Monday, August 31, 2009

I think it's time for randomness.

I just don't have the brainpower for anything more! Here goes:

1. I stepped on a nail this weekend and didn't get a tetanus shot. (It barely bled and the wound wasn't even visible.)

2. I start a new job (translated "promotion") Tuesday and I don't even have a computer in my new office yet. Should be a productive day :-)

3. My dad got an ambulance ride to the hospital midday Sunday and instead of getting better and being home already (like they said he would), he's now staying yet another night because he's confused, disoriented and occasionally violent. (Seriously? MY dad?) OH BOY. Can't wait to find out what caused this little development.

So, needless to say, my family could use a few prayers right now. Thanks for stopping by, even if I'm not very entertaining today!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

First Days of School 2009

Here's my two big boys about to leave for Eli's very first day, and Aaron's second. What cuties! Just look at those smiles.


Here's my almost-scared-to-go-to-school sweetie on his first day. His backpack is nearly as big as he is!


Here he is, acting like Eli, on Aaron's first day.



That's my second grader!!
And in case you didn't know, it's no longer cool to take photos of teenagers - so no first day of Junior year to share.
Aww, all my babies are in "big school" now! Where did the time go????




Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Dear Telemarketers, please call me...

and call often so that dirty-minded perverts cannot reach my place of business and make me say

"EWWWWWW!"


Some guy called the salon today, and it was all "How much are your packages? What about your products?" and totally normal questions. He asked about a specific product, and it turned into "Can I tell you a little story?"

Trying to be nice to a potential customer, I listened.

First mistake.

When he wouldn't stop talking, I got a clue that something was amiss. Still, I let him keep talking.

Second mistake.

Then, his story started to turn south - figuratively AND literally.

I tried to nicely end the conversation, but he just kept talking. The more he talked, the more inappropriate he got until I just had to hang up. (Which in hindsight I should have done MUCH SOONER.)

I totally got freaked out, and he didn't even say anything totally overboard until seconds before I hung up. Stuff like that just gives you a bad feeling. I was paranoid of every male after that, whether they were in the salon or just driving through the parking lot.

There are just some sick individuals in this world. Ew.

I think I need to disinfect my phone now. The next time it rings, I really, really hope it's a telemarketer.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Back to school time again!!



Today is the last time the schools will look like this - classes begin tomorrow! I took my two smallest to "Meet your Teacher" Day this afternoon, and I have to say we're probably about 50/50. I really like one teacher and one assistant. The other two? Well, I won't say I didn't like them. I'll just say that hopefully they'll make a better impression the next time. :-)

I'll update tomorrow after Aaron has his first day. Eli has to wait until Wednesday...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

I still can't believe it.

Friday is my BABY'S LAST DAY oF DAY CARE - EVER. Next week, he starts KINDERGARTEN.

My SECOND GRADER can't wait to go back to school.

My teenager is filling out applications for his first JOB, right after we looked at COLLEGES and TUITION and COLLEGIATE TENNIS TEAMS. Now I'm signing consent forms for his JUNIOR YEAR of HIGH SCHOOL and AP CLASSES FOR COLLEGE CREDIT.

Which of the above words do you think makes me feel like this????



(Photo courtesy of TVLand)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I just don't get it.

Why is it that when I try really hard to make my hair look nice, it looks like a five-year-old did it, but when I just want it out of my face to scrub a toilet, it looks supermodel photo-shoot perfect????

I'm just asking.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

The courtship begins....


This is the first letter from prospective colleges trying to woo my boy.

As Travis Cottrell said, I need a minute...

Friday, August 14, 2009

Discouraged? You don't have to be.

I swear, every time I turned around yesterday I got discouraged. Sometimes, those days just happen, but we don't have to let them get us down. Here are a few verses to think about this weekend in case you're facing some disheartening things, too:

God says to muscle through it - "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."-2 Timothy 2:3

Don't forget who you're fighting - "For 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." -Ephesians 6:12

Stay strong - "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:21

God is in control - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Hoping you find your happy place this weekend!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

How to Encourage a Pessimist.

It's hard to be a pessimist. I have a natural tendency to see the glass half empty, and frankly, it's annoying. I usually notice the negative side of things before I see the positive, so I have to look a little harder to see all the good that I have been blessed with. But I do see the good, eventually. :-)

We all want to find fulfillment, be blessed, have a little joy. There's many ways to make that happen, even for pessimists like me. Encouraging others is a sure-fire way to achieve a little happiness. Show a little kindness and you'll receive a bigger blessing than you gave!

I don't consider myself much of an encourager, even though I manage from time to time. I'm working on that. :-)

Thankfully, I have a wonderful group of encouragers around who inspire me with things like...

a teenage son whose summer was measured by mission trips and volunteer hours instead of text messages and requests for cash...



...unexpected handcrafted thanks from the other side of the country...


...surprise gifts of family heirlooms from dear friends...

...one son drawing pictures for his brother...

...the sweet gift of a ring because my baby says I am a princess...

and reminders that I AM a princess because I am daughter of the King of Kings!

And what could be more encouraging than that?



(For some more uplifting ideas, please visit (In)Courage!)

Monday, August 10, 2009

(In)Courage



This site is brand-spankin' new and I already love it! It's gonna be a great place for women to meet and share some life together.

Head on over to (In)Courage and check it out!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Lions and tigers and...boats?



I'll admit it - sometimes my quiet time is really hard. Showing up for it is easy. Staying focused during it? Not so much. My prayers feel like the same ones day after day. I try to be still and listen for God's voice, but I struggle with that, too. My mind starts planning my day, reliving the last one, or just flying off on a tangent altogether - it's so frustrating!

I'm a very literal person, so I want things to be spelled out in black and white for me to read, like a note. Or if God would just decide to speak out loud to me, we could have a real conversation and I would absolutely know what He said. That would be so good! C'mon, is a burning bush or a little glimpse of glory too much to ask?

But it doesn't work that way for me, and it requires a lot more effort on my part to hear what He has to say. Many times I have to do a little leg work to get what God wants me to know. Take one day last week, for example...

One morning I was specifically looking for some guidance on a situation that brings me a great deal of frustration. I was sitting in my spot, eyes closed, trying to keep my mind from wandering off and making a to-do list for the day, when pictures of different animals kept popping into my mind. First I saw a lion, and then an elephant. And a bird. And on and on.

So, I started thinking. "Animals, MANY animals, in the Bible....the ark! NOAH!!"

I grabbed my Bible and turned to Genesis 6 and started reading the story of Noah. I read about how righteous he was - the only blameless man left on earth. God told Noah how rotten the human race had become and how He was going to flood the earth and just wipe everything out. Except Noah and his family. I read about God's plan for Noah, including blueprints of the ark, where He had planned every detail right down to the size of the air vents. Then I read verse 22: "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him."

Well, why wouldn't he? He was a righteous dude!

I kept reading. Noah built that ark, and God gave orders about who and what should be brought on board. And in Genesis 7:5 - "So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him."

He did everything as the Lord commanded him.

There's my black and white. "Do what I told you to, Beth! So what if you don't like it? I am your God, and I know what is best. There will be many times when you won't like what I ask you to do. Will you trust me, or will you give up?"

And in that moment, my answer was clear.

If God gives me a command, I need to listen. Like it or not. If he tells me to build an ark, then I need to pick up a hammer. If He tells me to feed the hungry, then I need to grab a plate. If He tells me to write, then I need to pick up a pen. I just need to be obedient to whatever it is I've been asked.

And so do you.

But, there's more! Genesis 8 goes on to say that God remembered Noah. Not in an an, "Oh yeah, I met that guy once" kind of way. God had made a covenant with Noah, and He was faithful to keep His promise by delivering Noah from that flood safely.

God asked Noah to do something very difficult.
Noah obeyed.
God delivered him.

God may ask us to do hard things, but they are for our good, whether we can see it or not. We need to trust God to remember us. And when we are obedient to His call, He will remember us.

Now that I have my answer, I've gotta go find a hammer. It looks like it might rain. :-)

Lord, forgive me when I try to have everything my way. My human nature wants to be in charge, and sometimes rebels against what You have commanded me to do. When I start to listen to the lies whispered to me by this world, remind me that I am a child of the Light and I have no business in the dark. I want to be obedient to you, Lord, but I can't do it without Your help! "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4-5

I forgot Buddy!!

I gave you all the family happenings last week, and forgot to tell you about our dog, Buddy. He just turned one, and has probably reached 35-40 pounds. He is much bigger than we thought he'd be when we got him. Here's Buddy as a tiny guy:


And here he is now, sort of:



He is also a LOT more destructive than we thought he'd be, even for a puppy. We put a gate on our deck so he can have a bit of freedom while we're gone during the day. He decided to use it as a chew toy:



Can you see it? How about now?


Somebody please tell me he'll grow out of this soon! PLEASE?

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