Communist USA

I may as well be in a bread line in Communist Russia. Food prices are SOARING! I just went to do my bi-monthly grocery shopping. HOLY COW!! I didnt even get half the things on my list just for the sheer fact that, well...its too dang expensive. (so is fuel by the way...)

Although on a good note, it does force me to weigh the differences between wants and needs. But still. When a small box of tea that cost $1.97 a month or two before now costs $3.89.... there is something wrong with that. Gripe gripe gripe.

...and it's all rocket science.

Is it really that hard to find a cute, modest one-piece bathing suit, that is not size XXXX for under $40??? Maybe I'm just being cheap. But $40? Seriously?? All the ones that are quite immodest are under $40... but all the modest, coverage-offering one are over that price and are for people who usually dont want to be seen in a bathing suit anyways. Stupid world. Im not a huge fan of tankinis, as the water tends to balloon your top up and then gets twisted around you...but I may be willing to relent and perhaps sew both peices together. Any ideas? Anybody?

World class sluff-off

Man... lazy has been the word of the year so far. Yes, I did try to make some resolutions, a few which I actually kept. But I've been sluffing through since January not on my bills, nor my housekeeping, nor my job. I've been sluffing off on myself. Yes I shower, yes I am very hygenic-concious. However I cant get my lazy bum out of bed at a time in the morning that gives me some slack to actually do my hair, or apply makeup in a way that doesnt look hurried. If I shower at night, that means that my thin-fine hair is EVERYWHERE in the morning so the best I can do is a pony tail... I dont have time to shower again that morning to tame it, which means that I dont have the time to do anything except swipe on some mascara in the car and go. I've gotten better about remembering to put my clothes out the night before so I dont go to work looking like I just got out of bed, but so far it has been constituting about 1-2 days a week. Sooo.... 3-4 days out of the week I am a disheveled mess. Not to mention...IM STILL TIRED. Hmmm...

So for 1 month, all of May, I am going to make a resolution or two. Or three.. Well.. I ended up with 7.

• I WILL get out of bed when my alarm says


• I WILL set my alarm for 20 minutes before I have been getting up


• I WILL get a shower in the morning no matter if I took one the night before


• I WILL put my clothes together the night before


• I WILL have my purse, keys, water bottle, etc... in one spot ready to grab in the morning


• I WILL have gas in my car the night before so I dont have to waste 10 minutes getting to the gas station before jumping on the freeway (yes, this is a common cause of my being late)


• I WILL DO THIS FOR DAY 1-31 OF MAY

Lord help me.

The Rebelution

YAY to the guys that started The Rebelution blog. What an uplifting find to see that young people are taking the reins on issues like modesty, chastity, and their main theme: A TEENAGE REBELLION AGAINST LOW EXPECTATIONS. (they've even got a book!! see here)

Finally! Some one is speaking out to the youth and even young adults about the low expectations this world has for them and how to rise above it and become moral, choice people within the gospel. And the great part about it is... the youth are listening!!!!!

Check out the site. Its a great one if you have pre-teens or teens, or even if you are a young adult! Im sure older adults can glean something from it too. Kudos to Alex & Brett Harris for starting something wonderful!!!

What I've learned about grace... (this is a bit long)

So I'm on the last day of my secular fast, I originally thought I would conclude Wednesday, but turns out that I can't count to 7. So, on this ending day (the real day 7), I am going to post (fittingly, I think) what I have learned of the grace of God through secular fasting and turning more of my attention to Him and away from the world.

First note: God is good. I never really, truly understood it until lately. God is and really has been good to us. He has blessed our lives with large things as well as small things, and then again with microscopically tiny things. It is those teeny, tiny things, the things that are there that we look over and don't recognize as daily blessings. I see His goodness and grace in the way my husband looks at me after a kiss. I feel it in the peace he gives me when I get stressed. I saw it in the little 6 year old neighbor boy who came to our yard looking for his blankie in the middle of the night. All things that just seem to be a daily occurrence or even just out of the blue that we just brush off either so mundane or so small they are overlooked, are each in turn a teeny bit of God. He is good in that He has shown Himself to me in the smallest of things.

Second note: It was grace that saved me. I don't pretend to be a perfect person, indeed before October of 2007, I was a wretch. (And a wreck...) It was not until I fully accepted God as my Heavenly Father and Jesus as my savior, that I was saved from the claws of sin. (Again, still not saying I'm perfect) By sending His son to die for mankind, I was fully able to repent and lament my sorrows and know that after I did that, He would forgive me... and I could have life through His grace and goodness. Without the atonement of Christ and the grace of our dear God, I would not have been able to be lifted up enough to glorify or serve Him. Nor would I have the opportunity to be given eternal life through His words. The grace of God fell upon me that day in October, He showed Himself to me and just what He would have me do. I am ever so thankful that by His saving grace, His divine plan that I have a father and a savior who care enough about my soul that He would take the time to show me His most holy righteousness.

Third note: He is everywhere, in everything.. truly, He lives. God made the world and I think that people forget about it. I did. We take everything this planet has to offer without even thinking about the beauty of it. Yes, God gave it to us to use, but do we ever recognize just how much of Himself He poured into its creation? Every single thing, including mosquitos (I'm still of the opinion they are a waste of fiber) everything has a purpose and is on this earth to do their duty to God's purpose. How amazing it is to think that God thought to put the leaves on the trees in that specific color green, or that the yearling steer in our pasture is just the exact color and height of how God created it. Or even our own body, who's organs "talk" to one another without us even having to constantly think that our heart is beating, or that our lungs are inhaling properly. God's plan is in everything and is constantly being overlooked. Now I'm not going completely environmentalist on you here. I believe that the Earth was created for humans to utilize, and God even states he put the animals and plants here to sustain us here for the time we are on this planet. I'm just saying, God's beauty is everywhere, in everything. Truly, through His creation, He lives.

I have been at peace for the past week, and it has been a nice change. Am I going to keep my changes up? Probably most of them. I don't miss TV or movies as we don't have a TV. I know I will definitely be more selective in what I do watch though if I ever get a TV. I know I will be more selective in what I subject myself to listen to, or to read, or to look up on the Internet. I've decided all things in moderation and to be selective in cleanliness and morality and the more they glorify God and His teachings, the better. The farther off that topic they are, then I will try to stay away from. I have found more free time to be outside and to get things done that need to be done rather than to be lazy and decide that I am going to surf the Internet instead. I feel changed, my priorities have definitely changed. There is too much of Gods great, glorious words and world to waste on man-made ideas and ideals. I'm still not perfect, nor will I ever really be... but I feel this is a step in the right direction, and I have become a better person because of it. I think I may make this a monthly deal.

Through Him also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Romans 5: 2

Men primp in cars too, ya know...

I never noticed until this past week how many people, men and women, primp and check themselves out in their rearview mirrors at the stoplights on the way into work. It's interesting to think that we are all different people and yet quite alike in our mannerisms and ways we think.

1 hour with God

The drive to work takes about 30 minutes. So does the drive home. That is one hour I get to sit by myself. I listened to a devotional this morning on the way in about the joy of solitude. It asked, when do you get your alone time with God? Do you set aside time to pray and to just forget about everything for a little bit?

So I got to thinking... well, I wrench myself out of bed, peel my eyelids back to the point where I can kind of see, grumble on the drive to work, work, then grumble through the drive home, then tend to my husband, make dinner if he hasnt already, teach dance if its Thursday, laundry if its Sunday, clean something, read scriptures with my husband, pray and go to bed. Hmm... theres not alot of alone time there, and quite frankly, I do love my life and the time that I am able to spend being busy. And really, I'm not that busy in comparison to others. But I was still lacking that time to set myself apart from the day and talk with Him. I reveiwed my schedule again and figured, when I drive to work and back, what am I doing to fill that time? During the fast, I have just been quiet and enjoyed the silence. But then I heard that devotional this morning, and it told of a busy city engineer who had an hour ride into work every morning and that somedays he was so busy he didn't even get a lunch break. He used his commute time, when he was the only one in the car stuck in traffic, as his "alone" time with God.

I have a half an hour each way every day. I am able to use this to either listen to devotionals, or ponder the thoughts of Him, or to pray, or to sing to His glory. My time shouldn't be wasted by listening to the "drive at 5" top 10 songs of the week... or by wondering what in the world the driver in front of me is doing. So from today on, I will make the effort to use my drive time wisely.

Proverbs 3:6 - in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

Clarification

Ok... Ive had some questions as to what a fast is... here ya go:

Fasting = the abstaining or detoxing from something or things for a set amount of time, usually used for spiritual or religious purposes, although in some circumstances is very beneficial to the physical body as a detox.

Secular Fasting = abstaining from secular (worldly) things. For instance, in my current secular fast, I am abstaining from TV, Internet aside from the blog, any printed materials that do not glorify God (ie:newspaper, magazines, ideals of the world), radio & music, or electronic games.

What I call "normal" fasting = abstaining from food or drink for a 24-hour period, detoxes the body, causes you to be humble in prayer and hopefully in all things. Prayer ususally acommpanies any kind of fast, and therefore you can use a fast to pray for the healing of others as well as yourself.

Also, read here for a detailed explination http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting. It gives some insight to fasting throughout different religions and such.

Day 3

It seems like I've been doing this for such a long time now! And yet it has only been 3 days. I have decided that I need to do another day of normal fasting on top of my secular fast... I cant find the words to explain it right now, but even just a normal fast without the secular one is very humbling and enlightening. I am more at peace one the third day of a fast than I have been in about 6 months. It's quiet. I feel Gods presence moreso than before because now that I cut all the clutter and the noise out, I can hear Him. He really does provide for us and His word is the way.

I am finding out that when you take out all the media and the worries of the world and all the things that have a negative impact... like the news.. every hear anything uplifting? Ive found when you take all that out, the beauty of the Earth that God made becomes apparent to you again, as if you are seeing it for the first time again through they eyes of your 6 year old self. It almost feels like I am seeing everything for the first time, just in a new light.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm 100

Phillipians 4:11-13 (harder than it sounds)

1. Have to find out if we are even qualified for a $48K loan.

2. Have to find a house that we like for that price

3. Have to find 2 jobs there that will pay the same or better as down here

4. Have to try to buy an in-bed camper for the drive up

5. Have to find the money to put the truck on the ferry to get to Alaska

6. Have to find the money to put Earnest Money down if we do get a loan

7. Have to sock away every little bit of change and dinero we get

8. Have to figure out what we are taking and what goes to the thrift store.

No more wasting... no more wanting. I am going to be fasting for the rest of my goll-darn life. I am just thankful that we are going to the Temple before all of this commences completely.

Here is the main point that I will continue to fast on that I may be able to adopt this and through it gain understanding:

"Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13

Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God..

It's quiet. I haven't turned on my radio, I don't have a TV, and I have no idea what's going on in the news, although I'm sure nothing has changed since the day before yesterday and this is the only Internet I have been on. I was right. My head is clearing. My prayers are easier to say and I am saying them more often. I'm focusing more accurately. It's nice. I don't have the radio on for the 1 hour drive to and from work, it gives me a chance to just be still. Or to sing. Or to get some thoughts in order. (road rage is also diminishing) I don't feel like I am on a super caffeine high, all jittery and moody. I've been able to cope a little better with my stresses. This is nice. I am looking ahead to next Wednesday, seems so far away and yet only 5 days to go. I cant wait to see the state I have progressed to by then.

So even though I am secular fasting for 7 days, yesterday I was also normal fasting too. I broke that with a trip to The Olive Garden. Had shrimp and stuffed ziti in cheese sauce. Not one of their better dishes, but kudos to me for trying something new. I am doing another normal fast today, and I think this will be the last day I do, although it seems to help my humbleness and my ability to be a bit more spiritual than normal. Perhaps I will add the normal fast in every other day until my secular week is over.

So far, I would recomend a secular fast to everyone. Its difficult in the beginning because we get into such a routine of reading and viewing that we get into a rut. But so far, I am liking getting out of the rut.

Suprises...

It's amazing how your view of someone can change in an instant. One minute the are the most cantankerous catfish ever, but every so often they suprise you and do something so out-of-the-way nice that you begin to see that what they let everyone else see is just a shell as to what's really going on inside. Life never ceases to be unpredicatable. I kinda like it.

Musings of day 1

So it's still day one... and it's hard. Not to keep everything out, just to keep my mind from not shutting up. Throughout some prayers today, I have had a slight revelation that perhaps things are not as bad as I make them out to be. Perhaps God has us held closer than I realized. I am slowly getting some clarity, and as hungry as I am getting, I am starting to feel at peace. Man, give this a week and I'll be in Nirvana! (lol, just kidding) The weights feel like they are being slowly taken from my shoulders and my heart isn't as heavy as it was 5 hours ago as I am realizing that God is so much closer and willing to help if I just pray and ask for His guidance.

I think that a lesson from Job could come into play here. I know a lot of people who praise the Lord in times of great abundance, but when trials come, their faith wanes and they wonder "where is God? Why has He let this happen to me? I thought He loved me?" He does love us, and our trials are His tests of faith to remind us that we should love Him too. And as Job suffered trials, his faith stood strong and God did bless him for his steadfastness. I am learning this.

If anyone is reading this, I would much appriciate your prayers.

And it begins...

Ok Im starting early. The situation has come about that I feel strongly that I need to be fasting from secular things as well as doing a normal fast until further notice. I will continue on the blog as it is my "journal" of sorts, perhaps to keep track of how I do. I have no idea how hard or how easy this will be, but I know that with the Lords help I will be able to get through it and that I will come out stronger in faith that I entered in. I plan on no longer than a week. God-willing I will be at peace.

I like this...

As a woman and a wife trying to help save money, I'm going to try to adopt this depression-era philosophy I found posted at The Sparrows Nest. (which I highly reccomend for you frugal women out there)

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without".

I think I will hang this where I can see it.

Last recipe I promise

I'm still not big on posting recipes, but this is AWESOME! I'm making these tonight.. I will post a photo when I make it.


Chicken Stuffed Croissants by Linda Kerby

3 oz. cream cheese
3 tbsp. butter, melted & divided
2 tbsp. milk
2 cups cooked chicken (cut in small pieces)
1 tbsp. chopped chives
1 tbsp. pimento
1/4 tsp. salt & pepper
1 tube crescent rolls
seasoned bread crumbs
Beat cream cheese and 2 tbsp melted butter untili smooth. Stir in chicken, chives, pimento, milk, salt and pepper. Separate crescent rolls into 4 rectangles. Spoon mixture into each one. Bring up 4 corners and pinch shut. Brush with remaining butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serves 4

More on Secular Fasting

I think I will try this whole "secular fasting" thing for a few days this next week. Give me time to prepare. Although I will keep the blogging going more as a progress journal whilst I am fasting. Perhaps I will start after church on Sunday. This will be interesting.

Secular Fasting

I think I may try this. It was a fairly large topic at stake conference this past weekend, and seemed to make a world of difference in the life of the family who spoke about it. They went for one whole week without computer, video games, TV, radio, newspaper, anything that involved worldly issues or secular beliefs and media. Granted their whole family did this together and this time around I believe it would just be me, but perhaps it will clear my head a bit and give me some peace.

Springtime Blues

My friend and her husband are in Italy for a week. My parents are away at a wonderful hotel in the mountains. I'm at work trying to tackle my job as well as our late admin. assistants job and trying to figure out how in the world we are going to be able to move to Alaska by October. I know our little 3 day vacation to Salt Lake will be a nice little getaway, but then I have to come back. I wish sometimes I had a million bucks. That would pay off our truck, get us a house wherever we wanted and then we'd bank the rest and not worry about anything.

I know that God is with us and that I must trust in His timing. I know that I should not worry for the future because God holds our lives in His hands, protecting us as long as we keep Him by our sides. Yet I am only human and I am overwhelmed and stressed and a little blue. I dont know which way is up and my brain is so foggy I feel like I cant walk in a straight line let alone think in a straight line. I am having a difficult time remembering things that need to be remembered. I need a break. I need a vacation where I can just sit on a dock and watch the water sparkle in the sunlight, where I can enjoy a cup of early morning tea with my husband and take a sunrise bike ride through God's vast, beautiful wilderness, where I dont have to move if I dont want to, or think if I don't want to or do anything at all for anybody except to serve my husband and God.

Lord help me get through my blues and to continue to remember to pray when I am overwhelmed. Praise be to thee that you hold my hand as I walk. Amen.

Reflections in my tea cup

A cup of lemon tea this morning has reverted me back a few years and I'm fully savoring the memory of slowly sipping a cup of hot lemon tea with a pinch of nutmeg at my kitchen table in my pj's at 7:30 in the morning watching the sun come up over the rooftops, enjoying God's silence and picturesque serenity. Bliss.

One week of food around the world

This is too big to post, so click on the link. I'm not really one to get on my high horse about politics and the world economy, but this linked page made me stop and think a bit about what I can do to either consume less or help others be able to consume more. Also, it is interesting to me to see the differences God made between people from different countries and how different the cuisine varies.

http://www.fixingtheplanet.com/one-weeks-worth-food-around-our-planet

Totally plugging here...

Ok I know its a plug for this stuff, but I'm just thrilled!! In lieu of being a launch pad for my cat, I ended up with some nice scars on my face. AND YAY TO MEDERMA!! Its only been a week and they are already fading. WOOT!! I will get you photos soon. It's great stuff!!

My husband, the genius

Last night my husband brought a point up to me that I've really had to think about. I believe I was telling him that I wanted to grow out my bangs with the rest of my hair because it was getting annoying. His response? "Tomorrow I want you to write down every thought you have about your self and every thing you say about yourself. Good or bad. You are always talking about yourself and I want you to put it down on paper so you can see."

So this has definetly given me reason to pause and think. Do I really say that much about how I dont like my thighs? Or how much do I really focus on my hair whether I like it or not? Am I self centered and narcissistic? Or just insecure? And I figured either way, it is probably annoying the crap out of him.

So I'm going to do it. I'm not going to make an effort to really think positive so my list is all good things, (they are nonetheless about me either way) I just want to see what his little experiment has in store for me. If anything, I got out of his message "BE QUIET. I love you for who you are but its hard when its all about you."

So thank you Zac, for bringing this to my attention with all the love that you have for me. I will do this for you, but I think its more important that I do it for me.

Free speech costs $75 per line...

We have become such a wicked world. The reason I bring this up is from a news cast I heard on the radio this morning. An aid for Barack Obama just released herself from politics after getting a $75 fine for disturbing the peace. Well, ok... what did she do? Apparently there were some kids climbing and swinging in a tree on a property that was not available for that kind of recreation. So she said (exact quote) "The tree is not there for them to be climbing in there like monkeys." What made this woman's comments so problematic?? Well, the 2 children she was reffering to were African-American. Had they been white, there would not have been a problem. Nor would there have been a problem had she been African-American. What if a Chinese person had said it? Now growing up in the good ol' US of A... yes I've been called a monkey when I was little for swinging off things and bouncing around. Not because I looked like a monkey, but my actions were similar. Not to mention I was on the monkey bars... We call our kids "little monkeys" because of the actions they portray when messing around. In my opinion, this lady's words were completly taken out of context because everyone is so hateful toward their fellow man anymore. We are all so eager to watch another human being fall... it's like we are repeating the middle ages when everyone cheered for a hanging. Imagine... us civilized people cheering for the downfall of another. When do we ever try to pick another man up? So far, only people who follow the word of God and the churches are the only ones working in favor of the "light". Although there are still those who go to church and call themselves Christians, and yet are still the first people to jump on the bandwagon of judgment and hate. I suppose I dont blame God for removing Himself from the wicked places of the world.

We are turning into Sodom and Gomorrah and our world will be destroyed again because of it. The only sanctity that we may hope to have is to truly live a Christ-driven, righteous life so that when the world engulfs itself completley in its wickedness and shallowness and deep darkness, we still may hold the light that allows us to see the truth in all things.

"May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out" - quote from LOTR

BEST-EVER GRILLED SALMON!!

Ok, Im not one for posting recipes, but my husbands grilled salmon and potatoes were too excellent to not share!

1 salmon steak lathered in a TON of sweet cream butter and lemon pepper and chives. Place onions in the butter and put face down on the grill. (helps to have a grill plate so things dont fall through)

Slice potatoes in to flat peices and lather them in butter and Tonys Creole seasoning.

Grill.

This is better than any restaurant salmon I have ever had! KUDOS TO ZAC! (sweetie, you can cook anytime!)

I am so thankful...

God has truly blessed our lives. We really can't do anything without Him and His words. What a great thing it is to know that you are constantly being watched over and cared for. He knows your needs and He does provide. I am just so thankful. Praise be to Him!

Is there even one safe spot in this world?

Name one place where you are safe from the outside world and its worldly thoughts and things and pressures. Name one place you can go where there aren't any social pressures to be beautiful, or to be rich or to be the better housewife. Name one place where ideas are not bombarding you with MSN news articles of "why your husband really wants to cheat" and "the stock market is falling off the face of the Earth." Name one place where you can close your eyes and find peace. Can you? Or do your thoughts still resonate those of the world? There is no escape, is there?

Ah but there is. Through the teachings of Christ, and the words of God, we may be able to slowly peel ourselves away from that which is causing our upset.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we wear?" For the gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
- Matthew 6.25-33 (New International Version)

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard - Proverbs 31

For the longest time I have wanted to start my own business. For an extra hobby, but mostly to help out with finances. I was going to do custom apparel... but the time was just never found. Then I got to the point where I even had a website set up for my online home-made candle business, but we needed to put the money into my husbands lawn business, so that fizzled out. Now I'm thinking about an online perhaps Ebay jewelry store. Jewelry is extremely cheap to make, especially when you buy wholesale beads... And now without a house to keep up constantly I find myself having spare time I never had before. I'll pray on it. Unless you have any other ideas for me?

Happy with what I have...

Moving this time around has been somewhat of a different thing for me that all the other times. This time, I donated 9 (yes count them nine) black yard sacks of mostly clothes and shoes with little miscellaneous things. It was like giving up smoking! I got so attached to having masses of things (I'm not a hoarder, but I did accumulate quite a bit.) But once I got rid of the first few bags, it got easy! I have enough clothes to wear to work, to church, to dance class and to lounge in, and only 5 pairs of shoes. (black heels, brown heels, tennis shoes, slippers and brown sandals) And I'm still getting rid of things! Its such a good feeling to purge old stuff! My closet is actually clean!!!

The reason I started the purge was my dear husband, who when we took the 9 bags to the D.I., gave me the wide eyed look that plainly said you-are-never-going-shopping-again. (actually it was more like sheer bewilderment as to how I accumulated so much crap) Anyways, he started it because we are going to move to Alaska within the next year or so and are driving up there so we are taking as little as possible. So we said goodbye to our furniture, and our first home, and our decorations, and our comfortable 1500 sqft house, and moved in with some friends in their 19 foot camp trailer where I am forced to only have a small amount of things. Its really really nice to not have so much, and that initial feeling of giving up the stuff we had come to love became only luxuries we realized we could get along without until our Alaska house-goal is reached.

Its definitely harder for me I think because I was extremely spoiled growing up. I'm 22 and my mom is still trying to get rid of the entire Barbie isle from WalMart, and all the stuffed animals and all the junk we accumulated through Christmases and yes, EVERY holiday. Christmas morning would take 4 hours just having us 2 kids open presents at a breakneck pace. My husband on the other hand got a box of cereal for Christmas morning. (That's the way to do it moms... disposable gifts. No clutter!)

So I have made up my mind. Aside from going shopping to re-accommodate my wardrobe for garments after the temple here soon, no more going to Ross on my lunch break... no more eBay shopping... I have and will have plenty of clothes and until they completely fall apart, (which some of them are) I will not go shopping. I am happy that God has blessed me with abundance that I will not freeze. Besides, clothes are a material object, yes necessary, but not in excess. I need to focus more on His word and living for Him and not for the next cutest pair of shoes unless the become a my-old-ones-fell-apart-necessity.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” - Matthew 6:19-21

Trade me sinuses? Please?

I must have pissed off the sinus gods. I had a great head cold 2 weeks ago, was fine and now last friday decided to hit me with a sinus infection on top of that. No rest for the weary right? Ha! Nyquil here I come!! (this little mouse looks how I probably should be, but cant get...comfy.)

Just a minute, let me go rip my eyes out...

Why do people post smut???? Why??? As I was browsing through the blogs on the "next" button... I came across something most unsavory. This is the 3rd site like this (while browsing Blogger) that I have come across and for both yours and my sakes, I will not tell you what they were aside from the fact that they made me blush and want to puke and scream in horror all at the same time. I was supposed to go to lunch here shortly but now my appetite is shot. Shame on you people who put things like that where kids can find them!! If you are browsing Blogger or any other hosts and come across something you wouldn't want your kids to find, or just smut in general, please do your part and report it!!! I wouldn't want my kids seeing it, I'd be completely embarrassed if my parents saw it, and heck, I'm an adult and I don't even want to see it!!!!