Random Stuff About Me

I'm writing a blog post - random things that you may or may not know about me. I stole the idea from my friend, Victoria, however, since I'm giving her credit, it's technically not plagiarizing her idea. I think.

1. My wedding rings are too loose and spin around all the time. Drives me nuts. I won't get them re-sized for fear that the jeweler will mess it up.

2. I spent considerable time changing the background of this blog before I submitted this post, simply because it was time.

3. I have always loved my name, Deborah Louise, but have secretly been upset because my mother's cousin has a daughter also named Deborah Louise. What is up with that? She was named first.

4. There is no way to mend my daughter's broken heart over finishing Fourth Grade and leaving her favorite teacher behind.

5. My hair used to be so thick that my hairdresser had to thin it out for me. Now it's getting so thin that I take biotin supplements in a desperate attempt to not feel as if I'm going bald!

6. I have more scratch paper than I can possibly use in a lifetime. (This would be the blank sides of printed-on-one-side-pages.) I cannot possibly throw them away.

7. Greeting cards from friends and family...I typically keep them. Unless you're just an "acquaintance" - then I'll cut the card in half and save the front of the card to use again as a postcard while discarding the back of the card which has the writing on it. I've been doing this all my life. I think I've only ever re-used three card fronts as postcards. Ever. It's a disease. I'm convinced.

8. I have a lot of trouble with people who believe that coloring always must be done "in the lines." Art is so much more than that!

9. My good friend in college once wrote a paper for me which I submitted as my own for extra credit. I was busy studying for finals. She was bored as she had no finals (she was student teaching.) That paper caused me to get an "A" in the class. I may have only earned a "B" - I do not recall. I have felt guilt and shame about this for YEARS!

10. I despise being on "terminal hold" when "continuing to hold for the next available representative."

11. When my husband was away for the weekend, the surveyor delivered a survey of our property. I put it "someplace safe" - and now I have no idea where it is.

12. Recently, I discovered a stash of Christmas gifts which I never gifted. I'm wondering if they can be returned? They are three years old.

13. I'm sometimes disorganized. (You're saying, "No! Really?")

14. Our entire house is wallpapered. It was that way when we moved in. I loved the paper everywhere. I still do, but I'm so "over it" and want to redecorate (especially our daughter's room) but don't because I know it will be too much work.

15. I love our satellite XM radio which we have in our vehicles.

16. I cannot throw away bubble wrap until all the bubbles have been popped.

17. Our dog is afraid of the popping bubble wrap noise.

18. I must pop bubble wrap in organized rows.

19. My daughter prefers to twist it or walk on it. This bubble-popping procedure drives me nuts!

20. As I've been typing this post, I have thus far been on "terminal hold" with a company for 25 minutes.

21. I am fascinated with magnets.

22. I love thunderstorms.

23. When making french toast, I always add vanilla and cinnamon to the egg/milk mixture.

24. Several cards have been sent by me to my current "secret sister" at church...but thus far I have received nothing - and a birthday and anniversary have come and gone. I'm guessing whomever has my name this year is a "dud"....did I just call someone a dud?? One year my secret sister died. I hope that's not the case this year!

25. I take vitamin supplements almost every day - but am very non-compliant whenever it comes to medications.

26. One year when I was in college, I "wallpapered" an entire wall in our apartment with empty boxes. It was quite colorful to see the images of Cap'n Crunch, Tony the Tiger, etc, all over our walls. I'm almost tempted to do it again today. (Please refer to #14.)

27. I've been working on this silly list for several days.

28. The last book I read was The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. I HIGHLY recommend it!

29. I own more books than it will ever be possible to read in several lifetimes. It is impossible for me to part with them. They are everywhere - in cabinets in a shed, in cabinets and on bookshelves in the basement, on bookshelves near my desk, on bookshelves in the bedroom, stacked in boxes and in bookshelves in my studio area. If I had $1 for every book I owned, I probably could take a vacation. My husband was thrilled when I bought a Kindle - (I have over 100 books on my Kindle---that's 100 less books cluttering up our house.) Currently, I'm reading two books: Convicted by Tim Hughes (a free book I downloaded onto my Kindle via Amazon. It's actually very good thus far (I'm on chapter six), and Lying on the Couch by Irvin D. Yalom, a "real" book recommended by an author of one of my textbooks. Both are works of fiction. Oh, and I'm reading Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity - nonfiction - one of the textbooks for my next class.

30. This is #30 - I'm trying to decide if I should stop this list now, since it's a nice "round" number, or continue to bore you with more....

31. The bookmark I'm using for the above-referenced "real" book is a business card from Papillon Paper Emporium - a gift shop in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, from a trip I took there two years ago. Did I mention that I have trouble discarding business cards? I mean, if people and businesses go to all the trouble of creating and printing business cards and/or paying someone to do the same, the least I can do is cherish their card forever and ever. By the way, I have learned via their website that Papillon Paper Emporium has since moved to a new location - thereby making the business card which I have in my possession completely worthless. I still cannot throw it away.

32. Okay - just one more for good measure: I haven't painted my toenails since the first week of December - I'm thinking since it's Summer, and sandal weather - it's time.

The Twilight Zone

You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. Next stop.....

Who knows? I suppose it's whenever you choose to set the dial.

I asked Brillo Man..."So, what are you doing with that stuff? Are you planning to build a time machine?!"

These items are wonderfully arranged just 20 feet from our front door. (smile) Do you see me smiling? They've been there now for WEEKS. I haven't said a word. I figured in his good time, he would move them. Of course, it might be the year 2020 before that happens.

But wait, the tan thing on the left - with the glass door - and the dials and knobs....guess what that is?

THAT, my friends is an OFFICIAL NASA Gadget. Yes! Indeed! That contraption was actually used to purify nitrogen for something having to do with the space shuttle missions. I kid you not. He purchased it from some Government Surplus Auction at an Air Force Base. It really is an official NASA thing. (In case anyone cares.) Now granted, I too, do think that it's kind of a neat thing to have something that was used in the space shuttle program...however, I would prefer not to have it sitting 20 feet from my front door.

So this morning, to my glee and delight, Brillo Man tells me that the plan for the day is to clean up the driveway! Awesome! Several hours later - he asked me to move the car out of the garage. Why? So he can put the NASA gadget inside, of course. It's a good thing we have a tiny car - they both fit very comfortably. And now...whenever I drive home from somewhere like...the grocery store. I can pull into the garage, walk into the time machine, set the dial for an hour in the future and come back out to my car devoid of all the groceries...for they will all be put away. He is truly thinking of me, after all.

Yeah. Right.

Wait...on second thought, this could work. I have a birthday coming up in a few days...perhaps I could step into the time machine and shave off a few years!

Blue Fern

A photo....swiped from a domain which doesn't allow "pinning" on pinterest....oy vey! So, I copied and pasted the photo here just so I could pin it!

To Heaven and Back

During these several weeks while taking a break from my studies, I have determined that I'm going to do some reading for pleasure. After having seen a brief interview by Megyn Kelly of FOXNews with the author of a book, and becoming immediately intrigued by the subject, I downloaded the book to my Kindle and began to read. And I have had trouble tearing myself away from the book in order to accomplish much else that needs to be accomplished.

In her book, orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mary Neal describes her experience of dying and going to heaven. Now before you cringe at the thought of reading yet another account of someone who has "traveled a dark tunnel and gone toward the Light," let me assure you that this book is not typical. The author spends a good portion of her story explaining why it is that she was allowed to come back to earth. She weaves the events of her life directly to her experience in God's presence. It is actually a fascinating and alluring account of the many insights she received while "on the other side," as well as subsequent conversations she has had with the Lord and/or angels. I don't want to discuss too much of the book here, as I wouldn't want to give away anything should you choose to read the book. However, I couldn't help but post this photograph which I discovered this morning while searching for items to "pin" on Pinterest (...ah, don't even get me started on Pinterest! That's another topic and worthy of its own blog space!)

At one point in the book, Mary Neal describes the course of our lives as having many branches. And that is all I will say. (You'll have to read the book to get the full story.) This photograph by fine art photographer, Yuliya, in Ontario, Canada, perfectly illustrates part of To Heaven and Back.

Many branches leading to either the window filled with light and love, or the prison of darkness. Now...go read the book and let me know what you think!

Traveling Meme

I stole this from Pat Just because. How old were you when you first traveled? I think I was about 10. Major trip to Florida. What is your favorite form of traveling: car, bus, train, or plane? For the speed of it, a plane, but I like sightseeing in a car. Where did you go on your first road trip? Florida! Gulf Coast - to visit my Grandmother who was "snow-birding" there. I remember the beach - and Cypress Gardens, and sitting in my Grandmother's living room when Tammy Faye Baker came on the TV - PTL Club...and my Grandma commented about her eye makeup...for it was a "sin", you know! ;) Where did you go on your first bus ride? I think it may have been to Harrisburg, PA - over Easter weekend...for the annual CA (Christ Ambassador) Convention. Sing it with me Pat! We are Christ’s Ambassadors; And our colors we must unfurl. We must wear a spotless robe, Clean and righteous before the world. We must show we’re cleansed,from sin; And that Jesus dwells within, Proving duly that we ‘re truly Christ’s Ambassadors Where did you go on your first train ride? I think it was a scenic railway tour on an old coal-powered steam locomotive here in Pennsylvania. Where did you go on your first plane ride? Rome, Italy! (Well, technically I flew from Pittsburgh to New York to Rome) Motion sickness? Treatment of choice? Stop the motion! Where would you like to go that you haven't been? Alaska, Hawaii, and Scotland Where would you like to go back to? Italy, and New England Traveling alone or with someone? It depends...usually with someone...but I enjoy traveling alone if I'm going to visit someone. Your ultimate traveling dream? If I were in better health, it would be a backpacking trip the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. That's not gonna happen in this lifetime. Feel free to copy and paste to your blog, deleting my answers and filling in with your own!

I'm Thinking...

I'm thinking I should write a blog post.

It's been quite a few days since I've written a blog post.
(Not that THAT'S any great revelation. It's always been "quite a few days since I've written a blog post.)

The truth is - I have nothing to write which is worthy of a blog post.

So perhaps I should move on...

But before I do...



This is a photo of the magnolia flowers that WERE on our tree before the killer frost got them the other day. Now they're all brown and wilted and pitiful.

I said to Brillo Man last night, "Have you seen our magnolia tree? It's ruined. The frost wilted all the flowers. It's too bad. I hate it when we have a Spring like this. It happens all the time. The weather gets warm and the flowers bloom and then we get hit with a frost and everything dies."

He replied, "I see a few white blooms still."

"Yeah, well that's because those are the new buds that hadn't opened yet. But the tree, in all it's gorgeous beauty....it's ruined."

And that's pretty much how the conversation ended. And then just now, as I was posting this photograph...I started to think about the love of Jesus. Just when we think all is lost, or ruined, or wilted, or destroyed....He brings new life. There are those of us, who, at times, may still refuse to see the new blooms. But then there are those who are able to say, "I see a few white blooms still."

My prayer for today is that I will look BEYOND the wilted, withered mess of things - and see the potential that my husband saw...and that GOD sees.

Have a blessed day everyone. For now, I am moving on....to look for the white blooms...

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Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
-Isaiah 43:19a (NKJV)

...the Contemporary English Version
reads this way:

I am creating something new.

There it is! Do you see it?

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Jesus Spake

So, I was minding my own business... making the rounds on some of the Sisterhood blogs and thinking that I probably should head to bed because it was almost midnight and I have a ton of things to do for my class tomorrow....and just at that precise moment...I nearly jumped out of my skin when my phone emitted a VERY LOUD, "AHHHHHH!!!!" Sorta like the sound of angels singing (only different.) And this thing pops up on my phone?!?!:



How odd was that??

A little creepy even....
I'm going to bed!

ER ...in the wee hours of the morning

Last night, I ended up in the Emergency Room - again. Complications not from my broken nose and banged up face, but from my banged up right knee. I was convinced I had a blood clot. It felt very warm to the touch, I was running a low-grade fever and my leg was extremely painful. Two hours and an ultrasound later, it was determined I do not have a blood clot. Yeah!! AND...the ER doc pulled the packing out of my nose---oh, how much better it feels without all that cotton stuffed inside!

While I was sitting there, in the wee hours of the morning, the Lord filled my heart with a song....one of my favorites by CeCe Winans....His Strength is Perfect. Oh, how I needed to embrace those lyrics as I sang quietly in the exam room.



I let the words of the song settle into my spirit as I sang. And when the ER doc arrived with the good news that there was no clot, I raised my hands and said, "Praise God!" I then said to the ER doc, "We have an amazing God!"....as he looked at me kind of dumbfounded. I said, "Shake your head and agree with me Doctor, we have an amazing God!"

"Who knows why we go through the things we do," I turned to my friend who was with me as the doctor left the room, and said, "it just may be that I endured this whole fall/broken nose/bruised knee so that I could plant a seed in that doctor's heart!"

God is good.

At War.

So, this morning before church, I was sitting in the parking lot in my van while my spirit was at war with the enemy. My mind was going several directions at once and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I needed to get some control before I stepped through the doors of our church.

I sent a text to Pat and asked her to please pray. She responded that she would pray even before she had her morning coffee! (That's huge!) While she was praying in Michigan, I was praying in Pennsylvania....and then there was a breakthrough. I suddenly felt a huge wave of the presence of the Lord and the tears began to flow at precisely the same time I received a text from Pat which read, "I am at peace. God is touching you right now." OH...the amazing love of our Lord!

I was able to attend church...although honestly, it was difficult because the Lord's presence was tangible - it was difficult for me to sit! At one point, our pastor called me out and said she could see God's glory all over me and asked what it was that the Lord had for me to share with the congregation. I was able to share a vision He was giving me - part of which contained the army in the heavens doing battle for us - similar to what Elisha must have seen!


What a tremendous blessing! Forever and always I will be amazed at our Great God and how He orchestrates our lives. Here was my dear friend in Michigan, available and willing to pray with me across the miles, and the Lord used her tremendously to impact our little congregation in Pennsylvania. It is now hours later and I'm still basking in the glory of God's presence. He is amazing. I am so glad and humbled to be called a daughter of the Most High.

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And Elisha prayed, and said,
“Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man,
and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses
and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
-II Kings 6:17, NKJV
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Where's my GPS?

I got lost this morning. Not on the road, but in the Land of Blog. Well, I wasn't exactly lost. I knew exactly where I was - visiting Vicki. What I didn't know was how the journey would effect me.

...Those of you who know me, know that I am ear-deep in books and papers and deadlines and assignments as I pursue my Master of Arts in Professional Counseling. The amount of time spent in this pursuit has been extreme - taking way more time than I initially thought it would. The technical writing has been intense with very little room for creativity. I'm an artist - 'creativity' oozes from me. There are moments in my writing for school that I feel completely quenched - yet I do know that I'm not to quit. God has made that perfectly clear, "There is a method to this madness," I hear from Him.

However, my heart is longing to break free and write and paint and flow with all the things that are inside my soul. I need to find a balance. I've had to set aside my huge, creative-writing style project and focus on technical, clear, concise, often dry and boring verbiage in writing "graduate level" papers. I've had to set aside my art. In a sense, I've set aside a huge part of what makes me ME.

Yet the Holy Spirit whispers that I must press on. "There are many whose lives you will touch - people who need to heal - people who will relate to your life and your story and you need to better understand how to help them," He says. And then I'm reminded of the young man in our youth group....who (although he doesn't know it) is crying out for help - help that I could offer based on what I've experienced in my life --yet there is a part of me that says, I don't have all the necessary tools to counsel this young man. And God says, "School. Don't quit. There is a method to this madness, and his name is -----."

Several years ago, I drew a picture of a young man. Today, I have given him a name.

I will not post it here, for there may be those who would recognize the name and I would not want to in any way reveal his identity. The Lord reminds me that it is for this young man, and for many other young people and adults who struggle....that I am to complete my Master's program.

So, in the meantime, pray that I am able to discover a balance - that I leave room for an outlet for my creative side - whether it be in my writing or art or blogging...or creating fun things with my daughter...such as the box we made to hold her Valentines....


....ah...the joy of being "lost" in the left side of my creative brain....

...time to find my way back to the right side....my next class begins soon.
It's all in His perfect timing, after all...
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You do have creative gifts.
They are foundational to your personality,
your ability to function from day to day
and your life callings.
Their discovery may have been delayed by hard times
or an oppressive childhood.
You may have been denied the opportunity
to develop your gifts.
But creative gifts are resilient
and quite patient.
They appear when the time is right
and can adapt to an ever-changing environment.
Even after being undiscovered
or neglected for decades,
they can walk onstage in brilliant colors
and dazzle you and those who are your witnesses.
~ Vinita Hampton Wright,
The Soul Tells a Story
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Elephant Number Three

In honor of the completion of my research paper for my graduate class (two weeks early, I might add!), this little guy is sounding loud the celebratory trumpeting trunk! Can't you tell?


Finally...another elephant!

That's it folks...that's all I've got...tired and going to bed!

Elephant Number Two

The second edition in my "Elephant" series... (I've decided to make this a series....) Here's how it goes. Some person in blog land who shall remain nameless (you know who you are...) has suggested that I be more consistent with blog posts.

Here's the deal. I'm in school now. The end.

Where was I? ...oh yes, the elephant... SO....today's elephant (actually you get two for the price of one today...) SO...today's elephants are also residents of a shadow box somewhere in the recesses of my home.

I have no idea from whence they came. They're small (note edge of penny in the background.)

I have not named them. Suggestions?!

Elephant....

I am taking a break from school work to post this tiny elephant....approximately two inches in length, he sits in one of my shadow boxes. He's one of dozens of elephants I have...most are packed away....been collecting them since I was seven. Sheesh! That's a looonnnngggggg time!! Pay no attention to the dust and cobwebs! Okay...now it's back to school work for me!

Counting Down....

Two days. School starts in two days.

BUT...I have already read and studied two chapters in my text for one of my TWO classes.

I sense a theme here....has something to do with TWO.

Don't ask me what though, because my brain is fried from studying and I can't possibly think of even one witty or profound thing to say.

I will say this....I received an email from my professor - a "welcome" email, if you will. In it she said, "I love to see how the text of this course plays out in my office." (She's a Licensed Professional Counselor and our text is Human Growth and Development).

She encouraged each of us to "not blow off this course - especially if we are called by God to be counselors..." And as I read those words...I immediately felt the TANGIBLE presence of God in my living room! In fact, even as I type those words now, I am feeling the Lord's presence. He is amazing! Every time I turn around I'm getting confirmation that I'm headed down the right path.

A Licensed Professional Counselor... In time, that will be me...hoping to one day help heal the brokenhearted...

And despite my fear and trepidation...I can do this! Me and God. Ah...the TWO of us. I knew that there was a theme!!

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

Brillo Man had an emotional weekend.

He had to say goodbye to an old friend.

A friend who has been with him through thick and thin.

Through sunshine and rain.

Through the muck and mire.

In all kinds of weather and in all kinds of storms.

He sold his beloved excavator. gasp!!

Whatever will he do now when he's bored? He will have no 'friend' to help him dig holes all over our property. Alas.

Here he is - posing for one last photo with his friend:



Driving it up onto the buyer's trailer:



Reluctant to leave...



The new owner driving away with Brillo Man's old friend... such a sad, sad day.

Psalm 91

What's in those Eggs Anyway??!

A friend recently inquired what it was that we feed our chickens because the eggs are so very good. She gasped with horror and disbelief when she discovered that we "slop" our chickens....in much the same way that a farmer slops pigs. In other words...we feed them all our table scraps. Well, there are a few that Bentley enjoys...but most of our leftovers make their way into the chicken coop.

As a result of that, we have VERY LARGE chicken eggs. Seriously. Some of the eggs are as large as duck eggs. And they have double yolks. And the shells are super duper hard - it takes a greater effort to break them.

Our farm fresh eggs are delicious - so much more tasty than the eggs one can purchase at the grocery store! In fact, I won't even eat eggs anymore in a restaurant since there is no way that they can compare with our Farm Fresh Chicken-Slopped Eggs!!



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Yep! They for sure are sloppin' those birds...
Just look at the size of those yolks!
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Back in Our Hands

"Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude." Luke 9:16

Here's a thought: When Jesus took the loaves and the fishes from the young boy before the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 he blessed them and then handed them back to the disciples and expected them to disperse them to the crowd. Once again...He blessed them and put them back in the disciples' hands. Ah...how many times does the Lord bless things and then expect us to act in order for the miracle to occur?

...just a point to ponder.

Dolce Far Niente

Italians have a saying - Dolce Far Niente, which simply means:

The art of doing sweet nothing.

Oh, how I love that! It's so much nicer to think of time spent doing nothing as an ART rather than considering it a bunch of wasted time! For one, I am Italian and being an artist, I am all about

...I'm thinking I must now go and CREATE!!

Cold

So, I get myself all bundled up to face the frigid air as I walked Bentley this morning...

Coat - check

Hat - check

Boots - check

Gloves - um. no. That's why I have pockets.

Did I mention that I'm allergic to the cold? No? Well, I'm allergic to the cold. Really. Seriously. I break out in hives if any skin is exposed to cold for any length of time. And the hives are not fun. They are extremely itchy and extremely annoying. But - this morning I was prepared! I knew it was cold outside and I had every inch of skin covered (well, except for my hands....that's why I have pockets.)

Halfway up the driveway, I decided to take a few photos of Bentley. He is cute, after all. So, I snapped away with the camera on my iPhone. Of course, doing so would obviously cause me to have to remove my hands from my pockets.



Ah...I know what you're thinking... You're thinking...yep, now she's going to get hives on her hands. She should've worn gloves!!

Nope. By some miracle I did not get hives on my hands - despite the frigid ten degree temperature with a minus something wind chill. No, instead I got a huge hive - ON MY EYELID! Caused my eye to swell shut. There's a new one. Must've been the act of LOOKING at all that cold snow!

On my "to do" list today: Ordering a Ski Mask