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Miscellaneous
A Group Blog for Christian Moms

Saturday, December 30, 2006
Rest in Peace


I watched the funeral service this evening for President Gerald Ford. Although I am too young to remember much, if anything, about his presidency, I do remember my Grammy coming to the house on election day. She asked me who I thought should be the next president - Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter. I said that I thought Mr. Ford should be the next president and when she asked me why, I said because he seemed like a nice grandpa. I remember crying when they told me later that Jimmy Carter had won and would be our next president instead.

And so tonight, I watched and cried for Mrs. Ford who lost her love of nearly 60 years and for their children and grandchildren and those who dearly loved this man. I cried because I miss my Grammy, especially at this time of year.

I wish that I could drive down to DC and walk in the rotunda, to pay my respects to this man but I don't want to make the trip alone. So I will stay close by the television and absorb as much as I can. I so appreciated one of the eulogies tonight that ended with "well done, good and faithful servant". It is what we all want to hear some day and I believe he already heard them, Tuesday evening after his passing.

    posted at 10:41 PM
    0 comments



It has been a busy week. I feel like I have constantly been on the go since the Friday before Christmas (and surely before that!) And as my vacation week winds down, I am thinking of all the things I wanted to do but didn't quite get to yet.

I did organize the pantry and the hall closet. I still want to organize the linen closet and then the biggie...the office! I spent the day today with Nan and we challenged each other to get our offices cleaned out and in functioning order by the end of January. We gave ourselves to the end of February to sort through, discard, etc. anything we remove that isn't brought back in immediately to make the room (and ourselves) functional. I also called my parents and asked my dad to come build some shelving for me around the room. That should be a nice place to put my collectibles and such so they aren't taking up valuable space on the desk, bookshelves and so on. I don't think my landlord will mind - it'll be a nice addition to the room and when my dad did it for my mom, it turned out very nice.

On another note, I was supposed to go with my friend to visit our old pastor's church tomorrow. But my friend and his family are down with the stomach flu. So now I am trying to decide if I should take this opportunity to go visit another church (which I've never done on a Sunday) or just go to mine as usual. I don't know. I'm torn. I was just looking at some of the local churches online but only found one that was appealing to me. On the other hand, our pastor is going to talk about a new study we are going to be doing at the beginning of the year and I'm somewhat interested in hearing what he says about that to the congregation.

Tomorrow night, I'm hanging out with some old friends. I don't want to stay out and ring in the new year...I'd rather be home, safe and sound, watching the ball drop at midnight than driving home with crazy people who have been drinking. So we agreed to dinner, maybe a movie, just having fun but calling it an early night.

Monday I am sleeping in! And, if I can store up enough energy (and boxes), clearing out the office!!! I'll do more before and after shots. I wish I had done a before of the pantry and hall closet but they do look fantastic now, if I do say so myself. I don't know what it is about me and the overwhelming desire to reorganize everything to start the new year but I do this every year.

    posted at 10:29 PM
    0 comments



Thursday, December 28, 2006
Because My DSL is Apparently Possessed
...I cannot log in to Snapfish and print out the photos I need to for my next scrapbooking endeavor, which needs to start ASAP to be finished by February
...I cannot post comments on people's blogs - some of whom need to know people are praying for them and so on
...I cannot successfully log on to any website tonight without rebooting the computer 80 times and muttering unspeakable things
 
 

    posted at 11:27 PM
    2 comments



Tuesday, December 26, 2006

    posted at 8:22 PM
    2 comments



Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Fall Into Reading Challenge: The Finish Line

I have to say thank you to Katrina at Callapidder Days for organizing this challenge! It was great fun and really encouraged me to catch up on some books I've been wanting to read for some time. It also gave me a great opportunity to look at everyone else's list and pick some new books to read! I so dearly love books and always have. The most relaxing thing I can do in this world is lie on the bed and read. The perfect day off, in my mind, consists of just that and I have let myself get away from that simple pleasure. This challenge helped me to reclaim my love of reading and that leisure time.

I have to admit up front that there are three books I didn't finish. All non-fiction and I think it's probably just not the right time. I believe that sometimes books, like people, come into your life for a reason - there may be something you need to read or learn at that time. So I started but haven't finished the Bill Hybels' book and also "Shepherding A Child's Heart". The Dave Ramsey book on finances is a MUST read in the new year for me, but I decided I'd rather look into another book that was recommended by many bloggers - Blue Like Jazz. I just bought that on Monday and hope to sink into it this weekend.

So, now that my disclaimer is out of the way, on to Katrina's questions!

The Best Book You Read This Fall
I would have to say, without a doubt, that it was "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. This book was so wonderful I couldn't put it down. I'm so thankful for Barb and the other bloggers who recommended this one. I have enjoyed other books by Francine Rivers but hadn't heard about this one and picked it up. When I read the first chapter, I actually put it down, thinking I could not possibly - emotionally - get through this book and its subject matter. But I decided to give it my best effort and I'm so thankful I did. It was simply wonderful and really gave me new perspective on what it means to be redeemed.

The Book You Could Have Lived Without
As much as I like Marilyn Meberg, I'd have to say it was "God At Your Wits End". I think this is one of those books I mentioned earlier - probably one that would minister to me at another point in life but not this one. I did recommend it to a friend, though!

I also could probably have lived without "Unlikey Angel". I was interested in the story but there was little I hadn't already read in the news. I was disappointed that it didn't really provide much information about Brian Nichols after he surrendered - whether she visited him or had had any contact with him. I imagine the answer may be no but I would have liked to know. They spent such an intense time together and it seemed that the Lord was really working in her to minister to him and I just felt like there should have been more.

Whether or Not You Read More than You Would Have Without the Challenge

I definitely read more. I'm often so busy or so tired that I haven't been making time to read and that's a real shame. It's so relaxing to me and I was thankful I found ways to make the time throughout - and I hope I can continue that (even if there isn't a winter challenge!)

The Best Thing About Joining in the Challenge

I think the best thing was discovering new books based on what others were reading and recommending. Also, finding some kindred readers online was very nice!

If You Discovered (and Enjoyed) a New Book or Author After Reading Someone Else's List

Yes, yes! I mentioned finding "Redeeming Love" on some lists. And now I've purchased "Blue Like Jazz" and another book by Donald Miller. I also picked up "The Scarlet Thread" by Francine Rivers (another one Barb has mentioned) and Karen Kingsbury's Red Glove Series. I love finding new books and new authors! Thank you to all who participated and gave me some great new ones!! : )

Any Other Insights, Enjoyments, Thoughts, or Impressions!
I'm really thankful to Katrina for organizing this challenge and letting me be a part of it! I already have a stack of books to work on this winter, whether or not there is a challenge - though the challenge did make me more deliberate and dedicated. I hope there will be others in the future!

Labels:


    posted at 10:30 PM
    9 comments



Fa la la la la
This is the longest week on record. I feel like a little kid who can't wait for Christmas - only now it's because I am off from work for a week. I am so terribly tired and really need to get some things taking care of around this house...and I'm hoping for some relaxing downtime too.

Our puppet team from church performed tonight at another church, so I went right from work over there and now I am online finishing up a project that absolutely has to be finished this evening. I'm so thankful for this job with its variety and busyness - it's definitely keeping me on my toes!

**UPDATE** It's 12:24 AM and the project is officially finished and signed off on. Whew! Now it's off to bed.

    posted at 9:49 PM
    1 comments



Tuesday, December 19, 2006
It's Official
I've canceled my annual New Year's Day Open House.  I've had this every year for at least five or six years but for some reason, this year I just didn't feel like having it.  I don't know why, exactly, either.  It's been a long year, fraught with life changes - being asked to join the Pastoral Managment Team, Pastor Glenn leaving, taking on more administrative responsibilities with church, seeking a new pastor, changing jobs, changing jobs again...and whenever I thought about hosting, I just felt like I shouldn't do it this year.  I went back and forth about it several times;  almost sent out the Evite several times as well.  I am a people pleaser and a few folks I mentioned it to said they already had it booked on the calendar.  But everyone will just have to understand...and look forward to next year!

    posted at 4:35 PM
    1 comments



Monday, December 18, 2006
'Twas the Week Before Christmas
The bulletins for Christmas eve service are finished - printed and waiting to be delivered to the woman who puts them together. She will be so thrilled to have them ahead of time - and I am also thrilled to not be doing them on Christmas Eve!

The Christmas cards went out over the weekend and I'm not baking this year, so the only thing left to be done is the most dreaded of all tasks - the wrapping. Last year, I was blessed by a freak snowstorm that closed my office and I was able to stay home all day and wrap. Since it's nearly 60 degrees this week, not much chance of that. I thought of paying one of the youth to do it but that seems wrong. As much as I hate wrapping, I feel like wrapping is all part of the gift giving experience. Now the challenge is finding the time to do it. I just had a terrible image of me wrapping gifts on Christmas morning before driving to my parents house. AAAAHHHH. I hope it doesn't come to that.

I have many things in mind to blog about but at the moment my energy is fading. Perhaps tomorrow...unless I wrap!

    posted at 10:09 PM
    2 comments



Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Perspective
Once again, life is put into perspective.

Yesterday started off as a much better day. I went into a weekly meeting at work and when I came out, I received an email from my friend Kris that the medical director at my previous employer had been killed in a plane crash. He left behind a wife and a son that he loved so dearly, as well as many patients and colleagues whom he touched.

I noticed another email from my friend Michael asking me to call him. As he works at the same company, I assumed the news was the same. I called him and immediately said that I had heard and started asking him for details on the plane crash. He stopped me and said he had other sad news to impart - our friend Debbie lost her husband that morning to a heart attack. He had been sick and in the hospital but was scheduled to be discharged that morning. My heart breaks for Debbie - I cannot imagine how hard this is. I tried to call her today but I understand from others that she is out making the arrangements. I'm praying for her and just hope she is holding up ok - as well as can be expected.

How petty and stupid my whinings on Monday seem.

    posted at 3:55 PM
    1 comments



Monday, December 11, 2006
Didja Ever Have One of Those Days?
Well, today was definitely one of THOSE days.

I was late for work because I am having trouble with my new contacts. The right one is basically a piece of cling wrap and impossible to put in my eye. It folds itself up nicely into a little ball and is virtually impossible to unfold. And when it is finally unfolded and put in, it's usually inside-out, causing great pain so I have to take it out again and start the whole maddening process over.

A major project I have been working on for the last few weeks got canceled with no notice. It's really frustrating to walk away from the day feeling like the bulk of work you did for the last few weeks was for absolutely nothing.

I ordered a puppet we need for several puppet show outreaches our puppet team is doing for church on Saturday. I ordered it to be sent by Wednesday to the leader of that team. This morning, the company called to say they could not have it by Wednesday and they could not ship to this address. I have no idea why (on either account) so now it is coming to me by Friday for a Saturday performance.

I stopped at the store on the way home because I wanted to make one of those fleece blankets that have the edges all tied together for someone for Wednesday. Fleece is expensive!!!! I thought this would be an inexpensive project. But it's not...so it won't get done, unless I find the fabric elsewhere cheaper.

I came home, ate and came on the computer to view the prints from a portrait I had taken of Normie yesterday (what an adventure that was!) only to find that they won't be posted until tomorrow. So, I checked my email...to find that the 600 outreach fliers we were getting done for Saturday have the wrong website address on them! I had to order 600 more...and pay for them again...and I put in the person's address to ship to who is printing them for me. When I looked at the receipt, I realized I put MY zip code on it, not theirs. So I tried to call but the place closed at 8. I sent an email and I'll call again in the morning. Hopefully, I'll get to them before it ships!

And now here I am catching up on my bloglines reading and I can't seem to comment on anyone's posts...why, I do not know. : (

Sigh.

I need a vacation!

    posted at 9:04 PM
    0 comments



Friday, December 08, 2006
What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Inland North
 

You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."

The Midland
 
The Northeast
 
Philadelphia
 
The South
 
The West
 
Boston
 
North Central
 
What American accent do you have?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz


Interesting, since I'm not from the Inland North...and have only visited there a few times...although in the graph, Northeast is not far behind. I love that Philadephia is in a class all to itself!!

Labels:


    posted at 10:28 AM
    0 comments



Tuesday, December 05, 2006
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
I know to most people, this is not an astounding photo. But I haven't had a Christmas tree up in four years. Part of that was due to my fuzzy fellow, who, on his first Christmas took one look at the tree and decide to take a flying leap right into the middle of it. And part was just due to my own general bah humbuggyness around the holidays. But this year, I decided I wanted a tree and went out Thanksgiving night to get one. I'm really happy with it - the size is just perfect and it's pre-lit which is just fantastic. But I am also so happy to look at it and see all the ornaments I have on it that mean something to me. I have several cardinals, in honor of my Grammy. I have one that looks like our old dog, Thunder. I have a bunch of fabric pinecones that my friend Joann from my very first job out of college taught me how to make. I have a black & white Norm cat that Kym painted for me. I have a Dumbo taking a bath - because it's just too darn cute. I have stars and bells and bows and a Christmas Wish ball that opens up and closes with a latch to lock in your special wish.

And it makes me happy.

    posted at 8:35 PM
    3 comments



And a Surprise
Well, almost a surprise.

We planned Michelle's birthday party (I won't reveal which one but it's a nice round number)for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We told her it was scrapbooking night and thought we had her fooled. But she had an inkling!

The biggest surprise of the night wasn't the lovely family rendition of "Happy Birthday" (and let me just say this - we had to warn those who aren't familiar with this rendition and also ask them to cover up any small children's ears! No, not because it is bawdy but because it is LOUD AND OFF KEY. It's really quite a thing to behold!)
The real surprise of the evening was that her big brother Tim, his wife Fran and their son, Jesse, came up for it. That was really the icing on the cake and made Michelle's birthday complete.

We love ya, baby! Happy birthday!

    posted at 8:26 PM
    0 comments



And a Nascar Race...
...also a tad late!

Aren't we just lovely? It had rained all day the day before and it was drizzling as we walked around. But the rain held off until the race ended...
But just barely! We got caught in a TORRENTIAL downpour on our way out. It was kinda scary when they are coming on over the loudspeaker to tell you to move "quickly and safely out of the grandstand...the storm is fast approaching" over and over again. Metal stands + thunderstorms = not a good place to be!

    posted at 8:21 PM
    0 comments



What a Cutie!
I know I am behind on the photos these days - I promised back in October to post some pictures from Joshua's first birthday. We are so thankful for Joshua - you might remember, if you have been reading the blog for a while, that he came six weeks early last October after a long and stressful labor and was in the NICU for a week.

I'm happy to say he is doing so very well and REALLY enjoyed his birthday! His exceptionally creative and talented Mom made this cake - and he got a whole block all to himself!



    posted at 8:14 PM
    0 comments



Again!
I am sick again. 
 
I can't believe it.
 
I completely blame the beloved two-year-old who wiped his runny nose on my sweater at church on Sunday.
 
Completely.
 
I am trying everything to prevent this but I am just feeling crummy.  I have too much going on to be sick. 
 
I CAN'T BE SICK!

    posted at 4:24 PM
    0 comments



Friday, December 01, 2006
Holiday Meme
I saw this on many blogs in bloggityville and had to partake!
 

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? I love hot chocolate any time but do enjoy a glass of nog now and again at the holidays

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps them and puts them under the tree, of course.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white inside and colored outside.  But ask Michelle - THEY CANNOT BE MIXED

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I used to

5. When do you put your decorations up? It depends on how bah humbuggy I feel.  This year, I bought and put up a tree on Thanksgiving - my first tree in about four years, I think

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Green bean casserole

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: I think I just always loved waking up and knowing it was FINALLY Christmas...jumping out of bed and running to look at the tree and presents and then getting my parents up.  I always loved opening my stocking too - and I love my stocking.  My aunt made it for me when I was a wee one and it is a great Christmas memory.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember, but I played like I believed until I was 12 and my parents finally called me out on it!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Usually, Michelle & I and some other folks at church will exchange on Christmas Eve

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? It's pre-lit with white lights, a variety of ornaments that I just enjoy for various reasons, and red bows.  I'm working on the topper - my usual star seems a bit heavy and I do have a Boyd's Bear topper I may try.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? If I have nowhere to go, I love it. 

12. Can you ice skate? Nope.  I have no coordination.  And probably weak ankles!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Apparently it was a Disney screensaver in 1993.  The video tells a story on that one!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Getting together with friends and family and relaxing

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Cookies!!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I don't think it's a tradition but getting together with friends I don't see at other times of the year.  I also enjoy going over to my Aunt Linda & Uncle Richie's house

17. What tops your tree? I have a beautiful star I love but it doesn't seem to want to cooperate this year.  I also have the Boyd's Bear topper I like a lot but haven't used yet

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving. I love finding the "perfect" gift.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Do You Hear What I Hear and O Holy Night are my two top faves

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?? Yum. But I usually only have about one a year!

Labels:


    posted at 3:11 PM
    1 comments