Dream and Scribble

HE'S A BOY!!!

2015-09-02T18:34:00.002-04:00

This is my opinion on gender-confusion...for some odd reason, you can't accept the simple fact that God, in His mighty wisdom, created you in your mother's womb, the way He wanted you to be. He wanted you to be male, so He designed your body that way. Or he wanted you to be female, so He designed your body thus. He gave you everything your gender was supposed to have. He didn't put the brain of the opposite gender in your body, and then stand back and laugh when you became confused about your gender, because He doesn't play games like that. You are male or female the way He created you. I'll be blunt: If you're confused about your gender, even though it's obvious which genitalia you have, you need to find a therapist. It's not your body that's mixed up. It's your brain. 

In the movie Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear believed he was a Space Ranger, and believed he could fly. Woody tried to convince him he was really a toy, a child's plaything, but Buzz wouldn't listen. But when he and Woody ended up in Sid's house looking for a way to escape because Sid always destroyed his toys, Buzz saw a commercial on TV which clearly stated that he was not a flying toy. Still, he refused to believe he couldn't fly. So he tried to fly from the second floor railing to a window, ultimately landing on the floor and breaking his arm off. That's when he realized the truth: He wasn't a Space Ranger. He was a toy.

Sometimes it takes a catastrophe to change a person's way of thinking.

Put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig. Put a wig and a dress on a boy, and he's still a boy. He has the bone structure, anatomy, voice, and DNA of a boy. HE'S A BOY! He doesn't belong in the girls' bathroom.

Emotional Roller Coaster

2014-11-06T03:26:00.001-05:00

I'm on an emotional roller coaster.

On the one hand, I'm thankful for God's blessings. Sometimes thinking of them makes me feel so overwhelmed with gratitude that my eyes overflow with tears. I'm thankful also for friends who recently showed compassion for me and commented when they noticed I wasn't feeling well (but I never said a word).

On the other hand, I wish I could just fall into the arms of a man I love and enjoy his warm, loving embrace. But there is no such man in my life, and I'm wondering if I'm destined to walk life's journey alone. Just to lay my head on his shoulder would be so lovely. I know I can lay my head on the Lord's shoulder and fall into his arms, and I should find comfort in that. But I've been so long without a significant other to talk to and hold close, and being patient is at times very difficult. I used to have a significant other, but it didn't work out for various reasons.

Sometimes I wonder if my being alone now is God's way of saying, "That's all you get. There isn't any more." But that would be heartless, and God isn't that way. Maybe He's just trying to teach me patience while he gets the right man ready for me and sends him my way. Maybe I still have some growing to do before God pairs me with another man.

For now, I remain hopeful. I have a relationship with Christ, and therefore, I am Never Alone.

Ahhhhh, Autumn

2014-10-15T03:20:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, autumn. A favorite time of year for many people. A reprieve from the heat and humidity of summer. The leaves are beautiful colors, and the air smells fresh and clean.

The cooler temperatures of autumn prepare us for the frigid temperatures of winter. The temperatures start to drop, and then rise again. Indian summer, we call it. What is Indian summer?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Indian summer thus:

Indian summer noun

: a period of warm weather in late autumn or early winter

: a happy or pleasant period near the end of someone's life, career, etc.

But wait a minute. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, it's not really Indian summer.

This is what the Old Farmer's Almanac says about what criteria are needed for a true Indian summer:

As well as being warm, the atmosphere during Indian summer is hazy or smoky, there is no wind, the barometer is standing high, and the nights are clear and chilly.

A moving, cool, shallow polar air mass is converting into a deep, warm, stagnant anticyclone (high pressure) system, which has the effect of causing the haze and large swing in temperature between day and night.

The time of occurrence is important: The warm days must follow a spell of cold weather or a good hard frost.

The conditions described above must occur between St. Martin's Day (November 11) and November 20. For over 200 years, The Old Farmer's Almanac has adhered to the saying, "If All Saints' (November 1) brings out winter, St. Martin's brings out Indian summer."

In other words, a true Indian summer is when we get abnormally warm weather after the first killing freeze of autumn. The overnight temperature drops to 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and there may or may not be an accompanying frost. A true Indian summer can happen more than once in mid to late autumn.

Europe has an equivalent of Indian summer that they call Old Wives Summer. England's equivalent is called St. Martin's Summer or St. Luke's summer, depending on the date on which it occurs. In poetry, Indian summer is often referred to as Halcyon Days.

How did Indian summer get its name? Everyone has a theory about this. Here's one presented by the Old Farmer's Almanac:

Why is Indian summer called Indian summer? There are many theories. Some say it comes from the early Algonquian Native Americans, who believed that the condition was caused by a warm wind sent from the court of their southwestern god, Cautantowwit.

The most probable origin of the term, in our view, goes back to the very early settlers in New England. Each year they would welcome the arrival of a cold wintry weather in late October when they could leave their stockades unarmed. But then came a time when it would suddenly turn warm again, and the Native Americans would decide to have one more go at the settlers. "Indian summer," the settlers called it.

I don't care how it got its name. I don't care whether it happens in mid-October or mid- to late November. This is a beautiful time of year, and the temperatures are so enjoyable that I want to spend the whole day outside. I spent the entire summer in my air-conditioned house. Now I have my windows open to let in the fresh air, and I have fans running to circulate the air through the house. It's really pleasant tonight. A soft rain is falling and the crickets are chirping. I love to look at photos of autumn leaves from all over the world. This is the time of year when I would like to go camping, while many people prefer to go camping in the summer. My thoughts turn to the coming holidays...turkey, crock-pot meals, apple pies, pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin scented candles, pumpkin everything.

Take lots of photos of the autumn leaves and fill a scrapbook with them. Gather your loved ones around the fire pit, eat Brunswick stew, drink hot cocoa, and make s'mores. Rake the leaves into a huge pile and play in them with your kids and your dog. Go to a local pumpkin patch, pick out the biggest pumpkins you can find, ride atop a wagon full of straw, and wind your way through a maze of hay bales and dried corn stalks. Make crafts with pumpkins, gourds, corn husks, and Indian corn. Savor the sweetness of Honeycrisp apples. Watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown over and over and over with your kids. Make Halloween costumes for them, for yourselves, and even for your pets. Treasure these moments with those you love.

Lounge in a chair on a dock, and be mesmerized by the reflection of the brilliant autumn leaves on the placid lake. Take a deep breath and let it out. Close your eyes in contentment and smile. Ahhhhh, autumn.

The Challenges of a Dead Laptop

2014-10-14T03:36:00.001-04:00

As of October 17, 2014, I will have had my laptop for two years. I've used it every day since I bought it at Best Buy. A few months after I bought it, I started getting the "blue screen of death" and took it to Best Buy thinking their techs could find out what was wrong and fix it. I was wrong.

So I contacted my good friend and repairman, Bill Gould at A+ OnSite Computer Repairs in Midlothian, Virginia. He figured it out and for the next ten months or so I didn't have anymore blue screens or any other problems with my laptop. For the past four years my mom, my daughter, and I have relied on Bill for computer repairs. He's very knowledgeable and his prices are reasonable. He will work on your computer on site unless it has a problem like mine had, where he has to take it home to work on it. He runs his business from his home, and this is all he does (besides rescue feral cats). His resume is impressive. He's worked with Microsoft Office for over 14 years, and he's been building computers since 1993. If you live or work around Midlothian, Virginia, and your computer is in need of repair, contact him at (804) 763-2436. His website is www.aplusonsite.com.

Three weeks ago I started getting messages from my computer that the hard drive was unstable and needed repair or replacement. I ignored them. I should have called Bill instead. Luckily I had the presence of mind to back everything up on my jump drive. One night last week I noticed that my computer seemed to be taking FOREVER to shut down, and I got suspicious. After it finally shut down, I tried to reboot it, but it said it couldn't open MS Windows. It said it needed the installation disc, which I didn't have, because I'd bought the software as a direct download from Microsoft. I asked Bill to help out. Normally he fixes computers on-site, but this was something he couldn't fix that way. He took my laptop home and worked on it. He said the hard drive was so dead that he couldn't get it to boot. So he replaced it with a refurbished hard drive, and brought it back to me after three days. We loaded everything from my jump drive (pictures, music, etc.) onto the "new" hard drive, and everything appears to be fine now.

Boy, did I get a surprise. Bill loaded MS Office 2007 on my "new" hard drive because that was all he had available. I've since recommended that he get newer software so that other people won't run into the problems I'm facing. I'm so used to MS Office Home and Student 2010 that going back to Office 2007 feels like reinventing the wheel. I'm trying to figure out how to convert some things, like my OneNote notebooks, from 2007 to 2010. All of them synced except the one I was using for Strong Tower, which said it needed a password in order to sync--but I didn't use a password for it. So I tried to send it to OneDrive, and it said the notebook was empty. So I guess I've lost all of that notebook, which I was using for my novel. Good thing I had the stages, plot, scenes, and so forth written in MS Word and printed out, so I

can refer to the hard copy.

I need to upgrade to newer software. I went online to Microsoft's website to look for software, and discovered that they no longer make Office Home and Student 2010. Office 365 Home is a $99.99 annual subscription. Office 365 Personal is a $69.99 annual subscription. These are not standalone software discs. You have to renew them every year. That's not what I want. I wanted to find standalone software. Microsoft has Office Home and Student 2013 direct download for $139.99. That was more like what I wanted. I could also get the disc at the same price from Best Buy or someplace like that. That way if my hard drive crashes again, I could use the disc to reload the software onto a new hard drive. But I didn't like the high price and thought maybe I could find it cheaper somewhere else.

Then I searched online again and found MS Office Home and Student 2013 for $74.99 direct download at soft-depot.com. Never heard of them before, but found some good reviews on them, so I took my chances and made the purchase. They are on Pacific Time, and it was after business hours, so they'll download the software tomorrow when they open. I'm praying that all goes well. Has anyone else ever heard of Soft-Depot.com?

This little "hiccup" with my computer has put me behind schedule on writing Strong Tower. But never fear...I WILL OVERCOME!!!!

“Look! I stand at the door and knock…”

2014-07-21T22:05:00.001-04:00

In my book Strong Tower, I describe a picture of Jesus standing at the door and knocking, which is based on Revelation 3:20: "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." (New Living Translation)

Look at the pictures side by side. That door represents the door of your heart. In the more traditional picture, which I'm sure most of us grew up seeing, Jesus is knocking at a door that has no handle on the outside. The more updated pictures I've seen lately show Jesus knocking at a door of a modern house, and there's a handle on the outside of the door. If there were a handle, Jesus could just open the door and let Himself in. I've even found a more humorous take on the picture, where Jesus is dressed up like a police or SWAT officer and is ready to break down the door. Some may think it's sacrilegious, but I think it's a lighthearted view of what Jesus is not going to do.

In Revelation 3:20, does Jesus say He’s going to barge in where He’s not welcome, and demand that you accept Him and share food with Him? No. Jesus is a gentleman. He will not invite Himself in, or even break the door down, but rather wait until you open the door and invite Him in. You have free will. It’s your choice, to run to the door and open it and invite Jesus to come in to dine with you, or to turn away and ignore His knocking and calling out to you. Sharing a meal together is an outward sign of brotherly love and reconciliation. When you invite Jesus to come in and dine with you, He will explain to you all the trials you’ve been through that have led you to this point. He won’t condemn you or criticize you. He will speak words of love, forgiveness, comfort, and reconciliation. This alludes to the Holy Communion and the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciples before His death on the cross, where He died for the forgiveness of all our sins.

Do you have to clean up your act, and make everything all neat and tidy before Jesus comes in? No. Jesus accepts you just as you are, regardless of your circumstances, because He loves you unconditionally. After you let Him into your heart, that’s when the “cleaning up” begins. Sometimes it’s instantaneous; sometimes it’s a process. But with Jesus by your side, you never have to go through it alone.

Posterior Capsulotomy

2014-07-08T00:31:00.001-04:00

UPDATE, July 21--My laser capsulotomy is scheduled for August 5. I would appreciate your prayers.

I’m no stranger to surgery (when it’s necessary). When I was in my early twenties, I had my wisdom teeth removed. When I was in my mid-twenties, I lost two teeth in a car accident and had to have a permanent bridge implanted. When I was in my mid-forties, I had cataracts removed from both of my eyes. Since hitting the big 5-0, I’ve had a complete hysterectomy, had both rotator cuffs repaired, had one knee replaced, and had an arthroscopy on the other one (both due to arthritis). Pretty soon I’m going to have a posterior capsulotomy. No, it has nothing to do with my posterior—ha ha!

When I went to my ophthalmologist for my regular eye exam four months ago, I complained about cloudiness in my left eye. He said that this is common after cataract removal, and it’s called posterior capsule opacity. He explained that when I had cataract surgery, the clouded natural lens was removed and an intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted in its place. The IOL is supported by a membrane called the lens capsule. Sometimes, part of the lens capsule that supports the IOL can become cloudy several months, or even years, after the cataract was removed. This is sometimes called a “secondary cataract,” but it’s not a real cataract because the IOL itself can’t become cloudy like the natural lens can. It’s just that the membrane that holds the IOL has become cloudy because the lens epithelial cells remaining after cataract surgery have grown on the capsule. Some people (like me) report also having problems with glare and bright lights, decreasing ability to read, and decreased ability to see far distances when this happens. My doctor said it’s very quick and simple to fix with laser capsulotomy. First, the doctor places numbing eye drops in your eye. Second, he puts more drops in your eye to dilate the pupil. Third, an invisible laser is focused onto the cloudy membrane behind the lens implant (posterior capsule), and a small hole is created in the membrane to allow light to pass freely to the retina, thus improving vision. The whole thing takes about five minutes. My doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops after the procedure, but some doctors don't think they're necessary. Normally the patient is able to resume all normal activity almost immediately. Most patients report improved vision within a day or two. There is a 2 percent risk of a detached retina with this treatment, so my doctor is going to check for that a few days afterward. If there is any damage to the retina, it can also be repaired with the laser.

Being a writer, I depend heavily on my vision to be the best it can be. I can’t stand it when I can’t see what I’m writing because this little cloud gets in the way, so I’m going to have this thing corrected as soon as I can. After the laser capsulotomy, I’ll have to have a new prescription for my normal glasses and as well as a new one for my computer glasses, but it’ll be worth it to be able to see better.

INTERVENE!

2014-06-28T02:18:00.001-04:00

I just found this disturbing video online. In it, a 27-year-old mother in Salem County, NJ is violently attacked by a person wearing a McDonald's uniform. The mother's 2-year-old son is kicking the attacker and pleading with her to stop hurting his mom. An onlooker recorded the attack on his/her cell phone and posted it on Facebook. Police have identified the attacker as 25-year-old Latia Harris. She's been charged with aggravated assault and two counts of making terroristic threats.

The onlookers thought it better to just stand there and watch and record the attack than to intervene. Like this person was being attacked for their entertainment. They're walking through the park and they say, "Oh, look! Someone's being beaten up. Let's record it and put on Facebook and YouTube." And while the attack was going on, the onlookers were saying, "Oooohhh!" Like they were observing a couple of fighters in the ring. No regard for the woman being beaten or for her fearful toddler. This shows you how our society disregards human life these days.

This is outrageous! What is wrong with people today? What are they afraid of? When someone is in trouble, you don't just stand there and do nothing. You help them! That's what we were put on this earth to do--help people. Are we our brother's keeper? Yes! We are responsible for each other. God put us on this earth to be "doors" for His love to walk through. Are we showing His love when we turn away or, worse yet, just stand there and watch and do nothing, while someone is being mistreated or abused? Is that the right thing to do? No! The little boy in this video was fearful, but that didn't stop him from trying to help his mommy. Why do we allow fear to stop us from doing what we know is right? If you were being beaten up, wouldn't you want someone to intervene rather than record the attack and put it online? Stop hiding behind your phones and cameras and get involved! Reach out and help those in need. Don't ignore them. They need us. For some people, we're the only way they'll see God's love. We are His witnesses. This is our responsibility. It's time to step up and take it seriously!

Listen to the song in this video. The song is Hold Us Together, by Matt Maher.

You Can’t Fly the American Flag in America Anymore!

2014-06-26T10:44:00.001-04:00

I am getting so tired of people in our country being told they can’t fly the American flag. This is America, isn’t it? Why can’t we fly our country’s flag without being harassed about it?

On June 18 I found a story posted by Alice Barr of KHOU 11 News, about a man in Webster, Texas named Duy Tran, who says his apartment complex manager told him to take his American flag off his balcony because it was “a threat to the Muslim community.” His neighbors have other patriotic symbols hanging from their balconies, and the complex manager didn’t come after them. So why does Duy Tran have to take down his flag? He wants to leave it up to honor his friends who died serving our country, and he has the support of his neighbors. Here’s my response to the apartment complex manager, which I posted on Google+:

Since when is the American flag a "threat"?? Since when is it "inappropriate" or "unsafe" to display an American flag on your balcony in America? If it's firmly attached to the railing, it's not going to fall down on anyone. And if it's offensive to the Muslim community, too bad. It was offensive to me and all other Americans when Muslims bombed the World Trade Center. It's offensive to me that they want to build a Mosque in that vicinity. It's offensive to me that they want to do everything they can to turn America into a Muslim nation. Ain't gonna happen! How dare they come into this country and tell Americans what they can and cannot do? If they don't like how we display our pride in our country, they can go back where they came from! It won't hurt my feelings one bit if they leave!

Today I watched a video about a 73-year-old veteran, Larry Murphree, in Jacksonville, FL who is battling against his homeowners association over a small American flag in one of his flowerpots. And by “small,” I mean the flag is about 8” x 10” or so. It seems the homeowners association wants to regulate what goes into the flowerpots, and it doesn’t include the American flag among the things it deems acceptable. The homeowners association has been fining Mr. Murphree $100 per day, and so far the fines add up to over $8,000. If he doesn’t pay the fines, they will file a foreclosure lien on his home! Mr. Murphree says all he wants to do is honor his country. He says the homeowners association tried this same thing two years ago and it was settled. Now they’ve made up new rules about what can be in a flowerpot, and the flag is “an unauthorized object.” Since when is the American flag “an unauthorized object” in the United States of America?! (I know that’s not what the homeowners association meant, but still, they really need to stop being so controlling!) Mr. Murphree says his neighbors support him one hundred percent. He says news of his battle with the homeowners association has gotten around online, and he’s even gotten calls from people in other states voicing their support. When the Fox News Insider reporter who was interviewing him asked him what his message would be to those who were so strongly opposed to having “an unauthorized object” (i.e., the American flag) in his flowerpot, his response was: “Well, I would think that if anybody on that board told me they’d served in the military, I’d have to ask them which side.” My sentiments exactly.

Here’s a similar story about Brent Greer, who lives in Bradenton, FL. The city’s code enforcement officers inspected his home after someone anonymously reported a dead Christmas tree in front of his house. The inspectors found a few things they said were “code violations,” and threatened Mr. Greer with a fine of $250 per day. In protest against his city’s unfairness, Mr. Greer painted his home red, white, and blue to show his community that he still lives in the United States. According to the report, painting his home is not a code violation. But they’ll probably fine him for that, too. Those self-serving idiots in authority seem to have an aptitude for finding loopholes that they use to their own advantage. And I’m talking about everywhere, not just in Bradenton. Mr. Greer, my hat’s off to you, sir. Well done.

People, our country’s birthday is coming up very soon. On July 4, I want to see people proudly waving the Star Spangled Banner and celebrating our nation’s Independence! Let’s show our pride and gratitude for our servicemen and servicewomen, who sacrifice everything so that we can be free! This is America! Wave the flag! Display it proudly! Don’t let anyone tell you to take it down! FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM! DON’T LET ANYONE TAKE IT AWAY!

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation UNDER GOD, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL!
I’M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! GOD BLESS THE USA!

Tell Me Again Why I Wanted to Be a Writer?

2014-06-20T02:49:00.000-04:00

I tend to be obsessive-compulsive with my writing. I can sit down at my computer and pound the keys for 8 to 16 hours straight. I'll get up to go to the bathroom, get something to eat or drink, and then plunge right back into writing. Once I start, I can't stop until I'm exhausted. This past weekend, I worked 16 hours straight, took a nap, and then worked another 12 hours straight. Then I wanted to cry because of muscle fatigue and spasms in my neck and back. I have osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. I have arthritis in my neck, too. I really felt it after binge-writing this past weekend. When I feel the pain of my arthritis kicking up, it kinda takes the joy out of writing for me. It makes me want to stay away from my laptop, but if I do that, I won't get any work done on my book. So I need to stop being OCD about my writing. I need to set out blocks of time to write and blocks of time to rest. I need to stop ignoring my body's signals that it's being overworked or put under too much stress. I need to take better care of myself. Otherwise, I might end up feeling run down and sick all the time.

I can't stand being distracted. I have four cats. The two older ones are 14 and 10 years old. They like to lie around and sleep all the time. The two younger ones are each two years old. They like to play all the time. One of them is always howling for food and attention. I don't feed him when he demands it; I feed all the cats in the morning and in the evening. He bullies the older ones, and this makes for quite a bit of hissing, growling, and angry protesting until I break it up with a squirt bottle. The other two-year-old likes to climb door frames, tear up my bed, and play-fight with the other youngster. Between the two young ones and their distractions, I get really frustrated, but I don't know what to do about it. I write at my desk in my bedroom. If I close my door to keep the cats out, all four of them will howl to be let in. If I go someplace away from my house to write, I'm bound to leave something I need back at the house, or forget it when I pack up to come back home. Also, I can't listen to music with lyrics when I write, because I'll start listening to the lyrics and not be able to write. It has to be classical or instrumental music. I can't have the TV on when I write, either, because I'll start watching TV instead of writing. I've found that I can have a boom box blasting my favorite Christian radio station while I write, but it has to be on the other end of the house rather than in my room. Even my daughter watching movies on her phone or computer in the room next to mine distracts me, especially if there's a lot of screaming. My desk is situated so that my back is to my bedroom door, which means I don't see someone coming into my room before I hear them. If I wore ear plugs to keep from being distracted, and someone came into my room, I'd get scared to death! Most of the time I write better when it's dead quiet in the house. I think that's why I stay up all night writing.

That's another thing. I tend to stay up really late at night to write, and then sleep most of the day. I haven't had a regular bed time for several years. When I try to go to bed at a "decent" hour, such as 11:00 at night, my mind won't shut down and let me relax. I end up staying up all night and go to bed after feeding the cats at the crack of dawn. I try to go to bed earlier if I have an appointment the next day, but it doesn't always work. I've managed to have nights when I go to bed at around 2:00 AM, and get up around 11:00 AM. But then I spend all day doing housework instead of writing. The housework has to be done, and I'm usually the only one who does it. I don't say that to complain; it's a simple statement of fact. If I ignore the chores so I can write during the day, it's like the chores scream at me until I get up and do them. It's a wonder I get any writing done. Then I go on one of those aforementioned writing binges.

Tell me again why I wanted to be a writer? Oh yeah, it's because I love writing. I just have to organize my time better.

Speaking of which, I'm planning on writing a post for this blog at least once or twice a week from now on, so be watching for new posts.

Long Absence Explained

2014-05-13T02:14:00.001-04:00

I would like to explain the reason behind my lengthy absence from blogging. Mostly it was because I thought nobody was reading my blog even when I alerted my Facebook friends about my newest blog posts. Also, I often feel like nothing interesting ever happens to me, which means there’s not much to talk about. I don’t want to bore those who really do read my blog. Recently, however, someone asked me why I had stopped blogging and when I was going to resume it. So, from now on, I will attempt to find something to blog about every day or every other day. I can’t promise that my posts won’t be wordy or rambling or lengthy. I am a writer, after all. That’s what I do. I would really appreciate it if each person who reads my posts leaves a comment, even if it’s nothing more than, “Good post,” “Interesting,” “Cool,” or something along that line. I welcome discussions. Even if you disagree with me (or each other) and want to counter or argue, that’s fine, as long as your comments contain no profanity. Just let me know you’ve been here, because that way I’ll know you’ve taken the time to read my blog and I’ll feel encouraged to continue with it.
God bless everyone!

Bible Study

2014-05-13T01:56:00.001-04:00

Every morning I read a passage from my NIV Daily Bible. Gradually I've gone from passively reading it to actually studying it. I like to find cross-references, underline, and write notes in the margins. I'm using pencil, so it will probably smudge over time. I don't use markers or highlighters because they bleed through the thin pages. I feel like I'm really learning a lot about God's Word. That's good, because I refer to it and quote from it in my own books, and I want what I say to be accurate. Another good thing about reading the Bible daily is that it helps me start the day off with a positive attitude and wards off depression and anxiety (with which I have struggled for years). But the best thing about it is that it makes me feel like God is very near and He is pleased with me because I’m studying His Word. I want Him to be pleased with me. That’s more important to me than anything else.

You’re Better Than That!

2014-01-16T05:59:00.001-05:00

Just browsed photos of celebrities before and after plastic/cosmetic surgery. I understand Hollywood's obsession with looking younger (not to mention the rest of the world). If you don't look young, you get passed over for movie roles. However, there's a lot to be said for "aging gracefully." Most celebrities had perfectly fine, if not beautiful, faces. They end up with the skin around their eyes stretched so much they look like scared rabbits. Their cheekbones protrude. Their mouths look larger than that of a wide-mouth bass. Perfectly fine noses get chiseled down to tiny pointy ones (think Michael Jackson). The finished product often looks hideous. Why can't they leave their faces alone? And some women need to leave their breasts alone instead of making them look like a couple of basketballs, because they look unnatural and cause backaches. If you're an actor, and you get passed over for roles because someone didn't like how you looked, maybe that wasn't the right role for you. Don't go under the knife--look for better roles. Why mess around with what God gave you? If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Appreciate your natural beauty and be happy in your own skin. Anyone who doesn't like how you look, can look the other way. You're better than that!

The Prayer Closet

2014-01-14T00:22:00.003-05:00

I’m studying about prayer and prayer closets because I want to have a more effective prayer life. I remembered watching a program on TV in which a woman talked about visiting someone in the hospital. She found a little prayer room and went in there to pray. She took off her jacket and used it to cover her head and have some extra privacy while praying. Someone said that was almost like going into a prayer closet like Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6:6. “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (New Living Translation)

When should we pray? We should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should pray in the morning, in the evening, when we are embarrassed or perplexed and needing direction, when we are tempted, when we are depressed, when we are anxious, when the Holy Spirit prompts us, in fact, anytime is a good time to pray, because nothing else will satisfy the soul like communion with God. Praying in a secret or private place is more satisfying to the soul because it gives us one-on-one time with God, and He will reward us.

At this website, http://www.gotquestions.org, I read about prayer closets. While Jesus taught that we should pray in a private place so we wouldn't be distracted by the world around us, many people have actually taken His teaching literally. They have cleaned out closets and made them into prayer closets, or built small rooms designated for prayer in their houses, and furnished them with a comfortable chair, a table, a Bible, a notebook, and sometimes even candles and a crucifix. I’m not knocking that. I think it’s a great idea.

But a “prayer closet” doesn't have to be an actual closet. It can be your car (you can pray on your daily commute). It can be a bench in your garden. It can be your kitchen table. It can be your bedroom. It can be a pantry. Wherever it is, it should be free from distractions, interruptions, and listening ears. It is a place for private prayer.

Today I was feeling really depressed and knew I needed to be alone with God. I can’t get down on my knees to pray because of my arthritis and surgeries in the past year. I read somewhere that John Wesley’s mother would sit on a chair and throw her apron over her head as a sign to her children to leave her alone because she was praying. Then I remembered the woman I wrote about in the first paragraph of this post. Even though I was alone in the house at the time, except for the cats who were howling for attention, I sat at the kitchen table, covered my head with a sweater and communed with Him for several minutes. You know what? The atmosphere in the kitchen changed. I felt the presence of God. It was like He was leaning close to listen to me. The cats got quiet and lay down at my feet. You know what else? My soul was satisfied. The depression was replaced with peace. I knew God had heard my prayer.

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16 New Living Translation)

HALL TEAPOT

2014-01-10T22:45:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to find some history on this teapot. I'm not a collector, and I know very little about antiques; I'm just curious because the teapot looks like it could be antique. I'm also curious about whether this teapot was part of a set and what the pattern was called. In browsing various websites, I've found some information but would like more. I know that Robert Taggert Hall founded the Hall China Company in East Liverpool, OH in 1903. He developed a single fire process between 1903 and 1911 to make his china durable, non-porous, and non-crazing. (The non-crazing process he used was designed to emulate the wares made in China during the Ming Dynasty.)

Backstamp: Circle with the word "Hall" in the middle. Directly on top of it is "HALL, 0752, 6 CUP, MADE IN U.S.A." Beside it is the number 22. This particular backstamp was used between 1930 and 1970.

The teapot is sort of oval, with a semi-circle handle in one piece with the pot. It has a longish spout that doesn't drip, and a knobbed lid that has a small hole for the hook that keeps it in place. The pot, lid, spout, handle, and bottom are trimmed in gold. On each side of the pot is a flower and leaf design in gold, and gold leaves on the lid and pot.

The Freedom of Silence

2013-12-11T02:00:00.001-05:00

I just watched The Freedom of Silence on Netflix. Here's the synopsis: "It's the year 2030, and the government has outlawed Christianity. Enter Zach Thompson, a brave man who teams up with a friend to hack into the government's computer system to reclaim religious freedom for Americans." And here's a review someone wrote about it: "As a piece of filmmaking, it's obvious that this is really bad, BUT, if one is up to the challenge of overlooking its flaws, the message is good. Given the current sorry state of our society, it's not that difficult to imagine such events coming to pass, especially if 'liberalism' continues to run amok."

I concur with this review. The movie has many flaws, but when you overlook them you can see and understand the message of what happens and will continue to happen if we as Christians don't stand up for what we believe in. One day it will be illegal to read the Bible, go to church, pray, or preach the Gospel. We will be imprisoned, tortured, and killed for our beliefs, but we can't back down. We must carry the Gospel to every nation. Jesus is the only way to heaven. I thank God for my parents, who raised me in a Christian home and made sure I went to church. I've tried to instill the same values and faith in my own children. I thank God for my relationship with Him and the knowledge that He holds me in the palm of His hand.

When I watch movies like this I start to feel both fearful and emboldened. I don't want to endure what the main character, Zach, endured, and it frightens me to think of it ever happening. But at the same time, I know that even if it were to happen, this world is not my home. I know my spirit will go to be with God in heaven when I die. "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." Life is a gift. Eternal life is freedom. Salvation is free for the asking. God the Father gave His one and only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins and to give us eternal life. That’s the greatest gift we could ever receive, at Christmas or any time. Let’s keep these things in mind during our Christmas festivities. Jesus is the only reason for the season.

Pentatonix

2013-12-06T21:55:00.001-05:00

This is my favorite a capella group. I first saw them on The Sing-Off in 2011. Since then, they have become amazingly popular. I wish them all the best!

[Official Video] Little Drummer Boy - Pentatonix

2013-12-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy the music of Pentatonix. I first saw them on The Sing-Off a year or two ago. They are such a talented group. Enjoy this video!

The Piano Guys Perform "Angels We Have Heard On High"

2013-12-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

These guys are so talented and harmonious! It's easy to see how much they love what they do. Enjoy!

Harris III, the Master Illusionist, Demonstrates How to Have a Relationship With God

2013-12-01T23:01:00.001-05:00

Harris III delivers the message of salvation in this video, using handkerchiefs to illustrate the story and making it so easy to understand.

http://www.uptv.com/videos/master-illusionist-harris-iii-the-truth

Green Living

2013-11-26T22:40:00.001-05:00

I’ve been browsing the Internet just out of curiosity and found ways people repurpose shipping containers, making them into guest houses, summer getaways, tree houses, or even permanent dwellings. You can stack the containers like building blocks or place them however you want, then add electricity, plumbing, and anything else you want to make them livable. If you use refrigerated containers, you get instant insulation! You can make the floors out of recycled car tires, or bamboo, or wood. You can slide open the walls to bring the outdoors indoors. You can replace the metal sides with glass for fantastic views. You can make your home blend in with its surroundings like a hobbit’s house. You can even build a house inside a shipping container house, like someone did on the website below. Isn’t that creative? It makes me want a shipping container home for myself!

Gorgeous Homes Made From Shipping Containers

Or, how about a yurt home?

These round structures are lightweight and can be used as playhouses, cabins at campgrounds, studios, or dwelling places. They are very roomy and they take only days to set up. They are very affordable, too. At Yurts of America, for example, the prices range from $7,518 for a 16-foot yurt to $13,596 for a 30-foot yurt.

I think it would be neat to live in a yurt or a container house because with just me and two cats, I don’t need much space. I like these ideas for “green living.” What do you think about them?

Thankful for Good News and Traveling Mercies!

2013-11-22T22:48:00.001-05:00

I went to my orthopedic surgeon last week complaining of pain extending down my left leg and up to my lumbar area. I thought it was a problem with my knee. He said it was sciatica and said to get an MRI of my lumbar region, then referred me to his associate, the spine doctor. I had the MRI two days ago. I saw the spine doctor today. He looked at the MRI and said the place where he saw narrowing around the sciatic nerve is considered normal. He said I don't require surgery, just physical therapy and gabapentin. Hurray!

On my way home, I became the brunt of someone’s road rage. I didn’t let it spoil my good mood. I just prayed for this poor fella who appeared to be in quite a hurry to get to his destination.

Tonight I posted this note on Facebook:

Dear Mr. Dirty Red Jeep Driver,

When I was driving home from the doctor's office this afternoon, in a top-of-the-world mood because I'd just received great news, I was going the speed limit. Sure, I was in the left lane, but only because I'd just passed someone who was going under the speed limit. I couldn't get over into the right lane yet. I glanced up into the rearview mirror and saw your jeep ...about to eat me alive. I tapped my brakes to warn you to back off. You flipped me off and came even closer, practically pushing me down the road. I could see your mouth moving, so I can only assume you were cussing me out. I moved to the right lane to let you whiz by, and watched as you weaved in and out of traffic, tailgating everyone who impeded your progress. I don't know why you were in such a hurry. Were you late picking up your kids from school? Were you trying to catch your wife cheating on you? Was your house on fire? I hope you got to your destination in one piece. Maybe you should wash your Jeep when you get there. And next time you get behind the wheel, please think about the other drivers on the road, those whose lives you place in jeopardy while you zigzag through traffic and tailgate them. Please mind your manners and share the road. Driving is a privilege, and I'd hate for you to have yours taken away.

Sincerely,

Me

Today I Am Thankful For…

2013-11-04T00:37:00.001-05:00

Peace. Serenity. That’s what I’m feeling tonight as I write this, while listening to a 2-CD set of classical guitar tunes on my stereo. My favorite tune on the first CD is Pachelbel’s Canon in D. I don’t know why, but this song always thrills me. Maybe it’s because this song is played at Christmastime; maybe I associate it with the joy of the holidays. I get a similar thrill when I hear Sagreras’s Etude 84. Faure’s Pavanne makes me feel calm and peaceful. Ave Maria, whether written by Gounod or Schubert, sounds so worshipful and makes me feel close to God.

I’m thankful for the sense of hearing. I’m thankful for music, which has been a joy to me my whole life. I used to take guitar lessons, both folk music and classical music. I enjoyed the latter more than the former. I haven’t played in a very long time. Now my fingers are stiff and sore with arthritis, but I’m beginning to think they might feel better if I started playing again. Why should I let arthritis keep me from doing what I like to do? Playing music, I think, would be physically and emotionally therapeutic. I’m no longer sure where to place my fingers on the strings to make the right notes, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to refresh my memory, with the help of the books I used for my lessons and all the videos on YouTube these days. I’m thankful for the desire to play the music that brings me joy, and to use a talent God gave me to glorify Him.

Now I just have to coax the fingernails on my right hand to grow so I can pluck the strings, while keeping the fingernails on my left hand short so I can press the strings down on the frets with just enough pressure that they won’t buzz. I’ll keep you posted.

Today I’m Thankful For…

2013-11-03T02:27:00.001-05:00

I’m really thankful for faith-based movies put out by Sherwood Pictures, the film ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. I’m talking about Flywheel (2003), Facing the Giants (2006), Fireproof (2008), Courageous (2011), and The Lost Medallion (2013). Of these, I’ve seen Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I really want to watch the others soon.

In the movie Courageous the men resolved, in part, to be the spiritual leaders of their homes; to be faithful to their wives, to love and honor them, and be willing to lay down their lives for them like Jesus did; and teach their children to love God, honor authority, and live responsibly.

Hearing the men making this resolution stirred something within me that screamed, “Yes! Yes! That’s the kind of man I want in my life! Why couldn’t (my ex-husband) have made this resolution? Why was he so eager to volunteer when the church needed a musician, a sound man, or an electrician, and give everyone else the best he had to offer, and ignore his responsibility as spiritual leader of our family? If only he had made this resolution before God and his family, we’d still be together.” I began to sob and beg my Heavenly Father to send me a Godly man who would do what (my ex-husband) did not…a man who would vow, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And I begged Him to make me the woman who would be a perfect match for such a man.

Men, please don’t disappoint God or your family by shirking your responsibility as spiritual leader of your family. Be a Godly man. Step up to the plate. Your family is counting on you. Women, resolve to be courageous in supporting your husbands and teaching your children to serve the Lord.

Watch the movie Courageous, and buy the books The Resolution for Men and The Resolution for Women, which were inspired by the movie. Get the certificates with said resolutions printed on them, frame them, and place them on your wall to remind you of your vow. You’ll be glad you did. Then you, too, will be thankful that you were courageous!

Courageous the Movie, Final Scene (very moving and inspiring)

Courageous the Movie Official Trailer

"Courageous" Theme Song performed by Casting Crowns

Fireproof Official Movie Trailer

Flywheel Official Movie Trailer

Facing the Giants Official Movie Trailer

The Lost Medallion Official Movie Trailer

Thanksgiving is Just Around the Corner!

2013-11-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Retailers are pushing Christmas earlier every year. I saw some Christmas items out in stores even before Halloween this year. Why is everyone in such a rush? The cartoon at right shows how I feel about that.

Now it's November 1st. We are 27 days away from Thanksgiving. Every day this month, in preparation for Thanksgiving, we should name at least one thing we're thankful for. Today I am thankful for friends and family.

Here is a cute little Pilgrim mouse anticipating the big feast day. Let the preparations begin!

Don't forget to "fall back" this weekend!

Happy Halloween!

2013-10-31T23:22:00.000-04:00

I hope this has been a safe and fun Halloween for everyone! I remember going trick-or-treating (and the occasional Halloween party) until I was about 12 years old. That's when two things happened: I became a Christian, and then decided I was too old for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties. So after that, I stayed home and handed out treats and religious pamphlets to trick-or-treaters. I enjoyed seeing the imaginative costumes and masks, and the little kids were so cute!

We still made jack-o-lanterns and placed them on our front porch, because that was part of the fun. There were always some pranksters who liked to carry off people's jack-o-lanterns and smash them in the road, and they made sure to get ours every year. One year we carved the biggest, heaviest pumpkin we could find, and we thought there was no way it could be carried off and smashed. We were wrong. I don't know how they did it, or how many of them it took, but they somehow managed to lift the jack-o-lantern off the porch and got about four feet away before dropping it. It survived with nothing more than a jagged split up the back.

When I became a parent, my then-husband and I didn't want our children to go trick-or-treating because we thought it was a celebration of death and witchcraft. Instead, we let them dress up in any costume they wanted as long as it wasn't something scary like a witch, ghost, or goblin, and took them to church "harvest festivals" for a fun Christian alternative. There they could play games, go through mazes, participate in "best costume" contests, and watch people sing, dance, and perform skits on the stage. There was always great food (my favorite was homemade Brunswick stew), hot cocoa, hot apple cider, and lots of fun to be had at these festivals. It was better than taping a note on the door explaining why we didn't give out candy or celebrate Halloween, and then sitting in the dark and trying to ignore the doorbell and the grumbling of children and adults who thought we were being stupid and mean. We weren't trying to be mean. We home-schooled our children and raised them in the church; we were trying to shield them and teach them how to "be in the world but not of it."

After my divorce, I took primary custody of the children, and gradually I became less strict with them. They went to public school while I worked. I wanted them to have fun with their friends, and I'd let them go out trick-or-treating if they wanted to, with adult supervision. Usually I'd team up with a friend of mine whose children were the same age as mine, and we'd all pile into her van and drive to different neighborhoods so the kids could get a good stash of candy. After a couple of hours, we'd return home and I'd go through the candy to make sure it was safe before letting my kids eat any of it.

For the past eight years we've lived in a house on a hill on a busy main road, and we don't get any trick-or-treaters. My kids have outgrown trick-or-treating, and their work schedules normally prevent going to parties. My daughter decorated our fireplace and porch with orange lights and autumn leaf garland to celebrate her favorite season. To celebrate this holiday she added plastic jack-o-lanterns that light up, and placed a doll dressed as a witch in her bedroom. She went to her job wearing a Superman T-shirt and a headband with cat ears on it, and called herself Super Kitty.

It's a peaceful night. I have the windows open because it's very pleasant outside, and I can hear the crickets chirping and traffic on the road below our house. I haven't been to a harvest festival in years, and sometimes I miss the activities and the food, especially the homemade Brunswick stew. But that's okay. There's always next year.

Here's Lindsey Stirling performing her original song, Moon Trance, for your enjoyment!

http://youtu.be/0dfZ9BXaNyE