So it's been two months since I've written a post. Well, more like one if you count that Conan video I posted. But that's it. I just can't seem to find the time.
Reason #42 Why I Am Not Blogging:
I currently have 186 unread items on my Google Reader. That thing will suck my soul dry if I let it have its way. The minute I log in I'm bombarded with all sorts of things. The first thing I do is make sure I always read updates from friends (and news about babies, babies, and did I mention babies?). And then there's all the political and religion-based stuff I read. Seriously, it'd be a full time job keeping up with all of it.
Which leads me too....
Reason #78 Why I Am Not Blogging:
I am gainfully employed. I have not had a "normal" job since I was in college. Being up, showered and everything before 7am is a crime. And it's only going to get worse as so-called mandatory overtime begins next week. They are looking for everyone to each put in an extra 52 hours the month of July. Suffice it to say some people were less than pleased. But I am looking forward to the extra money, if the hours don't kill me first.
Reason #3 Why I Am Not Blogging:
Get a load of THIS girl. Seriously. How could anyone find time to do anything with this face lookin' your way?
She is 19 weeks old! Her 4-month birthday was on the 16th, but if you go week by week, she's actually closer to 5 months than the date on the calendar shows. Clear as mud? But don't worry, it's not like we actually go around spouting out her weeks...too tough to keep track of.
Oh, and she weighed in recently at 13.5lbs (50th percentile) and 25.5 inches (90th percentile) long. We've got a string bean on our hands!
She's so fun right now. A big fan of smiling and giggling, she grab at your face when you talk down on her level and LOVES when you nibble on her toes or make kissy noises on her tummy.
There you have it. A few reasons why I have been absent from this thing, although I doubt the five of you who read this were all that curious :)
It's been a really long time since I've posted. I have a million reasons why and may explain sometime, and I even have a few posts currently saved to my drafts. Oh well.
And now the reason I'm posting today...
I am sure many of you (you know, the five of you that check in once in a while) have seen this video, either live or taped. Or online. But I have to post it here because I laugh every time I see it. It's from Conan's first night at the Tonight Show.
I doubt Mckmama is doing her blog carnival where everyone fesses up about the things that may or may not have happened to them lately. She is still in Boston with Stellan, waiting to see what their next move is. Head over to her site to check up on them.
If I tried to recount a week's worth of things that simply did not occur, we'd be here all day. So, I decided to just tell you about yesterday instead.
Sunday, at a picnic for my cousin's kid's 1st birthday, my niece did not spit up all over the front of my shirt and it did not drip down underneath to my belly button. I totally did not give myself a mini sponge bath in front of some relatives and others who weren't so relative.
Oh, and I did not keep the shirt on and wear it to a friend's baby shower 7 hours later. That would be disgusting.
My 10-week-old niece did not shriek through the majority of said two-hour baby shower. She's way too mild mannered for that and I'm sure no one was annoyed by her screaming. It was not reminiscent of this:
Happy Monday! Hope yours is filled with less baby bodily functions and ear-piercing cries :)
I have been meaning to write this post for about 10 ten days now. Not because it's all that important but more because it majorly disrupted things.
Last Wednesday night (10 days ago...wow, I was just guessing before) I was moving about my living area--the family room in the basement--and getting ready for bed. It was around midnight or a little after.
I hear this scratching and squeaking outside one of the windows. Some of our basements have deep, three-feet window wells, so it's not unheard of for something to fall in. Usually all we find are mice. Well, this was quite a bit louder than a mouse. And creepier.
I was afraid it was a person, so I went upstairs like a little kid and woke my dad up to come check and see what was outside my window :)
We slowly pulled back the curtain and shined a flashlight on it, careful not to startle whatever it was.
Lo and behold, a skunk. Well, what the heck do you do? The thing can't get out. We have no idea if it has rabies or anything like that. Also, it's dark out so it'd be tough to see if he had any friends lingering about. You don't want to go out and risk getting sprayed. (We thought of trying to put something down there to help it crawl back out, but again, the stink.)
So, our last middle of the night option was to call uptown to the police dept and see what they had to say about it. (We didn't use the emergency number, don't worry.) They sent a guy over a few minutes later.
When the cop showed up, his first solution was, "Well, I'll just go shoot it." Um. Okay.
So we went and warned my sleeping mother a gun would be fired at a skunk outside her window.
She sat upright and said she was going to be shot dead in her bed. No, really. That was her first response. I'm not even sure it was a question.
We ended up trekking out to my grandma's house at 2:30am to stay there because the stench engulfed the house. Thankfully we weren't directly hit, but the window took the blunt of it and the odor just sort of seeped through.
The upstairs/main level of our house smells fine most of the time now because it's been able to air out. However, the basement is still stinky. Not quite burning-my-eyes-and-throat stinky like it was initially, but still too gross to sleep/constant breathe.
I've been camping out upstairs on the floor in the baby's room since, while my sister's been on the living room couch. The greatest news tonight is that we hauled up a twin mattress from a non-stinky storage room downstairs that I will now use until the stench disappears from my normal sleeping area.
Anyway, here's a lesson to sum up a VERY LONG NIGHT: Shoot a skunk only if you are unable to get sprayed on your own. Or you're a cop in a small town and never get to use your gun.
P.S. The funniest thing about the skunk shooting is that the cop then decided to put the skunk in a garbage bag and then PUT IT IN HIS CAR to dispose of it. Um, not so bright. Suffice it to say that the guys who had to use the car the next day weren't so pleased with the decision.
I am going to preface this by saying that I am fully aware that I have had baby on the brain lately. Not so much because I'm dying to have one tomorrow or anything (I'll consider it for next week, though), but because how could you NOT have baby on the brain while lovin' on this lil sweetie pie everyday:
Baby Girl here is going to be 8 stinkin' weeks old in a few days. Where has the time gone??
Plus, it doesn't help when you know a dozen pregnant ladies right now, either.
Okay, back on track...
Earlier this evening, I indulged my 100-times-a-day habit of checking on the updated Tweets by Mckmama about how Stellan is doing (not awesome, so check it out and pray!)
She sent out a post alerting everyone to pray for and learn about the mother of a very sick baby girl, April, who may not make it in-utero, and most likely not outside of the womb. What makes this new blog/story so interesting for me is that the mom is an unmarried, Christian woman. Let's just say that it's not exactly the easiest position to be in. Having a baby out of wedlock? People may shake their heads and move along. A Christian girl gets pregnant and all hell breaks loose. Well, that's not entirely fair. Some people are incredibly loving and look past circumstance to see the person. But I think most would agree that Christians tend to be a bit more likely to gasp, whisper and stare/glare than their secular counterparts.
I digress again...
Anyway, the first post I read ended with something that caused me to write this post: "God does not punish people with babies (sorry, Mr. President, you got that wrong)."
Even though she has been through a lot with the unexpected pregnancy followed by the dire diagnosis for her baby girl and who knows what else, she is confident that this girl was no accident and is of the greatest value, both to her and to God.
This really got me thinking about how people view babies. I can understand that having a baby can be really difficult for some people, especially when the result (a baby) is not an ideal situation for whatever reason. I get that. BUT instead of thinking of this "unplanned" baby as PUNISHMENT, I think we should look at him/her as an OPPORTUNITY.
We make mistakes. Every single one of us. Some seem bigger than others. Some mistakes are exposed to the whole world to see while others stay a secret. But I think that while God most importantly offers forgiveness--for sure and for certain--he also offers us the chance to change the direction of our lives with our next decision. And the one after that. And the next one...
Most, if not all, of the sin in my life is based purely on selfishness. It's all about me. I'd venture to guess that it's the same for you, too. When Obama suggests that he'd rather his daughters have an abortion rather than face the "punishment" of having a baby at an inopportune time, I find myself glad I'm not his daughter. I like to think that a father should be the one to comfort and support his child in a time of need instead of compounding the problem with severe physical pain and psychological anguish.
I am so thankful that I have a father here on Earth who loves me regardless of my mistake and does whatever he can to help me choose a better path. He's the bestest. And I cannot even fathom how much more this is true of my Heavenly Father!
I'm having a really hard time grasping how huge--and wrong--this view of unwanted children is. It actually makes me feel ill. And angry. Very angry. Because to me the answer is clear. But no one ever said doing the right thing would be easy, and we are living in the middle of a world consumed by selfish desires and little else.
Last thoughts...
Is having a baby out of wedlock or at an inconvenient time truly punishment? Or is it the chance to turn a potentially ugly situation into a beautiful representation of God's love and grace?
Seriously--How can you not be in awe of how good God is when you look at this sleeping angel??
I am a big fan of snacks. I don't think I'm much of a grazer throughout the day, but recently I have been noticing that I get super pumped over some of the snacks or mini-meals I've had. They aren't even unique or original, but they make me happy :)
1. Hummus. It's wonderful. Except the red roasted pepper kind. Blech. Gimme the real stuff: the garlicky, beany, tahini-y kind. Anyway, I think it was at Zankou Chicken in Hollywood when I first fell in love. (It's this awesome Lebanese/Mediterranean place...way good.) I was picking up a lunch order for work (ah, the days of being a PA...) and I decided to get a small side of it for myself. As a girl who loves her carbs, I was pretty psyched about the warm pita that accompanied the hummus. I wasn't even out of the parking lot before I was sampling my lunch. I had thought I had tasted hummus before, but this wiped out any vague memory of it. It was that yummy. So now I spread it on sandwiches, dip carrots or other veggies into it...but really, all I want to do most of the time is eat it with a spoon!
2. Indoor S'mores. I know I'm not the brainchild of this delightful invention, but I wish I were. It's not health food, but it has to be a tad better for you than the full-on chocolate bar version. All you do is take couple chocolate graham crackers, slap a marshmallow or two between them and pop them into the microwave for about 10 seconds. Or until your marshmallow is on the verge of exploding. And then enjoy the gooey deliciousness. Pure genius.
3. Chocolate Milk. We're talking Nesquick here, not the store-bought, syrup-in-a-jug stuff. Sometimes I feel like I'm sorta kinda on the verge of being hungry but a) it's either too close to meal time or b)I'm just not sure what I'm in the mood for. (Or c) there's a good chance it's boredom.) Either way, I have found that drinking a small glass of milk often cures this dilemma. I don't know if it cures the thirst part or the hunger part--or both--but it works. I find this especially helpful when I'm in the mood for something sweet but nothing heavy like a dessert. That's where the Nesquick comes in. It's perfect. It can be fairly healthy, too if you use skim milk. And it adds extra calcium to your diet. Bonus!
4. Couscous. Is it a grain? Is it a pasta? Is it entirely under-used by most people? (It's pasta, and yes.) Oh how I love love love its versatility. I could eat that stuff all day. It as easy to cook as instant rice but has the fullness of a good, whole wheat pasta. My most recent concoction consisted of Tri-Color couscous mixed with Italian-style tomatoes (drained) and garbanzo beans. It made me happy. I ate it as a main dish for dinner one night and then had it cold as a salad for lunch the next day. And the next. It's also good with nuts, raisins...the combinations are endless. It cost me about $6-$8 for a 32oz canister. So. Worth. It.
5. Spinach Salad. I hate salad. What is the point? Am I a rabbit? But I have been scarfing this spinach salad I've been making A LOT of lately. I put a couple handfuls of baby spinach on a bowl or plate, depending on whether it's my main dish or side dish. I then scoop some 1% Cottage Cheese on top. I don't use much, just enough to act in place of the dressing. Feta is yummy, too. I then section an orange and toss it with the other two ingredients. Top it off with some freshly ground pepper. (To section an orange, simply cut the peel away--including the pith/white stuff--with a knife instead of peeling it like normal. Then roughly chop into bite-size pieces. This ensures you get the best juicy, non-stringy fruit.) The different flavors totally and strangely compliment one another, and I'm sure it'd be great topped with some beans or cranberries, too.
Ahhh, I love beans. But they should be their own topic someday. I have much to say about them and all their glory.
Should you be so lucky to read all about it some time!
I've mentioned many times in this blog how much I frequent Mckmama's blog. And I've also told you about her super sick baby boy and linked to her stuff for you to check out. Well, tonight the local Minneapolis television station ran a story on them and interviewed Jennifer.
Check it out! And keep praying for this sweet little guy!!!!
I think this speech by British MEP Daniel Hannan to the Prime Minister is quite fitting for us in the US. Perhaps the Pelosis and Reids in the Administration will get a similar earful should some bold and fed-up politicians take note?
My heart has been seriously troubled by how little Stellan is fighting for his life. Again. First in-utero, now only a few short months later. I even had dreams about it last night. I installed a button on the top right sidebar that will take you to the updates on how he's doing.
I read this today on John Piper's blog and thought I'd just reprint in its entirety since it's pretty short. I think it's fitting and something we should never forget to remember. The Sorrow and Joy of the Seasoned Soul March 25, 2009 | By: John Piper
It is not a sign of a seasoned Christian soul that steady joy is untinged with steady sorrow.
Or to put it positively, the seasoned soul in Christ has a steady joy and a steady sorrow.
They protect each other. Joy is protected from being flippant by steady sorrow. Sorrow is protected from being fatal by steady joy.
And they intensify each other. Joy is made deeper by steady sorrow. Sorrow is made sweeter by steady joy.
For the seasoned Christian soul, I do not see how it can be otherwise while people are perishing and we are saved. I do not see how it can be otherwise while these two passages are written by the same inspired man:
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:2-3)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
First and foremost, go over to My Charming Kids to get an update on MckMama's sweet baby boy Stellan. He is in bad, bad shape. They were told he'd die in the womb but was born this past fall perfectly healthy, no signs of sickness. Over the weekend, that all changed. He got sick and was diagnosed with the same disease and is fighting for his life. Please head over there to check out what's going on and PRAY PRAY PRAY. Although the names aren't listed in the blog, the parents and Jennifer and Israel. The have three other little ones, four and younger, at home.
If I Twittered, I'd tweet it. But I don't.
And now my rant, which isn't nearly as important as Stellan. But it's also been on my mind, so I'll proceed.
With our government asking a lot from us these days (ka-ching!) and most likely doing some serious damage to the future of our country, I think everyone should take some time to really learn about who exactly is running things.
We already know most people didn't take the time to look past the charismatic rhetoric of our President to see who the man truly is and what he stands for. I'm sorry--"Hope" isn't a destination.
We also know that the man in charge of the Treasury is above paying his taxes. Who isn't these days? But you know there'd be hell to pay if one of us shmucks failed to file ours. I doubt we'd be offered one of the most important positions in the country.
I digress... Well, sort of.
One of the President's nominees for the Health and Human Services Secretary is Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS). She is being touted by certain Christan groups as being great for the pro-life and pro-family movement. However, as this article from Caffeinated Thoughts points all, not all is as it seems.
Once again, important facts are glazed over and even tampered with in effort to highlight certain agendas.
It's a well-researched article and doesn't seem to be mudslinging in any way. Make up your own minds, obviously. But it definitely deserves a read and more importantly, your consideration.
Any body else tiring of not really knowing who all these people running our country are?
To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last--but eat you he will. ~Ronald Reagan
Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.
She is giving away a prize to a random person who plays along, so it'll be worth your while to check it out!
I am not excited that it's supposed to hit 70 degrees today. Finally! (I miss L.A. weather!!)
I am not shocked that my niece is one-month-old today. That means I have totally been able to sleep peacefully through each and every night for an entire month.
I am not looking for a job while I'm still hanging out in the Midwest. Who needs money?
My list this week is super short but since I don't have babies to play with, dogs to walk and some sunshine to enjoy, we'll just say I'm lazy :)
In the mood to bake but without the fuss, I whipped up a super simple and satisfying treat.
Alliteration anyone?
With a can of cherry pie filling as my muse, I briefly scoured my family's trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, circa 1960.
I didn't have the ingredients for a pie crust, which was okay by me since I wasn't really in the mood for pie.
But I just wanted something warm and yummy for this cold, rainy night.
I found a recipe for the biscuit portion of a peach cobbler and voila!
It seriously takes about 30 minutes to prep and bake this dish.
Empty pie filing into an 8x8 glass baking dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1 Tbs sugar, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt. Cut in 1/4 cup butter, until coarse crumbs appear.
In a small dish mix 1/4 cup milk with a slightly beaten egg. Add to dry mixture. Stir until batter is moistened.
Spoon batter over pie filling.
Pop in the oven for about 20 minutes until done or desired browning is achieved.
Serve immediately piping hot...with vanilla ice cream, of course! I also think it's good by itself at room temperature. P.S. In the 30 seconds between setting the dish on the counter and grabbing my camera, my mom somehow managed to help herself to some cherry goodness.
I sort of feel like a stalker, but I can't help it. And to be honest, I am not that ashamed. There is a blog out there I check everyday at least once. If I only have a minute to get online, I've been known to check and see if there are new posts up instead of checking my email.
Okay, maybe a little ashamed.
Anyway...
I am at the point in my life where it seems everyone is having kids. Latest count of people I know who are expecting this year: 10. The list used to be longer, but a half dozen friends and family have recently had babies.
So, I figured this blog post from MyCharmingKids was timely. It's one family's take on the ever-fun task of potty-training.
While she suggests methods that may or may not work at all for me someday when I have children, I like the idea that I can tuck this info away and possibly incorporate it into my future routine.
I have participated in potty-training (other people's) toddlers and it is NOT something I particularly look forward to attempting. It's a lot of work! But hopefully tips like these help ease all the anxiety and trepidation...of the parent.
There is a video on YouTube that has been making the rounds lately. Perhaps you've seen it.
WorldNetDaily published an article about a 7th grade girl who competed in a speech competition where she chose the topic of abortion.
After being told she wouldn't be able compete unless she chose another topic, she stood her ground and decided that she would continue with her speech, regardless of the consequences.
Check out the article and the video. Pretty compelling for a 12-year-old.
It's that time again. Head on over to MckMama's to see what everyone else has or has not done this week.
Here's what I surely didn't do this week:
I did NOT start this list last Wednesday because I have zero memory capabilities right now.
I did NOT grab a breast pad to quickly soak up some water I spilled on the table.
I did NOT forget to remove my old socks before trying to put on a clean pair. I am NOT too tired to know the difference between one layer and two.
I do NOT want to snuggle this little girl at all hours of the day. I am NOT looking forward to spoiling her just a lil bit.
Even though she is far too even tempered and just plain cute to ever have a major cow at the ripe old age of one week old, I do NOT melt (and even sometimes giggle) when she looks like this:
I have NOT been sneezing my head off all day. I have way too much to do to be getting a cold. I will not be downing tons of fruit and vitamins (gag me) to keep this at bay. And I am certainly not attributing my fuzzy-feeling head to the dry air because dry air cannot keep me from loving on this lil girl.
I am probably NOT going to stop posting about this sweet babe anytime soon. Okay, so that was true.
Hopefully you've taken the chance to check out MckMama and all of her Not Me! friends before. If not, head on over to see what the fuss is all about. It's definitely worth your time and may make you laugh a time or two.
I have NOT just endured two sleepless nights of contractions.
I have NOT suffered through sharp pains throughout my body for the past 36 hours .
I am NOT totally exhausted beyond belief.
I am NOT currently at the hospital waiting for my sister (yes, I'm just a whiner) to give birth to my niece.
My sister is NOT being a nazi at this very moment about what all of us can and cannot eat while we are here, regardless of how near we are to her or her room when stuff is being eaten. :)
I am NOT super thrilled to see this baby's sweet tiny face in just a few short hours!!!!
I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about what what it will mean for us if President Obama is able to fulfill one of his major campaign promises with FOCA, or a similarly named bill. And to be honest, it literally makes me sick to my stomach.
What that new legislation will mean is that there will be zero accountability when it comes to abortions. It will remove any restrictions in place today. Babies will be killed at all points of pregnancy, minors will not need parental consent, the ban on partial-birth abortions will be lifted, doctors and facilities of faith will face fines and/or loss of licenses if they refuse to perform an abortion, OUR tax money will be spent on providing abortions to foreigners overseas...the list goes on.
Did anybody pay attention to this during the campaign? Do people not care about little babies getting a shot at life? Is receiving a paycheck from Uncle Sam more important than protecting little ones? I seriously do not understand this. To me, it's unfathomable. However, we are about to face (and truly, are in the midst of) the most horrendous slaughter humanity has EVER known. There are plenty of stats to back that up, too.
There is an article at Boundless that is worth a read.
Also, if you would like to better inform yourself on the issue, check out www.fightfoca.com
Below is an unreferenced prayer pulled from Boundless article. Its date of origin is unknown for now, but its timelessness perfectly fits our current situation.
Father of Lights, the time is dark and our eyes are dim. Our kings, ordained for the protection of the weak, expose them to death, yet cry 'hope.' Our people have lost their way and are deceived.
Light in the Darkness, we call upon you that we may be undeceived and follow you once more. We humbly and earnestly implore you, not only that the evils in the land be turned back, but that we have the courage to stand against them.
Holy Spirit, hear our intercession for the repentance and conversion of those highly placed who do wrong. Renew a right spirit within them. We beg the same mercy for ourselves, who have stood by and called evil good. Assist our prayers, and enable us in all times and places to give you thanks.
In the Name of the Trinity, Amen.
P.S. The sonogram is my niece, whom I will get to meet in a few days!
Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.
It's been a long time since I've participated in this, but I figured I could probably come up with a couple things that have happened recently.
If you are unfamiliar with Not Me! Mondays, click on the button or links to see what it's all about. It's a lot of fun to read--you won't be disappointed. And hey, you may end up feeling a little better about yourself along the way!
I was at the store with my mom and sister last weekend getting the last few random items on our list. It had been a long day of running a bazillion errands (after catching a movie, of course.) We were in the bath and beauty section and I realized that I really, really needed razor blades. For the past six weeks I had been using a crummy disposable razor I stole from my sister. It's safe to say that my skin looked like it had gone through a wood chopper after my showers. So, like a good daughter, I held onto my item until we finished shopping and waited in line to pay. It would be so UNLIKE me to just drop my expensive pack of razors into my mom's already-full cart. That would be silly and quite ridiculous since I am most definitely too old to ask (ahem, expect, sometimes) for my mom to purchase things for me. So I didn't. Or did I? All I know is that my legs have thanked me.
For the last year or so I have really made an effort to try to change at least a few easy things in my diet to make it more "organic." The easiest thing I've found is to buy organic milk instead of regular milk. After I read a hundred different articles on just how junky normal grocery store milk is, I had a hard time buying it. Plus, it tastes a whole heck of a lot better. (But let's be honest...sometimes a person just can't find the courage to hand over $3.50-$4 per half gallon every single time the milk is gone. I have definitely switched it out on occasion.)
So when I arrived at my family's home and find out that my expecting sister has switched to organic for the sake of her and baby, I thought that it would be nice to not have to worry about fitting "my" milk into the fridge. Or paying for it very often. However, I soon learned that since it was so expensive, my sister preferred that I didn't use her milk unless it was a milk emergency. I get that. I can be quite reasonable at times. So I most definitely do NOT sneak the "good" milk when it can go unnoticed or no one is looking and regular milk just won't do. I am NOT that calculating. I am ALWAYS a much more considerate person than that.
Oh, and I do NOT think theft is becoming a theme here.
I am sure there are plenty of other occasions where I have totally handled things awesomely but just can't think of them right now. Throughout the week, I always do/say/see something that I think should go in a Not Me! post--if I were to ever get around to making one--but I never remember them or write them down. Or remember to write them down.
Well, here's to a week of NOT working on forgetfulness or the act of general thievery...
Someday. And I'm pretty psyched about it. Well, when I think about it.
I recently heard one of my favorite all-time hymns on the radio. It was a bit more jazzed up than what may be found in your traditional Sunday service. It's a song that had always resonated with my as a kid, probably because it first reminded me of my grandma. As I grew, I noticed it always stirred some excitement me. Now, I'm not one who is usually into hymns, at least traditional old-people hymns. But of the few that I really enjoy, this has to be one of my favorites.
It is also one that challenges me. I feel like I spend a whole heck of a lot of time concerned about the ephemeral. Don't get me wrong--there is a lot to be said for striving to live a life worthy of being considered a Christ follower. Christ says as much throughout the New Testament. But why do we (ahem, that's a resounding I) strive so hard for the things of this life when our hearts and souls really belong to another place, our true home, a place of eternal awesomeness? (Yes, I know what I just said and, well, I meant it.) I am a firm believer in working on being content with our current life circumstances while simultaneously longing for home. I don't think anyone would say that it's an easy balance to achieve, but I am positive that it possible.
For me, I hope to let my mind linger on thoughts of heaven far more than I have in the past. And, if I've been neglectful, hopefully God will give me a little nudge by playing a song or two to remind me.
There are a million variations and lyrics to this song, but here is one of the more traditional versions:
I'll Fly Away
Some bright morning when this life is over I'll fly away To that home on God's celestial shore I'll fly away
I'll fly away oh glory I'll fly away When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone I'll fly away Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly I'll fly away
Oh how glad and happy when we meet I'll fly away No more cold iron shackles on my feet I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then I'll fly away To a land where joys will never end I'll fly away
4000 miles over five days within a two-week period. 8 states crossed--three were crossed three times, two were crossed twice. A lot of back-tracking, it seems.
I need a vacation from my vacation. But will someone please do the packing for me? And while you are at it, you may sit in a camped vehicle for me. For 17 hours. Three different times. Each one way. Not that I'm complaining. Well, not too loudly, anyway. At least my next venture has me flying home. That will hopefully be a much more comfortable experience. And that's not saying much.
My travels have been anything but tame and I don't expect to be able to relax a little until next week. Here are just a few pics depicting what's been going on.
This was a nice beginning to my travels. I was JUST on my way out of town:
So that is still a headache I get to deal with. And a neck ache.
Then, I had a chance to have a little fun in the snow. Gotta love the ensemble. But hey, it was a balmy 20 degrees, so I had to take advantage of the "heat wave":
After Christmas, I attended an out-of-state wedding. Here's an image of the table centerpieces. I love mirrors!
And, last but certainly not least, the diaper cake I made for my sister's baby shower:
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