Where did it go?

Ok, I swear, I was just about to comment to the comments left to my last blog when it just disappeared. What's going on? Am I loosing my mind?

More help please

Ok, so I've been reading the Genisis story from the Message translation. Let me tell ya, it makes more sense then the King James version I grew up reading.

In chapter 4 Eve bares two sons; Cain and Able. Then Cain throws a temper tantrum and kills Able. In verse 15 God speaks to Cain's fear of being killed himself "'Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over.' GOD put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him."

Ok, according to what I've been taught, Adam and Eve were the first people. Cain and Able were the third and forth people. Now #3 has killed #4 leaving only 3 people. Here's my questions (you knew they were coming): Who is Cain afraid of? Would Eve kill Cain for killing Able? If he's just afraid of Adam-the only supposed person on the face of the Earth according to the teachers-wouldn't he have just said what if my father kills me instead of "whoever finds me" in verse 13?

Ok, so suppose Cain and Able have other brothers and sisters. We know that Cain is married, it says so in verse 17 when he sleeps with his wife. Is she his sister?

There's enough to get you started. Let me know your opinions and I'll finish sharing mine.

The Pot at the End of the Rainbow

Time

Time... where does it go? We have so many short cuts in life to save time and we end up doing is cramming more and more stuff into that slot. Why? Why do we do this to ourselves? Are we so afraid of what we might actually do or say if we stopped for just a few moments? Are we afraid of our own thoughts and ideas? Are we afraid that if we stopped for just a moment that God would try to speak to us? Heaven forbid HE get in the middle of what I'M trying to do... ha!

Do you think he looks at us and laughs at our silliness like I do at my daughter in her silliness? She knows so much, but I know so much more. Having this child has taught me to look at God in a whole new light for me. I see God as the knowing parent. He knows instinctively that we're coloring on our bedroom walls when He's in the kitchen. And He knows that the dog didn't do it, even though we blame it on him and have "proof". God teaches us all sorts of stuff, but not before we're able to understand it. And sometimes he gives us a lesson and if we just don't get it he gives it to us again and again with some variation until we do get it. I've been trying to teach my daughter how to tie her shoes now for about 2 months. She's a very stubborn little girl and will NOT listen to direction from me, other people--most times, me--not usually. Some day she'll get it. But aren't we like that with God? God tries to show us something and we say 'No God, I've got this one. I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll figure it out' God is so patient with us. He sits back with a smile on his face and says, 'Ok, you give it a shot. Let me know how it works out for you.' Then of course we don't do it and have to give up and ask for help.

Well, this blog took a much different turn then I expected it to when I sat down 30 minutes ago. I hope you find that moment today to just stop and listen. Perhaps God has something He'd like to say to you!

Day Dreaming

"I know what day dreaming is." Peanut said to me early in the morning.
"Oh," I replied. "What is day dreaming?"
"It's when you stare like this with your mouth open like this." she demonstrated.

It's so fun to hear how they learned something! I hope you spend the day with your mouth open, "like this"!

Peace and Quite

Just wanted to update you on my noisy critter situation. Around 10:30 am CST a woman and her expert 4 year old child came into the church. The caught and released the critter into the world. No longer must I suffer his song! May tomorrow bring a prosperous day.

The Plot

There is a cricket somewhere in this building and it's driving me crazy!!!! How can they expect me to have a productive day with this dang cricket making it's little cricket noises non stop?!?!? Pastor Jeremy, one of the associate pastors where I work, speaks cricket, perhaps I can speak to him to ask if he will negotiate with the critter. If he is successful at getting the critter to leave the building then no one will get hurt. Otherwise I will go a hunting with my hairspray, matches, and shoes....

What's her name?

At the church where I work I am the Numbers Girl. Sometimes I am also called Money Bags (though the bags are NOT mine). The secretary, she's the Letters Girl. You have probably noticed in my blogs that I don't always spell words correctly and it doesn't really bother me either.

Today I was standing at the secretary's desk discussing the meeting the pastor and I were just in with a bride and her mother. The secretary asked me "how do you spell this name" as she handed me an attendance card from Sunday morning. Pastor walked up and was going through his mail talking on his cell phone. I made my guess Landranch, Lanfanch, Landanch...(I use to work with a bunch of mechanics and had to read their writing so I got pretty good at reading chicken scratch). Then I looked, she had an email address, I suggested she email the girl and ask. Then I noticed she was a guest of the pastor's wife so I handed the card to him and asked who it was.

Since he had been on the phone most of the time I was guessing he didn't hear me say it was a guest of his wife so he tried to read the chicken scratch. After several guesses he said, well they have a Texas address. The secretary, with a perplexed look said, "So, you don't know who your wife brought to church?"
"My wife?" He was lost.
"Yeah," we said, "this person was a guest of your wife." And pointed to the part of the card that said that.
"Well the only person that we brought was Jennifer...who's first name is the same as this persons...." Light bulbs started going off. "Oh, THAT'S our new sister-in-law (almost, not quite married yet)." He called his wife, she didn't know her last name either.

We gave up trying to figure out what her name is now and put the name she'll be in few weeks in our computer system. Good enough.

I need a break!

It's Monday. I don't hate Mondays, but I like to be refreshed. I don't feel refreshed, I'm tired. This weekend was a busy weekend. All we did was go go go! It wasn't until about 5 pm Sunday night did I sit down to relax and was in bed asleep by 9:30. Dang, I'm not old, but I sure felt like it! Well... my doctor did tell me a few months ago that I'm not as young as I use to be. Of course he's almost old enough to be my dad.....

Saturday morning we got up and ran to KMart (I HATE Walmart and those are my only two choices). Peanut had a soccer game at 1 (she plays in the U6 girls league which doesn't keep score or have loosers). She scored the first goal of the game in the first game of the season. Her daddy, the ex-soccer player now coach, was so proud. Of course so was mommy who was getting a sunburn on the sidelines. That evening her Papa and Grami picked her up and took her and her cousin to the races. They had a blast! I went to a bacherolette party and Nickel went to the bacholer party. We both had a good time. Niether were wild vulgar parties, as so often these parties turn into and I was very glad because I didn't want to be the party pooper and get up and leave, which I would have if it did. I got home around 10pm and Nickel just before midnight. I stayed up and watched a couple of showed I had recorded on the DVR to unwind until Nickel got home.

Sunday I didn't really sleep in but moved slower, I just couldn't convince myself to move any faster. Staying up late can do that do ya. Then I had to go pick up Peanut from Papa's house. When I got there she was still in pjs eating breakfast so I visited with the family for a little while. We missed Sunday School but made it in time for service. Of course the message was about obedience... I needed to hear it, we probably all need to be remined about obedience. After eating a quick bite we took off for the wedding shower that was 45 minutes away. That lasted an hour and one of Nickel's grandmother's lives that way so we stopped in and visited for an hour an a half. Peanut and I had a quite evening to make up for our busy weekend. We played My Little Pony Pictionary. She won, and I didn't even try to loose. We watched some tv. Daddy had gone to the races so he didn't get home until about 8 pm and he brought icecream! Then the bedtime ritual began, you know, bath and the "I'm hungry" and "I'm thirsty" lines.

I think I'll take October 8th off. I'm going to unplug the phones, the cell phone batter run down and "forget" to recharge it. There better be food in the house because I'm not going to the store. I may or may not take my morning shower. I'm going to stay in pajamas all day! I'm going to lay in bed and watch TLC's Trading Spaces, What Not to Wear, In a Fix, and While You Were Out all day. I might even read a book. I'll probably take 2 or 3 naps. That's what weekends are SUPPOSE to be anyway. It's kinda sad that I have to plan an actual weekend two weekends in advance... oh well, something to look forward to.

Shopping

I have a love/hate relationship with shopping. I love to buy other people stuff and see the expression on their face when I got something that's "perfect" but I HATE shopping for clothes for me.

Today, I went shopping for J and J's wife, as Nickel calls them. J and J's wife aren't actually married, not yet anyway. Their wedding is in one week! The shower though, is Sunday afternoon. I went to Dillards, where I knew she had registered. Printed out the list of 50 billion items she wants and started. Luckily there was a very nice lady there to help me. Usually I don't let the sales people help me, but this one was perfect. Not pushy, but pointed me in the direction of where everything should be and let me go off to make decisions for myself. My friend has picked out beautiful things and I'm sure she'll be pleased to her new stuff.

Happy Friday to everyone. May your day be blessed with smiles!

I can't seem to focus

Ok, I'm having a hard time focusing the last couple of days... you should see my desk at work (it's scary and I'm keeping my door closed so hopefully no one will notice).

So, let's keep things simple today. How about a fun little quiz!


What Gender Is Your Brain? Sounds like fun, huh? Let me know how you do.

Sucess

I just wanted to let you know that the surgery was a complete sucess! Ford specialist Danny was able to perfrom the open tank-fuel pump replacement by 11 am CST. While in the midst of the operation he also replaced a spark plug that was found to be bad too.

Grand Marquis is now 100% fully recovered and is resting in the driveway at my mother's house.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers through this tricky operation.

Mom's new car

Well, the car is still in Sand Springs this morning. Nickel spoke with Benny, who with Danny (another of Boss Man's car doctor friends-a Ford Specialist) perfromed many test, doing extensive blood work, an ekg, and a MRI, finally diagnosed the car . It suffers from bad fuel pump -- just like Nickel thought. Medicine can't fix this problem. No, the only solution is to perfrom an open tank-fuel pump-transfer. This is a tricky operation because all fuel must be cut off from the pump and the fuel tank must be removed to have access to the pump. Surgery is scheduled for later today.

A fun little quiz

Let's see just how smart you are this Monday morning!

Take this quiz and let me know how you did.

God's Grace and Mercy

Well folks, it's been quite a day, quite a day. This morning, went to church, wonderful service, as always. Got home around noon, chowed down on a cold grilled cheese sandwich and loaded up the car for a mini road trip.

My husband works for a salvage yard and a couple of weeks ago he came across a Mercury Grand Marquis that a little old lady had plowed into her house with (she was fine and so was the car for the most part). Her children decided that she really didn't need to drive anymore and sold the car to another salvage yard. My husband asked my mother if she would like to buy it. He would fix what was wrong with it of course. My mother drives a Buick Regal that only stays on the road because of God's Grace. What can I say, He likes my mother (as does everyone that meets her). This car has been in a couple of accidents, sometimes won't start for no appearant reason, and the dash lights won't work if the headlights are on... but God likes my mother and get her to and from work. So my mother agreed to the the "new" car and paid less then $2000.

Today was the day we were meeting at my brother's house (he lives about half way between both of us and it seemed a good place to meet--plus my neice's birthday is next Saturday so this gave us a reason to bring presents and eat cake). We left our comfy home around 12:30/12:45 heading east towards Tulsa.

We made it as far as just west of Keystone Dam when all of a sudden my husband, driving the Marquis in front of me, pulled over and stopped. I quickly changed lane and pulled in behind him. He got out, lifted the hood and stood there. My husband is a smart guy and very handy to have around when it comes to cars and trucks.... unless they're Fords (or in this case Mercurys). I got out and asked him what was wrong. "It just died" he said to me. We waited a few minutes and it started right up. "Please dear God, get us to safety...." we drove on a little bit more... now we were on the long bridge over Lake Keystone.... and we pulled over again "No God, not on the bridge, it isn't safe here." A couple minutes later we started again..... Then coming down a hill (yeah, there are hills over in Eastern Oklahoma, real pretty too) it died again. This time we waited about 10/15 minutes to let the car cool off... even just a little bit so we could hopefully make it to a gas station or a NOT so busy highway where cars zoomed past us at 70+ miles per hour. Another couple of dies later we arrived at a gas station.

Did you know that if you want to help a car cool down a little faster you can buy a bag of ice and place it on the motor? I wouldn't have thought of that. We hung out at the gas station for around 45 minutes. Nickel made some phone calls. Peanut chewed some bubble gum and I sat or stood there helplessly.

God has placed people in our lives to help us get from point A to point B. All we have to do is talk to these people and ask for help. One of the phone calls Nickel was to his boss back home. Boss man has friends in Sand Springs (just west of Tulsa and about 7 miles from where we were at). When the car had had time to cool off we drove to Benny's house. Benny has a garage. Benny built his own motor home, drag car, etc. Benny wasn't home. We left the car anyway.

We went on to our destination, an 8 year old's birthday party. We got there 2 hours later then scheduled, hot, and very disappointed. We wanted to present my momma, this wonderful warrior for God, with her new car. It didn't happen. Not yet anyway. Nickel called Boss Man back to let him know that Benny wasn't home. Boss Man called Benny (who was home at this point) and explained the situation. No problem said Benny, can't start on it tonight, have church. I can respect a man for putting God before a strange woman's car, ANYTIME.

Our most kind and precious Heavenly Father, I come humbly before you tonight and thank you for taking such good care of us today. For showing your Grace and your Mercy. Thank you for placing us within reach of help and helping us to reach for it. Lord, I so wanted this gift to be on my time, but you showed me today, that only Your time is perfect. Please forgive me of my arrogance and ignorance. Lord, You have given these people, who wouldn't have had a chance to show their kindness and mercy to us, a chance to bless us and because of this I ask that you bless them 10 fold. Thank you. Thank you. Thank YOU!
In Jesus holy and precious name, Amen.

I hurt!

Oh my goodness! Pain Pain go away, come no more and stay away!

I think I over did it last night. I went back to my jazz class where I dicovered I STILL have two left feet and no an ounce more rhythm. Towards the end of class my legs were a little tingly. But I didn't think it was THAT bad, just the "I got a good workout" feeling. Nope, at 2:17 am this morning Peanut came in saying she had had a bad dream. I let her in the bed and tried to go back to sleep. About 30 mins later I put her back into her own bed and tried to go back to sleep myself. I did eventually go back to sleep.... about 5:17 am. For 3 hours I tossed and turned. My legs and back ached bad. Not the sore, pulled muscle. The "oh my gosh I didn't know I had a muscle there" ache. After putting Peanut back in her bed I decided I was cold even with my blanket and Nickel's was wrapped around his feet on the other side of him so there was no way of me taking it without him knowing about it (yes, I'm a blanket theft, hence the seperate blankets). All the other blankets we own are nicely packed away in the cedar chest... which at 2 am would be an ordeal getting into... I think I might put one ON TOP of the cedar chest just incase tonight.

Then after watching the end of a disterbing episode of X-Files I got up and played on the internet for a little while--hince a few responses at 3 whatever this morning on some friend's sites. But that wasn't helping me get back to sleep and my legs ached sitting at the computer so I went and layed back down and watched another two episode of X-Files. Not exactly the make you want to fall asleep tv I know, but Nickel hid the remote so what's a cold girl to do?

At 5 am when The Lost World was coming on I told myself, go to sleep and get up in one hour, you have to look nice today because there's a funeral at the church today. I did manage to get to sleep... Nickel rolled over and pulled his blanket up so I could have access to it since I was snuggling pretty close at that point.

I woke up at 8:05... a couple of hours late! OOPS! I rushed through my shower even with still achy legs and back. Peanut had slept in too so she rushed around to get dressed too. In the middle of making her pbj sandwich for lunch the phone rang, it was work, they were about to send out a search party for me... it was 9 and I hadn't stopped to call. DOUBLE OOPS! But it's almost lunch time now and I'm sure I'll feel better once I get a good meal into achy bod. The honey bun I grabbed didn't exactly do what I wanted it to do for me... oh well. Tomorrow's Saturday and I can sleep in if I want!!!!

Think Autism Think Cure

This is my nephew, Caleb. Isn't he adorable? He "has beautiful eyes. A Goofy sense of humor. Lots of hugs to give. Autism." He is a most amazing and interesting little boy! Caleb is 6 and in the first grade this year. He spends most of his day in the regular classroom. Caleb's mom works especially hard to make sure he doesn't fall through the cracks of society. Some children get away with just pointing and grunting for things they want, but not Caleb. His mom has helped him by saying "I.." and he fills in the blanks "I...want some tea!" or "I...want a cookie" but my favorite is "I... Love You!" These prompts are becoming fewer though. Now Caleb usually says I...I... I... until he has your attention and if you don't get it for him right away he takes your chin, looks you in the eyes and says "I want to tell you what he wants." Caleb loves to draw and has created some masterpieces of his favorite characters, like Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story. On occasion they appear on his wall where they have to be "erased."

When Caleb was 2 he started spelling words with his magnets that he had seen. His first word was Matthew. We think it was because he had seen it in the Bible. He doesn't have any friends or family with that name. He learned his name soon after that. As you can see in the picture above he spelled Buzz Lightyear. Caleb insists on watching all the opening credits of movies and gets very agitated if someone tries to fast-forward through them!

For more information on Autism please visit the National Autism Association today.

My thoughts for today

Katrina has come and gone. She is but a memory to all of us but more so to the people who have lost everything. ENOUGH with the finger pointing. You can't lend a hand if you're pointing it at someone. It no longer matters who's "fault" it is. Laying blame on someone will do NOTHING to get these people food, clothing, and a sense of normality.

So, what are your hands doing today? Are they pointing fingers or are they out stretched to help pick someone up?

One of those days...

You know that feeling you get when you know you're suppose to be SOMEWHERE today for SOMETHING with SOMEONE but you don't really know where,what, or who? Yeah, I've felt like that ALL day long. What's wrong with me. Maybe I'm just on activity overload. I've checked the calendars.... everyone that I can find (at home, my 2 office calendars - one for office stuff and one for wedding stuff, yahoo... and zilch!). And not a single one of them mention anything that I'm suppose to be doing today. So why don't feel relieved? Peanut (my baby) has ballet tomorrow and I have church and choir practice. Thursday Peanut and I are going to dance (yeah, I think I'm going back, but it's only Tuesday, I have a couple of days to back out). Friday is soccer practice again and then it's the weekend! Saturday I'm cleaning carpets (they need it and I've GOT to do it before the weather gets yucky and can't keep the doors open and fans on while they dry). Sunday after church we're going to meet my parents at my brother's house to hand over a car we had rebuild for them.... I guess with a schedule THIS busy I just can't believe there's NOTHING to do tonight. But I'm still not convinced that I'm not forgetting SOMETHING. See why I crave alone time?!?!?

To Mom and Dad

HAPPY 35TH ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!

They're playing your song----

You ask how much I love you must I explain

I need you oh my darling like roses need rain

You ask how long I’ll love you I’ll tell you true

Until the 12th of never I’ll still be loving you

Hold me close never let me go

Hold me close melt my heart like april snow

I’ll love you till the bluebells forget to bloom

I’ll love you till the clover has lost it’s perfume

I’ll love you till the poets run out of rhymes

Until the 12th of never and that’s a long long time

Until the 12th of never and that’s a long long time

quiet time

Sometimes I crave alone time. Time where I don't have to tend to anyone or anything else. As a working wife and mother these moments of solitude are rare and hard to find. I don't need a whole lot of alone time, but sometimes I feel like the world is swollowing me whole with stuff.

I devote about 40 hours a week to my job- where even though I have an office all to myself I am surrounded by people. Other people in the office, people calling me, church members wondering the halls during the week. Then I come home and have to take care of my family until bed time. I know, I know, that's the life I chose- I'm not saying I want out now, I don't! I love being the wife/mom/working woman. I think I do a pretty good job being all of the above--well most of the time.

Right now I just want some peace and quite. It's almost 10 pm and I can't even talk my husband into going to the bedroom to watch the rest of the Nascar race so I can sit in the dark in the dinning room on my computer... I just want a few hours of:
No whining (from children OR adults).
No TV.
No laundry to fold.
No dishes to wash.
No toys to be picked up.
And I could bore you with many many more NOs....

Is it really too much to ask? Probably. I'm not asking for the complete opposite. I'm a social dragonfly (I know, I know, the saying is butterfly, but I just like dragonflies better so deal with it!) and love my family fiercly and would NEVER wish anything ill. I just want peace and quite for... I don't know, 4 hours... ok ok, I'll settle for 2... still too much? How about 30 minutes? Well, since I can't talk him into going to bed to watch the race maybe I'll go to bed and dream of a quite place.

Good night world, sleep well.

I discovered something about myself last night... I have two left feet and I have no rhythm. Maybe THAT'S why Baptist don't dance... they can't! A curse has been placed.... nah, I don't believe that! But, how can I ever be taken serious as a dancer if I have NO rhythm?!?!? But all kidding aside, I had a blast! There were 9 of us beginners in this class, 8 girls and 1 guy. Some of them had done some dance before so they didn't look as silly as the rest of us. So now I'm debating, do I spend the $40 buckos I don't really have or do I go shopping for the new outfit I need? Hmm.... I'll let you know what I decide.

My little ballerina

So last night was the first night of pre-ballet for my kindergartener. She had a blast!!! There were about 7 or 8 other little girls about her age there for the first time too. I had to laugh when the girls started lining up. The first 5 girls were all all blonde and all wearing pink leotards, pink skirts, pink tights, and pink shoes. Not my daughter though, nope, she was perfectly comfortable in her brown hair, black leotard, pink skirt, black tights and pink shoes. She didn't notice that they were all the same and she was different. I was glad too. I spent most of my childhood wishing I was a skinny blonde, but it never happened. It wasn't until much later in life did I finally except that I was never going to be the skinny blonde (unless I bleached my hair- which I did and it didn't look that good). Tonight my baby starts Tap lessons. I'm going to attend a jazz class tonight too. It's for adults that have never taken dance before and sounds like fun. We'll see. I haven't committed to the class yet.

Friday thoughts

Every time I turn on the tv I am overwhelmed with emotions (both good and bad) by all that is happening in the wake of Katrina. In just a matter of minutes these people lost everything they hold near and dear. Even if they were able to return to their homes within the next week everything would be lost. Family pictures, precious heirlooms, that handmade quilt that great-grandma made back in...

We as Americas spend all our money on stuff and in just a matter of moments everything is gone. Why then, after experiencing and seeing such tragedies do we still invest all our time and money into stuff?

But in the midst of my sadness I see a glimmer of God at work. Thousands of people are out there trying to help. I stopped in for coffee this morning and the tip jar had a sign saying that all the tips were going to be donated to victims of Katrina. The church I work for is taking money to be sent to Bay Area Christian Church in Houston who is committed to feeding 2 meals a day to the refugees of this tragedy who have been relocated to their area- it costs them over $500 a meal to feed these people and I'm sure the price will be increasing as more people are brought there. The radio station I listen to http://thehousefm.com are taking CARDS FOR KATRINA -such as gas cards, walmart gift cards, pharmacy cards, etc. I've heard of groups of friends that will be relocated together to live for a while with willing families so they have the support of their friends and the support of new friends all together. I've heard about different agencies like the United Way and Red Cross that are taking money and supplies. People, God's people, want to help. I pray today that God will lead you to the place he needs you the most. Maybe you can't much, but even you can put $2 in a tip jar.

Psalms 10:12 Arise Lord! Lift up your hand, Oh God. Do not forget the helpless.