Blogging, pets, cousin, "Jim", facebook, God

It's funny, I felt like I hadn't really blogged this month. Oh, I know I had, but I mean there were many days in a row with no posts, so I felt like this was a slow month. But I was just looking and this month has the second highest amount of posts since I started this blog. (The most was in July, which was mainly because I blogged a lot on my trip while I was in Kansas City, and then more when I was home alone while Mom and Dad were on vacation).

It's a cold and rainy day. I woke up because my parents were playing rockband above my head (I sleep in the living room).

I'm wondering how the little kittens are. I mean, I'm sure they're fine, but I didn't see them yesterday and I was planning to look at them today but it's pouring. I still want to but I'm not sure I want to brave the wet. Awwww, Devlin just came in and he's soaked! I put him in my lap and he's trying to catch my typing fingers. :)

Sophie is jealous so I'm petting her with my foot. While there would be enough room in my lap for Devvy and Sophie, there isn't enough for Devvy, Sophie, and the keyboard.

Apparently today is my cousin Vanessa's 33rd birthday. She died in 2005 in a mudslide. My cousin in law, her sister in law, is putting flowers on her grave today.

My argument with "Jim" is lightyears away now in my mind. Well, it was never an argument. Hopefully we can clear it up anyway though, so it doesn't come to the forefront someday out of the blue, and move on.

I've been searching for more friends on facebook lately. I hadn't done it in a few years (I've been on facebook for four years) and there are LOTS of people, especially from high school, that are there now that weren't a long time ago. And people who I wasn't sure about adding then, I want to add now because high school is so far away at this point I have no grudges or whatever, you know?

I have had some really good God moments in the past twentyfour hours. And I'm looking forward to even more. My heart is for the Church and brethren, will you join me in a daily prayer? Pray that tomorrow (and today if you want, I prayed it late at night) the Church as a whole, the whole Body, the whole Bride, will take at least one step closer to Him, and consequently each other.

I love you all, my brethen. And I also love you, my neighbors.

Dreams

I just had a strange dream. Little kelly dolls 11 for 2.08 or 10 or 4, it depended on the interracial pack you picked? Monopoloy and all board games 20.00. Told a little boy by accident something was too expensive and his mother thanked me in one store, told a mother in another store and she laughed and said she'd thank me too. I had a little hispanic sister? Is that right? I was buying a bag of onion, ginger root... and other stuff? Before that at the house that was high on a hill, lots of trees, long driveway. Something about a cop/neighbor who was trying ot regulate what the outside looked like? I tried to get everyone to help, but they all had work. Before that... On the road? Yes... ah, yes, I had drifted to sleep from the rock slide on I-40. But after that and before the house on the hill was the neighbors and other houses? I can't remember...

I write this down because I had asked God for a dream.

Of course I asked for this when I fell asleep last night and I woke up for a few minutes this morning, then went back to sleep and that's when I had these dreams. Do they count? They're the ones that stuck...

Scriptures Aptness Today

I went to my blog and today's scripture and "more scripture" are:
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past...I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

Isaiah 43:18, 43:25 (NIV)
and
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Oh, how apt!
Today I both was faced with my former things and also I just had a conflict with Jim. Not a fight, but conflict. Confusion, really, that I revealed and he reacted to. But anyway, it was so apt. And so I read the first one and then read the second, and it was so apt too because it was talking about what had happened when I read the first one! lol

Yes Lord.
I am watching the Father's Heart Conference on Godtv. The woman talking is talking about how complicated we make things, but how simple God makes things, how light His yoke is! And I'm just nodding.
Admittedly, it's also hard. lol. Because we are so used to complicating things, it is hard to fight that human nature of ours... but like most things, it gets easier with practice. God cuts through all the human complications.

I love God. My confidence is in Him.

Life in the Kingdom

Oh, how I'm struggling to live in the kingdom and not the world.
I started to type about why, but decided a lot of it was gossip/complaining which are sins.
So I shall just leave it at this: Please pray for me and my situation.

My latest update

Group photo from the party. I am the one holding the dog. A few people had left before we took this.

:) That's my smile to all of you.

Thursday was Lydia's birthday.

The Birthday Girl!

Lydia, on the right, with her Converse little sister.

It was hosted at the house of two great friends of mine, Grace and Jacob. They are a married couple. It was a jazz party. We had appetizers, drank a little (no one got drunk though, thank goodness. It's not fun anymore when people get drunk).

That's me with the champagne flute.

Blow out the cake, Lydia!

The hostess, Grace, partying.

And we danced. :) The party lasted until one am. My friends, the hosts, asked me to stay over. We stayed up talking until three, and then the wife went to bed and me and the husband talked until seven. He works nights, so he's used to staying up late. I slept on an air mattress in the living room. At 8:30 the wife tried to get me up for breakfast without success, then she went to visit another friend of ours. I got up around noon when she got back and we had lunch together before she went to work. A little while later her husband got up and we talked about pets and then watched a movie until Bible study, when all three of us went.

Bible study was good. Some great news: Jeremy Vangnes spoke! We listened to a recording of a missionary of 30 years giving a speech about how to support missionaries. I didn't find it extremely helpful, but it was interesting. It made me think about "Jim". He's got a heart for Asia, as well as America and Eastern Africa. There were cool points and listening to it wasn't a waste of time... but I admit I wish it was an actual BIBLE study. But then we had wonderful prayer and then sang. Last week my friend who just had the birthday and I sang Bible verses together. She formalized what we had made up last week and we sang that. It was great.

I went home and got to see my beloved Sophie... who I am proud to say had handled my overnight absence well!! She's usually a nutcase about it, so she's learning. She's currently sleeping in my lap. "Jim" and I talked, and then I think I went to bed.

Today I slept most of the day, then spent time playing with my cats. The internet is really slow.

Oh! And I found out about a singing group I might join if I can find a friend to join me. I sang in high school (with the friend who goes on walks with me) and in college (with the friend who had the birthday) and so maybe I can get one of them to want to do it too. It depends on their schedule. Or maybe both. That'd be fun. So maybe I'll have more to talk about about that.

I'm not doing great, spiritually. I'm just... flummy. I don't think that's a word, but it's accurate. I'm just... not having self discipline or success? I don't know. Persistance is the Christian way though, so that's what I"m going to do. But prayer is appreciated. I'm kind of... not as good.

Aww, I forgot to mention. Grace and Jacob are so sweet. They told me an apartment next door is available (They live in a triplex, and it's in the duplex next door) and they both, separately, told me and wanted me to know. Jacob works nights as a security guard not too far from me and he's telling me he's thinking about getting a different (day) job and maybe I can have his. It would suit me. As I told them though, even if I got a job tomorrow it'd be a while before I'd have the security deposit and everything to move in somewhere. But it's really nice to know you're loved enough your friends would want you as a neighbor, you know?

In general I am happy. Spiritually I'm not on a mountain, but with persistance and relying on God, I'll get through it.

I love you all! :)

A little update.

Hello blogworld.

I don't have much to say. "Jim" and I have been talking more and getting closer. I really like him. :)
It's birthday season! I know tons of people who are having birthdays this week. Tomorrow is the birthday of Lydia and she's having a party. :) I am going. I still don't know what I'm going to wear though. It's a "jazz" party, dress or "period" attire.

Sigh.

The dogs got into a big thing of Russell Stover chocolate. But they survived, thank God. I was a little worried for a while (chocolate is poisonous to dogs).

Godwise, I'm struggling again. But "Jim" inspires me.

So, that's a small little update. I hope to think of something more profound to say and get back to you soon.

Cottonwood Trail, Farmville, and Kittens

"Jim" and I talked until like six in the morning. I didn't go to bed right away because I had some stuff to do. I also got really in Farmville on facebook. Then I realized if I fell asleep I'd not be awake when my friend was coming at 3 to pick me up and go walking. I lied down for a nap anyway at 1pm, but that same friend kept texting me. Then my aunt called because she saw I was on Farmville and was so excited she had to call and talk about it! lol

My friend came a little early, and I showed her a picture of "Jim". Then we left and went to the Cottonwood trail, or the "Edwin Griffin Preserve" I think it's called. We walked the wetlands trail, the highlands loop, the turtle something?, and looking the map we've been on all of it except maybe the shortcut trail, but we'll do it. We walked, total, about four miles.

Then we did some of her errands, then drove around long enough to realize there's nothing for us to do, and went home. She got a sandwich from McDonalds, but I waited until we were home and made myself a chicken pattie sandwich. I gave her some macaroni and cheese and we watched most of a movie before she had to leave to pick up her husband from work. We'll watch the rest of it later.

Then I went straight to bed, havign been awake for 29 hours. Just as I lay my head down, "Jim" texted me, excitedly asking me when we are going to talk tonight? He has a pay as you go phone and so we meet and talk on skype, which is free, instead of paying 25 cents a minute. I was saddened though, because if he could just call me I could talk while I fell asleep, but I was too tired to get up and sit upright in a chair, lol. So I slept and woke up at 2:30 am and didn't fall back asleep. I texted him at 3:30 and he responded he was still awake and I got online to talk to him. We only talked for a few minutes though, and then he had to go to sleep. (Being in CA though, it was only around 2 am his time when we stopped talking).

I took a nap for about twenty minutes around five am, but was awoken by my dogs going crazy barking. Sigh.

It's pouring very cold rain. So when I went to feed the outdoor cats, I realized that Mallory, who has kittens in the garage, shouldn't have to go through the rain to eat. So I brought out some food to her, and glanced to see if I could see anything. We've been leaving her and them alone. None of us even knew how many there were. So I saw her and I saw some grayness, which was a kitten! Yay!

Later, I fed a can of food to Toby, who only eats part of it. So I decided to take the rest to Mallory, since it's her favorite. She's not eaten any of the dry food I'd brought earlier, so I wondered if she knew it was there and moved it closer... and looked. She was staring at me, trying to decide what I was doing. So I tossed her a bit of the canned food... it bounced off a piece of styrofoam and she looked for it and was so hungry she began licking the styrofoam! So I moved the whole can as close to her as I dared, and she got up to eat it and I got to see there were three! A black one with white feet, a gray one, and one that is either cream or very light orange colored (either Devlin colored, or between Baryon and Devlin colored). They are so cute! They were born less than a week ago!
Yay!

God is SO good!

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

This is the verse of the day on the side of my blog for today. I came on planning on posting a different post, which I still will, but reading this verse made me pause. This is said by Joseph to his brothers, who tossed him in a pit for a day or so, and then sold him to slave travers and told their father he'd been killed by wild animals. He goes to Egypt, becomes a trusted advisor of a rich Egyptian, but then the lady of the house tells her husband lies about him because Joseph rejected her advances. So he's thrown in prison and isn't let out until he is found useful in interpreting the Pharoah's dream, which predicts a coming famine. Egypt is able to prepare of the famine, but the rest of the area is unprepared so everyone, including Joseph's family, comes to Egypt for aid. And Joseph forgives his brothers, and says the above to them.

It's an amazing story.

I heard a sermon on this in church once that I heartily disagreed with. The priest was saying people misused this by saying God sent trials into our life and he thought that was wrong. But it's right. I mean, it's not that God does evil things to us. It's that he allows evil to happen to us, instead of stopping it (and He stops tons and tons and tons of evil from befalling us we know nothing about) because He's got a divine plan. God never sends suffering. He just intercepts it and bends it according to His will and to deny He has any hand in it is to deny a) His sovereignty and b) the credit for the good that WILL come to the lives of those who love Him. And in fact, when you pair this with one of my favorite verses, Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Both verses are saying all the evil in our life God turns around and makes good. Isn't that awesome!!!

Also, think seriously on your life for a second. Isn't it the times of trial, pain, challenge, etc that made you grow? This life of ours is just a "puff of wind" in God's time, but in heaven there is no pain. So this is our only chance to grow. So let us welcome the suffering. I'll end on relevant passages.

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:16-18
"All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering." 2 Thess 1:5
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God"2 Timothy 1:8
"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."2 Timothy 1:12
"For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God."1 Peter 2:19 (this one really makes you think if you read it in context)
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."1 Peter 4:12-13
"Resist him,[the devil] standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."1 Peter 5:9

And finally, the words of our beloved Jesus:
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15: 19-20

Happy, Bouncy, Glowy!

Right now, life is good.
It might change, but I enjoy it when it's good.

Mom and Dad just left for Florida. They're going to visit my older sister and her husband, as well as my great-aunt. While there they are picking up a car that my younger sister bought and driving home (they are flying there).

Speaking of my younger sister, she's also travelling this weekend. She leaves at 3:30am on the train from her college to her boyfriend's college to spend the weekend with him.

And speaking of boyfriends... well, I can't say that yet. But things are going really good with... Jim? Was that the fake name I gave him... (going to check the blog) Yes, Jim. I've pretty much stopped speaking to Bob. He's a nice guy, and I'll chat with him a little to make sure he's okay, but he's not Jim.

Jim and I share a spiritual connection. He's the first guy I've met who has unity of the body as a priority (except a friend's dad lol) and so maybe that's all it is. That is, we're feeling a connection because we have similiar functions in the Body of Christ... but maybe not. :) We did, after all, meet on a Christian singles website. But he's definitely crushing on me, and I am on him too. Everytime I think of him I smile. He's 27, a recent medical graduate, and lives in CA. He was talking about coming to see me in November, but I said we should hold off on planning that far ahead for now. He's not had as many relationships as me, and is a little overexcited, that is, he is so excited he's kind of rushing things with eagerness. So I'm the calm, rational one. lol. (That's a first) But I'm excited too.

Tonight I have Bible study! Yay! I am making chili, which is simmering in the crock pot. Later, so it'll be fresh, I'll make corn bread, which is a wonderful thing to eat with chili. I also need to grate zuccinni for Mom (she wanted to do it before she left, but didn't get around to it) and freeze it so she can make zuccini bread all winter (YUM) and take a shower.

Right now I'm watching Star Trek and rocking with Sophie in my lap.

Oh! And Mallory, the cat, had kittens! I have no idea how many, but they're in the garage. When Devlin and Baryon were kittens, she ended up runnning off with them, so I'm nto about to poke around and scare her away to a possibly dangerous location. So I'll just have to wait to see them. But surely I will soon enough. Maybe not until their eyes are open though. I wonder if there is one, two, three, four?

I hope we'll get her spayed after this. We would have already, but between Cinnamon's vet bill ($550) and the burial of the goats ($200) we didn't have enough money. Devlin and Baryon are six months old now, and I think Devlin is getting interested in girls (he's always been a week or two ahead of his brother, but it probably won't be long now before Baryon is too). I hope we get them neutered before they start fighting each other.

That's all I have to say at the moment, I think, except THANK YOU GOD!
I am delighted! Happy, bouncy, glowy!

The Truth About Satan and Hell

I was on yahoo answers and someone asked what Satan gets from torturing Christians for all eternity. Which of course is a complete misconception.

So I answered and decided to repost my answer here. So here's my answer:

Satan torturing non Christians for all eternity is NOT the Biblical Christian viewpoint, it's actually a secular twisting based on pagan mythology of underworld gods.

Satan is actually torturing us NOW, so we'll turn away from God, since God loves us and wants us all to turn to him. He's not in hell now, he'll be put in hell later. He's called the "prince of the world" in the Bible. God's allowing it because He is Holy when He destroys evil, he will destroy ALL evil, which includes us because you have to admit, you know you have an evil side inside you. But he loves you, and all humanity, so he's choosing to instead give you time to choose him. This time He's giving you to choose won't last forever, but it is in His Mercy that He's giving it to you.

Christians, by the way, aren't perfect, but through Jesus and the cross (which is why we make such a big deal about the cross!) our sins have been forgiven IF we abide in Christ. The more time we spend with and get to know Jesus, the more evil is killed inside of us. He is the Light and Light ALWAYS banishes darkness, darkness never conquers light. Darkness can only truly reign in the absence of light. Some people claim to be Christians by saying a simple prayer once, and maybe going to church, but never really know Jesus. Jesus says there will be those who in the last days will claim Jesus but He will say "Go! I never knew you!" And it's only by knowing Jesus can we hope to gently have the darkness taken from within us, the splinters plucked from our eyes. I try hard not to sin, not because I'm scared of hell, but because I know and love Jesus and want to please Him. The Bible says, of real Christians, that all things are allowed but not all are beneficial. When you're really transformed, or born again, your desires change.

If everyday you wake up and chose to not follow God, one day God will say "Okay, you don't want me? Go exist where I am not."
And that's hell. God is all things good and pure and perfect. Hell is not some cavern with lava, it's where God is not. That is it is everything evil and corrupt and distorted. Real darkness. The Hebrew word for Hell, Sheol, means the garbage pit. Once everything good has been refined from the world, that which was corrupted will be thrown away. God doesn't want you to be thrown away, but the only way to be spared is to let Him redeem you. But God gave you free will because He wants you to love Him and be the beautiful one He created you to be, not a puppet. He knows love cannot be forced. So it's totally your choice. The gift of redemption is offered, but if you don't choose to repent and believe, you'll be thrown away with the rest of the corrupt world.

Secular culture and the dark ages (when most people weren't able to read, so there was a lot of heresay) has created this cartoon image of heaven and hell, but when it comes down to it you'll either be with God, who is good, the creator of laughter, friendship, and love himself. Or you'll be in hell, which is the absence of all things pleasant or good in anyway.

I'll pray for you, because I love you all not through my own power but through Christ. You're my neighbors and I hope you choose good because right now you have absolutely no idea (and I admit I can't fathom it either) what it would be like to exist in a place where God wasn't. Sunshine, songs of birds, all things good... only pain and darkness and being totally alone. My heart aches that it never happens to you!!!!!!!!!!! Please choose Him. God bless you.

Pronouncement

I want to DO something.

Who knows what lies ahead?

"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)

That's the verse of the day on the side of this blog as I type.
It sounds good right now. I keep screwing up and getting bogged down so I really need to "forget what lies behind" so I can "strain forward". Though, I admit, I have trouble doing that because I can only have faith and hope about what lies ahead...

Still, moving forward...

Yesterday I went and saw Shane Claiborne speak at Furman. I hadn't heard of him, but my friend I went to Missouri with is on the mailing list of the simple way, figures in the new monastics movement. Shane and his friends live in community in the less desirable neighborhoods of Philly.

I don't know what to tell you about the new monastic movement. And also God's economy, versus the worlds, where money just doesn't matter, at least not more than other things. It's just something God can give and take away, not something to desired for its own sake but for what it can do to further the kingdom. It was good. Afterwards there was a reception and I asked him about plugging into a community. I don't really have community. I mean, I have Bible Study, and I adore them. But they're not at that same place. Many of them are from a different generation and they're just not feeling that tug to let go of security and be... "there". My friend who went with me is "there" but she's leaving in January. I can't really explain it better. He didn't really have any advice. He told me to check out the website and then went on about how good and important community is. lol.

Now, I don't think God will leave me without fellowship. He could, I suppose, but I spent the first part of my life without it and He knows how much it means to me. And I hope He'll bring me someone who is "there".

I know I'm not making much sense.

I'm tired.
And I'm dealing with male drama. Well, sort of.

I've met two guys on a Christian website. One is in another country, let's just call him Bob to make things less confusing, even though it's a fake name. The other one is in CA, let's call him Jim. I really wanted someone within a day's drive, if I was going to consider a relationship.
But Jim and I met and he seemed good and we talked, but he wasn't really responding to any of my questions and on top of that, I shallowly admit, he's short. See, I'm both tall and large and I kind of want a guy who is at least tall if not also broad, so that I don't feel like an elephant in his company. Women like to feel dainty. Jim also doesn't have a picture up.

Typically looks don't matter much to me, but I admit I dwelled on his height a bit. Especially since, from the picture I saw, Bob was quite attractive.

So Bob and I start talking and I start getting a crush.

Then, this morning, it all changed. Well, this evening I guess. I didn't fall asleep until 8am, so I didn't wake up until the evening. Anyway, both Bob and Joe had written me.

Jim titled it "[My Name] You are amazing!" and Bob had titled his "My sweet [My Name]", if that gives you an idea of what I'm about to say.

Well, Jim's delighted me. He had last asked me what my dreams were and in a much longer roundabout way, I explained the first is to unify the Body of Christ, and the second is to be a wife and have kids. Well, it turns out a woman prophesied over him that he would be instrumental in bringing unity to the Body last year! He also told me about his background, which is crazily (in a good way) interdenominational. He also said, among other things, that he was open to adoption and in fact had been adopted. I really, really got excited about Jim from reading this letter and gave him some contact info so we can talk in real time at some point.

Meanwhile, I go and read Bob's... and he professes to love me! Keep in mind I met these guys less than two weeks ago and all we've done is email each other. So that took me aback. I was having fun sort of crushing on him, but that was a major "WHOA! HALT!" Additionally, I had mentioned wanting to adopt someday to him, and he said he didn't want to adopt and in fact didn't understand what would be the point of adopting if you can have your own kids. Well, luckily God didn't have that attitude and adopted us Christians! :) Admittedly, he's from another country, another culture, and that probably explains that attitude. But I'm just not sure I want God to make me one with a man who doesn't get why opening his heart and his home to a parentless child is a good thing. I messaged him back and said that he needed to guard his heart, that I wasn't falling for him at this point though I'd be happy to continue to talk to him, and maybe we should take a step back. I also let him know that him not being open to adoption wasn't a good thing to me. Still, I expressed the desire to continue to talk to him, but I'll admit to you I'm not sure there's much of a future there as anything other than friends. But who knows?

I had a good laugh with God about this, how it took me aback. It was surprising, and I enjoy the unexpected, usually.

Who knows what will happen next?
God bless those two guys, and you, dear blog reader... :)

This Blog isn't what I want it to be

I get on here and I want to expound on amazing stuff. I want deep and meaningful blog entries.

Instead what I get is "Well, today I blah blah blah and I feel blah blah blah".
Humph.

I think of all these deep and cool things to blog, but almost never when I'm sitting at the keyboard.

Not that it's about me. This is GOD'S blog. I want it to reflect Him as best as I can in a blog. It's not supposed to be about me and my petty life. Assuredly, God is part of said life, and I can only write from my perspective. But still, at the core of it, it's always supposed to be about HIM, not me.

So I'm confessing this, and now I'm going to repent. :) Praise God and I'll try to show more substance in my next entry, which should be about the Shane Claiborne thing.

Getting lost and knowing where you are

Today I had a little adventure.

I was up, I was doing stuff, but around noon or so I fell asleep. At 5:21 my friend called to tell me she was on her way to pick me up. We were going to Furman to see Shane Claiborne speak. I'll blog about that later. It was great and deserves its own posting, but this one isn't it.

I wasn't dressed and I hadn't put my clothes in the drier so I ran back there, telling myself to calm down... and Mom had put them in the drier! They were all dry and ready to go! Yay for Mom!

So I was ready to go and we got to Greenville smoothly, met up with my friend's friend and listened to it, attended a reception afterwards, talked to a nice Furman girl, went to Wendy's, and then started home...

And got lost.

We left Wendy's around 10. I live about an hour from Furman. We got to my house at 12:45. My poor friend has to be at work, which is about 20 minutes from my house and half an hour from hers, at 8. Her house is about 40 minutes from mine.

She was just too tired to go home.

So she's sleeping in my driveway! I'd let her in, but I can't. So I got her a blanket and I'm bringing her out breakfast instead.

Poor baby.

So right this minute she's snoozing, in her car, in my driveway. I hope her back doesn't hurt too much when she wakes up. I'm actually pretty tired myself, but I'm trying not to fall asleep until after 7 or so, when she's happily on her way to work. Meanwhile I'm tidying up, catching up on the shows I DVRed while we were out (Monday is the best tv night currently) and, obviously, blogging.

There's some other stuff going on too. I'm starting to maybe crush on a guy.

More on all that later. Right now blogging is too sedate an activity to keep me awake.

Whoa! Over a Year!

I forgot!

I meant to, on September 4th to celebrate my blogiversary! But I forgot. I was just looking at my archives and realized I've been keeping this blog over a year. I had been aware my anniversary was approaching in August.

Okay, so I'm going to do some statistics in celebration.

Yes, I am a nerd.

These are going to go from my September 4th, 2008 blog until my August 27, 2009 blog, since my next one was September 5th, 2009. Make sense? Good.

Statistics:
Total Number of blogs for the year: 60
Month with the most blogs: July 2009 (24)
Months I did not blog at all: Jan 09, Mar 09, Apr 09, May 09.
Longest blog (wordcount): 6/22 Writing This Made Me Cry
Shortest blog (wordcount):6/15 He's dead
Number of poems/songs I wrote in blog: 4
Average Number of blogs per month: 5
Month with average number: Oct 08

For celebration, I changed the blogs format! Thank you for reading!

Last Post of September

As long as I can write this in fifty minutes, that's true.
I'm not really feeling any worse today, so hopefully I'm not getting sick, it's just allergies. It turns out people could see that smoke I was smelling ten miles away! And it was being burned right behind our woods. It was a controlled, but illegal, burn.

I'm in a pretty good mood.

I've been working on our songbooks for Bible Study. Lydia has been using her talents to good use in leading us in song each Friday. She compiled songbooks. For years she's occassionally brought music, but she felt very convicted by God that since she has this talent (she plays guitar and keyboard as well as sings and plays many other instruments) she should share it with the Family of Christ. So she's been bringing songs, but she works and is also otherwise busy and keeps forgetting to maintain the songbooks until just an hour or so before Biblestudy. She asked us a few weeks to suggest some songs we wanted, so I had her text me the list, and I found them and I printed them out. It was fun. It was good to get something accomplished. Now if I can only stay healthy until after Friday so I can make sure I deliver! I also made a cover sheet. See, I helped her organize the songbooks, which are in binders, into four categories: Scripture Songs, Hymn, Praise and Worship, and Christmas Carols. But people don't seem to get the organization because my friend will say "It's the third song, first line "The love of Christ" in Scripture songs" and someone will be fumbling in Hymns saying "Where is it?" So I made a title page. It just says "Bible Study Songbook" on the top, then at the bottom has the categories listed in order and color and in between I put a bunch of verses related to music, singing, etc: Ephesians 518-20, James 513, Colossians 315-16, Judges 5:3, and Psalms 100:1-2, 95:1-2, 98:4-5, 108:1-3. I haven't printed them out (well I printed one out to see if the colors would come across) because I don't have the song books, my friend does, and I want to color code the categories according to the color they are in the song books (they're on dividers).

Maybe that sounds complicated. It's really not, but I could see being easy to get confused just reading that.

So October is coming up! On October 2, 1993 I moved to SC. On October 4, 1980 my parents married (that makes it 29 years this year!). Here comes October... welcome...