Sunflower, by Georgia O'Keeffe

I've decided to re-do my children's playroom over the Summer. They are old enough now (10 and 12) where they really don't even use the playroom anymore, so I'm going to turn it into a library/parlor (read: a room for ME to read, relax, escape the TV/videogames, etc.).

I've decided very little about what color scheme or decor I want. However, I have decided that I'm going to have THIS print as the focal point.

I just love Georgia O'Keeffe, and this is my favorite piece of hers.

It's lovely and tranquil, isn't it?

The Parenting "How To" Guide

Once again 12Stone's senior pastor Kevin Myers gave an incredible message today.
This one (most likely since it was on Mothers Day) was about Parenting. I've been a mom for over 12 years now, but this was easily the best message on parenting I've ever heard. Right on the money, with lots of very sound, practical advice.

You can listen to the message free online. Here's a link to the 12Stone message page.... just click on the message from 5/11/08 entitled "Parenting" and you can listen to it on your computer, or you can burn a copy onto CD. All free.

Or, if you're not interested in listening to the spoken message, but want the written "cliff notes", here you go: http://downloads.12stone.com/studyguides/2008/ClassicValues/Parenting.pdf

Enjoy. And Happy Mother's Day! :-)

Beautiful "Bella", A Movie Review

Before I even begin this movie review, let me encourage you to go see "Bella" at your first opportunity.... no, let me take that back. Let me encourage you to go out and BUY this wonderful little independent movie. Yes, it's THAT good.

There's not a whole lot I can tell you about this movie without spoiling it for you, but let me just say it revolves around the lives of two main characters - Jose, who is a chef at a restaurant in NY (and who has a 'secret past'), and Nina, who is a waitress at the same restaurant. The plot of the movie takes place over the course of one day in the lives of these two, and is about how their lives become inextricably woven together.

And, it's about the power of redemptive love.

It's a beautiful movie. And it will stay with you.

An Open Question for my Fellow Bloggers

Yes, this is a legitimate question, and not an effort to be witty or droll on my part.

I have hardwood floors in my foyer and, up until this morning, had a house plant happily living in the corner of the foyer. Unbeknownst to me, the pottery my plant was in had a tiny little leak in it, so I've had a small amount of standing water on my hardwoods for a few weeks now. It hasn't affected a huge area... maybe about an inch wide by about 3 inches long. But, as you can imagine, it's discolored and the wood is kind of peeling and 'not looking happy'.

Any ideas on how I can remedy this? (Or even if I CAN remedy this?)
Or should I just put something creatively (and permanently) over the offending area.....?
Thanks in advance.

Signed,
-Baffled in the 'Burbs

Thank You For The Informative Email

Got this one yesterday from a friend who has had it with all the 'helpful' informational emails out there. Thought it was hysterical. :-)
______________________________

I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year. Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel. I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels. I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed. I can't enjoy lemon slices in my tea or on my seafood anymore because lemon peels have been found to contain all kinds of nasty germs including feces. I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the
number one pass-time while driving alone is picking your nose (although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot). Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans-fats I have consumed over the years. I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom. Yuck! I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing. Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason. I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time. I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program. I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish. I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers. I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day. Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward a n email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes. Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains. I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas. I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheist s who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans. I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer. And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwaveanymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life. I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS. I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me. I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise. I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army. I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda & Singapore and Uzbekistan. I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe. Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt. And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg. I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies! If you don't send this e-mail to at least 154,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...Have a wonderful day... Oh, and by the way..... a German scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse. (Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late. )

I've Calmed Down A Bit Now....

Wow. I sure was riled up earlier, wasn't I?

Still am... just not quite so "over the top".

I remember feeling this same way when it became clear how many HIV positive babies there were in Romania, languishing, alone and forgotten in orphanages, back in the 90's.

Absolutely broke my heart.

I wish there weren't so much sadness and suffering in our world.
But unfortunately there is. We live on a broken, messed up planet.
It's certainly not the way God intended it to be, is it?

Evil Exists in the Burmese Ruling Party

Like everyone else in the world, I'm absolutely shocked, horrified, and filled with anger at the Burmese government for their complete and utter disregard for their own people.

The tragedy that is unfolding before us now will go down in history as being almost as bad (if not equal to) the tsunami from December of 2005. The difference with the tsunami is that the rulers of the devastated countries realized the 'window' in which they had to act to help their people was very limited and that time was of the essence.

We're looking at a completely different situation in Burma. For a ruling party to not inform their people that a catastrophic storm was bearing down upon them, when they had a full 48 hours notice, is unfathomable.

And then, when the worst happened, and they're looking at mass casualties and hundreds of thousands of people homeless, with no food and no clean water, and then to REFUSE aid from the international community?

It's beyond unethical; it's beyond immoral. It's evil.

So, we watch and we read the news, horrified, as 100,000+ people will slowly succumb to starvation and waterborne illnesses in the aftermath of this storm. And the Burmese junta will keep their steely grip on power, despite the bodies piling up around them.

Surely, there's a very hot corner of hell for the ruling generals of Burma.

Eduardo Verastegui

I saw this guy being interviewed on the Today show yesterday and, I admit, his looks stopped me in my tracks. And then I listened to what he had to say. He is a Spanish actor and was talking about how he used to be extremely self-absorbed, superficial and self-indulgent, but made a big change in his life, and now only does projects that matter, and projects that he feels will make a positive difference in the world. He said it's 'wonderful to wake up and realize that you're fighting for something you feel passionately about'.

He also talked about the deep power of prayer, and the power of his own mother's prayers for him in his life (which, being a Mom, really touched my heart).

Anyway, if you recognize him, that's because he's the star of the movie "Bella", which I've heard wonderful things about but have yet to see (but will be seeing soon).

I went to You Tube this morning and found the attached clip on him. Once you get past the first minute (1:06, to be exact) of squealing fan "stuff", and get down to him talking, it's really quite moving. He is way more than just eye candy, and is very clearly a man of faith (which is so refreshing - and rare - in Hollywood).

Enjoy the video, and let's all go see "Bella", and support an actor who wants to make a difference in our world.

My Husband's Cookies

My husband is making his "world famous" cookies tonight. He always makes these after everyone is asleep so we (the kids and I) don't creep into the kitchen and sneak some of the dough.

Let me tell you: these cookies are absolutely incredible. (My husband is an amazing cook, and an amazing baker, and he came up with this recipe himself... it's a Top Secret. Many have begged for it over the years but he never tells. Even I, the Loyal Wife, don't exactly know what goes into them... I have a general idea, but couldn't tell you exactly.)

So anyway, he's downstairs making the cookies. Soon, he'll take a little break and go out on the back deck with the dog. Then, I will be sneaking down for a stealthy spoonful of dough (he thinks I'm asleep.... ).

It will be our little secret. Shhh..... :-)

Early Morning Peace

Found this photo on my hard drive... it's a couple of years old now (pre-drought....).

I took this shot at sunrise, up on Lake Hartwell, which is on the GA/SC border. It was a really beautiful, really still morning; the sun was just coming up and there was no one out yet.... just me and some early morning ducks and geese.

I love early mornings. It's the best "God time" for me. The day is fresh, full of promise.... stretched out in front of me like a plain white canvas. Brand new and totally up to ME what I'm going to do with it.

And it's nice to start it with the Creator of all things....

A Poetic Thought from Ms. Browning

Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Cleaning Out Spiritual Cobwebs

Tonight we had what we call "The Well" at my church. It's our once-a-quarter, Friday night service. We call it "The Well" because we go especially deep on these nights.... the service usually lasts two hours (sometimes even longer) and it's marked by lots of singing (our band totally rocks), lots of very deep prayer, communion, baptism, and very intimate spiritual time with the Father.

Fellow believers "get it" when I tell them about it, but whenever I explain to a non-believer that I'll be spending 2, possibly 3 hours in church on a Friday night (and I'm excited about it), they look at me as though I've lost my mind. That's OK though.

Anyway, tonight we focused in on Colossians 3:3, which says: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God". Very powerful verse. We also had several new believers (since Easter) who were ready to be baptized, and we talked about the symbolism of baptism.... symbolic of Christ's burial and resurrection.

And, the most beautiful part of all (at least to me), when God looks at each one of us, as a believer, he sees not the individual, but he sees his perfect, sinless son Jesus. And we become joint heirs with Jesus in God's eyes. (Romans 8:16) What an incredible gift.

Once again, my 'spiritual amnesia' was swept out along with the cobwebs in my soul, and I felt tears of thankfulness and joy roll down my cheeks.

I don't think we humans can ever fully comprehend how much God loves us, but I'm glad we get to grasp at least a glimpse of it.

Chick Fil A Cures Everything

I feel so much better.

A crispy, hot Chick Fil A sandwich for lunch along with a large sweet tea (with extra lemon)..... and all is once again right with the world.

Boy, I'm a fickle creature. :-)

Paying Bills

Why is paying bills so emotionally draining? Why do I feel so "flush with cash" when I start, and then when I'm done, I have a splitting headache and feel like this poor woman? Maybe it has something to do with my gasoline bill, which was $684 for this month. Yes, that was for ONE month. EGAD.

Today's Humorous Photo

Sometimes, when everything seems to be going wrong, we need to look to our friend the beaver and say.....

Go ahead and SMILE.... you know it's funny. :-)