On this the last day of 2009 my mind meanders back though the year and finds things to dwell on. Right now if you climbed inside my head you would experience many a wonderful thing and some not so wonderful things but it all made for quite a year!
You would smell the beach and old spice, chocolate and 5 gallons of pumpkin soup, candles burning and flowers, books new and old. The smell of sunblock and apple cider are mingled and create a whole new landscape.
You would see a white dress and little flickers of light, faces with tears upon the cheeks young and old some happy some sad. You would see the stars and waves crashing on the the sand. You would see the clouds in the sky evidence of Gods handiwork for all to see.
You would taste many a different kinds of tea shared with good friends, new foods like sushi and octopus(Yuck!) Cotton candy enjoyed in the summer sun and hot coco in the gray days of winter.
You would hear many many songs all mixed up together yet somehow ending up in one harmonious whole. You would hear a slow voice speak of the forever kind of love and final good byes as lives are forever changed. The peaceful silence of the night after it snows and the wind as it howls.
You would feel the sand beneath your feet as the waves play tag with your feet. The burning sun beats down upon you shoulders as you explore Gods beautiful creation. The deflated feeling after a long held dream is suddenly dashed and the realization that life can and will go on. Shared pain between friends as well as shared joys.
What will 2010 hold? As this question falls from many lips and they search for answers the only real answer that I can see is this. Wait and see! One of my favorite verses for times like this is.
Hebrews 13:5b-6 Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “ The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
I leave you with that dear reader and I hope this next year holds many a beautiful day for you. See you topside!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Earring Holder Tutorial
I've been asked by a few people how I made the earring holder so I took some pictures and hopefully have come up with something helpful!
Supplies:
Picture Frame, any size (the one I used is 8x10) Thrift stores would be an excellent place to find frames! I used a metal frame but see no reason why a wooden one wouldn't work just as well!
Small gauge wire in a color that will match your frame as you will be able to see it
Small beads, any color!
Wire cutters or scissors(the scissors will be wrecked for anything besides wire cutting, so use an old pair!)
Pliers, these are not needed but will help in pulling things tighter!
Step One: Remove the back and glass from the frame set aside for reuse later if desired.
Step Two: Cut a length of wire that will fit across your frame. Leave lots of extra for wrapping, especially if you are using a wooden frame as the are much wider then the metal one I used.
Step Three: Make a kink in the wire to keep your beads from sliding off and so you leave enough wrapping room. String beads, again leaving enough of an end for wrapping.
Step Four:
Wrap one of the un-beaded ends around the edge of the frame, like this.
Front view:
Back View:
Step Five: Slip end of wire under wrapped portion and pull tight. Repeat one or two more times. Trim end and press down. Be careful the ends will be sharp!!! 
Twice Wrapped:
This is what it looks like on the actual piece.
Step Six: Hot glue bias tape or ribbon over the ends of the wire to keep them from scratching anything!
Step Seven: You can either replace the back so it's free standing or you can hang it on the wall backless like we did. Have fun and enjoy your new earring holder!
Step Seven: You can either replace the back so it's free standing or you can hang it on the wall backless like we did. Have fun and enjoy your new earring holder!Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Snowy Walk
I love taking walks but even more so when it's snowy outside and as the kids were having a major case of cabin fever today my Mom and I decided to take the kids out for a walk!
Off we go, searching for adventure!
Let us out!
Let us out!I love her outfit, it has such a vintage news boy feeling about it!
About half way home it began to snow heavliy and now a few hours later we at least 4 inches, yeah!=)
About half way home it began to snow heavliy and now a few hours later we at least 4 inches, yeah!=)An Earing Holder with a Bloody Past!
My Mom had been wondering how to better store her earrings as they were all muddled in a box in her drawer. She saw an earring holder that I had and decided that's the kind she wanted. Next thing I know she's taking me to the store and asking me what I think would work. What I thought would work is going online and buying one ready made, but I went along with the idea and was left with a couple different kinds of beads, some wire and a picture frame.
After wrestling with it for awhile, I decided I would have to string each strand separately and attach them as I go, one long strand would have worked, but she wanted different colors every third strand or so! Thoroughly poked, discouraged and bleeding I put it away after the first 4 strands.
I picked it up again today and after the break of a few days found that it was going much better this time! I finished in about an hour and hot glued some bias tape over the picky ends on the back to protect the wall and fingers from being scratched! As easy as it was I was still happy to see it over and done with. I head back to work after I'm done and come home to some news.......
My oldest sister was sent this picture of it and immediately wanted to know where we got it, because she wanted one as well! When she was told I made it she was sad that she couldn't buy one for herself. But, miracles of miracles guess who had a B~Day later this month? Sigh...........oh well. I guess that's what sisters(and band aids!) are for!=)
After wrestling with it for awhile, I decided I would have to string each strand separately and attach them as I go, one long strand would have worked, but she wanted different colors every third strand or so! Thoroughly poked, discouraged and bleeding I put it away after the first 4 strands.
I picked it up again today and after the break of a few days found that it was going much better this time! I finished in about an hour and hot glued some bias tape over the picky ends on the back to protect the wall and fingers from being scratched! As easy as it was I was still happy to see it over and done with. I head back to work after I'm done and come home to some news.......
My oldest sister was sent this picture of it and immediately wanted to know where we got it, because she wanted one as well! When she was told I made it she was sad that she couldn't buy one for herself. But, miracles of miracles guess who had a B~Day later this month? Sigh...........oh well. I guess that's what sisters(and band aids!) are for!=)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas dresses and other yummy treats!
For Christmas dessert this year I made red velvet cupcakes. Who knew that adding an entire bottle of red food coloring would make something this red?=)
They are not only one of the most tasty kinds of cake but are so pretty too!
My sister Beccas gingerbread house, isn't it awesome?=)
My adorable little bro Jacob and his house, aren't they cute?=)
The back of my house.................I think it's looking at me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The back of my house.................I think it's looking at me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I made this Christmas dress last year and just now got around to taking some decent pictures of it! It's an old 80's pattern of my Moms' that I love and have made countless times!=)
Smile!
Waiting for snow, though it was foggy. I love the fog, it's so magical and mysterious!=)
Waiting for snow, though it was foggy. I love the fog, it's so magical and mysterious!=)
I love circle skirts! They shrink up funny at the side seams but I love em' any way! 
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Two Questions and a Give Away!
What do a record from the local library's book sale
and a GIANT safety pin have in common?
Together they made for the inspiration for the perfect winter outfit! 
The giant saftey pin is a kilt pin by the way! In thinking back to what I had written and realized it may not be obvious what they giant safety pin had to do with anything!=)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is this strange object?
Here is a closer look, be the first to correctly identify it and win.........
.....a pair of Tea for Two earrings! Leave your guesses as a comment here on Blogger or back on the Sensibility thread!
Here is a closer look, be the first to correctly identify it and win.........
.....a pair of Tea for Two earrings! Leave your guesses as a comment here on Blogger or back on the Sensibility thread!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
It's All in How You Say It!
"Don't tell anyone, but on the pagan day of the sun god Ra, I kneel at the foot of an ancient instrument of torture and consume ritualistic symbols of blood and flesh."
Reading that statement what kind of crazy stuff would you think the guy who wrote it was into? I also do this, not every week of course, but about once a month, sometimes more if it's a special occasion. Ra, torture, eating blood and flesh? Hold on a sec, before you judge me, here is the rest of that quote:
"And if any of you care to join me, come to the Harvard chapel on Sunday, kneel beneath the crucifix, and take Holy Communion."
This is from the new Dan Brown book "The Lost Symbol". He is using it as an example of how even the most regular events or odd ones can be made to sound very different just by using different words to describe them. Dan Brown is an amazing author, though one that I have to be very careful when I read. I'm one of those suckers who believe most everything they read(especially if there is an ;all the facts in this book are true, type disclaimer at the beginning of the book)
A few years ago I powered through The Da Vinci Code in about a day. I started at about 8 in the morning and finished at about 12:30 that night. I could not sleep because my world had been shaken! Was all that stuff true? I googled(gotta love the Internet!) all of the pictures he used as examples and look! There is the hand with the knife and the guy next to Jesus does look like a girl.
Luckily I have a parents who aren't as easily freaked out and we talked through it and I was back were I needed to be. Reading that book opened my eyes though, I started looking at the way people said things and saw the true power of words. That kind of persuasive power was amazing to me. So, now I read books with a more open mind knowing that I should check out things before I freak out and double check on facts. I still read Dan Browns books(obviously!) but now I take what he says worth a grain of salt. If I have questions I can ask my parents or research it myself. There really is breathable liquid, not quite as advanced as in the book, they are having success in that area. But, the whole happy ice crystals thing is a load of hooey!
Really knowing how words can be used as helped me cement what I know and believe. I'm trying to shore up my convictions, getting them firm so that there is no doubt that I meant what I said and I said what I meant!(I love that elephant!)
I'm still a sucker who will believe some pretty silly stuff, but it's worked for me too. I know lots of things that I probably never would have learned because I ask questions. If you know me at all I've probably annoyed you with all my questions. Please, don't get to annoyed, it's for for a good cause.=)
I'll leave you with two things, read Dan Browns books, they are really good. They are helpful in getting to know how the world twists what we Christians say and never, ever, ever underestimate the power of words. After all the pen is mightier than the sword!
Reading that statement what kind of crazy stuff would you think the guy who wrote it was into? I also do this, not every week of course, but about once a month, sometimes more if it's a special occasion. Ra, torture, eating blood and flesh? Hold on a sec, before you judge me, here is the rest of that quote:
"And if any of you care to join me, come to the Harvard chapel on Sunday, kneel beneath the crucifix, and take Holy Communion."
This is from the new Dan Brown book "The Lost Symbol". He is using it as an example of how even the most regular events or odd ones can be made to sound very different just by using different words to describe them. Dan Brown is an amazing author, though one that I have to be very careful when I read. I'm one of those suckers who believe most everything they read(especially if there is an ;all the facts in this book are true, type disclaimer at the beginning of the book)
A few years ago I powered through The Da Vinci Code in about a day. I started at about 8 in the morning and finished at about 12:30 that night. I could not sleep because my world had been shaken! Was all that stuff true? I googled(gotta love the Internet!) all of the pictures he used as examples and look! There is the hand with the knife and the guy next to Jesus does look like a girl.
Luckily I have a parents who aren't as easily freaked out and we talked through it and I was back were I needed to be. Reading that book opened my eyes though, I started looking at the way people said things and saw the true power of words. That kind of persuasive power was amazing to me. So, now I read books with a more open mind knowing that I should check out things before I freak out and double check on facts. I still read Dan Browns books(obviously!) but now I take what he says worth a grain of salt. If I have questions I can ask my parents or research it myself. There really is breathable liquid, not quite as advanced as in the book, they are having success in that area. But, the whole happy ice crystals thing is a load of hooey!
Really knowing how words can be used as helped me cement what I know and believe. I'm trying to shore up my convictions, getting them firm so that there is no doubt that I meant what I said and I said what I meant!(I love that elephant!)
I'm still a sucker who will believe some pretty silly stuff, but it's worked for me too. I know lots of things that I probably never would have learned because I ask questions. If you know me at all I've probably annoyed you with all my questions. Please, don't get to annoyed, it's for for a good cause.=)
I'll leave you with two things, read Dan Browns books, they are really good. They are helpful in getting to know how the world twists what we Christians say and never, ever, ever underestimate the power of words. After all the pen is mightier than the sword!
Change, does anyone really like it?
I've never met a word that makes more people shudder when they hear it then change.(Besides maybe enema!hehe) It can be good, yet it still makes us feel queasy! Maybe it's because we don't notice it as much when it's a good change, like everything else we remember the bad more then the good.
My family has gone through a lot of change this year as have many of our friends families. We've had job losses, church switching, marriages, new jobs, moving, new friends, old friends divorcing us, when I think back over this past year my head spins! My life was always changing up until I was about 19. Then after FB planted Antioch that was it for major changes in my life. I didn't have any friends, go to any groups and my job was very secure. I watched the same families kids in my house till just a few months ago.
No big changes at church, no new siblings, nothing going in the man department for either me or my older sister, so life was pretty even keel. Then we started going to the collage group at our church and suddenly we wanted to stay out until 11pm and had social lives. That threw my Mom for a loop! She'd never had to deal with her older kids having things to do before. She's still a little offended whenever I go out and don't want to involve the kids(Yes, I even count the 16 year old as a kid. I'm allowed to have my own friends, aren't I?)
Then in January my dad lost his job and Megan and Shawn finally hooked up. Well, they started texting each other, way more then they ever talked when he lived here, go figure! A prominent family in the church left for good reasons, but that was still not very nice happening. Megan and Shawn got engaged, our collage group was slowly dwindling one by one. I finally became licenced driver, Megan got married, I switched jobs, my dad got a contract job in NY and that's where we are right now. So, a few good changes, Megan's been itching to get married since she was 16, it's nice to not have a driving test hanging over my head and my dad's job is a huge blessing. Yes, it would have been even nicer to have him near us, but hey a job is a job!!
What does this next year have in store for me? Will my Dad finish up the contract job and then once again be jobless? Or, will he find a job closer to home, or maybe this company will hire him full time and we'll move to NY! Will I be an Aunt soon? Will we ever get more people in collage group or will it dwindle and fade away. Will I ever manage to elicit any attention from a guy? Or, will I slowly begin to collect cats and become the crazy cat lady.
What this next year has in store is a mystery, it's like a big present that I can only unwrap a little at a time. It may turn out to be what I've always wanted or it may end up being the worst present I've ever been given. You know what? I don't care what this year holds for me, I just can't wait to find out!
To quote a wise old turtle, the past is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift thats why they call it the present!=)
My family has gone through a lot of change this year as have many of our friends families. We've had job losses, church switching, marriages, new jobs, moving, new friends, old friends divorcing us, when I think back over this past year my head spins! My life was always changing up until I was about 19. Then after FB planted Antioch that was it for major changes in my life. I didn't have any friends, go to any groups and my job was very secure. I watched the same families kids in my house till just a few months ago.
No big changes at church, no new siblings, nothing going in the man department for either me or my older sister, so life was pretty even keel. Then we started going to the collage group at our church and suddenly we wanted to stay out until 11pm and had social lives. That threw my Mom for a loop! She'd never had to deal with her older kids having things to do before. She's still a little offended whenever I go out and don't want to involve the kids(Yes, I even count the 16 year old as a kid. I'm allowed to have my own friends, aren't I?)
Then in January my dad lost his job and Megan and Shawn finally hooked up. Well, they started texting each other, way more then they ever talked when he lived here, go figure! A prominent family in the church left for good reasons, but that was still not very nice happening. Megan and Shawn got engaged, our collage group was slowly dwindling one by one. I finally became licenced driver, Megan got married, I switched jobs, my dad got a contract job in NY and that's where we are right now. So, a few good changes, Megan's been itching to get married since she was 16, it's nice to not have a driving test hanging over my head and my dad's job is a huge blessing. Yes, it would have been even nicer to have him near us, but hey a job is a job!!
What does this next year have in store for me? Will my Dad finish up the contract job and then once again be jobless? Or, will he find a job closer to home, or maybe this company will hire him full time and we'll move to NY! Will I be an Aunt soon? Will we ever get more people in collage group or will it dwindle and fade away. Will I ever manage to elicit any attention from a guy? Or, will I slowly begin to collect cats and become the crazy cat lady.
What this next year has in store is a mystery, it's like a big present that I can only unwrap a little at a time. It may turn out to be what I've always wanted or it may end up being the worst present I've ever been given. You know what? I don't care what this year holds for me, I just can't wait to find out!
To quote a wise old turtle, the past is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift thats why they call it the present!=)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Christmas at the Pillsbury house!
This years Christmas is going to be quite different for my family. My older sister got married and we just found out today that she and her husband will not be coming here for Christmas. My Dad has been out of work since January and just got a job in NY. It's a contract job so not a permanent thing, but since travel is so expensive during the holidays he isn't going to be here for Christmas either. Many changes some good some not so good and some a little of both!
We just got done decorating our tree. At first when I found out we weren't going to get a real one I fliped! But then deciding to act my age I encouraged my Mom to get the light tree that's in the picture. It's not traditional but it put my Moms mind at ease. I'm very sad, but hey it's just a tree, right? My Dad was on the phone tlaking with us so that's why my Moms holding the phone, he wanted to be in the picture too!
We just got done decorating our tree. At first when I found out we weren't going to get a real one I fliped! But then deciding to act my age I encouraged my Mom to get the light tree that's in the picture. It's not traditional but it put my Moms mind at ease. I'm very sad, but hey it's just a tree, right? My Dad was on the phone tlaking with us so that's why my Moms holding the phone, he wanted to be in the picture too!
My scary giant siblings, this picture just makes me smile!
I was feeling pictury today so I went around and took some pictures of our Christmas decorations. Totally useless I know, they'll sit on my hard drive for years until I finally delete them, but useless as they are it makes me feel happy to take them!=)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Pretties!
Life has been super busy lately and I was despairing of ever getting the time to sit and make these earrings. Some are presents and some are for me! As always happens when I make things is now I have to make two more pairs of each I have a Mom and sister who always want copies of whatever I make!
I love these with denim, they just go so well!
This picture caught my fancy, so I'm sharing it here with you!
Not only am I making these for my friend, but my Mom wanted a pair and she wants me to make a a pair for her to give to her friend for Christmas!
I love the detail on these!
For a tea loving friend!
I have become fascinated with amber lately after having seen a pair similar to this in a catalog for $65.00! I decided to make my own total cost? About $3.00, boo-yah!
I have become fascinated with amber lately after having seen a pair similar to this in a catalog for $65.00! I decided to make my own total cost? About $3.00, boo-yah!
I love these with denim, they just go so well!
This picture caught my fancy, so I'm sharing it here with you!
Blog Post(Hows that for an inovative tittle?)
I usually don't do blog quizzes like this, but this one tickled my fancy so I said, "What the hey!" and did it!
What is your current obsession?
Right now? Hmm, the church Christmas play! Tonight is the dress rehearsal and then three nights in a row of performances! Crazy, but oh so fun.=)
What are you wearing now?
Jean skirt, my purple 70's throw back shirt(my Mom calls it that, I happen to love it!) silver bell necklace, brown footless tights and white socks with pink and green stars on them. My brown boots came off as soon as I got inside, I love being barefoot!
Do you nap a lot?
No, I get cranky after I nap........
Who was the last person you hugged?
Ro0-Roo, the Great Dane that the people I nanny for have!
If you were a tree, what tree that would be?
A Christmas tree and not one of those perfect ones either. I'm a fresh from the woods scraggly, multi colored lights, ornaments of all kinds type of Christmas tree! That is the perfect kind of tree.=)
What’s for dinner?
Last I checked it was pizza or McDonald's, healthy I know. But, we have dress rehearsal at 5pm. So, it's a fast dinner tonight!
What was the last thing you bought?
Gas! But, the last thing before that was a red scarf for my Moms stocking and the Taylor Swift Christmas CD. I love Taylor Swift and I love Christmas music so when the two got together? I had to but it.=)
What are you listening to right now?
Miss Spiders Sunny Patch Kids and a little boy munching on a blueberry Eggo
A hidden but rather useless talent:
I can peel a banana with my toes, not that I make a habit of doing it. It's just one of those random things I had to try and found that I could do it, but nobody would eat the bananas that I peeled for some strange reason!
What is your favorite weather and why?
It usually depends on my mood. The over all favorite is misty days followed closely by breezy ones. Cold or warm there is something magical about the wind!
What is one thing you have always wanted to do or learn?
To sing, but somethings just can't be taught! So, as far as something that I could actually learn.......to play a musical instrument. Unfortunately I don't have the patients to overcome my inability to do different things with my hands at the same time!
What is your most challenging goal right now?
Finishing my book! It's in the editing stage right now, though that is going much better then I thought it would. After I'm done I've got a code for a free proof from CreateASpace! I will be a printed author!!=)
If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where you want it to be?
A dark brown with white trim beach cottage, on the beach of course! But, when it comes right down to it I would much rather live in any kind of house near my family!
Favorite vacation spot:
Vacation? Oh, yeah I remember those. It's been so long since I've had one! I've never been on a vacation that I haven't liked. So, anywhere with friends or family!
What movies can you watch over and over?
The Anne of Green gables movies
Anything Jane Austen
Disney movies
Pixar movies
Musicals
You know what? Pretty much anything, as long as I liked it the first time, I'm a repeat watcher and reader!
What is your favourite tea flavour?
Coconut oolong, yum!
What are you reading right now?
Oh, Danny Boy by Rhys Bowen. I love her books!
What is the landscape of your mind?
A misty mysterious place that few have ever found and even fewer have returned from! It's filled with magical creatures and snatches of song and story. The air is filled with the smells of coffee, flowers, and chocolate. Flowers and trees abound and fill the edges of the landscape. Sidewalk cafes and brown stones sit next to the three bears cottage. A hopeless mish mash of everything I've ever thought, seen, read, smelled, tasted or imagined. But, it totally works for me!
The latest quotation that you acquired for your personal collection of quotes that inspire you:
White ... is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black.... God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white."
--Gilbert Keith Chesterton
--Gilbert Keith Chesterton
White is my favorite color and I always get flack for it. This quote echos my thoughts exactly!
What’s in your pockets right now?
My coat pocket has the extra button that always comes with store bought clothes with buttons and some change. Unfortunately my skirt has no pockets, I'm just to impatient to put pockets in my clothes. I get eager to finish so always skip them!
What's your ring tone?
The Christmas Song by Alvin and the Chipmunks
Here are the rules:
1. Respond & rework the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
1. Respond & rework the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Man of the House
I have always been very happy to be a girl. I never wanted to be the man of the house, it seemed like to much work! Being the soul supporter of a family, fixing all of the stuff that breaks. The man takes care of the things that you can't do without, like water pipes and cars. As a girl the worst thing that would happen if I burned dinner would be Mac and Cheese! But with my Dad getting a job in NY I've been pushed into the man of the house spot light and have been left blinking in the bright lights of unfamiliar territory!
I'd fixed the computer before, but if I couldn't Dad would be home in a few hours to take care of it. Not so now. When I took the trash can out from under the sink and a puddle of water appeared at my feet I couldn't just turn the faucet off and wait for him. I had to find the drip; luckily it was something easily fixable, clean up all the water and dry out from under the sink.
Cleaning out the bathtub drains, plunging the toilets, changing light bulbs, shoveling the driveway, dealing with a Mom who now has no husband to lean on and is very busy and stressed. While none of that is hard;well the emotional stuff is, (when is my freak out time?! If you find out, please let me know!) but the buck had never stopped with me before. I've never filled out tax rebate papers before, how am I supposed to know how? But, I'm learning!
Everyday I am filled with more and more admiration for you guys. How exactly do you learn how to fix cars and fill out tax forms? Why do computers tremble in fear before you and just curse at me in foreign languages? I'd never thought I'd live in house with out a man, if it wasn't my father is was going to be my husband(lets not even bring up that subject!!) but I guess it's a God thing I'm still at home. My dad felt he could take this job because I was at home still, my Mom had someone older to lean on and help her.
By the time he gets home, I'll be an old pro at man stuff. Though me and power tools with blades will never get along! So, if anyone wants to volunteer to help us with our Christmas tree feel free!!
I'd fixed the computer before, but if I couldn't Dad would be home in a few hours to take care of it. Not so now. When I took the trash can out from under the sink and a puddle of water appeared at my feet I couldn't just turn the faucet off and wait for him. I had to find the drip; luckily it was something easily fixable, clean up all the water and dry out from under the sink.
Cleaning out the bathtub drains, plunging the toilets, changing light bulbs, shoveling the driveway, dealing with a Mom who now has no husband to lean on and is very busy and stressed. While none of that is hard;well the emotional stuff is, (when is my freak out time?! If you find out, please let me know!) but the buck had never stopped with me before. I've never filled out tax rebate papers before, how am I supposed to know how? But, I'm learning!
Everyday I am filled with more and more admiration for you guys. How exactly do you learn how to fix cars and fill out tax forms? Why do computers tremble in fear before you and just curse at me in foreign languages? I'd never thought I'd live in house with out a man, if it wasn't my father is was going to be my husband(lets not even bring up that subject!!) but I guess it's a God thing I'm still at home. My dad felt he could take this job because I was at home still, my Mom had someone older to lean on and help her.
By the time he gets home, I'll be an old pro at man stuff. Though me and power tools with blades will never get along! So, if anyone wants to volunteer to help us with our Christmas tree feel free!!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Rejoining the Human Race!
For the last month I have been spending a lot of my free time, wait, did I just say free time? Excuse me while I go and laugh myself into a corner about the concept of free time!....................................
Okay, I'm back now! As I was saying, I've been spending a lot of time here on Blogger, in fact during the week at least 1 hour a day, most week days it was 2-3 hours. Nap time was typing time over at the Poet house! What exactly was I doing here since I seem to have a considerable lack of posts per time spent here typing away? Well, since I don't have my own computer and didn't want my baby(yes my baby if you have a problem with me calling my book that go and, , do something to yourself! And not a lets grab a cookie type thing! ) on the Poets somewhat unreliable lap top.
Besides I wanted it here with me on the weekends so I could work on it here. So, I typed about 85 percent of it here, on Blogger. Then I copy and pasted it into Word when I got home. The spell check is a little loopy, it didn't like the name Nicolas and didn't have the word leapt! I guess my characters moved around rather quickly a lot of the time because I seemed to run into this frustration quite a few times!
If you couldn't tell from the title of the post I will now be joining the realm of the non-NaNoWriMo'ers again. It was a whole different kind of month for me. Just the massive amount of brain juice it took to keep the story going and all down in one month left me running pretty dry! I'm sure the director of the Christmas play I'm in will be happy to have me running on all my cylinders once more!
I had been wanting to write a book since I was a little kid, but I had never gotten around to it. It was one of those one day things. One day I'll write a book, one day I'll learn to play an instrument, one day I'll be 5 foot 6 and only weigh 115 pounds........okay even I don't have a big enough imagination to talk myself into that last one!
Back to the narrative, all of my down time at the Poets house was spent writing and some not so down time, can you say bored kids and nail polish? Oh, yeah! What did we learn today kids? Maybe that nail polish and blush are not interchangeable?
I didn't get much writing done at home because I didn't want to tie up our computer and I don't really have much free time.(There's that funny phrase again!) I work 40 hours a week and still do all that I used to at home. Plus my dad just got a job in NY so I'm coming home to moments like, "Katy! Your home after 10 hours of work! I know that you have to leave again in 40 minutes but can you fix the Internet, right now!?!?!"
Needles to say my life had exploded and I decided to add writing a 50,00 word novel in there because? Maybe I'm masochist, maybe I'm crazy, or maybe the aliens have finally gotten control of my brain. Whatever the reason I stepped up to the challenge and have conquered it! My book had been written, now comes the fun and easy part! Editing is always the fun easy part, right?
Wait........ why are you laughing? Hey! Why are you rolling on the floor in front of your computer, still laughing? I'm getting the impression that I said something amusing, hmm maybe this editing bit won't be as easy as I thought! Oh, well time will tell, but for now the book is going to rest and I will rejoining the normal human race, well as much as I was ever part of the normal human race that is!=)
(Just as a note, my parents are still happily married, my dad had just been out of work for 9 months and a contract job, even one in NY was very welcome. He comes home when he can and it's not a forever! Just wanted to make sure that I didn't start any rumors or anything!)
Okay, I'm back now! As I was saying, I've been spending a lot of time here on Blogger, in fact during the week at least 1 hour a day, most week days it was 2-3 hours. Nap time was typing time over at the Poet house! What exactly was I doing here since I seem to have a considerable lack of posts per time spent here typing away? Well, since I don't have my own computer and didn't want my baby(yes my baby if you have a problem with me calling my book that go and, , do something to yourself! And not a lets grab a cookie type thing! ) on the Poets somewhat unreliable lap top.
Besides I wanted it here with me on the weekends so I could work on it here. So, I typed about 85 percent of it here, on Blogger. Then I copy and pasted it into Word when I got home. The spell check is a little loopy, it didn't like the name Nicolas and didn't have the word leapt! I guess my characters moved around rather quickly a lot of the time because I seemed to run into this frustration quite a few times!
If you couldn't tell from the title of the post I will now be joining the realm of the non-NaNoWriMo'ers again. It was a whole different kind of month for me. Just the massive amount of brain juice it took to keep the story going and all down in one month left me running pretty dry! I'm sure the director of the Christmas play I'm in will be happy to have me running on all my cylinders once more!
I had been wanting to write a book since I was a little kid, but I had never gotten around to it. It was one of those one day things. One day I'll write a book, one day I'll learn to play an instrument, one day I'll be 5 foot 6 and only weigh 115 pounds........okay even I don't have a big enough imagination to talk myself into that last one!
Back to the narrative, all of my down time at the Poets house was spent writing and some not so down time, can you say bored kids and nail polish? Oh, yeah! What did we learn today kids? Maybe that nail polish and blush are not interchangeable?
I didn't get much writing done at home because I didn't want to tie up our computer and I don't really have much free time.(There's that funny phrase again!) I work 40 hours a week and still do all that I used to at home. Plus my dad just got a job in NY so I'm coming home to moments like, "Katy! Your home after 10 hours of work! I know that you have to leave again in 40 minutes but can you fix the Internet, right now!?!?!"
Needles to say my life had exploded and I decided to add writing a 50,00 word novel in there because? Maybe I'm masochist, maybe I'm crazy, or maybe the aliens have finally gotten control of my brain. Whatever the reason I stepped up to the challenge and have conquered it! My book had been written, now comes the fun and easy part! Editing is always the fun easy part, right?
Wait........ why are you laughing? Hey! Why are you rolling on the floor in front of your computer, still laughing? I'm getting the impression that I said something amusing, hmm maybe this editing bit won't be as easy as I thought! Oh, well time will tell, but for now the book is going to rest and I will rejoining the normal human race, well as much as I was ever part of the normal human race that is!=)
(Just as a note, my parents are still happily married, my dad had just been out of work for 9 months and a contract job, even one in NY was very welcome. He comes home when he can and it's not a forever! Just wanted to make sure that I didn't start any rumors or anything!)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Crazy!
I was crazy to take on this quest of mine to write a 50,00 word novel in a month! What a busy month for them to choose to hold this event! I've only been caught up on word count three times. Never the less, my word count is up to 38,178! One more week to go and I couldn't be happier with how it's all turning out. We shall see what the end of of this crazy month long journey of mine holds for me and my story!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum!
Romans 14:13-17 says:
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
I came across this passage today as I was reading my bible. Even though it's against the "rules" of the plan I'm using to read my bible I read it again and then again. Then I looked it up in different versions. I always knew that I had gotten my philosophy of as long as I'm not disobeying God or His word I can do my own thing from the bible. I just couldn't find where!
I didn't used to be like this, I used to be a little legalist! My way or the highway bucko and my way was the right one of course! But as I've gotten older I've loosened up quite a bit. I at one point threw away all my music that wasn't Christan and didn't watch TV or movies at all. I wouldn't wear pants even when my parents told me to. This way of living caused lots of strife between me and my parents.
Through Gods growing me and maturing me I've realized that this was not the way to do things! I can listen to country music(Yes, all you country haters out there. I listen to it and like it, so there!) watch movies, read non christain books and even wear pants. Yes Mom, I'm sorry but pants are okay! Not the super tight, muffin top, show my butt crack type pants, but then skirts can be very immodest as well!
I know that this passage just mentions food but surely it applies to other places in our lives as well! As long as your choices don't make your "brother" stumble and are within Gods commands for your life go ahead and march to your inner beat! Constantly be in Gods word and praying for His guidance in your life. So, if you feel that God wants you to only listen to Christian music go ahead but don't look own on me because I don't feel the same call in my life. If you feel He's called you to not watch movies that are R rated, Pg-13 or even totally skip secular media go ahead and skip these things but for some people it might be fine. But, don't judge those who are called to be more conservative!
On the flip side, for those of us who feel called to live more conservatively, we shouldn't lecture or look down on people who aren't called to the same things as we are. Like how not everybody is called to be a missionary. There are certain commands that apply to us all and we need to never forget those!!
Besides isn't there something in that bible of ours about taking care of the plank in your own eye before yakking about the speck in your brothers?=)
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
I came across this passage today as I was reading my bible. Even though it's against the "rules" of the plan I'm using to read my bible I read it again and then again. Then I looked it up in different versions. I always knew that I had gotten my philosophy of as long as I'm not disobeying God or His word I can do my own thing from the bible. I just couldn't find where!
I didn't used to be like this, I used to be a little legalist! My way or the highway bucko and my way was the right one of course! But as I've gotten older I've loosened up quite a bit. I at one point threw away all my music that wasn't Christan and didn't watch TV or movies at all. I wouldn't wear pants even when my parents told me to. This way of living caused lots of strife between me and my parents.
Through Gods growing me and maturing me I've realized that this was not the way to do things! I can listen to country music(Yes, all you country haters out there. I listen to it and like it, so there!) watch movies, read non christain books and even wear pants. Yes Mom, I'm sorry but pants are okay! Not the super tight, muffin top, show my butt crack type pants, but then skirts can be very immodest as well!
I know that this passage just mentions food but surely it applies to other places in our lives as well! As long as your choices don't make your "brother" stumble and are within Gods commands for your life go ahead and march to your inner beat! Constantly be in Gods word and praying for His guidance in your life. So, if you feel that God wants you to only listen to Christian music go ahead but don't look own on me because I don't feel the same call in my life. If you feel He's called you to not watch movies that are R rated, Pg-13 or even totally skip secular media go ahead and skip these things but for some people it might be fine. But, don't judge those who are called to be more conservative!
On the flip side, for those of us who feel called to live more conservatively, we shouldn't lecture or look down on people who aren't called to the same things as we are. Like how not everybody is called to be a missionary. There are certain commands that apply to us all and we need to never forget those!!
Besides isn't there something in that bible of ours about taking care of the plank in your own eye before yakking about the speck in your brothers?=)
Friday, November 6, 2009
NaNoWriMo
Can anybody sane with a full schedule of other things to do write a 50,000 plus word novel in one month? That is the question asked by the people running the National Novel Writing Month competition. The challenge? To begin and finish an 50,00 word or more novel in the month of November. The challengers? Anybody with a computer who has ever wanted to write a book. Oh, and is a little on the insane side!
I had heard about this NaNoWriMo for a few years and had never given it much thought besides those people are nuts!! I'd been trying to write a book ever since I was 10! If I hadn't accomplished it in the 13 years since then what on earth would make me think I could do it in one month?
Something must have made me think I could do it, because on October 29 I signed up! Then the next day a pep talk e~mail came and it didn't pep me up one little bit! It did the exact opposite! In I found out that Twilight was only 25,000 words long! Now even if you've never read the book I know you've at least seen it somewhere. That's not exactly a light weight book! So, when I didn't even get started writing until the 3rd I had no hope of catching up to the 1,600ish word count goal. That's daily! So I was about 3,000 words behind schedule.
I sat down to write on that day and wrote for about 2 hours, spell checking as I went because I can't type. Nope, I've tried to learn really I have! Hen pecking very fast is what I do, so spelling mistakes abound in my writing! I went to a word count tool and was astonished to find I'd written about 3,000 words! I was ecstatic, not that I didn't erase half of that the next day because my characters had gone in an entirely different direction then I wanted them to.
But, not only have I caught up, I am a couple hundred words ahead of schedule! Well, at least I was yesterday, with this new dawn another 1,600ish words must roll out of my brain down my hen pecking fingers and onto the computer screen! Here is a link to my author page if you are interested.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/547888
If you are even more interested get back to me at the end of November and if I've managed to come up with anything decent you can request a copy of the next great American novel! To give you an idea of word count this post is 442 words, including this sentance!
I had heard about this NaNoWriMo for a few years and had never given it much thought besides those people are nuts!! I'd been trying to write a book ever since I was 10! If I hadn't accomplished it in the 13 years since then what on earth would make me think I could do it in one month?
Something must have made me think I could do it, because on October 29 I signed up! Then the next day a pep talk e~mail came and it didn't pep me up one little bit! It did the exact opposite! In I found out that Twilight was only 25,000 words long! Now even if you've never read the book I know you've at least seen it somewhere. That's not exactly a light weight book! So, when I didn't even get started writing until the 3rd I had no hope of catching up to the 1,600ish word count goal. That's daily! So I was about 3,000 words behind schedule.
I sat down to write on that day and wrote for about 2 hours, spell checking as I went because I can't type. Nope, I've tried to learn really I have! Hen pecking very fast is what I do, so spelling mistakes abound in my writing! I went to a word count tool and was astonished to find I'd written about 3,000 words! I was ecstatic, not that I didn't erase half of that the next day because my characters had gone in an entirely different direction then I wanted them to.
But, not only have I caught up, I am a couple hundred words ahead of schedule! Well, at least I was yesterday, with this new dawn another 1,600ish words must roll out of my brain down my hen pecking fingers and onto the computer screen! Here is a link to my author page if you are interested.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/547888
If you are even more interested get back to me at the end of November and if I've managed to come up with anything decent you can request a copy of the next great American novel! To give you an idea of word count this post is 442 words, including this sentance!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Toot-Toot!
I had a really good weekend. While my new job is easy and fun at points it's still work! So, I was pretty happy for the week end to get here. I had a Harvest Party to get to on Friday night so being able to drop the kids of extra early at their Dads work to Trick-or-Treat was a nice happening.
I get home to make soup for said party and realize with only 15 minutes left till I have to leave that I need to make a double batch of the soup because it makes way less then I remembered! And we also had misplaced the directions for said soup, so needless to say it was really hard to drive the speed limit all the way to Lindsay D house! I managed though and I was the first person there by about 15 minutes!
The party was fun, getting this particular group of people to participate in party events besides eating and talking is nigh on impossible though! Next time I'm getting out the cattle prod.........
It went well though, fun times and good food. Then on Saturday I had tea with the girls(I love being able to say that! It's been so nice having girl friends after not really having any before!!) and spent a few hours talking and drinking four pots of tea. The coconut oolong is killer by the way for any of you reading this who like tea.=)
Then on Sunday the church did a skit that I had written(I know I'm tooting my own horn here, hence the tittle of this post!hehe) I was in the nursery and for the first time in months we had kids in there at the start of service(how ironic, right?) so I couldn't skip out and see it, but all the reports I heard back where good! That made me feel pretty good, pretty darn good!=)
Then Jordan and Anthony came over for dinner and so my parents could interview Anthony(It's something our church is doing, everybody has to get interviewed to collect info and stuff. My parents weren't just being nosy!) That was really fun, then there was collage group not very may people came but it was still good. This was Guntis last week he's been fun to get to know.
The weather was perfect, a chill in the air and very breezy. Clouds scuttling across the bright blue sky and the sounds of finally being allowed to play Christmas music in the house, November first baby, booyah! So, all in all a very pleasant and satisfying weekend!!=)
I get home to make soup for said party and realize with only 15 minutes left till I have to leave that I need to make a double batch of the soup because it makes way less then I remembered! And we also had misplaced the directions for said soup, so needless to say it was really hard to drive the speed limit all the way to Lindsay D house! I managed though and I was the first person there by about 15 minutes!
The party was fun, getting this particular group of people to participate in party events besides eating and talking is nigh on impossible though! Next time I'm getting out the cattle prod.........
It went well though, fun times and good food. Then on Saturday I had tea with the girls(I love being able to say that! It's been so nice having girl friends after not really having any before!!) and spent a few hours talking and drinking four pots of tea. The coconut oolong is killer by the way for any of you reading this who like tea.=)
Then on Sunday the church did a skit that I had written(I know I'm tooting my own horn here, hence the tittle of this post!hehe) I was in the nursery and for the first time in months we had kids in there at the start of service(how ironic, right?) so I couldn't skip out and see it, but all the reports I heard back where good! That made me feel pretty good, pretty darn good!=)
Then Jordan and Anthony came over for dinner and so my parents could interview Anthony(It's something our church is doing, everybody has to get interviewed to collect info and stuff. My parents weren't just being nosy!) That was really fun, then there was collage group not very may people came but it was still good. This was Guntis last week he's been fun to get to know.
The weather was perfect, a chill in the air and very breezy. Clouds scuttling across the bright blue sky and the sounds of finally being allowed to play Christmas music in the house, November first baby, booyah! So, all in all a very pleasant and satisfying weekend!!=)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Moisture We do Not Speak Of!
I went to the symphony this weekend; I know some of the people who play in it and it's free, who could ask for more? They sometimes have special guests play and this time it was Ben Lulich. He plays first clarinet in some big symphony in Southern CA. He's played on movie sound tracks and on the new Josh Groban(shudder!!) Cd. It's funny, I met him at about 5-6 years ago.......hmm, maybe more. But, anyway he was still in school then; just killing time until he got the kind of music job that he wanted. Now, he's doing what he's doing and I am still pretty much in the same place.
But having a previous acquaintance with him made me feel comfortable asking him this question. During the performance when he had a pause in his playing it looked like he would lick his clarinet about 1/3 of the way down. Then reach into his pocket and stick something onto the spot he'd licked. Now before all y'all get up in arms abut me noticing odd things, he was the soloist and the only one standing up, who else was I supposed to watch?
I asked him at church the next day what he was doing all those times. He looked a little sheepish and said, "Umm, well there's this special paper that is for soaking up excess........moisture. And it needs to be replaced when it's..........if you don't the .........moisture will make it so the valve won't work properly." Then much to his relief I went on the ask about a couple of the instruments I didn't know the names of.
Now, while his answer was a perfectly good one. It still annoyed me, why you may ask? Musicians will never admit what this mysterious moisture is. Do they really not know? Or are they sparing me the awful truth? I may not be a musical person, or a rocket scientist but even I can figure out that the moisture that comes out of wind instruments is spit! You are blowing into it, the moisture that condenses on the inside is coming from your mouth. Especially the horn players where you almost raspberry(Elmo term, sorry!) into them. Just admit to it all you musical people I've asked in the past about what your pouring, soaking up and drying off of your instruments. I can take it, I am around kids all day long, your spit is not that surprising!=)
But having a previous acquaintance with him made me feel comfortable asking him this question. During the performance when he had a pause in his playing it looked like he would lick his clarinet about 1/3 of the way down. Then reach into his pocket and stick something onto the spot he'd licked. Now before all y'all get up in arms abut me noticing odd things, he was the soloist and the only one standing up, who else was I supposed to watch?
I asked him at church the next day what he was doing all those times. He looked a little sheepish and said, "Umm, well there's this special paper that is for soaking up excess........moisture. And it needs to be replaced when it's..........if you don't the .........moisture will make it so the valve won't work properly." Then much to his relief I went on the ask about a couple of the instruments I didn't know the names of.
Now, while his answer was a perfectly good one. It still annoyed me, why you may ask? Musicians will never admit what this mysterious moisture is. Do they really not know? Or are they sparing me the awful truth? I may not be a musical person, or a rocket scientist but even I can figure out that the moisture that comes out of wind instruments is spit! You are blowing into it, the moisture that condenses on the inside is coming from your mouth. Especially the horn players where you almost raspberry(Elmo term, sorry!) into them. Just admit to it all you musical people I've asked in the past about what your pouring, soaking up and drying off of your instruments. I can take it, I am around kids all day long, your spit is not that surprising!=)
Monday, October 26, 2009
I'm in the Hand Basket Now!!
I KatySue Pillsbury am going to Hell in a hand basket! Yep, you heard me right and I'm headin' there fast! I did something last night that I am not proud of, nope not proud of at all. Yet at the same time I feel strangely liberated.................hmmm, not a good sign, not a good sign at all!
Sunday night is normally when our collage group meets, but our church was having a First Family Night, so we attend that in stead. I'd gone early to help set up and it was odd being the only person in the church, but once again very freeing. Hopefully the security cameras(if they have any!) where turned off! But, I digress......................
Our church has a habit of at things like this honoring people by giving them "awards". Certificates or plaques, things like that. Well, Mark S. got up and started saying that this person was involved in everything in the church and that you could always find her in the kitchen and helping out with the connect team and you could always find him with his camera taking pictures at events etc etc etc and so on and so forth. Well, at that point it wasn't to hard to figure out who they where talking about. Jordan B. and I nudged each other and giggled as my parents also realized who they were talking about!
I settled back in my chair to enjoy not having to go up and receive said award. I hate stuff like that! I live in holy terror of having to accept thanks for my volunteer work, I have no idea why but I really do! AWAWA has a whole night dedicated to it, and I always beg to stay home.
I assumed I was safe because they wouldn't honor my parents and then pick on me, so as Shawna M. got up to talk I felt rather safe in my little green chair. I kicked my shoes off and settled in to listen. "This person helps out in kids town and can be found getting supplies ready every week for you all to use in Sunday school"............wait what? Oh, no she's talking about Kelli M. she sets up for the 9am hour, it couldn't be me. "This person also helps out twice a month in the nursery................" I really sat up and took notice at this, no there are a couple other people who this description could fit, right? I was sitting there getting more and more nervous, then she continued,"She helps out in both mine and my husbands ministries, she's always there for last minute skits for Sunday morning........."
That's when I did it! I couldn't help it! It just slipped out, I turned to Jordan with a look of mingled terror and woe and said, "Holy Crap! It's me!" I whipped my head around and stood as Shawna finally announced my name and walked up that oh so very long isle in my bare feet to accept the certificate. Face aflame with embarrassment and horror at what had just occurred!
So, there you have. My sad, sad story. I cursed loud enough for somebody else to hear in church while a service was going on! While it may not seem so bad to you, it still sets my face to burning at the recollection. Not that it doesn't make for a funny story, especially if you know me at all! I've always wanted to do that, curse out loud in public, I'd always imagined it being in righteous indignation though...................oh well the death of yet another fantasy!=)
Sunday night is normally when our collage group meets, but our church was having a First Family Night, so we attend that in stead. I'd gone early to help set up and it was odd being the only person in the church, but once again very freeing. Hopefully the security cameras(if they have any!) where turned off! But, I digress......................
Our church has a habit of at things like this honoring people by giving them "awards". Certificates or plaques, things like that. Well, Mark S. got up and started saying that this person was involved in everything in the church and that you could always find her in the kitchen and helping out with the connect team and you could always find him with his camera taking pictures at events etc etc etc and so on and so forth. Well, at that point it wasn't to hard to figure out who they where talking about. Jordan B. and I nudged each other and giggled as my parents also realized who they were talking about!
I settled back in my chair to enjoy not having to go up and receive said award. I hate stuff like that! I live in holy terror of having to accept thanks for my volunteer work, I have no idea why but I really do! AWAWA has a whole night dedicated to it, and I always beg to stay home.
I assumed I was safe because they wouldn't honor my parents and then pick on me, so as Shawna M. got up to talk I felt rather safe in my little green chair. I kicked my shoes off and settled in to listen. "This person helps out in kids town and can be found getting supplies ready every week for you all to use in Sunday school"............wait what? Oh, no she's talking about Kelli M. she sets up for the 9am hour, it couldn't be me. "This person also helps out twice a month in the nursery................" I really sat up and took notice at this, no there are a couple other people who this description could fit, right? I was sitting there getting more and more nervous, then she continued,"She helps out in both mine and my husbands ministries, she's always there for last minute skits for Sunday morning........."
That's when I did it! I couldn't help it! It just slipped out, I turned to Jordan with a look of mingled terror and woe and said, "Holy Crap! It's me!" I whipped my head around and stood as Shawna finally announced my name and walked up that oh so very long isle in my bare feet to accept the certificate. Face aflame with embarrassment and horror at what had just occurred!
So, there you have. My sad, sad story. I cursed loud enough for somebody else to hear in church while a service was going on! While it may not seem so bad to you, it still sets my face to burning at the recollection. Not that it doesn't make for a funny story, especially if you know me at all! I've always wanted to do that, curse out loud in public, I'd always imagined it being in righteous indignation though...................oh well the death of yet another fantasy!=)
Why I'm not Buying into the Hype
As flu season descends upon us the call for vaccines has increased ten fold. Both for the regular one and for the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Normally to get a flu shot you would call your doctor and make an appointment for those in your family who needed it. Usually it was just the very young and very old who were advised to get it.
This year it's different, and yes I know the swine flu, the swine flu! I get it! Some people have died from it, but have any more really died then from the normal flu? Or have we just heard about it? That woman who died from it in Bend, she would have died from catching a cold! She was on radiation for Leukemia, you get the sniffles and your in intensive care! The swine flu has been around since about the 1950's but you try to tell some people that and your head gets lobbed off.
Why are the flu vaccines so hard to get a hold of this year? Even before they were passed out there were special lists and times to go and get one. If it would have been treated like any other flu season would there be the mad rush? Or is it because we can't readily get them that everybody is freaking out? We must get one right away already there's a short supply!
All of the places giving them out have age limits, the average cut off is 12. 12 and over!! Yes, the little kids who were the group most people used to be worried about now cannot get the flu vaccine. Unless they got on the special list back in August at their regular Doctors office. Those who can't afford to have a family Doctor? Oops sorry your little ones are out of luck! Unless you get the half page sheet of paper the school is sending home with your very reliable never looses anything 5-11 year old!
The swine flu is bad, it has put many people in the hospital. But please lets not buy onto the mass hysteria and look at this thing a little more objectively.
Fact: This strain of the flu has been around for years, the media just picked it up this year.
Fact: The vaccines are hard to get true, but how many of us cared last year? Would everybody care as much if they didn't seem rationed and hard to get?
Fact: Yes, people are dying, but most from flu related complications. Meaning that they were already susceptible to it.
Fact: The flu kills people every year, about 36,000. Mostly the old and very young, not your average healthy American.
Those are just a few of the reasons I'm not all up in arms about the flu this year. Regardless of me being right or wrong, until presented with better evidence to the contrary I will not be buying into the media hype. Besides it's all in Gods hands, even if I was vaccinated up to my eyeballs, if it's my time to go it's my time to go!=)
This year it's different, and yes I know the swine flu, the swine flu! I get it! Some people have died from it, but have any more really died then from the normal flu? Or have we just heard about it? That woman who died from it in Bend, she would have died from catching a cold! She was on radiation for Leukemia, you get the sniffles and your in intensive care! The swine flu has been around since about the 1950's but you try to tell some people that and your head gets lobbed off.
Why are the flu vaccines so hard to get a hold of this year? Even before they were passed out there were special lists and times to go and get one. If it would have been treated like any other flu season would there be the mad rush? Or is it because we can't readily get them that everybody is freaking out? We must get one right away already there's a short supply!
All of the places giving them out have age limits, the average cut off is 12. 12 and over!! Yes, the little kids who were the group most people used to be worried about now cannot get the flu vaccine. Unless they got on the special list back in August at their regular Doctors office. Those who can't afford to have a family Doctor? Oops sorry your little ones are out of luck! Unless you get the half page sheet of paper the school is sending home with your very reliable never looses anything 5-11 year old!
The swine flu is bad, it has put many people in the hospital. But please lets not buy onto the mass hysteria and look at this thing a little more objectively.
Fact: This strain of the flu has been around for years, the media just picked it up this year.
Fact: The vaccines are hard to get true, but how many of us cared last year? Would everybody care as much if they didn't seem rationed and hard to get?
Fact: Yes, people are dying, but most from flu related complications. Meaning that they were already susceptible to it.
Fact: The flu kills people every year, about 36,000. Mostly the old and very young, not your average healthy American.
Those are just a few of the reasons I'm not all up in arms about the flu this year. Regardless of me being right or wrong, until presented with better evidence to the contrary I will not be buying into the media hype. Besides it's all in Gods hands, even if I was vaccinated up to my eyeballs, if it's my time to go it's my time to go!=)
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Whenever I was asked the question what's your favorite season I always had a devil of a time choosing. Spring, no wait, fall, hmm no winter, no, no summer yeah summer! No, wait maybe.............. I could never decide! After years of thinking about it I've finally discovered and settled on my answer for the question. It's a good answer too and you want to know what? Ever since I've come up with that answer about 2 years ago, not one person has asked me what my favorite season is! I've told people but not because they've asked!!
So, I'm going to pretend that somewhere out there is someone just waiting to hear. So, here is my answer! Drum roll please.....................
The holiday season! Now before you start assuming Thanksgiving and Christmas, I also include the end of Summer through New Years. That is the season of holidays. The end of summer, Labor day, the start of school(though that isn't a celebration for some!) First Day of Fall, Harvest, Halloween (for people who celebrate it) then of coarse Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. It seems like after the New Year the activity winds down until summer then it's of course summer is the time for chillin'!
Then when the end of summer hits the hustle and bustle begins. The sky is never as beautiful as it is in fall and the leaves! The colors, the smell, the sound as you walk through them and of course the big piles of them to jump into! I love getting ready for things, the preparation for a party is my favorite part! Yes, the event is fun , though I'm a bit of a hermit, I would rather just be with no more then 3 or 4 people. But, it's just not as much fun to plan small things.
So the busyness that begins with the ushering in of School and fall is right up my alley. I would much rather be doing something then not doing anything! Then of course there is the traditional holiday season. No explanation is needed as to why this is included in my favorite season!
Like a famous red head I love to fly up on the wings of anticipation, the wonderful flight almost pays for the thud when you have to come back down to earth! I am an anticipater, for good and bad things. I'm pretty sure that's why I hate needles and balloons the anticipation of the poke or pop is almost more then I can stand!! But, on the same token it makes the holidays so much better! I love to savor the anticipation of the whole season.
Wishing your life away in I can't waits is not good and I used to be a horrible one for that. As soon as one thing was over I was on to the next. But, over the years I've learned that waiting can be way more fun then the actual event! I am flying high right now in the glorious anticipation of this, my most favorite time of year. I invite you to join me up here on the wings of fancy, the memories you make while up here will never leave you. And if you aim just right the thud will land you right in a ginormous pile of leaves!=)
So, I'm going to pretend that somewhere out there is someone just waiting to hear. So, here is my answer! Drum roll please.....................
The holiday season! Now before you start assuming Thanksgiving and Christmas, I also include the end of Summer through New Years. That is the season of holidays. The end of summer, Labor day, the start of school(though that isn't a celebration for some!) First Day of Fall, Harvest, Halloween (for people who celebrate it) then of coarse Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. It seems like after the New Year the activity winds down until summer then it's of course summer is the time for chillin'!
Then when the end of summer hits the hustle and bustle begins. The sky is never as beautiful as it is in fall and the leaves! The colors, the smell, the sound as you walk through them and of course the big piles of them to jump into! I love getting ready for things, the preparation for a party is my favorite part! Yes, the event is fun , though I'm a bit of a hermit, I would rather just be with no more then 3 or 4 people. But, it's just not as much fun to plan small things.
So the busyness that begins with the ushering in of School and fall is right up my alley. I would much rather be doing something then not doing anything! Then of course there is the traditional holiday season. No explanation is needed as to why this is included in my favorite season!
Like a famous red head I love to fly up on the wings of anticipation, the wonderful flight almost pays for the thud when you have to come back down to earth! I am an anticipater, for good and bad things. I'm pretty sure that's why I hate needles and balloons the anticipation of the poke or pop is almost more then I can stand!! But, on the same token it makes the holidays so much better! I love to savor the anticipation of the whole season.
Wishing your life away in I can't waits is not good and I used to be a horrible one for that. As soon as one thing was over I was on to the next. But, over the years I've learned that waiting can be way more fun then the actual event! I am flying high right now in the glorious anticipation of this, my most favorite time of year. I invite you to join me up here on the wings of fancy, the memories you make while up here will never leave you. And if you aim just right the thud will land you right in a ginormous pile of leaves!=)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Irrational Fears
I seem to have more then my share fair of fears that are a little less then irrational! Why am I afraid of these things? Nobody knows, but it makes me the unique and crazy person that I am!
There are some of my irrational fears. Some no matter how much I work at them seem to never get better, others like the driving have gotten worlds better. So, I guess the moral of this story is, always be willing to confront your fears you may find that their not so insurmountable when you see them in the light of day!=)
Bees, why I am so afraid of bees, I'll never know! But whenever I hear one I go runnin'!
Needles, and the doctors that hold them! I am sighing in relief right now because my flu shot has been put off until next week!
For that matter, about the only doctor I'm not nervous to go to is the eye doctor!
I was very afraid of driving, not so much anymore, in fact it's growing on me rather quickly! I find it rather enjoyable now. Though backing up still rattles the nerves a bit.
Talking on the phone, well I guess the real fear isn't the talking it's the calling. I'll talk if you call, I'll sound like a dork, but I don't mind talking on the phone. It's the unknown of calling people that terrifies me!
Having the guy I'm "attached" to meet my sister(older or next youngest) and fall for her. Like in that movie "The Family Stone". This one has actually happened though, my crush liking my sister. So, maybe it's not that irrational after all!=)
Teeth grinding, I loathe this noise! I hate it when I inadvertently do it!
Loud noises, mainly popping balloons. I hate the balloon popping games at AWANA. I always feel like crawling into the corner with my hands over my ears when the game leader announces those games!
There are some of my irrational fears. Some no matter how much I work at them seem to never get better, others like the driving have gotten worlds better. So, I guess the moral of this story is, always be willing to confront your fears you may find that their not so insurmountable when you see them in the light of day!=)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Harvest Party!
The FBC(First Baptist Church) annual Harvest Party was on Saturday. As long as anyone I have asked remembers it's always been at the Roy's house. They have a lovely farm outside of Terrebon. There are caramel apples, hayrides, horse rides, zip lines, animals wandering every where. The latter much to my dismay, because I appear to be very tasty to animals as when ever I get close to them, they chew on me! The best part? The fresh pressed apple cider! Yummy!
I am going to be so very lazy and just put a link to the pictures, instead of putting any on here, Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8548&id=100000053193486&l=00e4129630
That should work, but if it doesn't let me know!
I am going to be so very lazy and just put a link to the pictures, instead of putting any on here, Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8548&id=100000053193486&l=00e4129630
That should work, but if it doesn't let me know!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Personal Space
Why do some people feel the need to encroach upon your personal space? I mean I would never reach over to the person in front of me and pet their hair unless I knew them really well! Or maybe if they asked me to..........but that would totally depend on loads of other factors! The nerve of some people both shocks and after the fact greatly amuses me!
One time at an AWANA meeting the Mom of one of the kids walks up to me and starts circling me sniffing. Then she asks if I shop at Victoria Secret. Hmmm, I must smell of sexy undergarments or something I thought. Umm, no I said. then she told me it was because I smelled like their new perfume. So, that one end up not being as bad, but still. I sniff the air as people walk by yes, but I can't help it 'cause sometimes I know it will be a mistake but do it anyway! But I'm not going to ask some stranger about their smell!
I've been asked where I got my boob job. Yes, I know I might be "gifted" in that area, but do I really look like the boob job type???? The creepiness factor is then upped by the fact you know where they've just been staring, um excuse me? I've also been told where to get the "girls" down sized. Um, what business it that of yours?? Once again I don't flaunt it, so stop staring and go stare at someone who has them on display!
But the biggest one is the hair. I've had people walk up behind me and pet it. Or one time the ladies in the row of seats behind me and two of my sisters at the theater started petting my hair and rather loudly discussing whose hair they liked better. It was Megan's hair they liked the best by the way, mine was to 80's! Then I frequently have people grab handfuls of it and run their fingers through it saying, "Oh my goodness it is all yours!! My word it's thick!" Really?! Thanks for the info, I was just wondering about that this morning as once again IsaBella(my hairs name, she's very temperamental and apparently she's Spanish! Who knew?hehe) broke another hair brush.
Please be all mean tell me it's pretty, tell me the color is nice, tell me it's voluptuous (Lindsey D. called my hair that and I think it's rather apt description! And it certainly fits in with the rest of me!) But please unless I at least know your name keep our hands off! If I know you then it's perfectly okay. But, unless I know you really well anything under my clothes is off limits as far as discussion goes, alright? Unless your telling me it's cute then I might let it slide!=) Oh and one more thought, while I'm talking to you don't reach over and start playing with my jewelry, please!
One time at an AWANA meeting the Mom of one of the kids walks up to me and starts circling me sniffing. Then she asks if I shop at Victoria Secret. Hmmm, I must smell of sexy undergarments or something I thought. Umm, no I said. then she told me it was because I smelled like their new perfume. So, that one end up not being as bad, but still. I sniff the air as people walk by yes, but I can't help it 'cause sometimes I know it will be a mistake but do it anyway! But I'm not going to ask some stranger about their smell!
I've been asked where I got my boob job. Yes, I know I might be "gifted" in that area, but do I really look like the boob job type???? The creepiness factor is then upped by the fact you know where they've just been staring, um excuse me? I've also been told where to get the "girls" down sized. Um, what business it that of yours?? Once again I don't flaunt it, so stop staring and go stare at someone who has them on display!
But the biggest one is the hair. I've had people walk up behind me and pet it. Or one time the ladies in the row of seats behind me and two of my sisters at the theater started petting my hair and rather loudly discussing whose hair they liked better. It was Megan's hair they liked the best by the way, mine was to 80's! Then I frequently have people grab handfuls of it and run their fingers through it saying, "Oh my goodness it is all yours!! My word it's thick!" Really?! Thanks for the info, I was just wondering about that this morning as once again IsaBella(my hairs name, she's very temperamental and apparently she's Spanish! Who knew?hehe) broke another hair brush.
Please be all mean tell me it's pretty, tell me the color is nice, tell me it's voluptuous (Lindsey D. called my hair that and I think it's rather apt description! And it certainly fits in with the rest of me!) But please unless I at least know your name keep our hands off! If I know you then it's perfectly okay. But, unless I know you really well anything under my clothes is off limits as far as discussion goes, alright? Unless your telling me it's cute then I might let it slide!=) Oh and one more thought, while I'm talking to you don't reach over and start playing with my jewelry, please!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Crazy Love!
I must have been in the need of some lovin' this week! I've been wandering around my house asking where my "Crazy Love" has gotten to. Every time I start asking it sends my family into peals of laughter.....okay guys stop it, get up off of the floor and just tell me where my "Crazy Love" is!!! I'm not going nuts(well, at least not in my opinion!) I just have a bad habit of setting my books down in places I know I'll be able to find them later..............right and it totally always works!
I've been reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan this week. It's really good. I'm about halfway through right now and am excited to read the rest. It starts out pretty basic but don't rush or skip the first couple chapters, we all need to be reminded of the simple things sometimes. There are some neat computer things he wants you to look at. I did them the first time, but when he tells you to watch them again..................... I just skipped that!
I was reading it at a pizza parlor fund raiser my church was having for the youth group. I can usually block off the world pretty good when I'm reading, my own little bubble you know? I was having a hard time because there was lots of noise and it was hot. There was a girl at my table sticking her ear buds in my ears. Then I came to this one spot. I read through it once and my whole world shrank down to those words on the page.
I've been reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan this week. It's really good. I'm about halfway through right now and am excited to read the rest. It starts out pretty basic but don't rush or skip the first couple chapters, we all need to be reminded of the simple things sometimes. There are some neat computer things he wants you to look at. I did them the first time, but when he tells you to watch them again..................... I just skipped that!
I was reading it at a pizza parlor fund raiser my church was having for the youth group. I can usually block off the world pretty good when I'm reading, my own little bubble you know? I was having a hard time because there was lots of noise and it was hot. There was a girl at my table sticking her ear buds in my ears. Then I came to this one spot. I read through it once and my whole world shrank down to those words on the page.
It was one of those put your name into the bible verse type things, I'm usally not that into those but this one hit me and hit me hard! Some of this next part is directly from the book, other parts are me, so don't be disappointed if when you read the book that my wonderful additions aren't there! The author is talking about how the word love is overused and has lost it's meaning. We love pizza and we love our parents. We love TV shows and we love our soul mates. What does God mean by love? He tells us in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Take the phrase Love is patient and substitute your name for the word love (for me, "Katy is patient...") now do this with every phrase in the passage. Whoa, right? I've read those verses how many times and I love them. But, by putting my name in there it turned on the proverbial light bulb, I do not love like this. God wants me to love His world like this and I don't. I try sometimes and maybe even partly succeed but catch me when I'm tired or annoyed and you won't feel much love coming from my direction!
This is something I need to tattoo across my eyelids so I don't forget it! Try it for yourself, if you haven't already and see how it changes your outlook on love. Or maybe it won't change much in your way of viewing the world, but like I mentioned earlier we all need to be reminded of the simple things at times! So, go ahead and while your at it, pick up a copy of the book as well. We all need some more lovin' in our lives, right?=)
The Joys of Having More Money
I recently got a new job, one that is actually less work and more pay. The benefits are numerous one of them being the pay raise. But I've found out something interesting, the more money I make the more money I have to spend! Gas, cell phone bill, taxes, car insurance, rent etc etc etc. While none of theses things are very much in and of them selves, when you add them up............ you know the drill!
It's very much like the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" books. So, I have written my own version of this classic story:
It's very much like the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" books. So, I have written my own version of this classic story:
If You Give A Girl A Job
When a girl reaches a certain age she will start to desire some of the finer things in life and will have to find a way to procure them. So, unless she has very wealthy and generous parents she will have to go out and find a job. But............
If you give a girl a job she will have to get her drivers licence to drive there. Of coarse she needs to have the car to do the driving in and gas to make the car go. Then she will also have to get car insurance to go along with it.
If you get the girl the car insurance she will have to have a cell phone to call in case the car breaks down. If you give a girl a cell phone she will soon find out how handy said cell phone is and need a bigger plan with more minutes and texting privileges to go with it.
If you give the girl a job she will soon be making more money so she will need to save even more for taxes. If she is saving for taxes she might as well save some out for a savings account as well.
And if she's doing that, she is responsible enough to start paying rent.
If she is responsible enough to start paying rent,
Hmmmmm..............
Well, actually that's as far as I've gotten!
So, the moral of the story is, when you grow up and get a job remember the more money you make the more money you have to spend! =)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Old and New
My older sister getting married freed up a room. Now the quandary, did I take the room for myself so I could have my own room? Or do I share it with my Mom and turn it into a homeschool/sewing room? The selfish side was very very close to winning but my better nature kicked in and we moved the sewing stuff into that room.
~Old~This is where my shelves and sewing things used to be!
~New!~
This is the new sewing room! Both mine and my Moms stuff and the homeschooling shelves fit in there with lots of room for more.
This is the new sewing room! Both mine and my Moms stuff and the homeschooling shelves fit in there with lots of room for more.
The shelves, the tall ones with the dolls on top and the really short one next to those are mine, it's been nice having my books upstairs!
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