Clean that screen!

Need a screen cleaner for your monitor?

Check this out - http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf - so cute!

Thanks Allison!

Even if...

Our women's class last night centered on the topic of loving God, being faithful to God, following God "Even If...". We will all face trials in our life on Earth - if everything were perfect here, why would we have or need the hope of heaven?

Here are a few verses from our class:

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. Ecclesiastes 7:14 NIV

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19 NIV

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the Horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. Psalm 18:1-3; 17-18 NIV

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed" says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 NIV

There are many trials we may go through, most of which we will not be able to understand. We may ask, "What is happening here, Lord?" A quote we talked about is from Dr. James Dobson: "My strongest advice is that each of us acknowledge before the crisis occurs, if possible, that our trust in Him must be independent of our understanding. There’s nothing wrong with trying to understand, but we must not lean on our ability to comprehend! Sooner or later our intellect will pose questions we cannot possibly answer. At that point, we would be wise to remember His words, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). " James Dobson, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, pp. 236-237. ©1993, Tyndale House Publishers.

If we make the decision to be faithful, to trust in Him before the crisis happens, then we are much more likely to follow Him through the valley and the pain.

I hope you will take a few minutes to watch this short video - http://www.blessyoumovie.com/ . May God bless you today!
Sandy

Are you thirsty?

I want to tell you about a wonderful class we've been attending on Sunday morning - H2O - produced by City on a Hill Productions, Louisville, KY. You can find out more about City on a Hill here , and if you'd like to download a sample of the H2O class, you can find it here .

Whether you are a new Christian or one that has been around the block a few times, these episodes will inspire you in your own walk and help you to talk to other people about Jesus. Check it out!

Wee Mee

Hi,
I went to WeeWorld and created a miniature, caricature version of myself.
I suppose this is something to do once one reaches the age of 50!

You can create your own Wee Mee at www.weeworld.com. Have fun!

Tagged!

I have been tagged by Bobby to reveal 8 meaningless things about myself and then tag 8 more people to do the same. I don't think 8 people even read this blog, and if so, you guys don't leave comments so I don't know who you are. I could tag Vonnie, but Bobby tagged her too and that might be going overboard just a little. Sherry Lollar once told me she was a "lurker" and read my blog but I don't know her blog address and Bobby tagged her as well.

So, here goes:
1. I have loved 5 dogs in my life - Pitter-Patts, Tuffy, Missy, Buffy, and Shorty. Apparently all the dogs that live with me have to have names that end in 'y', with the exception of Pitter-Patts, who we adopted from a neighbor when she was 5 years old and I was 5 years old, and we kept her old name. I now have two 'granddogs' - Jessie (sounds like 'y') and Andy. The trend continues....

2. I managed to grow up without a microwave, color TV, or VCR. I remember buying gas when it cost 56 cents and they always posted the superscript '9' after the price. I remember when I could mail a letter for 5 cents. The previous three are mentioned for the real meaningless item that I will turn 50 this year.

3. My favorite book growing up was "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey. I loved visiting Boston Common in 2002 and seeing the statues commemorating the story.

4. I can still recite "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Moore from memory - well, most times I can still do it. My dad made me memorize it in the 5th grade.

5. My Honda Accord has 116,257 miles on it, and is not quite 7 years old.

6. My dryer is 26.5 years old.

7. I tried owning my own business but it didn't want me to, so we parted company.

8. I have read every book written by John Grisham. My favorite is The Painted House.

There you have it - 8 meaningless things about me - I will now tag Christopher - please accept my apology in advance if you don't like these sort of things.

Anyone else who wants to play, please leave me a comment and I'll come read your list!

Vacation!

Just a sample of pictures from our vacation and our niece's wedding -













And now, back to reality...

She did it!

We spent the past weekend in Abilene attending our daughter's graduation from ACU.

She starts her job and career as a nurse in June!


We also got to eat at Joe Allen's, shop at Relics, see the Jacob's Dream sculpture on campus, and catch up with some great friends for lunch at Alleycats on Friday. Packing the Uhaul during a pouring thunderstorm will be a memory for years to come! We took several drives around town to visit favorite places we don't expect to see for awhile.

Abilene was as green as we've ever seen it! The Jacob's Dream sculpture is inspiring and beautiful...



















ACU and Abilene, thanks for everything!

Way to go Amers!

Yum!

Today, Tucson hits the big league.
No, not a new sports team.
No, not even a new retail store.
Today, In-N-Out Burger opens in Tucson.

Can't you just taste a double-double animal style, grilled onions?

One of the larger privately-held restaurant chains, In-n-Out jumped into the Arizona market about 8-9 years ago, and is now expanding to Tucson. Long known in the California area, In-n-Out has a vast following of burger-hungry Arizonans, eager for some fresh cut fries or a chocolate shake.
Their largest burger is affectionately known as a 4x4 - four beef patties, four slices of cheese. I once saw a man eat 4 of them in one sitting, but it wasn't a pretty site.
Time for lunch!

2007

If the last few months are an indication, the rest of 2007 is going to be really something! Two weeks ago our daughter got married... 3 weeks from now our other daughter will graduate from college... our niece is getting married this summer... and I turn 50 in the fall.

I already posted a picture of the wedding, here is a picture of our family's new RN - we are very proud of her!

Here is a question - are you happy with your job or career? Or, have you found that you changed paths and pursued a different one?

Going to the chapel...

April 7, 2007

The day was beautiful...
We were honored by our guests...
Our joy overflows.

Seasoned Salt

We had an interesting discussion in our life group on Sunday related to Bobby's sermon in Matthew 5. We specifically talked about Matthew 5:13-16:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

As we discussed the different properties of salt - its seasoning, as a preservative, how it enhances our food - one of our group members made the comment that salt can also be corrosive. For example, salt put on roadways corrodes the underside of cars; or, consuming too much salt can contribute to high blood pressure and other health issues.

How do you think that might apply to this scripture? Can we, as followers of Christ, be corrosive? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Fun Things to do in Phoenix

You may know that we're planning a wedding for our daughter, and as a part of the invitation process, we'll include a little page of fun things to do while in the Phoenix area. Since it was all ready, I thought some of you might like a preview of things to do in the Phoenix area. Because of all the web addresses, I did not include them as links, so you'll have to cut and paste.

Fun Places to Shop -

www.fashionsquare.com
www.scottsdaledowntown.com
www.downtowntempe.com

Fun Things to do Outdoors -

Golf
www.arizonagolfer.com/courses/phoenix
www.teetimesinarizona.com/

Hiking
http://phoenix.gov/parks/hikephx.html
http://phoenix.gov/parks/hikesoth.html

Fun Museums & Exhibits -

The Phoenix Zoo www.phoenixzoo.org

Desert Botanical Garden www.dbg.org

Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park
www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/

Pueblo Grande Museum
http://phoenix.gov/parks/pueblo.html#museum

Arizona Science Center www.azscience.org
Heard Museum www.heard.org

Goldfield Ghost Town
www.goldfieldghosttown.com

If you've ever been to the Phoenix, what are some of your favorite things to do while in town?

I haven't posted much since leaving for Christmas break on the 15th of December. Time just hasn't allowed much writing this past month.

Dave's mom passed away this week, at the too young age of 74. Although she was imprisoned by Alzheimer's, and the outlook was not going to improve, when it happened it was swift. It is not an easy thing to lose both your parents in 15 months.

Below is a picture taken in September 2005, hugging one of her granddaughters. She didn't know she was Grandma, she just knew she was loved. This was the last time my children got to see their grandmother, although her memories of her grandchildren were gone years before.


There is a season for every life. Enjoy each season. Spend time with your family, your friends. Listen to stories you might not get to hear in the next season. Love one another. God be with you until you meet again.

Happy New Year!

Greetings in the new year, and may this year be a blessing to you.

The holidays behind us, our family now finds itself looking ahead to a new year that includes an upcoming wedding for one daughter and a college graduation for another. I'll be a mother-in-law - I pray that I will be worthy. I remember trying to transition from child to adult with my own parents - again, I pray that I will be worthy.

Today is back to work day - after two weeks away I hope to be able to go through all of my email (hundreds, but mostly junk/spam), clear all the voicemail, and open/distribute all the office mail. If those 3 things can be accomplished, I will consider today a success!

May God bless you richly in the coming year!

What is in the bottom of your frig?

One of the items on my list of things to accomplish today is to clean out the refrigerator. You know, throw out old food, wash the shelves, reorganize the regular inhabitants so that they're easy to find and use.

Every thing was going along smoothly until I hit the vegetable bin; then, I found something that I think used to be a cucumber. Yuck!

I washed up the bin and threw out the old food. I even found some leftovers in the freezer that we'll have for dinner tonight - hooray for not having to come up with a menu for dinner at 6:00 pm when I arrive home from work, and I'm tired from the day. I also found some still-good lettuce and other salad makings, which I chopped up and will use for my lunch today, and for dinner tonight.

While emptying the frig, I got to thinking about how I sometimes feel like what I found in the bottom of the vege bin... growing older, maybe a little moldy around the edges, in need of cleansing and renewal. While washing the bin, I thought of being washed by Jesus and being made clean again. And, while chopping up the vegetables for the salad, I thought of how God uses each of us to accomplish something for him; something that may not be easily accomplished individually, but when blended together, brings forth a completely new accomplishment.

I pray that you will be open to God's plan for you today.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Things to think about...

Sunday evening, as a part of our monthly congregational family night, our youth minister showed the film "Invisible Children" for anyone who wanted to see it. If you don't know anything about "Invisible Children," I invite you to go to their website - http://www.invisiblechildren.com . This is the story of 3 young men who traveled to northern Uganda and discovered children as young as 8 years old who were being abducted from their villages and homes, brainwashed, and forced to fight and kill. It is a sobering story.

I contrast that with my occasional complaining about things that aren't the way I want them to be. There is no excuse. Lord, please forgive me for my ungratefulness.

Thursday is Thanksgiving. For you, I hope that you will find a blessing in the day; and, if you think about it for a few minutes, abundant blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks

I was supposed to be born on Thanksgiving, and my name was almost Diane. Upon my entrance to this world, I weighed slightly more than 5 pounds.

Today I begin the countdown of 365 days until I've lived for a half century. I don't know whether to rejoice or say "ouch".

But in reality I am astounded and thankful.

Astounded because I'm 49. How did that happen? I remember thinking that was so old! I don't feel much differently inside than I did when I was 25, although I'm grateful to have learned a few things along the way.

Thankful for so many things: life, husband, children, family, friends, joys, sorrows, challenges, blessings, the big things, and mostly the small things.

What will the next 365 days will bring?

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

God's Creation

There is nothing like an Arizona sunset -



- or desert mountains



to awaken you to His creation.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NIV)

Random musings...

I confess to being at a small loss for words - hence not much blogging recently. Just a few thoughts on my mind....

Are you tired of the political TV ads, computer generated phone calls, and the mega-conglomeration of signs posted at street corners? What an honor to be able to vote and live in the U.S.A! But, shameless campaigning for propositions that have hidden agendas and meanings, along with the smear campaigns by the competing candidates leave me anxious for the entire process to be over. We voted early, by mail, after spending several hours one evening pouring over the ballot and assorted campaign literature. 20 propositions are up for vote in So. Arizona, along with heated races between the candidates for Congress and the state legislature. Voting is sort of like investing - past performance (good or bad) is not a guarantee for future results (good or bad).

Are you looking forward to the new season of 24 in January? You can watch the trailer at http://www.24trailer.com/ . Scary! What will happen to Jack Bauer?! Some of the conservative radio talk shows have new lingo - people calling in saying they're a "Jack Bauer Conservative." Interesting thought, although I confess I'm not sure exactly what that means - perhaps having the ability to assess a situation quickly, act decisively without remorse, while all the while putting yourself in harm's way? Thoughts?

A Christian brother of ours is currently serving in Iraq and his newsletters home bring the far-away war to a sobering reality. Whether you agree with the war or not, the fact remains that we have many brave men and women serving overseas with honor. Here I sit at my computer, quietly drinking a cup of coffee. Our friend asks that we pray for peace.

There was another obituary in the paper the other day of yet another person who died of melanoma, at the young age of 46. Last month there was someone who was only 31. Keep wearing your sunscreen! I guess you don't have to deal with too many needless deaths to understand why my dermatologist is aggressive in removing suspicious growths.

We are enjoying our study in Biblical Archaeology - learning about places where Jesus, Abraham, Herod (the Great and Agrippa and Antipas), Pontius Pilate, and Paul lived and walked are enlightening. It is interesting to note that many places have been recently (in archaeological terms) excavated. The only known physical evidence of Pilate's existence was found in Caesarea (Maritima) in the 1950's, a reused stone plaque in the theater that was remodeled in the 3rd century C.E. (Common Era, replaced the old A.D.). The inscription reads "...the Tiberium, which Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of Judea, gave and dedicated." The stone plaque measures 32 by 27 inches. Pilate held the office of Prefect of Judea from 26 to 36 C.E. and lived in Caesarea. To build the harbor at Caesarea, the Herodian builders utilized hydraulic concrete, invented by the Romans. It was comprised of mortar, volcanic sand, pumice and lime, and because it was 3 times denser than water, it had the capability of hardening beneath the ocean surface - quite an accomplishment 2000 years ago. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem stands over the temple that was destroyed in 70 C.E. How do you suppose they moved 200 ton blocks to build the temple, of which now remains part of the Wailing Wall? Moving 200 tons is a challenge in this day even with huge earth moving equipment.

Just a few thoughts on my mind. What's on your mind?

Habitual Tendencies

Do you have any habits?

Thinking of that question, did you immediately think of a good habit or a bad habit? I thought of a bad habit.

What makes a good habit? What makes a bad habit? And, how do they start?

A definition of habit (among others) according to Webster - a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior; a : a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance b : an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.

Now I can think of some bad habits that are almost completely involuntary, but it is harder for me to think of some good habits in that light. Perhaps our good habits don’t create guilt or negative feelings, so we can just consider them part of our daily routine?

Related words, according to Webster’s Online Thesaurus: addiction; disposition; bent, inclination, proclivity, tendency, turn; convention, form, mode, style; usage; manners, mores; groove, rote, routine, rut; affectation, airs, pose; attribute, characteristic, mark, trait; oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, tic; strangeness, weirdness.

What do you think of the related words routine and rut; characteristic and trait; and, how do they fit into your habits?