Giggles-n-Gulps

• Now we know, and I am so glad its over.  I am so glad God knew before it even started.
• Very interesting news story on our local news site this morning about tire safety and the age of tires even when they are sold as “new” - check it out:  Cracking the Code on the Age of Your Tires
• G climbed into bed with us in the middle of the night a couple of times.  The second time, around 4am, the says to me, “Mommy?”  I replied sleepily, “Yea?”  G says,”I’m sad.” 
• I wasn’t quite sure what to do with that - he’s never said that before.  I reassured him he was with mommy and daddy, he was ok, and let’s go to sleep now. 
• My friend Jess pointed me to another fun website - a free internet radio where you type in a favorite song or artist and it customizes your radio station for you!  Very cool.  Its called Pandora Radio. 
• I had way too much fun with Pandora yesterday.  And it was right on with all the song selections, too.
• I am going to a women’s retreat hosted by our church this weekend.  I am beyond excited. 
• Leslie Nease, of Survivor China, will be our speaker. 
• I am playing keyboard for the worship portions of the retreat - I am super-excited about that!!  That is my passion.
• We had some neat blessings this week around the house - literally.  Our icemaker broke over the weekend.  On Tuesday, I called the appliance repair folks to come out and fix it.  Tuesday night our garbage disposal quit working - buzzed then died.  You know how that always happens.  :)  By Wednesday we were looking at some hefty kitchen repairs.  The repairman arrives on Wednesday and fixes the icemaker to the tune of $220 (ouch!) then as he was putting the old icemaker in the sink to get ice out, I told him to use the other side as that side would fill up, the garbage disposal was broken.  He says, “Did you hit the reset button?”  Me - quizzical look.  He says, “Do you still have the special tool for it?”  Me - another quizzical look.  He smiled and said he had an extra one.  He took a few minutes and worked on it.  Determined we had a small metal piece stuck in the blades that my husband could get out.  And he left the special tool with me!! 
• So I got a new icemaker with ice made of gold apparently, and the news that garbage disposal wasn’t garbage!  Cool timing, eh? 
• By the way, Chris fixed the garbage disposal last night.  Indeed, there was a small metal object stuck in there.  We have no idea what it was.  It was a…small, metal thing.
• I’m going to go enjoy a nice glass of gold icewater now and listen to Pandora.

God is God, and He is the great “I AM” and as I read on a recent blog that also means I am not.  No matter the state of the world on this morning, our God is unchanging, ever the same, ever faithful, ever merciful, ever full of grace.  That thought brings me to my knees and tears to my eyes.  For me personally, these election results mean no more apathy, but continual prayer for our nation, for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of every individual man, woman and child for a spirit of revival that begins with a heart-change.  It is a fire in my soul, and for that I praise my God in heaven! My heart’s desire is that no man pass away not knowing the love of my Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ.  I want you to have what I have - it is truly amazing.  Close your eyes and listen to the words of this song.  Powerful.  My Savior is the same forever.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? A soap opera character maybe?  My mom just liked the name. 

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Thursday, when some (ahem) not-so-friendly-and-compassionate folks decided to comment loudly and publicly (read:  yelled) at a gas station on my supposedly horrid parenting skills while traveling alone with my children.  I told them to mind their own business, calmly finished my reasons for stopping, got on the highway then cried for the next fifteen minutes.  People are unbelievable, really.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Never really thought about it.  It’s not stellar or anything.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Wow, that really is random.  I like Italian subs.  Does that narrow it down?

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?  If you read my blog, you know. 

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?  I hope so.  I can be a strong personality, but I try to be kind and caring always. 

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Never.  *smirk*

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  If you would have asked me ten or twelve years ago, in a heartbeat.  Now, not so much.  Not sure if its a fear factor or a throwing-up factor.  Probably a mix of both, but my stomach is not as sturdy as it used to be regardless.  I know, I’m a whimp.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?  Life or Honey Nut Cheerios.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope.  But I do have to untie them and retie when I put them back on.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Nope.  But it all depends on the issue at hand, I suppose.  And who I have in me that makes me strong.  *grin*

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Vanilla.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their faces, body language.

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I hate that I get sleepy when I drive for long periods of time.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Grandpa.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I’m barefoot at the moment.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Almond Joy candy bar. 

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Backyardigans DVD

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Probably a different color every day.  Give me the box of 64 colors.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Great smelling clothes, a newborn baby, a hot meal, my husband - clean-shaven, springtime and flowers

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mother-in-law

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Absolutely!  Heather Anne emailed this to me, and thought it would be fun to share on the blog.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Olympics.

27. HAIR COLOR? Dark blonde, bordering on brown these days.

28. EYE COLOR? Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? A grown-up movie?  I have no idea…  I think I have watched Elmo movies 100x a day lately.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? White T-shirt

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? In Florida?  Winter - much more temperate.  Summer is way too hot.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on who they are from. 

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? creme brulee and flan and brownies and cookies

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Revelation Unveiled by Tim LaHaye

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Those are SO old school.  *wink*  I have one of those optical-mousey-thingys.  Don’t need no stinkin’ mouse pad!  Ha! 

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? TV?  Television?  You mean people have time to watch that?

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Peace and quiet - amen!  I couldn’t agree more, I didn’t change this answer.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Yea, not so much.  I’m an eclectic kind of gal but I don’t have either on my iPod.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? London, England.  Although anytime I’m in the hospital, I feel oceans away and can’t wait to get back home.  Bleh.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I play piano…

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Colorado

Alrighty girlfriends, have at it!  And Marri, I know you’re just dying to get started…LOL…

I’m having a blast in Charleston visiting my brother’s family and meeting my new nephew, hence the lack of blog posts.  Love ya’ll, but I do have priorities, you know.  :)  Here’s a random list for you…have a great day!

• A cold front swept through the South.  I had forgotten how much I do not like cold weather.  Brrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• But it makes me appreciate long, hot showers that much more!
• My nephew is so teeny, tiny and precious!
• G and S both got to hold him and they both did so well, so gentle.  I was a proud mama!
• G and S are having a ball playing with their cousins here.
• Did I mention it was cold here?  Yup, I’ve lived in Florida way too long.  Officially.
• My brother and sis-in-law have a counter-height table in their kitchen and I love it!  It’s a beautiful thing, really.  Especially when feeding small children.
• I am very much looking forward to our church’s women’s retreat coming up in a couple of weeks.  I am SO excited!
• Off to get so love from the little baby - don’t you just love the smell of a newborn baby?  Wish I could bottle it…

As I type, I am watching Chris and the kids playing football in the living room with a stuffed bear. 

My poor bear.

Chris has the bear, lines up S behind him as a tailback, G beside him as a wide receiver. 

S decides to sit down on the job.

Chris, “Blue 32!”

G, “Bwoo Tooo-ty-tooooo!”

Chris, “Blue 32!”

G, “Bwoo Tooo-ty-toooooo!”

(S runs out into the living room field to dance and spin to the music)  Chris, “S, okaaaaaay, you be defense now!”

(Chris is a flexible kind of quarterback.)

Chris, “Hut!”

G, “Hut!”

Chris, “Ok, G, run catch the ball!”

(My poor bear flys through the air…)

S tackles Daddy the quarterback in a fit of tickles and G makes to the hallway endzone for a touchdown.

And the randomness starts all over again.  It’s hilarious to watch.

Going back to my “classical” music roots…I found a YouTube video of a performance by David Edward Smith of Malaguena from the Andalucia Suite composed by Ernesto Lecuona.  It is a rather popular piece of “classical” music, but you will understand why when you hear it.  Something about it just stirs the soul!  This was one of my favorite pieces that I studied in high school, but, um, I was nowhere near this good at it.    It was fun to play though, mistake ridden and all. 

Speaking of mistakes, the composer at the opening of the video is incorrect - yea, oops.  Whoever put that together made a boo-boo.  Isaac Albeniz did not compose this work about to be performed.  Ah, well, we’re all human. 

• Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and pray for our nation.
• I am in the process of painting the breakfast area, finally.  It is a slow process with the kids and the limited time I this week to do it.
• But I cannot wait to have it finished!
• I pulled out the breakfast area cafe’ curtains from our last house and the match perfectly the decor and colors in this house. 
• I have plenty of material from them to tailor for these windows.  Cornice boards or just curtains at the tops, I am not sure yet…
• Not sure why it has taken me five years to figure out I already have the curtains to use on these windows.
• S has done very well with no pacifiers now.  It only took about a day or so.  Yippee!!!  I think she is even sleeping better, believe it or not.  We no longer have to go in and find her paci for her in the middle of the night. 
• No, wait, I think we are sleeping better.
• I haven’t mustered up the gumption yet for potty training.  Maybe this weekend.
• One of my former piano students came back - and introduced me to a new band and music.  The Hush Sound?  Great keyboards! 
• Chris and I took a course at church about managing your money God’s way - excellent.  It is the course by Crown Financial Ministries.  We highly recommend it!
• I am currently reading Revelation Unveiled by Tim LaHaye and Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson.  Both are very fascinating reads!
• Reminding you again to read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and pray for our nation!

This weekend we ventured to our local pumpkin patch.  As a family, we have chosen not to participate in traditional Halloween activities (scary costumes, haunted houses, etc.), but to instead enjoy fall activities.  These are our personal convictions and by no means do we force these on others, but if you ever want to know why, we’re happy to share. 

We went to a local church who has been doing a large pumpkin patch for 19 years now.  It raises money to the tune of $30,000 for their youth group for missions and other projects.  I loved the handout they gave as at the entrance:

Why do we sell pumpkins?  Because we are all like pumpkins.  God has picked everyone from the patch, brings us in, and washes all the dirt off from the other pumpkins.  Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff.  He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.  He then carves a new smiling face for us and puts His light inside of us to shine for all the world to see.

Loved that!  What a beautiful lesson to teach our kids.  Anyhow, the day could not have been more beautiful.  And it was fun.  And free.  Can’t beat that!  :)  Well, the pumpkins weren’t free, but the fun was.  The folks and youth running it were very friendly.  There were photo spots, a few things to play with and plenty o’pumpkins of every size imaginable.  Even a rare siamese-twin pumpkin!  (Sadly, I didn’t think to get a picture of that!)

Holding a pumpkin

Carving the pumpkin

The final product

I took this from Pied Piper…Piping?’s blog.  I think I’m still sitting here stunned about how uneducated some of the voters in this country are about the issues our presidential candidates stand for and what they are really voting for.  Wow.  Take a listen.