I'm Such A Doofus

The good news - I got 8 hours of sleep on Sunday.

The bad news - it was while I was supposed to be at work. D'oh!

Slept probably 6 hours last Tuesday, 1 on Wednesday, 1/2 an hour on Thursday, 13 hours on Friday and 1 on Saturday. Set my alarm clock 11pm, went to bed at 9pm Sat. & fell asleep sometime after 10pm. Woke up at 6am.

I was laying there thinking it was odd that time had moved backward before realizing that I had missed my shift.

My alarm clock plays the soundtrack to Alias and it comes on L.O.U.D. It plays for an hour before shutting off, so I either slept through an hour of very loud techno music or I got up, went across the room to shut it off & climbed back in bed without waking.

In college, I once set up an appointment over the phone with my physical therapist while I was asleep. She later told me that she even asked me if I was awake and I asnswered that I was.

I'm thinking that I need an anti-vampire-hours job...

Note To Self

Locking the dead bolt only secures the house if the keys are taken out of the lock first...

*rolls eyes*

West Lake

Just a few pics from the family picnic out at West Lake last weekend.

My cousin's kids - Beetlebomb, Elf & Lil'Un, also known as the hobbits - "just getting their feet wet" at the swimming hole.

Beetlebomb is a good big brother & helped the girls float. By the way, Beetlebomb & Elf both massacred me at Halo 2 the other day - a very sad thing indeed...

The girls thought their dad had brought extra clothes for them.

They thought wrong.

The whole gang hanging out in Lucy to the strains of the Phantom of the Opera theme. It was after this that my blinker went on the fritz.

Lil'Un & Bobo peeking through the sunroof in the "wed Dodge Avenger".

Well Duh, George...

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 85% Conservative, 15% Liberal

Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Some of these questions were so obviously liberally biased. Not quite sure what happened on the ethics portion, but then the left does have a tendency to think they always hold the moral high ground.

Yay Conservatism!

Fancy That

No surprise here...

Your Ideal Pet is a Cat

You're both aloof, introverted, and moody. And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed!

What's Your Ideal Pet?

Although I also like dogs & horses. Just keep the spiders away - they're little 8-legged demons & should all die...

The Old Rugged Cross

This has long been a favorite song of mine, especially when I stop to consider all that He went through on the cross and the night before.

I both hate and love The Passion of the Christ, because it really brings home what Christ went through so that my debt to Him could be marked Paid In Full. The scourging that is shown in that movie is so horrific and yet I don't think it shows the full extent of what He went through. I believe that no person in the history of the world or in the future to come has or will suffer as much as He did.

The scourging that tore His flesh to the bone...

Ripping out His beard by the roots...

The crown of thorns...

The mocking and scorn from people that He created and was dying to save...

And yet He accepts us, all of us - no matter what we have done, with open arms the moment we turn to Him and say "I believe in You. I believe that Your blood was spilled to wash away my sins against You. I believe that You died, defeated Satan and Death, and rose again three days later. Thank You."

Yeah, I'm preaching, but what can be more important in life than glorifying the God of the universe, the God who created everything, the God who sacrificed His Son for you and me?

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.

(Refrain)

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.

(Refrain)

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.

(Refrain)

***

For a scientific view on what all Christ went through on the cross visit this page.

Lyrics from HymnSite.

Last week - Fairest Lord Jesus
Second - Be Thou My Vision
First - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

My Car Wants To Be A Democrat

Bad car...

We had a family get-together out at one of the county lakes last evening. I went to put something away in my car & Bobo decided he wanted to play in Auntie LG's "wed Dodge Avenger". Soon there were four of the little hobbits in my bitty car. Heads were popping in & out of the sun roof & the littlest one had discovered the CD player & windshield wipers - fun, fun.

(Flanders mentioned that Andrew Lloyd Webber probably hadn't imagined that the Phantom of the Opera would be used as a soundtrack to all that hilarity/craziness when he wrote it...)

Well, the hobbits were rounded up by their respective parental units & we all got ready to hit the road. I turned on the car (her name is Lucy, by the way) & the left blinker came on. I tried to turn it off, but no such luck. It's stuck on.

So, now I'm blinking left everywhere I go.

Did I mention that unneccesary blinkers have always been a pet peeve of mine? Grrr...

Guard Kitty On The Alert

I managed to get a shot of my Vicious Attack/Guard Kitty doing her rounds. Looks like her ears are up, so that sneaky squirrel that's been taking the bird seed from the front step must have been in hiding.

That squirrel is a pretty cheeky little guy. I pulled into the drive one morning to see him on the front step, with a "Oh crap! I've been caught!" look in his wide eyes.

Sydney has assured me that she's got everything under control, so I can sleep soundly knowing that my, excuse me our, house is safely protected from those pesky undocumented squirrels from the other side of the street.

Fairest Lord Jesus

(The 'puter was on strike yesterday, so this is a day late.)

I have always loved this hymn, especially when I stop to consider how how awesome it will be to someday stand in the presence of my Lord and Saviour, the Creator of all. He is perfect, without impurity. Imagine if you will the most pristine piece of white satin, no blemish, no snags. His Glory will make that satin look like a dirty rag that's been lying in the mud.

3 The God of Israel spoke,

the Rock of Israel said to me:

'When one rules over men in righteousness,

when he rules in the fear of God,
4 he is like the
light of morning at sunrise

on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain

that brings the grass from the earth.'
5 "Is not my
house right with God?

Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant,

arranged and secured in every part?

Will he not bring to fruition my salvation

and grant me my every desire?

2 Samuel 23:3-5 (New International Version)

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine,Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.

Lyrics from CyberHymnal.org.
Verses from BibleGateway.com.

Last week's hymn - Be Thou My Vision
First hymn - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Sweet Little Boys

Are these not the cutest little faces!

The youngest (for a just while longer) nephew.
Bobo looking cheeky. I wonder what is going through that little mind of his...

All together now - Awwwww!

All Hail Booie

Her Royally Furry Majesty Boo takes a little time out from surfing "teh internets" to decree that all shall visit the COTC at Watermark and the Friday Ark at the Modulator.

On a non-kitty-related note, the KGB Carnival will once again be held at Three O'Clock in the Morning. Kansas bloggers have until 3pm Sunday to submit a post. You can use the handy-dandy carnival submittal form here.

Cute Kitty Overload

Little sister Peanut got two baby kitties last week. The Mothership & I went over to visit this afternoon & snapped some pics.

Meet Krull the Warrior King (orange) & Jasmine (gray). Krull was looking to attack Jasmine here, but she had climbed up the tree on the other side.
Peanut & Jasmine sharing a cute moment.
Yarr! I'ma gonna get you!

Yummy Recipe

This is a recipe that my Dad came up with to share with a former pastor of ours. So, in the spirit of Spacemonkey's "Gravy Wednesdays", I give you...

Gravy Pops (straight from Dad's recipe card)

This is an old family recipe started by me a couple of years ago. You start with a good, solid meal that consists of roast beef, baked or fried chicken & mashed potatoes & a green vegetable for color.

After the juices have been drained from the meat, make your favorite gravy - and lots of it. Just before you sit down to eat with eager anticipation, set out popsicle molds & the sticks.

After the meal, the gravy that is left is to be poured into the molds & a stick placed in each "Gravy Pop". (The kids may then lick the bowl.)

Freeze for 1 - 12 hours.

For variety, you may want to let the gravy sit a while so the grease can "chunk", or you can include tiny bits of meat, scrapings or whatever is in the gravy.

Gravy Pops make a fun, filling, chewy, nutritious snack any time.

95 Million?!?

Somebody actually paid $95 million for this painting.

Ninety-five freakin' million dollars!

True, it's a Picasso, but that doesn't mean a whole lot to me personally. If you like him, that's all fine & dandy, but I'd rather look at a rotting banana peel hanging on my wall than that.

Seriously.

Look at it.

To me, that's something from a nightmare or horror movie. I can just see someone walking down the hallway at 3am, on the way to the kitchen for a drink when they see that green face out of the corner of their eye.

*shudder*

Carnival Time

Even though I'm fresh out of pictures of the Psycho Sydney & therefore didn't enter this week's Carnival of the Cats, you can see lotsa kitty-goodness at pages turned and the Friday Ark at the Modulator.

Don't forget to run over yonder to Three O'Clock in the Morning for the KGB (that's Kansas Guild of Bloggers - I ain't no stinkin' commie) Carnival later today.

Be Thou My Vision

I almost forgot about this week's Sunday hymn.

This is one that I don't remember singing growing up and fell in love with it the first time I heard the youth pastor at church sing it. Peanut & Jer had it sung by everyone at their wedding.

Be Thou My Vision
...
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
...
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
...
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
...
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
...
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
...

Lyrics from CyberHymnal.org.

Last week's hymn - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

(The ellipses are due to Blogger not always paying attention to my skipped lines.)

Weight Lifting

I finally figured out why my neck has been hurting for the past several weeks.

I twist my hair up & secure it with a pen or pencil while I'm working.

Guess it's getting too heavy to do that. Although I could use that to start weight lifting...

So Long Self

Last night Mom, a friend & I went over to Eureka to hear Dr. Teri McCarthy speak. Her husband Daryl spoke Monday night at our Perspectives class and she spoke at our 4th class several months ago. She is one of the most, if not the most, dynamic speaker I have ever heard.

(Warning - If you are a Christian and have no intention of ever going to the mission field, don't listen to her. She could, with her story & passion for Christ & missions, light a fire under the most spiritually-dead Christian. She has allowed God to use her in ways that are so amazing.)

They both brought up some statistics that are very disturbing.

• North America, between Canada & the U.S., has 95% of the world's Christian resources, including radio stations, book stores, universities, etc.
• The United States has 1 Christian worker for every 306 people.
• The Muslim world has 1 Christian worker for every 4,800,000 people.
• The Hindu world has 1 Christian worker for every 5,600,000 people.
• 2.7 billion (yes, that's billion with a B) or 4 out of every 10 people have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.
• Muslims make up 1/3 of the world's population. Only 6% of Christian workers work with Muslims.

No, going overseas to a country where Christians are hated will not be easy. Most people will probably think I am an idiot. I would rather be an idiot in the eyes of man than an idiot in the eyes of God.

Do I fear disobedience more than I fear discomfort? Discomfort from physical conditions, from fear of what others will think of me, from fear of persecution?

I can only pray for God to give me His strength & courage. There is no other way for a weak, pitiful human like me to do something of the magnitude that He asks, no - demands of me as a follower of Christ.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

After hearing this message, I got in my car & the first song on K-Love was MercyMe's new So Long Self. (Click the link to {hopefully} listen.) This song describes so perfectly what I need to do - say goodbye to my selfish wants for comfort & life of ease, so I can be used to show those who might otherwise never know the one & only true, living God. I want nothing more than to be used to glorify God with my life and to one day hear "Well done, good and faithful servant".

So Long Self
...
Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
...
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say
...
(Chorus:)
So long self
Well it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me farewell
Oh well, Goodbye, don't cry
So long self
...
Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
...
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see
...
Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away

Auntie LG

We've known for a while that Bobo & his little brother are expecting a younger sibling.

It looks like my wishes for a niece have been answered! Flanders & Shell-Bell are expecting a girl.

To top it off, Ramone & Kat are expecting their first one as well. Add to that my aunt & uncle in Topeka have a 4th one on the way.

Family get-togethers are going to be so fun...