Mom! Happy Birthday!!!

Boy... I am tired. Adam and I got up before 6 to make my mom a special BIRTHDAY breakfast. It started with a loaded omelette that Adam served with hot tea in bed. Then she got homemade fruit cocktail, with mango, watermelon, maderin oranges... watermelon, pineapple... um, than she got crepes with a yummy sweet cream cheese filling and one with a strawberry, a little pineapple, and banana with sugar filling. She was so full that she hasn't eaten them yet:)

My mom Patricia Jean is 53 years old today. This year has been kinda rough on her. Change of life, growing, changing... knowing you need to change. So pray for her.

Hmm, what does my mean mom to me?... memories?

When I was little she'd draw me 2 types of flowers, they were a daisy and a tulip. I liked them. They were simple.
I remember at least one time, (probably more) she woke me up to try some, in the process of being made, culottes on, to see if they fit/to work on the hem... I think so that I could wear them the next day at school. She's made me a number of pairs of culottes:)

One year the night before my birthday I was just down and unhappy. It was the night before I'd guess my 17th birthday(?) and she came downstairs to the basement, probably my bedroom at the time. And she sat and listened to me for a long time and talked with me about whatever was bothering me. I think I cried some. And she prayed with me.

My mom has been an example of reading the Bible and praying. Since I know that she does:)

She is a hard worker. One time when she was sick she was washing the dishes than would got to throw up than come back and wash some more... I wouldn't have done that, I don't think.

There have been times where I've been sick and she'd care for me. Bring me toast, orange juice... :)

She gets up many many mornings to make my dad lunch. She's done this for YEARS. She's cooked and cleaned for us for YEARS too.

If I ask her to pray with me she will then and there.

I am who I am partly because of her. She isn't a quitter. She's a fighter. A woman of vision.

She was the one who first caught the dream of all of us kids goin' on a mission trip the summer before our Senior years. Dana went to Equador. Matt went to England. I went to Russia. Adam went to Japan and Krista went to Romania. Isn't that awesome... it started with a dream... which lead to Action, which became fufilled reality.

I'd say because of my mom's initial vision and both parents support, Adam and I have pursued even more mission trips. You can't underestimate the power, the influence of mothers (especially the ones that follow Christ), on the destiny and life's journey of their children.

It will be amazing to see my mom in the eyes of heaven, to see what Jesus truly made her as. She is a warrior in brillant glowing white. You'll see the scars on her heart...but even more you'll see the flashing fire of victory in her eyes. She will fight for those she loves... She will stand by what she believes. She is a woman of strengh, of boldness and authority in Jesus. She is a fiercesome thing to behold!

Right now all we see, with eyes of flesh, is a 53 year old mother of 5 who is still lovely all dressed up...:) She has earned the expression lines, the character of who she is- you can see in her face. These have come through hardships, commitment, hanging on, being tossed to and fro by the storms of life, and the laugher and tears. Her life hasn't been easy, but it also has had really good times... she is a fighter, a winner, an overcomer....

This is my mother and this is the legacy she has given me.

Bummer, bummer, bummer....sigh.... I had just written alot and bumped some key(s) on the keyboard and LOST what I wrote. *sigh*

All is not lost since I still have my fingers, my mind, my memory and this computar and keyboard to type on. Sooo I will start a new blog, with possible different info than the other aformentioned "bombed" blog....

How is everyone? I'm ok.... The weather hear has been hot. I saw the temp. for yesterday at one point and it was 111 degrees! Crazy huh!

Today was crazy at work. I was running around everywhere trying to find a place that they would need a sub. Because originally I was suppose to sub for this lady, Sue K___... but put another sub there cause they wanted me somewhere else... someone else ended up where I was suppose to be, huh? weird! I'd go the the office and ask where to go, go from point A too point B.... point B wouldn't need me... than do it again.... and again... and again....This is a big school. I think it like 4 stories... actually. So about 7 times I went from point A to point B and back.... I wasn't wearing very good shoes to do tons of walking in. My feet hurt... it wasn't terribly cool in parts of the school. Felt kinda wilty in the later part of the day....I sure got my exercise in today...I'm glad I wore a skirt today instead of long pants of which I was thinkin' of wearing.

Tomorrow I'll be wearing a pair of flip flops that I like. I like my other shoes, the ones I wore today, but they aren't very good for "hiking the hallways" at the High School. They, the flippies, are brown Old Navy, comfy flip flops that I have broken in. I've worn them enough to make them start to curl a little around my feet. They make my feet "happy." I wouldn't mind slippin' my feet into the coolness of the cozy brown slightly spongy plastic after i finish my blog, but no! I haveta wear my "sexy" sandels that hurt me today.... (you see I'm at the local library. I'm not just gonna walk through it barefooted... and I have more I'm gonna do here.)

School get's out June 2nd... But I think my last day most likely is Thurs. June 1st... (wow June is almost here! CRAWZY!!!) I wouldn't mind going to one of the school's last day events... but that would be kinda weird for a "real" teacher not to show up on the last day.

The last day in Florida, for those of you who weren't in Fla. or don't know that I just spent time down in Florida meetin' up with old friends and attending 2 of my friends wedding ceremony. The 2 friends, one a boy and one a girl married each other. It was mutual! Which is always a good thing. It was a pretty good time. I saw people in Florida that I hadn't seen for like 2 years!

Anyways as I was saying, the last night I was in Fla. Lisa and I (LIsa Lou is my coisin from my dad's side, the only coisin from my dad's side that I went to Bible School with) went to the movie, "Poseidon." I would recommend that movie. I really enjoyed it. There's some sketchy stuff in it. but it's not "scarring" like some stuff out there.

Oh man, during one part there was a guy in great danger (the cutie from "Sweet Home Alabama" same actor) and physically I was feeling the NERVOUSNESS... I was tense with unwanted anticipation... just waiting for the danger to happen, it was kinda a yucky feeling. Just not wanting it to happen and waiting for it to happen... Because I really didn't want this guy to get yuckified! I won't tell you what happened... but that movie sure did draw me in!

You wouldn't want to bring kids that were too young or very sensitive people to the movie. I'd suggest checking Focus on the Families movie review site before goin'... it's called "Plugged In." Just go to FOTF, web site and they have "Plugged In" listed on the side bar, click on it...etc...I'll let you figure out the rest.

So things are still in the process for me to go to Thailand. I have alot to do to make it happen. Logistics. I have to get all the info and document/copies of documents to the travel agency to get my ticket. Find out more info about Thailand... I'll probably be able to buy alot of my ART and Craft supplies there in Thailand.... I think our $1.00 is to like 39 of their currency. So I can live pretty well for less than I thought.

Also there's a ART teacher at the Jr. High, a christian... who's hooked me up some lesson plans and we're probably gettin together again for me to get examples of other projects. It's great how she's taken an interest in helping me! Yeah! for the body of Christ. I feel supported by her.:)

Keep me in your prayers about Thailand please. Yesterday something happened... or at least I was worried about something in connection with this whole thing and I was flippin' out about it. Talked to my dad about it.... I was worried that this trip wouldn't even happen. And my dad was like "Just Believe." It's amazing how things you think could mess something up, rock your boat.... but I ended up talking with someone later and now I'm okay! This someone had questions about the trip and were like, what's goin' on with everything... their questions made me question......

I need to relax. Even in other parts of life if someone has questions about something or even believes differently about stuff, I shouldn't let it so easily rock my boat. I need to relax... stay on the course that I am on and forget what others think or even the lies they believe!

I need more back bone. Or should I say realize that I am on "solid ground." Because I am on the ROCK! Let Jesus be my back bone and the word of God...

Signing off!

that random cat....

We had a random cat show up at our house last night. It was peering into the house through the patio door. Meowing....

I went outside and it was rubbing against me, my legs and really liked it when I petted it. I dont' know if it was hungry, lonely or itchy... it seemed like it may have been itchy on the head... it wasn't very relaxed... it was antsy or something... like it couldn't stay still.... I liked him... wonder if he'll come back...

I was wondering if it had gotten into any poison ivy... a little afraid of that. Didn't want to get poison ivy. But the cat's skin didn't seem bumpy:)

I don't know if the cat's a boy or girl. But it was nice to get loved on by a cat:) We don't have any cats or for that matter any furry creatures around the house:)
(cept for Adam;)

early Memories......from a long time ago......

I'm a little bit inspirered to post... I want to post a short....er post:) Something random. I'm cold.... it was really misty outside, like really warm balmy air with a fine mist comin' down. Kinda weird. Than I come into the library and it's COLD because of AC....kinda like too cold.... I'll be outside again in a while.

Hmmmm..... I'm thinkin'..... just hold a sec.... what to write about?

One of my first memories growing up was when we lived at my grandparents house the P___'s in Maine. I wanted my mom to wake me up to watch Ann of Green Gable's on tv. We went to bed, than I guess we were gonna get up later to watch it.

I also remember going to this store to get popscicles....

And I remember "taking a nap" and pickin at the wall with a safety pin and picking my nose. I was really young.

I remember eating brown sugar right out of the bowl.... seems like I may've eaten alot. This was still at my grandparents house.

We lived there for awhile after movin' up from Florida. I was born in Fla., Zephyerhills, Fla. in a trailer park. Literally in the trailer! That's a whole nother story:)

So those are some early memories... got any weird/normal early memories...like age 2-4?

Now you know more about me:)

In the Darkness it's easier to see the Light...

It was a dark and stormy life..... sigh....

My life hasn't just been bad. But right now I am on low for my happy energy and energy:) I'm glad it's the weekend. The last few days ahve been kinda crazy. I kinda wish life was just innocent and good like when I was little. I didn't know about all the bad stuff in the world. You know.

If I keep talking like that I'll keep plummeting! Ahhh!

I should start having thankfuls!:) I'm thankful for people that follow closely after God. That live that way. That strive after purity in their hearts, minds and actions. Thank you all, the girl's and guys out there that I know. Don't give up even if you struggle. I appeciate it when you actually live it. I'm also thankful that God isn't finished with people. That he doesn't just stop when we mess up. That He pursues our hearts and the hearts of the ones we love! That He IS BIG ENOUGH to change people. Don't give up.

I've spent some time with Jr. High Kids this week. Man! They need heart transplants. I bet Chad and Andrea understand. They need a Jesus make-over!

I'm thankful for sleep, and chocolate, and easy reading christian romance novels:). I'm thankful for the love from my parents. I'm thankful for good things to look forward to like Fritha's and Jeff's wedding. I'm thankful that it will be a modest wedding. That they will be pure coming into the wedding. THat it will be a beautiful experience just to be there. The love, the joy the fun and fellowship! God will be there delighting in it and we'll be partyin' too! I'm planning on goin' ya'll!

I'm thankful for godly refugee children in Thailand that I get to look forward to. By the way I'm going to Thailand for like 2 months this summer to teach ART and Crafts! I heard that these kids are good! They are well behaved and children of character.... and I'd believe diligant. Good workers. It will be a really nice change from the public school's I've been in.

God has me in the world for a reason. But it's nice when you can be removed from the world and be in more peaceful surroundings. Where things are good.

Enjoy your good surroundings this weekend. We truly are blessed living under God because our lives compared to the worlds are a WHOLE lot more peaceful and good! They really are ya'll. Just go spend some time out in the world and you'll be thankful for what you have. I am.

my testimony...

I just typed this up for some application... wanted to post it. Here's my testimony. From me. The real deal.

my testimony...

My journey with God started when I was very young. I was 5 or 6 years old. At that time there was a lot I didn't understand. As I've grown my understanding has been enlarged... and enlightened. Over the yeares I have become more captivated with God and His Son, Jesus.

My dad was the one that led me into a relationship with Jesus, at least the building blocks of one when I was 5 or 6. At that time I asked Jesus into my heart and asked him to take away my sins... He is my Lord and Savior. I do believe he took away my sins on the cross and He gives me new life, He brought my soul to life. Only because of Jesus will I go to heaven. I believe that. That is my confession.

I have fallen and stumbled many times. But over and over I go to God and confess and he forgives me. He knows and understands everything, he knows why I get angry. Why I'm upset. He is not surprised by anything, I do or say. And he is willing to forgive everything and anything when I turn to him.

He walks besides me every day... sometimes I will sense the Holy Spirits guidance or blessing especially in the little things...

I am learning more about him. I want to have more of a perspective on who He really is. I want to give that love and more of the true reality of who God and His Son Jesus are to the world, to individuals I rub shoulders with. I want to share the gospel of life, in Jesus, with others. That when they die they can know where they are going and for this life, that there is someone who loves and enjoys them. Who created them to be what they are, and will become under His gentle loving hand. That He is there every step of the way. That He will never leave them abandon them, or throw them out.

This has been a journey of discovery. Discovering more of God... how He loves me. That he has a purpose and destiny, a great destiny for my life. It has also been a journey of discovering who I am... the sin in my life. The ugliness... that I am not perfect. That God wants and will make me more into who He made me to be... which will reflect Christ even more.

God is working on me. Leading me gently... even though at times it's very very hard.
Because of God, walking besides me and Jesus inside me, I know where I'll end up. I know my future is in God's hands. I know He is good, no matter what happens.

I want to walk with him into the GREAT destiny He has for me. I know He has more for me, than I even imagine or sometimes even believe.

God is my Rainbow maker. He is my promise keeper. He is the one that Holds my heart and my life. Sometimes the reality of that evades me... but sometimes it rings true in my heart. Whether I feel it or not that is the reality.

"...unveiling the mystery of a Woman's Soul"

A book I'm reading is, "Captivating-Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul." By John and Stasi Eldredge, John wrote "Wild at Heart." The book I'm reading is for women, the other's for men. It's really good. I'd recommend it for the girl's out there, if you haven't read it yet. THis is my 2nd time through it. I also read "Wild at Heart," which is also very good.

Guys if you want to understand females more and better you should read it. It helps to explain a woman's heart.

Here's some quotes from the book:

"Then the time came when the risk it took

To remain tight in a bud was more painful

Than the risk it took to blossom."

-Anais Nin

"Now can you see how the desires of a man's heart and the desires of a woman's heart were at least meant to fit beautifully together? A woman in the presence of a good man, a real man, loves being a woman. His strenghth allows her feminine heart to flourish. His pursuit draws out her beauty. And a man in the presence of a real woman loves being a man. Her beauty arouses him to play the man, it draws out his strength. She inspires him to be a hero. Would that we all were so fortunate."

"The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and his people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart."

"As Tozer says, "God waits to be wanted."

"...God yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us."

"The reason a woman wants a beauty to unveil, [the essence of who she is...not really "physical" beauty], the reason she asks, Do you delight in me? is simply that God does as well. God is captivating beauty....Can there be any doubt that God wants to be worshipped? That He wants to be seen, and for us to be captivated by what we see?"-(Wild at Heart)

"Every experience of beauty points to [eternity]."-Hans Urs von Balthasar

"...The Evil One ...hates Eve because she gives life. Women give birth, not men. Women nourish life. And they also bring life into the world soulfully, relationally, spiritually-in everything they touch." We were made to give life!

Talking about why we are attacked by the Evil One...

"It changes things to realize that, no, it is because you are glorious that these things happened. It is because you are a major threat to the kingdom of darkness. Because you uniquely carry the glory of God to the world.

You are hated because of your beauty and power."

This is good!:

"A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy enough. She knows in her quiet center where God dwells that he finds her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in him, she is enough. In fact the only thing getting in the way of our being fully captivating and enjoyed is our striving."

"A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become."

"This is what it is like to be with a beautiful woman. You are free to be you. It is one of life's greatest gifts...A woman who makes herself vulnerable and available for intimacy invites others to do the same...She says to the world...,You are wanted here. We want to know you. Come in. Share yourself. Be enjoyed. Enjoy me as I share myself....A woman who is unveiling her beauty is inviting others to life...She is not demanding, but she is hopeful."

"The gift of presence is a rare and beautiful gift. To come-unguarded, undistracted-and be fully present, fully engaged with whoever we are with at that moment. Have you noticed in reading the Gospels that people enjoyed being around Jesus? They wanted to be near him-to share a meal, take a walk, have a lingering conversation. It was the gift of his presence. When you were with him, you felt he was offering you his heart. When we offer our unguared presence, we live like Jesus. And we invite others to do the same."

This ones kinda hard to hear:

"Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who have had their hearts enlarged by suffering. By saying, "Yes" when the world says, "No." By paying the high price of loving truly and honestly without demanding that they be loved in return."

"...it is in the waiting that our hearts are enlarged."

"And so it is with a heart awakened to its sorrow. It is more aware, more present, and more alive, to all facets of life."

So ladies borrow, or buy the book. There's some really rich "soul-food" for the taking. It's blessed my heart already a number of times. It's not just a make you feel good book... it's deep and honest.

Remember ladies everyone of you is beautiful... it's deep inside of you, and if you know God sees you as beatiful, and you live in that truth your beauty will draw others to God. It really will.

makes ya think...

Hmmm, how do I start. What do I start with?

I've subbed the last two days for the same teacher, high school English. It was fine. Enjoyed it some. Today in a coupla of the classes the story, "The Lottory" was read. In the last period we read it outloud. The ending's kinda surprising. Check it out. It's a short story. And it's pretty interesting.

This last weekend a tenth grader from the high school committed suicide. When I was asking some kids about it at first I was thinking it was a kid that I had tutored in room 37 awhile back. Room 37 is a type of special ed room. Special ed kids go there and others that need extra help. This kid I was thinking about was really big, bigger than me. To put him in a streotype he was a red neck. Blonde, very ruddy complexion. Big work boots. Jeans and a t-shirt. But I was impressed with this kid. I don't remember what his name was... anyways he didn't like it becuase another boy was bad mouthing a teacher. And this big guy didn't believe that kids should treat adults that way. That adults should be treated with respect. That blessed my heart and still does.

So when I was thinking that this big guy was the one that committed suicide I was effected. I worked with him one on one for awhile. We were the only ones in the room. And so looking back I was thinking about if I'd only said something about Jesus.... wondering if anything I said effected him toward God more.... and how maybe that time wasn't the most appropriate time to actually talk to him about Jesus. And how this kid was dead.... I was thinking about when I could possible cry after work. It upset me. It was like wow!

I only had one contact with this big lovely guy, and I thought he was gone. It effected me.

But come to find out the guy that killed himself and the guy I helped weren't the same guy. Phew...Part of me has wanted to see the guy I helped, to know for sure. The kid that took his own life I guess was smart, didn't seem like the type that had a reason to do that. He was big like the kid I worked with.

It's kinda a weird thought process to look back at an experience like that with someone you think is gone. To know you were that close and if you'd only known that he would take his life, that maybe you would've said some thing.

For the big ruddy kid still living, it would make for a good way to start talking to him about God... "Man, when I found out about that guy that killed himself, I thought he was you. It upset me. I was thinking about you going into eternity. I didn't know if you would be ready to die... I just want you to know that God loves you...." If I got a chance to talk to him I'm not sure what I'd say. It would be great to have a chance to talk to him. You could pray that I get that chance if you want... If I do that GOd will work out the details, because at school I have certain restrictions as a teacher, that makes it so I'm not allowed to talk about certaint things without the kids specifically bringing it up.

Man. When you think you know someone that took their own life it effects you... you NEVER know when someone will do that. And to think maybe you were in their life somehow, if only you had said something about God....it's enough to get you really serious, even scared... this life is really serious and the next one is so much MORE of a BIG deal. But just living regular day to day dulls the reality of that. I'd say I have alot of fear about talking to these kids about Jesus.... but if it came up in a conversation and just fit, that's how it'd be nice to talk to them about God and Jesus. When it happens naturally.

Our choices here aren't just little things that don't matter, sometimes what we choose is the difference between spiritual life and death for ourselves and others...

hmmm, such a serious subject... but this is what really matters.

Beauty for Ashes

Beauty for Ashes. Something God spoke to my heart recently. When we give him our broken dreams, the dreams that burned so strong, but now all they seem to be are ashes.... God can take that ash and turn it into beauty. Life can grow out of that deadness...that broken dream...that dream that blows away with the ashes of life. Ash is grey, lifeless, powder and dead.... it smells dry, like empty lifeless hope....that caved in under the crushing heel of reality. In our hands we hold the ash....it slips through our fingers, and blows away with the wind...

Look closely though at this burned out shell of a dream... There's something there? Some color...chills run up and down my spine and I realize His promises are sure.... new life comes out of our ashes. New life comes out of death..."the old has been made new", "unless a grain of wheat dies..." Life from death, life out of death. Beauty for ashes...beauty instead of ash. A flower for a lifeless and broken dream....hope....

Now to totally shift gears:)

Oooooh, I'm kinda tired. Been sick recently. Took Friday off to help out our churches fund raising effort. Had cold then. It really hit me that night. Actually ate a whole garlic clove with applesause. That was a chilling experience. Garlic is suppose to help fight colds. I've had a yucky cold not too long ago and I wasn't in the mood for another. (Wanted to fight it with some Garlic. I was thinking of taking 2 cloves, but decided I had had enough with the one.) But I got another.

The worst day of my cold was Saturday.... and I'm still getting over it, but I'm not sore like I was Sat. Sat. it was like a trackter trailer had run me over, okay a pick up truck....anyways enough on the metaphors, I was SORE, and ahhhh, not alot of energy.... read alot, took a nap ....my nose ran, my eyes even ran, when I was napping(gross huh)....I existed...

It's mostly in my head literally. And on top of that my wisdom tooth has been bugging me.... ahhhh, just cut my head off until everthings back to normal than put it back on. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them out of them all..."

So you see I'm on spring break. Great way to start spring break...I've been wondering about when I should deal with my wisdom tooth. If there's any sort of infection they give antibiotics/wait it out until you don't have any. It's minor surgery....which I am NOT looking forward too. If any one has any stories to encourage me along the line of having a wisdom tooth pulled drop me a line. I was even reading about it when I was more sick, and it didn't make me feel very good. Enough "bawling" about the yuck stuff in life, lets talk about something more positive...

Tomorrow wil be one of my highlights of the week. I'm going with Seniors from our Youth Group to Baltimore. Just talked to my youth leader, at this point there will only be 4 of us. Two seniors and myself and the Brianna, the youth chic. In Baltimore we'll be going to the aquarium and on some cool water taxi... So today to get ready for that I should go on a walk. I've been practically "comatose" these past few days.... actually I've just been really lazy, haven't had alot of energy,taking it very easy. So that tomorrow I won't pass out in exhaustion I should build my body up with a nice walk. It will help my lymph nodes too.

Anyone who hates reading about eyes should not read the next paragraph.....

I called a guy from my church Paul, he and his wife Linda run a ministry called "Hopes and Helps." Anyways Paul's been sick too. Wasn't at chruch either. I was like "I feel your pain." But he has these little polyps in his sinuses etc... and will have to get surgery sometime for them. I think one's even pressing on his optic nerve.... poor guy... pray for Paul. He was like how are they gonna get in there, pull my eye out or something? He's had them for over 20 years. He probably just thought they were some sort of sinus problem.

He and his wife LInda are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary today. SO if you know them drop them a line or call em... He told me to wish his wife a happy anniversary if I talked to her.

I hope you're not getting tired of all my pics I've been posting. I've been a mite trigger happy recently with my digital camera. They're cool! and fun to take and to see what I've taken.

Because of being sick I've finished 2 books and totally started and finished another. One was on grace, which was really good, by Philip Yancy...the book I read from start to finish, while sick, was "The Cross and the Swithchblade." Which is a neat story. It does deal witht some pretty hard core problems kids in gangs have...just to give you a heads up. I watched the movie before I read the book. The movie is moving. It also deals with some hard core stuff. It's an eye opener to what life is like in a gang...that was like 30 plus years ago so who knows what it's even like today. It also shows the powerful move of GOd in some of the kids lives. GOd moved powerfully in David Wilkerson's life, (a preacher comfy in his church in Penn.) it all started with him putting a fleece out to God to sell his TV. And if he did sell it withing 30 mins. of the morning paper coming out he'd dedicate the time he used to watch TV to praying. So that was like 2 hours everynight from midnight to 2 am. And because of these praying times GOd started to speak to him.... and eventually as He walked step by step in obedience there was a very powerful ministry started in NY called Teen Challenge. It's in other states too. This ministry reaches out to kids in gangs, and on the streets who have drug addictions, are part of gangs...etc...

So for Marie's book list, the recommended reading is "THe Cross and the Switchblade" and watching the movie...and again the book isnt' for the faint of heart.

Happy Easter celebration week! May you connect with the Creator and the Resurrected this week in a special and personal way! And remember what we see as ashes is the medium (an artist term) God uses to sculpt beauty into our lives. Remember Beauty for Ashes.

How's the Weather?

Welcome to Virginia. One of the most scenic states in the good ole U. S. of A. ....
Enough of that "brochure" talk. Krista and I went on a walk, and it was lovely. I kept taking pictures, she didn't always like that. When you take pictures you have to stop and t a k e it, you know;) When we were coming home, (look at the pic with the road that looks dark,) we were being chased by a storm cloud. It was huge, and gray. It started raining, and the timing was perfect for us to get inside before the rain started coming down too fast.

Come and visit please. We could go on a walk down this lane and see what you see in the pics, and the whole experience is defianetly better than the pictures. Because of couse you can see so much more, and if the weather's lovely you can feel the warm breeze, and hear the brook. It's just a celebration of life and spring that washes over you.

The weather today has been lovely. It was colder this morning. But I was outside alot, later, cause I subbed for P.E. and it was windy but it was a balmy windy... than when I came home Krista and I took a walk, I was in shorts and a fleece and got warm enough to break a small sweat.

But they've said we could get snow tomorrow. I hope not. There was a possibility of quite a storm, even heard something about a tornado, but than they said something to the effect that it dissapated. We just got a little rain and now it looks nice outside. Yeah!

Enough about the weather. Ya'll should come down and experience it for yourself, plus the view helps!

(P.S. I know there's 2 pics of one of my shoots. I had trouble trying to edit it. SO at this point I'm just going to leave it be..."scuse...)

Flowers of Spring

I had trouble uploading all the pics I wanted to on the other blog so here's some more flowers. Aren't they beautiful. So fresh and alive and new!

The Winter has past and Spring has Sprung!

Here's some pictures I took today with my digatal camera. Enjoy! We're in the beginning of spring. You can tell that there is alot of "dead" stuff around but we're seeing the beginning of new life too in buds on trees, daffodils and tulips! The winter is past, hopefully, and spring has come ! We've had some 70-80 degree weather which has been lovely. Come visit!

Are these kids Wired? or am I Wired?

I'm going to for real type a quick post. I need to pick up my lil' sista in like 13 mins. Should be there in 13 mins...

Boy am I hungry:) For lunch I ate a ham and cheese, sub with lettuce, tomatoe and *red onions(*isnt' that what they're called...they taste better than white onions). With mayo, it was good... (think of stomach growling)...sometimes when I'm hungry I don't feel so hot.... I have a cadbarry (sp?) egg in my purse that Krista gave me a while ago, but I'm not in the mood to eat that and all that sugar on an empty stomach... I won't eat it now.

So what's up in my world... I got an awesome deal yesterday. I bought a 17 book series. I don't even know if it's the whole series. They are the Gilbert Morris, House of Winslow series. I've read a number of them when I was a girl, I guess I'm still a girl, but a grown up girl;) They're in good condition and I only paid 25 cent (as some people say down here, instead of cents) for each one. When I have girls (D.V.) it'll be a neat series for them to read...and when I feel like, if I ever do, which I probably will I'll read some or all of it too!

I subbed for the Electricity teacher yesterday. That meant I was holed up in the basement of part of the High School in this massive room, with work stations-(walls to actually practice real electircal work,) and these high table like surfaces, like you'd see in a chemistry room....with a bunch of stools around these stations. Most of the kids were boys. Some of them were BIG boys, tall and BIG! There was another lady that came in and helped some, and she said that the boys respected me. I'd get after them if they needed to settle down. In one of the periods the boys actually brought all the fixins' to play x-box and I told them boldly that they couldn't play that. For one thing I wanted to watch a movie instead and I felt a little weird about them playing games at school.

None of these classes really did anything much at all. So we watched part of a war movie the 1st two periods...um... watched a "man car movie" ,3rd period, about these fancied up cars...kinda boring, and then we watched "Water Boy" the last 2 or 3 classes. Warning: Crass stupid movie. It's bad and stupid:) Would not recommend it. In one of the classes a boy had the DVD "40 Year Old Virgin." He wanted to watch it. I wasn't going to let them watch that. Uh-ah. Nope. I've never seen the movie, but wouldn't recommend it from what I've seen in previews..... bad movie.

Sometimes I think I'm scary to the kids. In some ways I'm glad about that. I may not look old but I'm feisty and I have morals, and I will get on someones case... there's a balance too, I'm not (always) a drill sargent.... I can be friendly and smile too:) I want these kids respect and I don't want them doing much of what they aren't supposed to do!

Even though I'm spouting about these movies, I myself in my own personal viewing need to be more careful.

So here's my "short" blog. It's 4, I need to get going very soon. I usually read over what I've typed and correct some... I'll do that and than I need to scadadle! Chiao! Shabbat Shalom again!

The Case of the Missing Ultra Fine Point Sharpie Permanent Markers!

Boy I'm tired. I worked every day this week as a sub. I'm not in much of a mood to blog much... but I'll tell ya some of what's up:)

My parents are up North this weekend so Krista and I are back here by ourselves... both of us are gonna spend one of the nights at a friends house most likely.

I'll be going to a "Fiddler on the Roof" play most likely Saturday evening that some of the kids from our church's Youth Group are in.

You know what's really random? I'm teething! For real. My left back bottom wisdom tooth is growing in and it's sore and swollen. Last night I took a little "peek-see" at it with a tiny flashlight and I could actually see a little of the tooth showing through. I hope I don't need to get it pulled/cut out! Yikes! It's been bothering me...whine, whine, whine......

And on top of that I have a sore throat so it almost feels like the pain is connected...from the back of the mouth to the throat.

THis is a spazy post... "that's who I am folks, that's who I am (she says as she takes a bow...)"

One time this week when I was subbing, I was double subbing with a Mr. Coffran... and I was writing on the white board and he's standing not too far from me talking. He's complimenting someone on their handwriting and saying that they should take art...so I'm answering his question and tell him that I am taking an art class... come to find out to my great embarressment he's talking to the girl right behind me at a desk... this amused the kids, especially one kid in paticular who laughs really loud.... sometimes during the class I didn't know if the class was laughing at the other sub or with him... i later asked "laughing kid" that and he said "at" the teacher... the Mr. Coffran has a walker and I would say he's kinda "old fashioned" in the sense that he has manners and calls girls Miss. He's a really nice guy. I think the kids take him as a little different, so they laughed at him. Which wasn't nice.

He even did a wheely for the kids... and did "look mom no wheels!" where he picked the whole walker up....of course the kids laughed!

THat was a weird day, I was subbing English for 8th and 9th graders. During my first period a kid swiped my ultra-fine sharpie markers, that were my personal property, off of my desk! I had 11 of them, and a pencil all bunched up in a rubber band sitting on my desk. They didn't get number 12 cause I had it, the little bugger! I put out the word that I'd give the kid who brings them back a dollar and a piece of gum. I'm thinking if the markers really come back I might give 'em a dollar and a pack of gum. This ticks me off.

I just bought these svelte markers...well actually bought them like last week, took em back cause one didn't work on sunday.... than some one took them. They STOLE my markers. I got 'em to do artsy patterns. I've done like 3 really intricate patterns (I should post them sometime.) One I haven't finished yet... and won't until I buy new ones are get my others back.

It was kinda funny and heroic how Mr. Coffran reacted to my stolen property, he took the attendance list from first period and was going to go check the kids out...to try to find the theif. I think the principal ended up seeing him before he got through every kid and the principal said he'd look into it, but I think the principal forgot, who knows. It was like Mr. Coffran was being knightly... over markers... it blessed my heart but it kinda makes me feel a little weird.

I told a lady in the office about the crime commited against me. She said something about telling teachers about them so that if they saw them they could get the markers back to me.

This is the second thing that's been stolen off of my desk as I've been a sub! Man!

Enough about the markers!

I'm glad tomorrow is a sleep in day. Even the back of my neck hurts like if I touch it, do you have glands in the back of your neck!? You know when you get sick sometimes you're sore, it's like that.

Krista and I will probably eat out tonight. I'm thinking of Jalisco's. And maybe sharing a chicken quasidillas with Krista, I mentioned that delicious delicacy in a previous post.

Man I might just go to bed early tonight. Last night I got to bed around 10:30. Usually I get to bed more like 11:30-12:00. And I'm still tired! Exhausted.

Yesterday I went shopping at the Salvation Army again, a little while back I was going in there like every day cept weekends. Tried to cut back on that, it was like I was addicted. Made me a little worried. I did go in yesterday. A lady I know, Carrie, saw the jewelery I was wearing, red dangly earrings and a red, clear, and silver beaded necklace with 6 strands. She was telling me that she wanted jewelery like what I was wearing and I was like "Are you making an order?" and she really was. So I got an order for my home made jewelery. Haven't sold any here in Va. for awhile. Sold a special order, of blue bohemian type earrings, maybe 3 weeks back.

Yeah! It's fun getting orders. For one thing it gives me business and another it says people like what I make. I make earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants (on ribbon) out of beach glass. Hey maybe since I've written about my jewelery I may make some... maybe out of the beach glass. That stuff is neato! Well see... I may be too tired tonight. You know how if you talk about something you haven't done for awhile, how it stirs up the desire to do it...sometimes.:)

By the way Happy St. Patty's day and it's Tasha's 24th birthday today too! Pray for her if you know her.:)

I need to go pick my sister up from work.

I wish I could see more of you more often. To bad where I live wasn't closer to where all ya'll live... well when we all get to heaven it will be alot easier. Won't have to pay for air fare...

Love ya'll, Shabbat Shalom too! Have a good one! Take rest time for yourself and connect with God...

Funky Glasses!

Here's some funky pics of me with my funky glasses. I think i look slightly funky in the pics....
:) Whaddya think?

The frames are kinda mod...but than again you could call them 70's ish or 60's ish...
interesting how styles cycle.

I wanted to get the plastic frames style. I finally got these new glasses and contacts. I Had't gotten new "eyes" for I'm guessing 4 years-since sometime in Bible School...for real! One thing I'm a little bummed on, is that I don't think I got them quite strong enough...I'll be driving and if signs are a certain distance away.... I can't really read them and they're at a distance where I think I should be able to especially since I got new specs. I've gotten a sinking feeling thinking about that too much...it's like ahh, I got new glasses and I still have some trouble seeing... it's bothered me some, but most of the time I don't notice. It's better inside because things aren't 100-200 feet away....

I have a friend in Georgia that wanted me to post a pic with me in my new specs (glasses)...so I'm doing this for you Sarah and all my other loyal fans!

Enjoy! Now I can see you! Yes I am watching you...and you...don't they look teacherly? I look like i should be in some Driving miss daisy movie, depression era.... england in the 80's? oh whatever....:)

"Cheerio! Matey!"