Romance

Today is my mom and dad's 35th Anniversary! THIRTY FIVE YEARS!! Isn't that amazing? It seems most people today can't even make it past 10 years let alone 30! To this I say Congratulations Mom and Dad and thank you for being such a great example to my sister and I.

I often wonder in my own marriage how Mike and I will keep that spark alive. Thankfully in the eight years we've been married we've found that despite the low points, the high points seem to get higher and higher every year. I've often hinted at some ways that Mike could be a bit more romantic, but for the most part he does a pretty decent job. However, in order to continue encouraging him I've found a wonderful site that offers every husband ideas to romance their wife.

Romance for Everyone is a great site in which you can find great ideas for showing your wife you love her, from taking her on a romantic date to writing her romantic love letters. If you are looking for a way to spice up your marriage or show your spouse you love them, this site is FULL of excellent ideas in which to do just that.

As for me, I think I may just set Romance For Everyone as my hubby's homepage so that he gets some good ideas ;) Think he'll notice??

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

Ready or Not?

I don't usually cover political topics here on my blog. First because I don't really get into all of the hype that surrounds political figures and their beliefs. Secondly because it's normally a topic that steps on more toes than I am willing to step on.

Today marks an interesting day in this country's existence. The invitation and arrival of a known terrorist supporter on our country's soil. The thought of it really makes me shudder. I've heard over and over how this is what makes our country so great, the ability to free speech and the ability to protest that speech if we so feel inclined. I've walked that line over the last day or so since hearing this story of understanding why they would want to hear from him all the way to the other side of being down right MAD that they would be stupid enough to invite someone like this man to our country.

I know his arrival is not being celebrated, not even by those who invited him, but at the same time, I can't help but feel sorry for those who will have to sit there and listen to this man talk about what is mentioned in this quote taken from FoxNews:

"When we take a look around us, we are not happy with what we see," Ahmadinejad said through an interpreter, via video. "Threats of war have affected everyone. Continuous wars have in fact hurt the human spirit. If we look at the root cause of some of these problems, we will be able to think about how to build a better future, a more prosperous future based on peace and security of all humanity."

This man has ADMITTED to aiding in terrorist attacks, selling weapons to Iraq that have killed OUR soldiers, and now building nuclear weapons. It is a well known fact that he is a liar and that he is as big an anti-semite as they come! He has been known to question the reality of the Holocaust by calling it a myth and wanting to wipe Israel out.

I can't help but wonder if we are hearing the antichrist himself. Our pastor is doing a sermon series right now on the end times. We've been looking at the "signs" which Christ tells us to look out for in order to know the end is coming.

To hear Columbia University's reasoning behind their invitation I wonder just how much we need to know about the enemy...quote:

"It's extremely important to know who the leaders are of countries that are your adversaries," Bollinger told ABC's "Good Morning America." "To watch them to see how they think, to see how they reason or do not reason. To see whether they're fanatical or to see whether they are sly."

Do we need to invite him onto our soil to watch him to see how he thinks or reasons? No. Ahmadinejad's idea of justice is to kill those who speak out against him. Can't we look at his actions as we know of them without having to listen to the lies that come out of his mouth?

Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, is probably the only one who seems to get how stupid this whole idea is. He said, "I think he's said enough that I find disgusting and despicable." Bloomberg has stated that he will not be hearing what Ahmadinejad has to say.

"So if they say, 'Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, 'Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds." Matt. 24:26-28

The Growing Kitchen Table

Our kitchen table will soon be moot. It was after all made for a family of four and as you all know that is about to change very soon. We're deciding now if we should look at adding a chair and expanding our table (it is a butterfly table so it has a leaf) or if we should start looking for a whole new table and chair set.

Well, Furniture from Home has a ton of dining room furniture. All from the more traditional type of dining furniture to the more modern dining furniture. Some of the modern furniture looks like something right out of the Jetson's, and while it's not really MY style, it's pretty cool to browse their site and see what people decorate with. I also like some of their more formal dining room furniture, but my style lands somewhere in between the modern and the formal.

I like how this site allows you to look at each piece closely. Buying furniture like this is a HUGE investment and not being able to see for your own eyes before purchase is often difficult. This site at least allows you to get a good idea of what you're buying before it lands on your front door.

William Tell Overture for Moms

Every mom should memorize these lyrics...of course, it wouldn't take us long since we say them over and over every day :)

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Myspace User?

So about a year and a half ago I was sucked into this world on the internet known as Myspace. While it has undergone a TON of criticism, I really enjoy keeping up with all of my friends from high school and college now that we're all living in different areas around the country. I've even gotten entrapped in adding widgets and quizzes and all that fun stuff to my Myspace page.

MySpace blog quizzes has a ton of great quizzes and other widgets that you can add to your blog or myspace page. You can create your own quizzes or choose from thousands of quizzes that have been created by other users. You can even customize the colors to match your page.

Did you know that you can post Quibblo quizzes in your MySpace profile?

	Heck Yah! I have done it
	I know, but haven't done it
	Yes, but it didn't work
	Really? Cool, I will try it
	Didn't know, don't care

skip to results

Survey by Quibblo

* A hardworking husband who loves me
* Friends who love me despite my flaws
* Diet Coke
* Crunchy ice
* A God who never seems to stop blessing me
* A full night's sleep!!! (hey...it has been almost 3 weeks since I've experienced that!)
* Whites fresh out of the dryer
* my boys who CONSTANTLY make me laugh..or scream...or both :)

I'm a payperposty!

I know several of you use Pay Per Post and I've always THOUGHT about trying it, but not until recently did I really investigate the opportunity that it provides. As of last week, I am now a Pay Per Post blog. Don't run off yet. I know that some people just run and say, "How can your blog be serious if you're trying to make money off of it?"

My response? "Was my blog ever serious to begin with?" Haha...just kidding. Why aren't you laughing?

Seriously, Pay Per Post is a great opportunity for me. Since I've been posting them I've made almost $30.00, well, once the blogs I posted are approved, I'll have made that much. In a week. Not a WHOLE lot of money, but definitely a start. I plan on using this money to buy stuff online for piano lessons and my music class with the local homeschool co-op.

It's really simple. You just check out their sponsored content, or opportunities and start posting about them. Several of the posts I've made have gotten comments...many more so then my normal blog posts, but I won't dwell on that :) So, I hope that you all continue to check out my blog and see what I'm posting about...I promise that even if I make money on the blog itself, I'll still make it fun and enjoyable to read...well, I'll try at least, I mean, I don't want to change my blog up too much...you may wonder what happened to me?

The days drag on...

I haven't done an update in a while on my preggo self...okay...I'm not sure I've done one here at ALL...heh

I am 31 weeks today which means I am equal in size to a tour bus...at least that's according to my good friend Dana. Love you too :) I have a completely round and somewhat cute baby belly. However, the cuteness stops there...

You see, being in the third trimester in AUGUST (yes, I know it's September already but I was in my third trimester in August...and it makes it more dramatic...so sue me) in FLORIDA is just plain miserable...ugh. It's hot, hot, hot, hot, hot. I can no longer sleep a full night. I'm either up popping Tums for the heartburn or up b/c my bladder is about to explode (love my imagery don't you?). My hips hurt, my back hurts, my belly contracts in a moment's notice (don't freak...just braxton hicks)...I'm tired.

I seriously could sleep for 3-6 months straight..heh

But...I'm about to have a BABY!!! Another little bundle that doesn't talk back (yet) doesn't scream as he runs through the house (yet) doesn't punch and pick at his brothers (yet)...sigh...this is the life...at least for the next 6 months and then he'll start to show himself...heh...

It's hard for me to even fathom life with three little boys in the house. Ryley was only a single child for 11 1/2 months so I BARELY remember that. It's been Ryley and Blake for almost 5 years now...it's kind of hard to grasp the idea of there being THREE of them. THREE!!!!!!!!! What have I gotten myself into?? HELP!!!!!

The Holidays are quickly approaching...ACK!!!

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm already feeling stressed about the holiday season this year. Sheesh. I've tried to get organized, but my life is just way to hectic and well, with this baby belly hanging in front of me...it's just plain hard to get motivated.

It's September already. Stores are already stocking shelves full of candy for Halloween, we have birthdays GALORE, a new baby, Thanksgiving, more birthdays and finally Christmas. Every year as I rush around the week before Christmas finishing up my shopping, I make myself promise that I will NEVER do that again...yet, I continually find myself doing it year after year after year.

I finally decided that with the new baby coming I was just going to get family portraits taken and be done with it. Everyone who knows us will be receiving a framed picture of US. Who would want anything else? Heehee...I kid. However, I really don't like getting something so generic for people. It's not about what I get people, or how much I spend, but the thought that I put into each gift.

Well, now I can do that without stressing over my budget. Coupon Chief allows you to do someonline shopping and save money all at the same time. You can make a wishlist for each of your loved ones and decide what you would buy for them and then browse through the different stores that are represented on their site to find the perfect gift. You can buy CD's using Best Buy coupons or check out Leaps and Bounds deals on educational toys.

Now, don't go telling all of my family that I'm buying with coupons...they just better be happy their not getting my picture for Christmas :)

Week 2: Day 5: Psalms 104; 150; John 1:1-5

Psalms 104; 150 (praise) and John 1:1-5 (the Word)

It is not a hidden fact that I love music. I feel that God created me for several purposes, but my main purpose here on earth is to worship Him...to bring HIM glory. I think that's why today's reading resonated with me so much...

Psalm 104:33-34 "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord."

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

The hymn for today is "How Great THou Art"...Singing verse 4 has always made me imagine what singing for the last time on this Earth will be like...

When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim MY GOD HOW GREAT THOU ART!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How Great Thou art, how great Thou art..."

How Great you are Lord!!

Save the Drama for your Mama!

I hate drama. I REALLY do. So why is it I am finding myself smack dab in the middle of it lately? I am NOT an argumentative person NORMALLY, but here lately that has been changing. I blame hormones...these stinking pregnancy hormones :)

Did you know there is an actual website where you can go just to debate stuff? Political Message Boards actually has an argue with everyone discussion forum. How great is that? So now, instead of upsetting friends and family, I can just go and argue with people all over the world over nothing!! Why couldn't I have learned about this in prior pregnancies...my husband thanks you Argue with Everyone!

Week 2: Day 4: Job 38-39; 40:15-41;34

OOOOOHHHHH!!! I found LOTS of good stuff in here today!!!

I'll start by recording the hymn for the day..."This Is My Father's World" And truly after reading these passages, my eyes were opened to verse 3...

"This is my Father's World,
O Let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world,
The Battle is not done,
Jesus who died shall be satisfied
And earth and heav'n be one."

That though the wrong seems oft so strong...GOD IS THE RULER YET!!! AMEN! No matter how hard the temptation how severe the struggle, GOD IS THE RULER YET!!! These several chapters in Job are chapters in which God is asking Job "did I not create this world?" He often questions Job and asks Him if he (Job) was the one who created the animals and how they behave...

There are several controversial passages in these Scriptures that I wanted to explore a bit. The first being Job 40:15, ""Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox." My NIV Study Bible mentioned to remember that this was being described in a highly poetic and hyperbolic way, but I wasn't buying it...Chapter 39 describes MANY animals in a very normal and honest evaluation of the types they are. Job 39:13-18 describes the ostrich as being a rather dumb animal and God saying pretty much, "I made him that way." Love it. Chapter 41 describes Leviathan a sea creature that my NIV Study Bible says is described in a highly poetic and hyperbolic way. I wanted to do more research...This is what I found so far.

Behemoth - Hebrew for "beast par excellence" Wikipedia had this to say:
"In Jewish belief, Behemoth is the primal unconquerable monster of the land, as Leviathan is the primal monster of the waters of the sea and Ziz the primordial moster of the sky." Ziz is not mentioned in Scripture but in Jewish legend it was a massive bird-like creature.

Wikipedia also says, "Suggested animals include the water buffalo, rhinoceros, and the elephant, but the most common suggestion is the hippopotomus...Others disagree, pointing to the fact that the animal's tail "moves like a cedar," an unlikely description for any of these animals...moreover, some suggest that "tail is a euphemism for male genetalia. Support for this is based on another meaning of the Hebrew word "move" which means "extend" and on the second part of verse 17 describing the sinew around it's "stones"...Many Young Earth Creationists propose that the Behemoth is a dinosaur. Some sort of sauropod is usually proposed."

Other ideas of what the Leviathan may have been? Some suggest a crocodile while others suggest it could have been a sea monster or even a marine dinosaur.

What do you think? I love reading stuff like this in Scripture...

The Boys' Room

So Mike's still plugging away at the boys' new bedroom (aka the garage). We've been going back and forth on whether we want to carpet, tile, or do wood flooring in their room, but I think I've found a solution!!

Garage floor paint!! This stuff looks REALLY nice and you can pick from a bunch of different colors too! I'm thinking if we do something like this then if we sell the house we can sell it as an easy REconvert to a garage again :) Plus it is VERY durable...much more so than carpet with two and eventually three boys playing on it.

I'm thinking if we choose a more neutral color and then get a HUGE rug to soften the sound then we'll be golden :)

Week 2: Day 3: Psalms 19:1-6; 33 (God's glory and greatness)

I LOVE Chapter 33...I think it SHOULD speak to all musicians or anyone really, but even more so to musicians...

My favorite verse is 33:3 - "Play skillfully with a shout of joy" God gives us His best on a daily, hourly, second-ly (heh) basis...Why should we offer any less? We MUST offer God OUR greatness. There are so many people who think that mediocre worship is okay...it's not. We should constantly be striving to be better so that we can SKILLFULLY offer our worship to our Creator.

The hymn recommended for today is "All Creatures of Our God and King"

I chose to record the 4th verse...

"Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in HUMBLENESS (Caps are mine ;) )
O Praise Him! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, three in One!
O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

Week 2: Day 2: Genesis 2:4-25; Psalm 8

Day 2 is covering the Second telling of creation (Genesis 2:4-25) as well as the Praise to the Creator in Psalm 8. The recommended hymn is "For the Beauty of the Earth"...

I chose to record the first and last verses of this hymn as well...

"For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Christ our God to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.



For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night.
Hill and vale and tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light.

Christ, our God to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise."

Week 2: Day 1: Genesis 1:1-2:3 (Creation)

This week's readings are showing the WONDER of God. They also recommend listening or singing the recommended hymn of the day and I must say that I really enjoyed that part of it. Of course, being a musician, that is the way I express my wonder of God the best.

In Genesis 1:1-2:3 we read of God's Creation of the Earth.

I love reading the creation story and I think it very fitting that the hymn for the day is "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" I chose to write down the last verse as it tied in the most with the Scripture reading for me...

"Mortals join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began
Heaven's love is reigning over us
Brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music lifts us sunward
In the triumph song of life."

Check THIS out!

How perfect will this be for me this year? As you all know, my baby is due November 15th. Which will make it VERY difficult to enjoy Black Friday as I usually do. That is, until now!!! Now, there is a website that I can shop Black Friday sales from my computer while I sit and hold my newborn....I AM SO GIDDY RIGHT NOW!

www.black-friday.net also has a place where you can enter your email and they will email you the latest sale items that have been added to this year's list. If you are familiar with how Black Friday works, then you know you can't find out the sale items and prices until you get the newspaper on Thanksgiving morning. This site allows you to shop BEFORE hand and even order online so you can miss out on standing in the long lines.

Last year I spent Black Friday racing from store to store only to stand in mile long lines. No more. This year I can shop all of the Toys R Us deals right from my living room. No more having to wake up at 4am just to make it to the stores in time to TRY to catch the deals. No more having to fight over the last toy that my kids have been dying for. How cool is THAT!?!?!?

Week 1: Day 5 and 6

Day 5: Philemon (Letters), Luke 15 (Gospels)

Philemon

- Written around the same time as Colossians

Characters:
- Paul: author of the letter
- Philemon: recipient. Christian living in Colosse or nearby and the owner
of the slave Onesimus.
- Onesimus: Slave stolen from Philemon and then run away. Met Paul and
became a Christian. Now willing to return to his master.

vv. 1-3: INTRODUCTION. Written to the church but very personally to Philemon.
vv. 4-7: Paul is praising Philemon and thanking him for all of his faith and love for the saints.
vv. 8-16: Paul is letting Philemon know Onesimus is on his way home, but Philemon should not punish him but embrace his as the brother in Christ that he now is.
vv. 17-20: I love this. vv. 17-18 sound like something Christ would say on OUR behalf. Paul is being Christ for Onesimus - his redeemer and savior almost. Talk about being Christ like. v.19 just proves how serious Paul is in these verses.
V. 20: The Greek word for "benefit" is another play on the name Onesimus...I thought that was really interesting.
vv. 21, 22: Paul plays on his friendship and brotherhood with Philemon. Paul plans on visiting Philemon when and if he can.


Luke 15

Luke was a doctor who wrote with the carefulness of a historian who takes us consecutively through the days of Christ. In this Gospel we see OT fulfillment that is not shown in any other Gospel record.

*DISCIPLE is a key word throughout the book of John.
- Pharisees and Saducees were angry b/c Jesus was not only talking with the tax collectors and sinners but EATING with them as well. Eating with a person indicated acceptance and recognition. I don't believe Christ was ACCEPTING their sin, but he was definitely recognizing their life and their value to the kingdom of God.
- Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings.
- Prodigal Son. WOW! I love this parable and always related myself to the younger son. However, re-reading this made me realize in my selfishness that I am the older brother. I have been a Christian for almost 20 years and have often been jealous of the zeal that new believers have and instead of trying to jump on board with them and grab some of that zeal, I pray, "Oh God, help me be like them." Without ever TRYING to be like them. I never think to praise Him for keeping me in his grip my whole life. The father PLEADED with the older son when he just deserved a good old "quite your whining!" The father loved both of his sons. All that was his now belonged to both of them.

Day 6: The Bible Teaching and Marks of Discipleship

John 20:31 "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing you have life in His name."

Why am I participating in Disciple? I want to delve deeper into Scripture and develop a better routine for my personal study.

Why am I planning to study the Bible with intensity, faithfulness, and serious inquiry? It is my duty as a Christian, but more importantly my right to know what God says. I believe as American Christians we take our freedoms and thus our Bibles for granted. We're getting closer and closer to losing these rights so I want to hide His words in my heart so that I can continue to find solace and support from my Lord.