I Got Nothin'

So far today has been a wonderful day. Might be because it is only 9:30 and I have only been up for an hour!!! You read that right, folks! I slept until almost 8:30 am........8:21 am to be exact. I remember the good ole days when I thought that getting up at 8:30 on a day I didn't have to was torture, now it seems like such a treat. Sad that at 35, rest is a thing of the past. My yesterday was spent at Lake's school for Harvest Day. Every time I work at his school, it is apparent to me that teachers (well, the nice teachers....better not say anymore) definitely have a calling......a calling that I never heard. Oh my goodness. It was fun, but I fear if I went there everyday, I might have to be placed in one of those suits and stuck in a rubber room. It's not that I don't love the kids, it's just that chaos makes me nervous.......



I have taken all your comments about decorating for Christmas into account and I will let you know after I decorate next week when I decide what to do. Thanks for all your input though, especially for reminding me about having to dust the ornaments - I am trying to come up with a way to cover all decorations with plastic......or maybe we will skip decorating here and just ask if we can have Christmas at someone else's house....seriously, if you were at my house right now, you would see that I have an aversion to dusting....makes me sneeze....maybe I am allergic to Pledge.

While I have Christmas on my mind, let me encourage you to go to Sandi's blog and enter to win one of her beautiful creations. Sandi is starting and ETSY store and she is wildly talented! I mean she has a God-given gift for all things crafty.......go here to check her stuff out and enter to win a mixed media painting (and no I do not know what that really is, but I do know I love it). Sandi is my blog friend Heidi's mom (The Zawisza Tribune on my sidebar) and they are both a hoot!!!


I don't know about you all, but I am sick and tired of hearing about ACORN and their voting scandal. Believe it or not I am more sick of ACORN than I am of the words "Maverick", "Energy",or "Scranton" -which I would have never thought possible. I say we just shut down ACORN (not really sure what their purpose is anyway) and forget voting machines and paper ballots. Our banks have implemented thumbprint machines for identification verification, why cant we use thumbprints for voting? At least that way, we could know for sure that each person could only cast one vote. God made sure that all our thumbprints are different, so why not use the original technology straight from the Maker to keep our elections honest? Just my opinion.



So, I went to the store called Dress Barn day before yesterday. I cannot go into that store without thinking of this. It does make one wonder what kind of marketer would come up with a name for their store that gives the idea of a cow or horse. Anyway, after trying on clothes at every store in this area, I have come to the conclusion that nothing looks good on me. I either look 6 months pregnant (because the sweaters/shirts are in grand maternity style AGAIN!!!) or like I am 35 trying to look 15 OR like a grandmother. So, what will I wear this winter season? I have no earthly idea. Maybe I will just wear long johns thermal underwear under all my summer clothes. Who knows? I might start a trend.



I saw a story on my internet homepage the other morning ..... the headline read "Heaviest man in the World Marries". I had a dream about this last night.....I was the bride......the wedding was weird. Why on earth can I not be normal??????



So, for Fall Festival (we don't really do the Halloween trick-or-treating thing) Lake wants to be a "motorcycle rider". I am all about homemade costumes, so I thought it would be fun to put together. The hubs and I are not motorcycle kind of people. We think they are really pretty to look at, and we have friends that love to ride them, but we prefer to be enclosed inside a large metal casing while riding down the road (aka. and SUV or Truck - cause we ARE in TN, y'all, I mean, let's face it, there are nuts on the road and I do not want to meet them on a bike with just my jeans for protection against the concrete...I would not look good in a casket or with my limbs severed and laying in different parts of the highway). But that's just us....if you live to ride and ride to live....more power to ya....we will be sitting inside our SUV talking about how cool your motorcycle is as you fly by us!! Yes, we are so un-hip.

Anyway, I went to Smith-Brother's Harley here in Johnson City to buy Lake a t-shirt. I just have to say two things.....#1... Those people at the Harley store are sooooo nice!! They were the sweetest sales people EVER! I thought it would be kinda scary to go in there (I pictured lots of tattoos and big scary men looking for a Harley mama), but they were all so nice...I think they could give all the other stores in the area a lesson in customer service. (well, except for the guy who gave my 4 yr old a poster with a 1/2 nekkid Jessica Simpson on it --- he needs a lesson of his own ---I didn't know what the poster had on it until we got to the car and Kaden unrolls it and says "It's a lady on a motorcycle with big shoes on". I look to find Jessica in a leather 2-piece and high heels (it is at the landfill as we speak). #2.....Harley stuff is WAY EXPENSIVE!!!! When you see your average Harley rider going down the road in leathers and jeans that have the Harley logo-----he is wearing hundreds of dollars worth of clothing! I could go on and on, but this part of my post is already way too long.

Kaden wants to wear the Dash (Incredibles) costume he got for his birthday in January. Which was no surprise to us, but a good thing because it saved us about $40 bucks ....costumes are expensive y'all!!! Which is why I am a fan of homemade ones..... ;-) I usually like to have them dress up as something related (remember the referee and the football player and the State Trooper and the inmate???? Yeah, well, not this year ;-( ) We could have all gone as a biker gang..............

I will definitely post pics this weekend of Dash and The Harley Man......should be pretty funny....we have tattoos and everything....cause we are authentic like that. Have a great day.

Too Early?

Okay, it is cold here, really cold. It actually flurried last night (well, it is going to be in the 60's on Thursday, but still cold now). I am seeing all the Christmas stuff in the stores and it has occurred to me that I might like to go ahead and decorate for Christmas a little early this year.....like next week. So, tell me in your opinion, how early is too early to decorate for Christmas????

Tolerance

Yesterday, our pastor preached on John 2:12-25. You know the story. Jesus comes to the temple and is outraged to find that God's house had been taken over by money changers and marketeers. The temple that was supposed to be consecrated to God had become nothing more than a business and a marketing scam. I can just hear the money changers and evil entrepreneurs advertising their services now, "Get your doves, Get your cattle, Get your sheep.....Come see US for all your sacrificing needs". Jesus, who was and is always about His Father's business, didn't waste any time braiding cords into a whip and chasing out the dove salesmen and money changers.

I believe there is a great lesson for us to learn from Jesus' example in this story. See, Jesus didn't just throw His Holy hands up to the sky in disgust, He did something. He didn't stand by and allow evil to take over God's temple, He drove evil out. Jesus is not tolerant of sin, He takes action in the face of evil. When He met the woman at the well, did He look over her sin? No, He exposed it and told her to go and sin no more. Jesus doesn't overlook sin, He faces it head on and deals with it! Today, our society want believers to overlook the sins that are dragging America into the pit. Tolerance is the buzz word of they day. Unfortunatly, Christians have become wishy-washy and timid in the name of tolerance.

Our forefathers came to America so that they could escape religious tyranny and worship God as they pleased. Atheists would have us believe that our country was not founded on Biblical principals and that the first Americans came here to escape religion entirely. If that were so, then John Adams would have never said "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." And our first President, George Washington, would not have said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible". Our forefathers were willing to take a stand for what they believed and they stood on the side of a Holy God.

Yesterday in his sermon, my pastor made the statement, "As goes the church, so goes the nation". History proves that statement to be true. When the church was willing to BOLDLY stand up for what is right in the eyes of God, non-Christians were not so quick to oppose her. When the church becomes tolerant and quiet, the world sees her as a doormat and satan takes over. Our problem is that the church has become tolerant and complacent at the same time.....tolerance and complacence are a deadly combination in this world. (Tolerance + Complacence = A Silent Church and a silent church is an open invitation for satan to work). We are quick to blame satan for America's problem, but it might be time to look in the mirror and realize that we share some of the blame.....the silent church is also a contributor to the downfall of our society.

I am sick and tired of hearing about tolerance. Tolerance is the root of America's problem. Even in the church (especially the emerging church) we hear people say that it is wrong to denounce homosexuality. What ever happened to hating the sin and loving the sinner? We can speak out against what God calls an abomination and still love and restore those who are involved in that lifestyle. Christians should be speaking against such things, we should even be speaking against the idea of 'tolerance at any cost', but instead we are buying into the lie that tolerance is of God.

John 2 proves that Jesus had no tolerance for blatant sin......He drove evil out of the temple. Today we live by the motto "live and let live". It's as if we have bought into the tolerance idea so much that we feel guilty sharing our faith and our convictions. As Christians, we should not be tolerant of sin and sinful lifestyles, we should be preaching "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". What greater way to show love for sinners (which we all are) than to tell them the Jsus loves them and help them turn from their sin and accept Jesus so they can go to heaven?

John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater" didn't sit back and sugar coat sin, He called sin what it is and called people to repentance. Where on earth did we ever get the idea that tolerance is God's idea???? God's idea is for His people to repent, pray, seek Him, and tell others about Him --- Can we tell others about God without telling them that He hates sin??? Maybe we have become so complacent that we have forgotten the fact that God never changes so He still hates sin (not the sinner, but the sin that separates His children from Himself).

The church has allowed liberalism to invade and we have come to the point in our society where a pastor has to reign in his tongue when preaching the truth (especially when it comes to political issues.....it is only a matter of time before pastors will not be able to openly speak out against homosexuality, abortion, gay marriage, etc). Today, if a preacher endorses a particular candidate for president, their church will lose tax exempt status (well, preachers except for Jeremiah Wright, Jessee Jackson, and Al Sharpton). If the church takes a stand against abortion, then they are accused of setting back women's rights (because babies apparently have no rights). If the church voices her opinion on gay marriage, then we are portrayed as backwoods bigots whose message is no longer relevant in a society such as ours.

Have I mentioned that I am tired of hearing about tolerance? Have I also mentioned that Christians have NOT been called to be tolerant of sin? Jesus tells us to love one another (and yes, that means even the vilest of sinners because we are all sinners). He never said to sit down and allow satan to take over and silence His church.

Is it wrong for a Christian to take a stand for Jesus? No, it is what we are commanded to do even when our stance is unpopular by the world's standards (Aren't we told that we will be hated because of our love for Jesus? Popular or not, we have a duty to stand up for what is right in the sight of God). Is it wrong for a Christian to stand up against the killing of unborn babies? No. Is it wrong for a Christian to say that marriage should be between one man and one woman? No. Is it wrong for a Christian to say that a vote for Obama is a vote for abortion, gay marriage, and the forced acceptance of homosexuality? No. A Christian's goal IS NOT to get a certain political candidate elected, but to spread God's word and speak truth whether the rest of the world wants to hear it or not. The truth is a vote for any liberal Democrat these days (regardless of who it is) is a vote in support of the sin that God hates.

Why is it that when Christians take a moral stand, they are labeled as hate-filled, psychotic, brain-washed, idiots?

The truth will stand when the world is on fire and it's time that Christians STOP APOLOGIZING for our Biblical world view and start speaking out (in love) against the sin that the world loves so much. The devil knows his time is short, so he is hard at work, we need to work even harder.

A Little Rambling

As some of you may have noticed, I have been absent from the blog for a few days longer than usual. Others of you could care less where I have been (and I am strangely okay with that). Things are extremely hectic for us right now so, the blog has not only taken a back seat this week, but it has been in a whole different car. Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging. There I said it....please do not disown me as your blogging friend or call Blogger and report me. I am sure that things will be normal again for me at some point, although I do not foresee normal coming anytime in the near future.







The few minutes I have spent on the computer this week have been spent trying to upload a video of myself to the blog. Now, you guys know that I am no Bill Gates, so even the simplest of tasks regarding this idiotic piece of of junk computer can stump me. I am not even trying to take video from my video camera....I am trying to transfer it from the Easy Share. Which I have done before without incident (which is my favorite video of all time). I even contacted Kodak and asked what the problem could be.....their suggestions didn't work so I sent another email asking them for other suggestions. Cause ya'll, I'm nothing if not persistent. So, if they come up with the reason that all my pictures transfer in seconds but my videos wont, then I will be coming live and in person to a computer screen near you. Until then, look at this picture and pretend it is moving......Sorry guys, it's the best I can do 'cause I got nothin'

I have thought more than once this week, that God may be totally against me sharing myself on video. Oh, there is nothing scandalous in it...in fact, it is quite boring and bland;-), but I am thinking He might be trying to spare you the pain of watching it and me the embarrassment of having you watch it. I fear that those who read this blog and do not know me in person may hear my voice or see me (in motion) and wish they could erase the video from their memory. So, God may be trying to tell me something and keep your eyes/ears in tact at the same time (you know I have a bit of an accent, right?).





Today, after running errands, I came home and baked some cookies while doing laundry. As you may know, the hubs referees Friday night football, and I always bake some sort of cookie/brownie/cake/etc. for him to take and share with his crew. I am very Martha Stewart like that (even though there is usually some sort of fire involved in the making of said confections which is not very Martha Stewart, but whatever). Anyway, I had some oatmeal no-bake cookie batter coming to a boil on the stove and some chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven when I decided to go through the house room by room to check for dirty laundry (cause the men in my family do not believe in laundry baskets or hampers -they prefer leaving their unmentionables in the floor where they took them off). I retrieved all the dirty laundry, folded another load of laundry, and started yet another load never once thinking about the cookies on my stove and in my oven. Needless to say, when the smoke alarm went off I remembered, it was too late to save either batch or the pans in which they were cooked. My point in telling you this story? To reiterate the fact that I am so easily distracted it is not even funny (or normal, it's just not normal, but what can I do about it?).






Do you have friends that preach to you at every opportunity? I am not talking about friends that are spiritual encouragers or friends that want to help you in your walk with Christ by sharing their struggles or Biblical advice. I am talking about pretend preachers who think the world is their pulpit and you are their congregation. You know the ones I mean. You can say you are having a bad day and they proceed to tell you that you are way too blessed to have a bad day and that God does not approve of Christians having bad days. You say that something gets on your nerves and they begin to tell you all the Bible verses that speak against the flesh and how you have to overcome your flesh. You tell them about a problem with another person and they tell you that you need to repent before the church...........am I speaking to anyone? Does anyone know this person? I know one or two and I have to say they really get on my nerves. There is a big difference between an encourager and someone who wants to wow you with their vast knowledge of scripture. I don't think God ever intended us to be on a "higher plain" when we encourage our brothers and sisters. He meets us where we are and He wants us to do the same for others. I know a person (or two) like this and have had this on my mind for a few days. I certainly hope I never come across as spiritually superior to anyone. The things I share on this blog are the things God is teaching ME. I share them to give Him the glory for the work He is doing in me. I also share just in case He might want to speak to someone else through what He has said to me (I believe He can use anyone or anything to speak to whomever He wants to reach). Anyway, I just wanted to say that I hope I never come across to any of you as a preacher, but as an encourager and someone who simply wants to share her love for the Lord with others. Thank you for allowing me to vent on this subject....moving right along........


Wednesday and Thursday, I spent working at the new house --- AGAIN. I spent the whole day Thursday crouching down and bent over. Today every bone and muscle in my body is protesting. I feel like I have done a thousand squats when in reality it was just one loooong squat. Have I mentioned that I know more about building houses than any girl should know? Yeah, well I do.


Went to Belk this week and bought 2 shirts for a total of $4.03. Yeah, I'm cheap like that. After I left Belk, I went to Target and bought a sweater off the sale rack for $4. I am telling ya, my husband should rise and call me bless-ed!!! hahhahahah just kidding (not about the clothes about the bless-ed part). You can see one of the $1.98 shirts and the $4 sweater in the picture above.


I got a catalog in the mail for a very famous company that sells clothes. I flipped through it and stopped at a page that showed these beautiful turtleneck sweaters. I decided I would order one UNTIL I looked at the price......$150 American Dollars. All I am asking is, "Why is cashmere so precious and do people REALLY pay that much for one sweater"????? If I paid that much for a sweater, I would not be able to sleep for a month.


Did ya hear OPEC is going to slow production? Did ya hear that I think OPEC is of satan? Did you also hear that I dislike OPEC very much and I believe the people in charge of it are complete idiots? (This is where my preachy friend would say, Now Beth, you know we have to love everyone, even OPEC and God is in control of everything so you are wrong to even mention your dislike of oil barons because God loves even the Iraqi people and when you show dislike for OPEC, it is the same as hating all Middle Eastern people..........does THAT kind of conversation ring a bell with anyone???? Just checking. Maybe I am the only one who knows someone like this).

The Toys R Us Christmas catalog came yesterday. The boys have already made their lists and after looking them over, I have found that they listed every item in the catalog (with the exception of all things pink of course). Did I mention that it annoys me to no end that the R in Toys R Us is backwards? To no end I tell ya!


Okay, I am off to play with my boys....maybe I will be able to be a little more dependable on the blog scene next week......and maybe I can put that picture in motion.......maybe.

Away

So, today, I tried to make a video blog........unfortunately (or fortunately for those of you who know me in real life) I was unsuccessful. Why is it so dern hard to take video from the camera and get it into my computer? Oh well, maybe some other time. Anyway, I will be away from the blog all day on Wednesday. I am working at the new house that will never be finished all day. More rebar, hopefully no more blisters -- I bought a tool especially for this job and it should make my life much easier.

I feel it would be hypocritical of me not to confess that I let the heat and air man have it with both barrels spoke a little too harshly today to the man who is supposed to be installing our heating/cooling system. The key word there is "supposed to be"...as in paid him, but have not seen him and cannot proceed until he finishes his work. I tell ya that old sin nature really comes out when I am mad; however, after our conversation, he assured me that he will be there first thing in the morning (might be because I threatened to camp out at his office until the job is completed - even heat and air man knows that a nagging woman is like a dripping faucet ;-).

Tomorrow night is the last night of Living Beyond Yourself (guess I need to go back and re-do the lessons on self-control, kindness, peace......okay all of the lessons......like YOU never lose your temper!). Of course since we are Baptists and we eat together every chance we get, we will be bringing food to celebrate the end of our journey together. Can I get a "woohoo" for the Bible Study buffet??

I have noticed that my sidebar update thingie is not always updating when one of you publishes a new post on your blog. So, if I don't visit you, it is because my notification thing is not working properly......computers get on my nerves.

See ya'll in day or two unless Jesus comes back first --- can I get a "Come Quickly, Lord Jesus"????.

Oh and if you want to watch a funny/thought provoking video showing what it will be like if Obama is elected......click here.

Oh So Boring

Well, the heat is official on in our house after a weekend of some very cool weather. I even made vegetable beef soup last night, although the family said I used way too much pepper in it --- I think the exact words were something like "Mommy, my mouth is on fire"...."It burns, it burns" and "This makes my nose run"...........ingrates!!! Don't they know that there are kids in Sudan that are starving??? Anyway, The leaves are changing and fall is finally here. Even though the high will be 67 today, when I left to take Lake to school this morning it was 37 freakin' cold degrees. Such is fall in the hills of East Tennessee. I really don't have time today to post anything of substance, so here are a few pictures and a meme for your viewing/reading boredom pleasure.

Last week Kaden's children's choir sang in church, this week was Lake's turn. One of the songs the kids sang, they also signed (as in sign language). I must say I was really impressed with my kid, not just because he is terribly cute and I made him (with help of course),but because he knew every sign and didn't miss a beat! His aunt Lisa would have been so proud (she signs for the deaf people in her church). They all did a wonderful job --- they have wonderful choir leaders (one of whom might be reading this and is one of my favorite people - and I am not just kissing up either!). Anyway, here are a few pics from last night.





Here is Lake talking to his friend, Cassidy before they sang.....Lake loves to talk.......sometimes his need to socialize gets him into trouble at school, but I cant really say much since I never got a report card that didn't have a check mark beside the words "Does not Control her Talking"...............





Making a joyful noise.




















Kaden sitting beside daddy (the headless figure in the orange sweater) waiting for time to go to his choir class....we had to come early for Lake to practice...and yes, that is a kool-aid mustache he is wearing.


















This is me trying to look like a nice, patient mommy while fussing at Kaden for playing with my camera and not being still - while I was fussing through closed teeth, he inadvertently snapped a picture ---not at the best angle either----Mental note: teach the kids to take flattering pictures of me, not ones that make me look like the Hunchback on Notre Dame.






Blurry shot of me and Lake at his school on the day of the high school's homecoming. Lake will go to a different high school than I did...the school he will go to was a rival of ours.......Even though the school he will attend always has a better team than we ever did do, I still cant bring myself to put on a Cyclone jersey because I am a Cougar at heart.......You would think at 35, I would be over high school..........Therapy? Why, yes I do need it.







So I have been meme-tagged by my friend, Sandi. The rules are :Grab the closest book to you, turn to page 56, start with the 5th sentence, and post 2-5 paragraphs........So, you know we have 2 small kids, right? Yeah, well, as painful as this might be (especially for mothers who will recognize which book this is from as soon as they read the first line), I am playing along and playing fair........so, let me apologize in advance for the following excerpt........here goes:


And THEN!
Who was back in the house?
Why, the cat!
"Have no fear of this mess,"
Said the Cat in the Hat.
"I always pick up all my playthings and so....
I will show you another good trick that I know!"
Then we saw him pick up all the things that were down
He picked up the cake and the rake and the gown,
And the milk and the strings
And the book and the dish
And the fan and the cup,
And the ship and the fish,
And he put them away
Then he said, "That is that."
And then he was gone with a tip of his hat.
Then our mother came in and she said to us two
"Did you have any fun, tell me, what did you do?"
And Sally and I did not know What to say
Should we tell her the things that went on there that day?




All of you mothers (who are bored enough with life to still be reading this) know this book well and can finish the last lines from memory.

For an interesting read on the upcoming election, check this out at Rapture Ready --- scroll down to the second article about Electing God's Way.

Hopefully, I will be back later in the week with something you might actually care to read.

Biden Blunders

Okay, no matter which side you are on in the election (and I think you all know which side I am on), this is funny. Really funny. I daresay 99% of my readers are McCain/Palin fans, but I am sure we have all had a good laugh at Tina Fey's hilarious impression of Sarah Palin (although I am not a fan of Tina Fey in real life). I think this video of Biden is too funny not to share. I would embed or imbed it if I knew how to spell the word correctly had time, but the bed is calling my name so you will have to click the linky thing. Watch it to the end for the most hilarious part.....

To View Hilarious Biden Footage Click Here

On a more serious note, I think little has been said about Obama's attitude toward Israel. God said He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. Mike Mickey at Rapture Alert gives us some insight as to Obama's stand on Israel ...........If we truly believe the Bible and take God at His word, then if we elect Obama, America is in for a rude awakening. The Bible also tells us in 2 Chronicles that "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land". Check out this video and see if you think Obama is willing to humble himself OR seek the face of the God he mocks. I could go on and on with example after example of Obama's liberal anti-God/Bible record, but you already know most of them by heart. So much of Obama's platform aligns with end times prophecy..........check out Rapture Alert to see exactly how much.

It is time for all of us to REALLY humble ourselves, seek His face, pray, and turn from wickedness, so that God can heal our land........it's time to stop thinking selfishly and start thinking with the mind of Christ.


Have a great weekend ya'll.

Some Stuff

Sorry for my absence on the old blog for the past few days, but as usual, I have been performing slave labor under much duress. I spent 10 hours yesterday at the new house tying off steel rebar in our upstairs garage. If you are a woman (or man for that matter) and do not know what in the world it means to tie off steel or if you do not recognize the word 'rebar' -- fall on your knees and praise the Good Lord for keeping you from the knowledge of such things. I have said it before, but it is so true--- there are just some things women should not know about. Rebar is one of those things.



I was going to take a picture of my bloody, blistered, bright red, calloused hands, but I decided it would make you throw your breakfast up I would spare your delicate eyes from such an indelicate sight. Just know it 'ain't' pretty. It 'ain't' pretty at all. (And yes, I feel the need to place the word 'ain't' in 1/2 quotes because I fear since I am from TN, you may think I believe ain't to be a proper word.....Issues? Why yes, I do have them). The cuts and scrapes on my legs along with the aches and pains in my back and backside have made for a difficult morning so far. I was not made to be a day laborer, yet that is exactly what I have become. Dern.



I have several more spiritual posts floating around in my otherwise virtually empty head, but I will have to flesh those out and get back to you with them another day. (Why do we say we are going to 'flesh' something out?).





So, Heidi, gave me this Kreativ Blogger (Award). I wont type out my acceptance speech even though I WOULD like to thank all the little people and the academy. Oh, and I would also like to thank Heidi for bestowing this award upon me even though she also bestowed it upon several others who are apparently equally as Kreativ as I (but I am not bitter or jealous in case you were wondering ---oh and just so you know, Heidi was also giving out the BFF award on her blog --- she must have inadvertently left my name off her BFF list ---- hahhahahahaa ---- I am kidding, Heidi, only joking, and yes, it is at your expense,but I know you are totally okay with that ;-)

I have to say that it is kind of hard for me to post the link picture thingie of this award, because as many of you know, I have a strong aversion to intentional misspellings (Like Toys R Us - Why is the R backwards? What are we teaching our children? Why does it bother me when people intentionally misspell words? Where can I get counseling for my problem(s)?).

Apparently this award comes with a catch (figures ;-) ---the recipient must list 6 things that make them happy. So in the interest of playing along and since Heidi threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't, here goes:

1. I love Jesus first, of course. Then the hubs and then MY BABIES!!!. I love pictures of my babies. The smell of my babies when they get out of the bathtub. My babies when they were REALLY babies. My babies when they learn new things. My babies when they say, "I love you, Mommy". My babies when they do funny things. My babies when they have on matching outfits. My babies when they crawl on my lap and snuggle up to me. My babies when they are learning their AWANA verses and trying to get all the words right. My babies when they are sweet to each other. My babies when they are laughing and playing with each other...........ya smell what I'm cookin' here?????

2. Rehma Words

3. My family, my friends, my blog

4. My church

5. Vacations (especially Disney, Myrtle Beach, and Destin, Daddy, DESTIN!!!!)

6. New clothes.....Chap-stik.....the idea of John McCain beating Obamanation......shoes of all kinds and colors.......jewelry (both real and fake)......new books......bookstores.......free time......cappuccino.......laughing........looking at new houses or campers........a clean house (although I haven't had one in 15 months).....when my kids get new toys that I really wanted................the smell of a new car.....the smell but not the taste of coconut..........specialty shops............Christmas.............fall.................Fall Festival (aka Halloween).................memories of all my grandparents...................memories of my early childhood...................buying people presents.................The Rapture.....................Heaven..................my battery powered scooter....Lake's kick-n-go scooter..........Fireproof the movie..............homemade Heath bars...................fudge...........Thanksgiving.................when I really 'get' something the Lord is trying to teach me...............new dishes and towels (which I do not have,but really need and would be a great housewarming present for my parents to get me).................good hair days..............Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea with 2 scoops of sugar...............the smell and taste of coffee........coffee ice cream.............all make-up............anti-aging products.......health and beauty aids section of Walgreen's.................70's and 80's rock music.........chips and dip...............chips and cheese.............Klaussen dill pickles..............sour apples with salt on them............watermelon/cantaloupe with salt on them.......................salt with salt on it (might be the reason for my hands swelling - who knew?)...............Facebook and stalking/reconnecting with old friends.....being able to strike out words on my blog - thanks Fran because of you I can do this Obama ....................sarcasm................the smell of paint, gas and freshly cut grass...............................white teeth.................casual clothes (hoodies and sweats which are a staple of the stay at home mother's wardrobe - I like to call them "my uniform" - sad, I know).................visiting places I have never been before..........learning new things................FoxNews.................Did I mention my love for all things Disney?..................I suppose I could go on forever, but I will stop here (this is where the two of you who are still reading stop and praise the Lord).

Anyway, thank you for the award, Heidi. I appreciate you thinking of me (even if I am not your new BFF). I am flattered, I really am.

OKAY, my dad has a contest of sorts on his blog, I am not sure what the prize is,but he has some Bible questions posted there and is looking for some people to answer. He wants you to answer the questions if you know the answer (I suppose if you dont, you could either look them up or make them up) . Go over to his blog and check it out ---be sure to leave him a comment whether you answer the questions or not!



It is now time for me to go and tend my wounds.......hopefully I will be back tomorrow to wow you with my limited blogging abilities....................... ;-)

A Rhema Word

Do you learn by example or from personal experience? Sadly, in my life I have learned very few things by others' example. I will be the first to admit that I am not the smartest person who ever lived - not even close - not even in the top 50% 10%. But there are a few things that I do know for sure. Not the least of which is that all plastic plates are not microwave safe. How did I learn that? From experience (a freaky, fiery, smoky, kitchen stinking, microwave ruining experience). Unfortunately, the 'plastic plate in the microwave thing' is not the only thing I have learned from experience. I could make a long list of things that I have learned the hard way, but you don't want to read them and I definitely do not want to relive them. So, let me get straight to the point (yes, I know that is a new concept for me). One thing I know for sure is that when we draw close to the Lord, He will draw closer to us. When we sit next to Jesus with no one or no thing between us, we are able to lean in and hear His voice - not just hear it, but hear it clearly. Ten years ago, I didn't really believe that, but today I know it for sure. How? From experience.

Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking/studying about how God speaks to us. Specifically Rhema words that are spoken to us by the Holy Spirit. I have had a few of those type words spoken over me by the Holy Spirit in the past month (some I have shared here on the blog, others I am pondering in my heart). Why am I hearing God speak so often and all of the sudden? I think it is probably because I am finally REALLY listening.

Last night at church, the evangelist that was preaching in our pastor's absence mentioned Rhema words from God and my mouth fell open.....that was about the fifth time that word has been brought up to me since I began to study it..............when God wants to reveal something to you, He will drive his point home over and over through other people, experiences, television, radio, internet, ......get my point? He will use any tool He can to get our attention, including His own voice.

By definition, Rehma in Greek means "an utterance (indiv., collect. or spec.); by implication a matter or 'topic' (esp. of narration, command or dispute). From the primary verb Rheo (ρηω) to flow or run , as water; and the suffix ma(μα) , a finite dispensation or portion (eg. "charis", grace ; but "charisma", a portion of grace, (spiritual) gift, etc". For instance, Rhema is the same word used in the verses about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:17 "Take the helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the (Rhema) word of God". Also in Matthew 4:4 "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every (Rhema) word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Rhema is used all over the Bible when referring to a word straight from God, so don't worry, I haven't gone all Pentecostal Holiness on you (not that we couldn't learn a thing or two about worship from them).

I guess my point in posting about this is that I wonder if many of us REALLY believe that still God speaks. And if we believe He still speaks, do we believe that He REALLY speaks to us??? As I said earlier, I know for a fact that He does. In our earthly friends/families, when we get close to and confide in them, they are quick to come close and confide in us. Same with God, the more we seek to know about Him, the more He will reveal to us. If you don't believe that God can speak a Rhema word directly to your heart, I challenge you to earnestly seek Him in prayer and Bible study and be ready to listen, because He has so many things to tell you. Things you need to know, but can only hear if you are REALLY listening. How do I know? From experience.

_____________________________________
So, here are a few pics of our weekend. Kaden's Music Makers choir sang in church tonight. I have several pictures, but here is one of my favorites. He is serious about doing the motions!

Here are a few pictures of a local air show we went to on Saturday. The Tennessee Highway Patrol brought their helicopters and did a mock rescue. There were all kinds of planes, war planes, training planes, and helicopters that did fly bys (very looooowwww fly bys). The boys had a great time - boys love that kind of stuff!



A nice State Trooper let me take his picture with the kids in front of his car;-)

The boys in front of the THP Huey helicopter. They got to sit in it and pretend to fly it - I am telling you boys get excited over heavy machinery!

Watching the air show. There were parachutes, sky dives, fly-bys, and all kinds of other interesting things going on.

This one is for Meemaw. The boys wanted to see what it was like for her when she took her wild ride down Roan Mnt. and had to be taken to the hospital by WINGS Air Rescue.

Here is the Huey in the air - good times.

Happy Columbus Day!

All Over the Place

Some of you may have noticed that it has been a while since I did a random post. I know you have been anxiously waiting to hear my weird thinks I think thoughts so, my friends, wait no further......let the randomness begin:


First let me just say that the hubs and I have officially turned into our parents. It became official on Tuesday night when I put the kids to bed a little early so we could watch the presidential snorefest debate. Within 20 minutes of watching, we were both asleep. I remember my dad watching debates or news shows like 60 minutes and thinking how sad his life must be if the thought they were interesting (and I so hoped my life would never come to this, but unfortunately......). Welcome to my sad life.

The hubs and I have really been enjoying the McDonald's boycott. The kids? Not so much, but they have really been very good about it. When you have small children, you eat more McDonald's that anyone should, so it has been refreshing to us. The boys know that we have refrained from McD's because we are taking a stand against their unGodly policies. Then yesterday, the AFA ended the boycott because McD's finally agreed to the demands. My first thought was how great it is when Christians come together to take a stand, then my next was "What? It's only been a few months!!!" It took 2 years for Ford to cave in - apparently they really ARE Ford tough. I told the hubs this morning that the boycott is over and he has forbidden me to tell the boys. Thankfully, he says we are going to continue to get out of eating there 5 times per week drive our point home by boycotting McDonald's for just a little while longer.


In these tough economic times when we have all lost thousands upon thousands that make me sick to my stomach in the stock market, we need all the help we can get, so please allow me to give you a stock tip: Purchase stock in Chap-Stik and in Keebler. My Chap-Stik addiction is only becoming worse - I now reapply at least twice in the middle of the night. I know there must be other people who are addicted to Chap-Stik - surely I am not alone. Also, If I loved Keebler Deluxe Grahams or Fudge Stripes any more, I would have to marry them. Seriously, there is nothing like a little Elfin Magic to make a girl's day. I am thinking that my addictions alone could change the face of Wall Street (just for the record, you might also want to consider stock in Lancome, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, M&M's, and Brach's the company who makes those mellowcreme pumpkins).




My niece Anna has said she is going to change her last name to Zawesome (get it? Anna Zawesome). I think I will change mine to Sold or Stired or maybe Sychotic.....



Since the weather has become cooler, I am back in my usual fall/winter practice of drinking green tea (3 cups) and oolong tea (2 cups) everyday. The green tea in cranberry pomegranate flavor tastes like cider. The oolong tea doesn't taste too bad, but it does smell like hot manure in a field of freshly mown hay--they say it will help stop the aging process. At this point I am willing to try anything (well, anything except exercise). Maybe you should also buy stock in any company that makes anti-aging products - I tend to purchase those type things --- alot. Oh, and I dont think mown is really a word, but as you know that never stops me - some of my most effective words are ones I made up.

Does the way Obama says the word "Pakistan" make anyone else extremely nervous?

For the past few months, I have been working on teaching Kaden to read (and yes, I know he is only 4, but I like to challenge my children as much as possible - did I tell you he has been riding a bike without training wheels for quite some time???? ;-). Every time we work on 'b' words, he always mentions 'bolleyball'. I cannot convince him that it is volleyball not bolleyball. He keeps telling me that he watched 'beach bolleyball' on the Olympics and he KNOWS it is pronounced 'bolleyball'. All -rightey then.


Last night on our local news, one of the headlines was "Relief at the Pump". Relief???? Are you even kidding me? $1.50 for a gallon of gas? That's relief. $3.20? That is still robbery no matter how you look at it! And I never consider it a relief to be robbed whether it is legally or illegally.





I have been reading how much money has been spent by each candidate on their presidential campaigns. It occurred to me that if they had donated that money to the government, they could have bailed out the sleazy, cheating, money stealing banks themselves......They spent over $3 million on the set at Belmont in Nashville for the last debate........I don't think anyone really noticed the set......hard to see it when you are asleep. Seriously, does anyone else think it is ridiculous that they spend so much on campaigns????





Have I mentioned lately that I would rather wash my whole body in poop-scented soap EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE than watch 5 minutes of "The View"?





Have you noticed that Brooke Shields is on every commercial lately? She advertises for toothpaste, Volkswagen vans and all kinds of other stuff. I saw her on an ad in a magazine the other day. Beside her picture it said "Brooke Shields, Actress/Humanitarian". What does one have to do to be labeled a humanitarian? Wikipedia says that a humanitarian is "Humanitarianism is based on a view that all human beings deserve respect and dignity and should be treated as such". I believe all people deserve respect (well most all people). Maybe that makes me a semi-humanitarian. From this point forward, I would appreciate you addressing me as Beth, mother/semi-humanitarian. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.





Seriously, I love Sarah Palin (like you didn't already know that), but If I hear the words 'maverick", 'ruffling feathers', Scranton, or 'energy-rich' again, I might start peeling my skin off inch by inch!


So, now I am off to the kitchen (where fires and other disasters happen frequently) to prepare some wonderful confections for the hubs to take to his ballgame tonight. Yep, I'm like Martha Stewart (only I burn things and I haven't been in jail).

A Quick Fix

As you read this, please know that I am probably slaving away at the house that will never be finished new house. While you are sitting in a cushy chair in front of your computer, I am probably lifting objects that are way too heavy for me to lift (even though I AM freakishly strong - just ask my husband). While you take a sip of your mocha latte, I am most likely shoveling gravel and various other types of rock & debris with a back that is still not completely over my last epidural (or my first epidural for that matter). As you surf the internet, just know that the callouses on my hands are becoming much more pronounced and the short nails that I had yesterday are now in the quick. Just thought you should know, please feel sorry pray for me.

Anyway, I have been in a state of 'discouragement' much of the time over the past couple of weeks. Nothing terrible has happened in my life (mostly little annoyances), but for some reason, I have found myself in personal 'funk' lately. This is not my normal outlook or attitude. I might be easily distracted, but not easily distraught. My mood is usually pretty upbeat, so depression is not something I have ever really had to deal with (and I use the term depression loosely - I don't want to make light of depression because I know there are people who are clinically and seriously depressed - that is not me).

So, yesterday as I was in the car line waiting to pick Lake up from school, I was praying for some deliverance from this funk and in that prayer I said, "Lord, you know these feelings of despair that I have been having lately, please take them away and fix my heart". Almost immediately, He said to my spirit "You don't need Me to fix your heart, you need to fix your heart on Me". Let me say that again "You don't need Me to fix your heart, you need to fix your heart on me". That's a powerful word. A word I needed to hear (and need to hear every day until I am raptured outta here). So, in addition to "For your glory", I am adding "Fix your heart on Me" to the list of phrases that I will be repeating over and over. I need to fix my heart on Him so my heart can be fixed completely. I was expecting Him to do all the work by giving me a quick fix, but He had something deeper in mind. Sometimes He allows trials in our lives in order to teach us. Maybe He has allowed these feelings of distress in order to teach me to fix my heart on Him.

I have so many thoughts rushing through my head about this subject and for the life of me, I just cant seem to make them into sensible sentences here in type. I hope what I have written makes some sort of sense even though it isn't written very eloquently (not that you expected eloquence from the Queen of Randomness - especially a Queen who is in a funk).

Hall of Faith

Warning: This post contains a lot of scripture references. Do not be afraid. Do not be dismayed - I promise you can read them in just a couple of minutes. If you have time, please read them carefully (dont be a cheater! - cheaters never win and winners never cheat ;-).

From Hebrews 11

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Can you tell that my Bible study this week is on Faithfulness? I will admit that having or exhibiting faith is not always my strongsuit. I could go on and on about the subject of faith or lack thereof, but I really dont have time to do so right now. Hopefully, I will be able to flesh out my thoughts in a post later this week. But for now I want to ask you a question:


I wonder what sort of God-inspired achievement would come after our names if we were inducted into the Hall of Faith?

It is hard to imagine reading the words "By faith Beth..........." listed along side of heroes of the faith such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But, if we fulfill our purpose as believers, by faith we will do things that can only be done in His power.

Just a little something to think about today. By faith Beth.........

What will come after your name in the "Hall of Faith"?

Autumn At Oz

Here are a few pictures of our day at Oz in Beech Mountain North Carolina (which is about 45 minutes from our house). This area is a ski resort town in the winter months, but for one weekend in October, it turns into The Land of Oz. There used to be a Wizard of Oz theme park here and it closed many years ago, but the town reopens that area every first weekend in October for a Land of Oz weekend and over 100,000 people come to participate. The hubs went to the theme park as a child and thought it would be neat to take the boys (ie. he wanted to relive his long lost childhood memories). I must have been deprived because I didn't even know the place existed --- in all fairness, I am MUCH younger than he is, so it could have been closed by the time I was old enough to go. Anyway, here are some pics (just a few out of the hundred I took) of our day. We had beautiful fall weather and clear blue skies.............




At the bottom of the mountain












The scarecrow and the boys















Glenda, the good witch and the boys













The boys and I trying to stand up in the house that was toppled by a Kansas twister....
















We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country (in my humble opinion)













The whole Oz gang with a couple of flying monkeys named Lake and Kaden

We followed the yellow brick road

Beautiful view

The boys were a little scared when the Wizard's helper answered the door .......

Food is always an important part of our family outings!

We are NOT Wizard of Oz freaks (although we saw several people today that are). We actually rented the movie the other night to refresh our memories (our kids had never even seen it - I always thought it would scare them) we just thought it would be fun to take the boys to the Land of Oz for a little fall outing.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the wicked witch? Yeah, she really is dead.

The Pity Party is Over

So, today was a much better day than yesterday - not without irritations, but much better. Thank you for your encouragement.....sometimes a girl just needs to hear that she is not the only one who has bad days straight from Sheol. I was in tears when I read the comment from my friend Angela. She is not a blogger, but a blog reader. We are in Sunday School together - her husband and my husband make a very scary combination as they are both quick to make fun of their wives --- alot! So, we are forced to take up for each other often - we mistreated wives have to stick together (it's a joke - we aren't really mistreated, but we do stick together). Anyway, after my rant from yesterday, her comment brought me down a notch or two (not that she meant to bring me down - actually quite the opposite).

You see, if anyone has a right to complain (and none of us really do - since anything above hell is grace) - Angela does. She has taken on the awesome responsibility of caring for 3 small babies (and I mean babies) in addition to her own 2 children. She and her husband have taken in these 3 children to raise them as their own so that they will grow up in a house filled with love. These children will come to know Jesus because of their sacrifice and they count it a privilege even though it comes with great challenge. They will grow up knowing Bible stories and singing songs about Jesus because Angela and her husband care enough to teach them. Because Angela and David care enough to pour themselves out, these kids will have God's Word on their tongues and hidden in their hearts. Who knows, one of those babies may just grow up to be a preacher of the Gospel .

Angela and her husband both work full time, so I know they are tired, but they are still at church every Sunday - she is one of Lake's children's choir teachers ( bless her). Will you pray for Angela and her family today? They need an extra measure of God's love and provision right now. She will be ever so grateful to know that people she does not even know are lifting her up.

So, from now on, no more whining and complaining about 'bad days' from me here on the old blog. My problems and annoyances are minimal compared to most. I think I will stick to my usual random thoughts with alot of Jesus mixed in.


Speaking of random thoughts (surely you didn't think I was through).............


So, I mentioned that we went to see Fireproof. All I can say is....GO SEE IT! You will love, love, love it! I would love to go see it again and will definitely buy it on DVD. At Christmas we always make "movie buckets" for the guys who work for my hubs. We buy a large popcorn bowl and fill it with microwave popcorn (for the people who still have microwaves unlike yours truly), candy, cokes and a movie. Last year we gave them "Facing the Giants" and next year (assuming it doesn't come out on DVD before Christmas this year) we will be giving the gift of Fireproof.



Tonight at AWANA it was "tin can line up" night. The kids bring cans of food to give to our local food bank and they line them up in rows to see which team brought the most cans. When Kaden asked me why we were taking food to church, I told him that we were taking it to give to people who are hungry. When we got to church, I noticed that he kept looking around and finally he said to me "Mommy, how do we know which ones are hungry?" It dawned on me that he was trying to figure out who to give his food to. He is hilarious.


So, the bailout bill passed. I should call my bank and see if they deposited any of it into my account.


The following is a list of things I am quite sick of: hearing about gay celebrities (ie. their names rhyme with Gay Bacon and Windsay Wohan), the senate bailout bill, television evangelists who knock people to the floor in order to "heal" them, television evangelists that show too much teeth and too little Jesus, Viagra commercials, anything that has to do with acai berry or hoodia, preachy self-righteous people, not having a microwave, Nancy 'I have come from the planet Nutso Freakazoid' Pelosi, $4 per gallon gas and everything pertaining thereto, my ample hips, building a house, people who are lazy, hearing about that guy who had a baby - don't even get me started, I could go on and on.......


Speaking of Nancy Pelosi, is it me, or does she always look like something is crawling up her pants leg while she is speaking? It is like someone/something has her scared half to death. Something about that woman makes me very queasy uneasy.


Did you hear that the woman who is going to moderate the VP debate is writing a pro-Obama book? Yeah, so much for fair and balanced, huh? I have to say that I hope Sarah Palin holds her own against Biden who is full of hot air ---AND LOUD!! VERY LOUD!!!!


Have I menitoned (today) that I would rather scrape every inch of skin off my body with a potato peeler than watch an episode of The View???


I have had 2 cups of coffee and 4 cups of green tea today........would have eaten some Ramen noodles (chicken flavor) if I had had time.......it is cold here in East TN. We are not used to these temps in the low 60's/high 50's. I actually saw people wearing winter coats this evening. I know you Michigan and Colorado girls are laughing, but we TN people don't do well in sub-60's weather. You know we don't even own snow shovels down here, right?


I am working at our school book fair tomorrow. They shouldn't really call them book fairs. They should be called "Spend Your Hard Earned Money on Junk You Don't Need" Fairs, because while there ARE a lot of books, the kids could care less about them. Most kids just want to buy the outrageously priced toys that are played with once and then end up in yard sales or the garbage.


Have you ever tried to carry on a conversation with someone that was impossible to talk to? Yeah, I hate that. Not that I have experience or anything...........


So, Saturday we are going to the Land of Oz (dont laugh). We live near Beech Mountain, NC and every year they have what they call Autumn at Oz. There used to be a Wizard of Oz theme park there, but it closed and now they have a festival every year (I guess you could call it Ozfest --- some of you will get that and some will not). The actual characters from the original movie are there (are there any still alive?). Thousands and thousands of people come from all over the country to this thing....huh? No, really they apparently have nothing better to do. Anyway, when the hubs was little, he went to this theme park and has fond memories so he has begged me to take the boys since Lake was 2. I tried to keep from reminding hubs that it was coming up, but several people mentioned it to him, so we are going.......I like Beech Mnt --- when there is snow --- not sure about it in October. My boys have never even watched the Wizard of Oz - I always thought it was too scary for them (tornadoes, wicked witches, munchkins, poppy fields, not to mention the Wizard himself). I suppose I should rent the movie for them or they will have no idea what on earth we are doing. It is not our usual type Saturday outing.........Our neighbor went last year and he said it was really neat --- I am more than a little cynical, but willing to go since it means a day away from building a house and running errands. I will be sure to take lots of pictures as I know you will be waiting anxiously to see my children with the tin man.



Well, I suppose I have bored you enough (the two of you left reading - you had too much coffee today, huh?) It is now time for me to go fall asleep while watching the 11:00 news..........have I mentioned that I am not my best at 6 am ---- why cant school start around 10 am ????