25 Random Things

The few of you who read this blog probably have facebook and have already read this - but here it is again. If you've read this and haven't yet done your own list - consider yourself tagged...

1. I am an introvert. (Yes – really)
2. I have been collecting postcards since I was 7 years old.
3. My favorite types of food are Sushi, Thai, and Moroccan.
4. Most people think I am younger than both of my sisters. I am actually the middle child. Explains a lot, huh?
5. I love baseball. I can watch it in person or on t.v. – I’ll even listen to it on the radio. Let me reiterate – I love baseball.
6. It’s not that I don’t like salad – I like all the stuff that goes in salad – I just don’t like lettuce.
7. I believe every country should have a siesta time in the afternoon.
8. Car rule #1 got broken a long time ago (with this car and the last one).
9. I would prefer to have double-crust peach cobbler for my birthday every year rather than cake.
10. I believe that taking out the trash and mowing the lawn should be a man’s job.
11. I have had 72 stitches (or staples) in my lifetime.
12. I had a benign brain tumor removed in 1994. As a result I am missing about 30% of my peripheral vision in both eyes.
13. I should change dentists so that the office would be closer to my house – but I don’t - because my dentist is cute.
14. If I had a choice of doing anything I wanted with 2 or 3 hours of free time, I would sit and read a book. Well – maybe I’d go to a movie.
15. I have been on one blind date – a blind date I didn’t know I was going on until he showed up at the door (as set up by a ‘secret sister’ at church).
16. I am very allergic to cats.
17. I teach bible class for the 4 year olds through Kindergarten on Sunday mornings with my brother-in-law. On Sunday evenings I teach a high school girls’ church small group. Therefore – I have not been to an adult bible class in at least 11 years.
18. I would choose a SuDoKu puzzle any day over a cross-word puzzle.
19. My friend, Stacey, and I compete to see who can get the most points on their ‘Regal’ points card.
20. I am not a morning person - Best not to talk to me until I’ve showered.
21. I have 4 classes remaining to complete a Paralegal certificate. I’ve learned I’m a much better student now than when I was originally in college.
22. I love McDonald’s sausage burritos for breakfast.
23. I have white-water rafted down the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge in Colorado (with Class 4 and 5 rapids).
24. My beverage of choice is generally a Diet Coke – unless I happen to be in Baker City, Oregon – then I want a Chai Tea Latte from the “Little Pig.”
25. I am the favorite aunt.

New uses for YouTube

So - apparently the Pope has his own YouTube channel now. Though this does not surprise me, does kind of entertains me. I mean - this is the church that notifies people of how the vote for a new pope has turned out by sending "smoke signals."

I guess this means that even the Catholic Church is having to catch up to modern times.

My YouTube favorite though has to be the sketches from Blank Page Productions. They always make me laugh! I highly recommend watching just a few. One of my favs has got to be "Don't Stop Bleedin." Go ahead - Watch!

Praise You in this Storm

Sometimes it's the words of the songwriters that say exactly what I feel. This has been true for me so many times throughout my life. It is the following lyrics from the song "Praise You in this Storm" by Casting Crowns that speak to me right now.

"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

In Memory

Gwendolyn Faye Goodyear

May 29, 1949 - January 10, 2008

The only thing that helps the ache inside of me is to know my beautiful mother now sits at the feet of her Lord and Master on high. I love you Mom.

U-Cut Trees

I love Christmas. I also love going out to get a Christmas tree - and last Sunday afternoon was the appointed time! Dusty, Peyton and I braved the rain to head out to a U-Cut Christmas tree farm.

We arrived at a small "mom-and-pop" tree farm - and just in time, the rain abated! We were handed a saw and a plastic bag (for kneeling on) and told, "Any tree just $20." Really? That's even cheaper than last year!

It didn't take us long to realize that their trees were probably so cheap because most of them were overgrown. After some scrounging, we found a nice 6 foot tree for Gail's family. It took a while longer to find one for Dusty's family. We were looking for a taller tree - of which there were plenty. We finally found the one we wanted - knew it was a "little" tall but figured we could remedy that at home. The owner was nearby with his chainsaw - so we decided to ask for his assistance cutting it down. Boy were we glad we did because the base was approximately 7 inches in diameter! Peyton and I carried the smaller tree back to the truck while Dusty waited for some assistance getting her tree back to the truck. The owner and his brother-in-law went to help and it took the 2 burly men to get the tree back to the truck. I'm not sure we could have carried it on our own because it was REALLY heavy. We paid for the two trees and were on our way home.

On the way home, we kept laughing at how big Dusty's tree was! We knew Richard was going to think we were crazy. When we got back to the house, Richard asked who the gigantic tree was for - and proceeded to shake his head when we informed him that it was their tree! Dusty informed him that next year he'd just have to brave the rain and go with us. But we knew he could make it just right - with a little help from his saw.

So after a little work, the 14 foot Douglas fir became just tall enough to fit inside the house. Now Dusty waiting for it to dry out and then will vacuum it before bringing it indoors (See December, 2007 blog, "New Uses for Vacuums.")

It was a great afternoon - just $20 for a 14 foot tree!

Let the smell of Christmas invade our homes!!!

The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Today is the 75th anniversary of the the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. For those of you who did not pay attention in history class, the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment which had mandated nationwide prohibition of alcohol.

I give you the background on this because of the picture above. I saw this picture attached to an article about the repeal of prohibition and laughed out loud!

Did they really think this type of advertising would work?!

Sushi & Caitlin

Tonight is sushi night. I love sushi night! It's one of the simple things I enjoy - being able to pick something off the "train," waiting to see if they'll make my favorite... It makes a girl happy.

Recently though, sushi makes me think of sweet little Caitlin van der Kamp. Caitlin is the 4 year old daughter of my friends, Kerry and Lori. She has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. Caitlin is responding well to treatment so far and has officially been dianosed as a 'Rapid Early Responder'!

Caitlin loves sushi. After she began her treatments for leukemia, the doctor told her no raw fish. That could be problematic of course, but her family went to the rescue and helped her create her very own 'fishless' sushi! What fun for them!

Please keep Caitlin in your prayers. Here is a link to the Caring Bridge website where you can read updates on her treatment and the spectacular progress in her battle against cancer.

Caitlin's Journey