Appetizer
Name something you think is “the best.”

Fisher's Popcorn is the best snack food. Ever.

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today?

Today was a 9.8 all the way. Fortunately, I have a super-understanding husband who lets me vent and gives me time to get over myself. Yay Jon!

Salad
What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face?

Until one week ago, when my eyelids swelled up, it was ProActiv. Now I am using Neutrogena. Anyone want some Proactiv? I have two unopened cleansers, and one each of the toner and repairing lotion. Ugh...

Main Course
Tonight is a blue moon! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.”

Once in a blue moon I can get one over on my husband. Maybe. He's pretty quick-witted.

Dessert
When was the last time it rained where you live?

I don't remember, but it has been a couple months. This is the Mojave, after all. We are actually coming up on our "monsoon season" in the summer. Last year was pretty much a bust, but maybe El Nino will bring us some of the wet stuff. I miss the rain almost as much as I miss my mum.

Please dine with us here.

Labels: memes

Karen. Really, Karen and her family have been such a blessing to (Jon and) me. Teaching is one thing, music is a nice bonus, but what turns a church into a church home is community. Karen "does community" in everything.

She calls out of the blue to see how my week is going. She brings smoothies and coffee at just the right moment (when I am liketwosecondsaway from pulling out my hair). She also knows pretty much what I am going to say before I say it (a little scary for those of you who know me IRL).

And you know what else? Karen knows when to not even ask. She just knows. My plate is full this week and hers is even more full, believe me. Yet she knows that the healthy thing for me is to not add something else. Knowing full well I would say, "sure, I'll do it", she just doesn't ask. I love that she has my back where I am lacking good sense.

Labels: life

1) For the first time in my memory, our gas prices are actually BELOW the national average. I filled up for $3.159, which while far from ideal, is much better than much of the country. I still cannot understand the perpetual desire to see conspiracies in all of this. ExxonMobil posted record profits because- say it with me now- they are THE LARGEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD. If they didn't have larger profits, I would be worried. Wouldn't you?

2) We have twenty-six days until vacation in OBX. I am really looking forward to spending good beach time with my mum, BIL, SIL, sis, and whomever else makes their way down to Corolla. Mum has let a house for a week and I am cooking for the crew. Some sun, some cards, some beer- good times.

3) Jon and I took in a movie this afternoon- Hot Fuzz, a cute British spoof of American action flix. Laughed. A lot. I love Bill Nighy any way I can find him. He was hilarious in Love, Actually and freaking brilliant in Notes on a Scandal.

4) Yesterday evening I babysat a couple of kids from church who were an absolute joy. We are so incredibly blessed to have found a church home at Gracepoint.

5) Speaking of GP, Devin wrapped up our RAW (Relationships Are Work) series this week with parenting. Jon will be happy to read that it slowed my biological clock down a little. Something about 1 hour of sleep in four days cooled my jets.

6) I love how technology changes the way we do everyday things. I can order groceries, take a class, and now tithe online. For someone pulled in as many different directions as I am, these are huge gifts of time.

7) Are Jon and I the only people in the free world who have not seen any Pirates of the Caribbean movies?

8) Talking to my SIL this weekend really highlighted how fast my nephews are growing up. I think when I see them next month, I'll hardly recognize them!

Labels: life, movies, Vegas

Our sneaky-sneaky Congress and equally sneaky-sneaky president have slipped a minimum wage increase in with the rest of the pork-laden War Funding Bill. Jimmy Dean, anyone??

Labels: Gripes, ground control to major Tom, politics

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear.
My Jonathan playing his guitar and singing from the front room. I love to go to sleep to that sound.
Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese?
Hard to choose. These days I am all about lovely tangy goat cheese.
Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?
Nope. I try to lead a well-ordered life. I can get so much done in the morning. I am usually up at 5:30 or 6:00 at the latest. I like to have all the grocery shopping done by 9:30.
Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?
I totally forgot my wallet this morning and didn't discover it until I wanted to get a sandwich for Jon's lunch. Oops!
Dessert
Fill in the blank: I notice ____________ when _____________.
I notice scents when I have a headache. I think my sense of smell must be just this side of mutant, I tell you!

You too can dine here.

Labels: memes

Overheard this evening:

Person A: Well if being a Christian means that I can't play poker for money, I am not sure I want into that.

Person B: My being a Christian has nothing to do with it, my being the keeper of the money in my household does. Dude. money doesn't come easily, so why would I waste it that way?

Person A: That's retarded.

Person B: Why would I take advice on how to live my life from an unemployed eighteen year-old who lives with his mother?

Everyone else: Good point! Ouch!

Tonight you will dine off the Red Plate. Dad is making your favorite birthday dinner (and I am trying to remember a time when you didn't ask for spinach fettuccine for your day).

Twenty-seven, kiddo. Wow. Sometimes I think that it is a complete testimony to God's Grace that we made it this far without killing each other. Not only that, but we have managed to be friends. Chalk and cheese, that's us. You were all about She-Ra, where I was more into playing house. Remember how Rick used to drive us crazy when we went camping? He would follow us around singing whatever popped into his head? Sheesh! Pop him one for me tonight, will you?


This evening, as you celebrate another year on this rock, know that I am thinking about you. Know that, no matter what, you are stuck with me as your older sister. Know that I love you tons and bunches. And know that, while Mom might love you best, I will always be the princess. ;)

Much much love, little sis.
Kelly Anne

"Until you settle the issue of your own worth, it's impossible to bring holiness into anyone else's life. Until you understand that your worth is already determined by the fact of your birth, everything else is an exercise in propping up a dying tree."

~ Carol Brazo ~
"No Ordinary Home"

Worth is something other than value. I am valued by my husband as a wife, by my church as a servant, by my boss as an employee. My value is determined by those around me. I would venture to say that I am more valuable to my husband as a wife than I am to API as an employee. Value is determined by those around me. But what am I worth?

MY worth exists independently of what I do. Worth is about who I am. More importantly, worth is about who I am becoming through Christ. Because, truly? I am worthless; I am the product of a fallen creation, a dirty sinner who is helpless; I am the opposite of worthy.

The issue of my own worth is this: I am unworthy. I am unworthy and there is nothing I can DO about it. So how could I ever expect to bring any measure of holiness to anyone's life? We don't wash windows with dirty cloths, do we?

The only way I can even hope for worth is through Christ; any measure of holiness in me is Him. That's the heart of the matter. The question of my worth is settled, my worth is only in Him. To bring holiness to anyone else's life is to show them what He has done in my life, what He continues to do every day in my life, what He will do in all His children's lives.

Christine is our gracious hostess this week. Thank you, Christine

Labels: Faith, memes

Breakfast:
1 serving Organic High Fiber cereal ($0.25)
1 banana ($0.19)
1 cup ff milk ($0.17)

Total for breakfast: $0.61

Lunch:
2 slices protein bread ($0.21)
1 scrambled egg (.09)
2 apples (0.40)

Total for lunch: $0.70

Snack:
1 peach (.18)
1 cup milk (0.17)
1 apple (.20)

Total snacks: $0.55

Dinner:
Baked potato (.30)
Broccoli (.22)
1 slice 2% cheese (.16)
1 cup salad greens (.17)
1 T salad dressing (.05)

Total for dinner: $.9o

Day one total: $2.76

Some first day thoughts:

I usually have this hot cereal with blueberries, but the banana was much more economical. I must say, too, that I liked it better. It tasted like warm banana bread. It filled me up well, too. (I had budgeted for a peach with breakfast, but decided to save it for later) I know now that I could have added some nuts for protein. Maybe tomorrow.

I am doing this on my own and not expecting Jon to keep to this budget. In some ways this is easier, as I eat hot cereal for breakfast anyway. In other ways it is more difficult. After all, I can make a yummy casserole for five or six for less than one dollar per serving, but food for one is trickier.

I am also allowing myself some limited "free" condiments: salt, pepper, sugar, sweetener, ketchup, and mustard. Margarine, mayo, and oil will be figured in on a per-teaspoon basis.

Soda and coffee are no problem for me, but I am not having my copious cups of tea. Also, no juice unless it is in the budget. I already drink water most of the time anyway, so I don't anticipate a problem there.

Reading the blogs of Congressional Food Stamp Challenge participants has been interesting. I would like to see these congressmen try my food budget for a week, let alone a food stamp budget. Seriously, how out of touch can a person get????

Labels: food stamp challenge, money, politics

The number twenty-one evokes a certain images. For many teenagers, 21 shines as that magic number- legal beer! In Las Vegas, it may conjure up Blackjack. For 26 million Americans, twenty-one dollars is their weekly food stamp allotment.

Could I do it? Could I eat for and average of $1 per meal? I am sure going to try it out. Read about the Congressional Food Stamp Challenge here

Incidentally, I have lots and lots to say about this, but I am going to exercise some restraint until I complete the task.

Labels: cheap cheap, Gripes, money, politics