Alert and Oriented (x4)

Last week I implied that I was possibly going to be placed under arrest…well, it’s true. A dear friend (read with heavy sarcasm) has turned me in to the March of Dimes for my participation in an unfortunate toilet-papering incident back in September and on December 3 I am being held until I can raise $1000 “bail” for the cause. SET ME FREE! …and help the March of Dimes arrest the rising rate of premature birth. 1 in 8 babies is born to soon, and often too small. These tiniest babies struggle to survive, and too often many don’t.I will soon be incarcerated in the March of Dimes Jail & Bail where I will be served only the finest bread and water (okay, maybe lunch!) You can help ensure my good behavior through your contribution. My hard earned bail will aid and abet the March of Dimes in funding lifesaving programs of research, education and community services. Programs that will save babies’ lives. March of Dimes is a wonderful organization whose mission is to improve the health of ...

Two of the kids in the first youth group I was a part of leading got married about 2 years ago. They had a beautiful little boy, Cayden, on Tuesday. I can't draw. But I'm a whiz with Publisher and an iron. I made these little onsies for them. I may very well be on to something here. I just crack myself up. (p.s. Tyler got Caleb's iPod back at school today. What are the chances? There are about 3200 kids at this school. Some guy came up to a friend of Tyler's and asked if he wanted to buy an iPod. Friend recognized music as being Tyler-like and then saw photos. Tyler approached the seller and now Caleb has his iPod back. No case, no headphones. Caleb's still pretty ticked, but glad to have the iPod. I'm hoping he'll let it go about the case. Not worth getting suspended or worse over. Did I mention that both Tyler and Caleb are black belt candidates in Wushu Kung Fu? Yep. Both are 2nd degree browns right now. If I were that guy, I'd mak...

I was very creative today—way more creative than I usually am. And since artsy-crafty stuff isn’t my forte (despite my parents wild excitement over a lot of white glue, some marbles and a wooden box), I was proud and about to post pictures. But I’m not going to. Because this afternoon I found out that Caleb’s iPod was stolen from his gym locker today. He paid for it himself, scrimping with money saved from helping neighbors, lunch money he stashed and helping his dad out with less than pleasant chores. He is only 15 and doesn't have a regular job. He took very good care of it. Today was his first wrestling practice of the year and he didn’t bring an extra lock. He put his iPod in his backpack and put it in a gym locker. After practice, he discovered that his backpack had been rifled and his iPod is gone. I am so sad for him. And he keeps saying, “It was all my fault—I’m the one who didn’t lock it up.” And then, “If someone wanted or needed an iPod that bad, I would’ve give...

..who hasn't read Twilight yet? And I just spent about 8 weeks laid up. I can't believe it. As mush of a reader as I am. I read ANYTHING. Everything. I am going to get this book. This week. I feel so....left out....sigh.... Everyone who I know who has it has lent it out to someone else. I may need to save it for my time in the slammer...I'm pretty sure I'll be serving time soon...

Don't you just love Fall? The time when you have excuses to bake new comfort foods.... gotta make 'em and try 'em before the holidays. Linda at 2 nd Cup has been hosting a cooking meme where we all share recipes for our faves...hers this week sounds like the answer to PMS, sad chick flicks, rainy days and other excuses to treat yourself all rolled up into one. One of my favorites to make is baked stew. Using a cast iron or other oven-proof skillet, the gravy gets all creamy and the potatoes just a little crisp around the edges. Then top it off with canned biscuits cooked right on top, and , VOILA! Instant comfort... 1 1/2 lbs stew meat, cut into bite-size portions 1/2-1 sm onion, chopped kinda big (about 3/4") 6-7 potatoes 1 lb baby carrots 1-2 stalks celery, cut about the same size as the onion 1 can Rotel tomatoes with gr chile (we like medium hot) 3/4 c flour 1 t. season salt 1t. pepper 1/2 t. celery salt 1 can beef stock or 1-2 bouillon cubes with about 12 oz...

I lurk (pretty often) on lots of blogs by other Christian women. And am so often humbled and encouraged by their stories and writing. Amy over at Signs, Miracles and Wonders , does a weekly meme called Then Sings My Soul...the idea is to post lyrics or maybe even a video of a song that speaks to you especially, right where you are. This is my first time to participate, and I have been thinking about it all day. It's not even Saturday here yet (it's about 11:50 p.m. on Friday), but all day I have had this song in my heart. And then, this evening, while still working (some more frantically than others) to finish up the new building for our grand opening worship service on Sunday, the sound guys were testing and played this song... The lyrics say: You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place Worthy, Worthy I open up my heart and let my spirit worship YoursI open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth Worthy, Y...

Lidna at 2nd cup isn’t feeling well, so she posted a meme, or a fill in. It’s nearly 10:40 p.m. in the big city as I type this and wait for my various bulletins and flyers to print off and my eldest to get home from work, so I thought I’d take part in this. Join if you will… What is your writing process?I don’t think I have a process. I think I mostly just sit down and free associate. I’m sure you can see that by reading some of my blogs. Very under-processed. What are your greatest creative inspirations? Watching the way that God orchestrates both the big and little things in my life and the lives of my friends and family. Being out in Creation. And my silly little dog, kids, youth group and family. What are your greatest creative barriers?I feel like most of what I write is so hackneyed that no one would ever waste time reading it. I so badly want to be entertaining and engaging, but feel that most of the time I end up being just sort of…boring. What is your favorite word? I’ve bee...

For the past several years, this is what I’ve spent almost every Sunday morning doing: (yes..that is my wonderful son in the opening shot at 7 a.m. on a Sunday..and in the closing shots at around noon the same Sunday...I'm in there...look for white and black plaid shorts) I belong to an incredible church family. Without SoulRio , my life would be much less full and much lonelier. I LOVE this church! We began attending 10 years ago when it was brand new and called Harvest Community Church and we met in a small community center in my neighborhood. We outgrew the community center and moved into a high school. We were there for a couple of years and then moved into a strip mall location for a few years. Our children’s area outgrew the strip mall and we went back to being portable…this time to a different high school. We have met in movie theaters, parks, even on the mesa once or twice. I’ve seen things wax and wane, grow and slow, and have never been more amazed about how much God is a...

If you have already voted, thank you! If you haven't, please do! If you aren't going to...why NOT?!? It's both a privilege and a responsibility. Besides, you will be making history. Either you will be voting for the first female Vice President or the first African American President. That's a story that will bore your kids and grandkids, alike, but one that you can be proud of! NOW: Get out there and vote..... (and go Maverick!)

I am a true afficiando of comfort food. Easy-peasy comfort food is the absolute best. I make award winning grilled cheese sandwiches. Sandwiches to make your son forget that he fell down on the way to school and tore his brand new jeans on his way to kindergarten. Sandwiches that celebrate staying up late with your daughter and her girlfriends to watch silly movies. Sandwiches to make you forget about your flat tire. In the rain. With a dead cell phone. So...since this may be one of the last of this year's Fall Into Flavor's (check out more over at 2nd Cup ), here it is: For each sandwich: 2 slices of bread of your choice (Texas toast or sourdough is my favorite) Butter (REAL butter) to spread on all 4 sides of the bread 2 slices gooey cheese of your choice (I like 1 slice American and 1 slice Havarti) Butter all 4 sides of the bread. Heat griddle or frying pan until a water droplet will dance on it. Toss bread in pan and toast until lightly browned. Flip over one sl...

It's Straight Out Of Camera Saturday again. I did NOT take this photo. But it is one of my absolute favorites. Taken by the my daughter's BFF....Thanks SG (no names here). This shot is a few years old, but I will treasure it always. The composition isn't right and the lighting is wrong, the the subject(s)...ahh..... OK, here's my confession: I don't have Photoshop. Everything I post is SOOC...oh, well. Head over and check out Melody at Slurping Life for other great shots.