and walks around the house constantly snapping! She's been snapping for days...I wonder how long this phase will last?!...

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If you come across a bird's nest beside the road,
either in a tree or on the ground
(or in the rung of your ladder),
and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs,
do not take the mother with the young.
-Deuteronomy 22:6

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Trojan.Virtumondo or is it virtomundo?

Ugh.

My computer has ONE NASTY BUG!

I can't get online (I'm using Brillo Man's computer now.)

I can't save any files to any external drives.
(which means if I wanted to reformat the hard drive to get rid of the virus, I can't save any photos or documents beforehand to avoid losing them forever. (There goes TONS of photos of my family, friends and my art...again)

None of our spyware/virus fix software is working to eliminate this bug.

I'll say it again. Ugh.

I'll be absent from blogging until we get this resolved!

Happy Easter!

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"It is true!
The Lord has risen..."
-Luke 24:34

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EGGStravaganza!!!

Yesterday...

We came...

We saw...

We conquered eggs...

Illuminating Light

I heard a Bible teacher say that if we really truly see sin the way God sees it, we would never want to sin again. God says that sin, that one sin which we think may be no big deal, is so disgusting, so repulsive in God’s sight that He had to send His son to die for it. Wow.

What is confession really about? If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Are we truly confessing? Repenting? Because if we see sin the way God sees it, knowing that it so repulses Him that He had to send His Son to die for that one sin....we would not be committing that sin again tomorrow. We wouldn’t say, “Lord, forgive me for screaming in out-of-control anger at my daughter today” and then turn around and do the same thing again tomorrow.

Something to think about, for sure.

The closer we get to the Lord, the closer we are to His illuminating light. The Light that caused Paul to say, “I sin much more than you all”...Paul was so close to the Lord that every thought, every action, every moment was looked upon through the illuminating lens of Jesus’ Light. I’m sure we all would be much more aware of our sin the closer we grow to Christ. The more light that shines on a dirty carpet...the more dirt and lint that you are able to see which needs to be sucked up in the vacuum cleaner. The same with us - the closer we get to God, the more our sin is exposed.

Lord, remind me when I sin, that it's so bad that You had to die in order for me to receive forgiveness. Illuminate my life in MY eyes, to see my life through YOUR eyes so that I may continue to grow and be the person You want me to be: a light that shines through this dark world, pointing others toward You.

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Jesus said, "It is finished."
With that, he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit.
-John 19:30

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Is it just me? Or...

...am I the only one who...

...once led through the "catacombs" of the doctor's office hallways, upon ending the appointment and am instructed that it's okay to leave, do not have a CLUE which direction will lead me out of the building?

...is NOT rushing right in to Arby's upon reading the message on their marquee: "HURRY IN - MUSHROOM ROASTBURGERS ARE HERE!"

...still remembers when you "send your money before midnight tonight" you'll get not one, but TWO sets of Ginsu Knives?!

...is convinced that my six pound weight gain over the last three weeks is due to the new medication that I've been taking?! (Surely, I'm NOT eating more?!)

...knows that Brillo Man called the vet today to check on Bentley not just because he "happened to see the phone number on caller ID and decided to call"...but because he TRULY was concerned and wanted to know that Bentley is doing well (because he LOVES the dog - even though he won't admit it!)? (Look upon whose lap Bentley sits in the above photo - that's certainly not MY hairy arm!)

(Brillo Man has reported that Bentley is doing well. We'll be bringing him home tomorrow.)

The Day.

Tomorrow is the day.

We take Bentley to the vet. He's four months old and time to be neutered.

"Olivia, I want you to remember that you can't feed Bentley in the morning because he is going to the vet for surgery and he has to have an empty tummy."

"What kind of surgery?"

"He's going to have surgery so that he can't have any puppies."

"But Mom, he's a boy. He can't have puppies."

"Oh, right. Well, he just has to have some tests and we want to make sure his tummy is empty so that he won't get a tummy ache."

"....(pause)....But Mom..."

"Olivia, Do you have any homework to do tonight? Let's go find your bookbag!"

....whew. Successfully avoided that topic for another day!

Fun and FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!

....don't worry Margie...I'm not the one giving away anything this time! For those of you who don't know, Margie won my giveaway...and her gift is still sitting on my desk!!! argh.

Anyway, go visit Jill and enter her giveaway. Even better, be immensely BLESSED by her blog! It's one of my new favorites! The subject which precedes her contest announcement is rich and full of God's amazing love for us.

I add new blogs every day and wonder how I'm going to keep up. Each day, I say that I'm not adding anymore...and then I stumble upon a wonderful blog such as Jill's and I just can't resist!

I do know that I am blessed that the Lord is directing me to places on the internet that are filled with His love and grace...through the words of some awesome Christian bloggers!

Hurry! Go enter the contest! You only have until midnight tonight!!!!