Outta Here!!!

We are leaving today for Venezuela. My husband will be teaching in the seminary and we will get to visit with many of our friends. 

So, no Thursday Thirteen for me today or next week. Hold down the fort and don't make too big of a mess. I hate to come home to a dirty house. If you have a party be sure to throw away the evidence. You know that Lazy Daisy and Melli love to party, so watch them. Lazy Daisy is always leaping over things, like cars, and Melli loves to climb things. Yellowrose sometimes gets rowdy, you know how she loves to dance. She has even been known to fly off to exotic places like New York City and completely forget about the rest of us!!! I am hoping that Flip Flop Floozie will keep an eye on them for me. She seems to have a somewhat calming effect on them.

Maybe I should put Susie Pie in charge. She has a level head and is neat. Besides, she can make sure no one messes up the beautiful template she created for me. But it might be best if I depend on family. I think Median Sib, Daddy's Roses and Blue Star Chronicles should keep an eye on things for me. Girl cousins stick together, you know!!

I think I have everything covered. So, adios. Dios le Bendiga (God bless you).

Zoe Update!

Our son and DIL had an appointment with a Perinatal Specialist today. The doctor checked everything thoroughly and told them they do not need to be overly concerned at this point.

He told them that this happens in 1% of all the pregnancies he deals with. He also ruled out a couple of other problems that the "skipping" heart beat could signal.

All in all it was a good report and they feel much better. The doctor did tell them to move up their next appointment with their OB/GYN to check the heartbeat. If it were to speed up or slow down there would be more reason for concern.

This is one of the shots taken in the 4D sonogram. Isn't it amazing? She is so beautiful. I am totally in love.

Thank you so much for all your prayers. Don't stop! We want her heartbeat to be completely normal.

Getting to Know Me.........

I was reading my favorite blogs this morning and found this at Melli's place (Insanity Prevails). I decided to play along and answered the questions about her in her comments and then posted it here to see if you would play too! It's fun and a good way to learn something about each other!



How well do you know me? 
(if you read my blog at all regularly, you know me pretty well!)

My name: 
Summarize me in three words: 
Where did we meet: 
Take a stab at my middle name: 
How long have you known me: 
When is the last time that we saw each other: 
Do I drink: 
Am I happy: 
Am I a good person: 
What was your first impression upon meeting me/seeing me: 
What’s one of my favorite things to do: 
Am I funny: 
How do you make me smile: 
What’s my favorite type of music: 
Have you ever seen me cry: 
Can I sing?: 
What is the best feature about me: 
Am I shy or outgoing: 
Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules: 
Do I have any special talents: 
Would you call me preppy, average, sporty, punk, hippie, glam, nerdy, snobby, or something else (what): 
What is my favorite food: 
If there was one good nickname for me, what would it be: 
What’s your favorite memory of me: 
What is my worst habit: 
Have you ever had a dream about me? If so, what?: 
If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is the one thing I would bring? 
Are we friends?: 
Do I believe in God? 
Am I family oriented? 
Who is my best friend? 
Will you repost this so I can do it?

For Your Information!

We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads.

So, I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold any more so it started filling up the rest of me!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

No More Protests!

It has been reported today the Cindy Sheehan is giving up her protests against the war in Iraq. She has been voicing her feelings about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as her distaste for our President since the death of her son.

But she has decided to hang up her placards and put away her anti-war t-shirts and retire from the scene. She said, "I am giving up the peace movement and my son died for nothing." 

She is also very disappointed with the Democratic Party. She was their "fair-haired" darling as long as she was criticizing the Republicans but when she found fault with the Democrats they turned on her.
Imagine that!

It is sad that she feels her son died for nothing. I am very sorry she lost her son. I am sorry for every mother and father who have lost a child in this war. It is tragic. But it is even more tragic, in my opinion, to dishonor them by saying they died for nothing.

Just What I Expected

I knew this would happen. I was just waiting to hear the words. On her blog, Rosie O'Donnell, now says she was like a 'foster child' when she came to The View and she never fit in with 'the family' so now the foster child is moving on.

She is THE VICTIM!! You had to know that would happen. She is evidently not responsible for any of what happened. She was just not appreciated, not accepted. She was a victim! 

She and her head writer appear on her blog and laugh about the writer drawing a mustache on Elizabeth's face as she was leaving. They did not seem to see anything wrong with that. It was such a childish act. But Rosie IS childish and so is her writer. I am sure there will be more to come.

Remembering

Today is the day we remember those who have given their lives for our country. A time to remember those who died defending our freedom. 

Many of us will be gathering with family and friends today for a cookout and some fun. There will be laughter and good times. We will enjoy the freedom we so often take for granted.

However, there will be families today who will be grieving because they have lost a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife, a father, a mother. Let's remember them today and say a prayer for them all. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

Sunday Seven #17

A weekly meme for giving thanks and/or for noting important events in our lives.

1. I had a wonderful evening Friday with my friend Julie. We went to dinner at Cheesecake Factory (YUM) and then to see "Waitress". What a fun movie. Very well acted and FUNNY! I recommend it highly. I am thankful to have friends.

2. My sweet husband is preaching on Sunday Morning and I am looking forward to hearing him. Since he has not been pastoring a church I have not gotten to hear him as often and I miss it.

3. We attended the wedding of a dear friends' son on Saturday. We have know the son since he was born and he has become a fine young man who is pursuing a call to ministry. We felt so proud of him as we watched him take a wife. What a blessing.

4. I got to feel my grandbaby move Saturday. It was so exciting. What a miracle it is! 

5. School is out for the summer and I am happy for the teachers and the students. I know the teachers need the rest and the students need a break. Having taught myself, I have a great deal of respect for those who teach. It is a job that pays far too little in my opinion.

6. I am thankful for "Breath Rite Strips". Now that I am using them, I sleep better and my husband says my 'purring' is not as bad as it used to be!!

7. We had our son and DIL over on Saturday evening for dinner. It is so nice to have them close and be able to eat together occasionally.

So Sad!

I am SO sad. I just heard that Rosie has decided to go ahead and leave The View earlier than expected. It all stems from her blow-up with co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck. 

Rosie is hurt that Elizabeth did not 'defend' her when people questioned her about Rosie's comment about our troops being terrorists. Elizabeth was trying to get Rosie to explain her comment herself so that it would be clear. Rosie thought that Elizabeth should have explained her statement! What IS her problem? Why should someone else have to explain her words?

Rosie's comment about the troops was unconscionable. She quoted a specific number of dead Iraqis and then said, "So, who's the terrorist?" Now, how do YOU interpret that? Sounds like she is calling our troops terrorists to me! I hope she just goes home and fades into the woodwork. I am SO tired of her complaining, her grandstanding, her anger and her venom. She is an angry, bitter, sad person.

Friday Feast!

APPETIZER

Name a sound you like to hear.

It is hard to narrow that down there are many but I will have to say I love hearing my husband's voice.

SOUP

What is your favorite kind of cheese?

I love sharp cheddar, especially when it is melted on sourdough bread in the oven. YUM!

SALAD

Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not.

I used to but now if I sleep until 7am or 7:30am on Saturday I feel I am sleeping in!

MAIN COURSE

When was the last time you forgot something. What was it and how long did it take to remember it?

Well, as soon as I remember it, I will let you know!!!!

DESSERT

Fill in the blank: I notice ___________ when ____________.

I notice my joints creaking when I get up from a chair!!!

Check it Out!!!

Jennifer of .....a work in Progress tagged me for this and so I thought I would give it a try. It is supposed to increase readership so I hope it works. The five sites I listed as "Enjoyable Finds" are the five people I am tagging for this. I hope you will participate....let me know if you do! Copy EVERYTHING below and paste into a new post and move my five 'finds' to oldies and add your 'five finds' and that's all there is too it.


“~Start Copying Here~” and copy all the things listed without removing the links (Of course, the train would be no use without those links) Move all the sites labeled "Enjoyable finds" to the list labeled “Oldies”. Add 5 sites that you want to include in the train under Enjoyable Finds and make their “Visit My Site” link like this:http://redirect.alexa.com/redirect? along with this add the url of the blog you are choosing example: (This is my blog that I'm using as the example)
http://redirect.alexa.com/redirect?lathemlunacy.blogspot.com then invite them to join the train. Visit all the listed sites using the "Visit My Site" link. Make sure to go to Alexa and see your blog rankings:-).


Enjoyable finds:
Yellow Rose's Garden: Visit my site!

Lazy Daisy: Visit my site!

Learning for Lifetime: Visit my site!
The Median Sib: Visit my site!

Blue Star Chronicles: Visit my site!

Oldies:
Richardson Zoo: Visit my site!

Cozy Reader: Visit my site!

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries: Visit my site!

Low Carb Lollygagging: Visit my site!

Sarch's Blog: Visit my site!
Writer's Cramps II ~ visit my site!

Quilly's Quips ~ visit my site!

... a work in progress ~ visit my site!

Lifecruiser ~ visit my site!

Ever After... My Way ~ visit my site!

Insanity Prevails~"Visit my site"

My Romantic Home~"Visit my site"

fairiebees~"Visit my site"

Exceedingly Mundane~"Visit my site"

Smokey Mountain Breakdown~ "Visit my site"
Kaliblue - Visit My Site

Just me shann - Visit My Site

Tigger Bob's- Visit My Site

Star8278- Visit My Site

Asara Dragon- Visit My Site

A Little Piece Of Me - Visit My Site

The Rocky Mountain Retreat - Visit My Site

Scrappin…with life in this New Year of 2007 - Visit My Site

Rhonda's Blog - Visit My Site

Skittles' Place - Visit My Site

Cruftbucket- Visit My Site 

Goldercoaster - Visit My Site 

ComedyPlus - Visit My Site 

eJabs- Visit My Site UntwistedVortex - Visit My Site 

The Chronicles of My Life - Visit My Site 

I am Who I am - Visit My Site WebStyle - Visit My Site 

Endangered Spaces - Visit My Site 

CoolAdzine for Marketers - Visit My Site 

Rinsem’sRink - Visit My Site 

Sean’s Ramblings - Visit My Site 

MacBros Place - Visit My Site 

Can’t Coach That - Visit My Site 

Critical Assumption - Visit My Site 

Foreign Perspectives - Visit My Site 

Carl Pei - Visit My Site 

Swapw - Visit My Site 

Life of a School Bus Driver - Visit My Site 

Tamiki - Visit My Site 

Bobs’ Reformat This - Visit My Site 

Shawn Knight - Visit My Site 

Kelly Cho - Visit My Site 

JohnChow dot com - Visit My Site 

DoshDosh.com- Visit My Site 

Jane May Blogs - Visit My Site Ms. Danielle - Visit My Site 

Stock Trading 101 - Visit My Site 

Ed Lau - Visit My Site Derrich.com- Visit My Site

Nate Whitehill - Visit My Site

Gary Lee - Visit My Site 

MakeMoney Online with a 13-year Old - Visit My Site
~End Copying~

Thursday Thirteen #65

A List of 13 Random Thoughts

1. I have a lot to do before next Thursday when we leave for Venezuela. HELP!!!!

2. I must get caught up on my Thursday Thirteen responsibilities such as adding people to the blogroll. I have been a bad girl!

3. My friend Daisy has been trying to learn to jump hurdles but someone needs to tell her that jumping moving cars is NOT the way to do it. (Read about it on her blog!)

4. I have been trying to think of a way to have a gathering of all the Blogging Sistahs of the South! I'm not really an organizer but I just think it would be SO much fun to get together for a weekend and just get to know each other. Ideas???

5. Today, after physical therapy, I went to Wal-Mart and actually WALKED all over the store. I didn't have to drive a cart. YEA!!!

6. Did you ever just have one of those days when you just can't think of a thing to say? I am having that problem now!

7. I talked to our son and he said that he and our DIL have a peace about their baby. They have an appointment next week with a specialist and we are just trusting that the heartbeat will be regular by then. (see post below!)

8. As I am writing my T13 I am watching the "Idol" finale. It has been a SUPER show. The music has been wonderful (for the most part) and they have done some fun things. Now they are about to announce the winner..........and it is JORDIN SPARKS!!!!!

9. Can you imagine being 17 years old and being where she is???? Unbelievable!

10. I actually heard a person being interviewed on Fox News today who said that if Jordin Sparks won it would not be a good thing for teenage girls because (in her words) "she is the poster child for overweight kids". I was appalled. 

11. We are out of Venezuelan coffee.......YIKES! It's a good thing we are going next week. I will be bringing back my supply.

12. I am going to dinner and a movie with a friend on Friday night. I am looking forward to it. We do this every couple of months and we have a ball.

13. My DIL's parents will be moving here from Venezuela the middle of June. We are all so excited. They are wonderful people and will be pastoring a church here. Our DIL is counting the days!!

Pray With Us Please!

This morning our son and DIL had their regular pre-natal appointment with their doctor. During the examination they heard baby Zoe's heart skipping a beat. 

The doctor told them she had heard this before and most of the time it corrects itself. She gave them two choices: wait for their next appointment and see if it works out or see a specialist. They opted for the specialist. The doctor is going to make an appointment for them to see the specialist and get back to them.

Please join us in praying that little Zoe's heart will begin to beat as it should and that her mommy and daddy will have a peace about her. We know the Great Physician and we put our trust in Him. We thank you for joining us in prayer. Bless you all.

Special Delivery!

Danny Glover - Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has approved $20 million (US) financing to back two movies by Danny Glover who is a big buddy of Chavez. One is about the South American liberator, Simon Bolivar and the other is about Haitian revolutionary, Toussaint Louverture.

Mr. Glover has visited with President Chavez on several occasions and seems to be totally infatuated with him. Glover touts himself as an activist who wants his movies to "move people and help them understand what is happening in the world". 

Mr. Glover has NO idea what is happening in Venezuela. He is treated like royalty when he visits. He has not been out in the barrios and seen the abject poverty that many of the people live in. He stays in a luxury hotel and is served the best food and is squired around by the President.

On one of our trips to Venezuela we were about to board the plane when we were asked to step aside. A group of very stern looking men approached and in the middle of the group was Danny Glover. We had to wait while he was ushered on the plane and seated. Once that happened we were allowed to board. Mr. Glover was sitting in first class (as expected) and tried not to make eye contact with anyone as they boarded. I understand that, he just wanted to left alone. But, the reason I share this is because HE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE what the average Venezuelan has to deal with. He doesn't mingle with the average person......anywhere!

When he visits he isn't aware that the average Venezuelan cannot get chicken or sugar. He is not aware that in order to get these things you have to shop in the "government" grocery stores, where the sugar is full of ants and the stores are very dirty, rather than the independent ones. The sugar on his table is free of ants and if he wants chicken.....he gets chicken.

Maybe Mr. Glover needs to get out into the country, on his own, and get to know the REAL Venezuela. He will find a people who are extremely proud of their country and their heritage. A people who want to work and provide for their families. A people who want a living wage. He has only seen what Chavez has wanted him to see but he is too foolish to know that.

I will not see either of these movies when they are released. I urge you to do the same.

Sunday Seven #16

A weekly meme for giving thanks and/or for noting important events in our lives. If you want to join in click here.

1. What a wonderful Saturday we had. We sat on the porch with our son and DIL and enjoyed the beautiful weather together. It was great. Then we had lunch together. Can't beat that! 

2. We had dinner with friends on Friday night at a wonderful restaurant, Pasta Bella. The food was FABULOUS and the laughter and visit with friends was even better. 

3. As you can read in the previous post, I was honored to be a part of a very special ceremony for a dear person. What a blessing it was for me. I will never forget it. 

4. Hubby and I watch "The Pursuit of Happyness" the other day. What a great movie. Will Smith's performance was amazing and his little boy was SUCH a cutie. We enjoyed watching it together in the comfort of our own home.

5. I am extremely thankful for air-conditioning. Since I have "my own private summers" it is a very welcome and necessary device!!!

6. My sweet husband gave me some money for Mother's Day and told me to have fun......and I have. I have bought a few pieces of clothing for the summer. What a sweetheart! 

7. I was in the grocery store the other day and I was standing in the check out line and thinking about how sore my knees were after walking all over the store. Just then a gentleman in a wheel chair powered with a mouth control stick came by me. He smiled at me and I returned the smile. Suddenly, my knees didn't hurt quite as badly as before. I have much for which to be thankful.

Joy and Sadness

Tonight my husband and I were part of something that I can only call holy. One of the ministers my husband supervises is Ana. She is the pastor of a Brazilian congregation in his district. She has a wonderful, supportive husband and a beautiful teenage daughter. She has been very effective in her ministry here and has done much to further the Kingdom.

Ana was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago while in Brazil on a mission trip. She was so sick they did not think she would come home, but she did. She was determined to beat this. She fought hard and continued to be in ministry.

Ana has already received her Master of Divinity degree since coming to the US and was to be commissioned as a Probationary member of our conference in June, which is the precursor to being ordained. However, today Ana was moved into hospice care. My husband asked our Bishop if he would commission her now and he agreed.

Tonight we gathered in the chapel of the Hospice facility. The Bishop of Brazil just "happened" to be in town this week and was able to be in attendance as well as Ana's pastor from Brazil. God is so good. About 25 of us sat and watched as Ana answered the questions she was asked. Her response...."I will, with God's help". There were tears in our eyes.

As I sat there I was reminded, once again, how much God cares for us. Ana is gravely ill and yet the desire of her heart, to be recognized for her work and receive her commission, was met. She smiled and greeted each one of us. There was such joy on her face and there was joy in the room as we rejoiced with her. But, of course, there was great sadness. Sadness for the pain she is experiencing, for the pain her family is going through and for the pain those of us who love her are feeling.

This was a Holy moment. God was there. It was an honor to be a part of it. It was a glimpse of the divine.

WHAT???

I was not at home last night and, as a matter of fact, just got home a little while ago. I did not see any TV last night so I am just now seeing the results from Idol.

I can NOT believe Melinda was eliminated. She consistently gave wonderful performances. There is no doubt she will have a wonderful career. Talent oozes from her every pore. But I was convinced she was going to be the next American Idol.

I have had a pretty poor track record in predicting who would leave and when. So, since I now think it will be Jordin, it will be Blake!

Friday Feast - Ya'll Come!

Wanna play? Click here!

Appetizer

List 3 emotions you experienced this week.

Love, sadness and joy

Soup

Name a car you’d love to have.

If money were no object I would love a jag convertible!!!

Salad

Describe your typical morning routine.

I usually get up between 6am-7am and, if I don't have anywhere to go, I stumble into the kitchen and make coffee and some breakfast. My DH and I sit down in our comfy chairs and watch Good Morning America. Boring, huh!!!!

Main Course

Have you ever emailed someone famous? If so, who, and what did you say to them? Did they reply?

No, no one famous necessarily but I have emailed one of my favorite authors and she emailed me back. We actually emailed back and forth a few times. That was really kewl!

Dessert

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, which ones?

Nope, I don't!

I'm Trying Something New!

I was visiting "The Median Sib" and saw her post about Bloggerwave. She, like me, had tried other methods of making money while blogging and had eventually given up on all of them. Since I trust Sib (she's family!!), I thought I would check it out.

All you have to do is look through the advertisers they represent and choose one that appeals to you and write a post about it. You are paid a set amount no matter what. It doesn't matter if someone clicks on the ad or not you are still paid! That sounds like a good deal to me. SO, I decided to give it a try.

If you want to check it out, click here and see what you think. I won't get rich but every little bit helps!

Bloggerwave

Jerry Falwell Dies

Jerry Falwell, Baptist minister, founder of Liberty University and the Moral Majority and Political Activist is dead at the age of 73. Falwell was found this morning unconscious in his office and was rushed to the hospital. He had a history of heart problems but no cause of death has been announced as of this time.

Falwell was a lightening rod for controversy. Many times the controversy was his own doing. He made statements that were harsh and he would then apologize.

I did not agree with many of Rev. Falwell's methods or the way he dealt with some issues but I did admire him for being willing to take a stand for Christ and for conservative views. There were many times I wished he would just keep his mouth shut but you could certainly never accuse him of being afraid to speak his mind. 

He came to the forefront in the early seventies when he felt the country was moving away from moral values. The 'Moral Majority' took in over $11 million in its' prime and because of their support Reagan and Bush (Sr.) were elected.

Rest in Peace, Rev. Falwell.

I Couldn't Help Myself

This is exactly the way I feel! Hollywood, stick to making movies and stay out of politics and environmental issues!