Enlarged to Show Texture

Integrity...

2008-10-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to have integrity? Well, are you the same person when you are at church? ...at school? ... alone at home? ...in another country? ...when you are around your friends? ...when you are around your family? ...when you are having a bad day? ...when you are having a good day? ...when God seems far away? ... when God feels close?

A man or woman of integrity will be the same everywhere, with friends and family, at school and at church, with people or when alone. The rules never change, so why should our actions change? Could you do what you are doing with your friends with the same confidence on a Sunday morning? Would it be OK if Jesus suddenly walked into your room when you were watching TV? Would you mind if you met one of your Christian friends in the movie section at Blockbuster?

But it's not enough to say that we are the same everywhere when our "same" does not reflect the image of Christ. Our "same" has to be pure, faultless, blameless, white as snow. That is Christian integrity... being the same person (who is striving towards righteousness) all the time, no matter who is with us, where we are, who we assume is watching.

Imagine a group of athletes. They meet at the track every day and begin warming up by stretching. After warming up their bodies they take to the track, but "no one" is watching them practice so they don't need to go for the gold because they are only playing around. Then imagine the horror they would feel if an Olympic scout appeared from "nowhere" and began choosing the ones he thought were worthy of competing.

Run the race well because God is watching. He is the Scout, watching and waiting, wanting you to do your best. He is watching, and we have no room for slack when it comes to our race. We have to produce gold metal quality runs all though out the day, no matter how tired, no matter how many hurdles obstruct our path, no matter who is telling us we cannot win, no matter what our attitudes we choose to have that day are. God demands perfection, and we cannot blame anyone but ourselves when our times don't measure up.

Thank You?

2008-10-29T22:37:00.000-07:00

So, I have had tests all week it seems, and I noticed something today after geog. that I have never noticed before: when you hand in a test, both the recipient and giver say thank you.

Now I know that some of the loyal few are students, and if you think about it, don't you realize that you say thank you when you finally hand in those pages covered in blood, sweat and tears?

The more I thought about this, the more confused I felt. Why the heck would I say thank you for torture? POW's don't say thank you to their captors... Jailbirds don't say thank you to the policeman who dragged him in. It's almost like I'm enjoying this...

And then I kept thinking... Why in the world would the teacher say thank you? I'm giving him work to do! Does an employee thank his boss for bringing in a mountainous stack of paperwork to file?

Then it dawned on me.

I was saying thank you for the opportunity to learn. I was thanking him for his time spent preparing the lectures. I was thanking him for the time he would spend grading 43 test papers, one of them being mine. I was thanking him for being open to answering questions so that I could take this test, pass the course and eventually graduate and build a life for myself. I was thanking him for his part in preparing me for my future.

And as for his thank you, he was thanking me for working hard. He was thanking me for trying to pass his class and at least look like I learned something and kinda enjoyed it.

yup, so there's my random thought for the day.

Dark

2008-10-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to do something in the dark? I mean, so dark that you can't tell if there is a wall three inches from your face. Yeah, DARK. I have been trying this experiment of walking around in the dark to see if my brain can remember where everything (chairs, benches, counters, walls, light switches etc.), and it's AMAZING how well one's brain will automatically fill in the blanks.

I actually tried for the first time to use the restroom in the dark this afternoon. That was an interesting experience, but I have to say, it wasn't as bad as I thought it could have been.

The other day I walked down the stairs (without using the railing) to see if my brain remembered how many stairs there are. Luckily I didn't end up rolling to the bottom when carefully felt my way down.

I also tried walking all the way up the stairs (there is a U turn almost at the top) and walked all the way into my parents bedroom, past their bed, around random pieces of furniture and into the bathroom, and amazingly, I put my hand right on the light switch (correct button and all).

Our brains are amazing, and do things that we don't often realize how important they are. Take care of you brain, my friends!

For Matthew...

2008-08-12T00:18:00.000-07:00

Spadoodles was recently told that the new background (which was done as an experiment) was blinding our readers, and we (meaning I) should change it.

Hopefully this one will satisfy... if not, Spadoodles is responsible. ;)

Chihuly

2008-08-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago, my grandparents invited my little sister and I to spend the day with them at some museums in San Francisco. I, of course, said yes! It was an amazing day. I just got home and wanted to share with all of you what an amazing time I had. My Grandma, who we call Grammy, had heard that there was a blown glass exhibit in San Francisco. So, we got up early and started our journey towards the bay. I had the best time. I was blown away by the exhibit. And I couldn't keep it all to myself. I have some pictures of what I saw. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

The exhibit started with the "glass forest." This picture doesn't really do it justice, but you can get an idea of how beautiful it was. These pieces of glass were probably around six or seven feet tall.

As we continued on we saw this incredible view. I think these were called the "Persians," but I am not certain. To me, they look like huge flowers on a lattice.

Now, I think these look like huge hats upside down, but you can decide for yourself what they remind you of......

This is a picture of the "Reeds." They don't really look that big, but if you put them in comparison with the logs they are connected to, the are really tall. My Grammy said that they looked like penguins, and then my Papa walked up (not hearing my Grammy) and said that they reminded him of penguins. Scary! I guess that's what happens when you have been married a long time to each other :)

This was the "Boat" room. I forgot to mention that the glass was placed on mirrors. I thought that was important.....

These pictures are from the "Chandelier" room. The green photo shows the detail of the glass up close.

This was the last room we went in. It was like the grand finale of a fireworks show. It displayed all the techniques in one magnificent masterpiece.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the pictures. If you would like to see this exhibit, I believe it continues through September. I would suggest buying your entrance tickets online. The artist of all this beautiful work is Chihuly. Here he is photographed with some of his work.

Shoes

2008-08-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

I showered and shaved...............
I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat..............
In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer.........
As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me.....
Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side......
I thought, "Why must our soles touch?"
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine...
But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: "Our Father"............
I thought, "This man with the shoes...has no pride
They're dusty, worn, and scratched.
Even worse, there are holes on the side!"

"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on.
The shoe man said...a quiet, "Amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer.......
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look our best....
When walking through that door?
Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended...........
And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud......
Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters........
His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear....
The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering.........
And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached....
Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out...........
What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft "clink"
....as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me..........
To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man.....
For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service........
As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors....
And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow.............
And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer..........
I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark.....
And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming.........
For being our guest.

He said, "My names' Charlie..........
I'm glad to meet you, my friend."
There were tears in his eyes.........
But he had a large, wide grin.

"Let me explain," he said...........
Wiping tears from his eyes.
"I've been coming here for months....
And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"

"I know that my appearance.........
Is not like all the rest.
But I really do try.................
To always look my best."

"I always clean and polish my shoes....
Before my very long walk.
But by the time I get here........
They're dirty and dusty, like chalk."

My heart filled with pain............
and I swallowed to hide my tears
As he continued to apologize........
For daring to sit so near.

He said, "When I get here...........
I know I must look a sight.
But I thought if I could touch you..
Then maybe our souls might unite."

I was silent for a moment............
Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison...
I spoke from my heart, not my head.

"Oh, you've touched me," I said......
And taught me, in part;
That the best of any man............
Is what is found in his heart."

The rest, I thought,.................
This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am...
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul!

~Author unknown

Talking to Flo

2008-07-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

Last night after an extensive day of work, a wonderful concert, and dinner out, Spadoodles asked me to help her with Delilah. She figured out on her own how to import songs onto her, and only needed a bit of guidance here and there. But last night she had hit a wall. I'm not terribly techy, but I agreed to help her sift through some sites she had received from a friend and try to get The Importance of Being Ernest onto that tiny screen.

We ran into a few issues, the main one being that it is really hard to read the computer screen (excuse me, Flo) when you are yawning every 10 seconds. I was having a hard time focusing my eye balls on the texts when suddenly Flo froze. And if I might add, she was frozen in a very inconvenient place for me to read the text I needed to read.

Spadoodles had left the room for some mysterious reason, and when she reappeared, I said, "I cannot work with this device if it's going to freeze on me."

Her response caught me off guard.

"Turn down the speakers."

What?

I repeated myself, "I don't think I can get the movie thing to work tonight if this computer doesn't stop freezing."

Without hesitating, she reached over to turn the volume knob on the speakers down to off. "You need to call her Flo; that's her name. I don't want Flo to hear you talking about her that way."

I'm sure I looked something like a freshly-caught cod fish with my mouth hanging open the way it was, but she continued to babble on as if nothing out of the ordinary had been said. Now, understand that I have no problem with naming things, in fact, my guitar is named Cato, my computer is named Fern and my pillow is named Andrew. But... I don't treat them like people. The one of the main reasons I have for naming objects is for easy referencing. "Hey, have you seen Fern?"

Needless to say, Spadoodles and I discussed her need to talk to devices (with Flo's speakers still turned down, of course), but she still wasn't convinced that there was anything strange about it.

Then my mom poked her head into the office to say goodnight.

"Mom," she started, "what's wrong with talking to Flo?"

"Well, she's a computer, dear. Goodnight." And with that she exited the room.

Now it was Spadoodles turn to resemble a cod fish. She sputtered and gasped out that it just wasn't right to not talk to Flo like she was a person. Being tired, I excused myself and promised Spadoodles that we would work on the movie thing in the morning.

So, that's the story. And now you all know that not only does Spadoodles name her devices, she also treats them very well. :)

Mmmmm....Tasty

2008-07-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

Food. It comforts. Everyone loves food. There are some people that don't enjoy eating, but I'm pretty sure that everyone has a favorite food. Since our blog is called "Enlarged to Show Texture," we thought it would be nice to put something enlarged as the background. Now, although our inspiration for the name of the blog did come from a cereal box, it isn't necessary to use food. But we like food, so that's what we are using.

The reason for this post was to explain why there is a monstrous Lasagna as the blog background. We understand that your stomach may begin to grumble as you read our tasty looking blog.......

But do not fear. Mommy G makes a fierce lasagna.

Proud to be an American

2008-07-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day Everyone!!

Pale Is The New Tan

2008-06-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

I have fair skin. But that should not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever seen my mom. She has fair skin too, as do both of my grandmas, all my aunts, my grandpa and both my sisters. I basically come from a very white family. I resemble my mom and her mom in so many ways that it's not unusual for me to be pasty like them too.

I used to want to be tan, but I know now that's not going to happen. I've come to grips with that. My dad was born in Iowa, is mostly German, and should be white, buuuut he's not. In fact, his white in the winter is tanner than my skin in the summer.

I guess my obsession with not being a "whitey" comes mainly from my dad always being more tan than I was. Often he would hold out his arm to compare skin color while asking, "Who's tanner?"

But I have come to a conclusion, pale is the new tan. With the rising concern of skin cancer and sun damage, I have become a firm believer in being white. Yes, I may blind people with my whiteness. Yes, my skin can be used to reflect sunlight. And no, I don't glow in the dark... but that's ok with me because as far as I'm concerned, pale is the new tan.

My Electrical Friends

2008-06-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

I want you all to meet the newest member of my family. This is Delilah. I adopted her about a week ago. Yes, I name my electronics. I thought it would be nice to introduce all my "friends" to you.

So, to start, here is my newest friend, Delilah. She is an 8 GB ipod nano (teal). Her favorite song is "Hey There Delilah." She sleeps in a isock and that's about it.

Next is my cellular device. This is Dwight. He has awesome voice activation capabilities, and is specially sleek to fit in pockets well. He spends most of his time in his sling back chair from Hawaii. He used to be the good friend of my Dad, but since my parents were concerned about knowing my whereabouts, he was placed in my care. Not to mention that I was aching to have him at my disposal.

Now I want to introduce my dear friend Flo. Flo is my Computer. She definitely has a quirky sense of humor. She is such high quality that she has a mind of her own. Sometimes she is so hilarious as to, just when I am doing something really important, cut off my Internet and claim it is "having trouble connecting." *laughs hysterically* I am blown away by her intelligence! She also has a very special connection with Dwight. Whenever Dwight has a call coming in, Flo warns me by telling me (It sounds like screeching in English). You couldn't ask for a better computer!

Last but certainly not least is my calculator. This is Einstein. He helps me with my math. He is very easy going. He doesn't mind at all if I press all his buttons. He is so brainy! He has everything that a person would want. He is so lucky! He has everything from a "TAN" button to "SIN" "CLEAR" buttons. Not to mention he makes incredible pie!

Well, that's the end of the introductions. I hope you enjoyed meeting all my electrical friends.

A Confession

2008-06-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. And what better way to lay it out in the open than writing a post about it on cyberspace? I have an addiction. Yes, it is true. It has been carrying on for some months now, and I am helplessly stuck. We all have things that we get addicted to. We feel as if we can't possibly live without this thing (whatever it is). Ok, I'm ready to release.

* Takes Big Breath *

I am addicted to chapstick.

Yes, chapstick.

Now I know what your thinking.....

"Oh, come on."

But the truth is I LOVE chapstick. How can you not? It makes your lips soft and supple. Just don't buy that other stuff. That stuff is not true chapstick. Buy the good stuff. Ok, I feel much better now. The word is out. I have shared about my addiction before, but to only really close friends. But now everyone from here to Russia knows. Sometimes you just have to be vulnerable.

Dead Man Tell No Tale

2008-05-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

It all started in the evening of May 4th. We had, as a family, traveled to the lovely city of Davis to celebrate my cousin's 12th birthday. On our way home we decided to make a stop at Raley's to purchase some nourishment. It was a decided that everyone except my Mom would stay in the car. So we parked. And she ran in.

It was not long, however, before my attention span of sitting and waiting came to an end. I began looking out the window for some interesting scene to entertain me. We had parked one space away from another car. Standing next to the car was the store manager and another employee. They appeared troubled. There was a man sitting in the front seat of the car, however, he had his head hanging down. My Dad, being the caring man he is, asked the manager standing there if the man slumped in the car was ok. The manager just shook his head. We then realized that the man sitting in that car was dead.

I was quite shocked. It was a weird thought being parked next to a deceased man. My little sister became deeply distressed. Although she can be quite tough, anything medical makes her freak out. By this time my Mom was back in the car, and we could leave. Then the ambulance came. We could no longer leave because it was slightly parked behind us. I watched as they did CPR on the victim. We later were informed that he had been sitting in his car like that for at least an hour. As soon as all the EMT's were out of the way we backed out our car and drove away.

Seeing this kind of situation gets one thinking......

Was he saved?

Does he have any family?

Did anyone notice his absence?

We never know what day will be our last on this earth. We should make every moment count.

Adam and Eve

2008-05-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

We had a question in the comments section of the last post which went something like, "Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?" Here is my answer:

I don't know. :)

God did not find that piece of information important enough to put in with all the other details He gives us about creation. He tells us that He created the animals to continue making the same kinds of animals so that we would have no other choice than to believe that God created the animals in the first place. He told us that He created everything in 6 days and rested the seventh not only to give men an example of how our week should be spent, but to erase all the ideas men have come up with about millions and billions of years.

So, although I can express my opinion and say, "they had belly buttons" or "they didn't have belly buttons," God ultimately knew that the answer to that question could be answered later on in person for those who truly believe in Him. I believe that God only gives us enough information to show us His supremacy, power and love for us in the Bible because if He tried to explain all of His greatness to our finite minds, we would explode.

And that's the best answer I know how to give for that question. :)

Dr. Tank

2008-05-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

I started working at my current job in January, but it's quite a story about how I finally came to get it. I'm in my second semester of my freshman year, and on the way to church in the family Expedition, my Dad starts talking about me getting a job. Now, mind you, I was working for my church as the children's director's intern, but he was talking about a "real job." You know, the ones that actually make money. (He didn't really count my tiny compensation for the bit of work I did as pay.)

The first thing I said when he brought up finding a job was the fact that I was taking over a full load at school and would never find time. But after about 5 minutes of discussion, I began to see the monetary as well as mental benefits to finding work.

So, next week between classes I set off to put in as many applications as possible. Delta, for those of you who don't know, is located right next to two malls and several shopping centers. I figured I would hit as many stores as possible in those and also try many of the businesses in Lodi. Lowe's, Pier 1, Target, Macy's, Claire's, and Talbots were just a few of the places I started with. My Dad had said to make food places one of my last options, and I tended to agree with him after hearing a few of his stories...

But then came the part that I dreaded, the waiting part. I waited and waited. Laughing to myself about my Dad's saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," I went in to check with the stores, but the answer was always the same. "We'll contact you when we know."

Two weeks after I began looking still nothing had come up, and my sister and I went to a friend's house for a girlie movie night. This invite may seem inconsequential, but my friend's mom had heard that I was looking for a job, and she was wondering if I would mind if she mentioned me to her boss. I was thrilled, of course, and immediately replied with a yes!

Turns out that my friend's mom worked at an orthodontic office in Stockton right down the street from school, and one of their receptionists was going on maternity leave soon. Next Tuesday I got a call from "Dr. Tank." He wanted to interview me, but he was going to wait a little bit longer until Jolene, his receptionist, was closer to her due date.

Two weeks later I got a phone call, and Dr. Tank wanted me to come in. That call was on a Wednesday, I went in for my interview on that Friday, and I was at work on Monday. :)

This job has taught me so much not only about the delicate art of being a receptionist, but also how I need to deal with people which I will discuss in a later post.

Give Me Jesus

2008-05-02T05:45:00.000-07:00

"Give Me Jesus"

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I am alone,
When I am alone,
When I am alone,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

When I come to die,
When I come to die,
When I come to die,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

I love this song. Just hold on to Jesus...

Change of Heart

2008-05-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

So far these past few weeks I have been fairly careless with the punctuation speling and grammar involved in my posts. I'm here to say I'm sorry. From this sentence on, I promise I will read my posts through at least 2 times before exposing everyone of our 2 readers to the blatant errors produced by my fingers. So, I will use commas, I will use the spell check, I will remember that I cannot just throw incorrect words into my posts just because they are big and look impressive. I know, they need to make sense. I have had a change of heart, and I'm going to be good now. :)

But What About...

2008-04-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

Someday, when I get to heaven, I am going to make a 1,532 year appointment with God to ask Him questions. Questions that I have long desired an answer to. Here is a non-exhaustive list:

Why is the earth round and not square?
What is Your favorite color?
Why are there mosquitoes?
Do you have a favorite movie?

Why are frogs green and not pink?
What band will we listen to in heaven at a concert?
Will Your glory give us a tan?
What activity would be the best use of your time?
Why did You make mammals with hair?
Which mineral did You create first?
Why did you confuse the people at the Tower of Babble instead of just letting
them see Your glory and fall down dead?
Why did You allow people like Darwin or Hitler to live for so long?

Oh, I cannot wait to see His glory and ask Him my questions! Do you have any questions for God?

Beating my Best

2008-04-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

The other night my dad and I went to a leadership meeting at our church. He went because he's the head elder, and I went because I thought it might help me to manage people in the children's leadership group for my church. Little did I know that my heart would be touched again by His holy hands.

The smallish group sat together towards the back of the sanctuary, and Pastor Steve opened with a word of prayer. Then they played the clip of the evening, but let me tell you, i don't even remember what the guys name was who was talking or who made the tape. i was entranced by the words he was speaking because they seemed to be spoken just for me.

The man on the screen spoke with such conviction about giving your best, and I felt my heart jump at his words. Although much of what he talked about was people who gave up their high paying jobs to volunteer at the church, he did leave a lasting impression on me about giving God my best.

He mentioned giving God the "scraps" left over from the day, and how at one point in his life, he imagined God would be tickled pink by any attention thrown His way.

But then it hit him. God had spent all His time giving up His BEST for him that it only seemed logical to return the favor. All throughout the Bible, God's love letters to His people, God continually and constantly gives His best for us before giving the ultimate gift of His perfect Son.

But how does one give his best to God? What does "best" look like?

In my finite mind it can only mean that everything I do is not for me, my parents, my friends, my family or my pastor... it's done for God and GOD ALONE!

Wouldn't it change the way you wrote a paper for English class if you had to turn it in to be graded by the One who invented words? Wouldn't it change the way you scrubbed the stone tile in the kitchen to know that the One who created the stone would be looking over your work? Wouldn't it change the way you spoke to people if you knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow?

He gave His Son. His Son died for us while we still were helplessly entangled in our own sin. He gave his BEST for us. Isn't He worthy of your best?

My Trip to the Snitzel

2008-04-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a play by play of my first trip to Wienersnitzel.

11:45 a.m. It is almost lunchtime and my body prepared for the nourishment it assumed it would be receiving soon.

11:46 a.m. I glance again at the wall clock and wonder if the battery has died.

11:48 a.m. My brain has already left for its lunch break so I sit and stare at the wall mindlessly.

11:48 1/2 Refocusing, I try to look busy as my employer saunters past my cubical, but my mind is filled with thoughts of savory sauces, delightful dips, flavorful fruits and marvelous meats.

11:52 I silently debate where I should dine.

11:57 After five minutes of mental elimination, I still cannot choose.

11:59 The sound of fellow coworkers packing up their belongings breaks the steady hum of computers, and I begin zipping up my laptop bag.

12:00 The whistle blows from a distance, and everyone moves as one toward the doors which lead out into the bright autumn sunshine.

12:06 I reach my car, unlock the door, place my bag on the passenger's seat and start up my GT mustang.

12:08 Pulling out of the parking lot onto the main drag, I contemplate my eating options. Taco Bell - filling, cheap and relatively tasty. Quizno's - also filling but more costly. In n' Out - VERY tasty and fairly cheap, but I had already given them my business twice that week already. Why not choose something totally different?

12:11 To be brave, I maneuver my car into the Weinersnitzel parking lot. I had driven by millions of times, but never stopped.

12:13 Never looking back, I stroll casually into the Snitzel and glance at my surroundings. Ten tables, all empty and a soda fountain are my only companions.

12:15 3/4 I redirect my focus to the menu above the counter. Hot dogs, fries and burritos... BURRITOS! What the snitzel? I allow my mind to move past the burritos and continue down the menu.

12:18 I wonder how many ways you can take the most unappetizing food, beans, and put them with something else to attempt to disguise them.

12:21 I scan the menu 3 times hoping something will catch my eye...

12:24 Choosing to play it safe, I decide upon a #7 which is two corn dogs that comes with a regular fry and medium drink.

12:26 Approaching the counter, I look beyond for any like forms. No one appears, and I continue to wait... and wait... and wait...

12:30 I notice a bell on the counter with a sign "Please ring for service."

12:31 I ring the bell.

12:32 The smallest, most wrinkly old woman who couldn't have been less than 120 shuffles up to the counter and looking up at me through her cokebottle lensed glasses, and in a cracked voice says with surprising intensity "well, wat'll it be?"

12:34 Struck dumb by her appearance, I stammer my order and pay in cash.

12:37 I watch the woman walk back to the kitchen and throw items that look anything like food but somewhat resemble chili beans into a pot and stir the steaming, bubbling brew for a times.

12:40 I watch in mortification as she "accidentally" drops a whole jar of chili powder into the pot, and jumping slightly, continues to stir.

12:42 The "corndog" appears from somewhere else in the back, and the worker gingerly places it onto a plate. I also notice that she has a bit of a cold... just an observation.

12:45 The brown, lumpy liquid is ladled from the pot and onto the corndog! what the snitzel! I'm beginning to feel not so hungry. As she carries the lunch tray out and hands it to me, my stomach turns.

12:47 I slide into a corner booth in the empty restaurant and begin a stare down with my dog.

12:52 I pick up the dog, it makes a mess all over the plate, and I return it to its place on the plate.

12:53 1/2 I cannot bring myself to eat it! I cannot do it. oh, boy. Laying an opened napkin over the lunch, I carefully carry the still steaming tray over to the garbage and slide it inconspicuously in.

12:54 I receive a dirty look from the woman behind the counter as I run for my life.

12:57 I hop into my car, rev the engine, shoot out of the parking lot into the street, and jam back to work.

12:59 I decide to never again risk my life at the Snitzel, and mark the day on my calendar as one of the few times where I narrowly escaped death.

other options

2008-04-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

Spadoodles mentioned KFC in her last post, and I thought it would only be fair to give you all some other options...

1. Taco Bell (gotta love the burritos)

2. In N' Out... nuf said.

3. Jimboys, a Lodi favorite

4. McDonalds (how much sodium is in that water?!?)

5. Burger King, the home of the strangely good chicken fries

6. Panera... uh, got two words for ya: good bread.

7. Burger Hut (oh to be back in Chico again!)

8. Chipotle (can you say best food ever?)

ok, so even if you don't particularly care for KFC, don't worry, there's quite a few other options for you out there. After all, this is a non-exhaustive list.

IT is GEttINg lATe

2008-04-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

HEy eVEryONe!

i THouGHt i WOulD WriTE a pOSt iN FunNY wrITtiNG. doN'T woRRy, i WOn't WRitE LikE ThiS FOreVEr. iN My pOInt OF viEW it IS geTTinG LatE. So i THinK I wiLL stOP. it IS acTUalLY veRY tiME coSUmiNG to WRitE LikE ThiS. WhaT TimE Is iT? Ok, nOW i aM GoiNG to STop.

ONe qUIck QueSTioN: DoeS AnyBOdy LIke K.F.c?

(lol, my spell check says that about 99% of these words are incorrect.)

Don't Sit Down

2008-04-16T06:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone in our house knows that my cat Jake doesn't like Spadoodles. He is totally annoyed by her presence and often stalks her like prey. One time when Spadoodles was relaxing on the couch, Jake walked behind her head, and while passing behind, he attacked her head, bit it and moved on.

The other night Spadoodles was, as usual, pestering the cat. Jake has become very social in the last year or so and has taken to sitting on people whenever they are on the couch. He was sitting on Daddy Gs lap and begging for attention by rubbing his face on Daddy Gs hand.

Dad and Spadoodles were joking around as usual and Daddy told her not to sit down on the couch. Well, Spadoodles being Spadoodles, she danced her way over to the couch and pretended to sit down. Although, she didn't get very far. Jake decided to take the side of my dad and whomp her.

Spadoodles didn't really care for the "kitty spank" and became rather annoyed. They ended up having a "batting fight" which is where Jake who has no claws and Spadoodles gently "bat" at each other. (normally Jake hits pretty hard while Spadoodles just kind of bats the air) FYI, Jake normally wins, and this time was no exception. In a moment, Spadoodles ran and screamed to the other side of the room while Jake continued to sit calmly on "his" spot on the couch.

After a few more failed attempts at sitting next to my dad, Spadoodles retreated to the loveseat but continued to eye the other sofa in envy. While this whole escapade is happening, my dad and I are laughing uncontrollably. Hopefully the thought of Spadoodles getting beat up by a cat makes you laugh in an amused sort of way. :)

And just so you know, Spadoodles did eventually get the spot on the couch, but she had to wait until Jake got tired of guarding the sofa...

Thanks Mommy G

2008-04-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you may not know what day this is.

TODAY IS MOMMY G'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all know Mommy G. She is the one to give us advice when we need it. She gives us hugs. AND she makes AWESOME brownies!!!

As many of you know, Mommy G is very close to the authors of this blog....*GASP* I met Mommy G almost 16 years ago. She hasn't stopped loving me ever since. I may be difficult to work with at times, but she is continually forgiving and understanding. She has always been there for me when I need it the most. She is my school teacher and always wants me to be the best I can be. Words can't describe how much she means to me. Thanks Mommy G for everything. I love you so much!! Happy Birthday!

Please leave a birthday note for Mommy G in the comment section to show how much she is appreciated =)

The Dragon Part 2

2008-03-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

The Dragon worked tirelessly day in and day out to restore the stone. He carefully polished and buffed out many of the deep and painful scars. But the gem still have not been returned to it's glory. The knight also worked day in and day out to prepare himself to face the terrible dragon in battle over the heart he so desired.

The knight however had been wounded in a previous battle that had left permanent damage in his armor. A small but none the less noticeable puncture hole in the chest plate of his armor could be clearly seen by the dragon. The puncture had not been fixed in the knight's armor after the deadly encounter.

The knight went every day to sit by the mouth of the dragons cave in order to know and understand the jewel. He was not allowed to venture too close however, because the dragon had become very cautious.

The knight sat by the mouth of the cave and waited and waited for what he thought seemed like an eternity always watching and wanting to catch a glimpse of sparkle thrown off by the gleaming gem. He came to know the way the jewel would shine in different lights and moods. He came to understand just how to make it shine by holding it just the right way in the sunshine.
But the knight himself never came close to holding the jewel. He was forced to learn by watching the dragon.

Every day when the knight would come to sit by the cave entrance, he would gradually move farther into the cave. Soon over the course of a few weeks he had moved in past the door, and by a few months he was no longer sitting in the light of the doorway. The dragon slowly grew accustomed to the presence of the knight although he still watched him very carefully.

One night the dragon who was very tired after a long day polishing fell fast asleep with the gem next to him. The knight leaned in to look closely at the beautiful stone, and stared for a long time into the center of the rock. He believed the precious stone to be of great worth and value and gently whispered to the beautiful jewel beautiful things.

The dragon awoke, but did not make a sound. The dragon had promised himself to never let another thing happen to his precious jewel. And he vowed that no man would look at the stone for a long amount of time no matter how clear the stone had become or how sincere the knight was.

The knight having stared into the glassy eyes of the gem for many hours was terrified when the dragon rose from his place by the stone and chased him out of the cave. The dragon clutched the precious stone to his heart and locked it away in a tower for three years to guard it from all knights...

The knight was heartbroken that he had to be removed for such a long time. He longed to look and watch the gem, but the sparkle was hidden from all the world while tucked away in the tower. The knight was forced to remain on the ground and wait until the dragon granted permission for him to enter the tower...

Sincerly Yours, Me

2008-03-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

hi self,
how r u? I wanted something in the inbox, so i sent u a email. r u bored? im bored.
~me

The day I wrote that email I was bored. Have you ever had the feeling like you just wish somebody would send you an email? Well this fun little "exercise" (as I thought it was at first) became an obsession. Yes, that's right.

Howdy I,
Yeah, im kinda bored. Thanx 4 the email. You really enjoyed reading it.
Sincerly mine, You

Hola you!

Me hasn't talked to you in like FOREVER!!!! How has my life been going? You heard that mine is having a Birthday party for I, right? Me don't know what you is going to bring for a present to myself. You were thinking about a watch, but me knows that I wouldn't like that so much. Besides, I know myself pretty well. Well, yourself has to get going. You hope to hear from me soon.

Twiddling your thumbs,

Now I know what you are thinking. She has lost her brain. Yes, that's right, admit it. Don't worry, Your feelings won't get hurt. For now, I will keep emailing myself. Me will let you know how things are going.

Sincerly Yours,

Shortcuts You Shouldn't Take When Doing Your Chores

2008-03-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

Chores, however long and arduous they may seem, are really not that bad if you just buckle down and complete them. But when faced by a mountain of tasks, you may be tempted to take the short way out. In the times when you must do your duties, please don't take any of these shortcuts. We speak from experience...

Chore Tip #1: When cleaning up after your dog, don't take the easy way out. Your mother will not appreciate the placement of "the bag" in her kitchen garbage, and even though it is 30 fewer steps than taking it outside, please walk it out to the trash receptacle.

Chore Tip #2: Don't take all the wet smelly towels and "dry" them under your bed. Let me tell you, they don't tend to dry for months. Although, if you leave them there long enough, they seem to get fuzzier... interesting...

Chore Tip #3: When organizing a closet with games in it that happen to have small pieces, don't combine all the games into one box for easier storage. You'll be sorry when you want to play Chinese Checkers next time.

Chore Tip #4: Ants really like half finished lolly pops. Please don't "save them for later" by your bed. You probably don't want to have a whole bunch of little friends for a sleep over.

Chore Tip #5: The holes in the fronts of guitars are not garbage cans!

Chore Tip #6: Never throw anything away that belongs to your sister. Nuf said.

Chore Tip #7: When cleaning the mirrors and glass in the bathroom, don't mix up the Windex with the hairspray.

Chore Tip #8: Check to make sure the rag you're using is really supposed to be used as a rag.

Chore Tip #9: If you're cleaning out the fridge and you don't remember buying anything that color, throw it out.

Hope these tips are helpful the next time you clean! :)

The Dragon Part 1

2008-03-16T14:42:00.001-07:00

Here is the first part of a story I wrote. The rest is either coming or still to be written. Hope you enjoy!

I always envisioned my heart as something like a huge heart-shaped diamond that was so clear and reflective that you could see yourself in it. So great in it's worth that it was locked away in a beautiful chest. in the jewel-covered box, the gem-heart is wrapped in a beautiful velvet sash.

The chest is kept under guard by a ferocious dragon with a monstrous tail and fiery breath.The dragon has swallowed the one and only key to the beautiful box so the only way to open the chest is to slay the monster. At least that's what I thought.

A knight came along, not brave or strong, but a seeker of hearts. (notice the plural) He came to the dragon and first tried to convince the dragon to give up the key. The terrible monster refused pointblank. Next the boy came up with a devious plan. While the dragon was sleeping one night, he would sneak into the cave and, climb into the dragon's mouth and pull out the key to the gemstone box.

The next night, while the dragon was sleeping, the boy, somehow, against all odds, was able to retrieve the scrolled key. He rejoiced in his luck and immediately went to see the heart that he believed he now possessed. But because he was only a boy, and not a man, he didn't see the worth of the stone, and therefore was very reckless with it.

In the meantime, the dragon having noticed the gem's disappearance, searched high and low for it. when at last he found it, half covered in mud, it had obtained multiple scratches and scars.The monster returned to his lair, rejoicing for finding the stone, but sorrowing for seeing it's condition. He worked night and day in his cave, polishing, polishing, polishing the jewel, working slowly and meticulously to return it to it's former glory.

One day, while he was polishing, another knight came along. He saw the stone being worked upon and wished to examine it closer. The dragon roared to the man that he must wait until the stone was properly restored before he could try to win it. So the man went away to ready himself and to find the strongest breastplate, helmet, shield and sword...

Time for a Rest

2008-03-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to never have any time at all to sit down and rest? I'm sure many of you have experienced this I'm-going-crazy-and-may-be-collapse-unless-I-sit-down-soon feeling. Well, the past few weeks (basically since the school semester started) I have been going Mach 10 with my hair on fire.

Between going to school, working full time, serving in children's ministry, finishing homework and hanging with the kids at the 180 teen center every Friday night I pretty much packed my schedule to the max. I was gone 4-5 nights a week and shut up in my room the other few.

But as if I needed anything else to deal with, I started having asthma attacks. After several times needing a ride home from school in Stockton and classes at Millswood (night time classes are held here off campus) I made an appointment to see my doctor.

He put me on two inhalers and told me to be careful about not overexerting myself. I was kind of relieved to hear that it wasn't anything really serious, but something that would just be a nuisance.

One night, though, it became more serious than just a mild case of asthma. I ended up in the ER at 10 o' clock at night with an IV hanging from my arm. After that, my family came to a conclusion: I was doing too much. And I have (slowly and most times unwillingly) come to agree with them.

We need to find a balance between being busy/happy and rested and busy/crazy and tired. It has taken me a while to understand that I can't cram everything into my life that I think I should be able to. I didn't have time to read and study my Bible nearly as much as I wanted because I couldn't find time to make time! That should say something!

My life is becoming more balanced thanks to my parents carefully and patiently showing me how to cut things out and say no. And my asthma is much better thanks to having more rest time and being careful out in the pollen-filled air. Balance is important to the effectiveness of our service. We can be more effective if we limit ourselves to what we know we can handle.

Thanks mommy and daddy g!

Be Nice...

2008-03-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

I wrote this a while ago, but I never posted it here. Sorry about the delay.

What should a real gentleman look like? How should he treat women? Other men? His mother?

1. Respect. He should always treat everyone with high respect. That could look like: opening doors for people, standing when a lady enters a room, treating women as things to be treasured, giving up his seat for the elderly, and speaking kindly to everyone.

2. Love. This kinda works with respect. If the guy loves you, he will respect you in every aspect: physical boundaries, your feelings, your dreams and protection from himself.

3. Protection. Also, this again ties back into the previous one Love. If he really loves you, he will protect you from the evil around us, and may even have to protect you from his own thoughts and desires.

4. Filter. This is something that a good friend recently enlightened me about. Guys have filters in their heads. Some filters work really well and will pull out almost everything that should not be done or said whereas other filters will pull out very little. A true gentleman will have a good filter that will pull out things that are not good to say or do. He will be careful and considerate around others because he knows how powerful his words and actions can be.

Ladies, wait for that guy. He's out there, waiting and watching for the woman of his dreams to show up. Don't stand for anything less.

:)

2008-03-04T19:57:00.000-08:00

SOMEBODY?!?!?! PLEASE leave a comment...........
Just one. It doesn't need to be fancy. I would be happy if there was at least a smiley face. :) Please *gets on knees* I'm begging ;-)

Panic Time

2008-02-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN SOMEONE HELP ME?!?!?!?!?! THE MOON...............IT'S GONE!!!!!!!!"

"No, Herbert, the moon is not gone."

"No, you don't understand. I can't see it anymore!!! It slowly went away!!"

"Herbert, it isn't as it seems."

"Oh, really? Well, Mr. Smarty Pants, go outside and see for yourself."

"I can't see the moon either, Herbert. It is called an eclipse. That means that the moon moved into the shadow of the earth. You may calm down now, Herbert. The moon will come back soon."

"Huh."

"Yeah."

"Ok.....I'll trust you, Mr. Science Man."

Raining

2008-02-19T16:52:00.000-08:00

It is raining.......

Pitter patter pitter patter
The sounds of nature
Pounding pounding
Outside is singing

Guzzle gurgle guzzle gurgle
What rhymes with gurgle?
Slide splash slide splash
Drops having a bash

Dripping dropping dripping dropping
Wet like your mopping
Shine still shine still
The sky, colors filled

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

HI!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't been blogging for a while, so I figured I should come and write something.......

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know that I'm a day late, but that's ok. I still wanted to "Spread the Love." I also decided to sneak into the "Blog Settings" and mix it all around before Allypie found out. I went with red because of Valentine's Day. So go and eat some chocolate.

New Year

2008-01-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a great time ringing in the new year last night. Now is a great time to look back on the past year to see our amount of spiritual growth. Did you become closer to God in the last year? Did you increase your knowledge of who He is? Have you found a new way of reaching out to others and blessing them?

Make a commitment to God and pray that He will help you fulfill it over the next year. And next January 1st you can look back on this year and say "I grew spiritally!"

I am excited for this coming year!

Real Christmas

2007-12-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about what the Christmas story would have sounded like if it had happened in our lifetime? Last night while sitting through the Christmas Eve service at our church, I couldn't help but think of what everything would have looked like had Jesus been born here.

Allow me to paint you a picture...

It's December 24, and it's raining. A young man with his extremely pregnant wife slowly pull into a gas station in their ancient Honda with 30 million miles on it. As the husband turns off the car, it rattles and sighs. He turns to his wife who looks exhausted and tells her that he will be right back.

He climbs out of the car and swings the door shut quietly. He puts one of their last 5 dollar bills into the tank then slowly sinks back into the car.

They are on their way to Stockton. They know no one and have no reservations. Hoping that he can find a place for them to stay, Joseph begins to drive again through the rain. As he drives he thinks about how he will begin to pay for his new son that is expected to be born very soon. His wife has fallen asleep, and leaning over her gently brushed the hair off her flushed face.

Pulling into Stockton a few minutes before midnight, Joseph scans the sides of the road for a place to stay. He spots a Motel 8 and pulls into the parking lot. He jogs up to the information desk only to find out that they have no rooms open. Joseph climbed back into the car only to hear his wife Mary urgently whispering his name.

"Joseph, the baby is coming; I need to find a place to lay down."

Pulling out of the parking lot, Joseph drives desperately looking for somewhere to stay. He sees a vacancy sign and quickly pulls into the dark parking lot. The motel is small and rundown looking, but it was dry inside as Joseph carried the panting Mary into their closet sized room. The rain continues to pound against the window while Mary progresses further into labor. In the wee hours of the morning after several hours of hard work, the frail first cry of a newborn baby pierces the stillness.

Joseph proudly hands the son to his mother and goes to wash his hands. He is standing in the doorway of the bathroom when he hears a knock on their door. Opening it, he sees two homeless men, soaked to the bone, obviously wanting something.

"Can I help you?" Joseph asked.

"We heard through some angels that the Christ was to be born tonight in Stockton, and so we came to find Him to worship Him."

Joseph eyed the men carefully and stepped back to let them into the small room. As soon as the men saw the infant, they dropped to their knees and bowed low before Him.

After hours of talking to Mary and Joseph, the homeless guys stood up, still overcome by wonder, and hurried out into the street telling everyone they came in contact with what had happened.

In the morning Joseph payed the woman at the desk and carried Mary out to their car. Their house was only a few hours away. The car crawled along over the hills. When they reached the house, Joseph ran inside to prepare a warm spot in their bed for Mary and the baby.

Joseph had to find a job in the area as a carpenter to fund his new family. For the next two years he worked, and no one ever knew about the child. One day while he was working in his wood shop, Joseph looked up and found himself standing face to face with the president of the United States.
Dropping his hammer, he greeted the president.

"What can I do for you Sir?"

"I have come to see the King. Would you please take me to Him?"

Joseph led the president into the house where His mother was helping Him wash His hands. The boy was handsome and ruddy, tall for his age and had a distinctive twinkle in His eyes.

The president walked forward toward the small boy until he was very close. Then he knelt down and worshiped Him. If Joseph had thought he had seen it all, now he knew it.

Could you imagine something similar to this happening? Can you put yourself into the place of Mary or Joseph and try to think the thoughts that must have been running through their minds? Nothing about the story was clean or well-planned except by God of course. Only He knows the full plan.

Only God knows the full plan for your life. Wouldn't it be beneficial to trust Him with it and not worry about the future? He has a plan.

I Take After My Father

2007-12-21T23:45:00.000-08:00

Every time I am introduced to someone new I get the same response...

"You look just like you mother!"

People always say that as if I should look just like Laura Bush or something. I don't really mind since Mommy G is beautiful, and I definitely take what they say as a compliment.

But I don't just want to take after her in looks. I want to become a godly woman who loves and serves her husband and children with everything she has. I want to be known as a woman who is willing to get her hands dirty for the Lord. I want the light of Jesus to be seen through everything I do and say just like Mommy G does.

If I could get a tiny fraction of the God-given wisdom that Mommy G has, I would be wiser than I could ever hope to be.

But I don't just imitate my earthly mother and father. I also want to take after my Heavenly Father. If I could get just a tiny fraction of His wisdom, then I would be set for life.

I want to be mistaken for Jesus.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-L0jRJD_u1Y&feature=related

I want to be mistaken for Jesus.

Christmas is Just Around the Corner!

2007-12-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Everyone including me is rushing around trying to make everything the way the whole family expects it to be. We cook like crazy to make enough food to feed ourselves, and we normally have enough left over to feed the next door neighbors. We pull out every decoration that we own and spend countless hours trying to figure out where to plug them all in. Because the family is coming to our house, we clean and clean until everything is slick enough to ice skate on.

Not to mention all the effort we put into writing the Christmas cards every year or the time it takes to get everyone looking nice enough at the same time to take a Christmas photo. Or we could talk about all the time that we spend, not always on the people we love and want to appreciate, but on tyring to make everything "perfect."

I recently heard a wonderful woman named Cathie Lip speak at my church. She said she had a very wise friend who really didn't find any joy in cooking a huge meal for her family every year, but she did because she assumed that that was what everyone wanted. This friend had a brilliant idea one year, and she decided to ask her kids to each pick one food item for her to make on Christmas Day. She asked each one and the only thing that anyone said was crescent rolls.

"You mean the ones that come in a can?" she asked.

"Yeah, those mommy."

"What about the gingerbread houses? Don't you want to have them?"

"No, we don't like the gingerbread houses. We want the crescent rolls."

This year they're having KFC and crescent rolls for Christmas.

All of this to say, I think we all tend to take Christmas to the max. Baking, decorating, cooking, cleaning and shopping are all fun things, but we put a lot of unnecessary pressure on ourselves to do things that really have no special meaning to anyone; they're just tradition.

After Mommy G heard Cathie speak, she sat everyone down at our kitchen table and asked what we would keep in our Christmas. Things like a real tree and pie for breakfast on Christmas morning were said, but the thing that most of us agreed on was the fact that we wanted to have a relaxed Christmas morning to ourselves.

So that's what we are doing, although it will have to be cut a little short this year since we are eating dinner early because my uncle has to work. I think the cutting out "unnecessaries" was a good idea, and it helps us to slow down a bit and remember the real meaning behind all the festivities and celebrations.

Christ was born!

Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Going Green

2007-12-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming so we decided to hold off on the dark blue dots and try to add some "festiveness" to ETST by going green. And that's not green in the materials used or energy efficency sense, but the color. Just in case you were wondering...

A Change...

2007-12-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Thought we needed to change to look of ETST to show how happy we are about the sun! Don't worry, we'll go back to the dark blue in a while...

:)

It's Sunny Out!

2007-12-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

This morning I didn't have to go to school so I got the unusual chance to sleep in. When I normally leave for school in the morning, it's still fairly dark out. And over the last week or two it has been cloudy and overcast.

I got up and there was sun! Glorious sun! I felt like the whole world had pressed a restart button and now we could enjoy a cold version of summer. Just looking out the window makes me happy.

Go out and enjoy the sun!

Sorry...For Everything...

2007-12-18T14:03:00.000-08:00

Everyone,

Oh, and please forgive us for taking such a long and unannounced break from posting. Our lives, like everyone else's, have been absolutely crazy... Can't wait for Christmas break!

Sincerely,
The Authors

P.S. We are really sorry....Really. Really really. We promise...

Worth the Risk

2007-12-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

Friendships are tricky things. And the older I get the more I realize that I am overwhelmed by the thought of people actually thinking of me as a friend.

In Kindergarten our friends were the little kids that shared their cookies with us or played tag with us at the park. But because we were little, we tended to get offended easily, and if the "friend" was seen doing the same things to someone else, they would get an ear full. The funny thing about kids though is that they forgive and forget very quickly. We could be furious one minute and then running and laughing with each other the next.

When we got into middle school and Jr. high, our friends are the ones who are the people most like us. We aren't comfortable in our own skin so we surrounded ourselves with people who let us feel comfortable.

When entering high school, we started to "find ourselves" and since we were more comfortable being who we were, we could reach out to other people our age who weren't necessarily the same as us.

I don't think anyone really starts to understand what true friendship is, though, until late high school and college. Up until this point we have slowly been integrating ourselves into the world and everything evil that comes along with that. We may have had a few trials, but all of the sudden friends become very important.

Friends seem to draw together and lean on one another trusting each other more and more. But with these closer relationships comes a great risk. The risk of being hurt or abandoned later on down the road.

We can't expect to become good friends if we are always extremely careful to not do anything. We can't become close without exposing who we are. When we become good friends with other people, we risk being hurt and disappointed. Being careful reminds me of a children's story where two friends hurt each other. One friend uses the other one to get a china tea set. And then the hurt friend tricks her friend back to get revenge. In the end they go and try to fix everything. The hurt friend says that it is no fun to be friends when you have to be careful because that's not really being friends - that's being careful.

So is being friends worth the risk? Should we put ourselves into a place of exposure and openness where we could possibly experience hurt and disappointment? I would say yes. And when we pick friends who genuinely care about us, we can be assured that the hurt that happens is not intentional. And when hurt does happen, we can forgive and forget and move on.

Friends are worth the risk.

Ecclesiasties 4: 9-12 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Happy Thanksgetting...

2007-11-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

I don't think that Thanksgiving has truly survived in many homes around the United States. Instead of being thankful and grateful for the boundless blessings of our daily lives, we tend to only focus on what we can get out of the holiday.

The original purpose of having a Thanksgiving dinner was to remember how little the Pilgrims had when they first made the long voyage to the New World. Starving to death was not uncommon so the Pilgrims really were thankful to God for His provision.

The holiday should serve as a reminder in many ways not unlike communion. Although we should always count our blessings and praise the Lord for them, Thanksgiving provides a special time to stop and reflect on how much we really do have.

So while you are stuffing yourselves with all the delicious goodies at your houses, remember to thank Him. In the song Blessed be Your Name one of the verses goes like this:

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise

Turn back to praise Him. Happy Thanksgiving!

1 Chronicles 16:8 "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."
1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

"We Need a Movie to go With the Shakes..."

2007-11-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems that I cannot post a wonderful video on here that I wanted to show you all for Movie and Shake Night, but you can still go and watch it here http://youtube.com/watch?v=9_M0H5nrY8E

I would suggest that if you have a tender heart, get emotional easily or certain things can touch you in a way you don't think is possible, bring a box of kleenex with you to the computer. The first time (not to mention the second, third and forth times) I watched this clip, I bawled my eyes out. Yes, some of you may find that hard to believe, but hey I was touched. ;-)

Anyway, I hope that everyone falls in love with Jesus again after watching this video.

The thing I liked best about it (warning-if you haven't already watched the clip, please do so before continuing. Plot ruiner ahead) was that it showed us trying our very best to get to God, but no matter how hard we try, we could never even come close to reaching Him. He closed the gap and took our place because He knew in the end that He would win.

Word of the Week # 14

2007-11-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

myrmidon \MUR-muh-don; -duhn\, noun:

1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.

2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question, protest, or pity.

"He risked assassination, torture or . . . retaliation, the defining signatures of Mr. Milosevic and his ultranationalist myrmidons."
-- Bruce Fein, "Follow U.S. war crimes advice?", Washington Times, May 10, 2001

"Those who created EMU [(European) Economic and Monetary Union] -- mainly politicians and their myrmidons in the offices and conference rooms of Brussels -- portray a beckoning landscape of wealth, liberty and economic power that will rival the United States and surpass Asia."
-- James O. Jackson, "The One-Way Bridge", Time, May 11, 1998

Myrmidon derives from Greek Myrmidones, a warlike people of ancient Thessaly

FRIDAY!!!!!

2007-11-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

Fridays...I love them. I really do. Nothing can compare to the awesome feeling that another week is almost over and the "restful" weekend is well on it's way.

Fridays have always had some kind of special feeling. When I was little, my family started a Friday tradition of Movie and Shake Night. We would rent a family movie and afterwards, my dad would make us all chocolate milk shakes. A tradition that my grandpa started back before I was born.

When my family moved to Chico, my dad had every other Friday off of work. He would stay at home and often times pull out the beloved hot wheel racing track, print up a set of racing brackets and then promptly beat every one of my fastest cars.

Fridays are still Movie and Shake Night, but the tradition has become so much more than just a fun evening; it's turned into the one night a week where everything is pushed aside and family takes center stage.

So, needless to say, if you ask me to do something else on Friday night, you will probably get a no. Maybe, unless you'll let me bring everyone along.

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #13

2007-11-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

Freakish tomatoes...That's all I've got to say about that. No, seriously, I don't know if I could bring myself to eat anything that had a point like that on it. Do you think you could?

Tell us what you think by voting in the new poll: Could you eat a deformed piece of food?

Enlarged To Show Texture

2007-11-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

We thought it would be a good idea to show everyone the cereals they unthinkingly eat and give you a close up shot of the toasted goodness.

To start, we have the classic Cheerio. Baked to perfection right by us in the General Mills plant. Now made with whole grains, it is clinically proven to reduce cholesterol, and with only 1 gram of sugar it is a healthy alternative to most sugary cereals.

Next we have the Chex original. These little babies are perfect for making "muddie buddies" and chex mix. Also made with whole grains, they are the perfect as a light snack in between meals.

Frosted Mini Wheats are a digestive-healthy choice since each serving contains almost 25% of your daily fiber needs. And with only 1 gram of fat, how can you go wrong if you eat them in the morning. The commercial even suggests you take them to school or work with you.

Kashi. Another healthy alternative to Cheerios. Although a little bit tough and chewy, Kashi is wonderful for your heart since it promotes low blood pressure and wide-open arteries. A cheaper version of Kashi can be purchased at your local recyclers plant. Just ask for the sticks, twigs, and cardboard section.

I didn't include the Cocoa Pops or the Lucky Charms because they aren't considered "healthy" by most all cereal consumers. But that doesn't mean that we don't eat them. Seriously though, how can you choose bits of bark I mean Kashi over sweet chocolate puffiness for breakfast. Now that's a reason to get up in the morning!

Word of the Week #13

2007-11-05T06:30:00.000-08:00

abscond \ab-SKOND\, intransitive verb:
1. To depart secretly; to steal away and hide oneself -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid arrest or prosecution.

"The criminal is not concerned with influencing or affecting public opinion: he simply wants to abscond with his money or accomplish his mercenary task in the quickest and easiest way possible so that he may reap his reward and enjoy the fruits of his labours."
-- Bruce Hoffman, Inside Terrorism

"Pearl, now an orphan (her father having absconded shortly after her conception), has been taken to live with her great-aunt Margaret in the north of England"
-- Zoe Heller, Everything You Know

Abscond comes from Latin abscondere, "to conceal," from ab-, abs-, "away" + condere, "to put, to place."

Helmets

2007-11-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

I don't like to wear helmets. i think that I must be related to my mother since she will do almost anything to avoid wearing a helmet.

It's not that they're not really uncomfortable or anything, it's just that they cause a major inconvenience to most women and some men: helmet hair.

You've all seen or experienced this type of hairstyle at one time or another, and I have too. Of course when I was a kid, I always wore my helmet no matter what. Right before my 18th birthday, I went for a bike ride without a helmet and everything went very well.

Well the other day I was pining for something to do, something that was active and would get me outside into the beautiful fall weather. My brilliant thought was to take our family dog and teach him how to trot alongside a bike.

The first two days want swimmingly. After a ten minute warm up in the court, Cocoa did wonderfully staying with the bike. This is going to be awesome, I thought.

After coming home the second day, my dad pulled me aside and told me that I needed to be careful, very careful.

"Make sure to wear a helmet," he cautioned.

The next day I decided to go out for a little ride. I leashed up Cocoa and mounted my bike. We gently rolled down the driveway and into the street. Everything was going well, that is, until we got to the street across from ours.

As soon as Cocoa saw the straight stretch of road with nothing to stop him, he took off running. Unfortunately, he didn't run in a straight line. Curving right in front of me, he made a sharp turn into the bike.

The next thing I remember, I was laying on the ground calling Cocoa back over to me and my body was shaking terribly.

As I limped back to my house a block away, I remembered that thing that my dad had said about wearing a helmet and realized I wasn't wearing one.

So if you see me in the next few days, I still have a pretty little shiner over my eye. And my advice about bike riding is this: WEAR A HELMET!!!

If You Knew What I Know...

2007-11-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks goodness that Halloween is over! It's my least favorite holiday, and if you ask me, we could just get rid of it all together.

Sure, I like pumpkins and candy, but the true essence of the Halloween traditions has largely been forgotten by many. If you knew what I know about Halloween, you might think about it differently.

You see, the celebration of Halloween dates back over 2000 years. In this dark time, the night before All Saints Day was called All Hallows Eve. The spirits of the dead people and children supposedly come back to earth during that time and roam the streets.

As if spirits weren't enough, the demons and goblins are also thought to become active during this time. The pumpkins were carved, lit and placed outside of one's door to protect the family inside from unwanted spirits. The candy was an offering to the dead that hopefully would appease their appetites.

Although my family and I have never celebrated Halloween, I wasn't told why we didn't until the 5th Grade. After hearing the "real story," my opinion about the holiday changed from that of disgust to that of nausea.

This post was not meant to in any way slam people who celebrate Halloween, but I felt like I needed to let people know what they are standing for.

Wacky Web Pic Wednesday # 12

2007-10-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

What is this world coming to? Boy, no one's wasting any time with this poor kid. By three he'll probably speak two lanuages. By seven he will have passed Calculus with the highest grade in his class. And by eleven and 1/2 he will have graduated from Delta and transfering to Biola University.

Ugg. These kinds of kids make me sick...

Typing While Sleeping

2007-10-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

I fell asleep the night before last. Nothing out of the ordinary about that. I normally go to sleep around 11:30 because I stay awake late chatting with people online, writing stuff or doing homework.

Well, two nights ago I went into my room and got ready for bed just like I always do. And then I fell asleep while typing. Sorry to all of you readers who faithfully logged on to ETST to read it. There was no post for you, and I beg your forgiveness. Like my dad says keep short accounts!

There will be a post tomorrow, I promise!

PLEASE forgive me for not posting! I am super sorry! I feel much better now, as I always do.

Must...Sleep...In...

2007-10-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Since school started, I have been getting up earlier than I ever have throughout my entire life. Although I was never allowed to sleep in during the school week while being homeschooled, I always had a sufficient amount of sleep.

All that changed when I started going to Delta. Currently I'm not getting more than 6 hours of sleep a night which is really cutting back from what I got previously. Mommy G has commented almost everyday that I look extremely tired and should take a nap. (Thanks mom) And even though I wish I could sleep more, it just isn't possible at this point in time.

Last Friday I had the opportunity to sleep in way past the normal time of awakening.

Great, I thought, finally a chance to catch up on some much needed slumber. At least that's what I thought.

On Friday morning I rolled over and glanced at the screen of my bedside clock. It read 6:03. What?! That can't be right! Rolling the other way, I looked at the clock on my computer: 6:03.

Now wide awake, I lay in bed and stared intently at the ceiling. I have never had any trouble sleeping in past 9:30 before. Weird. So I snuggled down under the blankets a little farther and went back to Nigh Night Land.

My eyes popped open and I glanced at the clock. 6:37! Alright, I thought. Enough is enough! Highly perturbed, I snuggled even farther down into the sheets and grumbled to myself. Again, I fell asleep.

The sunlight was doing its best to shine through my shades and tell me it was morning. But after two "false alarms," I didn't ever want to look at the clock again. Well, I thought, I guess that eventually I'll have to look at the clock so it might as well be now. I peaked out from under my cave-like structure I had unknowingly made out of the blankets to see the time. 7:42. How exasperating!

After another hour of off and on slumber, I got up. So at around 8:45 I sat down at my computer and stared at the screen, terribly upset. Why couldn't I just sleep in until I was ready to get going?

Then it dawned on me; I was waking up because I felt like I was "wasting" my precious hours on sleep when I could be doing something productive. My mind and body were ready to get to work whereas I didn't think I was.

I woke up farther immersed in the world of grown-ups than when I had gone to sleep. Not sleeping because you're concerned about school, work you name it always struck me as something that happened to you when you got old! Kind of scary, kind of freaky, but also kind of new and kind of exciting. But however new and exciting, I will be sleeping in tomorrow morning. Zzzzzzzzzzzz......

Note that the above picture is of Sleeping Beauty and not of me. Unfortunately, my hair doesn't look like that after sleeping.

Please don't eat the glue

2007-10-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

I have many friends. I go to classes with some, and I see others on Sunday at church. But there is a whole circle of my friends that I see once a week, and don't go to school with. These friends are roughly 42 inches tall and always have a lot of energy. These are my AWANA friends. They are all three or four yearolds.

You see, I work in a children's ministry called AWANA (it is NOT AWANAS as many people, who are confused, call it). AWANA stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. When I was a child, I can remember back to when I went to AWANA. It was a highlight of the week. In AWANA children play games, memorize Bible verses, and learn about God. It is a wonderful program. So when I was too old to be in it, I decided to help in it.

This kind of service is truly rewarding. If you don't get along with kids that well, than this kind of service may not be the right one for you.

Kids are funny. They say what they are thinking. They act upon impulse. They can be very entertaining. Now I would like to tell you one of my multiple stories and experiences.

My first year working in Cubbies (the age group I help in) was so exciting. The Directors were low on helpers in that age group so I was quickly assigned to a table. My table had about six or seven kids. I was in charge of listening to their verses, writing their names on the top of their coloring pages, and overall maintaining the peace. It seemed easy enough.......

"So what is your name?" I asked a quiet little boy sitting at my table.

"rraaAAAAAAnnnnntonieeeeee" *through almost closed lips and a tightly clenched jaw*

"I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?"

"RRRRAAAAAAANNNNNNNTTTHHHONIIEEEEE"

"What?"

"RRRRAAAAAAANNNNNNNTTTHHHONIIEEEEE"

I must tell you honestly, I had no clue what the, now agitated, kid's name was.

I looked on his name tag and it spelled ANTHONY.

OH, of course!!! It made sense now.

After that we became friends. I think he was happier when I called him by his name. It is a wonderful experience working with little kids. Within a couple weeks you have a strong bond. Two years later he graduated into Kindergarten. I don't see him very much anymore. I only hope I demonstrated God's unfailing love to this little boy.

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #11

2007-10-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

Wacky Web-Pic Day has rolled (literally) around again and it's time to share with you a strange/freaky/odd/unusual picture from our friend the Internet.

This is an egg. But it isn't just an egg, it's a chocolate egg. Notice that the thing next to the egg is not an action figure: it's a man. Crazy!

I know what I want for Christmas! But seriously, who could ever eat that much chocolate before it went bad? I think I could come close.

I'm Being Ogled!!!

2007-10-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

This post was written after multiple incidents that happened in the same week. Here is an example of one incidence.

My Delta class schedule goes something like this:

Monday-Spanish 001 at 9:00, Finite Math at 11:00 and Human Biology from 5:00-8:00 PM.

Tuesday-Interior Design 002 at 8:30 AM

Wednesday-Spanish 001 at 9:00, Finite Math at 11:00 and Human Bio from 5:00-8:00

Thursday-Interior Design 002 at 8:30 AM

Friday-Spanish 001 at 9:00 and Finite Math at 11:00

Needless to say, I do a lot of walking back and forth to buildings on campus. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I have a male friend who walks with me to our classes, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm on my own.

While strolling under the beautiful autumn colors one morning, I happened to glance over at a few young guys standing along the pathway. As I passed by them, they smiled and talked strangely amongst themselves while continuing to watch me walk by.

I hurried to my car, quickly got in and paused a moment to think about what had just happened.

I was being ogled! For Pete's sake! Couldn't I just walk to my car in peace?

But why did all of this bother me so much? I hadn't done anything wrong; I had only walked by them. I glanced down at what I was wearing - my regular comfy jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt with a scarf around my neck. Nothing extraordinary about any of it.

Then I understood why I had felt dirty. They had been looking at me for what I could give them and not as a sister in Christ. They had been using me to satisfy their sinful desires, and I did not like that one bit. Brushing past everything that I try to have show, they only wanted one thing.

Since we live in a fallen world, is a warning to both young men and young ladies.

Young men - guard your eyes and don't give into the temptation to keep looking.

Young ladies - dress and act in a way that will encourage and build up the men around you.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, watch out for each other's well-being. By being careful and protecting one another, we are loving on each other. But even helping unbelievers not to stumble by the way we dress, ladies, is showing them that we care more about their minds than being noticed for the wrong reasons.

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Word of the Week #11

2007-10-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

truckle \TRUHK-uhl\, intransitive verb:
1. To yield or bend obsequiously to the will of another; to act in a subservient manner.

"Only where there was a "defiance," a "refusal to truckle," a "distrust of all authority," they believed, would institutions "express human aspirations, not crush them.""
-- Pauline Maier, "A More Perfect Union", New York Times, October 31, 1999

"The son struggled to be obedient to the conventional, commercial values of the father and, at the same time, to maintain his own playful, creative innocence. This conflict could make him truckle in the face of power."
-- Dr. Margaret Brenman-Gibson, quoted in "Theater Friends Recall Life and Works of Odets," by Herbert Mitgang, New York Times, October 30, 1981

"I am convinced that, broadly speaking, the audience must accept the piece on my own terms; that it is fatal to truckle to what one conceives to be popular taste."
-- Sidney Joseph Perelman, quoted in "The Perelman Papers," by Herbert Mitgang, New York Times, March 15, 1981

Truckle is from truckle in truckle bed (a low bed on wheels that may be pushed under another bed; also called a trundle bed), in reference to the fact that the truckle bed on which the pupil slept was rolled under the large bed of the master. The ultimate source of the word is Greek trokhos, "a wheel."

I Was Resting Hard

2007-10-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Couldn't think last night. My brain was too tired to come up with anything witty or even amusing to say; even talking was totally out of the question. I was told to go to bed because I needed to sleep. That sounded like a good enough reason for me. So all that to say, I don't have a very interesting post this morning for you all. :-(

That's My Sin

2007-10-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

The lyrics to this song were sent in an email to me as a reminder of the reason why Christ chose to go to Calvary for us.

THAT’S MY SIN
When I sin, I drive the nails much deeper.
When I stumble, I make the hammer fall.
When I give in to my pride, I push the spear into his side, and I turn my head as if I never knew Him at all.

That’s my sin you see on the old rugged cross.
That’s my sin He’s wearing on His brow.
He is innocent, and yet He’s paying the cost, ‘cause that’s a battle I could never win.
If you ask what put Him there, that’s my sin.

See the crimson drops as they keep falling.
I’m the one who takes His life away.
Yet, He dies so I can live, saying “Father, please forgive.”
By His love and grace my guilt is gone.
What a price He paid!

That’s my sin you see on the old rugged cross.
That’s my sin He’s wearing on His brow.
He is innocent, and yet He’s paying the cost, ‘cause that’s a battle I could never win.
If you ask what put Him there, that’s my sin.

That’s my sin you see on the old rugged cross.
That’s my sin He’s wearing on His brow.
He is innocent, and yet He’s paying the cost, ‘cause that’s a battle I could never win.
If you ask what put Him there, that’s my sin.

That’s my sin, my sin.

Wacky Web-Pic # 10

2007-10-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

That's right, now everyone (who can grow hair) is eligible for travel by hair copter! Order yours today at 1-800-fly-away. Not that we could sell you one, but we can sell you the 500 page long book that explains in perfect detail how to construct this timeless masterpiece!

The Frog in Our Drainpipe

2007-10-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

He's stuck. I can't remember the last time that went out into the backyard in the evening and didn't hear his familiar voice. He's got to be hungry down there so every once in a while I think another fellow frog tosses down a fly to him.

I was very concerned the other night because I didn't hear him anymore. Frantic, I began shouting things like "hang on, we'll get you out somehow" and "I always wanted you to know that I love you" down the hole. After being pulled away from the hole, I constructed a miniature rope ladder using toothpicks and floss.

I tried to tell "Raymond" that it would be OK, and that I was lowering a rescue line down to him. He didn't answer me. I continued on saying to tug on the rope twice so I could pull him up to safety. He didn't answer.

The rope ladder is still dangling in the drain. Hopefully he escaped and has been joyfully reunited with his amphibious relations, but I have my doubts.

A happy life to you my froggie...

Word of the Week #10

2007-10-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

palindrome
1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.

Here are twenty-seven examples of palindromes taken from fun-with-words.com

Don't nod
Dogma: I am God
Never odd or even
Too bad – I hid a boot
Rats live on no evil star
No trace; not one carton
Was it Eliot's toilet I saw?
Murder for a jar of red rum
May a moody baby doom a yam?
Go hang a salami; I'm a lasagna hog!
A Toyota!
Race fast... safe car: a Toyota
Straw? No, too stupid a fad; I put soot on warts
Are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era?
Doc Note: I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod
No, it never propagates if I set a gap or prevention
Anne, I vote more cars race Rome to Vienna
Sums are not set as a test on Erasmus
Some men interpret nine memos
Campus Motto: Bottoms up, Mac
Go deliver a dare, vile dog!
Madam, in Eden I'm Adam
Oozy rat in a sanitary zoo
Ah, Satan sees Natasha
Lisa Bonet ate no basil
Do geese see God?
God saw I was dog
Dennis sinned

From Greek palindromos, running back again, recurring : palin, again; see kwel-1 in Indo-European roots + dromos, a running.] pal'in·dro'mic (-drō'mĭk, -drŏm'ĭk) adj.

"No You May Not Poke Me With That!"

2007-10-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

The other day, as many of you heard, Spadoodles and I had to have blood taken. Yeah me! Anyway, for those of you who have never heard about my history of swooning (really, it's fainting, but swooning is so much more dramatic) here's a few stories of what has happened in the past when I come within close proximity to blood.

A few years ago I had to get a flu shot in the month of December. I have never enjoyed the process of being immunized, but I have heard that it is necessary. My sisters and I were all in agreement that shots were terrible, and we would not likely survive. Even though I thought it would be awful, I volunteered to go first. I bravely withstood my painless poke, and then the rest of my family followed.

Out in the hallway, I seemed almost giddy but for no apparent reason. Walking behind my parents suddenly took more effort, and I couldn't hear every one's voices very well. They sounded like they may have been shouting something to me from far away. The next thing I knew, Mommy G was bending over me in the women's restroom splashing water in my face.

The next time I "swooned" was while I was at AWANA Camp. After standing in a large field waiting to have our group photo taken for almost 30 minutes, I passed out. That whole ordeal made the camp nurse run across camp!

And my most well-known fainting story has got to be when I went on a field trip to the Butte (notice that its not "butt" but "Butte") Blood Donation Center. One of my friends was deathly afraid of needles so we hung together towards the back. Just when we reached the refrigerators where they store the blood, I started to get lightheaded.

The next thing I remember was that I was looking up at all of my friends' concerned faces. And since recovering from fainting takes a lot longer than just a field trip, everyone knew what had happened before our group got back to the church where we would be picked up.

I now have notes on my medical record of my past "fainting spells" so every time I have anything done to me, I am required to lay down. Just in case...

So when my name was called, I was kind of hoping that something exciting would happen. Maybe I would pass out before I even got into the chair. Or maybe the nurse would totally freak out. Perhaps I would turn a funny color and start rambling on words of nonsense.

But alas, after I seated myself, the nurse quickly swabbed, poked and bandaged my arm before I could have said "I think I'm gonna..." I have another doctors appointment in a few weeks where my physician will evaluate my lab work. If I'm lucky, I may need to have more blood taken.

The Boxes in My Garage

2007-10-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Mommy G asked me to do her a favor. She asked me to climb up on a ladder and pull down the fall/harvest decorations.

One thing you all should know about my family is that my dad and I are the list and organization people. Packing the dishwasher, putting up Christmas lights or even mowing the lawn requires more thought than most humans would care to expend, but that's the way we roll.

My dad and I had carefully and precisely packed up all the decorations last year and stacked them in a very orderly manner. We both made sure that everything is packed snugly so it wouldn't break, and organized and labeled everything to make sure that we could easily find it all next year.

So anyway, being the decorator that I am, I climbed up the stepladder thinking that we would all have a wonderful afternoon putting sentimental trinkets and treasures up around the house. But my hopes of the afternoon started to fade when my mom told me there was only one box I needed to get down.

One box? Only one! For those of you who have not seen the ceiling of our garage (that should be everyone since you can't see it), every inch of available space has been utilized through the installation of hanging shelves. We have boxes and boxes of Christmas stuff, camping stuff, and only one box of fall decorations!

Then I began to think how my family's garage relates to our lives. We save boxes and boxes of mental images, words that people have said that hurt us deeply, bad experiences, disappointments and many other sad things. We very rarely let go of those things and lots of times we only have one box of good and pure things to cherish at the end of our lives when we go back through our "garages."

What kinds of things should we be holding on to and remembering, and what kinds of things should we be letting go of? How many times have I harbored bitterness and anger just because I wanted to hate? Hate is such an ugly word, but it is what we are doing when we nurse our hurts. How many times have we all chosen to allow friendships and relationships to be torn apart by unforgiveness?

Proverbs 18:19 "An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel."

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #9

2007-10-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Who in the world would choose to live like this?!? That is not only wacky, but it is insane and brainless at the same time. I would normally tell you that I prefer the cooler weather of the fall and winter seasons, but not this type of cold.

Wherever this picture was taken would be the perfect spot for a time out. Other than sticking to the metal time out bench, I don't think you can get much worse than sitting (or huddling) outside in the snow for punishment. Pretty snowflakes but yuck.

I'm Sorry

2007-10-09T06:03:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry. I needed to say those words. The past couple weeks I have not been posting. It's the truth. Really. I have been slacking. I have been lazy. I have been eating a lot (there is nothing wrong with eating). And so I decided that after my "blog-vacation" I needed to get back in the groove.

What can I say? I have let you, the readers, down (not to mention my beloved fellow author who has been poking me with a cattle prod for the last two weeks). I will try to pick up the pace. So, in honor of a friend of mine, I dedicate this apology to him. "I'm REALLY REALLY sorry will you PLEASE forgive me?" *gets down on knees and flashes a cheesey smile* Anyway, now that I've got that off my chest, is anyone up for ice cream?

Please take note that the previous text was written by me (Spadoodles) and not my dearly beloved fellow author and sister. If you didn't know that we were sisters consider yourself informed. I also hope that someone realized that I wasn't actually posting. Well, you can stop weeping now, I have returned.

*goes to eat some more food*

Word of the Week #9

2007-10-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

paroxysm \PAIR-uhk-siz-uhm\, noun:
1. (Medicine) A sudden attack, intensification, or recurrence of a disease.

2. Any sudden and violent emotion or action; an outburst; a fit.

"But when he's on target -- and more often than not he is -- he can send you into paroxysms of laughter."
-- William Triplett, "Drawing Laughter From a Well of Family Pain", Washington Post, June 13, 2002

"Dickens had a paroxysm of rage: 'Bounding up from his chair, and throwing his knife and fork on his plate (which he smashed to atoms), he exclaimed: "Dolby! your infernal caution will be your ruin one of these days!"'"
-- Edmund Wilson, "Dickens: The Two Scrooges", The Atlantic, April/May 1940

"Mrs. Bumble, seeing at a glance that the decisive moment had now arrived, and that a blow struck for mastership on one side or another, must necessarily be final and conclusive, dropped into a chair, and with a loud scream that Mr. Bumble was a hard-hearted brute, fell into a paroxysm of tears."
-- Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

Paroxysm is from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein, "to irritate, provoke or excite (literally to sharpen excessively)," from para-, "beyond" + oxunein, "to sharpen, to provoke."

Dear Curious

2007-10-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

This past week, we started the Dear Amelia series where you can send in question for us to answer. After an overwhelming response, I figured it was time to actually answer one.

Dear Amelia,
Is college really as hard as everyone says?
-Curious

Dear Curious,
After being homeschooled for twelve years, I think that I can safely say that college is different from any other school experience I have ever had. Although I can't say that the work is exceptionally hard, like any other new school year, it does demand a bit more study and perserverence than the previous one.

I believe the reason many college students proclaim that college is difficult is because all of the sudden they actually have to be responsible for themselves. Professors don't care if you miss every lecture and the only action they would take is to eventually drop you from the class.

All of this to say that I don't think the homework is what makes college hard; I think the growing up and being in control of your own life part can be difficult for many people.

But don't concern yourself with what everyone else says about the work. If you know how to read, write and study fairly well going in, you should do fine. ;-)

Amelia

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #8

2007-10-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

Wow. I mean wow. That's crazy. For those of you who still can't figure out why there is an anaconda laying on the floor of this woman's kitchen, let me tell you that's not a reptile; it's hair.

I wonder how long it takes to get ready in the morning when you have hair as long as that. Couldn't be less than 2 hours!

Today

2007-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am not posting anything today. Last night at 11:49 I decided that I really needed the 10 minutes of extra sleep I would get if I chose not to write anything.

I just thought that I would warn you all. You probably would have figured it out without the reminder, but hey, I had to tell you something.

Would you look at that. I guess I did write a post after all. ;-)

In the Bathroom

2007-10-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Before you are totally repelled by the title of this post, please remember that we (the authors) desire to encourage and uplift our readers through our strange situations. This is a clean story.

My sister and I were so excited. A special trip with our grandma and grandpa had always been coveted by all of the grandchildren, and we were finally on our way. The two hours in the car flew by as the car sped toward the mountains, and my sister and I could think of nothing better than a week spent just relaxing with our grandparents.

Around lunchtime, everyone started to notice the absence of food in the car and our stomachs, and grandma suggested we find somewhere to stop. A small building nestled back into the trees was selected, and as everyone piled out of the car, we all caught a whiff of the barbecued burgers inside.

After sitting for so long, my sister and really needed to use the facilities. You must understand that first of all both my sister and I were quite small at the time, and secondly that it was very unusual for our grandma to let us venture off by ourselves even just to find the bathroom. She was (and is) just that way.

Walking through the restaurant, we both spotted the "restroom" sign off to the left. The bathroom was simple and being the older one, I let my sister go first. After a minute or so, however, I heard the panicked voice my sister say something through the single-stalled bathroom door.

"I can't get the door open. I think that it's stuck."

The door WAS stuck, and no amount of pulling or pushing would make it budge. I tried to pull it open; she tried to push it open. I pulled while she pushed, and eventually after what seemed like hours, the door opened a crack. A few more shoves and heaves and the difficult door swung wide open on its hinges.

I didn't know why no one came to check on us since we were gone so long. I also didn't understand how no one else became trapped in the restroom when they closed the door. As a side note, I didn't have to use the bathroom anymore.

As we both made our way back to the table, our grandparents looked up from studying their menus and smiled at us. When we told them about being stranded in the Lou for hours, they gave us quizzical looks. Come to find out, we were gone for a total of three minutes hence the lack of concern on our grandparents part.

I still don't know why I never thought to run to my grandpa and have him open the door when my own strength was insufficient. God is waiting to help us with our issues if we will only run to Him and ask. His strength is enough, and He will get me through whatever life throws my way. Another thing about our "unsolvable" issues is that they are so small to God, and He can handle them for us. By running to Him daily and giving everything up, He can show us how to live His way.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, ""My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Word of the Week #8

2007-10-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

noisome \NOY-sum\, adjective:
1. Noxious; harmful; unwholesome.

2. Offensive to the smell or other senses; disgusting.

"The body politic produces noisome and unseemly substances, among which are politicians."
-- P. J. O'Rourke, "No Apparent Motive", The Atlantic, November 2002

"The first flower to bloom in this latitude, when the winter frost loosens its grip upon the sod, is not the fragrant arbutus, nor the delicate hepatica, nor the waxen bloodroot, as the poets would have us think, but the gross, uncouth, and noisome skunk cabbage."
-- Alvan F. Sanborn, "New York After Paris", The Atlantic, October 1906

"The most dangerous season was after the rice and indigo harvests in August and September when the waters were 'low, stagnant and corrupt' and the air made noisome with indigo plants hauled out of the water and left to rot in the fields."
-- Ronald Rees, "Under the weather: climate and disease, 1700-1900", History Today, January 1996

Noisome is from Middle English noysome, from noy, "harm," short for anoy, from Old French, from anoier, "to annoy."

Dear Amelia

2007-09-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was brainstorming post ideas with my fellow contributor, and we had the brilliant idea of letting our two readers send us questions to answer. Genius, huh?

I recently set up an email address for ETST for the specific purpose of having people send us comments, critiques, slams, questions and feedback about our blog. And I figured that it was high time that we announce its long-awaited arrival.

Our email address is enlargedtoshowtexture@gmail.com. I know, it's totally original and you would never be able to guess where we came up with the name of our HQ. Hehe.

We will be calling this series Dear Amelia. Don't ask me why because I don't know. We could have called it Dear Bob, Dear Herbert or even Dear Helga, but we didn't. Although we liked the name Helga, we happened to like the name Amelia better.

Oh, one more thing, please don't ask us why frogs are green and not pink. Please.

The Day I Never Stopped Driving My Car

2007-09-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

The other day I had the bright idea while driving home from school, that I would not stop all the way home. And somehow I managed it.

The drive home took way more thought than I had originally expected since there are a lot of stop lights, stop signs and most of all, other cars that tend to stop often. Stop signs were fairly easy to maneuver being that I would roll to an almost stopped position before accelerating again. The stoplights, however, were a little bit trickier.

My route home from school involves driving through 14 stoplights. I had to plan carefully for each one which sometimes meant slowing down very gradually and inching forward until the green colored go-ahead was given.

But as if 14 lights weren't enough, I had to go to the gas station on my way home. That brought the total number of lights up to 20. Bugger. The last light almost ruined me. I could see that it was green from a distance, but by the time I was remotely close, it turned yellow.

My mind raced trying to figure out how fast I should proceed to the light. Should I try to make it, or should I run the risk of recking my record? The light turned red and I pressed down the brake pedal. As my car crawled forward, I prayed that the light would turn. I would give anything if only the light would turn green. I was beginning to cross the white line and roll into the intersection by the time the light changed, but the light was green. Glorious green!

Zipping through the last light felt like I had entered the "safe zone" in Parcheesi. Nothing can bump you back to start; nothing can stop you from winning except maybe a cop. Luckily there were none to be seen. Not that I was speeding or anything.

When I finally pulled into my driveway, I felt absolutely, 100% triumphant. I had won my Parcheesi game that I had played against the people, whoever they were, who invented stoplights so people would have to stop. I win.

I think that I might write a song about green lights, "safe zones" and winning someday. Maybe I will...

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #7

2007-09-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

OK, this is just disturbing. Wait, maybe if I look at the picture sideways... nope, still disturbing no matter how you look at it.

One thing I do know: those guys will never be friends with vegetarians.

Accessories

2007-09-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

While shopping with my mom the other day at Walmart, I found an item that I had been looking to buy for a while. This object also happened to be marked down, which is always desirable to me.

I paused in front of the rack which displayed this item and briefly ran my hand through the merchandise. They were cool and smooth to my hand and some rather bulky, which in most cases indicates better quality.

After circling the rack three or four times to make sure I had seen everything, I selected a brown leather belt from the rack. But this was not just any ordinary belt; it had class. Yup, it was totally awesome. The brown cow hide was adorned with a large gold medallion that attributed greatly to the weight and coolness factor. After purchasing it, I walked out to the car, promptly pulled off the tags and put it on.

I bought my new accessory on Thursday, I have worn it every day since. My family is starting to wonder if it has grown to my hips and my cat, which likes to lay on top of me, is very annoyed at its cold presence.

Yeah, accessories are great, but they aren't the whole package. They only enhance or compliment what is already there, although they often are the things that you notice. No one notices a cool shirt if you're wearing a super sweet strand of beads in a contrasting color on top of the shirt.

That's why God commands us to adorn ourselves not with braided hair, gold jewelery or brown leather belts, but with good deeds.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

Our deeds should be the things that are noticed and appreciated. But I am keeping my belt. ;-)

As a side note, I wrote this whole post while my cat was sitting on me. :)

Word of the Week #7

2007-09-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

embonpoint \ahn-bohn-PWAN\, noun:
Plumpness of person; stoutness.

Example Sentences:

"With his embonpoint, Mr Soames appears to be wearing a quadruple-breasted suit."
-- Simon Hoggart, "Roll up, roll up, to explore the Soames Zone", The Guardian, February 1, 2000

"His embonpoint expands by the day and his eyes are buried in the fat of his cheeks.''
-- quoted in Goethe: The Poet and the Age: Revolution and Renunciation by Nicholas Boyle

Origin:
Embonpoint is from French, literally "in good condition" (en, "in" + bon, "good" + point, "situation, condition").

I think that we could safely declare the word 'embonpoint' to mean 'fat,' although the word fat was not included in the actual definition.

Keeping Up With the Jones

2007-09-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever met those people that put you to shame in every area of your life? You know the ones that can accomplish something in 20 minutes that would take anyone else several hours even days to finish. Sometimes I would like to be able to say at the end of the day that I...

...solved world hunger

...ran 18 miles in four minutes without breaking a sweat

...climbed Mount Everest

...wrote and published 4 books before eating my Wheaties

...swam the English Channel

...learned to speak Hungarian

...built a rocket that could fly to Neptune

...touched the North Pole

...memorized Sonatina in F Movement II on my tuba

...was unanimously voted president

...parted the Red Sea with my walking stick

...grew world renown lemons from seed to fruit in 2 hours

...fixed the Rubik Cube

...memorized the Old Testament

...cooked a Carmel souffle in my microwave

...chugged a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper in 3 minutes

...got up at four o' clock in the morning to feed my prize-winning chinchillas

...painted an exact replica of the Mona Lisa

...got a perfect score on the SAT

...built a life-sized medieval catapult for my history project

Fortunately, we are told in the Bible no to compare ourselves and our accomplishments to others. If we want to be content, we must come to realize that God created everyone for different purposes and with different gifts.

We must choose to use our gifts to honor and glorify the Lord, and even though we may never invent a new kind of awesome hand lotion or fly to Neptune, we must choose to only be concerned with how we appear to God. And we already know that He loves us.

Romans 12: 6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #6

2007-09-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

I like Wacky Web-pic Day. I get the opportunity to search the internet for an interesting photo to share. But I must be careful when browsing. For instance, disturbing images that have nothing whatsoever to do with the word "cereal" pop up when I least expect them. I discovered this snapshot while searching under the word "strange."

Yup, that's definitely strange.

Don't get the wrong idea; we here at ETST really do like mustaches, but this is a little extreme. This man actually won a mustache contest; unfortunately, his doctor has put him on a diet. "The 10 extra pounds here and there will add up" his physician informed the Mustache Man.

Sad for him, the DMV also restricted his license because of "impared vision." Hopefully he will make lots of new friends on the bus.

Word of the Week #5

2007-09-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

impassible \im-PASS-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Incapable of suffering; not subject to harm or pain.

2. Unfeeling or not showing feeling.

"Body is flux and frustration, a locus of pain and process. If it becomes impassible and incorruptible, how is it still body?"
--Jeffrey Burton Russell, A History of Heaven

"As he was a man of much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it"
--Ulysses S. Grant, Personal Memoirs

Impassible is from Late Latin impassibilis, from Latin in-, "not" + Late Latin passibilis, "passible; capable of feeling or suffering" from Latin passus, past participle of pati, "to suffer." It is related to passion, which originally meant "suffering" but came to apply to any strong feeling or emotion.

Word of the Week #6

2007-09-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have read the title of this post and went "What?!? We just read a 'Word of the Week' post two seconds ago, and now I am going to read another one!"

That's right. You did just read a Word of the Week post. And if you continue to read this post you will read another Word of the Week post. You see, last week Spadoodles put up a wonderful post on my birthday and made an executive decision that she wouldn't post anything on Monday. (An apology will come.) As far as I can tell, that means you, our readers, have been deprived of a additional word for your vocabulary list.

To fix this dilemma I have decided to give you two posts today. Hope you like both of them.

fungible \FUHN-juh-buhl\, adjective:
1. (Law) Freely exchangeable for or replaceable by another of like nature or kind in the satisfaction of an obligation.

2. Interchangeable.

3. Something that is exchangeable or substitutable. Usually used in the plural.

"People think this tax is for Social Security. But tax monies are really fungible. They get raided all the time."
-- Eugene Ludwig, "Motivated to Work," interview by Kerry A. Dolan", Forbes, March 20, 2000

"The setting is Ireland in the 1950's, but, a cynical reader might reflect, this sort of fiction is so common that the characters will be completely fungible."
-- Susan Isaacs, "Three Little Girls From School", New York Times, December 30, 1990

"Genuine eros makes us desire a particular person; crude desire is satisfiable by fungible bodies."
-- Edward Craig (general editor), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Fungible comes from Medieval Latin fungibilis, from Latin fungi (vice), "to perform (in place of)."

By the way, some of you may be wondering about the photo at the top of this post. You know, the one with the muffins. Well I thought that I would let everyone know that it has nothing to do with the actual content of the post.

What Tests?

2007-09-13T06:09:00.000-07:00

This is my first semester in college. I have been homeschooled all of my life, and I have never once been in a classroom with more than 10 students. School has always been interesting to me even though I did struggle through parts of it. I first was introduced to the classroom test setting by taking the SAT and ACT. When I was dropped off to take them, I felt completely relaxed.

Tests were a major part of my at home education, and being that I preferred to prepare for them, they never really intimidated me. That was until I had to take the Delta Assessment Tests.

Just the name freaked me out. I had found when I took the SAT and ACT the steady clicking of the clock had no effect on my nerves. When I went in for the Delta Assessment Tests, I was not concerned about anything, yet. When I first entered the lecture hall, I saw an ominous timepiece hanging at the front of the room. What I found, however, was that there was an additional clock hanging in the back of the room where I constantly felt it's face staring at the back of my head saying: "Tick. Tock. Hurry. Are you almost done? Tick. Tock. Your time is almost up. Better HURRY! Tick. Tock."

However, after sitting down, I really didn't pay much attention to the clocks, that is until I started the tests. The facilitator was a massive man whose booming voice shushed the room in a matter of milliseconds. When the explanation for the people who had probably never taken a test before was over, the clock at the front of the room was set to go off in 35 minutes. "No problem," I thought.

Opening my booklet, I quickly started calculating and carefully filling in the corresponding bubbles. Something was wrong, though. After only two equations, I couldn't think. "Focus," I told myself. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I think? That's when I realized the constant, never ceasing tick-tocking of the timepieces was driving me insane. As I struggled to finish, I kept thinking why a clock would bother me all of the sudden. Then it hit me. I only had a lengthy page of problems and only a short amount of time in which to do them, and the ticking pressured me to finish in the allotted time.

This story sounds quite a bit like our life here on earth. We all possess unique qualities and gifts, and God intends us to make the most of His time before He comes again. We have so much to do and so little time. We had better get busy. Really busy.

Jeremiah 48:10 "A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD's work!

Wacky Web Pic Wednesday # 5

2007-09-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it is Wednesday again. And today, as our Wacky Web Pic, we have a spectacular picture. It is MASSIVE. It is HUGE. It is a GIANT iceberg!!!!! This is the kind of toy that once you climb all the way to the top you shout, " I am King of the Iceberg!!!!!!!!!"

It is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all I have to say.

Never Forget

2007-09-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

Let us never forget.

Running. Don't Stop.

2007-09-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Running. Running. Always running. My body is screaming for me to stop. The sweat drips into my eyes, down my face, off my chin, and my hands refuse to quit shaking. As my heart pounds in my ears, I push on. The crisp morning breeze feels cool to my flushed face. I envision myself racing along the golden streets cutting through alleyways and leaping over anything that bars my path. The early morning sunlight pierces through the leaves of the trees overhead as I press on. Running. Running. Always running. Just placing one foot ahead of the other. Concentrating all my focus and thoughts on the goal: to finish the race.

I am not trying to pass any of the other runners; I just want to cross the finish line knowing that I did my best, gave my all. I glance quickly at my feet which I can't feel anymore. They seem mechanical, never stopping, never resting, never pausing long enough for me to catch my breath. I will eventually have to rest, the strength in my legs and lungs won't last forever.

I knew the race would be long and strenuous when I chose to run it, but even my training couldn't have prepared me for this. My lungs are flaming, and, feeling faint, I refuse to stop knowing that if I stop to rest, I will never be able to start running again. As I mentally wrestle with these thoughts, my legs give out from under me, and I crumple to the ground as a sharp pain shoots from my hip down my leg. The pain in my hip is worse than the pain of my flaming lungs.

Slowly rising, I think of only one thing: the finish line. I have already started the race; I must finish. Can't quit. Don't stop. Keep running. Running. Running. Always running.

I can see it: the finish line. It isn't far, just over that little grassy knoll. Don't stop running. Don't stop. It's so close. "Just a little farther," I tell myself. Ten more steps. Five more. Two. I step on the tape as I cross the line. Pulling up, I collapse on the lawn just past the finish line.

I did it. I finished, and well. No, I wasn't first, but that isn't important. I did my best, and that is all that God requires of me.

Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Happy Birthday Ally!!!!!

2007-09-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

Today is the most emotional day I have ever encountered. Today is my big sister's birthday. But not just any birthday, today she is turning 18. *blows nose* Now in our country we, the young people, are considered "adults" at this age. I t is a monumental occasion. She has already been to college (I cried then, too). She now owns her own laptop. She doesn't have a "bedtime." And she can make her own lunch. In the next election, she will get to vote. And I will stand by watching (and crying).

Who knows? Maybe, in a couple more years she will be on the "road to matrimony"(I will sob). Then she will get married (I will bawl hysterically). I'm excited for her. What joys her future will hold. I can now call her an "old lady." But no matter how old she gets (and how young i stay), I will always admire her.

You see, Ally and I were always close. We have had great adventures, great sorrows, and great joys together. I can remember the times that we would make my room a colossal mess. And the times we "painted" our play furniture with mud. Years later, she graduated from Jr. high. Just last summer she graduated from high school.

Ally is three years older than me. She has always been my role model. When I would be the one getting all the spankings, she was the one I envied. Ally was the "good kid" in our household. I was the "strong willed" as they call it. To this day she is still my role model. And she always will be. She is the one I crawl to when I have a question about math. She is the one who has taught me how to be "artsy." She is my best friend. Thanks Ally. Happy Birthday. I wish you all the best in the world and in the life to come. *goes to get more kleenex*

The 18th Candle

2007-09-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, thanks to spadoodles, Sunday is my 18th birthday.

If you asked me right now if I think being 18 will be cool, sweet, jazzy and altogether a blast, I wouldn't have an answer for you. You see, at this point, I have mixed emotions about the whole "becoming an adult" thing. I can't wait to be old enough to drive everyone I want, old enough to vote, old enough to fall in love, old enough to get married, old enough to have children and raise them according to God's will, old enough to actually grow old, and eventually die completely sure of where I will go. On the other hand, though, the whole "mature adult" thing kind of freaks me out. Turning 18 signifies the change from a dependent kid to a mostly independent individual.

The responsibilities seem overwhelming all of the sudden. My tasks seem endless, and school feels like it will never end. I feel so inexperienced in the ways of adulthood. When I was a senior in high school, I felt fairly knowledgeable about many things. I guess you could say that I had a big head. (I wish that you wouldn't.) Being a high school senior made me feel important as most everyone was carefully observing my every move. But now I know that I was just fooled like all the other seniors into thinking that we had made it to the top of the "knowledge ladder," and could just take in the view.

I just recently realized (like since I started college) how little I know about adult life and everything that is enjoyed or endured by the normal adult. Take marriage as an example. I can't get married right now, and if I did, I wouldn't know the first thing about it. Or we could talk about jobs. Besides working as an intern for my church, I have never had a "real" job in my life. Or we could even talk about managing a household, having children, raising children, enduring the stresses of normal life and providing for someone else's needs. I have some head knowledge yes, but my experience in the real world is very limited. VERY limited.

Part of this shock comes from being carefully sheltered from materials and images that would have scarred my mind at a young age. My parents both realized that protection would not be necessary forever, only until I was capable and mature enough to make wise choices on my own. Over the last few years they have allowed bits and pieces of nonkid-friendly material to reach me. Their godly wisdom was displayed by the careful thought that went into the exposure. Recognizing I would eventually need to understand complex and worldly issues, they have gradually been "working" me into the world when they saw the desired amount of maturity. Meaning I still don't know all that much. ;)

Growing up requires a lot of responsibility and maturity. As I am slowly shoved into the adult world, I am just going to have to learn how everything is done, and believe me, I will be doing a lot of praying along the way. I realize mistakes are inevitable because of my human nature, but by asking my Heavenly Father for wisdom, I will be able to trust that He will lead me and show me the right thing to do.

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

By Popular Demand

2007-09-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, monkeys and squirrels!!!!!! Today is the unveiling of Ally Pie's birthday present. You voted and I purchased.

"Drum role please"
TA DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like yellow.

*Ooooooo's and Awwww's*

WOWIE!!!!!!! What a impressive cleaning tool!!!! Happy Birthday Ally Pie!!!!! We LOVE you!!

Now, I think it is time to tell you that I will be living on the streets for the rest of my life. It's simple. I spent my wad. Hopefully she will let me live with her. I voted for the least expensive gifts (the hug or the pic of Nancy). But you know what? Ally Pie is worth it. Happy Birthday Ally.

(Actually, Ally's Birthday is on Sunday. So make sure you read ETST on her real birthday.)

Lions, Tigers and a Bear. O Sweet!

2007-09-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. It's supposed to be Wacky Web-Pic Day #4, but hey, we don't always have to be so predictable, do we? I thought that it was time for a Wacky Web-Flick Day anyway. Shweet.

I found this video clip on my laptop when I first went poking around in the "empty" files. It's one of those things that comes as a promotional item on your computer when you purchase it, and I think it's pretty cool.

And don't worry all of you animal people who were concerned about the bear, birds and the fish. (there were fish right?) No animals were harmed in this video, at least, not in the part that we showed you. Just kidding! Had you all there for a second. ;D

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

2007-09-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!!!!! ETST has reached the "20 Posts" anniversary. Congratulations to all. We really couldn't have done it without the support. We are so incredibly proud that we have approximately two readers. Hurray!!!!!!! We hope to keep you laughing and spiritually encouraged for years (give or take). So in celebration of the years(or so) to come, go gnaw on an ice cube or chug an apple juice. Well, the cube is calling. Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ronald is in Trouble

2007-09-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we put it to a vote and you decided. You would rather meet Ronald Mcdonald in the forest than a freaky beetle, rabbid squirrel, or fuzzy toad. I found this pic of our dear friend Ronald. It shows him in a forest. The only problem is well.......why don't you see for yourself.

Yep kids, our dear friend Ronald McDonald was arrested. The reason, you ask? We don't know. *sniffle* Poor fellow, he probably was arrested because he wasn't sitting on his bench in the local McDonalds, for all the kids to sit by him and take a picture. Oh well. Sorry, Ronald, old boy.

Thank you for voting.

Happy Labor?

2007-09-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor day everyone! Or can I say "Happy Labor Day?"

How in the world can you put the words 'happy' and 'labor' together in the same sentence and have it sound correct? Don't get me wrong, I think everyone needs to eventually do some good old-fashioned hard work, but can this really be possible?

During the 18 years that I have lived on this green earth, I have never, repeat NEVER associated the word 'work' with the word 'happy.' Again, don't misunderstand me. I do like to keep busy with little jobs and projects. But normally when I hear the word 'work,' I remember a time when I was helping my dad lay sprinkler pipes in our backyard. I think it was like 104 degrees, and we were hunched over the trenches with our faces painfully close to the searingly-hot ground. With the sweat running into my eyes and dripping off my nose, I helped my dad finish laying the pipe.

That is work. Nothing happy about it except maybe the satisfaction of a job well done. Even that feeling was only mildly pleasant since I think I was still feeling faint from the heat.

The point of this post is not to let you know that I know how to lay sprinkler pipe, but to show everyone that there is a major issue with the name of this "holiday." I would never associate work with happy. Or maybe I would if I was feeding the hungry or helping wash the church bus. I think work can be fun, in fact, I am sure of it. OK, you can just forget everything that I just said about work being unhappy. Never mind.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God."

Word of the Week #4

2007-09-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

solecism \SOL-uh-siz-uhm\, noun:

1. A nonstandard usage or grammatical construction; also, a minor blunder in speech.

2. A breach of good manners or etiquette.

3. Any inconsistency, mistake, or impropriety.

Example Sentences:
"An accurate report of anything that has ever been said in any parliament would be blather, solecism, verbiage and nonsense."
-- "Hansard of the Highlands", Times (London), February 17, 2001

"In those days smoking in the streets was an unpardonable solecism."
-- Edmund Yates, Recollections

Origin:
Solecism comes from Latin soloecismus, from Greek soloikizein, "to speak incorrectly," from soloikos, "speaking incorrectly," literally, "an inhabitant of Soloi," a city in ancient Cilicia where a dialect regarded as substandard was spoken.

Crafts Gone Bad

2007-08-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

I am not anything like my sister and fellow author. We may have some common interests........ but there aren't many. Ally Pie is the firstborn in my family. I am the second born. Ally's interests consist of anything artsy. The best I can do is draw "stick figures". Many times Ally, being the wonderful sister that she is, has attempted to help me get in touch with my artistic side. Here are a couple of tragic things that happened........

.......jabbed myself in the gut with a knitting needle

.......painted myself blue

.......sewed my finger to my embroidery

.......stapled my toe with a stapler (interesting and painful story)

.......swallowed a glass bead

.......breathed in chalk dust

......super glued my right hand to a table(Didn't get it off for days)

......poked myself in the eye with a popsicle stick

......accidentally covered my body with a green Sharpie (people thought I was sick)

......quilted my shirt to a blanket

......set my hair on fire(i still have some left)

I have learned that I will never be like Ally. God created me(thankfully) with other gifts and abilities. If we were all the same, what would be the fun of living? Be happy in your uniqueness!!!!!!!!

1 Corinthians 12:12 "The body is a unit, though it is made
up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

Time's Up

2007-08-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Today is my day to write. That's all there is to it. I must try to think of some funny story with a moral to share or maybe even an amusing picture that makes you (and I) laugh. But so far this post has not contained anything of the like. Do you know why? It's because I ran out of time.

Time. Sometimes it seems to crawl by and other times it feels like it never will slow down enough for you to use your inhaler. Only recently did I really notice how much time I waste during the day.

A few minutes gabbing on the phone, a half an hour scanning through a magazine, an hour reading articles on the internet, or maybe even two hours spent emailing friends. Not to say that any of these things are necessarily bad, it's just that lately I have used up a lot of precious time.

I enjoy watching medical shows. Not the really graphic ones, but the informative kind. Every time I watch a show where someone comes close to death, I am reminded of how short and fragile my life on earth is. Have you ever thought of what people would say about you at your funeral?

Some would probably want to be remembered because of their scientific or literary achievements. Others might desire remembrance because of their wealth, but I want to be remembered for a different reason. To have people say that they could see my fire for Jesus lived out through my daily life would be the ultimate compliment.

I want to be remembered for my diligence in studying God's Word and knowing it inside and out. I want to be remembered for praying short but sincere prayers. I want to be remembered for my close relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to be remembered for my deeds done in the humility that come from being a servant of Christ.

We sow the seeds of righteousness through our actions, and someone else will come along after us and reap the harvest. Now that I have said all that, don't you want to be remembered too?

Isaiah 3:10 "Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds."

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday #3

2007-08-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

Wacky Web-Pic Wednesday is here again!!!! This time we found something a little bit "different" from all the other WWPW pictures. It isn't necessarily "gross", or something that after seeing I feel woozy. The only classification I could come up with is "disturbing." I am open to suggestions.

Take a good hard look at it...................................................................ok ok that's enough.

OooooooOoooooo....... The "Cat Tram" is coming to a stop. ALL ABOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew. I think this one is cool. But it does bring some questions to mind....

Is that natural?

How much did they pay him to lay on the board so they could take a picture?

Is that comfortable?

Maybe I should try it.........

An Essay on Sponges

2007-08-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Music plays an important role in my day to day life. I constantly have music blaring in my room, on my ipod and in my car. When I exercise, I normally have earphones in. When I am mowing the lawn or pulling weeds, I'll be rockin' out. Having music playing even helps me to think and write more easily.

This tradition of listening to music was started by my parents when I was very young. We always listened to K-love in the car, and we often played Cd's while in the house. Sometimes Saturday night turned into jazz night with my mom pulling out oldie moldies like Kenny G or the Yellowjackets.

My parents have always been careful to guard the malleable minds of my sisters and I. "Garbage in, garbage out" my mom would always say. Since she knew our impressionable minds would soak up everything indiscriminately like a sponge, she previewed everything. Now, looking back, I am glad she kept my brain from hearing things that would have shocked me. Gradually, she has let me see just enough of the gross side of the world to make me disgusted.

Our brains can be compared to many things like computers or alarm clocks, but I think they share many characteristics with sponges. When I clean water up using a sponge, I can't choose to only wipe up the clear liquid and leave the foul water behind. I get everything together. Same with our minds. I can't watch a movie and come away only remembering the good parts and promptly forget the perverse or offensive parts. I will most definitely remember the bad sections, maybe even more clearly than the wholesome lines.

Our minds are impressionable even when we have grown up enough to think that we are grown up. How many times have I overheard conversations between kids my age listening to offensive music because it's what is popular at the time. And as much as no one likes to admit it, those things that we say won't effect us really stick in our minds. Garbage-like images, lyrics, and lines are remembered so easily that sometimes it scares me.

Why would anyone want to put watermelon rind, chicken bones, moldy cheese, weird-smelling ham and leftover peas into their bodies on purpose? Garbage has its place: in the garbage can.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Word of the Week #3

2007-08-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Malleable adj. 1. Capable of being shaped or formed, as by hammering or pressure: a malleable metal. 2. Capable of being altered or influenced; tractable; pliable: the malleable mind of the pragmatist. --- See Synonyms at flexible.

Example Sentence: Since Mary was a compliant individual, the kids at school often called her Malleable Mary.