better than nothing

Something I saw on Facebook on my friend Melanie's sister's page, actually. I thought I'd do it here rather than leave a blank page again today. 

A - Age: 43

B - Bed size: King

C - Chore you hate: cleaning toilets. 

D - Dog's name: Skittles

E - Essential start your day item: Prayer

F - Favorite color(s): Red and Green - not necessarily together.

G - Gold or Silver: Silver  

H - Height: 5'7" ish and shrinking

I - Instruments you play: nothing

J - Job title: Mom/Teacher/Writer

K - Kid(s): Two, one of each.

L - Living arrangements: I live with my husband and kids and dog in a house. 

M - Mom's name: Maxine

N - Nicknames: Kaybee, Moomoo, Honey, Katie, Blondie, Katherine, Cake, 

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Three times

P - Pet Peeve: rude people

Q - Quote from a movie: "I don't think that word means what you think it means." Inego in the Princess Bride.

R - Right or left handed: Right! 

S - Siblings: Julie

T- - Time you wake up: 8-9 usually, unless I have to get up earlier

U- Underwear: What?

V - Vegetable you dislike: Brussel Sprouts, Lima beans

W - Ways you run late: get distracted. Lose track of time. Traffic, yeah, that's it. Traffic.

X - X-rays you've had:Teeth, chest, spine, shoulder, upper GI, (you really want to know this?), abdominal CTs, kidney/bladder, Good grief, I don't think I've ever listed them before.

Y - Yummy food you make: I don't make much yummy food any more. I used to love to cook and made lots of yummy stuff.

Z - Zoo favorite: Elephants, Tigers, Giraffes, Apes, Marmosets, Howler Monkeys

earth day

For some reason, I used to think that caring for the earth and our environment was at odds with Christianity.

But one of the first commands God gave us was to care for creation. He made us stewards of the earth. This is our home, hand-made by God. I think when we disregard it we dishonor Him.

On the other hand, when the focus is only on the environment while people starve and kill one another, we need to get our priorities right. If one is so caught up in caring for the planet that they have no time to love humans, then there is a problem.

If the planet becomes an idol that is a problem.

But those of us who follow Christ can find ways to care for our planet that do not lead to idolatry or the neglect of mankind.

I recycle because my community makes it very easy to do so. I also carry those re-useable bags in my car and usually actually remember to take them into the store with me. That's not a lot, but it's more than I used to do. 

Are there things you've incorporated into your lifestyle to help care for the home God created for us? If not, are there some things that you could begin to do?

how to get to denver from boston

My husband had to make a business trip to Boston last Wednesday. Yesterday was the day he was to come home. 

Yesterday there was a snow storm in Denver, (still snowing as I write, in fact).

So after hours in the Boston airport he finally took off for Phoenix. In airline world, Phoenix is between Boston and Denver. It's complicated and above our reasoning skills, so lets not try to comprehend that.

Then, with the snow still falling here, there was question as to whether his flight would be cancelled. It wasn't, but they did have to change gates and bring in a different airplane. Again, it's too complicated for us, so lets not think about it.

Then they finally started boarding. They were counting children because they wanted to be sure to not exceed the weight limit, (considerate of them). This made me feel a bit uneasy, but hubby seemed okay with it. 

He decided though, that if they asked for volunteers to give up a seat he would do it. But they didn't ask. 

Hours after he should have arrived in Denver he finally called. "I'm in Colorado Springs."

What? Why? Well, I guess they flew to a snowstorm in Denver in a plane that for some reason isn't able to land in fog. This is just so brilliant that I would need a couple of doctorates to even begin to grasp it. 

"We're just sitting here in the middle of the tarmac." 

"Why?"

"Apparently the airport is closed."

Nice.

Then they announced that they were going to re-fuel and go back to Phoenix. (Insert snark here)

I told him to "Get. Off. The. Plane." Those are crazy people. They won't let him off, he told me. No way can you go back to Phoenix when you are an hour from home, I told him. Then I suggested he start a riot so the police would come and liberate him from the plane.

He didn't go for it.

Then they said they would get the airport open, let them off and drive them to Denver on a bus.

Okay. That's something. At least it's a plan that keeps him in the state.

All they had to do was wait two hours for the bus to get there from DIA.

Did I mention that by this time it was 2:00 AM? So a two hour wait, a two hour drive, then at least thirty minutes more to get to our house. Good plan.

He decided to find a hotel. I told him I would drive down today and get him and take him to DIA to fetch his car. Better plan.

This morning, it was still snowing. At this point, the snow is above my knees in places. I wasn't sure I wanted to brave it. Turns out, I couldn't have anyway. No way would I get out our uphill driveway that is covered in a foot of snow. He decided to rent a car and drive up. Awesome plan.

So he did. And fortunately he thought to get the insurance from the rental company because he slid into a guard rail on the way up. It took about twice the normal time to get home, but he's home.

He did get stuck on our road, though. 

fitting in

We want to fit in. We want to be accepted and that means not veering too far from what is "normal" or "acceptable." Anyone who eschews (good old King James word) fashion and pop culture is considered weird and even worse, inferior.

 

When we see someone truly unique, we tend to question their sanity, their appropriateness, their intelligence.

Maybe I'm wrong to say "we." Maybe it's just me. I am confessing right here that I judge people based on their appearance far more than I would like to. I don't want to think of myself as that shallow, but I am. God help me. (And He will.)

So when this plain, unfashionable woman stepped on the stage of Britain's Got Talent, I thought similar thoughts as the audience and the judges. I felt bad for her. I was afraid that she would get up there and make a fool of herself. She would be humiliated. I didn't really consider that she might be truly gifted.

Something has happened in our culture. Many famous singers of days gone by weren't particularly good looking. But when I think of current stars, it seems that is a crucial part of the package. They must fit in. Or if they don't, they must look so good as too make the rest of us feel inferior.

Some of you watched the video from my last post. If you haven't seen it, watch it now.

This woman is unique. She is who she is and doesn't seem to care what others think. She doesn't fit in. A woman who has dedicated her life to caring for her mother, she hasn't had time to follow fashions or cultural trends. She's been too busy pouring out her life for another. 

Finally, the time came. She rousted up the courage to face Simon and Piers together, (have mercy) and reach for her star. And I wept. I wept because I am a snob and unworthy. I wept because this woman has what I don't. She has courage. 

This woman opened her mouth and was transformed into beauty.

Now everyone is talking about her. Everyone is her fan. She fits in. 

But what if she didn't have talent? What if she got up there and squawked Where would she fit then?

forty, yes, forty facts

I got this from my cousin's blog. Queen of the World. Her blog keeps changing names, but I still have it listed as To Know me is to Love me. And it's true. Gotta love her.

1. My uncle once: told me not to pick my nose because my finger might go off and blow my brains out.

2. Never in my life: Been on a cruise.

3. When I was five: I was a cute little blonde.

4. High School was: better than middle school

5. I will never forget: my name. I think.

6. I once met: a giant.

7. There’s this girl I know who: makes me laugh a lot

8. Once, at a bar: All these nuns came in and started dancing -- oh, wait, that wasn't real. I played pool in a bar once.

9. By noon, I’m usually: hungry

11. If only I had: a maid

12. Next time I go to church: I will probably cry.

13. Terry Schiavo: Don't want to talk about it.

14. What worries me most: my children's futures

15. When I turn my head left, I see: a dog

16. When I turn my head right, I see: bananas

17. You know I’m lying when: I don't know. I try not to lie. I suppose I would be pretty obvious if I were lying. You know, if you could see me.

18. What I miss most about the eighties: the makeup

19. If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be: a queen or something

20. By this time next year: I will be a year older

21. A better name for me would be: Your Highness

22. I have a hard time understanding: quantum physics vs string theory, but I'm working on it.

23. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: love it. 

24. You know I like you if: you're not arrogant or mean.

25. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: my husband; he puts up with a lot.

26. Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferraro: That's a weird troupe. What play are they in?

27. Take my advice, never: lick the beater until it's unplugged

28. My ideal breakfast is: the works cooked by anyone but me.

29. A song I love, but do not own is: Jesus Bring the Rain

30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest: Old Mission Deli

31. Tulips, character flaws, microchips, & track stars: inconceivable

32. Why won’t people: stop whining

33. If you spend the night at my house: bring a sleeping bag.

34. I’d stop my wedding for: lack of a groom.

35. The world could do without: rap

36. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: jump out of an airplane

37. My favorite blond is: delightful.

38: Paper clips are more useful than: dog shoes

39. If I do anything well, it’s: waste time

40. And by the way: stay away from high fructose corn syrup. You know what they say...

must see

Watch this video. Share your thoughts.

while I've been gone

Since I wasn't allowed to blog, tweet, or facebook, I played a lot of computer games.

I also spent more time in the Bible and prayer.

I made a lot of progress on my book and it is now much shorter than it was. It works that way, I guess. But I have new direction and am excited about it. I did get some writing done, but mostly a lot of thinking and some plotting and rearranging. It's cool.

I got a diagnosis* for something that has been troubling me for more than fifteen years and no other doctor could help me with. I've also been getting treatments** for that diagnosis. One of which*** gave me a severe allergic reaction and I had my very first breathing treatment! Awesome.

My son got a diagnosis**** for something that's been bothering him since last June at least.

I wrote and submitted a story for Chicken Soup for the Soul and got a reply that it was being considered. Than another letter asking me to make any changes and sign off on it. That was the "one step closer" letter. I've not heard anything since then. I'm thinking they decided against it. I'm thinking it's been rejected. I don't care. Really. Sort of.

I wrote and submitted a short story for a contest that my writing group, Words for the Journey, is doing. The winner hasn't been announced yet. 

I got a "job" as a writer for the Denver Examiner. I am the Christian Fiction Examiner. The reason for the quotes is that I get paid approximately $.01 per page view. So feel free to go check it out. I will mostly be posting book recommendations/reviews. You can also sign up for e-mail notifications so you'll know each time I post a new article.

I had a birthday.

I had some really cool times with God.

I had some hair pulling moments with my children and homeschooling.

I had a short season of depression.

I definitely missed all of my blog friends! I'm looking forward to catching up and hearing how your life has been the past few months.

I got this asterisk thing from my friend Susan at Accidental poet. I'm a copy cat and I'm not ashamed.

* Chronic Epstein Barr

** Frequency Specific Microcurrent, aromatherapy, and IV nutrition

*** IV nutrition - it is vitamins and minerals from whole food sources. Apparently I am allergic to one of the food sources.

**** Gluten Intolerance