Fall Heralds Busy-ness!

Autumn is by far my favorite season. Spring is a close second, with Winter and Summer tied for third. A funny thing happens to me in the Fall and Spring, though. My husband calls it Erma Bombeck syndrome. Erma called it Martha Stewart Syndrome.

Autumn heralds a return to order, a desire for the crispness of the early morning and the cool comfort of evenings. It creates in me an instinct must like Nesting. In fact, the "experts" would probably call it just that. Papa-Dew both loves and hates it. He loves that the house is squeaky clean (well, most of it) and decorated, but he hates that it is the only time of year I actually write out a honey-please-do list. Most of the year, I ask him and let his timetable dictate the rest. I make a great effort to not be a contentious woman. Fall, though, all the stops are pulled out. The eyes are batting, the tone of voice is wheedling, and I am not above turning his head with baked goodies and promises of Saturday sci-fi marathons.


Thus far, it's been pretty tame - although expensive. The week started off with a new pair of jeans for me. Then some really darling (and totally on sale) fall and Christmas themed dish-towels to hang on the shelf-rod (pics to come later). You know, the shelf that was gifted me by my precious mother (hi Mom!) when we visited last week. The one he put up today in the kitchen for me.


Then things got expensive. {sigh} But necessary. A new mattress/box springs set. On sale, of course, and discounted for a cash payment. That was nice. I'll sleep well tonight! And so will my sweetie and his poor, overworked back. But before bed, I think I'm really feeling the need to make a list of things to do tomorrow...


Does Autumn motivate you as well? Share with us!

Okay, not quite back to the world...

that sinus infection heralded a massive asthma attack Wed. night...followed by an upper respiratory infection. The doc has me on good, heavy-hitting drugs but I still feel pretty awful. I had prepared this little pic for y'all on Tuesday. enjoy, and say a prayer for me please.

WEEKEND AT GRANNY-MA's

Welcome back to the World!

We've been out of town at my mother's home, and brought back souvenirs! Twin sinus infections...the kiddo and myself. Who knew a human body could create so much mucus! yuuuck. So we're holding out of church today (wah!!!! We love church!) and drinking hot drinks, soups and the like. Oh, and I'm reclaiming my bachelorized house from my trip. That should take a year or so. (Just kidding dear!)

While we were at Mom's I set up her computer and got her (drum roll please) ONLINE! Now she can surf to her heart's content. (Hi Mommie!)

I'll post more later when some of the concrete has left my skull.

RSS

I'm wanting to add an RSS feed to my blog and just can't seem to do so. My poor brain is just too tired. Could someone help?

pretty please?

Never Forget.

God Bless America.

America - bless God!

In Other Words for September 11, 2007

Laurel Wreath is hosting "In Other Words for this week. She has chosen the following quote for each of us to ponder and paraphrase:

"The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love." a Henry Scougal quote (from The Life of God in the Soul of Man ), quoted by John Piper in The Pleasures of God.

There is a commercial currently running for something or other that utilizes a song that repeats "Who do ya love?" over and over. The marketing ploy mustn't be too good, for I can remember only the song - not the product. Since reading LW's quote, that song has been crashing about in my mind.


Who do I love? We all know the answers to that question. God, family friends. But what about self? ouch. Yeah, I may love her a bit too much. Maybe that's why I try to take things into my own hands. Why I sometimes leave things at the foot of the cross, only to sneak back later and snatch them away.


Another question springs to mind. What is the worth of a soul, anyway? The value is enormous. A soul is what sets us apart from all of creation. It's what makes us similar to God - made in His image. Just as he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are body, mind and soul. Sinner-saved-by-grace or not, it is one thing we all share that is the same, that has the same potential.


Bodies come in all different shapes and sizes. Some bodies are broken at birth. Deformaties and diseases create situations in which some are more challenged than others right from the get-go. Differences in color or ethnicity have resulted in conflicts as personal as school-yard bullying and as corporate as genocide. There are more suffering from eating disorders than ever, yet obesity is at epidemic levels. Because of the Garden Fall, sin has its way with our no-longer perfect bodies. We do not, nor will we have a "level playing field" when it comes to our physical bodies.


Like bodies, minds come in all different sizes. Whether we like to admit it or not, we are all limited by our capabilities. Certainly, we can do all we can to maximize children's potential and retain what we older folks have. How many people do you know who Soduku in an effort to stay sharp? How many people buy Baby Einstein videos hoping to make Johnny a genius? Lots! And as little as we like to admit it with regard to our bodies, it really irks us that we are not all the same mentally. Sin has done its best to take away this third of our triune nature as well. Mental disabilities and injuries, as well as simple differences in genetic makeup and environmental stimuli insure that we won't have a "level playing field" there as well.


We are left with the final third of our triune nature. The soul. The breath of heaven within us all. The one portion of our beings that all begin the same. Sin has played its insidious role in this portion of our lives as well. Satan covets this third of our being most of all, as it is the only one that is eternal. This is the gold. After the fall in Eden and the resulting birth into a sin nature, Satan thought he had won. Each soul, fresh and new into the world has a sin nature - a soul tarnished like aged gold. Dormant until the oh-so-mysterious and oft-debated age of accountability, the time comes in each life when there is an awareness of the condition of our soul. Until that time, the playing field is level. We are all the same. We have the same potential for sin, or for glory through God's grace. It is the choices that we make, and the desire/love of our soul that further dulls or places our soul into the Refiner's fire. A soul that loves things of this world takes on the garish, carnival paint of superficiality while the soul that yearns for and loves the refiner will begin to shine brighter and brighter..adding to its worth and value.


Do we love the cheap, carnival artifice that sin has to offer? Or do we love the priceless purity of God?

Menu Plan Monday

Tuesday - Pork Chops, Corn on the Cob, Fried Potatoes


Wednesday - Hamburgers, Macaroni w/Tomatoes, Green Beans


Thursday - Spaghetti with Meatballs


Friday - Crockpot Sticky Chicken, Peas, Hominy


Saturday - At my Mother's home!


Sunday - Soup & Sandwiches


Monday - Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli w/Cheese Sauce

From Mrs. Wilt...

Mrs. Wilt found this amusing, as did I. Consider yourself tagged, if you do as well.


She found this hilarious meme at Allsorts and thought she'd join in the fun (She left out the "Stripper Name" question, just in case you visit and see that it's not numbered the same. I did the same, although my rock star name kinda sounds like one!).


1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),
Prissy Plymouth



2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie),
Cookie Dough Macademia


3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
S-Pha


4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Green-Dog


5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Kimberly Lexington


6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first),
Pha-Sa


7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Lavender Coffee


8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Chester McKinley


9. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Faye Morrison


10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Donna Detroit


11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Autumn Larkspur


12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Cherry Capriy


13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Eggs Dogwood


14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Everything Rainbows Tour

Meet the Family

I had shared our love of froggies with Christin and she requested pictures! So here goes...

In this version of "Meet the Family", you will meet Hoppy and Swimmy - our aquatic frogs. We raised them from tadpoles, and they have been vastly interesting and amusing to watch. We purchased them from Grow a Frog for dear son's kindergarten science project. I highly recommend this company for excellent product, fast shipping and prompt, friendly customer service.

After a period of "froggie" excitement - racing around their tank after I fed them, they cooperated quite well with the crazy mama's photo shoot.


So without further ado, meet Hoppy...

and Hoppy and Swimmy...

CAUTION: Rantings of a Distraught Woman Ahead

#1: I will get a blog entry in tonight.

#2: I will ignore the rhythmic crashes from the kiddo's room.

#3: I will write until that throbbing in my neck stops.

#4: I will have to devote more time daily to his room. Either that or up the life insurance.

#5: Do you know how a stroke feels?

#6: I think I do.

#7: The Legos and Knex have gone to their respective bins now. I've explained to my 8-year-old that they lost their legs in a horrible warehouse accident and cannot be expected to find their own way home.

#8: When will the chest pains go away??

#9: Did you know that you can cull a grocery bag full of trash from under the bed and an 8-year-old boy will argue with you for 5 minutes on how "that's good stuff in there!"

#10: Did you know that you can actually loosen a gold crown by gritting your teeth?

#11: My dentist loves me. I've paid for his kid's college education.

#12: The chest pains have subsided.

#13: The throbbing is dull and slowing.

#14: The vision is starting to return in the left eye, and the nausea has abated.

Ok. I'm done. really, really done. in. really.