Ok - after such a long break, I know you all deserve more than this, but frankly I've been trying to decide on what sorts of post you all prefer; sometimes I have a really strong urge to write, for example, something particularly contemplative, and sometimes I could go several completely different ways with the next post. So, in those times when I'm trying to decide which way to go, what category would you like to see more on this blog?
I didn't do a "normal" poll simply because I'd like to know who prefers what, and why. ;)
1. My photography
2. Humor (funny stories from the 'net, comic strips, etc., or amusing "everyday happenings" - Or whatever else may strike me as humorous...)
3. Politics/News/My opinion on world happenings
4. Rants (see my post on abortion) - this one's a little hard to govern, because it just "happens"
5. Reflective/contemplative/sharing of thoughts
6. "My Life" updates
7. Other (please specify if you have other ideas you'd like to see)
8. You really don't care or you like the current ratio of categories.
EDIT: LOL! Elise, really and truly, I did not read your poll until after I had written this post out! What a coincidence, though...;)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
2009, I welcome thee with open arms!
So this blog finally starts a new year! I apologize for the delay in posting over the last month - I was determined that this should be the first post of 2009 (my sentimentality is showing :P). I could make the excuse that I was curing that 50% blogging addiction that a quiz linked to on Mada's blog claimed I had, but that wouldn't be really true. However...Starting college again a couple weeks ago (and having three papers due within the first 3 weeks of class!), being in a musical in which I have a lead role, and catching up on some work (from my transciptionist job especially),I have been extremely busy.
So here is basically what I wrote out to post at the beginning of the year, though my perfectionism and busy schedule prevented me from posting it then.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This past year has been one of growing, of trusting, and of faith, for me. I shan't ramble on and on tonight, so I'll pretty much leave it at this. My faith has grown by leaps and bounds, as has my peace and joy in Him. It's not been easy - in fact that could be said of the past few years for my family. Still, Romans 8:28 comes to mind, and I can believe it with all my heart. I pray that you can, as well - there's such a peace and freedom in knowing that everything works out for the good of those who love Him. And I am so grateful for my family and friends whom the Lord has provided to encourage me along the way.
So 2008 was a year of changes and challenges. But 2009...Ah, something completely new! I'm not sure exactly why, but I have such an excitement, joy, and absolutely ecstatic delight about this new year! God must have major plans for me in it; I don't think I've felt such excitement about the New Year before! It feels like a fresh start. God is good; He is faithful - I am in awe of how He shows me this new each day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What else is new with Notmyown? Well, other than the already mentioned things - college, my job (which is not really new), and the musical - let's see....Oh! I am so very happy! Lord willing, I'll be taking a ballroom dancing class starting mid-February! It's really a God-thing (and rather a long story :P)...I got to dance at a wedding reception recently and absolutely fell in love with it.
Right now the main things occupying my time are my job and college...I've missed you all the past month or so - but college professors wouldn't really accept blogging as a legitimate substitute for an assigned paper, unfortunately. ;) I would appreciate your prayers, actually; not only that I would keep up with my job and two college English classes, but that He would give me wisdom regarding college. My dad and I have discussed my transferring to a different university that is a distance from home - about half a day's drive, but still in Texas...that's a huge decision that needs lots of prayer.
Oh, and in case you're interested, I updated my profile - I finally got around to listing some of my favorite movies, books, music, etc. (though those lists are certainly only partial). ;)
Anyway; Lord willing I will be posting every week or two now...Thanks for your patience during my blogging break. :) God bless!
So here is basically what I wrote out to post at the beginning of the year, though my perfectionism and busy schedule prevented me from posting it then.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This past year has been one of growing, of trusting, and of faith, for me. I shan't ramble on and on tonight, so I'll pretty much leave it at this. My faith has grown by leaps and bounds, as has my peace and joy in Him. It's not been easy - in fact that could be said of the past few years for my family. Still, Romans 8:28 comes to mind, and I can believe it with all my heart. I pray that you can, as well - there's such a peace and freedom in knowing that everything works out for the good of those who love Him. And I am so grateful for my family and friends whom the Lord has provided to encourage me along the way.
So 2008 was a year of changes and challenges. But 2009...Ah, something completely new! I'm not sure exactly why, but I have such an excitement, joy, and absolutely ecstatic delight about this new year! God must have major plans for me in it; I don't think I've felt such excitement about the New Year before! It feels like a fresh start. God is good; He is faithful - I am in awe of how He shows me this new each day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What else is new with Notmyown? Well, other than the already mentioned things - college, my job (which is not really new), and the musical - let's see....Oh! I am so very happy! Lord willing, I'll be taking a ballroom dancing class starting mid-February! It's really a God-thing (and rather a long story :P)...I got to dance at a wedding reception recently and absolutely fell in love with it.
Right now the main things occupying my time are my job and college...I've missed you all the past month or so - but college professors wouldn't really accept blogging as a legitimate substitute for an assigned paper, unfortunately. ;) I would appreciate your prayers, actually; not only that I would keep up with my job and two college English classes, but that He would give me wisdom regarding college. My dad and I have discussed my transferring to a different university that is a distance from home - about half a day's drive, but still in Texas...that's a huge decision that needs lots of prayer.
Oh, and in case you're interested, I updated my profile - I finally got around to listing some of my favorite movies, books, music, etc. (though those lists are certainly only partial). ;)
Anyway; Lord willing I will be posting every week or two now...Thanks for your patience during my blogging break. :) God bless!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
...Oh, and since 'The Editrix' tagged me this time... :)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Goodness, I'd be happy for the gift, regardless of how it was wrapped! Oh, fine - I have to say that I do definitely prefer wrapping paper.
2. Real or fake tree? Well, we have usually used a fake tree in the past - we only used a real Christmas tree once, I think, and it was when I was quite young. But I'm willing to try a real tree again anytime! ;)
3. When do you put up a tree? Usually either Thanksgiving day, or that weekend.
4. When do you take it down? Usually sometime in January, though there have probably been a few years where it managed to stay up 'til February. ;)
5. Do you like eggnog? Hmm, I don't think so, but it's been a long time since I tasted it - then again, as it's raw egg, it doesn't sound very appetizing to me. :P
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I really do not know. Does salvation count (the gift of Jesus)?
7. Hardest person to buy for? Probably my dad - he seems to always buy what he needs before giving others a chance to buy it for him!
8. Easiest person to buy for? My siblings, in general. ;)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? 3 or 4, actually. :P
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, definitely. I love letters!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Umm....N/A? There was one year when I got a pair of tennis shoes that I picked out myself, but still; I didn't have to buy them!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Well the first Christmas movie we usually watch every year is 'The Santa Clause,' and I also enjoy 'It's a Wonderful Life.'
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When my schedule allows - sometimes in October or November, and sometimes (like this year) not until a couple weeks before Christmas.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Oh, I'm sure I have.
15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas FUDGE! :D And a lot of other things. :P
16. Lights on the tree? Of course!
17. Favourite Christmas song? I don't like picking favorites, "doggonit"! Let's see...O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Little Drummer Boy, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Carol of the Bells...Shall I go on?
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We've celebrated Christmas at home every year thus far, I think.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Let's see if I can: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...and Rudolph? :P I just sang the song in my head to remember them. ;)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We don't always have a tree topper, actually - but when we do, it's usually a star.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning - stockings first (our parents hide them and we run all over the house to find them), then breakfast, and after that we open presents.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? How stressful it has become for the majority of society (and the feeling of obligation some people have about giving; giving is supposed to be such a joyful thing!) - and how commercialized it is, but that's pretty much inevitable.
23. Favourite Ornament theme or color? Couldn't decide that! Depends on the ornament.
24. Favourite for Christmas dinner? Our honey-roasted ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and whatever else is made for the meal! :)
25. Favourite Decorations? Hmm...Again, I don't have a "favorite" decoration, but I love the lighted garlands and the bows on the staircase.
26. What do you want for Christmas this year? Make that past tense, since Christmas is almost over for this year! :P There was actually almost nothing in particular that I really wanted. I was pleasantly surprised (and it's not easy to surprise me - somehow I almost always manage to find things out!). I got a nice little digital camera of my own that I can take with me wherever I go, several CDs, a book (David Copperfield), and a small notebook from my four year old sister. :)
By the way, there's something that happened last week that I just have to tell. I had just finished a piano lesson with one of my students (an 11 year old boy of the rather serious, in-charge, and sharp sort), and leaning on the back of their baby grand piano as I wrote in his assignment book I asked him, "So Joe, if you could have any one thing for Christmas, what would it be?" His answer made me look up from my writing. He said, "Well, there's nothing really that I need. But if I could have one thing, it'd probably be a thousand dollars to spend any way I want for the Sudanese victims." Wow. Talk about humbling.
My little sister has also insisted this year that we must have a birthday cake for Jesus - such a cute thought from a four year old. :)
I would love to give each and every one of you gifts - but this Christmas a hug will have to suffice. So, if you read this, consider yourself *hugged*. :)
I hope you all had a very, very Merry Christmas - a blessed and joyful one full of His love. I'm so thankful for you!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Goodness, I'd be happy for the gift, regardless of how it was wrapped! Oh, fine - I have to say that I do definitely prefer wrapping paper.
2. Real or fake tree? Well, we have usually used a fake tree in the past - we only used a real Christmas tree once, I think, and it was when I was quite young. But I'm willing to try a real tree again anytime! ;)
3. When do you put up a tree? Usually either Thanksgiving day, or that weekend.
4. When do you take it down? Usually sometime in January, though there have probably been a few years where it managed to stay up 'til February. ;)
5. Do you like eggnog? Hmm, I don't think so, but it's been a long time since I tasted it - then again, as it's raw egg, it doesn't sound very appetizing to me. :P
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I really do not know. Does salvation count (the gift of Jesus)?
7. Hardest person to buy for? Probably my dad - he seems to always buy what he needs before giving others a chance to buy it for him!
8. Easiest person to buy for? My siblings, in general. ;)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? 3 or 4, actually. :P
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, definitely. I love letters!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Umm....N/A? There was one year when I got a pair of tennis shoes that I picked out myself, but still; I didn't have to buy them!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Well the first Christmas movie we usually watch every year is 'The Santa Clause,' and I also enjoy 'It's a Wonderful Life.'
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When my schedule allows - sometimes in October or November, and sometimes (like this year) not until a couple weeks before Christmas.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Oh, I'm sure I have.
15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas FUDGE! :D And a lot of other things. :P
16. Lights on the tree? Of course!
17. Favourite Christmas song? I don't like picking favorites, "doggonit"! Let's see...O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Little Drummer Boy, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Carol of the Bells...Shall I go on?
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We've celebrated Christmas at home every year thus far, I think.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Let's see if I can: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...and Rudolph? :P I just sang the song in my head to remember them. ;)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We don't always have a tree topper, actually - but when we do, it's usually a star.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning - stockings first (our parents hide them and we run all over the house to find them), then breakfast, and after that we open presents.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? How stressful it has become for the majority of society (and the feeling of obligation some people have about giving; giving is supposed to be such a joyful thing!) - and how commercialized it is, but that's pretty much inevitable.
23. Favourite Ornament theme or color? Couldn't decide that! Depends on the ornament.
24. Favourite for Christmas dinner? Our honey-roasted ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and whatever else is made for the meal! :)
25. Favourite Decorations? Hmm...Again, I don't have a "favorite" decoration, but I love the lighted garlands and the bows on the staircase.
26. What do you want for Christmas this year? Make that past tense, since Christmas is almost over for this year! :P There was actually almost nothing in particular that I really wanted. I was pleasantly surprised (and it's not easy to surprise me - somehow I almost always manage to find things out!). I got a nice little digital camera of my own that I can take with me wherever I go, several CDs, a book (David Copperfield), and a small notebook from my four year old sister. :)
By the way, there's something that happened last week that I just have to tell. I had just finished a piano lesson with one of my students (an 11 year old boy of the rather serious, in-charge, and sharp sort), and leaning on the back of their baby grand piano as I wrote in his assignment book I asked him, "So Joe, if you could have any one thing for Christmas, what would it be?" His answer made me look up from my writing. He said, "Well, there's nothing really that I need. But if I could have one thing, it'd probably be a thousand dollars to spend any way I want for the Sudanese victims." Wow. Talk about humbling.
My little sister has also insisted this year that we must have a birthday cake for Jesus - such a cute thought from a four year old. :)
I would love to give each and every one of you gifts - but this Christmas a hug will have to suffice. So, if you read this, consider yourself *hugged*. :)
I hope you all had a very, very Merry Christmas - a blessed and joyful one full of His love. I'm so thankful for you!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Undying Love
"It is a marvel to me why God allows characters like mine to defile His Church. I can only account for it with the thought that if I ever am perfected, I shall be a great honor to His name...The time may come when those who know me now, crude, childish, incomplete, will look upon me with amazement, saying, "What hath God wrought!" If I knew such a time would never come, I should want to flee into the holes and caves of the earth." -Stepping Heavenward, by Mrs. E. Prentiss
Do you ever feel like that? Please tell me I'm not the only one. I have felt that way so many times over the past few months - I despaired of ever being who I know I should be (and can be, with the Lord's help), but the Holy Spirit reminds me of how far God has brought me already. I wanted to just give up, but the Holy Spirit always encourages me. I was lonely, but the Holy Spirit always comforts me and has shown me once again how blessed I am to have my family. I was tempted to "beat myself over the head" for one thing or another that might have caused others pain, but the Holy Spirit offers forgiveness and peace. As I sit here pondering, tears flood my eyes; probably in part just because I'm an emotional teenager, but looking back over the past few months...God has been testing me. I'm afraid I have not successfully passed His tests - I suppose only He can answer that, however. Honestly I don't know that I can tell you what the purpose of the tests are - the extremely painful and confusing trials - but I can go on, because I know that I know that I know they are for my good. Somewhere along the road, someday soon, I will stand on a hill and look down over the path He chose for me and say with a smile and joyful tears, "I see!" Someday soon, I will be shown the whole front of the tapestry He is weaving, and will stand in awe of its beauty and perfection, in a way I can't fathom right now.
I know that it's worth it - trusting Him. It is a journey. I have had to put things into His hands about which I care very much: relationships, school, my future, even the words I speak and the thoughts I entertain...And I have to keep giving them to Him. It's as if, just when I think I have released something, I realize that I'm really still holding on to it, insisting that I have control over this aspect or that. When will I realize that He loves me more than I love myself or anyone else? That He knows what will bring me joy and satisfaction; He knows me better than I know myself. He knows where I am best suited for Him, and He knows how to get me there. His ways are so much higher, His thoughts not our thoughts. A way may seem right to me, and maybe it is - or maybe He has a better path; who am I to judge it?
Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. ~Victor Hugo
My soul has been on its knees much as of late; both in pain and gratitude. He gives me so many blessings I do not deserve. When trials come, shall we focus our thoughts on the light that we know is with us? For it is only through the night that one can reach the morning, and it may be that our time in "the dark room of faith" will prove to be the moment before the light begins shining most brightly.
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand..." Romans 13:12a
Friday, November 28, 2008
Randomly Tagged
Spencer tagged me to post "15 random facts that I'm not afraid to admit about myself."
(Oh, and happy belated Thanksgiving, by the way!)
1. This is the first time I've been tagged in the blogging world (and I've been in it for almost 3 years thus far!).
2. You know the first letter in the famous "Disney" signature? Well I didn't realize that that was actually a "D" until...Well until earlier this year, I think.
3. As far as credits go, I'm almost a second-semester college sophomore.
4. I looove applesauce, but my favorite fruit is kiwi fruit (in America we just call them kiwis, but I've got NZers that read my blog, so....I thought a clarification was necessary ;) ).
5. One of my brothers has told me several times that (for some strange reason) if I were a cat, I would look like my own cat, Faith...Hmmm.
6. I used to be extremely ticklish, but now there are only a few people who can tickle me 'til I laugh hysterically (my dad especially).
7. I really do not like it when people start to tell or ask something, and then say "Nevermind."
8. I'm left-handed, in case you didn't already know by reading that piece I wrote for Mada's blog last year.
9. My family is very health conscious. That means, among other things, that as a general rule we don't use a microwave, we don't eat things that have HFCS or MSG or partially hydrogenated oils in them, and even most of our household cleaners are natural.
10. I shocked my cousin earlier this week by telling her that we had actually "slept in" that day.
11. One of my brothers (the one that is younger than me by 5 years) is now taller than me and has feet that must be almost twice as large as mine (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration).
12. I love the outdoors, and I like to walk in the rain.
13. I've heard some people say that they thought the first Narnia (directed by Andrew Adamson) was boring - well I happen to LOVE that movie. So there.
14. It's not unusual for me to get extremely chilly at night, so I sleep with quite a few blankets over my sheets - I think there are four layers of blankets and comforters on my bed right now (but remember that it's winter here at the moment).
15. We watched Walle recently - another film to add to Pixar's list of total successes!
As for tagging other people....Hmm. I suppose I'll tag Guitargirl and The Editrix - there aren't many readers of this blog to tag, and some have already been tagged by Spencer. ;)
I apologize in advance if my next post is not on schedule - I have so much work to do at the moment...I'm hoping that (Lord willing) I can get caught up this weekend, but I thought I should warn you just in case. Maybe some more photography will be in the next post? We shall see.
I thank God for you - may He bless and keep you. :)
(Oh, and happy belated Thanksgiving, by the way!)
1. This is the first time I've been tagged in the blogging world (and I've been in it for almost 3 years thus far!).
2. You know the first letter in the famous "Disney" signature? Well I didn't realize that that was actually a "D" until...Well until earlier this year, I think.
3. As far as credits go, I'm almost a second-semester college sophomore.
4. I looove applesauce, but my favorite fruit is kiwi fruit (in America we just call them kiwis, but I've got NZers that read my blog, so....I thought a clarification was necessary ;) ).
5. One of my brothers has told me several times that (for some strange reason) if I were a cat, I would look like my own cat, Faith...Hmmm.
6. I used to be extremely ticklish, but now there are only a few people who can tickle me 'til I laugh hysterically (my dad especially).
7. I really do not like it when people start to tell or ask something, and then say "Nevermind."
8. I'm left-handed, in case you didn't already know by reading that piece I wrote for Mada's blog last year.
9. My family is very health conscious. That means, among other things, that as a general rule we don't use a microwave, we don't eat things that have HFCS or MSG or partially hydrogenated oils in them, and even most of our household cleaners are natural.
10. I shocked my cousin earlier this week by telling her that we had actually "slept in" that day.
11. One of my brothers (the one that is younger than me by 5 years) is now taller than me and has feet that must be almost twice as large as mine (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration).
12. I love the outdoors, and I like to walk in the rain.
13. I've heard some people say that they thought the first Narnia (directed by Andrew Adamson) was boring - well I happen to LOVE that movie. So there.
14. It's not unusual for me to get extremely chilly at night, so I sleep with quite a few blankets over my sheets - I think there are four layers of blankets and comforters on my bed right now (but remember that it's winter here at the moment).
15. We watched Walle recently - another film to add to Pixar's list of total successes!
As for tagging other people....Hmm. I suppose I'll tag Guitargirl and The Editrix - there aren't many readers of this blog to tag, and some have already been tagged by Spencer. ;)
I apologize in advance if my next post is not on schedule - I have so much work to do at the moment...I'm hoping that (Lord willing) I can get caught up this weekend, but I thought I should warn you just in case. Maybe some more photography will be in the next post? We shall see.
I thank God for you - may He bless and keep you. :)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Echo!
I'm back - not that you probably noticed that I was gone, but I was. I apologize for not giving you all some sort of indication of how long I would be away from the blogging world; frankly, I had rather intended, because of certain circumstances, to take a 2 month blog hiatus. Circumstances changed, however, and I've decided to continue; yes, yes, I know how extremely grateful you are. :P
I'm not going to spend too much time on this, as probably virtually every US blog in existence has already covered it; but I do have to say a few things about the election. I am not ashamed to say that I voted for McCain and Palin - not because I support them in and of themselves, but because the alternative was so utterly awful. Is it possible that America just voted a Socialist into office?! God help us. I heard something that almost frightened me a little this morning - today Obama is going to get his first US Intelligence briefing. That man is going to know the country's top secrets; I guess I knew that before, but it just jumped out at me. I told my mom that, and she said that we needed to pray for him. My first reaction was Pray for him?! For what? Horrible, I know - forgive me. I think that was the first time ever that I simply didn't want to pray for someone. I didn't want to pray for Obama. A man who wants my dad (who is in a bracket well above Obama's definition of "middle class" in the economy) to give more of his well-earned money (nearly half of which already goes to the government) to Obama to distribute as he chooses...The man who wants to legalize abortion completely, who wants to treat with terrorists, who wants our brave American troops to surrender when on the verge of complete victory. The man who's pastor of 20 years said unrepeatable things in church, and allowed that man to baptize his children. The man who's wife said that she was proud of her country for the first time while on the campaign trail. I could go on and on. No, I did not want to pray for that man. Almost immediately after, however, I knew my mother was right. Like it or not, he will probably be the President for the next four years - and, as President of the United States, he will be the leader of the free world. I'm not trying to sound America-centric, because I'm not; I know the reputation America has in other places, and I know America has its major faults. But America is arguably the most powerful country on earth. We should be praying for Obama - that he would make wise decisions (as impossible as that seems - with God all things are possible). Hard, I know; but I think it's very important for us Christians to realize that by God's hand kings and rulers rise and fall - I'm not happy about the election results at all (upset, frustrated, disappointed, and disgusted - but not worried), but I do need to keep in mind that God works all things for His plan, and for the good of those who love Him. And I just happened to read this in my Bible reading today:
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Coincidence? I don't think so.
On a lighter note, perhaps I should do as a friend of mine did and join a 'group' on Facebook that said, "If Obama becomes president, we're moving to New Zealand."
Here's a political cartoon that I found quite humorous:
And here are some quizzes that I took recently "just for fun"...
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I knew that I had a plain ol' American accent - despite living in Texas for my entire life thus far. ;) Now I have to show these quizzes to my Michigander cousin to prove it to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I should have gotten 100% percent on that one - being such a grammar freak. :-/
God bless. :)
I'm not going to spend too much time on this, as probably virtually every US blog in existence has already covered it; but I do have to say a few things about the election. I am not ashamed to say that I voted for McCain and Palin - not because I support them in and of themselves, but because the alternative was so utterly awful. Is it possible that America just voted a Socialist into office?! God help us. I heard something that almost frightened me a little this morning - today Obama is going to get his first US Intelligence briefing. That man is going to know the country's top secrets; I guess I knew that before, but it just jumped out at me. I told my mom that, and she said that we needed to pray for him. My first reaction was Pray for him?! For what? Horrible, I know - forgive me. I think that was the first time ever that I simply didn't want to pray for someone. I didn't want to pray for Obama. A man who wants my dad (who is in a bracket well above Obama's definition of "middle class" in the economy) to give more of his well-earned money (nearly half of which already goes to the government) to Obama to distribute as he chooses...The man who wants to legalize abortion completely, who wants to treat with terrorists, who wants our brave American troops to surrender when on the verge of complete victory. The man who's pastor of 20 years said unrepeatable things in church, and allowed that man to baptize his children. The man who's wife said that she was proud of her country for the first time while on the campaign trail. I could go on and on. No, I did not want to pray for that man. Almost immediately after, however, I knew my mother was right. Like it or not, he will probably be the President for the next four years - and, as President of the United States, he will be the leader of the free world. I'm not trying to sound America-centric, because I'm not; I know the reputation America has in other places, and I know America has its major faults. But America is arguably the most powerful country on earth. We should be praying for Obama - that he would make wise decisions (as impossible as that seems - with God all things are possible). Hard, I know; but I think it's very important for us Christians to realize that by God's hand kings and rulers rise and fall - I'm not happy about the election results at all (upset, frustrated, disappointed, and disgusted - but not worried), but I do need to keep in mind that God works all things for His plan, and for the good of those who love Him. And I just happened to read this in my Bible reading today:
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Coincidence? I don't think so.
On a lighter note, perhaps I should do as a friend of mine did and join a 'group' on Facebook that said, "If Obama becomes president, we're moving to New Zealand."
Here's a political cartoon that I found quite humorous:
And here are some quizzes that I took recently "just for fun"...
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio. | |
| The Inland North | |
| The Northeast | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The South | |
| The West | |
| Boston | |
| North Central | |
| What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz | |
___________________________________________________________________
| Which American accent do you have? Neutral You're not Northern, Southern, or Western, you`re just plain -American-. Your national identity is more important than your local identity, because you don`t really have a local identity. You might be from the region in that map, which is defined by this kind of accent, but you could easily not be. Or maybe you just moved around a lot growing up.
|
| Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests. |
I knew that I had a plain ol' American accent - despite living in Texas for my entire life thus far. ;) Now I have to show these quizzes to my Michigander cousin to prove it to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your result for The Commonly Confused Words Test...
English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 93% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!
Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!
Take The Commonly Confused Words Test at HelloQuizzy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I should have gotten 100% percent on that one - being such a grammar freak. :-/
God bless. :)
Monday, October 13, 2008
Everyday Humor
I don't know if you all will find any of these at all humorous, but they highly amused us. ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ajoyfulheart: *walks in room* *panicked gasp* "[Notmyown]! There's a huge spider on my bed!"
Notmyown: "That is not a huge spider."
Ajoyfulheart: "Yes it is!! Can you come kill it for me? Hurry, before it goes under my covers!"
Notmyown: "Kara, what are you going to do when your husband is gone to work, you're at home with little kids, and there's a spider?"
Ajoyfulheart: *pause* "....Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One evening, when we had another family over for dinner, my brothers and the visiting boys were playing around upstairs (mostly with guns and lightsabers - i.e. Davy Crockett meets Mace Windu). At one point, all of the boys suddenly came running full-kilter into the family room yelling in terror, diving behind and jumping over furniture, and just generally scrambling for cover from something. The rest of us looked in the direction from which they had come, to ascertain what had caused the boys' distress - a moment later, my little four year old sister came walking in, holding a lightsaber in each hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notmyown: "I have a question--"
Grandma: "I have an answer! I hope they match!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*During an IM conversation in which I was explaining to my cousin how to go about doing a particular something or other on the computer that she couldn't figure out*
Traci:"welllll....i don't know THAT much about computers i just know that when you press certain buttons certain things happen i have no idea WHY!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our family was sitting around the dinner table discussing state senators and representatives, one of whom my dad had been to see a while before. All of a sudden, my four year old sister said matter-of-factly, "That's because ears belong on your head."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of my current jobs includes being a transcriptionist for a couple of doctors. The following was on the tape, and made me burst out laughing.
Doctor: "...with phenol and alcohol."
*pause*
Other voice, high and digital-sounding: "Be KIND to them!"
(That doctor has a young son, so very likely it was a children's video playing, or something of that sort.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This one my cousin Traci told us. She and a group of friends went to the theaters to watch Spiderman 3. At one point in the film, Peter Parker actually knocks MJ to the ground - when they came to that scene, a little boy in the movie theater shouted indignantly, "He hit a girl! That's illegal!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grandma: "We should stuff all of our nuclear waste into socks--that way, half of it would disappear immediately!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The family was having a serious discussion at the dinner table one night, and had been doing so for quite a while. Finally a pause came in the conversation, and my four year old sister sighed and said dreamily, "I wish I could stand on my head..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Scene: Ajoyfulheart, sitting on her bed and reading a book. Notmyown, sitting at my desk working on my computer.)
Ajoyfulheart: "I wonder if I were to fall off a high building, would it hurt more to be curled up in a ball, or stretched out flat?"
Notmyown: *turns in swival chair and just looks at Ajoyfulheart for a long moment*
Ajoyfulheart: "What?! I was just wondering, in case I ever fall, so I could know!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My 8 year old brother: *Walks up to Mommy* Mommy, what do you think it would feel like to be a crab?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My 8 year old brother and 4 year old sister, who had just been outside romping around for a while, came tramping in, and Baby Girl immediately sat down to remove her shoes. Her brother, on the other hand, continued to march away, ordering in a military fashion, "Come on, soldier!" His brave soldier's response? "MY SHOES ARE DIRTY!" and she burst into tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone had brought their 10 year old grandson to my mom's workshop that she was teaching the other day. My brothers being gone to a Bible study, Baby Girl attached herself to him and offered to play with him. Ajoyfulheart and I were in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes and tidying, when Ajoyfulheart turned to me and said, "Did they goes upstairs?" I replied that I didn't know, and she assured me that she heard them running up the stairs. Preferring to keep them downstairs, where they could be watched, I went in search of them, and found Baby Girl wandering around in a sitting room just outside of my brothers' room (where, unbeknownst to me at the time, the boy was hiding). She immediately informed me that they were playing hide and seek, and that she was looked for "the boy," as she called him.
"Baby Girl, I need to you come back downstairs. Let's find Dallas [the boy] and you two come downstairs to play, ok?"
She responded, looking at me very earnestly, "Ok - I need to find the boy before he steals something!!"
I laughed, telling her that Dallas was not going to steal anything! and called for him. He came running out of the boys' room - the door to which was about 3 meters from where Becca had been standing...LOL Little kids have almost NO discretion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One afternoon when Ajoyfulheart and I were folding laundry, I had tried several times to start a conversation with her about this or that, but to no avail - she would give a brief answer and then go back into her own world. After one such attempt, she exclaimed, "I'm thinking!!" and then again fell silent.
A while later, I said something else to her, and she cried, exasperated, "[Notmyown], you just wrecked my train of thought and now it's ruined!!"
I began laughing, and she said in a sulking manner, "I know what you're thinking, and it's not funny," whereupon she also burst out laughing. :P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last summer we were spending time with some new friends from Australia, and somehow got on the topic of restaurants. We asked them if they had ever eaten at "Outback" (a very well-known steakhouse chain here in the States).
The dad's reply was, "Oh, no you don't want to eat anything from the outback - the food is...eh...kinda iffy."
We all had a good laugh, then explained that we were indeed talking about an actual restaurant, not the Australian wilderness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ajoyfulheart: *walks in room* *panicked gasp* "[Notmyown]! There's a huge spider on my bed!"
Notmyown: "That is not a huge spider."
Ajoyfulheart: "Yes it is!! Can you come kill it for me? Hurry, before it goes under my covers!"
Notmyown: "Kara, what are you going to do when your husband is gone to work, you're at home with little kids, and there's a spider?"
Ajoyfulheart: *pause* "....Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One evening, when we had another family over for dinner, my brothers and the visiting boys were playing around upstairs (mostly with guns and lightsabers - i.e. Davy Crockett meets Mace Windu). At one point, all of the boys suddenly came running full-kilter into the family room yelling in terror, diving behind and jumping over furniture, and just generally scrambling for cover from something. The rest of us looked in the direction from which they had come, to ascertain what had caused the boys' distress - a moment later, my little four year old sister came walking in, holding a lightsaber in each hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notmyown: "I have a question--"
Grandma: "I have an answer! I hope they match!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*During an IM conversation in which I was explaining to my cousin how to go about doing a particular something or other on the computer that she couldn't figure out*
Traci:"welllll....i don't know THAT much about computers i just know that when you press certain buttons certain things happen i have no idea WHY!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our family was sitting around the dinner table discussing state senators and representatives, one of whom my dad had been to see a while before. All of a sudden, my four year old sister said matter-of-factly, "That's because ears belong on your head."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of my current jobs includes being a transcriptionist for a couple of doctors. The following was on the tape, and made me burst out laughing.
Doctor: "...with phenol and alcohol."
*pause*
Other voice, high and digital-sounding: "Be KIND to them!"
(That doctor has a young son, so very likely it was a children's video playing, or something of that sort.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This one my cousin Traci told us. She and a group of friends went to the theaters to watch Spiderman 3. At one point in the film, Peter Parker actually knocks MJ to the ground - when they came to that scene, a little boy in the movie theater shouted indignantly, "He hit a girl! That's illegal!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grandma: "We should stuff all of our nuclear waste into socks--that way, half of it would disappear immediately!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The family was having a serious discussion at the dinner table one night, and had been doing so for quite a while. Finally a pause came in the conversation, and my four year old sister sighed and said dreamily, "I wish I could stand on my head..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Scene: Ajoyfulheart, sitting on her bed and reading a book. Notmyown, sitting at my desk working on my computer.)
Ajoyfulheart: "I wonder if I were to fall off a high building, would it hurt more to be curled up in a ball, or stretched out flat?"
Notmyown: *turns in swival chair and just looks at Ajoyfulheart for a long moment*
Ajoyfulheart: "What?! I was just wondering, in case I ever fall, so I could know!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My 8 year old brother: *Walks up to Mommy* Mommy, what do you think it would feel like to be a crab?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My 8 year old brother and 4 year old sister, who had just been outside romping around for a while, came tramping in, and Baby Girl immediately sat down to remove her shoes. Her brother, on the other hand, continued to march away, ordering in a military fashion, "Come on, soldier!" His brave soldier's response? "MY SHOES ARE DIRTY!" and she burst into tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone had brought their 10 year old grandson to my mom's workshop that she was teaching the other day. My brothers being gone to a Bible study, Baby Girl attached herself to him and offered to play with him. Ajoyfulheart and I were in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes and tidying, when Ajoyfulheart turned to me and said, "Did they goes upstairs?" I replied that I didn't know, and she assured me that she heard them running up the stairs. Preferring to keep them downstairs, where they could be watched, I went in search of them, and found Baby Girl wandering around in a sitting room just outside of my brothers' room (where, unbeknownst to me at the time, the boy was hiding). She immediately informed me that they were playing hide and seek, and that she was looked for "the boy," as she called him.
"Baby Girl, I need to you come back downstairs. Let's find Dallas [the boy] and you two come downstairs to play, ok?"
She responded, looking at me very earnestly, "Ok - I need to find the boy before he steals something!!"
I laughed, telling her that Dallas was not going to steal anything! and called for him. He came running out of the boys' room - the door to which was about 3 meters from where Becca had been standing...LOL Little kids have almost NO discretion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One afternoon when Ajoyfulheart and I were folding laundry, I had tried several times to start a conversation with her about this or that, but to no avail - she would give a brief answer and then go back into her own world. After one such attempt, she exclaimed, "I'm thinking!!" and then again fell silent.
A while later, I said something else to her, and she cried, exasperated, "[Notmyown], you just wrecked my train of thought and now it's ruined!!"
I began laughing, and she said in a sulking manner, "I know what you're thinking, and it's not funny," whereupon she also burst out laughing. :P
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last summer we were spending time with some new friends from Australia, and somehow got on the topic of restaurants. We asked them if they had ever eaten at "Outback" (a very well-known steakhouse chain here in the States).
The dad's reply was, "Oh, no you don't want to eat anything from the outback - the food is...eh...kinda iffy."
We all had a good laugh, then explained that we were indeed talking about an actual restaurant, not the Australian wilderness.
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