Just for fun Friday Link-up Party!

Just for fun Friday Link-up Party!

Welcome to the weekend!

On Fridays I like to share some things with you that I've found funny or inspiring during the week, but this Friday I am away from home in Dallas, working on a borrowed computer so all my files are sadly not on vacation.  

BUT, I would have to say that the most fun thing this week is that I AM ON VACATION with my college buddies and am planning to have a fantastic time!  I'm sure there will be blogs and pictures and all kinds of sharing, so be prepared!

It's Just For Fun Friday Link-up party!  I have no parameters, NO PARAMETERS PEOPLE, link to whatever post you like!  What's your favorite from the week?  What's the one that your heart went into the most?  We want to know!  

Make sure you link back so we can find each other and keep the party going.  Feel free to grab my button for the link-up party on the right and share share share!!

Back to life...

Spring break is over, real life is in full swing.  

My husband joyfully bounced out of bed, ready to face the day at work.  The kids?  Up at 7:00 AM wolfing down their organic oatmeal with almond milk asking "When do we get to do Spelling?  That's my favorite...".  Mommy fully dressed with a smile on her face ready to tackle the day.  

Ha.  Haha.  Hahahahahahahahahhahahaaaa.  Not exactly.

Yesterday was our return to "normal", whatever that is.  We had a blissful week of doing NOTHING with Daddy at home (he works with University students, so he gets Spring break off as well...) and all kinds of playing and relaxing and family togetherness.  I should have known, I should have expected, been prepared.  

I was not.

Did anyone else have to drag their daughter out of bed at 10:00AM, whining and complaining about school before she got the first bite of cheerios in her mouth?  I sure did.  We got the full day of school done and then they didn't even want to play outside.  Even though it was a GORGEOUS day yesterday.  Attitudes stared me in the face all day, especially when I looked in the mirror.   It made me wonder if taking a week off is worth it. 

Funny thing is, this IS normal for us.  We are very laid back around here, but for some reason when I imagine a restart I imagine it perfectly scheduled and routine.  Does anyone else have this problem?

This morning I read on the Women Living Well blog  - 

"My children will only be as disciplined with their emotions 

as I am with mine."

Wow, agreed.  *she creeps away to work on her attitude...* 

How was your return to "normal"?  Are you back in full swing after Spring break?   

Linked with:  Thankful Homemaker, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, and Time-Warp Wife

Just for Fun Friday Link-up!!!

It's Friday!  Jump in on the fun and share your posts with us so we can "find" you and follow you in a stalker-like fashion.

Some things this week that put the "fun" in "functioning" for me:

1.  My surprise gift from my fantastic husband!  I've been wanting a hammock for...well, forever, and he just went out and got me one for no reason at all.  I napped in it Sunday afternoon for two hours and it was bliss.  Then it began to rain and I've just been looking at it out the window longingly ever since...

2.  This post by Jon Acuff on Stuff Christians Like.  It made my day, especially because it was on  Sunday that I found it and it went RIGHT along with my mood.  You need to read the comments as well.  This made me realize I may be sane after all.

3.  When I saw this I immediately thought of the blog world.  It IS so easy to compare ourselves to what others put out for the world to see.  People rarely write "I overslept, yelled at my children and haven't brushed me teeth at 4 PM"

 4.  This goes along with number 1..

 5.  And this is the lovely cross-stitch that my sister-in-law gave me for Christmas.  It hangs right by our front door and is the first thing you see when you walk in our home.

Now it's your turn to share!  Link up as many posts as you like, and don't forget to steal my button and link back so we can all find each other!

Happy Friday!!!

  

Grace and Mystery

Grace.   

Such a loaded word.  This one word can bring floods of thoughts of freedom, thankfulness, happiness, confusion, forgiveness, loveliness, restfulness the list goes on and on.  

Were you surprised I included "confusion" in that list?  I have my reasons....

Grace seems to be peppering every conversation I'm in lately.  I am surrounded by it, can't get away from it.  I see it everywhere, hear it everywhere, find a thousand reasons to think it through.  All my thoughts come back to it, even my chores can lead to mental gymnastics about grace.  

Because I don't get it.  

Our culture doesn't get it (inside and outside the church, it seems).  We speak of "falling from grace" when someone messes up and does something that is irredeemable - when Galatians 5:4 clearly speaks of falling from grace as falling back into living by rules and laws rather than freedom.   That person who messed up? - he is probably falling INTO grace while we throw darts.  I, on the other hand, fall from grace on an hourly basis....

It's illusive, intangible and does not fit in my to-do list.  There is no little box to check for grace.  I like those little boxes, they fit my need to be a Pharisee.

That's right, I called myself a Pharisee.  My heart is so drawn to LAW.  My entire makeup screams for order and lists and the need to fit things in boxes.  But one conversation around the dinner table about the eternal security of babies or remote tribes who've never heard the gospel  reminds me that God does not fit in my box.  God doesn't fit in any body's box.

God is mystery.

Pharisee's don't like mystery.  

My Bible reading program just took me on a journey through Job.  I knew going into the book that I DID NOT want to read it, but my need to check off my little boxes would never allow me to skip.  I've read it before, several times.  Never liked it.  God makes no sense in this book.  God's mystery has fingerprints on every verse of this book, and I don't like the smudges they make.  I don't like it.  It doesn't fit into my God box.  And then I get to a verse like this one:

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God?  Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?"  (11:7)

And I take a deep breath, sigh, and say "No, I can't.  I am so thankful I can't"

How my heart wrestles - I throw 2 year old tantrums about God not fitting in my box, and am SO GRATEFUL  he doesn't.  

I would not want to worship a god who fits in my box.  That god would not be GOD.  That god is me.    How often do I worship my own boxed up version of who He is?  Sadly, probably more than I like to admit.  

I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but the older I get the more I do not understand God.  It's such a paradox with everything else in life.  With every other thing in life we devote time, money, and study to a subject and get better and more knowledgeable about it.

With God I get closer to Him and He get's more mysterious with every passing day.  

Confusing?  I think so.  

Confusing but beautiful.  The beautiful, grace-full mystery.  

Linking up today with:  Raising Mighty Arrows

Unicorns, Granola and OMCP's

Spring Break is here! Yes, homeschoolers have Spring break. Why, you ask?

 1. Because we can. 

2. Because we need sanity. 

 Did you prepare for Spring Break? Did you make wonderful plans of family togetherness? My husband is off all week, so there will much family togetherness. My sweet friend Treva (of the previous post) told me yesterday that she and her daughter sat down at their dining table and figured out all kind of things they could do this week. Mapped out a plan for FUN. This made me feel like a terrible mother because I did not think of it.....thank you Mommy guilt.

BUT, I did make SOME plans. I planned food. Not meals, per se. I planned snacks so that my kids would not drive me crazy with the "but I'm hungry...what can I eat before lunch....no fruit!!!" I whipped up a batch of whole wheat blueberry muffin mix to keep in the fridge. I made granola to have on hand for munchies...do you see my pattern here? I was hoping for healthy snacks to go along with my mental picture of perfect family togetherness.

 Funny that my husband also thought of food instead of fun...

 He came home from church with Oatmeal Cream Pies, Captain Crunch, and Reese's Peanut butter cups. Hmmmm, I'm thinking the kids will no longer want my whole wheat blueberry muffins...

 Just one more difference between men and women.

 What are your Spring break plans?

Welcome to ....

Celebration time!  Weekend is here and it's time to relax, put away the school stuff and get out all those books and magazines you've been staring at all week (or maybe that's just me....)

Let's have a little fun and link up to our favorite posts this week.  Did you have one post that was extra special to you?  Let us have it!

On Fridays I'm going to share some things with you that have made my life a little happier during the week.  Like this...

and this....

and this one....

Searching Pinterest for "funny words" can sometimes turn my whole day around, does that make me strange?  My husband would say yes.

Now it's your turn to jump in!  Link up and let us get to know you.  Make sure you link directly to a specific post and not just to your homepage, and PLEASE link back to me so we can all get to know each other!  Help me out by grabbing my button right over there !!!. 

"Hoarders" here I come?

I have a confession.   I'm embarrassed to admit it, it's silly really.

I am a book hoarder.  A word addict.  I read several books at one time.  There is always a book on my nightstand, in my purse, on my counter, in the bathroom....I can't pass up a book sale, or books at a garage sale or thrift store.  I buy them to read, but I also sometimes buy them just for how they look.

Bad example:  I bought an illustrated book "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman a few years back at a thrift store.  I liked the way the cover looked, and I liked that it made me look like I might actually READ Walt Whitman. I never actually LOOKED at the book, I just put it in a nice stack of books in my living room that holds up a globe (that I rarely look at, but like the way it looks....maybe this is a pattern?).

On a rare whim one day I volunteer to babysit for our youth pastor and his wife so they can go to a movie.  In walks the youth minister with his children, his eyes go STRAIGHT to my Leaves of Grass, HE goes straight for my Leaves of Grass and says "Wow, Walt Whitman!" (which may have made me swell with pride....) and proceeded to actually open the book.....which had pictures of naked women in it.  Yes, it did.  There's really no explaining that.  Really.

On a side note, they haven't asked me to babysit again.  (Ginger, if you're reading this I hope you love and forgive me....)

I actually have a system for my reading.  At least, I have a theoretical system that I repeatedly go back to when I get in the place I am in now....reading three books at once without actually enjoying any of them or remembering what I'm reading.  It's ridiculous, really.

So, yesterday I stood at my bookshelf with pen and notebook in hand and returned to my system.  I got the idea from a book (of course) I read once by Anne Ortlund, who uses this system for study and reading.  I have five separate categories of things I want to further my study in:

1.  Spiritual Disciplines

2.  Marriage

3.  Parenting/Homeschooling

4.  Personal Growth

5.  My choice 

I cycle through these five categories so that I'm never stalled on just one thing.  The book I am almost finished with now would go under the category "Personal Growth", so when I finish it I will move on to the next book on the list for "My choice".  "My Choice" can be anything I want - fiction, poetry, classics, comics, whatever.  Then on to the next on the list in Spiritual Disciplines and so on and so forth....does that make sense?

To make it easier for myself, and for accountability to STARE ME IN THE FACE, here I have the next 20 all set out for myself on the nightstand.  (Do you like my Pinterest-inspired bookshelf-nightstand?)

This also helps with another problem I have.....forgetting what books I already have and buying even more.  I have made a commitment to myself to not purchase any more books until I've read the books I own.  This could mean not buying books again until I'm 82.

Unless, of course, it's a pretty book at a garage sale.  With no naked women in it.

If you're interested in my list, I'm going to post it on my "Reading Room" page.  I've decided this might help keep me accountable if I have to report to YOU that I've done it.  Plus, if any of the books on my list have either been very helpful or horrible for you, I'd love to know!

What about you?  Do you have a book system?  What kind of books are your favorites?  Any books you really think need to be in my next cycle????




Linking up today with:  Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, The Little Natural Cottage

Dangle Earrings and Golden Calves

I opened my Bible this morning to Exodus 24, the next chapter in line in my M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan, and read through a chapter I'm sure I've read at least a dozen times in my life.  If not more.   My nonchalance about the Hebrews being released from their slavery cannot be excused.

Familiarity SHOULD NOT breed contentment with Bible reading, but that is beside the point.  The point is..

Today a verse jumped out at me, leaped off the page,

24:10 "and they SAW the God of Israel"

It goes on to describe what they saw as they sat eating their buffet (which I find a little strange...).  My mind immediately went to the golden calf, "wait, they SAW the Lord and then STILL built that dumb calf a few chapters later???"  I quickly flipped over to make sure I had not gotten my Biblical timeline out of whack, but sure enough, a few chapters later they're melting down their gold.  Seriously?  Moses disappears into the cloud of fire for a few weeks and you lose ALL HOPE?  After all GOD has done?  After a few of you actually SAW HIM, you can still resort to a calf made out of your dangle earrings and bangle bracelets?  Shesh, how could they be so fickle?  How can they be so thoughtless and faithless and....and.....um.....

Hmmm.  My mind starts to flash memories.

- the fertility doctor who sat across from me saying "I've heard of this, but I've never seen it before..." as I handed him the positive pregnancy test.
- the time we desperately need a car, had told no one and had no idea what to do and a friend calls out of the  blue and says "hey, my husband got a promotion at work that came with a car and now we have this extra one, I was wondering if you guys wanted it?"
- when our biggest supporters (HALF our support) backed out and we were left on the mission field unable to pay for our seminary and my dear friend (who didn't know about the supporters...) calls out of the blue and says "hey, my parents want to pay for your seminary".
- the countless times on the mission field when we desperately needed money and it appeared in our mailbox.
- when we thought we were leaving the ministry and were as low as we could go and God reached in and put us right back where we belonged.
- and seriously it could go on and on....

After all that, how can I turn back repeatedly?  How do I doubt?  Why do I worry over such petty things?  How many times have I started stripping off my jewelry and throwing it in the fire?

And I'm reminded of these sweet verses:
"O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."

What about you?  Do turn back from the mountain and start removing jewelry?
Bind our wandering hearts to THEE.


I'm linking up at:  Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Our Simple Farm, Good Morning Girls, We Are That Family

Just Another Manic Monday

Are you humming?  Name the next line.....

Although I'm all for the old 80's songs, I intend for my Monday to be NOT quite so manic.  Here's hoping.

Today begins a few new things for me.  This is the first day of making some pretty big cuts from my diet.  In an attempt to see if some of my panic issues are food/drink related I am going to do a sort of "elimination diet" where I basically pare down to the bare essentials and then slowly add back in certain things to see what triggers my chest pains/shallow breathing.  

I am terrified (which is kinda counterproductive...).

Why, you ask?  Well.....what if it's coffee???  

Let me rephrase that.  I am certain that part of it is coffee.  How do I know this?  Because today is day seven of no medication and my 6AM morning coffee (only one cup) is still making my chest hurt and my breathing shallow (and it's almost 9..).  I had decided that I could still have a cup in the morning, I just couldn't sip continually on the sweet black nectar all day long....but I think I was wrong.  (she says as a tear slips down her face...)

I've had a few concerned friends and bloggy-friends ask why I felt the need to get off my medication, so I should say that I am not anti-medication.   If I can't control this with diet and lifestyle changes I will be back on medication before you can say "Amy can have all the coffee she wants when she's medicated.....". Just not the particular medication I was on before.   I like my eyesight too much to go through that again.

Today is also the first time I will be singing at our new church.  I say "new", even though we've been there for over a year.  Tonight is our Mocha Monday women's meeting and I will be singing special music (something about that sentence makes me crack up a little).  I like to sing, sometimes I feel the NEED to sing, but there is always the fear of it being like a bad American Idol audition.  PRAY FOR ME.  

What's in store for your Monday?  Will it be manic or mundane?  

Linking up today with : The Modest Mom, The Better Mom, Raising Arrows, These Five of Mine Plus Two

How did it go?

My giddy face when we got to the hotel room. 

Apologies for the super-bad photos....

 He'll love me for this, but I DID ASK him to act psycho...

 The food we had both dreamed about all day.  

HE: steak, of course 

SHE: Seared Ahi Tuna.....mmmm

After the bloomin' onion, bread and soup I could not eat my tuna.  I was so sad that I forced myself to eat  at least half of it and then was ILL for several hours.  You know, that Thanksgiving-overstuffed-feeling kinda ill.  But it was worth it.

*Side Note:  that "Diet" I spoke of not long ago....starts Monday.*

A great time was had by all.  My kids now want to be adopted into Treva's family.  After all the fun they had, I want to be adopted into Treva's family.  I relaxed, I went to bookstores (plural...) I drank coffee, I attempted to sleep in (never happens), I was quiet for six hours and it was blissful.

I have decided not to eat again until Easter.  It's possible I won't be hungry until then anyway.
Happy Saturday!

Psycho Worrier

My daughter stumbles out of bed, rubs her eyes and says "Today is the big day!" in her still half-asleep  -scratchy voice.  I laugh at her choice of first-words-of-the-day, and agree - It's a big day.

It's the big "first sleepover" day.

Tonight I get to spend a lazy evening in a hotel room with my hubby.  We get to go out to eat, with no children. In the morning?  Drop the hubby off at an all day meeting and then spend the day doing......whatever I want.  Alone.

Go back to sleep?  Go to a movie?  Spend the entire day at Barnes and Noble drinking coffee and reading?  Yes to all, thank you.

Tonight my kiddos get to spend the night with their best friends, in the home of my Anne-of-Green-Gables-Bosom-friend, Treva.  I want you to know Treva, you need to know Treva....

She will hate me for this one...

 This one tells you who she is, it represents her personality very well...

 And this one is so she will still love me, after the previous two pictures.  (because I stole them from facebook and didn't ask permission.  That's kinda scary isn't it?  I mean, couldn't I post pictures of anyone here?.....maybe Treva doesn't even know me......"

So, "Anne" will be mothering my children for me.  She's extremely capable, will more than likely be a better mother to them than I am. So, I'm totally fine with this.  Completely at peace and packed and ready to go.  RIGHT?

NO.  I'm psycho.  I've gone back and forth on this for days, wondering if it's the right decision.  I've forced both my husband and Treva to remind me constantly that this is OKAY.  Worrying, wondering, are my kids ready?  Am I ready?  What if they freak out and I'm two hours away?  What if we both die in a car wreck and leave them as orphans (yes, my mind works this way....).  What if?  What if?

And then God reminds me, not quite so gently, I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF OUR LIVES.  I'm not, did you know that?  Because I forget it all the time.

How about you?  Would you be relaxed packing and anticipating a getaway, or worried about kids falling down stairs and breaking their necks?

I'm relaxed, I'm relaxed, I'm relaxed........

A Year Ago...

Again, I'm thinking through where my thoughts were a year ago.  I opened this post from last March and started laughing.  I am EXACTLY where I was a year ago.  So much so, that I am currently waiting for this book to come to me in the mail for the THIRD time.  I've given it away twice and last week I knew I needed to read it again.  The picture I placed at the end is SO true, OH how I wish I had continued with this diligently!  Maybe this time......
____________________________________________________________________________

A thought for you -

"We are not angels, pursuing God without physical covering, and if we try to pretend that we are - living as though the state of our bodies has no effect on the condition of our souls - all the proper doctrine in the world can't save us from eating away our sensitivity to God's presence or throwing away years of potential ministry if we wreck our heart's physical home"   Gary Thomas:  Every Body Matters

I'm contemplating health this week.  Or, rather, my lack of health.... and it's perfect timing for moving on to the newest book in line in my book system.  I started reading this book months ago, but as I confessed in my former blog I was not exactly focused on what I was reading (too many books at once).  So, I started over. 

My friends can probably tell you that at some point in our friendship I have gone off on a rant about minister's not paying attention to their health (remember when you judge me or think I am judging others that WE are ministers and I am talking about myself and my husband as well..).  We spend TONS of money and resources on ministry tools (projectors, sound systems, books, materials...), and neglect the ONE TOOL that God gives us that when it breaks down we're DONE.   Really, DONE.  How many years of ministry will we miss because we didn't take care of our ministry tool?  How many ministers are yearning for retirement in their 60's simply because they are tired and unhealthy, when there could have been a good 15 or so more years of being used of God?

Oh, and by the way, this doesn't just apply to ministers.....

Gary Thomas is saying that and a lot more in this book!  It's like he climbed into my head and figured out how to write what I am thinking - only in a way that is actually clear and publishable...hehe.  

So, my challenge is to really think through that quote at the top.  What does that mean for you and your walk with the Lord? 

I know I will. (and a year later....wish I did)

A Small Thought for the Day

"His love is perfect.  His mercy is perfect.  His grace is perfect.  He is perfectly faithful and true.  He is perfect in other character qualities, too - in patience, kindness, joyfulness, and generosity.  Even his anger is perfect.  Everything about Him is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY - perfect, extraordinary, and brilliantly spectacular."
- Mary Kassian "Knowing God by Name"

Read it slowly.
Think about each characteristic.
No pat answers, no "of course I believe that", THINK about it.

How would your life be different if you believed this truth about God?




Linked up today with:  Time-Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Becoming a Strong Woman of God, Heavenly Homemakers, Growing Home, Reasons to Skip the Housework

It's Monday, but it's OK!

It's Monday.  I don't GO to work every day (to the chagrin of my neighbor who has stated to me that she DOES go to work every day.  Can you tell we haven't clicked?), so I don't have the "oh no, it's Monday AGAIN" feelings that are apparently typical of this day.

My work is here.  I don't have to go anywhere.  In fact, a lot of days I feel like IT finds ME.

To me Monday is more or less like every other day.  My Dad told me once that being retired is like having six Saturdays and a Sunday.

My reply? 

 Homeschooling/Staying at home is like have no Saturdays and Sunday is harder.... maybe he didn't catch me on my best day.

Monday's are a good chance to restart myself.

This week is all new, with no mistakes in it yet (name that movie....)!

Speaking of restarting - today begins my new (ick, can't believe I'm going to say this word...) DIET.   Not a specific, particular diet, just an eat less/move more one with specific goals I'm writing out and posting all over my home.  Last night was officially the end of the medicine (pray for my sanity!) that was messing with my metabolism, so I figure - today is a perfect day to start!  And, declaring it on my web-home is a good accountability tool, so ask me about it - kick my butt if need be.

This week has lots in store:  homeschooling, Bible studies, getting together with friends, going on a little mini-vacation with the family, book reading, coffee drinking......bliss.

What does your week look like?  Are Monday's a welcome or unwelcome visitor in your home?
Happy Monday!
Amy

Esther Study @ Time Warp Wife

One of my favorite bloggers is beginning an in-depth study of my favorite woman in the Bible - how can I NOT share this???  This goes along so perfectly with our "What's Your Story" series!  Beginning tomorrow....

Go to Time Warp Wife to check it out!

Sunday Blessings!
Amy

The New Pieces of Amy!

This is Jessica.

She writes for SingleRoots  She is one of my oldest and dearest friends.  That friend that you've known so long that even if you haven't spoken for months you can call and say "so, you know that problem I'm having..." without having to do the awkward catch-up.

The one who's holding my signed Donald Miller hostage...

That friend that can call you and say "your blog needs help, I'm going to fix it." and know that it would not hurt my feelings in any way.  Even when she called it seizure-inducing.  Didn't faze me a bit....sniff.  Because she was right.  I had peacock feathers.  I am unsure why.

So, welcome to the new "me"!  I love this look.  I love the pink, the cleanness (is that a word?) of the design, the ability to grow without making it busy.  I love Jessica.

I love this new "home" where I will be able to share thoughts, dreams, stories and scriptures.

I'm in love.  Do you love it?  What do you think of the new design?

OH, and you should absolutely check out SingleRoots.  It's not just for singles, I'm happily married and read it every day.  The different authors that contribute to their blog are witty and insightful and make me think.  Read it, and pass it on to your single (and married...) friends!

Have I mentioned I love her?  I do, I love her.

March 1st Manifesto

        The beginning of a new month always makes me feel ambitious.  It's like New Year's Day 12 times a year.  This month can be different, better, more life-giving than last!  This is the month my Mother was born, the month of Spring and planting flowers, the month I don't have to go anywhere until the very end (because I'm a hermit and that makes me happy), the month I get to end with a visit with some of the most awesome ladies on the planet, the month I will lose 20 pounds (um, it's possible, right?) and figure out my daughter's night terrors, and solve world hunger.  It's gonna be awesome.

I declare to the world:

 - Today begins a renewed effort to LOSE THIS WEIGHT.  I'm sure I will post more about this later, but I have a renewed "want to", and I will NOT be ashamed of shorts this Spring.

- I will do a FULL day of school today.  Including Science AND History, I know - I'm a wild woman.

- My children will spend more time outside than inside.  I'm unsure how this will  work with the full day of school, but that's just details...

 - All those clean clothes in baskets, you are GOING DOWN.

- Homemade meals.  Yes.

- I will not raise my voice today.  This is an experiment to see if it is possible.  Can I get through an entire day without raising my voice to my children?  Who wants to place bets?

- I will drink 8 glasses of water.  Between that and the six cups of coffee, I may have no time to do any of the above things because I will be spending the day in the bathroom.

- I will clean my house, all of it from top to bottom so that I can go to bed tonight and start the day tomorrow with a contented sigh.

- I will listen to "The Hunger Games" while cleaning and this will motivate me to get on The Machine in order to be tough enough to stay alive.  Side note:  There is one of those white stick-in-the-ground advertisement signs at the traffic light down from my house that says "SURVIVAL SCHOOL.  So that you can stay alive.", every time I pass it I wonder if they know something I don't and should I start stockpiling....

 - And I will do all of this with a smile on my face and a song in my mouth and birds chirping in the background.  Well, at least the birds will be chirping.  My daughters birds never stop chirping.  BTW, anyone want some birds?

Does the 1st of the month inspire anything in you?  I would love to know!  if you'll look to the right of this post in the sidebar you'll see a little sign that says "I don't hate comments"........

-