Monday, March 31, 2008

I Have Faxed

Are there things in your life that you have avoided thus far for one reason or another - rational or not? Such as getting a cell phone because you are afraid that you will accidentally call Tokyo. Or getting a pedicure because you have an irrational fear that the lady across the room getting her hair done will notice your toenails and judge you? I have some of these. One of them being the battery charger. I simply cannot bring myself to use it. Although the poor suburban lies barely grasping at life and refuses to start and my husband assures me that it's as simple as cutting a slice of banana cream pie (Okay he said nothing about the pie) I cannot bring myself to even try to find the appropriate cables or whatever and follow the instructions on the charger(and also the 3 sets that my husband has attempted to give me). I feel as though at this time, I just do not have it in me to even fail at it one single time and still be sane, so I have not tried at all.
What? Did you think that was my only 'ism? Have you READ my blog before? So, one of the other things that I have been sorely avoiding - even to the point of paying for the service elsewhere, or avoiding it all-together causing a near financial disaster (to my shame and consternation) is using our Dell machine of wonderment to fax something. I have conquered most other features of this machine to include printing, scanning and copying ~wirelessly~ but the fax has been the bane of my all-in-one existence. Well.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to a specialist which requires me to have a referral from my primary care manager (you HMO havers know what I am talking about) and it occurred to me because I have been seeing this doctor (and others) for some time that I should check to make sure that I still have a visit left on my current referral. I seriously do not want to even go to this visit, I really just want people to leave me alone, and here I am working overtime to ensure that I can attend. dumb. Anyway - the receptionist says that the only referral they have access to expired in November of 2007 which I know is wrong wrong wrong. So I say, I will have to get into my files and see if I can find my copy of it as I had been remembering that I had seen it recently in some stack or another because I had left it out for this very reason. When I finally got home today (from the dentist - BLECK) I searched and searched and found the referral. AHA! It is current! For one of my other specialists. *deflate* So I look some more and can't find the referral I am looking for that says I can go to this week's doctor. So....okay....dreaded activity number 7,985 - I call the HMO to see if they have a current referral for me for said doctor or not. They do. It does not expire until 08/08 - good for 4 visits. YAHOO! May I please have those dates again and the authorization number?? Thank you very much. So I call back to my doctor's receptionist and tell her that there is in fact a current authorization and she says okay, what we're going to need is for the HMO to fax us a copy of that referral. Grr. Can you do anything with just this authorization number? No ma'am. We need the paper. Grr. Okay! Let me see what I can do! (Tell me again WHY I am working so hard to go be invaded when I do not want to be invaded?) (Was that gross? Sorry. *blushes but does not delete*) So I decide to make one more concerted effort at dreaded activity number 6,435 - searching through my files...
What do you know? I found the correct referral for the correct doctor in the correct file. Ahhh.
Now I face a quandary. I have the referral. It needs to be faxed. I am going to be in the area this afternoon to take my daughter to the dentist (bleck) and can drop off the form, however I don't know for certain if I have used all the visits or not and so they need to have it in time to research if necessary during office hours because I do not want to be slammed with a $165 cancelled-at-the-last-minute-due-to-lunacy doctor bill.
It is now time to put on my big-girl panties and try the fax machine that lives right in my own living room and has been begging to fulfill its purpose. Here's the thing - our phone line is vonage(through the Internet), hooked up to our wireless router, blah blah blah *this is going to be soooooo complicated and could possibly wreck the delicate cosmo balance of me being able to access the Internet and my all-in-one machine of wonderment wirelessly from bed at any hour of the day or night. do I want to take this chance??* So, I take a few deep breaths. Lift up a prayer for mercy and pull out the 80lb manual. How to fax. 1. plug the phone line into the fax machine at correct, clearly labeled port. 2. enter number. 3. push green button.
Huh? What's this? I hear it. The noise. You know the noise of calling a fax machine. You've done it with the phone to your ear. You know the noise. HA! I immediately called the doctor's office(on my cell phone cause the vonage is still hooked up to the all-in-one [no, apparently it does not fax wirelessly. slacker.]) to see if it could really be true - did...did...you....receive my fax?? Yes. We have it here. *hoots, jumps, laughs ~ receptionist waits patiently* So, I ask her if she could now please verify for me if I have used all the visits or not and the saga goes on with please hold then we have to call the HMO can we call you back, blah blah blah. But who cares.
I FAXED.
And I don't want to go anyway. AND, as I am now posting this story wirelessly from my bed - the cosmos are still in order. *insert some shout of victory like HOOAH but not HOOAH because we are not army*

Saturday, March 29, 2008

What Is Your Theme Song?




Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC



"Back in black, I hit the sack,

I've been too long, I'm glad to be back"



Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos.

But each time you stage your comeback, it's even better than the last!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Don't Cry For Me Blogentina

*imagine orchestra playing Andrew Lloyd Weber*
Don't cry for me Blogentina....
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance...

It won't be easy, you'll think it's strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me, all you will see is a blog you once knew
Although layed out to the nines it's sixes and sevens with you

I had to let it happen, I had to take a break
Couldn't stay all my life down Bloglines
Looking down the list of feeds,
Staying out of the sun
So, I chose shadows
Lurking around, trying everything new
But not commenting for you

Don't cry for me Blogentina...
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days,
My mad existence
I kept my promise,
Don't keep your distance...

Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at my posts to know that every word is true

Don't cry for me Blogentina

Adventures in Destruction Lawncare




Contrary to popular belief, crop circles are NOT formed by aliens visiting our planet. The secret is now about to be released....

They are formed by desperate housewives on broken lawntractors.
You heard it here first.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Waters Gone By

I have said this before but I am not sure you really got it. GLORY REVEALED ROCKS. This album is promises straight from the Word of God. Waters Gone By is one of my favorite favorite favorite tracks. I will lift up my face without shame. I will firmly stand with no fear inside. I will surely forget all my troubles and pain, regarding them only as waters gone by.
Seriously people. Go buy this album! You can download it from iTunes - or you can purchase it from my favorite online Christian retailer - CBD

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Maundy Thursday

Here we are in the midst of Holy Week, and this evening we observe Maundy Thursday. Here is a little background on the observance courtesy of Wikipedia.

In the Christian liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.
On this day four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples' feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.
The morning celebration of these events marks the beginning of what is called the Easter Triduum or Sacred Triduum. The Latin word triduum means a three-day period, and the triduum in question is that of the three days from the death to the resurrection of Jesus. It should be noted that for Jesus and his followers a day ended, and a new day began, at sunset, not at midnight, as it still does today in the modern Jewish calendar. The Last Supper was held at what present-day Western civilization considers to be the evening of Holy Thursday but what was then considered to be the first hours of Friday. Its annual commemoration thus begins the three-day period or triduum of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, days of special devotion that celebrate as a single action the death and resurrection of Christ, the central events of Christianity.

"Maundy Thursday" is the name for this day in England. It is therefore the usual name also in English-speaking Protestant Churches that originated in that country and even in some that originated in Scotland, although the Scottish Book of Common Prayer uses the name "Holy Thursday". Other English-speaking Protestant Churches, such as the Lutheran, use both "Maundy Thursday" and "Holy Thursday". Among Roman Catholics, except in England, the usual English name for the day is "Holy Thursday". The word Maundy is derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet. The phrase is used as the antiphon sung during the "Mandatum" ceremony of the washing of the feet, which may be held during Mass or at another time as a separate event, during which a priest or bishop (representing Christ) or for the first time, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on 20 March 2008, in Armagh, ceremonially washes the feet of others, typically 12 persons chosen as a cross-section of the community.

The anthems we will go through this evening begin with John 3:16 - God so loved the world..,
move to the Lord's Supper, and down the Via Dolorosa, ending with the crucifixion.

Last year was my first experience with Maundy Thursday and I entered somewhat of a depression as we repeatedly rehearsed through the music beginning months in advance of the service. This year, I was more prepared for what was coming and still I am finding my days slower and harder to get through knowing that it was my sin that put my Lord on the cross. Singing the powerful and haunting anthems is so bittersweet. The great gift that we were given through Jesus' suffering is salvation. And as we remember what He went through in order that we might be in fellowship with God for an eternity, we look forward to the Resurrection - the triumphant day when Jesus conquered death.
I praise God that He has the victory over sin and death!!

This is our first anthem for the evening....

Friday, March 14, 2008

Oh The Irony Of It All

An ocean of prepaid vehicles and I must pay to drive this one.


"Why?" You ask? Because all three of our vehicles are in some state of disrepair and cannot be relied upon to carry the fam. Oh the irony of it all!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Psalms And Other Hugs From God

Going through an exceptionally challenging season in my life. It feels like there isn't an aspect of my life that isn't being tested, broken, refined or reconstructed. From my personal walk with the Lord to children to siblings to marriage to health to home to friendships to service I am called to. One of the things that is making me sad is that I don't have my funny right now. I do not feel funny. I am tired. So tired. I want my funny back. In the meantime, I will share these pieces of hope with you. Hope found only in the One True God.

I am meditating on Psalm 1 and it has been a challenge for me to take in what it has to say about a godly life. Specifically I will share with you verses 1-3 and my thoughts on this section. In the NLT translation it says this:

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."

Of course I group myself in with the godly. I have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, the blessings apply to me. Right? Well, hold on. It says they bear fruit in each season without fail, their leaves never wither, in all they do, they prosper. I thought, "Wait. That's not true...I do not bear fruit EACH season WITHOUT FAIL. I do have withering leaves. I do not prosper in EVERYTHING I do." So I had to go back... What this scripture is saying to me is those who do not follow the advice of the wicked [ever], or stand around with sinners [ever], or join in with scoffers [ever], but they delight in EVERYTHING the Lord wants; DAY AND NIGHT they think about His law - THESE people have the unfailing blessings described in verse 3. That would not, in fact, be me.

Now don't freak about me being too hard on myself and all that. I know there is no one righteous. No not one; that I will never be perfect and that Jesus paid the price for my shortcomings. However, God does not waste words. He wants me to strive for the ideal and He tells me clearly what could be lacking when I am not seeing the fullness of His blessings.

God also is a merciful, personal, loving God. And while I am going through all this muck in life and He is shedding light on my true heart, He is loving me in such personal ways. For example:

Directly across from this Psalm in my iWorship Devotional Bible is Psalm 3:3-6, "But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." Can you say, "Big fat hug from Daddy"?? Every day when I am re-reading and pondering Psalm 1, I also get this sweet comfort from my Father.

That's not all. No. I received an email from a very dear woman who I have never met in person. She reads my blog. Much of my current muck is not blogged. She told me that God has been prompting her to pray for me for the last two weeks. She knows that something is going on in my life, but she doesn't know what. So she wanted me to know that she is praying for me. Can you say, "Big fat hug from my Daddy"?? That He cares so much about me that He would lay my struggles onto a sister in Christ (who I am guessing knows just how to pray for me even though she doesn't know - you know?)- HEY! Was that funny? A little maybe.

Advice: Don't shy away from the work, if God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. My son gave me this Scripture - Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done..." not full verse (that's his little notation :0) *sigh* dreamy.

Our ladies Bible study will not meet the week following Easter so, in worship, we are focusing on the resurrection a little bit early (according to the calendar year). Here is what we will be lifting up tomorrow:

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Made To Love

The "Joys" Of Riding In Cars With Avid Readers

We now interrupt our regularly scheduled joyful time in the car to join this conversation already in progress.....

12 year old son : Apparently I am not allowed to ask a simple question.

15 year old daughter: Tell me the exact words where I said, "You cannot ask me a simple question"

12 year old son: Your tone of voice implied that you were not going to answer me and I simply want to satisfy my curiosity.

We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Have a nice day.


Did you know that by cleaning out the lint trap and the exhaust hose in your dryer you can reduce the risk of fire in your home and lower your energy bill? GO!!

Friday, March 7, 2008

Letters From War

07 March 2008

Honey,

The Furminator is the thing you need for my dogs. It removes all of their extra dead hair before it can shed all over the house.

I wrote in my pocket notebook about my thankfulness to the Lord for even the small things He gives me. I normally read the Stars and Stripes daily. The night I was waiting for the helicopter to fly me back to my FOB, I was feeling a bit nervous. I won't go into why, but flying around a hostile city is not my favorite thing.
Anyways, I had not read the paper that day, and happened to find a current copy sitting in the waiting room. So, I got to read the paper while I waited for my flight, which took my mind off the situation for a while.

I also want you to know two things. First, I always wear my ID tags, even to the shower. The last thing I want is for something bad to happen and not be identifiable. Secondly, I am doing everything I can not to go crazy or something. I want to go home so bad, but I do not want to go home to you as a crazy person, or as a different (for the worse) person than I left you.

I love you.

C

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Wonderful Maker

Gadzooks! Have I said lately that I am tired?? Well I AM. But this post is not about that. Well...maybe it is a little bit. Today Alana posted about the 'itis' and boy have I been suffering from several strains of it! I think this is partially why I am having such a hard time with my part in this recording thing. Also, partially because it is truth that I have heard much better from other artists, that when played on my laptop the sound is not as good as in the studio, and given all the time and money in the world and a little more knowledge about the process this effort could be much better. All things considered, it will hopefully bring glory to God and bless my husband who's copy is on its way to war as I write. I will probably post another day about the process, what songs we recorded, the cost involved, and how much fun we had, how hard it was, how long it took - and maybe some more pictures and possibly another video (although this one sapped all the patience clean out of me and now I have makingvideosisdumbitis). I'll make you a deal though. If you hear this song (and this is probably the one I consider the best) and you think, "I like the sound of tree fairies with friends who do well", then I will send you a CD. OR email you mp3 files. (which would be freer for me)



Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Word Of The Day Wednesday

There were several that I liked this week - so you get them all. Enjoy. Hope your words are happy and healing today!

Valentime's Day
The 14th of February. It falls on the same day as Valentine's Day except this one is only celebrated by 5 year olds.

nocebo (no-SEE-bo) noun
A substance producing harmful effects in someone because it is believed to be harmful, but which in reality is harmless.

prepone (pree-PON) verb tr.
To reschedule an event to an earlier time.

Job's comforter (johbz KUM-fuhr-tuhr) noun
A person who tries to console or help someone and not only fails but ends up making the other feel worse.

sternutation (stur-nyuh-TAY-shuhn) noun
The act of sneezing or a sneeze

recherche \ruh-sher-SHAY\, adjective:1. Uncommon; exotic; rare.2. Exquisite; choice.3. Excessively refined; affected.4. Pretentious; overblown.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Wow. Is There Another Word For Wow?

What can I say? "WOW" I am blessed. "WOW" I am exhausted. "WOW" This parenting gig is hard. "WOW" My man is hot. "WOW" I am exhausted. "WOW" There is a wrong transmission fluid? "WOW" It costs $130 to turn some rotors around? "WOW" I am so behind on other peoples' blogs. "WOW" Stormie Omaritan is rocking my world! "WOW" How did I GET that big?? "WOW" I am exhausted."WOW" Good Songs is the best title you could come up with for your first 'album'?
On Sunday a superhero of a friend kept 4 children in addition to her own toddler so that 2 other of my friends who very graciously gave up their afternoon and evening could go into the studio with me. They also graciously did not ask me to pay them for their services. They are excessively talented artists and really fun to be around and really precious to me! I discovered that I sound just like a tree fairy. (Or what I imagine a tree fairy would sound like {if they actually existed}.) And I am actually repulsed by the sound of my own voice. Good thing I am not my audience! God loves to be worshiped with a joyful noise. Here is a picture of our merriment....whichever one you think is the cutest, you can pretend that's me...

I would love it if you could tell me another word that could have the same use and mean the same thing as "WOW"