In the Storm

Update

Just a quick update; will post more later. Not feeling well. Yesterday and today. Low grade temp. and stomach feeling all nasty-like. Started pretty much after my walk yesterday morning, so much that I didn't walk this morning. Got a couple layouts to post later (which raises my summer layouts completed).

I got a call from a friend last night. His company has a job opening for an aviation meteorologist. I've applied. It hasn't even been advertised yet. God is working. I still need to trust Him even if He says NO!

Boys are in VBS this week. And having a ball. It'll be their last year of VBS (unless they serve)

John gets his cast off today (hopefully). Got to drive to Ft Stewart to do that (not feeling good and driving to Ft Stewart are both the same types of pain).

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

I was browsing some blogs earlier and found this. Thought it had enough humor in it to share.

Modern day folks answer that age old question:

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"


BARACK OBAMA:The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE! And HOPE! It looked HOPEFUL!

JOHN McCAIN:My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON:When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One! that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me, although I clearly remember having to dodge enemy fire as

Chelsea

and I tried to cross the road.

DR. PHIL:The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH:Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH:We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL:Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

JOHN KERRY:Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE:That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN:To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART:No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS:Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:To die in the rain. Alone.

RUSH LIMBAUGH:Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth?' That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA:In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS:Isn't that intewesting? In a few moments, we will be wistening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a sewious case of molting, and went on to accompwish its wife wong dweam of cwossing the woad.

ARISTOTLE:It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON:Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES:I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra#%* reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON:I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL

GORE:I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS:Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY:Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON:Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT:Damn that chicken. Does that make me unpatriotic?

 

 

I liked the ones for Grandpa, Dr Seuss, and John Kerry

Simplifying

That's where I'm at right now in my life. If I simplify now less stress later, and more time for more important things. So the hall closet got 'simplified' today. 5 brown paper bags full and a stack of games that no one plays with, and a large pile of trash tossed, later and my hall closet is done. I still have to go through a rubbermaid tub full of 'momento' type stuff which I'm hoping Jeff will allow me to photograph and then we'll 'purge'. I know, for some that is a very ugly word. But purging is a must for a simplified life.

I simplified the laundry room shelves yesterday and it looks wonderful in there. When I do this my mind doesn't have to go there (to the clutter, to the I need to clean that, or I need to do that); thus, less stress.

Simplifying. It's a good thing.

In the mornings

if I'm already upstairs on the computer when John wake up, it becomes his momentary lot in life to sneak upstairs and come up behind me and scare me. He did that this morning. Snuck up behind me. And scared me. (Normally I hear him coming up the stairs.) Today he thought he rocked and went back downstairs spouting his success to his brother.

Imagine

If you will, summer layout # 32 at the bottom of this post. Go ahead - imagine it. Summer layout # 32 is complete - BUT - I cannot post it. You see I submitted it to Creating Keepsakes magazine for possible selection to the Becky Higgin's article. They request that no pages be posted anywhere online so to honor that I won't post it. But imagine the layout being a two-page spread, very colorful (since the paper and products I used are titled 'Colorful' by KI Memories guess that is to be expected). It is titled Ashley's 18. I really like the page, pleased with it.

So why did I submit? Well, partly because in my bible study it was talking about ways someone can 'support' their family financially. Since I am currently out of a meteorology job (which I still desire) I thought this is something I can do. Competition is very tough - submitting to magazines, but I thought I'd give it a go. Working up layouts is something I love to do; I'm doing it already; so why not? I'll be putting together another layout for another submission soon - just need to find the right pictures since I've got the sketch drawn for me.

So, summer layout #32 done. Over half way there and still half of summer left. (If there are doubters, disbelievers, or snoots, that do not think I really have completed #32 I'll be glad to email it to you)

Wrecking Ball

i see this hurting world
of humanity,
your beloved ones
i see the construction crews,
principalities,
we've been overrun
i see the walls going up
like towers
hiding our bleeding hearts
from Your healing love
and Your power
i'm on my knees in prayer
volunteering,
i can't wait for You to

Chorus:
Send Your demolition down
from the sky
these walls have to got fall,
i'll be Your Joshua
swing me back and let me fly
I'll ride Your wecking ball
I'll ride Your wecking ball

to see this evil scheme
of the underworld
in dire straits
smashing to smithereens
all the barriers
that hide your face
to watch Your children
in surprise, fall to their knees
open thier eyes
when you

(repeat chorus)

Another song in my headphones by 4 Him that I listen to in my morning walk, Wrecking Ball. First of all, I love the title. More than that I love what Wrecking Ball represents. I think of Jesus as the 'wrecking ball' and the Holy Spirit sent down from the sky (heavenlies) as the 'demolition sent down from the sky? And I'm God's Joshua. Just as God used Joshua to tear down the walls of Jericho, as God's Joshua He can also use me to tear down the walls of this hurting world. Our world puts up barriers to close out God's love and it's my job to ride the wrecking ball of Jesus with the aid of the Holy Spirit (the demolition sent down from the sky) and smash those walls/barriers to smithereens so their eyes will be opened to the love of God. My world is the world God has place me whether it be in my own home, friends I come in contact with, ladies in my bible study, the couple I pass while I'm walking, the lady at the check out.

And least I not forget 'I'm on my knees in prayer'; key to the strength of the demolition sent down from the sky; key to the power of the wrecking ball (as I'm riding). Not that the 'wrecking ball' needs me for strength, nor the power of the Holy Spirit,  but how potent will that swing be depends on my prayer.

You know I could be all wrong in my interpretation. But I say 'send your demolition down from the sky, I'll be Your Joshua swing me back and let me fly. I'll ride Your Wrecking Ball. I'll ride Your Wrecking Ball.'

Over the 30 hump

Summer Layouts #29 -31 completed today. These are one page layouts. For the USS Wasp I only had 4 pictures. Jeff did the journaling for me. I made a new overlay which I then printed on a transparency for the journaling spot. I used all Wild Asparagus PP and even an older frame. I really like this one. Measure Twice Cut Once was also done with an overlay that I created (although the inspiration goes to Ali Edwards) Then I printed it long ways on a piece of Kraft cardstock. I love the simplicity of it and very manly for my three 'men' working. Journey is also a one-page. Again, only a couple pictures to scrap with (plus they weren't very good). This page is ok. And I'm not thrilled with my journaling; there is so much more to say. I'll probably just do another page at some point or do a brag book type...and my disclaimer is: EVERYTHING is STRAIGHT IN REAL LIFE; it is my picture taking abilities that makes the pages skewed looking.

Livin' in the Lion's Mouth

So, I'm walking now in the morning. Yesterday at 5 a.m. and this morning at 6 a.m. (Jeff's alarm clock); I don't have a Zune or an ipod so I'm stuck with a sports CD player. I have the CD from 4 Him, the Basics of Life, playing. Walking and listening to music gives good time for reflection. When you find the good songs with the good words that tell you something, teach you something. Then they're worth it. I wanted to 'reflect' on some of the songs I've got in my head because of my morning walks. The first is Livin' in the Lion's Mouth.

Here's the words:

I want a chance to tame the lion
To be a brave smile in the face of danger
Heads will turn
I want to bear my soul to the stranger
Lay my head in the jaws of destruction
And never fear

CHORUS
Because I know
If they would see my faith in the Lord
They might see His amazing grace
Like the center ring
In the middle of a roaring crowd
Oh to be living, oh living, Livin’ in the lion’s mouth

I want to crack the whip of courage
What they believe would be my challenge
At any risk I want to please the stands of heaven
In a silent way
I hear the applauding
So close the cage…

CHORUS

BRIDGE
To serve with the loyalty of Daniel
You can throw me to the lions in this world
I will lift my head in undenial and lay it on the line

CHORUS

We are told in the word of God that we will face trials. We will face challenges. We will face persecution as Christians. In the first stanza it is like they are saying 'bring it on'! Go ahead and bring on those trials, bring on those challenges, bring on that persecution because I want those who don't know Jesus to see my faith in the Lord as I face them. Because if they see my faith they might then see His amazing Grace. So often we want trials and challenges to go away. Yet, these words are implying the opposite because there is a higher calling. There is a bigger picture. Maybe someone who doesn't know Jesus will see you face those trials with faith, with loyalty to that faith, unwavering, and they might want to know where it is they can find this grace too.

Livin' in the Lion's Mouth is livin' through those trials 'with the loyalty of Daniel', in undenial of my faith in Jesus. No wavering. With courage, facing each challenge thrown my way. So others might see our faith.

What will be your attitude when you face your next trial? Will you clamour to get out of the lion's mouth or will you have the loyalty of Daniel and choose to live in the lion's mouth?

Summer Layouts #26 - 28

Ok, here's the deal I did three more layouts last night. One of them is a hybrid layout. A hybrid layout is part digital and part paper. Since I printed the digital part out and I'll insert this page into an album I'm counting it as one of my summer layouts. One could argue with me. Don't. You won't win. Since I think I'm going to do more than 50 layouts anyway it's all good.

My MIL will enjoy this one. And probably say it's about time. I've been wanting to scrap these pictures for along time now.

This next one is the hybrid layout.

And this one - well - you can't get any more current than this one. I scrapped it last night and the event (the boys painting outside with a sheet) was yesterday morning. Look at it closely. This will probably never happen again. I mean it. That would mean that I would be - like - caught up or something. Can you hear me laughing? No! Roaring.

Couple digital quick pages

Just wanted to share.

And then this one...