Thursday, October 2, 2008

Hey!

Yes, I'm still here.

I was having some issues with the anti-virus on my work computer. Therefore, I couldn't get on and post anything or visit with any of you wonderful people.

I've kinda fallen off the Ragamuffin-Top band wagon. I was really trying to watch what I ate and really wasn't losing anything. I'm going to start again after I know the cold weather is going to set in. It's much easier to diet when it's cold out. Soups and chili are much better enjoyed when it's cold outside - and I know a thing or two about using soups as part of a diet plan. The last time I used soups, I lost about 30 lbs. We're going to try that one again.

Anyway, my anti-bug software is back up and running; so I'll be around more often.

Thanks for not letting me drift away. Some of you have even been coming around during my hiatus - so thanks a bunch.

Later, Gator!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Challenge Week 11


I'm late - again. Well, I'm just glad that I'm remembering to do this.

Starting weight: 285
Last weigh-in: 280.8
This week: 281.8

I gained 1lb. That's not the most horrible thing that could've happened.

I'm still working on watching what I eat and portion control, but it's been hard.

You can check on the rest of the Ragamuffin-Tops by going here.

Monday, August 4, 2008

The Challenge Week 10


Well, last week's post wasn't the right week. It happens when you take a week off.

On to the reason for this post.

Starting Weight: 285
Last week's weigh-in: 282.2
This week's weigh-in: 280.8
Weight lost: 1.4lbs!!

I can't believe it! I'm finally losing weight!!! FINALLY!!!!

You can check out the other Ragamuffin-Tops here. Go check it out. Join the fun.

This week is VBS at our church. After this week. I'll be spending lots of time with the treadmill.

I'm going to work on getting some pics, too. See y'all later.

Monday, July 28, 2008

The Challenge Week 8



I've been gone for a week. I've been to the Big City for the Nationals. I'll have to tell you about that when I have some pics to share.

On with the weigh-in.

Starting weight: 285
Last weigh-in: 286.6
This week: 282.2

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!

I'm not real sure what's been different. Just the 4 days of activities of the Nationals.

Anyway, as of right now, there's no log-in for this week. Not sure if there's something wrong with Los or not. You can check out last weeks weigh-in here.

I'll be back to tell you how things went for the kiddos at Nationals...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Challenge Week 7



How are all you little Ragamuffin-Toppers out there???? You can check up on them by going here.

I'm hoping they are better than I am here. I really think the stress is getting to me.

Here we go:

Starting weight: 285
Last week:286.2
This week: 288.2

That means I'm +2lbs.

AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not eating as much or as often. I'm getting frustrated.

My confession: I've been working on soooooo many other things, I've not made time to exercise. I know that's bad. The Nationals start on Sunday. I've got too much to do between now and then, and I've not lost any weight. I've gained.

I'm not eating bad, I'm just not getting any exercise in. I'm not sleeping good, either.

One side-note: I've been really stressed this past weekend. I was woke up at 12:20am Friday morning by my neighbor who let me know that my car had been hit. The person who hit me ran. And on Saturday, I paid that car off. I've not had much fun this weekend, but the adjuster came yesterday and the damage didn't look too bad. So, my "just paid off car" is in the shop getting a face-lift, and I'm driving a rental that has bald tires. Yippee.

After next week, the majority of the stress is over. Maybe I'll get better at this weight-loss thing.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Skirts

Ok. I promised to post about my skirts. I'm still in the process of making a few, but here's what I have.

The first skirt is the patchwork. It took the most time to put together. You can buy fabric already patched together, but it's not as unique.

The second is made from the same pattern. There's also a pic of the pattern that I'm using.


Skirt #1 Skirt #2




The Pattern:




These 10 swatches are for
Skirt #1. This swatch is for Skirt #2.














I made a skirt about a month ago from this pattern:

You might not be able to tell, but that is navy gingham. With a white T-shirt and white flip-flops, it was the cutest thing.

The other skirts that I'm working on are made from that second pattern. These are the fabric swatches.


On the left is the black and red set. The fabric to the right is the base fabric. It will make all the main panels. The fabric on the left will be an accent fabric. It will be made into upside-down V's to be sewn onto the black fabric.


On the right, this piece will be made just like the navy gingham in the above picture.

I couldn't take pictures of me wearing these. I didn't have enough light for the full-length mirror, but I'll have some pictures taken this next week when we go to The Big City for the Nationals.

I'll try to have some pictures of the kids during the competition, too.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The Challenge Week 6



Ok. It's week 6 and progress is extremely slow.

Starting weight: 285
Last week: 286.6
This week: 286.2 (as of yesterday morning)

I finally got rid of the migraines just in time to enjoy the holiday weekend, but not much exercising. I'll get on that this week. I'm feeling much better and found something that actually kicks the migraines. That makes me a happy girl. =)

I might say that I didn't do much over the course of the weekend, but watching 5 movies within 24 hours is very time consuming. =)

I did some sewing, too. I finished 2 skirts this weekend. One is a patchwork style. The other isn't. The patchwork is really cute, if-I-do-say-so-myself. I'll try to take some pics this evening so you can see what I'm talking about.

Anyway, check out the other Ragamuffin-Tops here.

Press on little Ragamuffin-Tops, press on.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

The Challenge Week 5

Ok. I'm late again. Sorry.





Starting weight: 285
Last week: 287.2
This week: 286.6 (again)

The pain I was experiencing is the result of the wreck that I was in a few years ago. To find out what happened to create such pain 5 years later, go here and here. It's been a loooooong 5 years.

After that pain subsided, I started getting migraines. I've had one since last Wed. It just went away last night. It's not been a fun week.

Find out how the other Ragamuffin-Tops are doing by going here.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

It would be a real good thing if I had a title for this...

wouldn't you say???

There's just not much going on.

I'm trying to exercise to keep up with the rest of the Ragamuffin-Tops that are kickin' my butt. I'm not sure that I can keep up. I'm not going to quit, but I think there are a few that are struggling, too. I'm glad I'm not in this boat by myself.

I'm working with the kiddos again. If you'll remember, every category that they entered for the State Bible, Music and Arts Competition qualified to go to the Nationals. To read about that, go here. I think they're really starting to get excited.

Otherwise, I'm just making some skirts to take with me to the Nationals. I'll post some pics when I get them done. I told you that I didn't have a digital camera. That's still true. The still shots you see on here are from video that I've taken. The video editing software that I use for everything else will take still shots from the video. That means that I have to do it the long way. So, give me some time.

Other than what I've mentioned here, I'm not really into much. Most of this last weekend was spent patch-working pieces of fabric (African batik fabric) into a piece that I could cut out a skirt from. And you may not know that I have this real soft spot in my heart for Africa. More specifically Uganda. I stayed at an orphanage for 2 weeks - just hanging with the kiddos.

Well, I won't bore you anymore with all of the random. See you later!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Challenge Week 4








I got busy and forgot to post yesterday.

Starting weight: 285
Last week:286.6
This week: 287.2

I really am trying. It doesn't look like it, but I am.

Tuesday: walked 1 mile & 100 crunches
Thursday: walked 1/2 mile (had to quit because of really bad leg cramps)

It will be better this week. I'm still trying. Last week and this week I've been in lots of pain, physically. I'll try to exercise when I'm not hurting. Pray for me. This pain is getting the better of me right now.

To catch up with the other Ragamuffin-Tops on their challenge, go here.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The day I met death and lived, part 2

If you've not read part 1, go here.

I left off right as the tractor-trailer hit. It felt like eternity passed, but also like just a few seconds. Creepy, really.

When I opened my eyes, I was really just trying to process what had happened. My back windshield was gone. The front windshield was intact. Weird.

I looked in the rear-view, trying to look at myself. My hair was down. It had been in a ponytail. At that point, it was also about assessing myself and checking to see what was injured. My right hand had, apparently, gone through the back window with my head. It was cut open from between my ring and pinky fingers down to my wrist. I had no idea how bad it might be, but I was losing blood. My forehead met the steering wheel and they had a rumble - that wasn't pretty, either.

About that time, a man came over and opened my door. I remember that he reached in and turned off the engine. He told me what his name was. I don't remember what it was. He said that I could use his cell phone to call whoever I needed to. He helped me out of my truck. He introduced his wife, and told me that she was a paramedic in their hometown (they were on vacation). She took care of me until the local paramedics got to me.

The EMS people took me to one of the local hospitals. I stayed there until about midnight or so. I really don't remember. Morphine - it's great! Although, they didn't give it to me until I was ready to for a second set of X-rays at about 8-9 pm (I was there by 4:30). My nurse told me that she was proud of me - that I was hurt and I wasn't screaming for pain meds. To be honest, I'm not sure why I wasn't asking for some. God had some major heavenly pain meds He was distributing - that's all I can think of. Mainly because there was a med student in with the regular doctor who had one of my tendons in 2 forceps, yanking the tendon up out of my hand. I told him they weren't supposed to be on the outside of my body and that I'm sure it would like to be back in the nice, warm, snuggly place it came out of. Then, I noticed why there were 2 forceps. That tendon was cut. There was about 1/4 of it left in tact. So, I needed surgery.

I ended up needing to see the best hand surgeon in town. I got in with him on Wed. 2 days to get in with the best hand surgeon in town isn't bad. I was impressed. He did surgery Wed afternoon. It turns out the people in the ER left a piece of glass in my hand that he removed during surgery.
Later that week, I went to the police dept - they'd not taken my statement the night of the accident. There were so many cars involved (14 total) that by the time they got to me, I'd been given my first dose of morphine. The officer that came out to talk to me almost passed out when I told him which vehicle I was in. By their estimations, I should've been dead. They were probably right.

During my visit to the police dept, I saw the sketch of the accident. It really is amazing. The truck that hit me had pushed a Grand Marquis down the interstate sideways for over a mile. Then, he hit me. At 85 mph. I hit one car (while he was running over the bed of my S-10), spun out, hit another car (with the bed of my truck - he's running over the front of my truck), the pin under the back end of the trailer impaled the engine of my truck, I spun out again while nicking a 3rd car, and came to rest in the back end of the 4th car.

God's intervention that day showed me that there's nothing I can't rely on Him for. Since then, I've tried to do things on my own, again. Then I remember what He saved me from. Death, pain, torture, burning alive, and so many other things. And that's just in the spiritual! That's not what He saved me from that day in July.

God is good.

Can I get an "amen"?

The Challenge Week 3 (weigh-in #2)

Still asking if you've joined the challenge. Well, have you??

Well, this week was better, but still really hectic.

I did get in some exercise this week. It was more than last week. This week:

Tuesday: 2 miles.

Thursday: 1.75 miles. I'd gone to the tanning bed, so my core temp was already up. I walked until I thought I might pass out. (I know. Tanning beds are bad for you.)

Last weeks weight: 288.6

This weeks weight: 286.6

Goal weight: as skinny as possible by July 19th. (hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!)

YAY!! That's down 2 lbs!

I had lunch with Mom yesterday (she's doing the challenge - only she doesn't know it. we're both trying to lose weight for the same "big event" in July.). She was telling me that she'd gained some weight since starting to watch what she ate. I actually have, too. I'm not real sure why.

This next week will be better. I'll try getting some pics for next week. I don't have a digital camera. I do have a video camera, but I don't have access to the interweb on the weekends. We'll see what happens....

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The day I met death and lived.

I guess that would be it in a nutshell. (Warning: this might be a little long, but hang in there.)

The date: July 14, 2003
The time: 4:20 pm
Events:
It started back on July 6. I was helping direct VBS that year. We'd been going hard about 19 hours every day (5 hours of every day on the road) for 3 weeks straight. We only had a total of 6 weeks to do it all, anyway. I was tired. Really tired.

The job I worked allowed me to be by myself for most of the day. I could have day-long discussions with God. It was good. That week, He'd told me that some people were offended by some things I'd said that previous Sunday. I didn't quite realize that what I said would've offended anyone, but apparently it did.

The next Sunday (July 13th), I felt that to those people I'd offended publicly that I would apologize publicly. (Friends, that takes guts. It shows you what you're made of.)

The very next day, Satan (death) payed me a visit. He was mean. He was cruel. He killed 2 other people trying to kill me.

There had been several accidents on the interstate in the previous weeks. During one of those accidents, some diesel fuel was spilled onto the interstate. They waited a week to clean it up. Needless to say, there were 2 miles worth of vehicles on that stretch of road when I got to it.

The day was beautiful. Not too hot. Windows in my S-10 were rolled down and good music was on the radio. I was not going to let stopped traffic ruin my day, because I was on my way to church (with a cab full of boxes for crafts) to work on VBS stuff. God was good and I was blessed.

Anyway, since I'd been on the road everyday for the previous (almost) 3 years, I was used to the sounds that accompany the travel. The sound I heard on that day wasn't like any I'd ever heard before.

Out of nowhere, I saw a tractor-trailer in my rear-view. He was coming at me. He was coming fast. Much faster that regular interstate traffic would travel. This was not good. There was no time to get out of the truck. No time to pull over, or even anywhere to go. No time for anything. I cried out to God in that split second to help me. And then, the truck hit me. It felt like an eternity, but only a few seconds. God was in control now...

Stay tuned...

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

HHEEEELLLLPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!

I need some help.

Why do you automatically think it's mental???? Because of all the rambling??

Nonsense!

I do need some help, though.

What songs do you sing at your church during worship service??

Thanks in advance.

Monday, June 9, 2008

The Challenge, Part 2

Ok. Do you remember that I said something about this?

I thought you might.

This week was not good.

I've been very stressed this week. I've got the important stuff glaring me in the face and it's oppressive. It's like it's looming just on the other side of the sun setting - and it's coming to get me.

I've not eaten everything in sight. That's a comfort.

But I put on 3lbs this week. That would be 288lbs. It's not pretty. Not pretty at all. You may see the other post on this for a pic. Nothing has changed. =(

I didn't get the chance to walk this week. I had no air conditioner in my house (When I got home on Thursday, for example, it was 95+ , according to the thermostat. Did I remember to tell you that the summer before we bought our house, the air conditioning unit mounted on the slab next to the house was clean cut and hauled off, so we have to put a window unit into a window that was not designed for that? And did I mention that we live less than 2 blocks from one of the worst housing developments in our city? Walking outside is not an option.)

Now, I realize while that's not a really great excuse, I've had episodes of passing out when my core temp gets too hot. I really prefer not to do the passing-out thing. It kinda scares C. Especially when he would not be able to get to me. (If the bed of the treadmill is down, you can't open the bedroom door. It lays across the opening.)

So, while I may have failed this past week, I will not fail this next week.

Please continue to have hope.

And just for the record, I said something about deep-fried Twinkies and Snickers, but I haven't touched one. I promise.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Y'all have got to watch this!!!!!

lifehouse everything skit

Yes, the Twinkies...

Dear Gretchin, yes I have seen the show on Food Network that talks about deep-frying Twinkies.

Now, my question for you is have you tried one?

I must say that I've never tried the Twinkies, but I have tried the deep-fried Snickers.

"Oh, dear Lord! Forgive me! Cause I know exactly what I'm about to do!!!"

That must be the prayer prayed right before eating one of those Snickers. Then, you may commence with the drooling slobbering and the ever-popular finger-licking. Yup - it's just like going to visit Colonel Sanders. Finger-lickin' good!

Because you know how they do it??? (I know cause I watched somebody do it right in front of me!!!!! I think I slobbered all over their table. Then I ate one, and it went straight to by muffin-top!)

They put the Snickers bar on an over-sized toothpick. They baptize it in funnel cake batter. They place it into the hot oil to fry. Then, they take it out and sprinkle it with powdered sugar.

Oh, sweet mercy! I can't talk about this anymore. I'm gonna want one!!!!

So, I'm going to starve until lunch (not really - I could live off my muffin-top for a few weeks, I'm sure), and I'll be good. I'm having Lean Cuisine French Bread Pepperoni Pizza.

What are you having??

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Have you joined the challenge?????

There's been a challenge issued. It's over here. Do you have the dreaded "Muffin Top"??

I think I've lost my mind...

because I decided to join the challenge...posting my weight and everything.

Dr. Phil says that you can't change what you don't admit (or something like that), and Mom has said for years that confession is good for the soul. Let's see if they're right.

Confession: I have a muffin top.

See:
















AAARRRGGGHHH!!!! I can't believe I put that up here!

That's me in the blue. It's just not real pretty.

(You do understand that the camera just had to be at that angle, don't you??? Yeah, I didn't think so either.)

C says he doesn't care, but I'm thinking that I don't like this pic. I really don't like it at all.

And since Mom asked me to lead the worship music at the Nationals during the WNAC meeting, I've just decided that something has to be done about that muffin top.

I'm a few days late with this post. I was out of town enjoying myself some Corky's.


So today, I weighed in at 285. Down 1 lb from last week when I posted my weight over at Los'.

I'm going to go hide somewhere now...

Preferably with a treadmill...

And the goal would be around 80 lbs to lose.

I think I need a Twinkie. =)

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we have a few winners. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I've been a little SWAMPED at The Office. So, here we go:

I told you that the final list had been trimmed, and it had. C didn't do her monologue and E didn't do her photography, but that's ok.

Now, since the national competition is being held in The Big City (about an hour away), everyone thought there would be lots of entries this year for the state level of the competition. To be honest, there weren't as many as we thought there would be. There were lots of different categories entered, but not many entries into the same categories. Lots of people doing lots of different stuff.

The competition was on Saturday, so we went to The Big City on Friday night. We walked over to the big mall and ate a very nice dinner (for most of them, it was a really big treat). Then, we had to waddle back to the hotel. We thought it would be "lights out" shortly - it's going to be really early when the alarm goes off, but some managed to stay up until 2 - knowing full well that the alarm was going to go off at 5:30. YUCK!!!!!!!!!

Oh, who was it that stayed up until 2??? It was me and E. She was staying in my room. (The opportunities to talk with your kids come very few and far between. I'll take mine when I can get them. It doesn't matter what time it is.)

Saturday morning was met with frustration (and pain) as we tried to assemble the puppet stage (and a piece of PVC pipe was dropped on my bare foot - now, I have some really pretty bruises). We finally received some divine wisdom and got it finished. (you could see the guys getting their praise on - right out in public and everything!!!!) From there, it was on to the actual competition.

The day felt like it was drrrrrrraaaaggggggggggggggggggggggggging something fierce. Wonder why that was????

(When the awards ceremony rolled around, I was ready to nap while rolling around on the floor. I believe someone loaned me some toothpicks to prop open my eyelids. It was a fantastic day for sleeping and pain.)

Where was I?? Oh, yes. Awards. E won an award for her solo, SG won an award for her sax solo, the sign team won an award, and so did the puppets. I know you're thinking that I've left some stuff out, but I'm not.

Not everything that was sent to state competition gets judged on the state level. There are some things that go straight to national level. The 2 pieces of poetry and the bible entry are good examples of that. So the only things in limbo were the 4 things that were judged at state.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE! I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ALL SEVEN ENTRIES ARE GOING TO NATIONALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now do you see why I was really wanting to tell you?????

I should have pics some time this week. I'm also getting some emailed to me from a photographer that was there taking pics for the state FWB newsletter.

It was a great day. I'm so happy that the kids get to go to nationals.

Look out, Big City, we're coming back in July!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

It's been a sweet forever since we've talked!!!

Lots of stuff has happened.

The Office has been crazy. Don't have the interweb at home, so we gotta do the blawg thing at The Office.

Anywho, with the kiddos, we just thought we had a final list. And just like teenage girls who change boyfriends more often than I change underwear, they've changed their minds about a few of the things.

C's not doing her monologue. She took it with her when she went on the spring break trip with the SVHS band, started working on it on the way down but got motion-sick and put it away. She said they had NO down time the whole trip, and that she would've worked on it on the way home, but they left FL at about 10:30pm to come home. 13-ish hours later, they were home - and she went to bed. She did say that she'd do it for the Ladies Fellowship Brunch the day before Mother's Day. That makes me happy.

SG may or may not be doing her sax solo. We did most everything else last night for the adults in the sanctuary, and this wasn't something that got done. She's really scared. The "solo" thing isn't for everybody. Her mom can't understand why she can play at school by herself but can't at church. I'm praying that she can "get over the scared" and play on Saturday. I also talked with her mom last night after church - she said she'd find out if she's going to really play or if she thinks she might freeze again. We'll see, but I don't want her to "get burned" by this experience. With some, it's like it leaves a "bad taste" - and they never want to touch any of it again.

M (Mr. Zyor) isn't going to be able to go this weekend, but E (one of the brothers) wrote some poetry. That's going to be a good substitution.

E (the girl) may or may not be entering her photography. I'll be calling her later this evening to check. It needs to be in the binder by tomorrow. And right now, there's no time to be able to print any pics off - unless she gives me pics tonight, and I just don't see that happening. We'll see...

As I mentioned somewhere before, the kiddos did all their stuff for the adults last night at church. They did the whole service. I was impressed that they'd be given the whole service, but sometimes Pastor surprises me - just like I surprised him last night.

I read the 2 poetry entries (cause they were too chicken to read them for themselves - CHICKEN!!!! It was really rather awful the amount of chicken that was oozing from their direction.). E did her solo. It was beautiful. I'm not sure how many people had heard the second song in her medley, but there was a wonderful reaction. E, M, & C did their sign language to "I Can Only Imagine". It tore the place up. You could feel the adults gettin' their worship on. Oh yes ma'am, you could - and it was spine-tingling. The whole group got in the puppet stage to do their skit and song.

On a side note, Pastor and Deacons 1, 2, & 3 didn't know that I was making puppets to look like them. So when the puppets came up for the song, the whole place erupted in laughter.

Then, the whole group went over to the piano and sang "How Great is Our God", "Word of God, Speak", and "Jesus Will Still Be There", and the adults were back to the tears. It was a wonderful evening.

I'm so very proud of these kids. They've done a total 180 in the last 6 months. They've also decided to re-name themselves. They are no longer the Prince of Peace Youth Group. They are now, Revolution.

I think they just might cause a revolution...

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

I'm in a rut...

I need a vacation. Really.

I've not had a real vacation in 3 years. At least.

We do take trips throughout the year, but they're always to do something - not that there's anything wrong with that, but once in a while, you just need a break.

In May, we take the Thursday and Friday after Memorial Day off and go to Pigeon Forge, TN. It's for a bible conference. We video the sessions. I really enjoy it, but I'm really tired by the end of the
conference. It's just a looooooooong 2 days.

The conference is excellent. They have wonderful speakers that bring the Word to life and do a great job at applying it to the spirit of the meeting. The music is great. Some of the best you'll ever hear.

Then, the other trip we take is in November. The day after Thanksgiving. We go to Charlotte, NC to work in the OCC processing center. We work real hard for 2 days. You meet wonderful people there. The project is worth while. You're helping reach the world for Jesus.

In the midst of all that, coupled with weekly youth activities, 40 hour work weeks, being married and trying to keep your house in order, I think you can lose yourself. I'm just in a "burned out" stage right now. I've had no paid-time off at work for 3 years (the first 2 were working for Kelly Services - the last was working at The Office after being hired from Kelly payroll). So, every day I've taken off for the last 3 years has been unpaid. That's hard when you live on a shoestring budget. It used to be that C's paycheck paid the bills and if I didn't work, we didn't eat or put gas in the cars. No pressure there, huh?

All I'm saying is that I'm tired. I just need to get away. I'm not thinking clearly. The "girly" doc changed my bc - so I'm a little crazy while adjusting to 9 straight weeks of "active"pills. I am finally sleeping a little better (C got transferred back to "graveyard" shift - I love him deeply, but sleeping with him is like sleeping with an octopus). I'm not happy with my quiet time - I need more of it (don't we all).

Basically, I'm tired. I just need some rest. Right now, I'm not getting any. It's more mental than anything, but mental burn out leads to physical burn out. And you never know where that will lead.

I'm off to another youth meeting tonight. Pray that I can get some things accomplished. We only have 8 weeks (from tonight) before the State Competition. I need to whip them into shape in 8 weeks. "Please Lord, help me...."

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Have you ever heard....

such hacking and gagging and coughing in your entire life?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Apparently, you've not been anywhere close to my house lately.

I've not been able to breathe well for the last couple of weeks. I didn't have a rescue inhaler, either. The one I found in my desk at The Office expired in March of last year. LAST YEAR!!!!! (Apparently, I don't clean out my desk enough.) And so I commenced with the wheezing.

It was when it reached a fevered pitch (last Thursday) and coupled with the coughing that I decided that maybe I should consult with someone who spent a few years in med school ending with a diploma.

So, I picked up BA and went to the HIMG's NowCare (urgent care). Beautiful people they have there. Although, I thought I was going to have to pick my nurse up off the floor she was laughing so hard. I didn't know someone so sick could be the source of such laughter.

Now, I don't know why these people seem to think that sick people enjoy getting on the scales when they already feel bad, but I for one do not! No, thank you! I'll just take 2 Little Debbie Boston Creme Rolls and call you in the morning!

I did tell her that I was going to do my best "4-year-old" tantrum complete with "I don't wanna's" thrown in for good measure. And I did. Then, she wrote my weight down wrong. I told her she didn't have to fix it - as long as she was allowing me to weigh less than what I really do. Nobody's going to get all bent out of shape over that. She took my temperature - and I surely did have a fever. It made it all the way to 101. She took my blood pressure. I told her that I would take "the Extra-medium cuff, please" because I wouldn't be treated in an office that had small, medium, and large cuffs. It would be small, medium, and extra-medium, thankyouverymuch.

She finished with her part of the 20-questions game and left me in that exam room to rot wait for the doctor. He wanted to swab my nose to see if I had the flu. (I'm thinking, "GREAT! I can't breathe out of my nose, it's constantly running and totally stuffed up, and he wants a nurse to stick a foot long Q-Tip up my nose! THAT'S FANTASTIC!") It turns out that Dr. I-did-not-introduce-myself-short-balding-man-in-a-yellow-shirt (because he didn't tell me his name) decided that I did not have the flu - yet he failed to tell me what I did have.

So, I was given a script for Zithromax and told to get it filled "TONIGHT!" and "TAKE THE FIRST 2 PILLS TONIGHT!" by Dr. Yellow-shirt and sent on my way.

Onward to Wally World to get the script filled. Yeah, right. By this time it's 7:45-ish and I wasn't sure what time they closed. So, I asked. The nice pharmacist lady told me that they indeed closed at 9, but that they weren't going to be working on anything that came in after a certain time because they already had cut off the amount of scripts that they would be filling and that I would be lucky if I got my script by 5 the next day. WHAT?!?!?!?!

Dr. Yellow-shirt would've had a fit! So, I went to BA's pharmacy. They had it filled in about 10 minutes.

Needless to say, I've been almost planted on the couch for the last few days. I did resurrect and make it to The Office yesterday morning - but it wasn't very fun. Today, if I tried, I could scare all of the people who call The Office and make them think that Fran Drescher works here. Teethy

Anywhoo, I'm almost out of breath now. I'm going to take a nap.

See you all later...

Thursday, February 14, 2008

I'm thinking...

I might have some of "whatever this is" figured out.

I've been rather "blech" about most things lately. I couldn't figure out why.

Then, I read this post by Boomama, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I've been to Uganda. I've seen the faces. I came home and cried for almost a month because I had to leave all those beautiful children there - with what felt like nothing. And I came home to a perverted version of Canaan - with food and "stuff" flowing like milk and honey. I was so appalled when I came home. I didn't think about it much before I left, but when I came back, there was a whole new AuntieB. I could not think about things the way I did before. I've wavered from that feeling just a little...

And now, I'm back there. I'm in a funk that makes me very unsettled. I remember my trip and all of the emotions that are connected to that trip, and I'm just not sure that I can "settle" with what would be referred to as "church as usual" - or anything as usual, for that matter. Now, I'm trying to be honest. Question: could you be this honest? Well, I'm trying.

I'm tired of seeing people who label themselves as "Christian" - and act in a way that does not reflect Christ. I'm tired of people (those labeled "Christians") taking their "stuff" out on other people. I'm tired of everybody thinking they've got the answer to what's "wrong" with our churches.

What is wrong in every one of these situations? WE'VE LEFT CHRIST OUTSIDE OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After Christ started his ministry, he was in a meeting with some Pharisees that tried to trip him up. They ended up falling on their faces by the end of the discussion. What you find is the Pharisees asking Christ was the greatest commandment was. (You see, they not only had the 10 commandments, but another few hundred that they used to scrutinize everything everybody did - as if the original 10 weren't enough.) Anyway, Christ gives them 2 answers. These answers boil those 10 commandments down to the "nitty gritty" - and the Pharisees didn't like it.

Answer #1 - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment."(Matt. 22:37, 38 NKJV)

Answer #2 - "And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these 2 commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."(Matt:39, 40 NKJV)

I'm not telling you that I have the answer to all of the problems, but I'm telling you that Jesus does. I'm not telling you that I know how you should act, but I'm telling you that Jesus does. I'm not telling you that I know how you should talk, but I'm telling you that Jesus does.

What I'm saying may be a little on the "radical" side (it would be by most churches), but if anything's going to change, it's got to be each of us. Individually. No excuses. No "reasons" why you can't do it. No telling anybody that it makes you "uncomfortable". This whole topic makes me uncomfortable.

This is me being honest. I'm tired of the ho-hum. I'm stepping out to be more radical. Will you join me?

Thursday, February 7, 2008

I think...

...I'm in a funk. And I might ramble. If you're not ready for rambling, you might want to close this blog now.

(waiting) Last chance.

(waiting some more) If you stayed, you're fair game. Here we go.

Something in my spirit isn't well.

Well, right now my body's not well, either. I've had the sinus thing that's been going around. I'll have it for a few weeks, then it'll go away. It'll come back and be worse than before, and go away. And then, the "shampoo" directions kick in. You know: lather, rinse, repeat.

It's the most vicious cycle I've ever had with anything I've ever had!

I'm really trying to just manage one day at a time right now. When all I really want to do is go home and go back to bed. But.............you gotta eat! That's right! I'm real when it comes to being a Baptist. I like to eat, and my paycheck buys the groceries. So, there you go.

Anyway, I'm in some type of transition period. I don't know what's going to happen. It's like the anticipation of "waiting for the other shoe to drop". Something is unsettled, and I can't put my finger on it.

I really need to start exercising. (I know, it's almost a curse word) But I really need to. I've got something big coming up in July that's really exciting. And I'd like to lose some weight before that "big event".

I just went to the doctor. My primary has been worried about the possibility of endometriosis (sp?). So, I went to see the "girly" doctor (girls, you know the one. I don't have to tell you.) and he's going to change my pills and try a different therapy to see if that's what it is or if it's maybe something else. C & I have been concerned about the possibility of not being able to have children, but that's almost a secondary concern right now. Waiting for some test results can be nerve racking, too, and that's another place I'm at.

There's another struggle that's just come up within the last 24 hours that is just giving me grief. There's something that someone wants to participate in, but there's a dress code. This person is bucking the system on every point about the dress code. Some of the dress code is laid out in the participation guide, but I went a step further (I'm in charge of this activity) and offered to make matching outfits so that everyone would look uniform. And that's not what they want to do. (If anybody has any suggestions, I'll take them. At this point, I'm ready to beat my head against the wall. Mom and Sister have already offered some.)

So, with the sickies, the test results, this struggle with one person, and a few other things, I'm just really unsettled. If you could just pray for me right now, I'd really appreciate it.

In the end, we're all just learning how to "Praise Him in the Storm". See y'all later.

Friday, January 25, 2008

I promised pics...

As promised, here are some pics of the Christmas program "Jesus: His Glory Revealed".


This is one of the pics used in the slide show during the song "Our Great God" (Women of Faith version) - along with the choir sitting on the platform. We had additional singers on the front pew to help give some additional volume.


Zyor, the angel (my boy, M) tells of the initial reaction of the angel upon being told that Christ had left heaven to be born the Messiah. Do you see his wings?


Zyor expressed how he and his comrades were ready for battle when told about Christ leaving heaven just to be slain to buy the souls of men. (Yes, that's a real sword!)


Zyor shouts the praises of God!


Mary (my girl, E) told us about the day the angel came to visit her and tell her that she would be expecting the Messiah. Do you know that Mary questioned God about being the right girl?


Mary (E) sings "Breath of Heaven".


Simeon (my boy, D) told how that he'd heard from the Lord about seeing the Messiah, how God lengthened his days on earth to see that desire fulfilled, and about the day it all happened!


Anna (our assistant, M) sings "My Hope/The Solid Rock" (Women of Faith version).


Nicodemus (Pastor's son, J) tells us what it was like being on the Sanhedrin Court and about the meeting with Jesus.


Nicodemus sings "Mercy Came Running".


Mary (my girl, M) slips in and anoints the head and feet of Jesus (our assistant, J, M's husband). All of this drama is being played out during the song "Alabaster Box".


The rest of the group watching as Mary moves around to anoint the feet of Jesus.


Some of the Pharisees watching this scene after trying to stop it. Jesus told them to stop.

This is Mary kneeling at the feet of Jesus after she's anointed his feet. This story can be found here. This was a beautiful scene.


This is Pastor playing the part of John the Revelator. He was telling us about the vision found in the book of Revelation and about what he saw while "in the spirit on the Lord's Day". It was extremely moving.


Can you see all of the kids coming down to pray with C??????????? It was soooooo cool!!!!!!!!!

Listening to the "Invitation Quartet" sing between the program and the baptism.

This is the baptistry awaiting the next soul to be plunged under and become new.


S decided to get re-baptized after she rededicated her life back at the ladies meeting in September. That's her daddy helping Pastor. This was fantastic. I'm so happy for her.


This is S going down.

This is S's dad having a good time while praising the Lord!

This is S's dad giving her a bear hug after she was baptized.


As you can tell, we had a wonderful time. If you would like a copy of the DVD, leave me a comment and let me know.

See y'all later.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Well, hello there!

I've just been enjoying a "bloggy break".

We made it through the Christmas program. It went smoother than expected. The spirit that seemed to envelope the service was exciting. There were just enough people who knew just enough to make them extremely excited. The whole topper of the evening was that C (one of my girls from "way back when" started coming back and decided to help with the program), she went back to the altar and rededicated her life to the Lord. That was the whippie with a cherry on top!

Then, we had a lock-in for those crazy kids on New Year's. It was really fun. The couple that's been helping us, J & M, had their older daughter, K (4 years old), there too. She was soooo funny when it came time to play hide-and-go-seek-in-the-dark. We gave her a flashlight (she's 4 - I didn't want to give her nightmares for the rest of her life). She came back from the first game and said, "THAT WAS TOOO COOL!!! CAN WE PLAY AGAIN?!?!?!?!?!" I think she liked it.

Now, it's on to competition stuff.

I might try to put some of the stuff on YouTube, but I'm not going to guarantee anything.

I'll post again tomorrow with pics from the Christmas program - AND THE WINGS I MADE!!!! Yes, I'm still a little hung on the wings. They're just soooooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think y'all will agree.

See you tomorrow!