We're out of commission. My head hurts, the skin on my face hurts, my sinuses hurt, my eyes are itchy and watery, and my nose is either stuffy or runny. My husband and I got sick at the same time. He's such a trooper. He just went to Wal-Mart to buy tissues and a chicken. I need to make chicken soup. I'm ever so much looking forward to standing in the kitchen and shredding a chicken for 30 or 40 minutes. Not.
I'm appreciating having an 11-year-old son who can shop. I gave him the list of items to purchase so we can make a Hershey Kiss Christmas tree craft and he'll pick up those items while my husband gets the chick and the Kleenex.
Tonight we light the first candle of Advent. The Prophecy candle. Why do I have to be a mess. My hair is dirty and my eyes are all beady.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Advent on the 30th!
Advent! Advent! Advent is almost here. I love the season of Advent. Advent means "coming" and it's a time to prepare our hearts and reflect upon the birth of Christ. We've put our Advent wreath together, but we need the center Christ candle still. We have our Advent calendar ready. I have our Christmas song folder out and I found a new song which we're adding to our folder this year. It'll be our first hymn style song. We listened to it on YouTube and our son liked it very much. He's not a headbanger. He dislikes all my Christian headbanging music.
The hymn is called "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and technically it's not a Christmas song, but you can sing it for Christmas. When I first wanted to do Advent I emailed with a lady and she told me that I could use birthday candles in my wreath if I wanted to; God will bless it because he knows our heart. She told me this because I was all worried about trying to do Advent for the first time and I had no idear where to start. I didn't know anyone who did Advent. She was real nice. That was back in 1999 or so. I still have my notes from that very first year and I remember (since I didn't know what I was doing) reading them to my husband, our son was a baby then, and my husband, bewildered, said, "What is this? What are you doing?" Haha! He asks me that a lot I guess. Like when I told him I wanted to homeschool our youngest son and he bellowed, "Whattya wanna do THAT for?" And here we are!
I was reading to find out why Pentecostals don't do Advent and it's because it's a tradition and they aren't into tradition. That's okay, I can still do it in my home ifns I want to and I do want to.
My husband has a sore throat and a cough and my son and I laid hands on him tonight and prayed for him and rebuked the illness from his body in the name of the Lord. My husband was real sweet and patient and I think he didn't mind. Afterwards my son hollered a lot of Glory to God! and Praise the Lord! and such, and my husband said we're going to church too much. Haha!
Besides adding a hymn to our song repertoire, this year I'm going to bake a cake, a birthday cake, to celebrate Jesus' birthday on the 25th. Yes, I read that idea tonight and the more I think of it the more I think I'll add it to our list. This is the online Advent calender I use for reference. I'm not positive whether I'll use her Bible readings yet. I'm looking for readings that suit us best. I seem to have lost the set I used last year.
And I guess I should say, yes, I do skip the first piece of bread. It's little! And more accurately, it's the second piece of bread because the first one is the heel of the bread. What I want to know is, why is that stupid little piece of bread always the single, last piece in the loaf. I think it's a little weird that the last piece of bread between the two heels always looks suspiciously identical to the little, dry one that was at the beginning of the loaf and I'm the one who gets to eat it for my morning toast and coffee. That's no coincidence!
The hymn is called "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" and technically it's not a Christmas song, but you can sing it for Christmas. When I first wanted to do Advent I emailed with a lady and she told me that I could use birthday candles in my wreath if I wanted to; God will bless it because he knows our heart. She told me this because I was all worried about trying to do Advent for the first time and I had no idear where to start. I didn't know anyone who did Advent. She was real nice. That was back in 1999 or so. I still have my notes from that very first year and I remember (since I didn't know what I was doing) reading them to my husband, our son was a baby then, and my husband, bewildered, said, "What is this? What are you doing?" Haha! He asks me that a lot I guess. Like when I told him I wanted to homeschool our youngest son and he bellowed, "Whattya wanna do THAT for?" And here we are!
I was reading to find out why Pentecostals don't do Advent and it's because it's a tradition and they aren't into tradition. That's okay, I can still do it in my home ifns I want to and I do want to.
My husband has a sore throat and a cough and my son and I laid hands on him tonight and prayed for him and rebuked the illness from his body in the name of the Lord. My husband was real sweet and patient and I think he didn't mind. Afterwards my son hollered a lot of Glory to God! and Praise the Lord! and such, and my husband said we're going to church too much. Haha!
Besides adding a hymn to our song repertoire, this year I'm going to bake a cake, a birthday cake, to celebrate Jesus' birthday on the 25th. Yes, I read that idea tonight and the more I think of it the more I think I'll add it to our list. This is the online Advent calender I use for reference. I'm not positive whether I'll use her Bible readings yet. I'm looking for readings that suit us best. I seem to have lost the set I used last year.
And I guess I should say, yes, I do skip the first piece of bread. It's little! And more accurately, it's the second piece of bread because the first one is the heel of the bread. What I want to know is, why is that stupid little piece of bread always the single, last piece in the loaf. I think it's a little weird that the last piece of bread between the two heels always looks suspiciously identical to the little, dry one that was at the beginning of the loaf and I'm the one who gets to eat it for my morning toast and coffee. That's no coincidence!
Accusations
My husband is accusing me of always skipping the first piece of bread in a loaf. The nerve. What kind of sickie does he think I am!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
All done
We ate. It was good. I said we should do this every year and my husband and son said, "Yeah!" I was pleasantly surprised the buffet had everything we like and everything traditional: candied yams, salad, green beans, rolls, mashed potatoes, turkey and stuffing. I didn't overfill my plate, I ate what I took, and didn't make a glutton of myself. Woohoo! The men just left to go watch football at Gary's. And I have the place to myself now. I plan to warm-up, stretch, dance, and do a cool down to expend these extra turkey calories.
I discovered the best tip for making a cinnamon bun the other day. I found out if you twist to form one single circle all the way around, then insert your hairstick, then twist your hair around to finish the bun, securing the very ends with a small bobby pin, it holds way more efficiently than making the entire bun and inserting the stick last which is what I always did, it didn't work well, so I never fixed my hair that way. I'm wearing my new hairstick bun style today using this method and it's been completely secure. Woohoo!
It's been cloudy and rainy and sunny today, all three. The lake is beautiful and quiet. I'd say it's mood is bright, yet calm, smooth, and slate grey. There aren't many people in the park today.
Hello to Mina all the way in Germany. My husband has been to Germany but I haven't. He went a long time ago for work.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
I discovered the best tip for making a cinnamon bun the other day. I found out if you twist to form one single circle all the way around, then insert your hairstick, then twist your hair around to finish the bun, securing the very ends with a small bobby pin, it holds way more efficiently than making the entire bun and inserting the stick last which is what I always did, it didn't work well, so I never fixed my hair that way. I'm wearing my new hairstick bun style today using this method and it's been completely secure. Woohoo!
It's been cloudy and rainy and sunny today, all three. The lake is beautiful and quiet. I'd say it's mood is bright, yet calm, smooth, and slate grey. There aren't many people in the park today.
Hello to Mina all the way in Germany. My husband has been to Germany but I haven't. He went a long time ago for work.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
Winter is here
Since the time change it gets dark so early. After dinner, (we eat at 6:00pm), I do my "That's My King" performance and then we do our devotional and now we've begun our official winter read aloud. I read out loud for half an hour. We're reading a book my husband picked called The Christmas Sweater. I will let you know if it's any good. We finished the first two chapters and we all like it so far, even my grumbly husband. Who, by the way, said tonight that I was a pretty woman. Hmmm. That old husband of mine. I love him.
Today I washed my hair and it came out real nice; real soft for some reason. I used my Shimmerlights shampoo by Clairol that brightens silver. I use it once every month or two and this week I felt my hair needed it. I don't like the creme rinse though. It gives me no slip. Instead, I used my regular Giovanni creme rinse. I guess it worked well. I blew it dry so it'd be pretty and straight and so I wouldn't be cold. Later I put in two braids and doubled them under. My husband said my hair is so long and he didn't know how I managed to take care of all this hair. I told him I am patient. It's only grown 1/8th of an inch this month but I'm so pleased with the length that I'm not too upset. It'll grow more when it's ready I suppose.
And I wore a sweater that I like but never wear. I wore it because I bought a new, cool brassiere that has built-in lace across the front to wear with low cut tops. It's black and I wore it with my black sweater and it looks quite nice, as if they were made for each other. Even my son said so. I try to dress modestly but I am still tossing out tops that are too low. Welp, I'm a work in progress I guess. Yesterday I tossed out my tip top favorite tie-dyed purple top. I think it's stretched out some and it got pulled to one side and wow, it was really too much. I put it in Mr. Trash. Awhile back I wore a top with a bit of a low 'V' and my 11 year old chided me, "Mamma, that top is too low cut." Dang, what do I have, a chaperone? So I don't wear it. In fact now that I think of it that sweater is just like this sweater top. Maybe my new brassiere will go with it too! I tried the tank tops underneath kind of style, but I felt so all bound up in clothing and my waist gets lost.
My dad is in the hospital. His heart keeps beating too fast. We hoped he'd be home today but at 7:00pm he had an episode, so he will stay at least another day. He's scheduled for another ablation next Thursday. It worries me. It worries us all.
We sent our eldest son and his wife a gift for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We sent them a couple thousand dollars. My husband was worried for them. They seem to be keeping their heads above water even with the wife home with the baby and they put the money away in a college fund for baby Lilyana. I pray they will be okay. Our son works in the automotive industry. Yeah, I'm prayin' double time.
I was thinkin', what am I thankful for. A lot. But one thing I thought of that I hadn't thought of for a long time is that I'm thankful I can drink down a big, full glass of water or milk. A long time ago I was on a ventilator and then after it was taken off of me I had to blow on these blue water bottles to build up my lungs. I would try and try to blow and move the water from one bottle to the other, but it was hard. I absolutely hated those blow bottle exercises. I hated when the nurses or my family would hand them to me and tell me to do it. And I couldn't cough. They'd tell me,"cough." I just couldn't muster up a cough. I'd say, "Cough so I can hear one and copy you." but still I couldn't muster a decent cough. I couldn't take big drinks. Only little swallows.
Months later when I got well and I could walk, then walk fast, then jog, I was happy. I was 17. When I got thirsty I would pour myself a tall glass of water. I would look at the glass of water. I would stare into it good and long, holding it in front of me, or looking at it as it sat on the counter with the light passing through the glass. I could see the water sparkles and droplets on the side of the glass in bright light. Water in a tall glass. And I would think; I would know that I could drink it all down in one long drink. I'd study it. I'd anticipate it. I'd consider how delicious it would taste and how satisfying the sensation of water flowing down my throat would be. I'd think about how I couldn't do it before, but I'd think to myself - I can do it now. Then I'd tip it to my lips and drink! I'd revel in the cool wet passing my lips, the fast stream of water passing over my tongue and gushing down the back of my throat with a continuous gulp! gulp! gulp!, and the long river of water swishing down into my stomach. I'd drink it all the way down to the last drop. And I'd feel quite accomplished when I was done!
I still think that way sometimes when I look at a glass of water, even a short glass. But time is passing and I'm forgetting the high notes. They are not so sharp, or crisp, or clear. I'm thankful I can drink a big glass of water and that I have a body that wants to drink a big glass of water. When you're sick you have an IV and drinking a glass of water is not something that matters.
Today I washed my hair and it came out real nice; real soft for some reason. I used my Shimmerlights shampoo by Clairol that brightens silver. I use it once every month or two and this week I felt my hair needed it. I don't like the creme rinse though. It gives me no slip. Instead, I used my regular Giovanni creme rinse. I guess it worked well. I blew it dry so it'd be pretty and straight and so I wouldn't be cold. Later I put in two braids and doubled them under. My husband said my hair is so long and he didn't know how I managed to take care of all this hair. I told him I am patient. It's only grown 1/8th of an inch this month but I'm so pleased with the length that I'm not too upset. It'll grow more when it's ready I suppose.
And I wore a sweater that I like but never wear. I wore it because I bought a new, cool brassiere that has built-in lace across the front to wear with low cut tops. It's black and I wore it with my black sweater and it looks quite nice, as if they were made for each other. Even my son said so. I try to dress modestly but I am still tossing out tops that are too low. Welp, I'm a work in progress I guess. Yesterday I tossed out my tip top favorite tie-dyed purple top. I think it's stretched out some and it got pulled to one side and wow, it was really too much. I put it in Mr. Trash. Awhile back I wore a top with a bit of a low 'V' and my 11 year old chided me, "Mamma, that top is too low cut." Dang, what do I have, a chaperone? So I don't wear it. In fact now that I think of it that sweater is just like this sweater top. Maybe my new brassiere will go with it too! I tried the tank tops underneath kind of style, but I felt so all bound up in clothing and my waist gets lost.
My dad is in the hospital. His heart keeps beating too fast. We hoped he'd be home today but at 7:00pm he had an episode, so he will stay at least another day. He's scheduled for another ablation next Thursday. It worries me. It worries us all.
We sent our eldest son and his wife a gift for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We sent them a couple thousand dollars. My husband was worried for them. They seem to be keeping their heads above water even with the wife home with the baby and they put the money away in a college fund for baby Lilyana. I pray they will be okay. Our son works in the automotive industry. Yeah, I'm prayin' double time.
I was thinkin', what am I thankful for. A lot. But one thing I thought of that I hadn't thought of for a long time is that I'm thankful I can drink down a big, full glass of water or milk. A long time ago I was on a ventilator and then after it was taken off of me I had to blow on these blue water bottles to build up my lungs. I would try and try to blow and move the water from one bottle to the other, but it was hard. I absolutely hated those blow bottle exercises. I hated when the nurses or my family would hand them to me and tell me to do it. And I couldn't cough. They'd tell me,"cough." I just couldn't muster up a cough. I'd say, "Cough so I can hear one and copy you." but still I couldn't muster a decent cough. I couldn't take big drinks. Only little swallows.
Months later when I got well and I could walk, then walk fast, then jog, I was happy. I was 17. When I got thirsty I would pour myself a tall glass of water. I would look at the glass of water. I would stare into it good and long, holding it in front of me, or looking at it as it sat on the counter with the light passing through the glass. I could see the water sparkles and droplets on the side of the glass in bright light. Water in a tall glass. And I would think; I would know that I could drink it all down in one long drink. I'd study it. I'd anticipate it. I'd consider how delicious it would taste and how satisfying the sensation of water flowing down my throat would be. I'd think about how I couldn't do it before, but I'd think to myself - I can do it now. Then I'd tip it to my lips and drink! I'd revel in the cool wet passing my lips, the fast stream of water passing over my tongue and gushing down the back of my throat with a continuous gulp! gulp! gulp!, and the long river of water swishing down into my stomach. I'd drink it all the way down to the last drop. And I'd feel quite accomplished when I was done!
I still think that way sometimes when I look at a glass of water, even a short glass. But time is passing and I'm forgetting the high notes. They are not so sharp, or crisp, or clear. I'm thankful I can drink a big glass of water and that I have a body that wants to drink a big glass of water. When you're sick you have an IV and drinking a glass of water is not something that matters.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Still good
I don't know why I'm happy, but I am. I might be accidentally getting the spirit of Thanksgiving. Generally I would wish to jump clean over the rest of this year and land directly on January 2nd. Our son has decorated up the trailie inside and outside for Christmas already. He's a decorator from the git-go. We don't know where he picked it up from because husband and I never have done much decorating. Well, when we had a house we did get excited about putting up lights outside. I told my husband each year, "Look at the Burton's lights, we need more lights like the Burton's!" Haha! It was fun. We never did get as many as the Burton's. They rocked the lights.
We're going to go to a Thanksgiving buffet at a restaurant this year. I've always wanted to go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. I hope it's good. I was going to cook, cook small that is, but our fridge is too full with leftovers. I have no space for even a small bird. It only holds up to three days of food. I will cook some other time. We're going to our friend's house on Friday with his family.
I've been thinking of adding a verse like Kathryn and Jules are. I don't know if I can do one every day, but I like seeing ones I have never read before. This is the one on my mind today. Of course, you have to read it fully in context all the way to verse 16 to comprehend its meaning, but John 14:2 is nice.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
We're going to go to a Thanksgiving buffet at a restaurant this year. I've always wanted to go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. I hope it's good. I was going to cook, cook small that is, but our fridge is too full with leftovers. I have no space for even a small bird. It only holds up to three days of food. I will cook some other time. We're going to our friend's house on Friday with his family.
I've been thinking of adding a verse like Kathryn and Jules are. I don't know if I can do one every day, but I like seeing ones I have never read before. This is the one on my mind today. Of course, you have to read it fully in context all the way to verse 16 to comprehend its meaning, but John 14:2 is nice.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
A good day
It's only three and it's a great day. I did a bible study about mansions, aka dwelling place, aka rooms, for our last class that my son and I profited from greatly. I am refreshed!
Tuesday morning night
I should be in bed. My feet are cold too. I downloaded the trial version of Homesite so I could update an old web site of mine. I updated almost every page. It's always bugged me that it's all in HTML. I feel it should be revamped with CSS, Cascading Style Sheets, but I had such trouble a few years ago getting them to work that I quit. I haven't updated the site since 2002. Talk about dead links. So many of them that used to offer free homeschooling help have turned into business sites. That's lame. Now the links page looks like someone shot a bunch of holes through it. I'll have to search for useful links to replace them.
When we sold the house I put all my web sites on CD since we couldn't take the desktop with us in our (then) very little trailer in 2005. Viewing the old CD made me see how much I've changed in the past three years. I was appalled at my own self as I looked over my old graphics. I am so grateful for the One who called me out of the darkness and into the light. You know, you can't repent of something that you don't think is wrong. Two of my old sites are still up, the good content ones. The other two I did take down several years ago but they look so much worse to me now, seeing them with fresh eyes. Did I ever say that I have a small gift for designing adult oriented web sites. Mmmmm. I may have left that out. Well, when people started wanting to pay me to make them an outright pornographic (literature) site, it gave me pause for thought. I paused. I didn't do it. But I didn't take down my sites right away either. Eventually, praise God for opening my eyes, I did delete them. The Lord convicted my heart and I wanted to be worthy of the company I wanted to be in. The enemy will use people's gifts to get hold of them. I also liked the hits. You know, how many visitors come to a site. One of mine got up to 1300 per day. 'Tis a hollow addiction.
But now, I'm satisfied with ten because the ten I get are good. I should put something scriptural here, but I'm plum out of eloquence tonight. I'm just plain. I think - I like to think - that God might be pleased with me, just a little bit, tonight. I'm inspired to work on myself to serve the Lord.
Also today, we went to Cruces and I got a bunch of new undergarments. They are my undergarments for the year. And I got one new pair of blue jeans. My pair that I hate because they stretch and then hang off my bum are in the trash and I threw them away with great drama. Good-bye pants I hate!
But now I only have two pair of blue jean pants.
When we sold the house I put all my web sites on CD since we couldn't take the desktop with us in our (then) very little trailer in 2005. Viewing the old CD made me see how much I've changed in the past three years. I was appalled at my own self as I looked over my old graphics. I am so grateful for the One who called me out of the darkness and into the light. You know, you can't repent of something that you don't think is wrong. Two of my old sites are still up, the good content ones. The other two I did take down several years ago but they look so much worse to me now, seeing them with fresh eyes. Did I ever say that I have a small gift for designing adult oriented web sites. Mmmmm. I may have left that out. Well, when people started wanting to pay me to make them an outright pornographic (literature) site, it gave me pause for thought. I paused. I didn't do it. But I didn't take down my sites right away either. Eventually, praise God for opening my eyes, I did delete them. The Lord convicted my heart and I wanted to be worthy of the company I wanted to be in. The enemy will use people's gifts to get hold of them. I also liked the hits. You know, how many visitors come to a site. One of mine got up to 1300 per day. 'Tis a hollow addiction.
But now, I'm satisfied with ten because the ten I get are good. I should put something scriptural here, but I'm plum out of eloquence tonight. I'm just plain. I think - I like to think - that God might be pleased with me, just a little bit, tonight. I'm inspired to work on myself to serve the Lord.
Also today, we went to Cruces and I got a bunch of new undergarments. They are my undergarments for the year. And I got one new pair of blue jeans. My pair that I hate because they stretch and then hang off my bum are in the trash and I threw them away with great drama. Good-bye pants I hate!
But now I only have two pair of blue jean pants.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Gravity
A little blue now. My friend will be going into the hospital for a month. The gravity of the leukemia really hits me tonight. I did some of my own research on it after dinner and the getting better part isn't what I expected. It's less than I expected and I'm afraid to say it out loud, but she must already know it too.
It's not right. She's barely turned 31.
It's not right. She's barely turned 31.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Memorization job
Progress is being made. I do it for my family once through every night after dinner, but the men went to watch football tonight so I got to practice by myself for two hours. I have the first page memorized! There are four pages in all. I'm so proud. Here's how much I know by heart.
The Bible says
He's the King of the Jews. (say each slowly and thoughtfully)
He's the King of Israel.
He's the King of Righteousness. (emphasize the 'r')
He's the King of the Ages.
He's the King of Heaven. (speed up)
He's the King of Glory.
He's the King of Kings.
And He is the Lord of Lords. (I say this loudest with my arms outstretched)
Now that's my King! Do you know Him? (I added the second sentence from another version. I think it draws the listener in.)
David says
The Heavens declare the glory of God (big heaven with hands)
And the firmament showeth His handiwork (point to ground)
No means of measure can define His limitless love (pinch fingers together for 'define')
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply (pretend telescope in my hands)
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing (arms crossed, palms open)
(These six lines are my weak spot.)
He’s enduringly strong (on my knees, hands in strong fists)
He’s entirely sincere (stretch arms and hands open)
He’s eternally steadfast (stand up, fists to side)
He’s immortally graceful (wavy arms)
He’s imperially powerful (one arm bent, then other, pump it to side with a fist)
He’s impartially merciful (open arms wide, palms up)
That’s my King!
He’s God’s Son (I say this a little quieter)
He’s the sinners’ Saviour (arms out to side, like a cross)
He’s the centrepiece of civilisation
He stands alone in Himself (loud)
He’s august (point, get excited when I say each of next six single words, angling body r & l)
He’s unique
Okay these I learned just tonight but I have to wait till tomorrow night to see if technically I remember them:
He’s unparalleled
He’s unprecedented
He’s supreme
He’s pre-eminent
He’s the loftiest idea in literature (palms open like a book)
He’s the highest personality in philosophy (hand goes up as if showing height)
He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism (knuckles in small circles)
I'm pretty pleased with myself that I've gotten this far.
Today I felt a lot better than yesterday with my stomach. Son took two tests. Got a B in grammar, and then got a C, which we call flunking and our curriculum calls "Need To Review," in literature. If only he'd gotten one more right and it would have been a B. Dern. But we still had a good day together.
The Bible says
He's the King of the Jews. (say each slowly and thoughtfully)
He's the King of Israel.
He's the King of Righteousness. (emphasize the 'r')
He's the King of the Ages.
He's the King of Heaven. (speed up)
He's the King of Glory.
He's the King of Kings.
And He is the Lord of Lords. (I say this loudest with my arms outstretched)
Now that's my King! Do you know Him? (I added the second sentence from another version. I think it draws the listener in.)
David says
The Heavens declare the glory of God (big heaven with hands)
And the firmament showeth His handiwork (point to ground)
No means of measure can define His limitless love (pinch fingers together for 'define')
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply (pretend telescope in my hands)
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing (arms crossed, palms open)
(These six lines are my weak spot.)
He’s enduringly strong (on my knees, hands in strong fists)
He’s entirely sincere (stretch arms and hands open)
He’s eternally steadfast (stand up, fists to side)
He’s immortally graceful (wavy arms)
He’s imperially powerful (one arm bent, then other, pump it to side with a fist)
He’s impartially merciful (open arms wide, palms up)
That’s my King!
He’s God’s Son (I say this a little quieter)
He’s the sinners’ Saviour (arms out to side, like a cross)
He’s the centrepiece of civilisation
He stands alone in Himself (loud)
He’s august (point, get excited when I say each of next six single words, angling body r & l)
He’s unique
Okay these I learned just tonight but I have to wait till tomorrow night to see if technically I remember them:
He’s unparalleled
He’s unprecedented
He’s supreme
He’s pre-eminent
He’s the loftiest idea in literature (palms open like a book)
He’s the highest personality in philosophy (hand goes up as if showing height)
He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism (knuckles in small circles)
I'm pretty pleased with myself that I've gotten this far.
Today I felt a lot better than yesterday with my stomach. Son took two tests. Got a B in grammar, and then got a C, which we call flunking and our curriculum calls "Need To Review," in literature. If only he'd gotten one more right and it would have been a B. Dern. But we still had a good day together.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Shoe shine man
I've had a tummy ache all day. Didn't do homeschooling or go to dance. I mostly lay around like a blob.
Our son shines boots for income. We're proud of his entrepreneurship. Sometimes people give him generous tips. He's tried several things. You may remember, once he went trailer to trailer asking if people wanted him to walk their dogs and some people slammed their door in his face and some acted like they had rocks in their head when he explained what he would do for them. You'd think they'd understand he's just kid who's trying to make some money. I was right proud that he didn't fold up. He kept pluggin' along till he found out people like to get their cowboy boots shined here in New Mexico. He earned nine dollars today. He's thrilled.
So I did a little research on shoe shining just for the ducks of it. I found a quality video I want to share. Such sage advice here, especially about bondage. It's a guy in Alabama, age 69, who shines shoes.
Our son shines boots for income. We're proud of his entrepreneurship. Sometimes people give him generous tips. He's tried several things. You may remember, once he went trailer to trailer asking if people wanted him to walk their dogs and some people slammed their door in his face and some acted like they had rocks in their head when he explained what he would do for them. You'd think they'd understand he's just kid who's trying to make some money. I was right proud that he didn't fold up. He kept pluggin' along till he found out people like to get their cowboy boots shined here in New Mexico. He earned nine dollars today. He's thrilled.
So I did a little research on shoe shining just for the ducks of it. I found a quality video I want to share. Such sage advice here, especially about bondage. It's a guy in Alabama, age 69, who shines shoes.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Deuce and a half
There's a big ol', powerful truck that comes through here to pull vehicles and trucks and trailers out of the sand. They're kind of awesome. We've seen 'em pull huge, gigantic, trailers out of the sand, and during summer holidays they grumble and rumble up and down the road enjoying plenty of business. It's actually an old Army vehicle nicknamed a deuce and a half. Welp. I guess they don't do so well in the lake! Look what happened! What do you think he said? Maybe the driver said, "Oops!" or "Uh-oh!"
He helped a pick-up out of the water, but got himself stuck. Saddest thing is, one 'o the rangers was instructed to give the guy a ticket. Ranger said, "What do I cite him on?" See, there's no rules against parking it in the lake. Hahahaha! And if you check his windshield he has a park permit, clear and legal. Awwww, poor guy! I said giving him a ticket would be throwing salt on the wound. Even our most prolific ranger who gives citations out like candy on Halloween couldn't bear to write him up a ticket.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday night
The Christians United For Israel meeting was good. I learned two new terms, "Righteous Gentiles" and "replacement theology." There were about 500 people in attendance. The beginning was too long, filled with far too much fluff about sister city stuff, and speakers that no one really cared about, giving out awards to people no one knows. The best speaker was the keynote speaker and he was dead last, followed only by a benediction from a pastor and a blessing from a rabbi. The beginning was so boring and long, that some people began leaving! We drove too far to leave early and good thing because the last speaker, David Brog, was worth the wait.
He began by explaining that he is the executive director of Christians United For Israel and he is not Christian. He is Jewish. He said people often assume he is a Messianic Jew (that's a Jew who believes Christ is the Son of God) or a Jew for Jesus person (that another similar group). But he's neither. He's a Jew for Judaism! The whole audience chuckled. The night was one big history lesson. He was bold even mentioning the phrase Christ killers, which I just heard in the movie Fiddler On The Roof, and the Crusades. He said that the story of the Bible is not finished. The story hasn't ended yet.
Which brings me to define replacement theology. Replacement theology has fostered anti-Semitism throughout history. He used the word so many times I actually remembered it. This is a concept which David explained affected people's thinking to such a degree that it has led to all kinds of aggression toward Jews by Christian groups. Replacement theologians say that God has rejected the Jews in the place of the Gentile Church, because the Jews failed to believe. The Church "replaces" the Jewish people because the Jews are rejected by God, no longer the chosen people. It's bogus theology. It really helped me to understand how anti-Semitism came into existence in the first place. I'd always wondered about that. I've marveled at people who hate Jews because I just don't get it.
What happened, he says, is that every instance in the Bible that says Israel, modern Christianity perceived to mean the Church, essentially kicking the Jewish people out of their own Bible. But! If you have a literal interpretation of the Bible, and I do, then Israel means I-s-r-a-e-l. And prophecy about Israel is about I-s-r-a-e-l.
Righteous Gentiles refers to the people who courageously hid and protected Jews during the Holocaust. A lady did a drama piece about Corrie ten Boom, a Christian protestant in Holland who put herself and her family in danger to hide Jews from the Nazis. The Dutch family got caught by a spy and all died except for Corrie. Even Corrie's 84 year old father was put in prison where he died in days. I've heard and read of Anne Frank but until last night I'd never heard about Corrie ten Boom. We all wonder, if we went back in time, would we be a Righteous Gentile. None of us can know, can we? But we like to hope and think we would be.
He said what happened in WWII could never happen now because the Jews aren't alone now. They have friends. Us.
They played "Hava Nagila" twice and I wanted to go down and dance but my group fairly rushed out of the building immediately after the last speaker. Boo hoo. And the 13 year old boy next to me asked me if I was Jewish because I knew most of the words. I thought he was cute. I wondered why he was staring at me so while I sang. I thought I had something wrong or something. Heh.
I got home Friday night at 1:15am. I got up at noon Friday morn and looked awful and had a headache all day. Today I felt all recovered. Today I just kicked back. We watched the first half of Cecil B. deMille's "Ten Commandments" and I'm pleased because our son is enjoying it.
Hmmm. Off to bed for me now. Have a lovely Sunday day.
Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Paraphrased from 1John 4:4
He began by explaining that he is the executive director of Christians United For Israel and he is not Christian. He is Jewish. He said people often assume he is a Messianic Jew (that's a Jew who believes Christ is the Son of God) or a Jew for Jesus person (that another similar group). But he's neither. He's a Jew for Judaism! The whole audience chuckled. The night was one big history lesson. He was bold even mentioning the phrase Christ killers, which I just heard in the movie Fiddler On The Roof, and the Crusades. He said that the story of the Bible is not finished. The story hasn't ended yet.
Which brings me to define replacement theology. Replacement theology has fostered anti-Semitism throughout history. He used the word so many times I actually remembered it. This is a concept which David explained affected people's thinking to such a degree that it has led to all kinds of aggression toward Jews by Christian groups. Replacement theologians say that God has rejected the Jews in the place of the Gentile Church, because the Jews failed to believe. The Church "replaces" the Jewish people because the Jews are rejected by God, no longer the chosen people. It's bogus theology. It really helped me to understand how anti-Semitism came into existence in the first place. I'd always wondered about that. I've marveled at people who hate Jews because I just don't get it.
What happened, he says, is that every instance in the Bible that says Israel, modern Christianity perceived to mean the Church, essentially kicking the Jewish people out of their own Bible. But! If you have a literal interpretation of the Bible, and I do, then Israel means I-s-r-a-e-l. And prophecy about Israel is about I-s-r-a-e-l.
Righteous Gentiles refers to the people who courageously hid and protected Jews during the Holocaust. A lady did a drama piece about Corrie ten Boom, a Christian protestant in Holland who put herself and her family in danger to hide Jews from the Nazis. The Dutch family got caught by a spy and all died except for Corrie. Even Corrie's 84 year old father was put in prison where he died in days. I've heard and read of Anne Frank but until last night I'd never heard about Corrie ten Boom. We all wonder, if we went back in time, would we be a Righteous Gentile. None of us can know, can we? But we like to hope and think we would be.
He said what happened in WWII could never happen now because the Jews aren't alone now. They have friends. Us.
They played "Hava Nagila" twice and I wanted to go down and dance but my group fairly rushed out of the building immediately after the last speaker. Boo hoo. And the 13 year old boy next to me asked me if I was Jewish because I knew most of the words. I thought he was cute. I wondered why he was staring at me so while I sang. I thought I had something wrong or something. Heh.
I got home Friday night at 1:15am. I got up at noon Friday morn and looked awful and had a headache all day. Today I felt all recovered. Today I just kicked back. We watched the first half of Cecil B. deMille's "Ten Commandments" and I'm pleased because our son is enjoying it.
Hmmm. Off to bed for me now. Have a lovely Sunday day.
Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Paraphrased from 1John 4:4
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Whoops
Albuquerque isn't an hour away. It's two and a half hours away! I'm distance challenged. I thought it was an hour away.
There are lots of these butterflies here lately.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Two whole students
I led dance today. It went well! Mainly I was afraid of running out of exercise warm-ups and then finishing way, way, too early. But I used up the full hour and a half. I spent about 50 minutes on warm-up and 30 minutes on dance. One lady said she liked that I went slowly and she said she felt good after class - her body was loose and limbered up. Yay! She made my day. I worked those ladies! I asked them if they were warmed up and they said "Yes!" quite enthusiastically. We did abdominal crunches so I could be sure they were sweating. Heh. I did notice that everything I did, even if I rubbed my nose, the ladies would do it too. Haha! It's much different teaching than following. It is. Preparation for teaching requires more time than I thought. As I write this I have just realized I completely forgot to do a cool down. For shame! Ack.
To prepare I wrote my plan down on paper. So I could see it without my reading glasses, I printed it with like a 28 point font. 'Tis a pity my eyes are so bad. Extremely annoying. I taught them how to develop graceful hands for their snake arms, how to do hip bumps and speed them up to a shimmy and then walk with it. That's called a walking shimmy. And lastly, camels, which are actually undulations. It went well and I'm so glad and relieved. I had a talented teacher in California or I'd never have been able to do it.
My boombox had a buzzing sound in it. The sound was great, great, great!, except for there seemed to be a loose speaker inside of it. I was incredibly disappointed. I phoned and got all the info to do an exchange. I want it real bad but if the second one is bum then that's that. I'll go to WalMart and get a $35.00 portable iPod player and cry in my soup. I wrote down the serial number just in case they try to send me the same one. Just in case. Yep.
I'm duperly looking forward to going to Albuquerque tomorrow for the Christians United for Israel meeting. It's about an hour from here and for only five bucks I'm going on the church bus with the churchity-church people. I wonder who I'll sit by. I wonder who's going. Wow, I hope it's awesome. How can it not be awesome. Whatever happens it's imperative we be on the right side of Israel. Balaam said, "I cannot curse what God has blessed." No sirree. Nobody can.
But seriously, what am I going to wear. I think I'm going to wear an ankle length, 3-tiered, black skirt and a white tunic with black embroidery and my stompalicious Doc Marten boots with cute socks. If they teach any simple dances I'm gonna run down there, or up there, or where ever they are, and join. When I went to the Messianic Synagogue in San Diego the dancers dressed modestly. They didn't even wear tight t-shirts. That's why I'm wearing that loose tunic. Not sure about my hair. Can't wear it down, too much trouble. Has to be comfy for the drive. Maybe that twisty like Kara wears or a single braid. I wear my Ficcare so much so I don't want to wear that.
To prepare I wrote my plan down on paper. So I could see it without my reading glasses, I printed it with like a 28 point font. 'Tis a pity my eyes are so bad. Extremely annoying. I taught them how to develop graceful hands for their snake arms, how to do hip bumps and speed them up to a shimmy and then walk with it. That's called a walking shimmy. And lastly, camels, which are actually undulations. It went well and I'm so glad and relieved. I had a talented teacher in California or I'd never have been able to do it.
My boombox had a buzzing sound in it. The sound was great, great, great!, except for there seemed to be a loose speaker inside of it. I was incredibly disappointed. I phoned and got all the info to do an exchange. I want it real bad but if the second one is bum then that's that. I'll go to WalMart and get a $35.00 portable iPod player and cry in my soup. I wrote down the serial number just in case they try to send me the same one. Just in case. Yep.
I'm duperly looking forward to going to Albuquerque tomorrow for the Christians United for Israel meeting. It's about an hour from here and for only five bucks I'm going on the church bus with the churchity-church people. I wonder who I'll sit by. I wonder who's going. Wow, I hope it's awesome. How can it not be awesome. Whatever happens it's imperative we be on the right side of Israel. Balaam said, "I cannot curse what God has blessed." No sirree. Nobody can.
But seriously, what am I going to wear. I think I'm going to wear an ankle length, 3-tiered, black skirt and a white tunic with black embroidery and my stompalicious Doc Marten boots with cute socks. If they teach any simple dances I'm gonna run down there, or up there, or where ever they are, and join. When I went to the Messianic Synagogue in San Diego the dancers dressed modestly. They didn't even wear tight t-shirts. That's why I'm wearing that loose tunic. Not sure about my hair. Can't wear it down, too much trouble. Has to be comfy for the drive. Maybe that twisty like Kara wears or a single braid. I wear my Ficcare so much so I don't want to wear that.
Eeep
I went to bed thinking of graham crackers and milk and how nicely they would fill up my tummy. I told myself no carbo loading because I want a nice flat tum tomorrow. Then I woke up and it was not morning but the middle of the night. I ate graham crackers and milk. Then, as my son would say, I heaved a gusty sigh. (I think he read that in a book somewhere.) My willpower is nil.
But I was huuuuungry!
But I was huuuuungry!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Kindness
I used to think that the ladies on the Christian boards went so overboard with the courtesy. It seemed so fake. To me, the verbal kindness when there was even a minute possibility of hurting someone else's feelings was so girly and artificial. Sometimes it went on to such length that it was like a ping-pong game.
But over time I got to know the women. Over time I have read hotly debated topics and I have witnessed women who have thoughtfully articulated opposing views very strongly and at the end they politely, courteously, and with humility, gave the other woman space. It used to blow me away. It is rather an art, isn't it, which requires practice. I try to follow suit now. Respect. And kindness. They help a community maintain a bond. Without them you have every other discussion board on the Web.
I'm so sensitive, I get my feelings hurt for other people. Haha!
I don't like meanness. Apologies are good though. If they're direct and humble.
Tomorrow my new boombox arrives via U.P.S. It should be at the Visitor's Center about noon. I hope it sounds good. I hope it's not a lemon. I hope it's got good bass.
I did my toenails purple with purple and magenta glitter on top. My husband said, "Pretty toes."
But over time I got to know the women. Over time I have read hotly debated topics and I have witnessed women who have thoughtfully articulated opposing views very strongly and at the end they politely, courteously, and with humility, gave the other woman space. It used to blow me away. It is rather an art, isn't it, which requires practice. I try to follow suit now. Respect. And kindness. They help a community maintain a bond. Without them you have every other discussion board on the Web.
I'm so sensitive, I get my feelings hurt for other people. Haha!
I don't like meanness. Apologies are good though. If they're direct and humble.
Tomorrow my new boombox arrives via U.P.S. It should be at the Visitor's Center about noon. I hope it sounds good. I hope it's not a lemon. I hope it's got good bass.
I did my toenails purple with purple and magenta glitter on top. My husband said, "Pretty toes."
Monday, November 10, 2008
The day got away from me
Where did today go? I didn't do much. We did school. We had a camper come by to report he saw a wolf and claimed he got a good, long, look at it through his binoculars. Well now, a wolf sighting here would be quite remarkable. We've got coyotes, yes, but no reports of wolves. Might I add, yesterday when my husband was doing his rounds this same camper asked what kind of animal was it that had the great, big, tall, ears. It was a jackrabbit. I have to say, bless his heart, such a nice fella he was, but if he doesn't know what a jackrabbit is, can I trust he saw a wolf? And this wolf, he told us excitedly, was this tall, and he motioned practically to chest level. Lemme tell ya, that be one, big, canine roaming the New Mexico desert!
I'm reading a book. Yes, an actual, real, paper book made from a tree and not shining off my computer screen. I'm reading The Secret Garden. Super good so far. I'm half done.
I woke and first thing that popped into my mind this morning after, "Lord, how will you use me today?" was Judy. She's a camper, a full-timer, next to us. I'm guessing she's in her 60's, kind of a salty gal, says what she thinks, used to be a sixth grade teacher in New York. My heart ached for her. I don't know what happened exactly on account of she's a very private person, but her nice, beautiful, 30 foot class C (that's the kind that's a van in the front and living space in back) rig is gone and she's moved into a truck with a camper shell. It's she and her dog. She's got a nice little dog. I feel so sad because she has hardly enough space to turn around in and I thought of her waking up in there this morning and how she must feel. I don't know how she feels. She doesn't seem to be the type to dwell on feelings. That sort of thing is a bit of a pointless luxury in life, isn't it. Yes, I think so. But I feel bad for her and for whatever happened in her finances. There, but for the grace of God, go I. Go we.
So last night I took her a bowl of homemade chicken soup I had just finished making (it turned out well) and some sourdough bread. I think she really liked it. But chicken soup doesn't fix everything. I wish that it could.
I'm reading a book. Yes, an actual, real, paper book made from a tree and not shining off my computer screen. I'm reading The Secret Garden. Super good so far. I'm half done.
I woke and first thing that popped into my mind this morning after, "Lord, how will you use me today?" was Judy. She's a camper, a full-timer, next to us. I'm guessing she's in her 60's, kind of a salty gal, says what she thinks, used to be a sixth grade teacher in New York. My heart ached for her. I don't know what happened exactly on account of she's a very private person, but her nice, beautiful, 30 foot class C (that's the kind that's a van in the front and living space in back) rig is gone and she's moved into a truck with a camper shell. It's she and her dog. She's got a nice little dog. I feel so sad because she has hardly enough space to turn around in and I thought of her waking up in there this morning and how she must feel. I don't know how she feels. She doesn't seem to be the type to dwell on feelings. That sort of thing is a bit of a pointless luxury in life, isn't it. Yes, I think so. But I feel bad for her and for whatever happened in her finances. There, but for the grace of God, go I. Go we.
So last night I took her a bowl of homemade chicken soup I had just finished making (it turned out well) and some sourdough bread. I think she really liked it. But chicken soup doesn't fix everything. I wish that it could.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
I am content
I have a sense of overall well-being. Was there something in my chili today? I don't know! But my husband does make delicious chili.
The weather is cold tonight. I'm wearing one of my new SockDreams socks but I had to push them all the way down to my ankles because they felt too tight after a couple hours. Hmmm. When I wash them they will shrink if this is the woolen pair. I hope the others don't squeeze my legs. What's up with that? My legs aren't even that big either. Are women supposed to have skinny minnie thighs? I think not. The pair with the flames fit well. I wore them all night. But one of them did leave a ridge above my knee so I think I won't wear them all night anymore. I was just so pleased with them that I didn't want to take them off. Daytime wear is long enough though.
Well, I have to go to bed very soon because church is tomorrow. We have to be there at the crack of 10:00am.
To you I have this to say. Have a splendid Sunday all day and may the Lord bless you abundantly.
Oh. I have one more thing to add. We ordered two movies from Amazon.com. Do you remember these? One is The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston, made in 1956, and the other is Clash of the Titans. We are watching Fiddler on the Roof for the second time. Such a good movie! But aren't those two older ones so awesomely memorable? I'm thinking about Moses a lot, and then in literature our son is studying the Greek myths and we just read about the hero, Perseus. I thought of Medusa getting her head chopped off and that old movie was came up in my mind instantaneously. I had to find it. Sigh. Those were the days. Okay. I hafta go to bed.
The weather is cold tonight. I'm wearing one of my new SockDreams socks but I had to push them all the way down to my ankles because they felt too tight after a couple hours. Hmmm. When I wash them they will shrink if this is the woolen pair. I hope the others don't squeeze my legs. What's up with that? My legs aren't even that big either. Are women supposed to have skinny minnie thighs? I think not. The pair with the flames fit well. I wore them all night. But one of them did leave a ridge above my knee so I think I won't wear them all night anymore. I was just so pleased with them that I didn't want to take them off. Daytime wear is long enough though.
Well, I have to go to bed very soon because church is tomorrow. We have to be there at the crack of 10:00am.
To you I have this to say. Have a splendid Sunday all day and may the Lord bless you abundantly.
Oh. I have one more thing to add. We ordered two movies from Amazon.com. Do you remember these? One is The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston, made in 1956, and the other is Clash of the Titans. We are watching Fiddler on the Roof for the second time. Such a good movie! But aren't those two older ones so awesomely memorable? I'm thinking about Moses a lot, and then in literature our son is studying the Greek myths and we just read about the hero, Perseus. I thought of Medusa getting her head chopped off and that old movie was came up in my mind instantaneously. I had to find it. Sigh. Those were the days. Okay. I hafta go to bed.
Lately
I've been thinking about American Sign Language and worship dance. I found a fantastic site - the American Sign Language Browser - that describes and shows hand signs. It's great fun. And I also found an article about praise dance in Pentecostal churches that I found fascinating. How I wish I could go to her classes.
The lady that I'm assisting, or signed up to be an assistant to, had a big headache today so we didn't do the hand motion dance to the song I Can Only Imagine that she invited me to work on with her. I think I know it now anyways, so next week I'll show her. It's a fun little worship dance. She calls it a dance but actually there's not a lot of body movement. It's all hands, arms, and a turn, and falling to our knees, and getting back up. What kind of cracks me up is, I offered to help her and last week she told me she's getting surgery so if we do it I will be the one to guide the youngsters in a performance. Whaaaat? Now tell me, what kind of assisting is that? Sounds to me just like I'll be doing it without her. Haha! Oh help me, please. Sigh. Well, I'm up for it, whatever comes of it.
I'm still working on my big memorization project. Here's how far I am:
The Bible says
He's the King of the Jews
He's the King of Israel
He's the King of Righteousness
He's the King of the Ages
He's the King of Heaven
He's the King of Glory
He's the King of Kings
And He's Lord of Lords
That's My King! Do you know him?
David says
The heavens declare the glory of God
And the firmament showeth His handiwork
No means of measure can define his limitless love
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply
No barriers and hinder Him from pouring out His blessing
He's enduringly strong
He's entirely sincere
He's eternally steadfast
That's how much I know so far. Pretty good, huh? I'm very impressed with myself and I'm not even 1/4 the way through. Haha! Oh dear. And my child can say it faster than I can and it makes me want to bonk him on the head.
Last Wednesday at belly dance class my teacher said she only sang in the shower and I said, "Aw, c'mon, sing something." And she did! And the acoustics in the senior center complemented her voice. So then she told me to sing. Bah, I don't even know the words to any songs, I told her. Then I remembered my memorization job! I said, "I will tell you my memorization project." And guess what. I did. And I did fairly well. Only thing was I stopped breathing and had to squeeze out my last sentence. One really needs to breath in and out when one is speaking. Anyways, I was somewhat pleased because she told me it was really good. She was being nice, but still.
The lady that I'm assisting, or signed up to be an assistant to, had a big headache today so we didn't do the hand motion dance to the song I Can Only Imagine that she invited me to work on with her. I think I know it now anyways, so next week I'll show her. It's a fun little worship dance. She calls it a dance but actually there's not a lot of body movement. It's all hands, arms, and a turn, and falling to our knees, and getting back up. What kind of cracks me up is, I offered to help her and last week she told me she's getting surgery so if we do it I will be the one to guide the youngsters in a performance. Whaaaat? Now tell me, what kind of assisting is that? Sounds to me just like I'll be doing it without her. Haha! Oh help me, please. Sigh. Well, I'm up for it, whatever comes of it.
I'm still working on my big memorization project. Here's how far I am:
The Bible says
He's the King of the Jews
He's the King of Israel
He's the King of Righteousness
He's the King of the Ages
He's the King of Heaven
He's the King of Glory
He's the King of Kings
And He's Lord of Lords
That's My King! Do you know him?
David says
The heavens declare the glory of God
And the firmament showeth His handiwork
No means of measure can define his limitless love
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply
No barriers and hinder Him from pouring out His blessing
He's enduringly strong
He's entirely sincere
He's eternally steadfast
That's how much I know so far. Pretty good, huh? I'm very impressed with myself and I'm not even 1/4 the way through. Haha! Oh dear. And my child can say it faster than I can and it makes me want to bonk him on the head.
Last Wednesday at belly dance class my teacher said she only sang in the shower and I said, "Aw, c'mon, sing something." And she did! And the acoustics in the senior center complemented her voice. So then she told me to sing. Bah, I don't even know the words to any songs, I told her. Then I remembered my memorization job! I said, "I will tell you my memorization project." And guess what. I did. And I did fairly well. Only thing was I stopped breathing and had to squeeze out my last sentence. One really needs to breath in and out when one is speaking. Anyways, I was somewhat pleased because she told me it was really good. She was being nice, but still.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Israel
There's a headline at the Jerusalem Post today that says, Barak: All options open regarding Iran. Well, he did say as much throughout his campaign so that's no surprise. But with Bush in office Israel wouldn't do anything without checking with the U.S. first. With Obama in, I don't think they'll bother. If they want to take out Iran's nuclear weapon sites, they'll do it. Obama is unwittingly going to cause WWIII or a nuclear holocaust and then no amount of eloquent oratory will matter. He's such a windbag.
The media reports that all the world is happy to have an Obama president. I believe it. I think the U.S. is moving closer to being like all the rest world.
Last night I wrote a friend of mine and asked her what she thought about the Christians United For Israel group because I'm going to their meeting on the 13th. When I read her reply out loud to my husband he sat in his chair and roared with laughter. It's the only laugh I've heard from him for two whole days! My friend advised me, Go ahead and go, just listen to your gut feeling, and if they say G-d d*mn America, don't keep going for 20 years. Bwa-hahahahaha! Sublime.
Yesterday I received my new socks in the mail, six pair, over the knee, for winter, and every single pair is cute and fits me. I'm happy.
On Wednesdsay my Altec Lansing portable speaker unit for my iPod is scheduled for delivery. They are speakers, plural, but one unit, singular. I hope they sound good. I'm a semi-audiophile and oh how I miss our big speakers from home. My husband didn't want to bust loose with a couple hundred bucks for these but I explained (read that as "begged") that I wanted something with quality sound. I want bass. I need bass. I must have some bass. Portable speakers can never match anything you could get in a home sound system, but this might be as good as I can get and still be portable. Bose has something small, a hundred dollars more, but what they call portable is really not easily portable, so I crossed them off my list.
On Wednesday I'm teaching the belly dance class because our teacher will be out of town. That's why I need my own portable speakers too.
The media reports that all the world is happy to have an Obama president. I believe it. I think the U.S. is moving closer to being like all the rest world.
Last night I wrote a friend of mine and asked her what she thought about the Christians United For Israel group because I'm going to their meeting on the 13th. When I read her reply out loud to my husband he sat in his chair and roared with laughter. It's the only laugh I've heard from him for two whole days! My friend advised me, Go ahead and go, just listen to your gut feeling, and if they say G-d d*mn America, don't keep going for 20 years. Bwa-hahahahaha! Sublime.
Yesterday I received my new socks in the mail, six pair, over the knee, for winter, and every single pair is cute and fits me. I'm happy.
On Wednesdsay my Altec Lansing portable speaker unit for my iPod is scheduled for delivery. They are speakers, plural, but one unit, singular. I hope they sound good. I'm a semi-audiophile and oh how I miss our big speakers from home. My husband didn't want to bust loose with a couple hundred bucks for these but I explained (read that as "begged") that I wanted something with quality sound. I want bass. I need bass. I must have some bass. Portable speakers can never match anything you could get in a home sound system, but this might be as good as I can get and still be portable. Bose has something small, a hundred dollars more, but what they call portable is really not easily portable, so I crossed them off my list.
On Wednesday I'm teaching the belly dance class because our teacher will be out of town. That's why I need my own portable speakers too.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Ofra Haza
Today my teacher shared a CD with me. On it is a song by an artist named Ofra Haza. She died in 2000 at only 42 years old. She was a vastly popular Israeli singer who started out doing folk songs and also did pop. She came from a very poor family and was much loved by her country. She was multilingual.
It took me two hours of research to find the English words to this song. She's singing in Hebrew and I found the words all over the Web in Hebrew. That didn't help me at all! The words are from the Old Testament from Song of Solomon, 8:6-7. The music CD has better sound and is more beautiful because it has a little bit of echo. The video's not bad though. You can feel her music. It's an a capella which means voice only, no instruments. I had to look up "a capella" also.
I'm going on the 13th, probably, to a meeting of an organization called Christians United for Israel. Not that that has anything to do with this, but it popped into my head just now and I think I have not mentioned it.
Okay, here's the vid. Take your mind off things for a minute, step outside yourself and listen. It's only three minutes.
It took me two hours of research to find the English words to this song. She's singing in Hebrew and I found the words all over the Web in Hebrew. That didn't help me at all! The words are from the Old Testament from Song of Solomon, 8:6-7. The music CD has better sound and is more beautiful because it has a little bit of echo. The video's not bad though. You can feel her music. It's an a capella which means voice only, no instruments. I had to look up "a capella" also.
I'm going on the 13th, probably, to a meeting of an organization called Christians United for Israel. Not that that has anything to do with this, but it popped into my head just now and I think I have not mentioned it.
Okay, here's the vid. Take your mind off things for a minute, step outside yourself and listen. It's only three minutes.
Set me as a seal upon thy heart,
as a seal upon thine arm;
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is cruel as the grave;
the flashes thereof are flashes of fire,
a very flame of the LORD.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can the floods drown it;
if a man would give all the substance of his house for love,
he would utterly be condemned.
as a seal upon thine arm;
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is cruel as the grave;
the flashes thereof are flashes of fire,
a very flame of the LORD.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can the floods drown it;
if a man would give all the substance of his house for love,
he would utterly be condemned.
Why did I do all those sit-ups!
I remember when Jackie Onassis died. She was such a dedicated mom and she delighted in grandmotherhood. When she got cancer (she was only 64) I read an article about her in a glossy magazine where she said, "Why did I do all those sit-ups?" It made me laugh out loud. It was so genuine and was such a silly thing. Exactly the sort of thing I may have thought of if I was her. The sit-ups kept her beautiful, vibrant, in excellent shape. Why did Jackie do all those sit-ups? Because she was driven to. Because she couldn't stop.
Like Jackie did her sit-ups, I do my praying, and I've experienced an epiphany this week. It's as if I've been dog paddling in prayer all these years and suddenly I'm gliding through glassy waters doing a beautiful side stroke! You might think dog paddle prayers are lame but they're not. With the dog paddle prayer you can pray very far, for a very long time. It's easy. Anyone can do it. It can be a life saving prayer and swimming stroke.
I travailed in it for years, entirely satisfied. But now! I can pray out loud for a full 30 minutes. I've done it this week. I practiced it at church and accomplished it with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I can quote verses from my Bible from memory too. They come to my mind now. Get out of town, you say. No, really! As a quiet woman, I am happy I can do more than silent or only memorized prayer. Moses complained to God that he wasn't qualified to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt because he was slow of tongue and slow of thought, but Jehovah boomed, "Who hath made man's mouth? Have not I, the Lord, made man's mouth?" Well, I suppose He did.
Praying for lost souls, revival, and the election this past week I feel I've gotten the absolutely wrong reply that I sought from the Lord, yet personally my prayer life has grown exponentially. That's something! It's huge, for me anyway. The Lord is more far seeing than I am. He has a plan. We know this. So I will continue to pray knowing the answer is always going to be one of three: Yes, No, or Not Now. I am driven to pray. I cannot stop.
I have a short video I made. It's how I'm thinking today. As my little sister put it so succinctly this morning, Welp, I guess we shall see how Obama proceeds to jack everything up now. Hopefully it won't be too bad.
Like Jackie did her sit-ups, I do my praying, and I've experienced an epiphany this week. It's as if I've been dog paddling in prayer all these years and suddenly I'm gliding through glassy waters doing a beautiful side stroke! You might think dog paddle prayers are lame but they're not. With the dog paddle prayer you can pray very far, for a very long time. It's easy. Anyone can do it. It can be a life saving prayer and swimming stroke.
I travailed in it for years, entirely satisfied. But now! I can pray out loud for a full 30 minutes. I've done it this week. I practiced it at church and accomplished it with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I can quote verses from my Bible from memory too. They come to my mind now. Get out of town, you say. No, really! As a quiet woman, I am happy I can do more than silent or only memorized prayer. Moses complained to God that he wasn't qualified to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt because he was slow of tongue and slow of thought, but Jehovah boomed, "Who hath made man's mouth? Have not I, the Lord, made man's mouth?" Well, I suppose He did.
Praying for lost souls, revival, and the election this past week I feel I've gotten the absolutely wrong reply that I sought from the Lord, yet personally my prayer life has grown exponentially. That's something! It's huge, for me anyway. The Lord is more far seeing than I am. He has a plan. We know this. So I will continue to pray knowing the answer is always going to be one of three: Yes, No, or Not Now. I am driven to pray. I cannot stop.
I have a short video I made. It's how I'm thinking today. As my little sister put it so succinctly this morning, Welp, I guess we shall see how Obama proceeds to jack everything up now. Hopefully it won't be too bad.
Fireworks
One of the rangers asked my husband this morning if there were any fireworks in our loop last night. Fireworks aren't allowed in the park.
My husband told the ranger, "Nah, the only fireworks in our loop was Liliana having a drink and crying all night."
Husbands. Why I oughta!
My husband told the ranger, "Nah, the only fireworks in our loop was Liliana having a drink and crying all night."
Husbands. Why I oughta!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Liliana is not happy
I suppose the Senate will have its hands full for the next four years. I'm still waiting to hear whether Proposition 8 to ban same-s*x marriage in California has passed. Looks like it might. That'll be a bright spot for today at least.
Maybe Sarah in four years.
My husband has been super quiet all day. I thought he was mad at me but he's not.
I'm sure Obama will say anything he can't fix is Bush's fault and Obama won't take responsibility for anything. They never have. And if anyone could ever buy a presidency, Obama has. They've got to look into that. Where did all his money come from?
Think I'll go lie down and have a good cry. I'm stunned. The densely populated regions wiped McCain out in the electoral college.
Well, life goes on, eh?
See you on the flip-side.
(Note: I was gonna go have a lil' cry and be done with it, but I don't feel like it now. Now I feel disgusted! Maybe I'm going to go through Kübler-Ross' Five Stages of Grief.)
Maybe Sarah in four years.
My husband has been super quiet all day. I thought he was mad at me but he's not.
I'm sure Obama will say anything he can't fix is Bush's fault and Obama won't take responsibility for anything. They never have. And if anyone could ever buy a presidency, Obama has. They've got to look into that. Where did all his money come from?
Think I'll go lie down and have a good cry. I'm stunned. The densely populated regions wiped McCain out in the electoral college.
Well, life goes on, eh?
See you on the flip-side.
(Note: I was gonna go have a lil' cry and be done with it, but I don't feel like it now. Now I feel disgusted! Maybe I'm going to go through Kübler-Ross' Five Stages of Grief.)
Liliana is chill
We're starting hsing in a few minutes. I'm going to keep my nose off the news sites for the day. I'm chill. Waiting. Won't sit idle. I'll be praying, reading my Bible (mainly about Moses and the children of Israel today). I'm excited in my bones. My husband isn't excited at all. He's out cleaning camp sites right now.
A whole family of raccoons, four of them, ran across the road in front of me on my way home from church last night. Raccoons are so cute. They're smart too.
Today is very windy.
I wish I was in Wasilla, Alaska today!
A whole family of raccoons, four of them, ran across the road in front of me on my way home from church last night. Raccoons are so cute. They're smart too.
Today is very windy.
I wish I was in Wasilla, Alaska today!
Monday, November 03, 2008
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