I’m at a loss…

What do I do?  Amanda was supposed to move into our house yesterday.  She decided that after she got off work at 5 PM, that she and 2 of her friends from work were going to go out to eat.  So she didn’t get home until after 6:30 PM to get all her stuff to bring it over.  When I called her to see where she was, she told me that she was out with a couple of friends and would be over later.  I was upset since it was her idea to get out of Brandon’s house and come home as soon as possible.  Little Brian worked very hard in the cold garage to get a space cleaned out for her to store her totes and stuff.  I almost feel like we are going back the the days of chaos.  She did come by last night to drop off a few things, but not that much.  She says she is going to get everything over this morning.  I just called her at 9:15 am to see what time she was going to get things done and she was still asleep.  I just hope she is going to do everything correctly.

So is everyone ready for the snow today?  I know that they said it is going to be further south, but you just never know.  We do live in Missouri (Misery) and the weather is just so unpredictable.  We went ahead and drove the truck just in-case.  The Kia just doesn’t like this weather. 

Oh, Nikki has now laid a total of 3 eggs.  We figure that there will be 1 more.  This last one she became extremely protective of.  She actually tried to come after me while on the bottom of her cage, and normally she never tries to attack me.  Now everyone else, that is a different story.  But when I open her cage to feed her or love on her, she is just fine.  I’m sure it is the whole territorial thing.  She is such a funny bird.  When anyone walks past her cage and she is on the bottom of the cage, she will lift her wings to be “SCARY.”  I just laugh at her cause she looks so silly.  I will have to try to get a picture of that.

I am on a newsletter for Today’s Christian Woman and I though this article was pretty cute and I wanted to share.

Girlfriend’s Guide to Giggling

There’s nothing more energizing in life than a good laugh. But it’s even more fun if you can share it with a friend!

 by Sue Buchanan

1 If your friend gets a write-up in the local newspaper, clip it, laminate it, and send it to her. This isn’t a good idea if she robbed a bank!

2 When you go to the beach, bring your friends sea shells. For a single friend, forget the shells, bring her the lifeguard.

3 Gather up your friends and attend a women’s conference. Stay in the same hotel room; the more the merrier. Be sure to bring an extra suitcase filled with junk food.

4 Give each of your girlfriends a big wall calendar. Use colorful markers to write in “holidays” such as “Throw Away Your Husband’s Old Socks Day,” or “Take Your Friend (insert your name) on a Cruise Week.” Circle your birthday with a black marker and highlight it. Have a birthday at least three times a year.

5 If a friend’s in the hospital, give her a feather boa to wear with her nightgown. She’ll feel better in no time.

6 When a friend needs you, drop everything and go. But remember that “everything” doesn’t include a chocolate souffle, a bottle of hair color, or your baby!

7 Buy your friend a Bible to match her newest Sunday outfit. They have the most chic colors these days: purple, green, teal blue . …

8 Take an exercise class together. Go shopping for a leotard—that’s good for a few laughs! After shopping, stop for dessert. Encourage each other to attend the class more than once.

9 Invite friends to your house for a movie. Dress the part. Casablanca’s especially fun.

10 Take pictures of your friends and superimpose them on store-bought greeting cards. Nothing beats getting a picture of a sexy bikini-clad body with your own face on it!

11 Create handmade coupons for “a good cry on my shoulder,” or “dessert the next time it’s needed.”

12 Give squirt guns to newlyweds. Instructions won’t be necessary. They’ll know exactly what to do.

13 When she complains that all the tags in her dresses say “l,” tell her, “Oh, I’ve read about that; a mistake’s been made. The tags don’t mean ‘large’; they’re really size 7s. They’ve been sewn in upside down.”

14 Give away something you love—children don’t count.

15 Celebrate everything—even a root canal. It’s over, for heaven’s sake!

Today’s Bible verse is:

Psalms 86:5

“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

I’m going to go.  I hope everyone has a blessed day.  XOXOXO

Hmmmm, I wonder what is in store for today…

I know that today will be about 37 degrees and that is good.  It will be good for the sun to come out and melt the snow we got yesterday off the streets.  Except that it is supposed to snow again tomorrow.  The way the news sounds, it is supposed to be quite a bit of snow.  BLECK!!!  I am truly tired of the snow, only because my feet are so cold.  You know, I thought yesterday seemed really weird.  When it was snowing, it looked like a blizzard.  But when it was all done, the sun came out and the sky was blue with just a few clouds.  It reminded me of a spring day, with snow.

I have been in a meeting for the last hour and I’m really surprised I didn’t fall asleep.  I am so tired and I can’t seem to stop yawning.  But I didn’t sleep real well last night, so no wonder I have been yawning.  Anyway, some of the stuff we talk about is pretty interesting.  But I’m glad that it isn’t something that I have to deal with daily.

I talked to Amanda today and she is going to move back home until her move to the apartment.  I guess her boyfriend and his family are being really mean and hateful to her.  Then his mom is having people spy on her to let them know if she is really at work.  I mean really, what is the deal with that?  I told her to move on home and that way she won’t have to deal with any of them again.  It will be nice to have her here even for the short period of time.  But that way we can get everything together that she will need and it will be easy to move her right on in.

I will put a picture up of her apartment once she is done moving everything in.  We will make it a great little place and I know she will truly enjoy it.

Anyway, I’m going to go and I will talk to everyone later.  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Ephesians 4:2

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Brrrrrr, it’s cold…

Nothing like yesterday being 60 and today it is 19 degrees.  When I left the house this morning at 4:50 am, it was still warm and 52 degrees out.  When I left my group at 7:00 am, it had already dropped to 39 degrees.  Now the snow has finally stopped and the sun is trying to come out, but it is still around 19 degrees.

Today in group we talked about the 2nd chapter in Desiring God by John Piper.  John Piper is a self proclaimed Christian Hedonist.  He invented the term Christian Hedonist, back before writing the book Desiring God in 1986.  I don’t care for his writing, but I am trying to keep an open mind on things.  I noticed throughout this whole chapter that he has contradicted himself several times.  From chapter 1 he talks about predestination and that is how it is.  I thought God gave us a free will.   Then you have in chapter 2 where he says that “We not only choose to sin; we are sinful.”  Isn’t that part of the whole free will thing? Here is some stuff that I found and about predestination vs. freewill.   “Besides the verses that tells us directly to make choices, there are hundreds of verses that tell us how we are to live. Obviously, following this advice requires free will and the ability to choose. So, the Bible indicates pretty clearly that we are to make choices. If everything is predestined, then choice is not possible.“  Well, that just sums it up for me.  Then there is one paragraph in the book that has really bothered me.  Let me know what you think of it.  “Not everybody is saved from God’s wrath just because Christ died for sinners.  There is a condition we must meet in order to be saved.  I want to try to show that the condition, summed up here as prepentance and faith, is conversion and that conversion is nothing less than the creation of a Christian Hedonist.”   So to me it is saying that the only way to Christ is to be a Christian Hedonist.  Then throughout the book he keeps saying that Christ died for sinners.  I know we are all sinners, but Christ died for ALL.  Why not just put Christ died for all? 

I better just stop.  I will just get myself irritated again.

Lunch was really good today.  I went out to lunch today with the Land development team for our “Post” Christmas lunch.  We went to Nick & Jakes in Parkville and I had the Smothered Chicken with Garlic Linguine.  It was very good.  The best part was that it didn’t cost me a thing.

Well, I’m going to go.  It is about time to head home.  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Mark 9:35

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

It’s a tropical heat wave!!!

OK, I know it’s January in Missouri, but it is 60 degrees outside and the wind is blowing like a big dog, and I am stuck inside sitting on my butt, playing on the computer.  Yes, I am at work, but who really wants to be at work?  On days like today, not me!  I did go outside to get the mail, and I did take my time.  Julie laughed at me when I came back inside, and said she was going to bring her scissors in and cut my bangs.  We were just laughing how the wind just blew my hair in every direction.

Last night was a great night.  Good food, great friends, and great conversation.  I made beef stew and garlic-herb cheesy biscuits.  Brian really liked the biscuits, and he really doesn’t like beef stew but he said that it was really good.  I will probably make the biscuits again tonight for dinner.  Anyway, we all decided that we are going to start the Saturday Mixed Group this coming Saturday, (2/02/08).  I think it will be a great group, but we will see where God leads all of us through this journey.  I know that I trust God in a lot of things but I just still don’t get why I hold myself back and not fully trust God the way that I should.  Oh, I know it is something that I am going to need to work on, and I have no doubts that I can work on it.  But why am I so scared about it?

OK, here is another issue I have been having.  I have 2 guys here at work that just get on my everlasting nerves.  I don’t know why they bother me so badly but it just drives me crazy.  One just really tries to hard to get everyones approval for everything.  Then he thinks he is being funny when he butts into your conversations and starts trying to crack jokes.  Then the other one can’t seem to comprehend anything.  You tell him how to do one thing and he has to go all around it 4 or 5 times before he actually gets it.  I don’t know, maybe I’m just getting grouchier in my old age.  OK, I’m not that old, but still.  I hope that made sense.  I think when I ask God to help me with the issue I have with them, I think he shows me things that are close to the same as praying for patience.  I learned my lesson on that one, and I think I am understanding things a little better, but not 100%.  I know that the only thing I can do, is just show them the love of Christ in me.

*News on my daughter.*  She just called and said she got approved for her apartment.  She is so excited and gets to move in in about 2 weeks.  It is a cute little studio apartment and she is going to be right next door to one of the guys that she works with.  Apparently, several of the people she works with live in that little area.  So she is very happy about that.

Well, I better get some work done.  Just thought I would take a short break and put on here what is going through my tiny little brain.  Doesn’t seem like much at all.  LOL Sending all my love!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

John 4:24

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

This weekend…

Unfortunately from Friday evening till this morning, I have had a horrible headache.  I say this morning, because, I finally was over the darned thing when I got up this morning. 

Brian and I didn’t get to go to church today.  We had plumbing issues and of course it didn’t get finished until 11:45 a.m.  I did however, go out with the girls today for Diana’s Birthday.  We went and ate Chinese, then went and saw the movie Juno.  It wasn’t a fantastic movie by any means, but I did enjoy it.  I know for a fact that Brian wouldn’t like it at all.

Well, we have a couple coming over in about an hour to talk about the new Saturday evening mixed group, so I am going to go finish getting things ready, and I will talk to everyone later.

Love to all!!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Ephesians 6:12-13

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Well…

The vet said that she will lay and egg periodically.  Maybe up to 4 more in her lifetime.  He isn’t concerned about her losing calcium.  He actually said that if I do supplement her with calcium, she may get the desire to lay more eggs.  To bad I can’t fertilize them.  That would be a good bundle of money.  If I bred her, the babies could go for $1500.00 dollars.  I couldn’t breed her.  I would feel bad about that.

Well last night went well.  Everyone took to us birthing off into another group very well.  It is going to be hard for us to leave.  We love everyone very much.  In February we will be starting our Saturday evening mixed group.  There has been a big response to a weekend group.  So far we have 14 people that are interested in the group.  Then there will be Brian and myself, along with the 2 other leaders so that will be 18 people.  I think it will be a great group.  Then after so long, we will be breaking off again and the other 2 leaders will be with their own group and we will be with ours.  We are also hoping that we will have some emerging leaders come up in our group.  It would be awesome.  Another cool thing will be to share our love of Jesus Christ with others, and ones who are not true believers to become true believers in Jesus. 

Well, I have to go do some work.  BLAH!!!  Have a good day and love to all!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

“If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

YEAH!!! The sun is shining…

Although the temp is still in the 20’s, at least it is very pleasant to look outside.

Oh my goodness, the weirdest thing happened last night.  OK, I actually found it this morning.  My blue and gold macaw laid an egg last night.  It is the first time she laid and egg since she has been with us.  I have had her for 12 years and she is now 17 years old.  I’m trying to figure out what circumstances has caused her to lay an egg.  Anyway, I went to feed her this morning and she didn’t seem protective of it or anything, so I left her cage open, went into the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher.   By that time, she came out of her cage and walked over to me.  I picked her up and loved on her and had my son take the egg out of her cage.  It was about the size of a golf-ball.  My son left it in a paper towel on the counter so I could show my husband.  We just looked at it and kept saying “how weird.” 

I just called the vet to see if there is anything that I need to supplement her in her diet.  I am just waiting on a call back.  Hopefully I will hear something back soon.

Well, I better go.  I am finishing up my lunch.  Have a great rest of the day!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Soliciting…

What amazes me is that on our door here at work we have a pretty good sized sign that says “NO SOLICITING” and people still come in here trying to sell things or try to get us to use their services.  We just had a guy and his 2 sons come in here to sell cookies.  I felt bad about them having to be turned away.  Apparently, they had been here before selling the cookies 2 other times within the past year.  Julie told him that they guys in the back are very busy and they do not want the cookies.  I’m not for sure what the cookies are for, but there is like 3 cookies in a container for about $5.00. 

Well, we have decided that for our small group, we are going to be asking questions.  I found a really good article by John Ortberg called No More Mr. Nice Group.  It talks about taking off the masks and confessing what is going on in your life, and being able to talk to everyone in your group honestly.  Then when you look in the mirror, what do you really see or better yet, how do you see yourself.  It was on www.christianitytoday.com.  But we feel that since this group has been together for so long, we would like to know where they feel they are spiritually and where they think the group is spiritually.  I think it will be a good thing to talk to everyone and give everyone input on the situation.

Tonight we are going over to the “Head” Group Leaders, I don’t know what else to call them.  They are over all the small groups.  Anyway, since we are still apprenticing we now have 12 people that are interested in a Saturday evening small group.  Brian and I have been tossing around the weekend small groups and I think this is going to be it.  We would really like to finish our book with the group we are with, but I understand that we are in need of getting the new small group together.  We are excited about it, but it is also very scary.  We will be meeting a lot of new people.  I will let everyone know what happens tonight.

I better go and get the few things I have left to do, done.  Love to all!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Today is the end of the world for me!!!

OK, well at least for my diet.  This weekend has sucked as far as food goes.  Darn those Girl Scout Cookies.  I just can’t resist.  Although, tomorrow is another day. 

Then there is the whole, getting irritated at people because things aren’t going the way I want them to go.  Here is an example.  I pull out of Wal-Mart to head for home.  I am the 4th car in the turn lane, the first car doesn’t see the green arrow and the car behind him didn’t even honk his horn.  I had to sit through the stop light again.  My anger wanted me to get out of my truck and give that guy a piece of my mind.  But really what good would it do.  I just got stewed over something that really is very minuet.  Then of course I let my tongue do all the talking.  I’m sure you all know that wasn’t good.

That is one thing I always pray for.  To ask God to help me with my anger.

Well, have a good night and I will talk to you all later.  XOXOX

Today’s Bible verse is:

James 1:2-3

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

More snow is here…

It snowed last night and I bet we got about 2-3 inches.  The roads this morning were horrible.  But we got in the truck and we finally made it to work.  At least the sun is out and even though it is about 20 degrees, the sun should help melt the snow off the roads. 

We wound up not going to New Community last night.  Unfortunately the roads were slick and we really didn’t want to risk getting into a wreck.  Especially since everyone with a 4×4 thinks they are invincible when in reality they are just as vulnerable as the next person.

Last night was a great night for both Brian and myself.  We got into the word together and we did our daily reading.  It was Genesis 39-41 and Luke 17.  In Genesis, it talked about Joseph and how he interpreted the dreams for the cupbearer and the baker.  He told the cupbearer that he would be able to make the wine and find favor with the Pharaoh and that he would resume his office again and let the baker know that his dream with the 3 baskets on his head and the birds eating the bread out of the baskets was not going to find favor with the Pharaoh and he was going to be hanged from a tree and the birds were going to eat his flesh.  If you really read it closely, you will see all the types and shadows of Christ.  The baskets represent the crown, the hanging obviously the death, and the birds eating the flesh is the piercing of his skin.  Then Joseph interpreted a dream for the Pharaoh and let him know of the 7 good years and the 7 years of famine that Egypt would have.  Joseph found favor with the Pharaoh and he helped the Pharaoh’s land get ready for the famine.  But the thing that surprised me the most was, it said that people from all the “earth” came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.  I guess you wouldn’t think of all the people of the “earth” coming to Egypt.  That had to have been a crowded place.

Hope everyone has a good evening and stay warm, sheesh it’s cold out there!!!!  XOXOXO

Today’s Bible verse is:

Philippians 2:14-16

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”