Wednesday, January 27, 2010

ch ch ch changes.......


I love this one - and yet I have no memory of them ever being that small together - I know it happened, but.... and yes, they do look alike *giggles*


Eva - "What is this thing and why is it smiling at me?"


Potty Training attempt #409
Jade - "Im just here for moral support"
because it was kinda requested....

Akivas First Playlist....

Another Way to Die Jack White & Alicia Keys
Good Morning Starshine Serena Ryder
Train In Vain Annie Lennox
Tell Me Billie Myers
Bad Romance Lady GaGa
Tell Me Something Good Pink
Rehab Amy Winehouse
Hit Me Up Gia Farrell
The Remedy (I Won't Worry) Jason Mraz
For Your Entertainment Adam Lambert
Witch Doctor Alvin & the Chipmunks/Chris Classic
Express Your Self Madonna
Ready for This (Intro)/Shooby Nicole C. Mullen
If I had a Million Dollars Bare Naked Ladies
Waterfalls T.L.C.
unbelievable Emf
Flawless (Go To The City) George Michael
Running on Sunshine Jesus Jackson
Don't Let Me Get Me Pink
Tick, Tick, Bang Prince
Livin' la Vida Loca Ricky Martin

now - to introduce her to Country *laughs*

Monday, January 25, 2010

So - this is the idea....

Instead of doing the devotional in the morning, when all I really want is to attack my day with my sword at my side... I want to do my devotional in the evening, so as I try to get to sleep, I have something other than "i need to cook a chicken tomorrow, and do three loads of laundry, oh, and which toon do I want to try to up one lvl tomorrow?" Going through my head.
this hopefully will bring along a sense of peace with it...
And in my personal faverate devotional book at this time, tonight's, my first day of attempting to start this new habit.... is just too awesome to keep to myself.

"We come to view Him as lenient, rather than Merciful. The difference is monumental. He does not casually dismiss our sin - See the cross as exhibit A. No. He forgives it. Knowing the difference has huge implications for us. When we see him as lenient, we will be casual about the things we do, just as we see Him being.We will take Him for granted, and never know the depths of His love..."

We are not spoiled children, who can just get away with anything. He loves us too much for that. We dont always get what we want. But, when we mess up, as we tend to do, hourly, sometimes more... Hes there. He doesnt just say "Oh well - your only human, doesnt matter" He comes along beside us and works with us, if we want him to.
Im not talking about "sin" here, really.
Im talking about the things we already do well.

For example, when I sing on my own, Im ok. When I work towards a performance, Im better. But if I were to really give myself to the talent he put in me, and ask Him to guide it, Im pretty sure that I would be 100 times better.

My writing, as well. His attitude towards that isnt just a shrug and a nod. But an intimate interest in every word I pen. Even if Im not proud of it, He still works with me to make me better at it. (although, right now, I almost feel like Im failing to explain how important this is for me, right now.)

I guess it comes down to the idea that I matter to Him. His mercy, doesnt leave room for apathy. Yes. Thats it exactly. Yet, Im free to be the miserable screw up I am, and always will be. *Because* of His mercy. Its all encompassing. All He asks of me is that I love Him. Nothing else. He will take care of the rest. And my whole life is a testimony to that fact - He always *has* looked after me.

But theres no sense of entitlement. No arrogance. I *am* chosen, loved, adored, and doted on by God. I know it. Anybody whos spent any amount of time around me, knows it.
And those same people, k now how much I do, think, and am, that - fails.
and *he* knows. and he *cares*...
but He forgives me anyways.

And thats just - the most amazing thing in the world.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Growing stupidity....

OK, Ill admit it. *hangs head in shame* I enter Readers Digest Sweepstakes.
I even *gasp* get a little excited about the prospect.

I look at it this way - for the price of a stamp, I at least stand a chance. And its cheaper then playing 649 - and better chances of winning too.

Today, we send in yet another letter, with fingers crossed.

So, I looked up on line, just to see what those chances are... And what I found, totally shocked me.

Now - Readers Digest is a business, just like any other. Their goal is to make money, not give it away. So of course, with their sweepstakes comes along massive amounts of mail to *buy* things.
You dont have to buy anything, to win. Thats pretty obvious. And of course, the lingo is all marketing technique and advertising
"Youve *already won*
Enter now, and this is yours"
blahblahblah

But apparently, not everybody feels the same way.
Apparently, people all over the world buy thousands of dollars worth of this merchandise, expecting it will help their chances of winning.
Apparently, the "fine print" - which is just that, fine print, is too small for people to read, so they dont. They just buy and buy and buy - and expect to win because they are buying.
Apparently, people have even tried to cash their fake checks that they send.

*scratches head*

In the States, *so* many people were "falling for thier slick advertising campaigns" That the government forced them to include a letter, explaining that they didnt have to buy to win, and what thier chances of winning actually were - blahblahblah - to protect thier people...

Can someone tell me... please....
what happened to "buyer beware"?

or even better...

In a country *run* on consumerism - why the government is spending massive amounts of money, backing a 6 million dollar lawsuit, against Readers Digest for "phony claims"?

Its called *advertising" and if thats the case, then Molson, and Budweiser, and Crest - had all better pony up the dough...

Me - Id like to believe that people are more intelligent than this.
That people actually have some understanding of the way the world around them works.
And all those people, who dont approve of the "communist" ideals of Free Health Care, and providing needs for those who cant afford them, would all sit back and realize, that it was that mindset, that they just fell prey to, themselves.
Yes, the Universe *does* kick back, occasionally, after youve spent a lifetime kicking it.
Get used to it.

gaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Excuse my while I go spend 37.. umm 41... whatever.. less than a dollar, to go and win 500 grand.
I doubt Ill win.
But the excitement while I wait is worth the few pennies.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

OK

Day in the life posts, usually arent my thing, but tonight.. yeah...

Today at 3, we had to take Eva to the Dr.
You see, for a three yr old, her speech is - slow. You cannot have a conversation with her. She wont talk to you. Its not that she *cant* talk - she copies the words from Nemo, Shrek, Ice Age, and The little mermaid just fine. She can imitate what you say, if she feels like it, perfectly.
But she wont talk to you.

Its taken us a full year, just to get her to say "Milk Please".
So today, she saw the Pediatrician, who spent a good half hour with her and her brother.

His reaction, was to schedule her to see/get - a hearing test. A Speech Pathologist, and a "clinic" on Autism. This is because of her insane habit of organizing everything, rather then "playing" with things. And yes, her speech impairment.

He also scheduled her for blood and urine tests.
Now, for those who havent had to take a young child for a blood test, or those who havent been there for a while - let me explain the procedure to you.

One parent, or a nurse, lays next to the child on a "bed" in the room. The childs legs are then trapped between your own, and you keep thier far arm imobalized. (that was me)
THe other parent, or a nurse, then grabs the free arm, and holds it still. (This was Tigger)
The lead nurse, then pushes the needle into the childs arm, and extracts the blood sample.

Now, Eva, apparently, took this like a Trooper. She cried, but did not struggle, or fight us in any way. If this had to be done, then she would let it happen, but she *was* going to complain about it - loudly.

After the nurse was done, and handed her the Finding Nemo stickers, I almost cried when she *thanked* the nurse.
Even the nurse was a bit surprised.

Oh - I forgot to mention, and thank... in the waiting room, there were two gentlemen. One didnt talk to us, but looked amused. The other, oh God, thank you for sending him. We had to wait over an hour, to get in - the dr was running behind - a bit normal, Im sure, for a man who CNN has featured as a top leading pediatrician in his field.
The one gentleman was a train conductor for Fort Edmonton Park. He read to Jade, helped us keep him busy during the wait, and even hugged Eva. He looked alot like Grandpa, who they havent seen since before Christmas, due to the Whipple surgery.

And then there was the lady with the 6month old, who discovered that her little girl had an instant love of Eva. And Eva, in return, adored the baby. It was hard to drag them apart, when it was time to see the Dr.

So we saw the Dr., then had the blood tests done.
Then mommy, who only wanted a strong shot of scotch, went off to do errands.

Now, an interesting fact.
Nowhere, in the North end of edmonton, can you find plastic tablecloths. I went to three big box stores, and finally, to Zellers, and still ended up buying cloth. And now with Jade moved from highchair to booster seat, beside his sister, you can all imagine how much *that* thrills me.
Nor, can you find any season of Lost, on DVD. Blu-Ray, yes. DVD, not a freaking chance.

I did manage to get my hair cut, all the while dealing with a hairdresser who loudly chewed gum in my ear, and sucked at scalp massage. Which I *really* needed after the clinic.

The bookstore I went to had two sales girls in it that had neither heard of Oscar Wilde, nor of Dorian Grey.

Safeway only had two tills open, and line ups 8 people deep at both. and of course, I was in my "silly" shoes, because if I dont wear hiking styled boots, this is all I have. remnents of my non-parenting, non "fat" days.

Tommy Hillfiger didnt have a single pair of sweatpants in - for men or women.

The only friend I ran into, from back at the Club, was my yoga instructor, whos husband is out of work. It made me feel very very guilty, because he has seniority over my husband, as they both work for the same company. Tigger, has plenty of work, on the other hand. I felt very badly for her, particularly after her son, married less then a year, is already entangled in a horrid divorce.

Now, I dont know about where you live, but weve had more than a foot of snow this winter. And in the last few days, its been hovering a little above zero - which means sludge.
Sludge plus parking lot, plus heavily loaded cart, equal disaster, particularly when combined with high heels.

Enter man in ugly old pick up, who bears a bit of resemblance to Viggo Mortenstien (wow, can we say brian fart, I had to look that up! *laughs*) Who pulled over, and actually pulled my cart to my car for me. ((Look! Chivalry isnt dead!))
((Or maybe it was just an older, smellier version of Strider, who knows))

SO - all in all, a frustrating, yet filled with rare blessings, of an evening.
Much longer than I wanted, more accomplished then should have been in the time allowed. And - yes, continual reminders that my God loves me, watches over me, and has the strangest sense of humour *ever*.

and now that Im home, groceries put away, hard liquer imbibed... Im going to bed.
Tomorrow, I have an appt. with the Psychologist.
yay, oh yay....
maybe Ill let you all know how *that* goes.
maybe I wont.

But I do hope that you can spot the blessings in your day, jsut like I did... and let them overshadow the dark patches too.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Jan3 - Time for a rant....

Oh where to start?

--Its not war, its genocide.
There is no army amassed against us, just frightened people, fighting on their own land, for their own freedoms. Yes, 9/11 was terrible. But that wasn't even a whole Country aligned against us, that was just a small group of radicals. And we have punished a nation. You've brought us a decade of terror and bloodshed. It woke me up close to tears this morning, just thinking about it.

--God doesn't want you to claim your neighborhood, your town, your city, or your country, for Him.
Its already His. God just wants you. He wants your heart, He wants your soul, He wants your thoughts, - good and bad. He wants you willing and capable, and all He asks of you is to show love. Show love for those who dont like you. Show love to the idiots that surround you. Show love to the fags, the murderers, the retards and the races you hate, you bigoted, self-righteous idiots.
And while you're at it... remember...
Dont judge. Dont judge them, as any of those things. Its not your place, Its Gods. Humble yourselves in the face of God - who dwells in the heart of every person on this earth. Every time you look at somebody, *anybody* and think of them as an idiot, a cheat, a liar, a bigot, a racist... you are judging them. And you will fall by that same judgment.

--Every country in this world, as its established itself, has put forth thier own religion as truth. And for a while, its spread, and caught on, and then has been extinguished... for the most part. What makes you think America is any different? Evolution has its own Creation theory, just as violent and radical as any. It has its own Flood story, just like every culture out there. The fact that there is no god at all, is its only unique selling point, so of course it would catch on. But honestly, people - if you want to live in a world with religious freedom... then we have to allow both ideas, to survive.
The only thing that is sure is that both the God of the Jews, and that old world paganism, will both survive. They always have.

--Its been a decade of Lord of the Rings, and of Pirates of the Caribbean. 10 years of Harry Potter and Saw. Our music has once again become the playground of glitter and fantasy, as our reality has grown uglier and uglier. We have decided that we like our men dirty, (Strider) drunk, (Captn. Jack) and capable of ripping peoples heads off (Wolverine). We have decided that we like our boys pretty, (Orlando Bloom)Magical, (Harry Potter) and able to carry a tune (High School Musical). In fact, the return of the musical alone marks an interesting turn in the last decade. The point is, that as our music and our entertainment is always the platform for popular culture to express itself, as however guided by the men behind the scenes... one truth has become inherent in it all...

2000 - 2010, was an ugly, dirty cesspool, and we all really need a good bath and want to emerge into a brighter, more hopeful future.

Its a good thing then, that God doesnt want our land, because He has His own... and Hes making it beautiful for *us*. Man was made for eternity, for Heaven, and our hearts long for it. We will never be satisfied with what we have here and now. Its not possible.
But if you love... if you refuse to judge, and just love. You may find at least, your own 20 feet becoming a little more tolerable.
For 2010 - resolve to love.
Its certainly a radical idea.