Hooked by Joy

Where is MY shiny?

2011-01-30T07:59:00.003-06:00

This blog post by Russell D. Moore (yes, I'm claiming him as at least a shirt-tail cousin) made me think of so many people in my life - me included - who sit in church and wonder why "the joy" of the Lord has passed us by. We look at the shiny people around us and wonder why we feel dim. Wise words from Brother Moore to explain why this might be so...

Why Facebook (and Your Church) Might Be Making You Sad

Yeah, let 'em play...

2011-01-29T07:07:00.001-06:00

Why do I love this verse?

2011-01-28T09:43:00.000-06:00

Captivated by this verse - don't know why:
O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8, ESV
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Time Limits

2011-01-23T06:57:00.003-06:00

A future Toastmasters speech...

I've heard it said at several of our Toastmasters meetings that we should be more concerned with saying what we have to say than with the time limits Toastmasters imposes on manual speeches, evaluations, and table topics. I understand and respect the thoughts behind this opinion, but I believe the time limits are a very important part of the Toastmasters educational process.

1. Many events feature multiple activities and in order to accomplish everything on the agenda, time limits have to be followed. It is disrespectful to the event organizers and attendees to run over your time limit and throw the rest of the event in disarray. Some things can't be delayed (meals if we want them hot, departure times if we're dependent on commercial transportation), so using more than our allotted time means something else has to be cut short or eliminated in order to stay on track. I've heard very few speeches or presentations that couldn't have been edited down by a few minutes without losing their impact or making their point.

2. We all complain about poorly run meetings that don't follow the agenda and don't finish on time. If we don't respect our time slot on the agenda, we are guilty of contributing to the very thing we dislike. If you have 10 minutes on the agenda, plan for seven or eight - chances are that is ample time to say what you need to say (if you have prepared properly) and allows a few minutes for questions or discussion.

3. Communication is not a one-way street. If you are prone to delivering long-winded monologues in your communications with others, you probably are not communicating at all. More likely, you are monopolizing the conversation and the person you're attempting to communicate with has little energy or interest to respond when you are finally done speaking.

As Merrill Davies said in the May 2010 TMI magazine: It’s an honor to be asked to speak to a group. You may have knowledge that can benefit others. Or you may have been invited because of your humor and ability to entertain. No matter why you were asked, always keep in mind that by attending and listening to you, the audience is giving up other activities. So respect the audience members’ time and the other presenters on the program. In club meetings, Toastmasters always check the timing on speeches and the timer holds them accountable. You’ll find this practice of watching the clock useful in your professional presentations, too. Always ask how long the speech should last and then stay within those limits – better to leave them wanting more than to have them sighing!

Friendship

2011-01-07T05:39:00.002-06:00

Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. - Oswald Chambers

This past year I have been blessed to find I have friends. Yes, sounds pathetic, but I have always been a person who puts too much expectation on friendship and then ends up feeling disappointment or even betrayal. God kept chipping away at my reserves, though - my self-dependence - until I had to accept that only He can provide EVERYthing I need. Now that the burden of being all things for me has been removed from the friendship equation, I find I have good friends (some great friends) and know what a blessing they are in my life.

When once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. - Oswald Chambers

Happy Birthday

2011-01-06T05:29:00.003-06:00

Happy birthday to my amazing and beautiful oldest daughter! When you read "my heart bursting with love" it sounds so cliche', but it is true - my heart bursts with love for you. There is no other way to describe it. When you rejoice, I rejoice for you - when you are hurting, I hurt for you - only now, I can't just kiss it and make it better. That is the hardest thing, especially for a "fixer" like me :-)

I pray God's will for your life every day, but on this special day I ask also that God reveal to you your beauty and worth, that you truly know His love for you, and that you are not just a light but a beacon on a hill for those around you.

Love,
Mom

Coincidence?

2011-01-04T05:26:00.003-06:00

I think not.

Last spring I participated in a Bible study on depression. The second week of the study, I had a fit of depression worse than any I could remember for a long time. (Even worse than the momentary lapse when the miracle drug Chantix failed to reassure my brain it did not need nicotine and I wept irrationally all the way to the store where I bought a pack of cigarettes and made it all better.)

This fall I was in a Bible study on how God uses stress in our lives. I also started daily Bible reading again - something I had let slide. My stress level at work multiplied seemingly overnight and I didn't handle the stress as if God was using it to refine me.

On New Year's Day, I started Professor Grant Horner's Bible-Reading System. Yesterday morning I had a major hissy fit in the truck before I left for work. First I realized there was a 10-minute difference between the bedroom clock and the rest of the world, finally explaining why I kept "losing time" between the house and the truck (causing me to be late for work more times than not). Then, I couldn't get my phone out of my pocket. It's a long coat, so the pocket is in an awkward position once I'm sitting and belted in. The pocket is that slick stuff. I had my gloves on. The phone has a rubberized skin. I yanked, I pulled, I twisted...and @!*&*%$@ like a sailor. Words I thought had been exorcised from my vocabulary.

I used to be that Christian who got very uncomfortable when friends talked about the devil as something more than an abstract concept representing evil in the world. That has changed over time. I believe satan attacks when we are starting down the right road, following God's plan for our lives, making spiritual progress. The stuck phone may not seem like much of an attack, but the spontaneous rage that resulted was a little frightening, especially considering the easy fixes - undo the belt and get out of the truck, or remove the glove, or don't put the phone in the pocket to begin with...

By the way, I am LOVING this Bible reading system (you can download it here). There's also a Facebook group you can join here. I thought reading 10 chapters a day would be a burden - instead, I am anxious to get back to it.

Yesterday

2011-01-03T04:13:00.004-06:00

We celebrated a new believer's baptism and a new family joining our church - an awesome start to the new year with our church family!

Pastor encouraged us to make just four commitments for 2011, based on the following scripture:

Philippians 3: 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

In 2011, I commit to:
1. Forget past failures (Phil 3:13)
2. Give up grudges (Col 3:13)
3. Restore relationships (Rom 12:18)
4. Turn my back on my transgressions (quit sinning!) (Rom 6:2)

I'm reminded this morning of just how challenging these four commitments will be as I read this blog post by GospelDrivenLife, On Judging, Blogging and White Christmas.
It's encouraging to know others struggle with the same issues I do, and convicting to see that sin called out in black and white for what it is.

Four day weekends are awesome, but I seem to get more done when I'm in my work-week routine. Looking forward to a productive week!

So easy to write on the weekends...

2011-01-02T07:37:00.002-06:00

...when there is no pressure to GET EVERYTHING DONE before I leave for work.

Weekends are usually when I catch up on the blogs I follow. This morning I read a great prayer for this time of year on Tim Challies' blog, although the prayer is from HEART CRIES TO HEAVEN by David Campbell and Sara Leone: Prayer At The Closing Of Another Year.

Also, I loved the new year thoughts here, especially the word study from Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) Chapter 1.

A rare treat this weekend - my husband and I spent all day Friday together, at home (it's been almost a year since we've had a whole day at home together). When you raise cattle, there are NO DAYS OFF. Cattle need to be fed every day, or checked every day if they're on pasture. New calves need to be admired and ear-tagged. There is hay to be hauled and feed to be ground/mixed. There is equipment to be repaired or moved, fence to be built or unbuilt, and the occasional pinochle game to be played. (Or, this time of year, a quarter or two of a bowl game to watch.) But, Friday, there was sleet - enough of it for him to justify leaving the work to others closer at hand and staying home with me.

We cooked lunch together, he practiced his bass (with me providing encouragement and some discombobulated coaching), and we laughed together over friends' comments on Facebook. Simple pleasures - the best.

No Resolutions!

2011-01-01T09:44:00.003-06:00

I don't make New Year's resolutions. But, this year I have a better sense of what I want to accomplish than I have had in the past, and maybe it's not a bad thing to go public so those of you who know me and read this can hold me accountable.

What I want to accomplish in 2011:

Professor Varney's Bible Reading Plan (which, by the way, I just discovered did not print correctly and now I will have to go find the download and try again - I would hate to fail before I even start because of technical difficulties)

Get accepted to take the PMP exam and pass it (and, yes, I should be filling out the exam application right now instead of blogging)

Visit my sister and her family in Mississippi (seriously not in the summer, though)

Help my husband learn to play bass guitar (I think he's going to be awesome and I will get to be his roadie!)

Spend more time here (I have way too many words in my head and think it would be healthier to dump them out occasionally)

Things I loved about 2010 (that I can remember):

Shan being the amazing, awesome music teacher I knew she would be

Visiting Haley and The W in Pennsylvania with my sister (what a great road trip - she drove, I ate)

Helping with music at church (very self-revealing, very humbling)

Visits from Mississippi and Colorado family

New friends, good friends

Strange...

2010-12-19T08:20:00.003-06:00

...how you can be in the midst of a blessed holiday season, surrounded by loving family and friends, and still feel achingly alone. But God said in Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." And in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Praying to remember even those who love us most cannot fill all the emptiness - only God can do that.

Animal Husbandry

2010-08-21T06:40:00.006-05:00

I'm thinking about animal husbandry this morning because - once again - we have too many cats. I have a rule for feeding the cats: they get four cups of cat food in the morning. If they're still hungry, they need to hunt. So I know there are too many because when I get home from work they crowd around my feet, and the only time they get that close is for food.

What does this have to do with animal husbandry? Well, part of being a responsible pet (using the term loosely) owner is making sure these animals are neutered so we control the population. Total fail in that area here. But, I do not claim full responsibility in this matter (here begins the blaming of the oldest daughter for the cat dilemma).

Years ago, oldest daughter brought home a stray cat found at her friend's parents' house. She insisted it would be her cat; however, not in the literal sense, since she was in college and couldn't have a cat there and had every intention of leaving the cat at the farm. So, I guess the beagle wasn't the first grand-animal - Corker was.

Corker lived outside because we thought it would be too traumatic for Pokey to introduce another house cat. That is, until Corker got in the family way. It seemed like a good idea to bring that pretty orange cat inside for the birth and raising of her litter, which was delivered behind the couch and made for some unique photo ops.

At this point, any responsible pet owner would have immediately taken the new momma to the vet to prevent another reproductive cycle. How sad that this never occurred to me. In the meantime, when the kittens were old enough to be weaned, the little family moved outside. There may have been six kittens, but I only remember two - India (Indy) and Stewart (Stu). Stu was a long-haired pink cat (yes, I know they are not pink, but they also are not orange and what else would you call that color?). He went to live with the out-laws where he was loved and pampered and living large until he escaped to the great outdoors and met the business end of a blue heeler.

Indy is still with us today, and is the reason for this story. She is a long-haired orange cat with a fairly pleasant disposition (for a cat) and enjoys a little human attention now and then. She is also the matriarch of a dynasty of cats that knows no end.

I firmly believe that every farm needs a few good barn cats to control the rodent population, but we have exceeded our limit time and again due to the fierce fertility of Indy. Again, this could have been prevented because she is catch-able and after proving her femaleness a trip to the vet was in order. Obviously that didn't happen or this blog post would be about something else.

Indy's first husband was the most striking tomcat I've ever seen - large, stately, and white with large orange shapes (patches? splotches? spots?) covering his body. They created several beautiful families together. Her second and current husband is also large, but not quite so regal and a dark grey tiger stripe. They, too, have created many families together. These two fine gentlemen also created other families with their offspring (I'm not qualified to discuss the issue of inbreeding in cats, but apparently it's not significant). So, at various times over the years, we have had as many as 20 cats roaming the farmstead, scrabbling for a place at the food pan in the morning, and occasionally bringing us proof of their hunting prowess.

Anyway, what was my point? Oh, yes, animal husbandry. Responsible pet ownership. Neutering. NEVER MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO NEUTER THE ANIMAL THAT IS STILL TAME! Because other than Indy, the rest of the cats have all been wild as, well, barn cats, and there is no stopping them now. I worry sometimes about becoming that really old crazy woman who is found dead and nibbled at by her 100s of cats.

Post Script - I do remember another from the original litter - Canadiana. I think all but Stu were named after countries. We must have been in a geographical mindset back then.

Post Post Script - Apparently tomcats can sense a randy female cat from miles away and have no problem making the journey. Both of Indy's husbands were never seen in the neighborhood until they showed up for their weddings. The first husband must have worked on the road because we only saw him when he was in a romantic mood. The second husband apparently is somewhat of a slacker - he is content to stay on the farm most days.

DISCLAIMER: This is how I remember it. I rarely remember things the way everyone else does. My blog, my perception, my reality. If you want to tell a different version, use your own blog :-)

1000 Gifts

2010-05-05T05:35:00.005-05:00

24. Learning to trust.

25. Danger Haley and husband will be home within hours!

26. So happy to have both my girls home again!

27. Peaceful, quiet, Friday

28. Son-in-law graduation today & some quality time with mom and grandma

29. Being home

30. Girls' day out in the (small) city

31. Returning to routines

32. My mom's patience in looking after my grandma

33. Clear skies for finishing daughter's move home

34. Ritz crackers and garden vegetable cream cheese spread

35. Rain that will nourish crops when the sun finally shines; yes, that is a whiny blessing

36. Husband who makes the bed every morning and goes back for milk replacer even when he's almost home

37. @shaungroves blog posts on depression http://shaungroves.com/2009/07/beggars-fortune/

38. Fencing done at the home place - horses loving their brome and bottle calf Bella going crazy with room to run.

1000 Gifts

2010-05-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

17. Friends who care enough to tell you the hard stuff.

18. Extra sleep, even if it means rushing to get to work.

19. Clean hair. Seriously.

20. MUSIC and having an opportunity to be part of it

21. As a Christian, learning depression is a weapon of Satan and God equips us to win this spiritual battle. 2 Cor 10:3-6

22. Morel mushrooms and fresh asparagus - it really IS spring!

23. Thank God it's Monday - I have a job with benefits and - finally - indoor plumbing! :-)

I needed the quiet

2010-05-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside
Into the shadows where we could confide
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong
I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled
But gently, so gently, my cross He upheld
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things
Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never dreamed of when active and gay
He loved me so greatly He drew me away
I needed the quiet. No prison my bed
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead
A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide
I needed the quiet so He drew me aside

Unknown - from obituary for Bennie O. Koso (Hall Funeral Chapel)

1000 Gifts...

2010-04-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

10. New Bible study - good fellowship with Christian sisters!

11. I survived Wednesday - thanking God for strength to overcome "bad self-sermons"

12. Nephew who understands engines

13. Husband going pickup shopping with me - thanks, hon, for not throwing me to the wolves...

14. Clamorous morning - wild turkeys, grackles, robins, blue jays, woodpeckers, and - most beautiful - a mourning dove

15. Special Toastmasters event at local prison last night. Wonderful program; lots to think about now.

16. Most of the rain missed us this weekend - maybe planting this week!

Life Verse: Jeremiah 29:11

2010-04-21T17:26:00.006-05:00

My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

That begs the question: How do you know / where do you get a life verse? Here's my story...

Years ago I got involved in a relationship with a man who worked on the road. After he finished the job he was working in the area I live in, he moved on, but we stayed involved. After a few months, he flew me down to visit him for a long weekend. Yeah, it was that kind of relationship.

The visit was not the romantic reunion I expected - it was horrible, it was frightening, and I left feeling worthless and stupid and used. On the plane trip home, I pulled out a Christian magazine a dear older friend at church had given me and the only words I remember reading are: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I was overwhelmed by the promise of that verse. Then, I looked out the plane window and saw a rainbow. I know, it reads like a cheesy scene from a made-for-TV movie, but it is truth.

And for the next four or five years, that was all I really had of God - that verse. I clung to it like the drowning woman I was, even though nothing else changed in my life. I kept following the same path, making the same mistakes, wallowing in the same sin, believing I could make my own way. Now, I understand that was God's wake-up call, His way of letting me know that I was His and someday I would know and accept and submit. But, that's another story...

I believe the friend who shared that magazine was praying for me then and never stopped praying for me until she knew I was fully surrendered to God. At the time she gave me the magazine, I was one of those Christians Brennan Manning talked about in this quote: "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." But she knew God had so much more for me, if I would just accept it.

Thanking God for His claim on me and how he worked through an older woman I loved and respected to reveal that.

1000 Gifts...

2010-04-19T06:09:00.003-05:00

4. Woke up on time - order restored to OCD morning routine.

5. Six years of marriage to The Husband - a great encourager, supporter, and provider (did I forget handsome?)

6. Great calf sale Wednesday - bills paid! (My husband rocks the cow-calf operation!)

7. Everything is GREEN - tulips blooming, lilacs budding, violets peeking out, horses losing winter coat...

8. Oldest daughter got music teaching job in this area after two years working in another field.

9. Slowly but surely, reclaiming second floor from packrat-itis. One room down, three to go :-)

A Ring for the King!

2010-04-18T04:52:00.003-05:00

1000 Gift List: Joining the Gratitude Community

2010-04-12T18:28:00.002-05:00

I read this post at Holy Experience today and just thanked God for the friend who shared this blog with me and that I had subscribed to it. I know those shadows of depression and bad self-sermons too well.

So, I'm starting my 1000 Gift List - praying for God to show me the gifts I overlook every day - and recording them here. Maybe not always on Monday, but always here. It's a start.

1. A great night's sleep and a beautiful sunrise.
2. My heart breaking with love for my two beautiful daughters.
3. The Holy Experience blog.

Oh my gosh. The Enquirer is telling tales again...

2009-11-10T05:01:00.001-06:00

It's ironic I learned about the National Enquirer article on Dale Jr. from the PR director for NASCAR team JR Motorsports via Twitter:

Responses to his tweet clarified the tabloid was the Enquirer and the subject was Jr. If it hadn't been for his comment on Twitter, I would never have known about the article - I rarely read newspapers or watch TV news, let alone read the Enquirer. Now, maybe I'm the only one of his 2,518 followers who wouldn't have heard about the story, but I doubt it.

Maybe a better response would have been no response at all. People who believe what they read in tabloids probably won't believe a legitimate source who is disputing the story. People who don't believe the tabloids...probably don't read them?

As far as what the world is coming to? We have become a society of spectators. As fans, we contribute to multi-million dollar salaries earned by men and women playing games for our entertainment. Don't get me wrong, I recognize the years of practice, dedication and effort required to reach that elite level. I don't say it's either right or wrong that they earn that kind of money. I love watching professional sports (although I've given up on baseball until somebody else starts winning). What I find ludicrous is the expectation of any kind of private life in the midst of it all.

Celebrity doesn't justify irresponsible "reporting" produced by tabloids like the Enquirer, but it's a part of it. That hefty paycheck comes complete with glass house, and I imagine it takes a pretty thick skin to live in it. For those who can't take the constant public exposure, there are thousands of occupations where the public has no idea who you are or cares what you're doing and you'll never find your name in the Enquirer - the downside is, they don't pay nearly as well.

Fun for NASCAR fans!

2009-10-23T08:54:00.001-05:00

Where were you?

2009-09-11T05:08:00.006-05:00

I was napping on the living room couch, taking a medical day due to some malady I don't remember. A phone call woke me - a friend from church calling with an urgent prayer request for the terrible accident that had just happened at the World Trade Center. I flipped to a news channel in time to see the second plane hitting one of the towers, and spent the rest of the day trying to absorb what was happening and understand why.

Thank you to The J Crew for the original inspiration

My Tweeple

2009-09-06T06:24:00.001-05:00

Get your twitter mosaic here.

Rightly Related to God

2009-08-30T09:01:00.001-05:00

"When once you are rightly related to God by salvation and sanctification, remember that wherever you are, you are put there by God; and by the reaction of your life on the circumstances around you, you will fulfill God's purpose, as long as you keep in the light as God is in the light." Oswald Chambers

I don't believe we are not to pursue our dreams, but I believe when we pursue our dreams we are to accept God's answer and - through right relationship with Him - let our light shine wherever His answer places us.

Sent from my BlackBerry

The Joyful Revolution

2009-08-13T05:44:00.003-05:00

Eunice Shriver and the Special Olympics
The Joyful Revolution

Shared via AddThis

More from Mitford

2009-07-31T15:17:00.003-05:00

I am so happy that circumstances led me to read the first Mitford book (years after they were "all the rage") and that I have now finished Book 9. So many wonderful quotes and thoughts and prayers in these books...

"...though thy prayer be feeble as the spark in the flax, He will not quench it; and though thy heart be bruised like a reed, He will not break it." (from a sermon of Charles Spurgeon delivered at Newington on March 9, 1873)

"A good shoe is a shoe you don't notice. . . . The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God. But every novelty prevents this. It fixes our attention on the service itself, and thinking about worship is a different thing from worshipping." (Letters to Malcolm, C. S. Lewis)

Forgiveness is giving up my right to hurt you because you have hurt me. (character of Father Tim)

"Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as especial favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the most high God." (Thomas a Kempis)

"May our sleep be deep and soft, so our work be fresh and hard." (St. Patrick's Hymn at Evening)

Found in "A New Song", the fifth novel

Yes, this is just a place to keep track of meaningful things other people have written...

2009-07-17T12:05:00.002-05:00

All your circumstances are in the hand of God, so never think it strange concerning the circumstances you're in. -Oswald Chambers

Suppose for a moment that God began taking from us the many things for which we have failed to give thanks. Which of our limbs and faculties would be left? Would I still have my hands and my mind? And what about loved ones? If God were to take from me all those persons and things for which I have not given thanks, who or what would be left of me? -Patrick Henry Reardon

Words

2009-05-21T06:52:00.001-05:00

"I respect a man who knows how to spell a word more than one way." - Mark Twain

Pearls from "These High, Green Hills"

2009-05-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

I love when the characters in a book quote authors:

We look for visions of heaven and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us. - Oswald Chambers

We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good. Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious... Only he who gives thanks for little things receives the big things. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower.
- Cowper

P.P.S.

2009-05-05T19:14:00.001-05:00

Should never have checked it out - makes it sounds so E-E-E-EASY to make money with your blog. Bad blogger! Go away, monetize!

P.S.

2009-05-05T19:13:00.000-05:00

Did you know there's actually a tab on blogger called "Monetize"? Is that really a word?

I have no intentions of making money with this blog

2009-05-05T19:08:00.003-05:00

So there!
Seriously, I was just re-reading some old posts and actually enjoyed what I was reading - until I got into the time frame where I realized other people were using their blogs to make money and hey why didn't I try it! I really didn't like the posts from that time. And it wasn't very successful (I didn't make any money).
I think - to make money from a blog - it has to be like a job. You have to spend a fair amount of time adding widgets and reading other blogs and doing complimentary linking (all those bloggers you read should come and read you in return and all of us should click through each others' links and it will be great because we'll all make lots of money) AND you have to be witty or a subject matter expert (or do a lot of research to pretend to be an SME) or write about really sad or compelling things or whatever it takes to get people to keep reading your blog.
Whew! This started out to be a place where I could be my own weird self, uninterrupted and uncriticized, and that's where it's going to end up. If you're reading it here, it's because I felt like saying it. Period. Over and out. OK, I did steal that from Danger Haley - she's so clever!

Precious blood

2009-04-24T17:20:00.003-05:00

1 Peter 1:18-19

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

It was empty, my life before. No matter how depressed or discouraged I may get at times, all I have to do is ask myself "Do you want to go back?" No way, no how. Living through bad times with Christ as my King is infinitely better than the best times I had when I was lost. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me, for claiming me as one of yours, for giving me this wonderful life.

Nuggets from Pastor Jim

2009-04-21T16:59:00.003-05:00

Don’t measure problems or challenges according to our own abilities. God puts us in impossible situations (impossible for us) to show us His love. (9/28/08)

The major problem or challenge of the American church today is the dictatorship of routine – we don’t expect anything unusual from God. (8/17/08)

We have to stop doubting God; we have to believe in His forgiveness and mercy. To not forgive ourselves when God has forgiven us is idolatry. (6/29/08)

These are from my notes – apologies to Pastor Jim if the quotes aren’t entirely accurate.

These guys are awesome!

2009-04-20T07:54:00.000-05:00

Our church had a real treat yesterday - the Calvary Echoes “took over” the worship service and it was an awesome time of great gospel music and some very powerful testimony. If you’re looking for a “mini” revival – something to rekindle the flame in your fellowship – see if they’re available to worship with your church.

Foolishness

2009-04-18T08:17:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 1:18

" For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

The rooster crowed

2009-04-17T16:30:00.006-05:00

My confession:

I denied Christ yesterday at work. I never imagined this would happen - in fact, I've fantasized before about the horrible things people could do to me to make me deny my Lord and I knew I would stand strong. And then, reality, and it was over before I knew what I had done.

I was listening to my iPod. A guy who recently started working on one of our projects asked me what I was listening to, and I checked the screen to see who it was and said "Third Day." He asked who they were and I said I wasn't sure, probably something I'd picked up from one of my kids.

I absolutely know who Third Day is. They're a Christian rock/alternative/whatever group and I really like their music. One of the reasons I listen to Christian music at work when I can is to counteract the worldliness I've been letting cling to me lately. And yet, when I had this great opportunity to share a little bit of who I am, I lied and I had no reason to . . . still don't know why I did.

All I could think of was Peter, and the rooster crowing for the third time, and his realization of what he had done. I felt that shame, and horror and helplessness. I thought about chasing after the guy and trying to change what I did, but instead I prayed for forgiveness and tried to forget.

Today, though, I'm still sick inside over what happened. God always forgives when we repent and seek His forgiveness, so I know He's forgiven me, but I also believe sometimes we are called to public confession. This is mine.

I need this book

2009-04-10T14:59:00.006-05:00

The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One

I need to read this book!

Right now I have so many projects I want to pursue and limited time to do so - I end up spending the time I have trying to decide what I really want to do instead of accomplishing anything:

- Redecorate the dining room and kitchen and then redo all the floors downstairs

- Start writing articles for eHow

- Find ways to generate extra income through blogging

- Consider setting up shop as a Virtual Assistant

- Empty out ALL my crafting stashes and start fresh (except perhaps for the quality beads - they were the largest investment)

- Learning more about and helping more with Near Perfect Husband's passion (raising cattle)

- Prepare for and complete the PMI Scheduling Professional certification exam

- Learn to sew (in particular, learn to alter clothing so it fits me properly)

- Redesign the Brownville Concert Series web site in time to celebrate 20 years next season

- Join or start a women's Bible study

- Travel (OK, that requires that many other projects be successful, particularly those that generate income!)

Renaissance Soul, can you help me?

Day of self indulgence

2009-04-10T05:17:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was a day of total self indulgence:
- I spent twice as long on the internet, with a lot of random googling
- I had lunch with two great friends, then spent part of the afternoon reminiscing with the better half <<g>> (the other half had to return to work)
- I bought a new pair of shoes appropriate to wear with a dress, something my wardrobe hasn't seen in several years
- I shopped at a local clothing store and got almost completely outfitted for spring/summer (including the Easter dress I started out to buy)
- I took cheeseburgers and fries home to share with Near Perfect Husband while we watched No Country for Old Men
- Lots of "I"s - VERY self indulgent!
But, that movie? An awesome movie - very gripping - I whacked the lamp with my outflung hand when the station wagon crashed into Javier's vehicle - but I REALLY need resolution at the end of my movies and today I'm still trying to find it for that one. Maybe that was their point? We decided we might want to read the book as well, but from reasearching it, it seems the film is faithful to the book in how it ends.

Made to Matter's Weekly List

2009-04-06T17:32:00.002-05:00

This article is copied from Made to Matter, an organization that offers weekly devotional emails and other resources for believers in the work force. Please check out their web site for more information!

This article in particular was encouraging for me because I have struggled with the ethics myth and the money myth (and shame on me that I've never struggled with myth two!).

Madetomatter's Weekly List

Three myths continue to persist among Christians who work.

MYTH 1: The first myth, and probably the most damaging one, is that workplace Christian faith is about ethics, or doing the right thing. To be sure, Christians are to be ethical. In fact, Jesus calls us to move beyond mere ethics to a “second-mile” philosophy, doing the right thing in the right way with the right motives. Still, doing the right thing isn’t a defining characteristic for a workplace Christian. Members of other faiths do the right thing; members of no faith do the right thing. And sadly, Christians, like members of other faiths and members of no faith, often don’t do the right things. So, faith at work is not about ethics.

MYTH 2: Faith at work is also not about evangelism. That’s myth number two…that we go to our offices every day to share the Gospel with our coworkers and customers. To be sure, Christians are supposed to talk about Jesus Christ at work, and it is the duty of every single Christian to give verbal assent to their faith. But Christianity is not a smoke and mirrors game where we pretend to care about our jobs simply to have the opportunity to sneak the Gospel in somewhere. Such thinking leads to actions that frequently dishonor God, like sharing our faith when it disrupts our work or the work of others.

MYTH 3: Myth number three is among the most discouraging; that we go to work to earn money to give to the church so it can do God’s work. Yes, Christians are supposed to tithe, and yes, there are Christians whom God makes successful precisely because the talent/gift He’s given them is the ability to give. But no, that’s not what faith at work is about. The work of God in any culture is not the assignment of the church, but rather the assignment of the people who are called to serve in that culture, in the workplaces of that culture. In fact, the work of the church is to equip its members to serve God outside the walls of the church.

Some other resources from Made to Matter:
Online Bible Study Sets
Online Single Topic Studies
Workfaith News

Interview with the girls

2009-04-05T18:00:00.004-05:00

What's something your mom always says to you?
- I love you
- Pick that up! :p

What makes your mom happy?
- Crocheting and knitting
- Taking out the trash

What makes your mom sad?
- Being afraid people don't love or like her
- Flipping her off

How does your mom make you laugh?
- Greatly. . .deep, full and rich
- By talking ;)

What was your mom like as a child?
- Smart, not terribly athletically, and very musically gifted (much like today in all ways hehe :)
- Ornery, I think

How old is your mom?
- 50?
- 30 of course (that'll be extra creepy in about four years)

How tall is your mom?
- 5'6"
- Taller than me :(

What is her favorite thing to do?
- Crochet and knit
- Crochet, read, sleep while Wayne watches TV

What does your mom do when you're not around?
- The same things she does when I am :) Crochet, knit, love the Lord and submit to her husband
- Talk to herself

If you mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
- Hmmm. . .probably her generosity
- Crocheting

What is your mom really good at?
- Being my mom, being a wife, playing the piano, typing, organizing, and making beef and noodles
- Crocheting, advice

What is your mom not really good at?
- Quitting smoking
- Patience, trying to solve other people's troubles (DON'T GET MAD)

What does your mom do for a job?
- Scheduling Specialist for NPPD
- Nuclear librarian/scheduler

What is your mom's favorite food?
- Cheese sandwiches
- LOL cheese sandwiches and Coke

What makes you proud of your mom?
- Opening up and loving again
- That she marches to her own drum and that she continues to try to quit smoking even though it's really scary for her

What do you and your mom do together?
- Sing, talk, shop, whatever
- Talk

How are you and your mom the same?
- I have learned to be strong from my mom, but also to be very sensitive (sorry if that was hurtful lol). We are funny in our own special ways and are probably too concerned with other people's perceptions of us. We will both be in Heaven together.
- Stubborn, like to read, encouragers

How are you and your mom different?
- She's older? I'm my mother's daughter. However. . .I think I have more self confidence than my mom. . .but surely she must know that she paved the way for that to occur. If she hadn't believed in me, I never would have.
- I'm more laid back; she's way smarter

How do you know your mom loves you?
- You don't sacrifice as my mom has without love. You don't tolerate as many phone calls from your child as my mom does without love. You don't pray for your children the way my mom does without love.
- She misses me when I'm gone; she always pushes me to do my best

What does you mom like most about your dad(-bob)?
- That he loves God more than he loves her
- . . .I don't know. . .maybe that he's gentle?

Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
- Probably anywhere to see family or friends
- Home

My girls are awesome, they are funny, they are much smarter than I am and way cuter, too. Love you!!!

Jesus help me

2009-04-04T16:28:00.000-05:00

Jesus help me, your servant whom you have redeemed by your
Precious Blood.
In every need let me come to you with humble trust saying
Jesus help me.
In all my doubts, perplexities and temptations
Jesus help me.
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trial
Jesus help me.
In the failure of my plans and hopes
Jesus help me.
In disappointments, troubles and sorrows
Jesus help me.
When I throw myself on your tender love as a Father and a Saviour
Jesus help me.
When I feel impatient and my cross is heavy
Jesus help me.
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot do their work
Jesus help me.
Always, always, in joys or sorrows, in falls and short-comings
Jesus help me and never forsake me. Amen.

From comeaside.com

2009-04-04T16:03:00.001-05:00

I love my girls so much.

Praise and worship

2009-03-07T09:33:00.003-06:00

I love the song My Glorious by Delirious?, mostly for this line:

God is bigger than the air I breathe

That's just immense, isn't it? Days like yesterday, when I shut God out and let myself become burdened by the cares of this world, I need to remember the immensity of God, and the absolute unimportance of most of my worldly cares (like work!). It's important to do a good job for my employer, but the little dramas that occur aren't part of that and I know God will lift me above it when I let Him. When I remember I am God's child and there is nothing more significant than that, then I cease to let my work define my worth and I'm able to let go of the silliness. WHEN I remember...

So, really, this post was going to be about how my most heartfelt worship always centers around music, hence the title. Maybe I'll write about that another day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T07:20:00.001-06:00

Tiny Ninja

Danger Haley and The W

Stolen from Shannon (who stole it from Laura)...

2009-02-07T12:27:00.003-06:00

...because I just can't get motivated to blog anymore without some impetus!

Ten Things I Wish I Could Say To Ten Different People Right Now (in no specific order)

1. You are the most amazing man I've ever known.
2. My heart breaks from so much love for you.
3. I miss the woman you were when I first met you.
4. I am so glad I know you, even though I don't see you very often - you make me happy to be myself.
5. You will always be my best friend and I miss you so much!
6. I am so proud of you and so excited to see how God continues to use you!
7. You have such an amazing heart for other people; save some energy for yourself!
8. I love you
9. I need you
10. I'm Home (Yes, these last three I stole from Shannon, but how could I not? Aren't the words "I'm home" about the sweetest to hear and to say?)

Nine Things About Myself

1. I'm insecure
2. I love to sing
3. I change anywhere I want cuz no one's going to look <<>>
4. I love having quiet time
5. I love to be generous
6. The book is always better than the movie (amen, sister!)
7. I wanted to be Perry Mason when I was little
8. I still do
9. I used to like to write, but it takes SO LONG - guess I've joined the instant gratification generation,,,

Eight Ways To Win My Heart

1. Keep it real
2. Make me laugh
3. Teach me about things I don't know
4. Stand in the gap
5. Be strong
6. Be honest
7. Love God and live like you do
8. Have blue eyes ;-)

Seven Things That Cross My Mind A Lot

1. When will I get to retire
2. Is it sinful to buy powerball tickets
3. Will Heaven be interesting
4. Will I have grandchildren
5. What did Jesus really look like
6. Travel
7. What is the purpose of some of the more obscure stories in the Old Testament (not stories in the made up sense, but stories about people/events)

Six Things I Do Before I Fall Asleep

1. Eat supper
2. Knit or crochet
3. Fall asleep in my chair
4. Smoke
5. Use the bathroom
6. Set the alarm

Five People Who Mean A Lot.......
***i refuse to answer this question on the grounds that most of the people in my life are really important to me***DITTO!

Four Things You're Wearing Right Now
1. jeans
2. shirt
3. socks
4. shoes

Three Songs You Listen To Often
1. Get Right With the Man
2. I Can't Do It On My Own
3. All the hymns from Alan Jackson's CD

Two Things You Want To Do Before You Die
1. Retire
2. Have grandkids

One Confession:
I want to take a nap right now!

25 Random Things

2009-01-31T06:22:00.000-06:00

1. I could happily live on cheese sandwiches and Coke
2. I love my ears
3. I want to be a fence rider
4. For Halloween one year I dressed like one of the band members from Kiss
5. I think natural childbirth is an urban myth
6. I have a degree in journalism but have never been a journalist
7. I like to read magazines back to front
8. I want to start my own business designing web pages and databases
9. I'm proud of my sister
10. My favorite baby age is 6 to 18 months
11. Why does this have to be 25 things???
12. I have two toes on each foot webbed together
13. In my mind, I am still 26 years old
14. I'm afraid if I quit smoking I will lose my best friend
15. I'm a packrat (aren't you shocked?)
16. Fear of failure keeps me from doing or finishing things I really want to do or finish
17. I have been very cranky the last two days
18. I wore one brown and one black sock to work the other day . . . and no one noticed (but I work with all men)
19. It would be like when you were a little kid and you sang all the time in stores, in restaurants, outside, inside, at the libraryl... (sometimes i wonder what would happen if life became like a musical and everyone suddenly burst into song and dance - Shannon)
20. me, too (i love to laugh until my stomach hurts - Shannon)
21. My left shoulder feels like I have rotator cuff damage (don't laugh!)
22. I don't wear glasses anymore
23. I don't want Shannon to get a tattoo
24. My social skills are sorely lacking
25. I'm terrified of having a stroke

Love these bracelets!

2009-01-20T05:09:00.003-06:00

I wondered if I would ever get motivated to post on my blog again, and then I found these beautiful bracelets by Pinka! She crochets them and sells on both Etsy and Artfire. My favorites use clear seed beads over colorful sock yarn creating a nice sparkle with subtle colors. She uses great focal beads on her bracelets and some even have Bali silver end caps! The Crochet Partners list at Yahoo has been such a great resource for finding designers and crafters like Pinka (and more patterns than I can ever use in one lifetime...).

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T18:48:00.001-06:00

Create your own FACEinHOLE

You never know where the web will take you...

2008-12-05T06:21:00.005-06:00

So, I'm reading my daily dose of Crochet Partners and there's a post about a Rapunzel scarf that sounds interesting, so I go to Craftster and search it out. It's just CUTE and I think I must make some of these, and I read through the entire thread for ideas and find this amazing quote in the signature line of jutybo:

Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right. --Max Lucado

God, this morning I'm asking you for the strength and courage to believe You will do what is right, even when all my sinful self wants to believe is that You will do what I want.

Another serendipitous happening: I saw this great hat on deBBie's blog which included her comment that she didn't have a pattern for it. I suggested it might be UNFAIR to show this great hat with no guidance on how to make it, and she responded to my comment on her blog with suggestions on how to recreate it. Thank you, deBBie! Take time to check out her amazing tiny deBBitty bear treasures I would never have the patience or dexterity to accomplish!

Thankful!

2008-11-27T05:24:00.002-06:00

I love what Crazy Aunt Purl has to say about Thanksgiving:
"I know this has been a trying time for so many people . . . but it's the blessings we don't buy that carry us over, like good friends and . . . the love you have inside you, even if sometimes it comes out off-key and you forget the words."
At this zero dark early time of day, I'm thankful for bloggers like the Purl; I'm thankful that Near Perfect Husband and Tiny Ninja are snugged up in their beds, getting some good rest; I'm thankful that Danger Haley and The W will be with us soon; and I'm thankful for being three gifts short of completely done with Christmas shopping.
Most importantly, I'm thankful for the saving grace of Jesus, that He called me and mine to be His, and I'm thankful for His Word that brings life to all who will hear and heed.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21
In every thing give Thanks: for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Thoughtful reading...

2008-11-26T03:49:00.009-06:00

Do you ever feel discouraged or disappointed with your life after reading posts authored by the uber talented, thrifty, clever folks in blogland? Tracy at Unless the Lord posted this great REALITY CHECK that was such a blessing to me - hope it will speak to your heart as well!

Do you ever wonder how to manage friendships with the opposite gender - what's appropriate, what's over the top? Suzanne Hadley shares some very good thoughts on this topic in this article: Not Your Buddy. Thanks to Miss Alice for her post The Friendship Myth which led me to Hadley's article.

I just got back from a six-day jaunt to Mississippi for my nephew's wedding, so have lots of catching up to do. Call me frumpy and style-less, but November seems an odd month to have barefoot bridesmaids...

Just a reminder...

2008-11-19T15:46:00.001-06:00

mail.hughes.net

From "Our Daily Bread" Friday, November 14

2008-11-17T08:15:00.001-06:00

“…being with a person who loves us never gets old!”

The earthly context is honeymoon couples who spend hours reading travel brochures, trying to find the perfect romantic getaway – but it’s not about the place, it’s about the person. The spiritual context is our thoughts and questions about what heaven will be like – but it’s not about the place, it’s about the Person.

It has taken me a long time to understand why anyone would long for Heaven (I love life and can’t wait to see what the new day will bring), but I finally got it after hearing “When I Get Where I’m Going” recorded by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton:

“…Yeah when I get where I'm going

There'll be only happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles

I have carried all these years

And I'll leave my heart wide open

I will love and have no fear

Yeah when I get where I'm going

Don't cry for me down here…”

But, while I’m still here on earth with the rest of ya’ll, that original quote just reminds me that no matter where we are or what our circumstances are, it’s being with people who love us and knowing our salvation is sure that brings joy and fulfillment to life. So, thanks to Near Perfect Husband, Tiny Ninja, Danger Haley and The W for being my joy and my fulfillment.

No, graphics don't work via email

2008-11-15T09:46:00.000-06:00

Nope - didn't work. Because I know you're dying to see this photo, though, here it is...

Trying to get graphics to post via email - will it work?

2008-11-15T09:45:00.001-06:00

OK, so they had this contest at work and to enter you had to submit a 70s photo of yourself. This was my submission. I didn't win. Really, I don't think it had anything to do with the photo? There was probably a drawing or something? You should see the full picture (it's a family shot) - we had about three different plaids going on and it was BUSY...

Where are comments?

2008-11-15T06:18:00.002-06:00

So, I decided I wanted to post a comment on my last blog post (the email test) and couldn't find a place to leave a comment. I looked at my settings and the first thing I saw was that I had two comments requiring moderation - weird, because my blog settings didn't require comment moderation. Instead of finding the comments and moderating them first, I clicked "require moderation" and then reselected "no moderation", then made some other changes thinking this would enable the comments area on my posts. The only result I've seen is that now I no longer see there are comments requiring moderation. I still don't see an area to leave comments. Not that I am widely read and people are anxious to communicate with me, but I think my kids read this, anyway. Maybe I don't see the comments box because the blog knows I'm the one looking at it and who in their right mind comments on their own blog? I can see the need to solve this mystery is probably going to reprioritize my day...

Just testing to see if email posting works

2008-11-15T05:41:00.001-06:00

Yep, I haven't blogged for two months and my first post after this hiatus is just a test of whether or not I can post via email. I don't know why I need to know this - maybe I will feel more inspired on my lunch breaks at work than I do at zero dark early each morning...

This may be the highlight of this year's election campaign...

2008-09-21T06:39:00.001-05:00

Which Bible character am I?

2008-08-07T03:50:00.002-05:00

Elijah
You're somewhat of a loner. You prefer to challenge others on your terms. When the confrontation doesn’t work the way you want you may get depressed. The good news is that you have inner strength that few people possess.

Which Firefly character am I?

2008-07-27T07:17:00.000-05:00

Which Firefly Character Are You?

More on Firefly. Created by BuddyTV

Borrowed from "Let's Explore"

2008-06-22T14:48:00.002-05:00

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. ~ Shel Silverstein

I found this quote on a blog called Let's Explore and knew I wanted to share it. I found my way to Let's Explore via Zakka Life, a blog I enjoy reading and originally discovered through a link from somewhere else to her giraffe twine holders (go to Zakka Life, find and click on Kawaii Ideas on the right hand side, then scroll down to April 10, 2008, to see for yourself).

By the way, Tiny Ninja? An AMAZINGLY funny woman. AMAZINGLY. Love you!

Significance

2008-06-09T05:28:00.003-05:00

Danger Haley blogged yesterday about being afraid she was going to be called to live a "small life that doesn't matter." And me, instead of being a Godly mom of wise counsel and encouragement? I posted a harsh and self-pitying response. Because yesterday I came undone, in a big way, at the expense of Tiny Ninja, and it carried over into my response to Danger. All of this relates, because yesterday I went to church at MiddleCross in Lincoln. It was awesome, like the first time I went to Grace (without so much hugging, which was good, since they were strangers). And it was incredibly hard.

So, tying back to a life that doesn't matter, Pastor talked a little bit about the book of deeds where everything we do/say/are is recorded and will be revealed at the end. And I'm so scared of that. But after reading Danger Haley's post, I realized that none of us will really know how our life has mattered until that day, when our deeds as recorded by God are revealed to us. We touch people every day of our lives and won't know until eternity how God may have used those encounters. I understand what she means, though - I think everyone who has fallen in love with Jesus and has been influenced by one or more amazingly Godly people wants to win the big one for the Lord.

The other thing that touched me so deeply at MiddleCross was a guy who shared what God was showing him about coming undone - about being our completely wretched, helpless selves when we come to the cross. God already knows exactly who we are, but we still think we can fool Him into believing we are OK, we can do it ourselves, we just need a little help (don't ask for anything too big or important). What I got from his sharing is that the only way God can mold us and use us is if we confess our complete inadequacy, if we just open up that really gaping dark hole inside of us and beg Him to fill it. So, I kind of did that yesterday with Tiny Ninja when we were supposed to be enjoying an afternoon of mother/daughtering and shopping.

MiddleCross was a reminder from God of what His church is really about and what we are seeking when we are in fellowship as a body. I would love to be part of their fellowship, but there are practical considerations that make that unlikely. So I will wait to see, I guess, if my visit there was simply a much-needed shot of encouragement from the Lord or if it will be something more.

I should probably go chore and show up for work, instead of blogging away like I'm a woman of independent means.

Shalom.

Danger Haley is the funniest daughter on the planet (click here to see)

2008-06-05T17:18:00.006-05:00

At least today. Of course, like she said, her joy in her newly organized space is something probably only I can truly appreciate, so maybe that's why I laughed so hard I cried when I read her post.

Now, on other days, Tiny Ninja is the funniest daughter on the planet. But, honestly, less often. And I know she would agree. Or she doesn't agree and I'm going to HEAR ABOUT IT when she lands at the farm again.

Because I'm a lazy blogger today, I'm stealing an idea from another of Danger Haley's posts: MY TOP FIVE :-)

5 things under $5 I couldn't live without:
- pack of smokes (I know, it's awful, but I'm all about being real today)
- 20 liter Coke (oops! I think that's 20 ounce...)
- crochet hook
- skein of yarn or thread
- toilet paper (not original, but real)

5 favorite movies:
- Lonesome Dove (all the versions, which actually includes a lot more than one movie)
- Cars
- Serenity (and the series, Firefly) . . . Thanks, Willie!
- The Incredibles
- just about anything with Kevin Costner (Postman) or Mel Gibson (Braveheart)

5 baby names I love:
- Shannon and Haley (have to place on one line to not show favoritism, although I had the name Shannon picked out 13 years before she was born)
- Gabriel (never got to use that one)
- Sorry, can't think of any others (I think you get out of the habit after you're done having kids)

5 songs I could listen to over and over again:
- Take Five (Dave Brubeck)
- Lonesome Dove Soundtrack
- Get Right With the Man (Van Zant)
- Chrome Fish (Go Fish)
- That's the Reason God Made Oklahoma (thanks, Near Perfect Husband!)

5 people who have influenced me in a positive way (in no particular order):
- Jesus
- Near Perfect Husband
- Shannon & Haley (again, no favoritism!)
- Dr. Hahn

5 things that are always in my purse:
- smokes (again, my apologies)
- debit card
- cell phone
- glue
- pen

5 moments that have changed my life forever:
- being baptized
- saying "I do"
- reading "My Utmost for His Highest"
- having two beautiful baby girls
- having a serious car wreck

5 obsessions that I have at the moment:
- crocheting
- planning for the near future (five year plan)
- two is plenty!

5 places I'd like to go:
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
- British Columbia (I think that's what it's called - the part of Canada that's next to Alaska?)
- Mexico (or Ireland again)

5 appliances or tools I cannot live without:
- that Pampered Chef think that breaks up and stirs ground beef while browning
- the Pampered Chef round stone for awesome biscuits and pizza
- computer
- the Pampered Chef kitchen shears (which have been used everywhere but the kitchen so far)
- the Pampered Chef covered deep dish baker
THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR DANGER HALEY'S P-CHEF BUSINESS - I really do love the products I listed above and am not much of a tool person otherwise. Wait, I should have included pliers and work gloves and a pocket knife, so I'll replace the stone and the baker with the pliers and pocket knife. I'll let you know when I decide between the work gloves and another of the P-Chef products...

Have a God-blessed weekend!

Languishing...

2008-05-31T08:02:00.009-05:00

To say my blogging has languished since February would be the understatement of the year.

So, where was I? I finished Macroeconomics, which I truly enjoyed, and also finished Organizational Behavior, which I truly did not enjoy. I realize now that when the professor tells you up front about the high standards for the class, the dialog is directed at recent high school graduates who may not be as self-disciplined as a 50-year-old non-trad who's been working for a LONG time. In short, I freaked out over nothing. My DDs would say "what's new?"

I've moved on to Contract Law (another very fun class) but dropped Finite Mathematics (again, what IS that?) when I found out there was a prerequisite and thought the professor didn't like me. Since I have the text already, I'm going to work through it (with a little help from my brilliant engineering friends at work) this summer and then take the actual class this fall. I hope the professor will NOT remember the panicked emails I directed to him the first week of class.

On the crochet front, I've finished quite a few projects and even taken a few pictures. I've enjoyed trying tapestry crochet (using Carol Ventura's book, web site, and Yahoo mail list for inspiration. I finished a LARGE bag (because I used worsted weight yarn instead of a DK, sport weight, or smaller yarn) and then made a much smaller "pocket" bag with the same pattern.

I did a baby blanket in crazy stitch (straight version instead of diagonal) in various shades of blue for Tiny Ninja's sweet friend and new baby boy. I'm using the same stitch pattern (found at Crochet Cabana) to make an afghan for the Victory Junction Gang camps - this is a great organization started by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty. I'm doing the afghan in bright yellow with a few rows of alternating black and white on either end (kind of simulates the checkered flags). It's a fun project, easy to work on while watching TV with Nearly Perfect Husband, and I'm excited to finish and send it off to camp!

For my sister's birthday, I made her a cute tie-front cardigan with three-quarter length sleeves from Doris Chan's excellent book Everyday Crochet. For me, the patterns are difficult to follow but well worth it because the finished garments are beautiful. For my sister's sweater, I used Lion Brand's Cotton Ease in a dusty blue color.

I've done some smaller projects, too - when I feel the need to actually finish something in one evening (hats, dishcloths, swatches to test new stitch patterns) - and a market bag in black Omega nylon and pink Sinfonia cotton (ran out of the nylon) that ended up looking like a cute summer top (will try to find, photograph, and post).

So, having said all this, I will try to get back into a more regular posting rhythm and dispel the need to dump large quantities of information at one time!

Jeremiah 29:11

Church at home

2008-02-03T10:40:00.000-06:00

We haven't been in church for awhile - too many cows for two guys (increasing the herd in anticipation of Matt joining the partnership in May), in combination with too much precipation (chores are harder and take longer). So, this morning I made it a point to have church at home.

I've been watching Live from Liberty on Daystar and reading my Bible on breaks. I got in on the last of a series of teachings by Pastor Jonathan Falwell of Thomas Road Baptist Church, so it was good but would liked to have heard the preceding messages as well.

Something that struck me in my Bible reading was a passage in 1st Chronicles that to me really shows what God wants from us as we give back to Him. So many churches seem to me to focus on tithing rather than teaching joyful giving, but I believe God calls us to the latter.

In Chapter 29, King David is talking about the gifts that have been given for building the temple. In verses 10-13 David prays, recognizing God's sovereignty and power and acknowledging that all wealth and honor come from Him. Then he continues:

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Evertyhing comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. ... O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. ...keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you." (1 Chronicles 29:14-18)

David was such an interesting character - he did some incredibly bad things yet God loved him and raised him up and forgave him because his repentance was real. What I"ll think about this week: Is my repentance real? Am I giving joyfully?

I love this cat, but

2008-01-26T07:12:00.000-06:00

I have to find a way to get some sleep at night! In a modern home (one with central heat and air, duct work, and vents in all the rooms), this would be a piece of cake - just close the bedroom doors. We live in an old (circa 1910) farmhouse, though, and aside from the plumbing and electricity it's never been modernized. Until a year ago, we heated with propane - an "early warming" stove with blower upstairs and a floor furnace downstairs. The floor furnace has no blower - the heat just rises and spreads through the house, sort of, if you have a good imagination. Now we heat with a Country Flame Harvester corn stove and use the propane to supplement. The corn stove has a blower and does an amazing job of heating the house, but - like the floor furnace - it requires that the door between the living room and our bedroom stay open for heat distribution.

And so we arrive at Lucy, the lovely Barada Bengal kitty who thinks we are her litter mates and should carouse with her at night. What would be funny in daylight is traumatic in sleep - she pounces on us, nibbles our toes (she's teething), grooms us (no kidding, I have woken up to find her licking my hair in mother cat fashion), and races from one end of the room to the other via the bed and occasionally our heads. Multiple attempts to block her out of the bedroom while still getting heat have failed, so today we're going to try screen door material tacked to the door frame. Without her front claws, she should find this a formidable barrier, but I'm not holding my breath.

P.S. We nicknamed Lucy the Barada Bengal because she comes from Barada and her color and striping reminds us of a Bengal tiger - at the time, we didn't realize there is actually a Bengal cat breed (now we know better).

P.P.S. If Lucy ever held still long enough, the picture above would be her. Unfortunately, I've never found her standing still yet, so the picture is a reasonable facsimile, maybe without all her personality.

Did I remember...

2008-01-19T09:26:00.001-06:00

...the #1 reason I loved my trip:
NO CHORES!

Welcome home

2008-01-19T05:54:00.001-06:00

I'm back from a week of training in Dayton, Ohio. What did I love about this trip?

Dayton, Ohio - what an interesting city, and the downtown area was attractive and welcoming.

United Airlines - the friendliest airline I've flown.

Downtown Doubletree in Dayton - very comfortable, very accommodating.

The people of Dayton - in an entire week, I never encountered one rude or unfriendly person.

Sinclair Community College - Dayton Campus - beautiful facility, well managed, staff who seem to really love their work.

Room service!!!

The little grocery store in the block next to the Doubletree on Third Street.

ESI International, the company that provided the training I attended, and the instructor - Ron Whitehead (with war stories as interesting as the training itself).

Navy pilots, two of whom attended the ESI training.

The other folks in the class, from Cincinnati Insurance, Marathon Oil, GSA in San Diego, and Battelle.

Boy, am I GLAD to be home! Thanks, Mom & Dad, for the ride to and from the airport to save me from the usually awful shuttle parking experience! I'm excited to start implementing some of the things I learned but most of all I'm excited to be back with my wonderful husband and my regular old life...

This is an ugly thing to say...

2008-01-12T06:54:00.000-06:00

but I have blog envy. Better to just get it out in the open right now. I've tried blogging several times in the past but it always dried up pretty quickly. Then I started reading Pioneer Woman's blog and was inspired to give it another go. And as much as I like having this little space to say whatever the heck I want and not be interrupted, I confess that I really want it to be Pioneer Woman's blog. Face it - who doesn't want to be Pioneer Woman? She has a great talent for sharing her life in a way that makes everything about it seem so perfectly "right", even when I know calf nuts and cow poop are not glamorous. If you've wandered here by chance, go read a little PW - I may never see you again, but I'll be a better person for having sent you there.

Homework - Done!

2008-01-11T05:56:00.001-06:00

The discipline of being a student has been harder to resurrect than I expected, but I'm finally done for the week with time to spare. This is a good thing, because I'm such a Nervous Nellie I'll probably re-do the assignment just to make sure I didn't miss anything!

What's been the hardest thing about starting this new venture? The disruption of our venerable routine. Yes, my Amazing Husband and I have a routine - we get home, chore, talk about our days, clean and fill the corn stove, fix supper, eat supper, watch re-runs of game shows (Weakest Link & Who Wants to be a Millionaire - AH skunks me every time in our head to head competitions) and George Lopez (why didn't I know about this guy before the re-runs? the whole cast is great). Usually I am crocheting a hat or something during TV time.

Now along comes Macroeconomics and I need to read and answer questions and post on the discussion boards and - what, AH? You want me to watch this scene, answer this Millionaire question, hang out with you? Sorry, my professor is calling...

What I discovered this morning is that I concentrate on classwork much better in the morning - it's quiet and not much of a change from my typical morning routine, which is reading email and surfing the 'net. Guess I won't know until my assignment is graded if my brain is actually functioning this time of day, though.

Should have canceled yesterday

2008-01-09T04:55:00.000-06:00

Can I call 'em or what? Yesterday was the day that everything I touched went down the crapper (sorry for the indelicacy). Seriously, I went from one task to the next at work and every one of them was flawed in some way - usually a result of me missing one critical bit of information that was readily available but escaped notice until I was cleaning up the mess. And I think I can handle college classes on top of this???

But I'm not one to dwell on past mistakes (hush, Tiny Ninja and Danger Haley, if you have a different opinion).

While taking my morning break on the dorch (looks like a deck but the size of a porch), I was admiring our feline population. I have become, thanks to Tiny Ninja, an irresponsible cat owner. She found a stray at a friend's house some years ago and brought it home - a beautiful orange striped critter that she named Corker. Then she went back to college and we became the legal guardians. Since we had only one other cat (a neutered female) it didn't occur to me that we needed to get Corker fixed. And I didn't think much about it when a very handsome, large orange and white cat (it would be a paint if it was a horse) started hanging around. I was probably the only one to be surprised when Corker had kittens. Tiny Ninja? You're a grandma - congratulations! Can you take them to your house? What? What do you mean, they're ours?

To make a long story short, Corker's kittens (and every descendant litter) were/are barn cats: wild as March hares, untouched by human hands, and - consequently - all reproductively intact. The head count reached 17 when I began to despair, and my Mom laughingly reminded me that Grandpa Gail had 20-something when he was still living here (he also had a red fox that would eat out of his hand, but that's another story). We are down to 13 now so my cat food bill is manageable, and there was physical evidence that one of the newest babies actually caught a mouse, so maybe they are earning their keep after all.

If you know any wild cat herders, please send me contact information. I'm sure once we contain them, they would be docile for any vet prepared to impede their fertility.

Can we cancel tomorrow...

2008-01-07T20:28:00.000-06:00

...so I can sleep right through it? I am SO tired! Tiny Ninja's birthday celebration was a hoot - the food was tasty, the company was charming, and the card-playing was furious and hilarious. Both my girls learned to play Pinochle under the tutelage of Very Patient Husband, Grandpa Jack, and Cousin Matt. What they lacked in bidding skill they made up in enthusiasum and excessive celebration when things went their way.

Unfortunately, VPH discovered Tombstone was on again just as the card-playing ended (THANK HEAVEN because we haven't watched it for at least two days!), so he and Cousin Matt proceeded to watch it (because WHO KNOWS when it might be aired again???). At 11 p.m. (two hours past my bedtime), we said goodnight to Cousin Matt and toddled off to bed. Now I'm trying to print mailing labels for the Brownville Concert Series 2008 brochure AND watch LSU/Ohio State AND stay awake. It's really more than one woman can handle.

Happy Birthday, Tiny Ninja!

2008-01-06T08:57:00.000-06:00

Twenty-five years ago today, I remember my first sight of you - one arm waving as you were making your way into the world. Thank God for epidurals, or this memory might not be so bright and heart-warming.

Today, still a Tiny Ninja, you're also a great music teacher and an amazing young woman / sister / daughter / friend. I pray God blesses you especially this day with the knowledge of His love for you and the unique place you hold in His creation.

We're celebrating this evening with a family dinner, but yesterday we had a girls-only (Tiny Ninja, Danger Haley, and me) IHOP and Wal-Mart celebration.

We didn't get arrested for being a public nuisance, but I think we were at risk a couple of times: rolling on the floor laughing, really bad dance moves (OK, I'm the only one guilty here), and turning in that really BIG broken bulletin board.

I my girls!

Drive time

2008-01-05T05:37:00.000-06:00

Driving anywhere more than 10 minutes away used to fill me with anticipation and excitement. I'd grab some great driving music and - in spite of what I planned - who knew what might happen enroute? It was just an adventure waiting to happen.

Sometime in the past five years that attitude changed. Driving has become a tedious task that steals hours (or even minutes!) I'd rather be using for something else. So, the past two days have been a rare treat, with time spent on the road offering something more than regret over what I could be doing if not stuck behind the wheel.

Thursday I used my lunch break at work to drive to a nearby small town on a "dear husband" errand. My sister texted me at work a few minutes before I left, wanting to know when she could call for a visit. I called her as I drove off the work site and we talked all the way to town and back to work (yes, even through the shopping stop at Orscheln's and the Sonic drive-through - I am rude!). She is an amazing woman who inspires and motivates me, so I'm always kicking myself for not making more effort to stay in touch, plus I owed her a "thank you" for my Christmas gifts: a cute tea kettle and "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. Some day I will share more about sister Katy-Did, my best friend since the baby days (even though she claims I intentionally dropped her favorite dolly down the outhouse hole).

Yesterday's drive gave me a chance to listen to a great teaching on the local Christian radio station - some comments on marriage by Pastor Joe of Straight from the Heart. He talked about raising boys and girls and observing there is a line girls will cross when arguing (name-calling, insult-hurling) that boys will not. This was his lead-in to a discussion of women living in the language of love and men living in the language of respect, and that as women we are called to love our husbands with reverent love while men are called to love their wives with agape love. I wondered how often I bother to communicate to Amazing Husband my respect and admiration for him. It's there - hugely - but does he know it?

What do you think about the differences in how men and women love each other?

What's up with that avatar?

2008-01-04T06:01:00.000-06:00

One of my passions is crochet - I have enough yarn, hooks, and patterns to do nothing but crochet for at least a year without visiting Knitting Warehouse or KnitPicks, my favorite online yarn retailers.

Long ago I started this blog as a place to talk about crochet and show photos of my work. The effort to blog about crochet fizzled out but the projects didn't. One of my favorites was a pair of socks for myself, which I photographed from the back deck with my feet propped up on the railing. My avatar is a crop of one of those sock photos.

And crochet is one of three inputs to my blog title - the other two are my faith (search here for "joy") and my husband (last name Joy). Am I not clever? Am I not totally fishing for compliments?!

I know you won't sleep a wink if you don't see my complete socks, so here they are:

Do you crochet?

Do you wear socks?

Let me know, and have a great weekend!

New Year Resolutions?

2008-01-03T05:38:00.001-06:00

I didn't make any this year. Honestly, I don't think I've ever made New Year's resolutions. But I am making changes! I'm enrolling in online classes to get a second degree - in accounting. I don't like dealing with my checkbook, but I like numbers, and I need to make myself more marketable for this part of the country in case my temporary assignment at work really is temporary

I'm also studying for certification in the field I'm currently working (scheduling). Haven't been able to convince my boss the certification is necessary to make me a better employee (after all, I'm a TEMPORARY scheduler), so it means doing it on my own (book study) instead of attending expensive classes the company would pay for. But I love the work I'm doing and should be able to do contract scheduling from home or with limited travel if I have the proper credentials.

Did I mention I'm 50? Some days I think I'm crazy to be training for a new career at this point in my life (and spending money on classes instead of yarn). Other days I'm so excited to be in learning mode again that I'm sure it's absolutely the best thing I could be doing at this point in my life.

You know, I just found an old blog site I used and forgot about, and it doesn't have that annoying ad at the top of the page. I think I'm moving back over there. I did move back over "there", which is here :-)

What have you resolved for 2008?

Destined for check-writing mistakes...

2008-01-02T05:36:00.000-06:00

It's a new year, and all I can think is how many checks I'll screw up before I remember it's '08, not '07.

Instead of making resolutions, I'm starting a new blog. I have two others, I think - they obviously didn't turn out to be the "can't live without" tools I thought they would. Maybe this one will be different.

I may need to find another blog host, though - is that annoying jittery banner always going to be on this page? NOTE: After two posts on the "new" blog, I returned to this one, which doesn't have the annoying jittery ad banner across the top of the page. I think I liked some of the tools better at the formerly new place, though.

To ring in the New Year, we ate pizza and played Pinochle and Pass the Ace with several generations of my husband's clan. At some point I suppose he'll need a blog nickname, but he's going to have to earn it, eh? For now, he'll remain "my husband."

And - as usual - I was sound asleep before it was midnight anywhere in the contiguous United States.

How did you greet the New Year?

In response to Danger Haley's comment...

2007-12-13T10:54:00.000-06:00

Hey, we had no electricity for almost 48 hours! OK, I don't post very often, anyway, but now I have an excuse! I'm so excited to have the power back I praise God for electricity and the folks who make it, and for the men and women who worked late in the night in the ice and cold to get it restored for us. Even without it, I know we are more blessed than the majority of the people in the world (especially because we still had heat), so it's good to be reminded how blessed we are and how God cares for us in the middle of any adversity.
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Senior recital coming your way!

2007-10-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Tiny Ninja, Soprano
Sunday, October 28, 3 p.m.
Benford Recital Hall
Jindra Fine Arts Building
Peru State College
Reception Following
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I am so blessed...

2007-09-14T11:02:00.000-05:00

I have AMAZING daughters! (And a pretty amazing son-in-law)

Tiny Ninja

Danger Haley

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Which theologian are you?

2007-09-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

You scored as Martin Luther, The daddy of the Reformation. You are opposed to any Catholic ideas of works-salvation and see the scriptures as being primarily authoritative.
Martin Luther 73%
Karl Barth 67%
John Calvin 60%
Anselm 53%
Charles Finney 40%
Augustine 33%
Paul Tillich 33%
Jürgen Moltmann 27%
Friedrich Schleiermacher 27%
Jonathan Edwards 20%

Which theologian are you?created with QuizFarm.com

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New friends...

2007-07-18T11:19:00.000-05:00

I am such a technophobe about Xanga (as evidenced by my lack of regular posting), but I thought it was time to add something new because I've actually made a connection through Xanga with someone that didn't result from direct intervention by one of my kids!

Just finished reading "So You Want To Be Like Christ? Eight Essentials To Get You There" by Charles Swindoll. I think the title makes it sound like some self-help "how to be perfect in eight easy steps" kind of book, but it was a great book and one I will reread many times, I think. The eight essentials are intimacy, simplicity, silence & solitude, surrender, prayer, humility, self-control, and sacrifice, and the central theme is Phil 3:10:

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him - that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His Person] more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death. (The Amplified Bible, Expended Edition)

So, Mr. Swindoll apparently has a window into my mind/heart and knew I needed a little (?) coaching on getting back to the basics. Scary when books seem to be written directly to you, isn't it? Now I'm starting Phillip Yancey's book on prayer (hope I didn't butcher the spelling of his name).

In typing this, I'm finally realizing my fingernails are TOO long. When you hit three keys instead of one, it's time for a clip and file.

Have an awesome day!

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A thought-provoking day...

2007-04-21T11:23:00.000-05:00

First, I want to recommend two excellent blog entries I read today:

Doulos Of Christ

This is a brother from work who is very strong for Christ and an excellent thinker/writer. His comments on the VTech shootings, man-perspective, and God-perspective are excellent. I read it and thought, "That's what I've been trying to say and didn't know it - and couldn't have said it nearly as well." Then I found this quote from Francis Bacon in my day planner (my changes in brackets):

"The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of [God] by mingling its own nature with [His]."

I liked Doulos' blog entry so much I wanted to boost it - even though I really didn't (and still don't) know what this is, it sounded like a good thing. The page I landed at had bits of other blogs (no mention of boosting at all, but now that I think about it, isn't that slang for stealing something?). To make a long story short, the page had a list of categories and I clicked on "Spirituality" which eventually led me to another interesting Christian blog entry:

Chris Russo

Not as scholarly or timely as the Doulos post, but just as thought-provoking. Being a lover of sci-fi/fantasy, I've always been a little conflicted about being a Christian and yet loving a genre that has nothing to do with Christ. Chris' blog prompted some interesting comments and the discussion tied in with the documentary on dragons I watched part of yesterday. I'd never equated dragons (or other "mythical" creatures) with the unknown creatures mentioned in the Bible. And if you read later entries in Chris' blog, you may agree with his "I want this house!" comment:

I want this house!

RANDOM:

And some other quotes from my April planner pages:

"We read to know we're not alone." - C. S. Lewis

"A person usually has two reasons for doing something: a good reason and the real reason." - Thomas Carlyle

"People seldom improve very much when they have no other pattern to go by but themselves." - Oliver Goldsmith

"You never know when you're making a memory." - Rickie Lee Jones

"The nice thing about egotists is that they don't talk about other people." - Lucille S. Harper

"I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cabdriver. Then they would really be educated." - Al McGuire

"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." - Ambrose Bierce

"There doesn't seem to be any tomorrow. Every time I wake up, no matter in what position, it's always been today." - Bob Dylan

ENOUGH OF THAT

I have much work to do - balancing the checkbook to make sure there is money for expenses left before next payday (like food ); a little more housework to prepare for Danger Haley & Willie to wander in from camping at the Cave; some rural fire board work, to stay caught up. Guess I should quit indulging myself and get to it!

Jeremiah 29:11

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Too much pressure to be a couple!

2007-03-09T11:26:00.000-06:00

Single? You're not alone! So are 43% - or 87 million - other adult Americans!

Wherever I find myself, there I will be content in Christ.

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Merry CHRISTmas!

2006-12-21T11:28:00.000-06:00

We finally got high-speed internet access. PTL! We've been able to use Google Earth for the first time at home (that's all W did last night!) and watch the Superior Livestock Auction videos and lots of other cool stuff impossible to do when connected at 19.2 kbps (plus it's not tying up the phone). What a nice Christmas present! We're having Christmas Eve here with the tiny ninjas and Mom,Dad, Granny. It's nice the ceiling is installed now - looks so much better, and maybe we won't even paint it? Who knows... Merry CHRISTmas!

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Oh, another birthday...

2006-10-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

So, I am 49 years old today. Since I've been a little cranky the last few days, I suspect this birthday is bothering me. Crazy, isn't it? Life keeps getting better; there isn't a single time in my life I would turn the clock back to; yet I feel sad and a little defeated at turning another year older.

Some of this, I think, is the challenges we have faced in our church family. Today will be an especially hard day - it's our quarterly meeting which includes the biannual vote on whether or not to renew the pastor's call. Because of recent events, I suspect it will be a close vote and there may be hard feelings for the "side" that doesn't "win". But I know any time a church is spiritually divided, the only winner is Satan. So, he's been doing pretty well at Grace the past year or so.

My birthday blessing is that Tiny Ninja & Danger Haley & Willie are all here to help me celebrate, and we will be at church together in Nemaha (with Mom and Dad, minus Wonderful Husband who has to be at Grace to prepare for the meeting). Tiny Ninja is leading the worship service and sharing about her trip to Honduras. Danger Haley might give the children's message. I will be worshipping God with the people I love most (WH and I are always together in spirit even when we're apart), and you never know what moment God is going to use to break Dad's heart and bring him to the cross - maybe today. I will never give up faith that He will be called, but my chronic impatience wants it to happen yesterday, already! ;-s

WH and I have had an amazing weekend of togetherness. We worked the red calves Friday and chored, then worked the black calves Saturday and chored. I may take vacation Monday so I can help get the mixed lot from pasture three and work them. I love working cattle just about as much as anything I do in my life with WH. First, we have to get all the mommas and babies from a particular pasture in the catch pen. Then we have to drive the mommas out while keeping the babies (most are 400-600 pounders) in. The babies get loaded into the trailer (usually two trips) and unloaded in the working pen at his folks' house. Then they get moved one at a time down the "alley" and into the chute, where we worm (squirt-on stuff) and vaccinate (three shots this time - I got to give one of them!) and turn them loose. We didn't brand this time, I think just in the interest of time. The babies get turned out into one of the other lots to make room for the next batch.

Oh, my amazing and handsome WH is awake now, so I'm going to spend my birthday morning with him...

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Lessons

2006-09-09T11:33:00.000-05:00

It's easy for me to know when I'm depending on myself for everything, because God quickly sends challenges I can't overcome alone. Usually, the challenges involve money, or transportation, or both. I believe it's because I'm not good with money and I'm too dependent on having my own ride (and carry this over to my kids).

The transmission went out on Danger Haley's car first. She scrapped it and Wonderful Husband and I decided we would try to get the Olds running so she could use it. Just about the time they picked up the Olds to work on it, Tiny Ninja's car started not starting again. So a few days later they picked up the Buick to work on it. It's been a week now, and neither vehicle is ready yet, so I am getting schooled in patience AGAIN.

These are expenses not planned for, in addition to getting unplanned medical expenses paid off. While I'm thinking about how to work these into the budget (I use the term VERY loosely), I think about the many things I've bought that were unnecessary in the past few months. I think about the growing yarn and pattern stash I have (when WILL I get all those works-in-mind done???). I feel guilty over my poor stewardship. I ask God to help me be a better money manager. I'll be scrupulously disciplined for the next month or so, until the challenge is met, and then I'll start getting lazy/sloppy/wasteful and eventually the whole cycle starts over.
God's patience is amazing - that he keeps having to teach me the same lessons over and over again, of patience and faithfulness and stewardship, but he doesn't abandon me and always answers my prayers for help. WH and I have been really blessed that the girls learn God's lessons more quickly and live loud for the Lord. I know parents are to teach their children God's Word and His ways, but sometimes I think they're teaching us.

Well, this is kind of random, isn't it? I wish I was more like Doulos of Christ - so articulate in his faith, and thought-provoking - but instead I'll content myself with the thought that people need an "easy read" occasionally, too.

If you're a woman, check out the Jan Silvious book I just finished: "Getting Beyond the Myths". I love this book. It's straightforward. It's practical. It's scriptural. When I found it in the bookcase a few days ago, I thought "I should share this with Danger Haley". Then I started skimming through and realized I'd never finished it. So I did. God may want me to share it with Haley later, but for now he put it back in my hands because I needed to read it to the end.

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Oh, My

2006-08-02T11:42:00.000-05:00

I belong to a Yahoo group (yes, of course, it's a bunch of crochetiers!) and the recent conversation thread has been (1) whether it's easier to raise sons or daughters, and the consensus is sons, and (2) how good or bad the adult children have turned out to be. Oh my gosh!!! I hope I never get in a public forum and talk about my kids that way - which one is nosy and bossy, which one helps out the most. . .and these "kids" are in their 50s!

Anyway, while pondering the benefits of raising daughters or sons, it occured to me that my dear husband is one of four boys and no sisters. AND that my first husband was one of four boys and no sisters. Does this seem unusual? I mean, what are the odds? And - finally - is there any significance to it?

OK, I obviously need to get a life - or at least get back to crocheting. Have a God-blessed, God-centered, day!

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OK, quite bugging me...

2006-07-04T11:44:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is an actual post (not just a comment on my own xanga space). I am at home today, our nation's celebration of its independence as a country, enjoying popsicles (only those without red dye) and jello (ditto on the red dye). Well, I hope the jello will be jell-ed soon - I didn't plan ahead. It's a "clear liquids" day for me and I'm surprised to learn that popsicles really don't give you a full feeling, no matter how many you eat. Sodas seem better at this - I guess those little bubbles actually take up some stomach space. I'm preparing for a medical procedure tomorrow and the fun is just beginning - but I'll spare you the details . . . your prayers are appreciated for the doctor who will perform the procedure, the folks who will help, and for my Mom and Sandi who'll be in the waiting room.

I've been thinking lately about how to fire up my walk with God. It seems stagnant. Yes, Tiny Ninja, I KNOW I need to get in touch with ScoobyDoo. You are always right It's hard to put yourself out there, assume you could be a help or encouragement to another person, and risk being rejected. Of course, you're right, it's in God's hands so how can I presume to have anything at stake here? Because I have issues. In my arrogance/foolishness, I grew into a woman who believes she is responsible for the world. If you have a hangnail, I will figure it's my fault somehow. Maybe I'm just wishing that someone would come up alongside me in the way that God may be calling me to come up alongside ScoobyDoo. Maybe I'm just lazy?

Which brings me to crochet. Everybody kind of laughs at my compulsion to crochet whenever/wherever I can and with whatever material is at hand. Yes, I've even finger-crocheted with some lovely lavender package strapping that reminded me a little of raffia, only smoother (it just blew across my path one day and I spent several hours trying to find a source for it on the Net). I don't understand it myself, really. I used to crochet as a hobby, then I put it down for years. Can't remember what got me started again, but it is more than a hobby now - it feels like a vocation (from Merriam-Webster: 1 a : a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action...).

My creations don't always have homes (many are boxed up under my bed in the event they will be needed/wanted some day). They don't always evolve to completeness (those are called abandoned WIPs - Works In Progress). They aren't always paid for (OK, that's another story - or rather a vent/whine for doing business with a known untrustworthy person). I love them anyway. All of them. Even the ugly ones. Crochet is temptation for me - to be lustful (I want to use the HIGH END yarns now, not just the cheap acrylics), to be covetous (I don't know if I will ever have enough yarn or patterns, even though I have more patterns now than I could probably crochet in my lifetime), to be selfish (don't you dare ask me to cook supper, it's only 9 p.m. and I just want to finish 20 more rows!). So, in that sense, it's a learning how to enjoy this craft that God has blessed me with the skill to do and lean on Him to deal with the temptation.
It's also contemplative. My blood pressure is never over 120/80 if I'm crocheting before they take the reading. When I'm not, it's about 30 points higher on the top and 10 more on the bottom. If I hit a brick wall at work, I can go to my car for a smoke and crochet a couple of rows or rounds, and 9 times out of 10 it knocks the brick wall down (or at least starts a good-sized hole in it!).

Well, that's all I'm going to say about that.

Alright, chilluns, satisfied? Love you!

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Oh, I forgot my blog!

2006-03-24T07:35:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in ages - seems like most of my time is spent crocheting or reading crochet emails (me thinks I'm on too many lists!). I've made hats - for our pastor's wife and their daughter the Navy pilot, for a new baby, and for me ;-) - and am still plugging away on my first modular crochet sweater. I didn't finish it to wear this winter (had to frog half the sweater twice!) but will have it for next…

I've also got my first pay gig - a request for baby items for a shower. I already had a stroller-size ripple blanket in Caron SS Brights (not the real color names, but gold, hot pink, carmine and lavender), and I made a sweater (papaya with white trim). How exciting! Have to weave ends in tonight and the buyer will pick up tomorrow. I showed her the work when I gave her my prices to make sure she liked them.

Also, my mom wore the LB Incredible mini-shawl I made for her to a fine arts "outing" a few weeks ago and everyone raved about it - one lady said she had purchased something like it recently but Mom's was much prettier. How gratifying to hear that people appreciate crochet!

Will try to take photos of some recent work, but I still have photos to download to PC from before Christmas - another area I'm lagging way behind in!

Starting something new...

2006-01-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

I finally started my first weaving project (over a week after I received the loom and kit for Christmas - DH was beginning to think it was a mistake). I'm always nervous about learning something new and have that whole fear-of-failure syndrome to contend with. And I knew it would require focus and thought, whereas crochet projects tend to "free" my mind - lots of solutions to problems pop into my head while crocheting 8-) Anyway, warping the loom was DIFFICULT but the actual weaving is not as stressful as I expected. Of course, I only work on it for about a half hour at a time, and not every day (which is why I only have about five inches completed!). I can tell it's a keeper, though, because I'm already thinking how different warps and wefts would result in different fabrics and what all I can make with those 14x18 blocks...and, of course, how to incorporate crochet!

My other WIPs are going well. The hat for my church friend was delayed due to lack of right yarn, but the pastor's wife bailed me out so now I need to get started on it. In the meantime, I picked up two new hats - one for my brother in some yarn/thread I'm using for a shawl for me (his request!) and one for a lady at church who is starting to experience hair loss due to cancer treatments. I got all the Mississippi ladies & babies taken care of - still have to whip up something for the men and can't decide if I want to do the neckwarmers after all or something else. And I STILL HAVE IN PROGRESS from pre-Christmas a Clint Eastwood-type (aka gunslinger) poncho for DH and a saddle blanket for oldest rodeo nephew.

What I really want to work on right now is tapestry crochet - this is another technique I've delayed trying due to FOF, but I had a nice and encouraging email response from Carol Ventura (the tapestry queen, IMHO) and now am feeling brave and wanting to start.

Hope life is allowing you plenty of time for crocheting!

Am I naive or what?

2006-01-03T18:32:00.000-06:00

OK, in spite of everything I've read and heard about the Crochet A Day Calendar, I actually thought (or hoped) I would be able to complete each item on its calendar day. Maybe, if I did nothing else (including sleeping and eating)! But I'm working on the little portable checkerboard and having a great time doing something I wouldn't normally pick out to make. I'm doing it in John Deere green and yellow, planning to add a little bag to hold the coins/playing pieces, and will give it to my wonderful in-laws to have handy for the younger grandkids. Darn, the timer's going off, which must mean it's time to eat. Another interruption to my crocheting! 8-)

Off My Hook

2006-01-01T06:24:00.000-06:00

Woo-Hoo! Finished DD's hat/scarf/glovettes in time for her Denver trip; finished niece's "two cone" hat in time for New Year's Eve hillbilly party last night; finished fixing future SIL's hat in time for other DD to take back to school today. I will be GLAD when my projects with deadlines are done - much nicer just to make something because I like it and then have it on hand if a use for it turns up!

Very last minute birthday gifts...

2005-12-31T05:07:00.000-06:00

So, we have this friend who called a couple of days ago to invite us to his daughter's 7th birthday party last night. Wanting to be frugal and honor my commitment to use up my stash, I decided to make her present instead of buying. Unfortunately, I didn't decide this until yesterday morning. I already had a pair of white socks, so I trimmed those in the NoBo silver/white fun fur - no big deal, quick and easy. Then I thought of doing an earwarmer headband, so I found this pattern Textured Winter Headband and made it out of white Sugar 'n' Cream baby cotton and trimmed it in the same fun fur. This was done mostly on breaks at work and driving to lunch, finished trimming when I got home around 3:30 p.m. Finally, I used a nice blue/green/purple Sugar 'n' Cream WW cotton to make one of Dot's Little Ditty Bags and stashed a pack of gum inside. Finished and wrapped everything just in time to drive to the party. Good for future reference to know these are things that work up quickly, but maybe I'll just plan better next time...

WIPs

2005-12-29T11:05:00.000-06:00

Post-Christmas works-in-progress:

Hat, scarf and fingerless gloves for oldest DD in Caron SS and LB Chenille (hat from Vogue Knitting Crochet Hats on the Go, fingerless glovettes from Interweave Knits CROCHET Fall 2005)

A "two cone" hat for younger niece (see rodeo niece hat below) in Caron SS Brites

A stocking hat for a friend at church with two strands RH (he's already had me make two bucket hats, a dog sweater, two scarves, and another stocking hat - I think I'll teach him to crochet!)

Fun fur gloves for Mississippi ladies and flaxseed neckwarmers (non-crochet) for Mississippi gents (since we draw names for Christmas, I have to send these as New Year's or early birthday gifts)

A flaxseed neckwarmer for my Granny, who at 89 has started doing yoga

Re-doing my future SIL's hat so it doesn't cover his face 8-) - we got a lot of laughs over this at Christmas

Still have in progress from pre-Christmas a Clint Eastwood-type (aka gunslinger) poncho for DH and a saddle blanket for oldest rodeo nephew.

And I want to learn to weave . . .

Happy New Year!

Sloppy Spiritual Habits

2005-12-28T11:48:00.000-06:00

I spent some time this morning reading other Xanga logs - my daughters' and some they are linked to. Once again I find myself convicted by their passion, their faith, and their eloquence. On the way to work, I thought about how sloppy my spiritual "habits" have become. Part of this, I realize, is focus on other areas of my life (now I understand Paul's caution that those who were single should remain so). But more than that it's just laziness and distraction by worldly things. One step I've already taken to hopefully sharpen my focus in 2006 is buy a daily reading Bible. All the verses are there, but they're arranged in a daily reading format. I'll have finished My Utmost For His Highest, but I'll continue to read Our Daily Bread as a pick-me-up on break at work. As you read this, pray for me that I will walk closer with Him and get deeper into the Word in 2006.

FROM "OUR DAILY BREAD" FOR TODAY:

Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading what's there. Here are seven guidelines to help you make the most of your study of the Bible.

1. Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you'll neglect it.

2. Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.

3. Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible's treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.

4. Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.

5. Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.

6. Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.

7. Don't get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there's enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionize your life if you apply it.

Now read today's verses again with these principles in mind. Then try it again tomorrow. You will begin to discover the treasures in the Bible. —Haddon Robinson

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Mary's attitude

2005-12-28T11:47:00.000-06:00

From "Our Daily Bread" for Dec. 24:

Yet what treasures of grace lie concealed in Mary's attitude! When the angel announced that her child would be called "the Son of God," she responded, "Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).

Her answer contained all that our Lord requires—the pure, simple submission of the soul to His will. This was the secret of Mary's deep spirituality: She abandoned herself to God's will in the present and received the grace to do what God asked of her. (John Barry)

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Need a Logo?

2005-12-27T17:59:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a logo, talk to Joan. I "met" her through the CPList by posting a request for help in designing a logo that resembled our cattle brand but incorporated crochet elements. She gave me several great variations of the same basic design (one is on my blog; one I will use for business cards, etc.).

Her desktop publishing company, Automated Word Professionals, doesn't have a website at this time, but you can email her at awpjoeys @ charter.net (remove spaces around @). She also has a crochet site: Joan's Nook.

The CPList has been a wonderful place for meeting other crocheters (or is that crochetiers?) and getting help with questions about patterns, yarns, stores, etc. If you're interested in joining, here is the web site: Crochet Partners