Songs

This year, you get a glimpse at the songs that were stuck in my head over the past 366 days. These songs were fun, catchy, moving, energizing, thought provoking, or a combination of these attributes. Some are new releases, some are older...regardless they were all a part of my 2008.

Enjoy!

(In no particular order...)

Somebody Like You - Keith Urban
I'm Still a Guy - Brad Paisley
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
Don't Think I Don't Think About It - Darius Rucker
All American Girl - Carrie Underwood
All I Wanna Do - Sugarland
Letter to Me - Brad Paisley
Redneck Yacht Club - Craig Morgan
Lucky - Jason Mraz
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Cowgirls Don't Cry - Brooks & Dunn (and Reba!)
Find Out Who Your Friends Are - Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney
By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
Empty Me - Chris Sligh
Roll with Me - Montgomery Gentry
Start a Band - Brad Paisley & Keith Urban
Waitin' on a Woman - Brad Paisley

Fit

Wii Fit

is very elusive.

Now that I have Christmas money to cover the purchase of a Wii Fit...I am unable to find one for the $90 MSRP...

Soon enough new shipments will come into stores...although who knows when that will be (the folks at ToysRUs did not even know...)

Until then...I wait...and eat cake =P

UPDATE:
As of 9:50am on December 31, a Wii Fit in the Best Buy inventory has my name on it! Many thanks to nowinstock.net =)

Born

Yes, this is my annual Christmas post...and yes, once again it is set to the backdrop of "I Celebrate the Day" by Relient K.

Don't miss the point, this Baby lived, died, and rose again to save. Don't leave him in the manger...or in the grave.



"I celebrate the day that you were born to die, so I could one day pray for you to save my life."

Online

Can't make it to church for a Christmas Eve service?

Attend one of ours online!

MBC Internet Campus Christmas Eve Services

7:00pm & 9:00 pm

Visit mcleanbibleinternet.org to attend online.

Merry Christmas!

Box

It wouldn't be the holidays unless someone got a big box to play with...granted this was taken closer to Thanksgiving than Christmas (our Christmas gift to ourselves, new kitchen appliances, came a bit early which was much appreciated)...but the festive Christmas tunes in the background truly make this video what it is...



...that and my attempt to not audibly giggle =P

...and not stopping the recording when I was ask to do so...

Merry Christmas to all!

Tradition

Husband and I have several Christmas traditions. It was told to us early in our marriage that most couples make the mistake of not creating traditions in their home until children come along, but that really, some traditions should start even while it is just the two of us. We took that advice to heart, and so far have had a blast with our traditions.

One of our favorites is watching Opus N' Bill in a Wish for Wings That Work. Sadly, we have not upgraded our copy from VHS (although we have upgraded from the version Husband taped off the TV in 1991 to a legitimate copy) but we were able to find this precious gem on YouTube...you can really find anything on YouTube, can't you? Odd that this is one of our favorites since we have made the decision that Santa will not have a place in our home once children arrive...

Nevertheless...

Enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

...Truffles the pig is my fav =)

Food

Man vs. Food is our latest TV find. Now I've heard about the Man vs. Wild series, but this, this is something the Bing's can get into ;-)

Plus they visited our Texas BBQ Fav, The Salt Lick, on a recent episode.

...man that was good BBQ...

Purpose

Christmas: Saved for a Purpose
by Rick Warren


He saved us and he called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:9 (TEV)

*** *** *** ***

The Bible also teaches that Jesus came to save you for something. God has a purpose and a plan for your life; he created you for a specific mission.

The Bible says: “He saved us and he called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9 TEV). You can live life at one of three levels: survival, success, or the highest level – significance.

Most of the world lives at the survival level. Half of the world’s six billion people live on less than $2 a day. That’s survival. If you’re an American, even if you are the poorest of the poor in the United States, you live at the success level. Most of the world would love to have your problems. But you say, “If I’m so successful, why don’t I feel fulfilled?”

You don’t feel fulfilled because you were made for more than success. The ultimate goal of life is significance, not success. You were made for significance – and significance comes from knowing God, knowing his purpose for your life, and then doing it. Then you realize, “This is what I was made for! This is my niche! It’s me! Now I know why I’m here on the planet.”

All the success in the world can’t give you that.

That’s why the very first sentence of The Purpose Driven Life is a very counter-cultural statement: “It’s not about you.” That’s the exact opposite of what our culture says. Our entire culture says, “It’s all about you.”

You’ll never find satisfaction and significance by living for yourself because God didn’t wire you that way. You were made for God. There will always be a hole in your heart because you need something greater than yourself. You need God’s purpose. You’ve tried everything else. Why not try God?

So Jesus said, “I want to save you from your past. I want to save you for a purpose. And I want to save you by something.”

List

My Grandpa's Christmas List
(aka What To Get The Man Who Has Everything)

1. steering wheel cover black
2. hat with ear muffs
3. clock outside
4. prune juice
5. Belt 44
6. pocket watch cheap or rolex
7. scarf
8. pen
9. shoe strings
10. thermometer
11. humming bird feeder
12. computer paper
13. bird house
14. shoe polish white black
15. leaf rake
16. suet

Celebrity

Sometimes I get bored...

Thanks

I had a terrible time trying to decide my favorite Thanksgiving side dish today. Something was just off. It's not like me to have such a difficult time choosing what to have seconds of after my "first round" of "meal" is finished. So I went for a small helping of several things...yams, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, and gravy (shut it). It was marvelous, but not exactly what I was craving.

I decided it would be best to just stop, and move onto dessert where I sampled, for probably the first time, pumpkin pie that was not G-Man's pumpkin pie (for the past 5 years, I would only touch his amazing pumpkin pie, it was the first I ever tried...what can I say, I'm loyal to the CORE!) Since I was on the complete wrong side of the enormous table, and fairly stuck, I asked Husband do warm up my pie (this crucial dessert/bread trick has been adopted since our marriage and now I cannot eat room temperature, or heaven forbid COLD dessert/bread).

There it was....the green been casserole, in the microwave...forgotten.

Love

Thought today's devotional from Rick Warren was incredibly appropriate as Thanksgiving is upon us...

Love is something you do. Do you really love someone? Let’s see how you act toward that person. You show love by what you do, not just by what you feel.

Love is more than attraction and more than arousal. It’s also more than sentimentality, like so many of today’s songs suggest. By this standard, is love dead when the emotion is gone? No, not at all. Because love is an action; love is a behavior.

Over and over again, in the Bible, God commands us to love each other. And you can’t command an emotion. If I told you “Be sad!” right now, you couldn’t be sad on cue. Just like an actor, you can fake it, but you’re not wired for your emotions to change on command. Have you ever told a little kid, “Be happy!” I’m trying, daddy!

If love were just an emotion, then God couldn’t command it. But love is something you do. It can produce emotion, but love is an action.

The Bible says, “Let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions” (1 John 3:18 NLT). We can talk a good act: “I love people.” But do we really love them? Do you really love them? Our love is revealed in how we act toward them.

Skittles

Perhaps I have a new favorite super-power...

Rentals

So, are you renting out your place to make some extra coin during Inauguration week? You won't catch me downtown anytime that week (as Husband said, "I'm less interested in going downtown for the Inauguration than for the 4th of July fireworks...it's going to be crowded and FREEZING!") but seeing the posts on Craigslist for people renting out their apartments/condos/townhomes/homes is sounding like a pretty good racket to me. Places are going for ridiculous sums of money for only a week.

Now there's a way to make a quick $40,000 =P

You think people realize that is taxable income and could quite possibly bump you into a higher tax bracket in 2009?

I'm such a nerd. Only I would think of that...

Twist

Today I had my first Peppermint Twist Mocha. Not sure what the"twist" is all about since it does not taste all that different from the Peppermint Mocha I used to crave. Regardless, I was quite happy to order my Twist and receive it in the 2008 version of the Starbucks red holiday cup. This one has a deer on it. Not sure why that's important. Actually, I bet it's a reindeer, which would make much more sense.

Chicken

Our Christmas Smoker has arrived (thanks to my folks for this beauty!) Our first smoker meat selection was chicken. Whole chicken. It was quite the adventure.

We decided to do a "beer can" chicken...but with Dr. Pepper and A&W Rootbeer. We read in several placed the beverage didn't matter, but it was the moisture that was important...

Ready for the smoker...

Here they are cooking away!

In the end, I think Kitty was the most satisfied member of the family.

Never fear, there are many more meats (and apparently cheeses!) to be smoked!

Weekend

I'm really excited for the weekend. It feels like it has been a while since one happened...it's only been 4 days.

I'm a pansy.

Face

Me - It looks like Brad's making my "I'm going to steal a bite of your hot dog" face.

BFF-T - Haha... yes it does! Now you know what it would look like if you said, "Hey Brad, I've already had 4 chili dogs, would you like the last one?"

I may or may not be known to eat 4 chili dogs in one sitting if given the opportunity...

Disgusting

This is for all those that say "abortion really never comes up as an issue" as justification for voting against their conscience...

The emphasis on "shortly after taking office" and putting "their stamp on Washington quickly" is disturbing. The first thing you choose to do is kill children? Seriously? Respect levels will drop immediately and the "benefit of the doubt" mentality will be severely shaken.

Ugh. Disgusting.

Obama may reverse Bush policies on stem cells, drilling, abortion
Posted: 03:02 PM ET

President-elect Barack Obama may overturn many of the executive orders that President Bush implemented.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President-elect Barack Obama could reverse some of President Bush's most controversial executive orders, including restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, shortly after taking office in January.

Two other executive orders from Bush — one dealing with a so-called "gag" order on international aid organizations regarding abortion, the other with oil and gas drilling on federal lands — also are receiving increased scrutiny.

Obama's transition team is reviewing hundreds of Bush's executive orders, according to John Podesta, Obama's transition co-chair.

New presidents often use executive orders to put their stamp on Washington quickly. Unlike laws, which require months to complete and the consent of Congress, presidents can use their executive authority to order federal agencies to implement current policies.

"Much of what a president does, he really has to do with the Congress — for example, budgeting, legislation on policy — but executive actions are ones where the president can act alone," said Martha Kumar of the White House Transition Project, a nonpartisan group established to help new presidential administrations.

Complements

Recently I have received one of my favorite complements...repeatedly. <-- (I have reconstructed that sentence I don't know how many times, but I'm not sure how to to phrase it...so bare with me.)

What is my favorite complement you ask?

"I wish I still had an AIM profile!"

You see, in college, AIM profiles consisted of many things: song lyrics, scriptures, count-downs, and most importantly (to my friends at least) random things our friends said. Sometimes these were meaningful, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes funny....you get the drift. Now that we've all grown up a bit and no longer spend hours chatting on-line (I confess, I was quite the addict beginning in the late 1990's, which I attribute to BFF-D, all the way up until August 2005 when after getting married, AIM stopped abruptly...who knew leaving a computer on 24-7 could cost so much money...especially when I was gone from 6am til 11pm most days due to work and could not touch the computer. Talk about a wake-up call!)

There really is no place for these quotes anymore...unless of course, they are blogged =P

CMA

My CMA Picks





© 2008 Country Music Association, Inc.

Intervention

I want this to happen to me...

Cleared

On CNN it was announced that President-elect Obama got briefed on Iraq today with information he previously did not have the clearance to view. I smiled. I wish I could have been inside his head when that was over. I'm sure there was a, "Huh. Well...that would have been good to know before I made all those promises..." moment. Or two.

Oh...and I have never mentioned his military advisers have I? Well, that one is way more entertaining coming from Husband.

Future

Many have asked "Now what?" in response to the election season which is now (thankfully) over (some because they do not know and wish to know and others because they are my dearest Brothers and Sisters who like to keep me in check and make sure I am walking uprightly, both of which I appreciate.) Now what? We pray and submit, same as always.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
~1 Timothy 2:1-2 (emphasis mine)

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
~Romans 13:1 - 7 (emphasis mine)

Sure, I have been interested in politics since I can remember, regardless of how many failed Student Government campaigns I was involved with (namely, mine). My best friend in middle school and I were convinced that someday we would run together on a Presidential ticket. I craved phone calls with conversation of political substance when we were in college. Political science was one of those electives in school I chose "for fun" (physics being the other...yeah, that's right...) and I have been learning about past Presidents since pretty much the beginning of my existence (thank you Mom for that one...)

Today, the finance person inside is screaming, the Pro-Lifer inside is crying, the future mother inside is puzzled, and the soldier's family and friend is concerned, but the Christian in me, the only part that matters, understands.

God knows exactly where we are on the Kingdom Calendar. In His sovereignty, this is the path that our country will take for the next four years. I may not understand why, but I understand that I do not see the bigger picture, He does. I trust Him.

The government was never intended (or should I say, should never intend) to take away the job of The Church. Caring for the poor, the underprivileged, and the ones with no voice is still our responsibility, not the government's. I think far too often The Church gets off easy because government has played such a large role in caring "for the least of these". It's time for that to change...and that's change I can get behind.

God is bigger than one election, than our bank accounts, than our laurels, than our wildest dreams, than anything or anyone who opposes Him. I love and take comfort in that. It's going to be a wild ride, but in the end, it's all been for a reason.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
~Romans 8:28

Halloween

Last weekend (I think) we went on a Farm Color Tour. On this "tour" we stopped at an orchard (for apples), a country/general store (for BBQ), a few wineries and a pumpkin patch. While pumpkin patchin' we found some beauties that we had to bring back with us!

After much thought and Internet research, we chose our carving inspiration. Although my pumpkin is not as sophisticated as Hubby's, I did step up my game a bit this year.

You can decide who carved each pumpkin.

...and yes, the Trick-or-Treaters liked Hubby's best, per the usual.

Support

Bing: I think I support the growing unemployment rates. There was too much traffic from peeps going to work this morning.

Rach: Too much traffic...bah! Did you hear it's supposed to snow tomorrow morning?! Weird.

Bing: I support global warming then, too. It's too freakin' cold.

Rach: hahaha I love you.

One

Old

Today while day dreaming, it dawned on me, once again, that I am "old".

Mostly because this is what my day dream involved:

I hope someone invites me to a Pampered Chef party...soon...apparently I'm going through some sort of withdrawal which can only be remedied by shop-via-at-home-party purchases.

Oh dear.

Letters

A recent conversation with BFF-T:

Check out my new email signature? Is it too much? Sometimes I erase it...and it's only been around for two days.

Me, CPA, CFE
Auditor
Large Defense Contractor


It is NOT to much you worked hard for that and you better use those letters!

I'm jealous so I'm adding some to mine too.

BFF-T, DAWG, w00t
HR Guru
Large Pharmaceutical Company

...this is one of many reasons why I love you. T-Dawg.

McCain

My Last Presidental Election Related Blog
(feel free to ignore if necessary to retain our friendship =P)

Last night I caught the last hour of the final Presidential Debate. Around 10:15 or so, I was brought to tears. Sobbing, while laying in bed, and for the first time (since this crying isn't the first) truly and utterly fearful for the outcome of this year's election. It's no secret the many reasons I think Barack Hussein Obama is a deceitful, untrustworthy, egotistical, socialist moron. No secret at all. (Although I'm not sure how I am still on many Obama-spam email listservs..ugh...NO MORE!) There have been many times through this campaign he has actually lead me to TEARS due to his insensitivity on one of my most personal, moral issues facing our culture, our nation, and our future president.

That being said, the other side to this story is really not "I'm voting McCain because Obama makes me want to vomit" but, "I'm voting John McCain because I agree with him."

• I agree that domestic alternative energies must be utilized and that clean coal, nuclear power, and safe off-shore domestic drilling are crucial to our energy independence.
• I agree that our nation should help to women faced with "unwanted pregnancies", not through abortion options, but my providing birth mothers with an easier, more streamlined adoption process.
• I agree that charter schools and voucher systems for our public schools will lead to more competition, better teachers, and better educational opportunities for children of this nature.
• I agree that raising taxes is not the answer, but cutting government spending is the answer.
• I agree that our government employment is bloated and needs reform.
• I agree that our solders should not be left wanting, but should be given the tools and resources they need to protect our great nation and the nations that support us.
• I agree that MORE government regulation is NOT the answer, but capitalism will eventually settle the markets (which were taken advantage of my plain old greed by the way.)
• I agree that human life begins at conception.
• I agree that evil is real.

So as much as I cannot stand Barack Obama, I am voting John McCain because it is the logical decision. It's an educated decision. And no, I will probably not be able to understand why you do not agree with me...sorry.

Warfare

Today's devotional from Rick Warren...

How to Fight Spiritual Warfare

by Rick Warren

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:

1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you’re being attacked, it’s proof that you’re a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense.

If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, “The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil” (NLT).

2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers are very ignorant about the authority they have to use against the Devil. Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples …” (NIV). He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he’s given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).

3. Put on God’s armor. When Paul wrote about the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle.

For instance, I will often pray, “Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don’t want to think the Devil’s thoughts. I don’t want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness.”

4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul says the weapons God gives us to use demolish arguments – that’s the way people think; they pull down pretension – that’s the way people think.

We take every thought captive. In this battle for thoughts, we have four weapons: humility, faith, truth, and praise.

Paula

While watching "Paula's Home Cooking" I just heard Paula say, "Ooooo doggies!"

It reminded me of my father...

...he makes me smile =)

Halloween

For the majority of my teen/adult years I have hated Halloween. I do not like the overall concept. I do not like dressing up. I do not like being reminded of all the smashed pumpkins I endured as a child (growing up near the local high school obviously tainted the whole "pumpkin"/Halloween thing). I don't get the glorification that Darkness gets through the costumes children choose to wear, or more rightly parents choose to let their children wear... (This year I'm sure there will be far more "Jokers" than "princesses" or "Lightening McQueens"...) I believe very strongly that there is both good and evil in this world...but I also believe something else...

I love chili. I love the overall concept. I love dressing it up. I love being reminded of coming home to crock pots of my mother's chili after a long day at school. It is one of the true perfections of my favorite meat, cow. I believe very strongly that there is good chili and bad chili (oh the things some people do to chili...)

This year our neighborhood has decided to have a Halloween Block Party and Chili Cook-Off. I could not be more excited. Not only did last year's Halloween festivities in Pleasantville thoroughly surprise me (I guess this is what I get living in a neighborhood with most children being, well, children, not teenagers wreaking havoc and ruining a child's "fun candy time") but this year it's going to be even better.

I may learn to like Halloween yet!

But, I still will not dress up.

TV

I think it's fairly safe to say, with only a few exceptions, that the Fall TV Line-Up (DVR Line-Up that is, we're not that amazing) is complete for 2008:

Monday
Chuck
Heroes
Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

Tuesday
Privileged
Fringe

Thursday
The Office
Smallville
*Life on Mars - Gets it's first look this Thursday night... Will not be staying...it's like a rip-off of Journeyman (which was awesome, yet sadly cancelled) with a less interesting plot. Very sad.


Top Chef returns in November (or so I hear) so that will definitely be added to the line-up when the time comes! I guess it'll still sneak in as "Fall" but it'll be on the Spring listing as well I'm sure...along with....LOST! Can't. Wait.

Inappropriate

So, I just took out the trash, like the helpful wife that I am. When I opened the garbage can to toss in the bag to my surprise there was something inside already. Trash days here in Pleasantville are Mondays and Thursdays. Since I have been home since Thursday, I have not throw away anything in the outside garbage can. It did not take long to figure out what happened. The small bag at the bottom of the can reeked...

Someone walking their dog threw away the nasty bag-o-poo in our garbage can?! Who does that? Ew.

Please note, here in Pleasantville, USA there are dog-friendly garbage cans scattered along the major walkways, complete with extra poo-bags (how convenient). Granted these are not located on the ALLEY where our trash can resides, but really, why would you walk your dog where there is no grass anyway?

This is unacceptable.

Pills

Finally someone has addressed one of my Top 5 fears of having a child. For fear for mockery, I refuse to tell you where in those Top 5 this falls...

Crappy

There are several things that can attribute to a crappy day...

-Dealing with incompetence.
-Experiencing that pre-cold throat tickle.
-Discovering a snag in brand new stocking prior to one's first cup of coffee for the day.
-Having one's lunch grow cold as peppered with ridiculous questions.
-Eating luke-warm, homemade, chicken pot-pie.
-Having to cancel on a friend that you have not seen in two months.
-Going home to an empty house because Hubby has to work out of town on the weekend.
-Receiving Obama-spam from someone who obviously knows nothing about me by virtue of the fact that I am on their, growing ever too frequent, Obama-spam mass-email listing.

Yes, all of these things can contribute to a crappy day...my day just happened to include all of them.

"Tomorrow is another day..." ~ Scarlett, Gone With the Wind

Tomorrow will be much better. It begins my 3-day weekend of relaxation, well with the exception of completing my CPA Application loose-ends. Yes, that's right. I have passed all my exams...and that, that my friends, deserves a cookie.

Greed

An excerpt from a recent Presidential Prayer Team newsletter:

Interestingly, some pundits are saying that this crisis has but one source—greed! Greed is a spiritual problem, not an economic one. And a spiritual problem requires a spiritual answer.
In this time of unprecedented uncertainty, we need God's intervention. We need His solution, and we need Him to reveal it in such a way that we know it's Him—and only Him—acting on our behalf.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

~ Hebrews 13:5

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

~1 Timothy 6:10

Donald

Well, at least Daddy-D approves of my candidate.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/09/18/lkl.donald.trump/index.html

Fast

I got some amazing news today, no, nothing related to my CPA exam scores....better.

Apparently I am very slow on the up-date, BUT in 2009 there will be a fourth installment in one of my Top 5 Movie Franchises. That's right kids, Fast and the Furious is releasing a new movie! Sounds like it'll be a sequel to the first two movies and a prequel to Tokyo Drift. The real kicker, the original cast will be back! Vin Diesel AND Paul Walker.

This combined with the new Terminator (staring my boy Christian Bale!) is going to make for a great 2009 movie season =)

Ugh

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/09/16/o.trying.to.conceive/index.html

Woman endures all for baby
By Cindy Chupack from "O, The Oprah Magazine," September 2008

Yet another reason to dislike Oprah programming perhaps? Ugh. I have a very difficult time feeling anything for this woman. I know this is not the appropriate response to this article, but I just can't help it. You and your husband kill your first baby because after only 3 months some abnormalities appear that tell the doctor that the baby "might" not make it to full-term (apparently "definitely not" was the better route?!) and then expect to be granted with the blessing of another child?

No, maybe I do feel something...I feel sorry for this woman and her husband, but not because they cannot conceive, but rather because they do not acknowledge the truth that is staring them right in the face. Of all the things they have tried, prayer or devotion to their religion is mentioned no where. I would have guessed that somewhere along the way that would have come up...how sad that no friends, family members, or co-workers have offered to pray with this family...

Review

Jesus, The One and Only
By Beth Moore

Love me some Beth Moore. I had been far too long since I had read one of Beth's books. I love the way she tells stories, and the way her personality comes across through her writing. There are always many "huh, never thought about it that way/for that long/in that light/with that much depth" moments and I'm not sure I can pick a stand-out. I would have to say it was similar to Believing God that a read a few years ago, but not quite. Both are excellent intros into Beth Moore if you are ever interested. I definitely don't say that about just any of her books or studies. Some are not for everyone and must be driven by the need, the quest, to confront one's past head-on with full knowledge that you will be attacked by The Enemy while doing so, only because he is frightened that you will let go, and let God, rather than yourself, deal with your life.

Jesus, The One and Only is definitely a keeper and would make an awesome small group study, as well as a quiet time/devotional guide for personal study.

Biking

Smokey Mountain National Park was on the agenda for Vacation 2008. We had gotten a tip from one of our Favorite Couple's that Cades' Cove was a "must see". The weather was absolutely beautiful the day we had set aside for our mountain-adventures so we decided, not only to take FC's advice and check out Cades' Cove, but we also decided to use their favorite method of transportation, the bicycle.

Now, Husband was an avid biker in his pre-college, pre-drivers license days (the bike was traded in for a car shortly there after) and was very certain that an 11-mile bike ride would be a wonderful and relaxing adventure for us both. I, on the other hand, had no concept of exactly how far 11 miles was and so enthusiastically set-out on the "trail" behind Husband. I quickly realized that not only did my legs not operate with the same strength as Husbands, but I also did not know how to work the gears and breaks from the handle bar location. Eventually I got the hang of it...


While on the bike ride, there were two hills that required bikers to walk beside their bikes. These seemed rather odd since both were down hill. By this point I had already walked at least the equivalent of two miles on foot because I would pansy out on the up-hill climb. The second of the mandatory walks was far too intimidating for me, so I obeyed the signs and walked...Husband flew past...not walking. All the sudden I heard rustling and deer jumped out and across the road. Husband quickly jumped off his bike and grabbed the camera and took this amazing shot...


Mile 9 was when I thought I was going to die. This was not the peaceful ride I had anticipated. My legs were burning, my breathing heavy, my everything was sweaty...and we had no water (for we are not avid outdoorsman you see and had no backpack, no Nalgene bottle to strap to our bikes, nothing, nada, zilch, zip!) It was here that Husband promised a snack at the end of our adventure...now you know me, a snack always puts a little spring in my step!

It's amazing the things I will do for ice cream!

Credit

This commercial reminds me of the dating advice from my tax accounting/personal finance professor at WVU: Date #3 is the date you ask for credit rating/history. Not too soon, and not to late to run away!

PS - Don't use freecreditreport.com...it's NOT the free one =P But if you've known me for any length of time, you know that already, don't you?

Three

It's been three years since this happened.

(Please disregard the insanely lopsided cake.)

Next up, the Bings return to Tennessee (for some BBQ, indoor nature, and a quick jaunt to the great NC for a look at the Biltmore!)

Forum

I watched, did you?

I typically watch all the debates, all the conventions, all the hoopla surrounding elections....this by far has been my favorite set-up. I loved the variety of questions. I love the spontaneity. I loved the whole thing. I laughed, I cried, I learned, I was pleased, I was surprised, I was disappointed, I was angry...I was so much.

I hope this civil forum set-up continues. Considering Husband even watched voluntarily, obviously it reaches a whole new audience for the candidates. Well done, Rick, well done.

If you missed out, it's been replaying on CNN or you can watch by following the link above.

North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

By Your Side -- Tenth Avenue North

Cry

Most days you make me angry.
Most days you make me want to vomit.

Today you made me cry.

One of the Hundreds of Reasons why Barack Obama will not get my vote

...originally posted by a fellow blogger at ClothConfessions.

Watch it.

...as if I need another reason...

Fellowship

Life Together: A Shared Life

by Rick Warren

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony!

Psalms 133:1 (TEV)

*** *** *** ***

God intends for us to experience life together. The Bible calls this shared experience fellowship.

Today, however, the word has lost most of its biblical meaning. Fellowship now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun.

The question, “Where do you fellowship?” means “Where do you attend church?” “Stay after for fellowship” usually means “Wait for refreshments.”

Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other “one another” commands found in the New Testament.

When it comes to fellowship, size matters: smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but you can’t fellowship with one.

Once a group becomes larger than about ten people, someone stops participating—usually the quietest person—and a few people will dominate the group.

Jesus ministered in the context of a small group of disciples. He could have chosen more, but he knew twelve is about the maximum size you can have in a small group if everyone is to participate.

The body of Christ, like your own body, is really a collection of many small cells. The life of the body of Christ, like your body, is contained in the cells.

For this reason, every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether is it a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class, or a Bible study. This is where real community takes place, not in the big gatherings.

If you think of your church as a ship, the small groups are the lifeboats attached to it. God has made an incredible promise about small groups of believers: “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst” (Matthew 18:20 NASB).

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Thanks

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,402483,00.html

Thanks for speaking out and for speaking truth in love.

Always good to hear from a Brother =)

Football

So, my one sports-related love is quickly approaching. College football begins August 28th and I can't wait. The Pre-Season Rankings have come out on ESPN and my Mountaineers have come in at number eight. Pretty respectable...hopefully I'll even make it to a game this season...at the very least, plans are in the works for a game later in the season =)

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/powerranking

Wii

Yesterday was a bad TV day. There was absolutely nothing on TV. About 4ish Husband and BFF-D decided that "this was when a Wii would come in handy". And off we went...after a stop at Maggie Moos for dinner (yes, ice cream for dinner, don't judge us!) we were off to Best Buy and Toy R Us. No Wiis in stock. Sad. While leaving the Toys R Us, we noticed a small sign, "Wii's arrive Sunday, August 3rd". Thinking our quest was over, not much was thought of this sign by The Team.

Sunday morning. 9am.

Husband: Hurry up and get ready, you have a half-hour.
BFF-D: What?
Husband: We're gonna go get a Wii.
Me: Seriously?
Husband: Yes, hurry up, we gotta go!

11:30am - Back home with Wii.

BFF-D and I still can't believe what just happened...

Books

So now that studying has come to and end for perhaps once and for all, reading for fun can actually (or at least potentially) begin. And with that a quest for new reading materials is born.

This list of 100 titles printed by The Big Read, an organization that---according to their Web site---hopes to "restore reading to the center of American culture." They say, though, that the average American has only read six of the following hundred.

Since I am who I am and love a good list, I thought this was a very fine place to start when BFF-MD shared this article with me =)

Key
1) Bold the books you have already read
2) Italicize the books you intend to read
3) Personally added: Notes in parentheses next to note-worthy titles.

***********************

1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
3) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
4) Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling (okay, so only two, but that was enough for me)
5) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6) The Bible
7) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
8) Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell
9) His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
10) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
11) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
12) Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
13) Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
14) Complete Works of Shakespeare (okay, so not "complete", but AP English brough my pretty darn close!)
15) Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
16) The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
17) Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
18) Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
19) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
20) Middlemarch by George Eliot
21) Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
22) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (I vaguely remember this...it may or may not have actually happened)
23) Bleak House by Charles Dickens
24) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
25) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
26) Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
27) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28) Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (I vaguely remember this...it may or may not have actually happened)
29) Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
30) The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
31) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
32) David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
33) Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis (over half-way through...it's my most current "read")
34) Emma by Jane Austen
35) Persuasion by Jane Austen
36) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
37) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
38) Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres
39) Memories of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
40) Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
41) Animal Farm by George Orwell
42) The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
43) One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44) A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving
45) The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
46) Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
47) Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
48) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
49) Lord of the Flies by William Golding
50) Atonement by Ian McEwan (started it...)
51) Life of Pi by Yann Martel
52) Dune by Frank Herbert
53) Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
54) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
55) A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
56) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57) A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
58) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
59) The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
60) Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
62) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
63) The Secret History by Donna Tartt
64) The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
65) Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
66) On The Road by Jack Kerouac
67) Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
68) Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
69) Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
70) Moby Dick by Herman Melville
71) Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
72) Dracula by Bram Stoker
73) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
74) Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
75) Ulysses by James Joyce
76) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
77) Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
78) Germinal by Emile Zola
79) Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
80) Possession by AS Byatt
81) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
82) Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
83) The Color Purple by Alice Walker
84) The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
85) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
86) A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
87) Charlotte's Web by EB White
88) The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
89) Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90) The Faraway Tree Collection by Enid Blyton
91) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
92) The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93) The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
94) Watership Down by Richard Adams
95) A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
96) A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
97) The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (I vaguely remember this...it may or may not have actually happened)
98) Hamlet by William Shakespeare
99) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
100) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Compared to 6 I feel like 30-ish is a respectable number...and there are definitely a handful of the "would like to read" titles that I have on my shelf and have gotten about half-way through before other things got in the way of finishing...there were definitely some titles I was surprised were not on the list though. No Mark Twain and although Narnia got two nods (?) no other CS Lewis titles? There are several other works I felt "missing" although perhaps it was because this list did not include playwrights such as Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller...but I definitely think those are "must reads" as well.

Looks like I have my work cut out for me...now where to start...

=)

Friends

Committing to Each Other
by Jon Walker

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

Truth teaches that the quality of our friendships is more important than the quantity. We don't need a lot of friends in this life, but we do need a few good ones.

By moving beyond superficial acquaintance with specific Jesus-ones, we become friends who are closer than family (Proverbs 18:24).

This requires considerably more commitment than our standard "to each his own" approach to getting along. Instead, we agree there will be "none of this going off and doing your own thing" (Colossians 3:15 MSG).

We see each other as individuals, unique creations of God and vessels of God's grace. We "develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results" when we "do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor" (James 3:18 MSG).

Although this describes what a family should be, it's a stone, cold fact that many people find closer relationships among friends than their blood relatives. But there is a different type of blood relative, sisters and brothers who are grafted together through the blood of Jesus Christ. His power within us gives us the ability to become companions who stick together closer than a brother, or sister.

Again

Tennessee, again.
Jack's BBQ, again.
Neel's Nachos, again.
Smokey Mountains, again.
A good time, again.

We're insane, but we love it =)

Bingham BBQ Tour: Tennessee Round 2

Coming August 30th to a blog near you ;-)

Shoes

It has happened. I found the shoes I have been searching for the past year. Those semi-casual non-flip flop flats that can be worse with capris, skirts, etc. both for work and for play. At long last I have found "them" (I say, "them" because technically I found three pairs...0=) )

After all was said and done, I may or may not have casual mentioned that I was "done" shopping for shoes which leads to my next goal/task/adventure. Which then lead to a lengthy discussion with Husband and this promise:

I will not buy another pair of shoes until July 25, 2009.

We'll see how long this lasts...

Christmas

My Christmas in July Wish-List:

- A citrus zester
- A pie pan with a travel lid
- Subscription to Everyday with Rachael Ray
- A lifetime supply of Starbucks Skinny Mochas and/or Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino
- New clothes from NY & Co.
- Subscription to Martha Stewart Living
- The movie "Enchanted"
- A One-Year Chronological Bible
- Two tickets to see The Dark Knight 0=)
- Meal at Jack's BBQ in Nashville

Yes

Four years ago today I said, "Yes".

I said, "yes" to a man that continually makes me laugh. Laugh at myself, at him, at life, at strangers, at circumstances, at food, at the world...

Today I am reminded of the time in the recent past that this man admitted to drying himself off after a taking working hard all afternoon with a roll of paper towels, after discovering that his bath towel was still in the dryer. The same man that once threw his socks in the toilet instead of the hamper. This makes me love him all the more since I am confident that I am the woman that continually makes him laugh, at myself, at him, at life, at strangers, at circumstances, at food, at the world. My supernatural ability to fall down and up stairs at a moment's notice. The squeak-hiccup that happens pretty much on a daily basis. My evening tear. My ridiculous obsession with all things LOST. The way I dance and sing...constantly.

Six years ago today we went on our first date.

We ate chili on a hot DC summer night.

Meant to be?

I think so; who else but us would have thought it was a good idea?

Green

So, probably a year ago I started gathering my thoughts on the "Green Movement". My thoughts were scattered and I don't think ever made it into an actual blog. There is such a fine line between worshiping the world we live in, and fulfilling duty to care for God's creation that was first bestoed upon Adam and Eve. People far too often, I fear, choose one over the other. Thankfully, Beth Moore's daughter, Melissa, has taken the time to do this topic justice in one of her latest blogs on the Living Proof blog. She puts this so much more eloquently than I could have done, even with another year of study and revisions.

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/07/melissas-soapbox-of-day.html

Lucky

It's a strange day...some might say "lucky".

I went to Starbucks this morning because I did not pack breakfast and just felt the thirst that can only be quenched by a Tall Skinny Mocha. After placing my order, I anxiously awaited the coffee/chocolate-y goodness. There is was, coming straight for me....a Grande? I felt a little bad, so I said, "I think this was supposed to be a Tall..." The friendly Barista looked at me with a smile, "Do you mind?" To which I responded, "Not if you don't mind." So I took my super-sized beverage (this is the second time this has happened to me in a month...two different Starbucks though...much appreciated both times) and went to the car. They were doing a BP give-away. It was easy. What was the song being played as they were waiting for the 9th caller? Reaching way back they selected Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Feel Lucky"...just as all the lights going my direction turned green (no lie). I pulled into our parking lot right behind my boss, but ended up inside the building before him like a champ.

Strange, eh?

Now let's get Jason's Mraz's Lucky in my head instead of MCC...

Ribs

R: I still smell like ribs.
B: That's hot.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376746,00.html

Tolerance/diversity appreciation/teaching does NOT have to be and should NOT have to be taught in this manner. I can't even imagine the lengths to which I would go to if I ever heard my child was being taught, or even was "almost" taught such nonsense.

You don't even want to go there...

Fourth

Happy Independence Day!

Could you pass the latest citizenship test?

I got 95% =)
I missed one question =(
I love history =D
I'm a nerd 0=)

Dogs

Since I ate 4 hot dogs in about 12 bites this past weekend, I thought it only appropriate to link to this video clip from Time magazine:

http://www.time.com/time/video/?bcpid=1214055407&bctid=1646075607

How to Eat 15 Pounds of Hot Dogs

Adjustments

So my "schedule" hasn't gone quite as I had anticipated...

So far, it's been adjusted as follows:

• Wednesday - Attend Lecture #8
• Thursday - Complete homework from Lecture #5 >>> Laundry and So You Think You Can Dance
• Friday - Complete homework from Lecture #6 >>>20 questions of Lecture #5 completed
• Saturday - Sunday - No studying; road trip time! >>>a very successful trip o' fun!
• Monday - Complete homework from Lecture #7 (begin #8) and attend Lecture #9 >>> Began homework for Lecture #8, fell asleep, attended Lecture #9
• Tuesday - Complete homework from Lecture #8, begin #9 >>>20 questions of Lecture #8, fell asleep, awoke when phone rang with July 4th plan making
• Wednesday - Complete homework from Lecture #9 >>>Completed homework for Lectures #8 and #9..with only two "naps" in the middle...
• Thursday - rest >>>Attempt to complete homework for Lecture #5 (freaking leases and liabilities!), grocery store run, fireworks, laundry, no sleep
• Friday - Supplemental Questions and Simulations from Lectures #1-#5 >>>Complete homework for Lecture #6, July 4th festivities, pass out
• Saturday - Supplemental Questions and Simulations from Lectures #5-#9 >>>Complete homework for Lecture #7
• Sunday - Practice Tests >>>Supplemental Questions and Simulations until I pass out
• Monday - Practice Test>>>Supplemental Questions and Simulations until I pass out
• Tuesday - Practice Tests
• Wednesday - Practice Tests >>>(and a potential trip to Cici's Pizza...mmm...)
• Thursday - Practice Tests
• Friday - Practice Tests until Husband and BFF-T force me to go to sleep.
• Saturday - 8:30am EXAM TIME -- followed by fun, friends, and Brad Paisley 0=)

I really need to quit this "start studying; fall sleep" thing...it's really slowing me down...

Anticipation

The next few days are full of anticipation.

I kinda like it =)

Schedule

I am coming down the home-stretch, albeit slightly behind where I would like to be at this point in the race. My study schedule for the next 17 days looks a little something like this:

Wednesday - Attend Lecture #8
Thursday - Complete homework from Lecture #5
Friday - Complete homework from Lecture #6
Saturday - Sunday - No studying; road trip time!
Monday - Complete homework from Lecture #7 (begin #8) and attend Lecture #9
Tuesday - Complete homework from Lecture #8, begin #9
Wednesday - Complete homework from Lecture #9
Thursday - rest
Friday - Supplemental Questions and Simulations from Lectures #1-#5
Saturday - Supplemental Questions and Simulations from Lectures #5-#9
Sunday - Practice Tests
Monday - Practice Test
Tuesday - Practice Test
Wednesday - Practice Test
Thursday - Practice Test
Friday - Practice Tests until Husband and BFF-T force me to go to sleep.
Saturday - 8:30am EXAM TIME -- followed by fun, friends, and Brad Paisley 0=)

No later than noon-thirty I will be finished studying for at least two months when I get my last score back...then we can see if the "real" party can begin.

Only

This article was undeniably disturbing. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 70% of "religious" Americans believe many religions can lead to eternal life. Of those 57% professed to be evangelical church attenders.

How are so many people missing this crucial point?

Has the widespread "preaching" (not necessarily by pastors, but by the news media, and modern-society in general) of religious tolerance has lead to acceptance and a very confused people? I tend to think so. While respect for each and every living thing is something I can totally get behind, tolerance of differing beliefs to the point where your own belief becomes meaningless is ridiculous!

Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him. How can that be misconstrued by anyone sitting in a truly evangelical church?

Cal Thomas weighed in on the results of this survey and put, much more eloquently than I, forth his views on his Fox News Blog. I'm sure he'll get plenty of crap for this one...

Spoonful

Nothing beats the crap out of a slow mind-numbing week like savouring the first spoonful of peanut butter from a fresh jar...

Dating

Dating is rough. Growing up I always had friends that dated, so there was never the instance where a friend started dating someone I really didn't know, but then later got to know them and become friends with them (maybe once or twice, but it was definitely not the norm). Now that I have grown up and no longer date myself, it's quite difficult to be friends with people who date people who are not already included in your circle of friends. More specifically, it's hard when the couple is no longer dating, but now this other-half whom you have become close to, is not longer part of "the circle" anymore. I don't like getting broken-up with either...

Ironic

So, oddly enough today we watched the movie Juno. This is ironic because not only was it Fathers' Day (oh Jason Bateman...) but it was my Adoption Day. How's that for irony?

We had rented Juno Saturday, but didn't end up watching it until Sunday afternoon. I had mixed feelings. Ellen Page was hilarious and her on-screen family was amazing. The adoptive "family" however struck a nerve or two. I hated how the movie painted Jennifer Garner's character as the "crazy" one, rather than her dead-beat husband. It was like they were trying to make the audience love Jason Bateman's character for his connection with Juno, which I frankly thought was ridiculously inappropriate. He embodied so many of the shortcomings of the modern-man from his laziness to giving up on his marriage when it wasn't working for him. Then there was the kicker which hit one of my pet peeves...Jennifer Garner's character adopted the baby anyway.

So close.

At least we got to see what we think we would be like when we have kids. Our sense of humor runs much more along these lines...sarcasm will abound. Definitely nice to see something "real" and not too far on the side of "the most beautiful experience in the world". That's so not going to be us...now we won't feel guilty =P

Eww

This little guy and his buddy (who was all black instead of red and black...he ran away before we could get the camera) were on our sidewalk out front this afternoon. I gasped and "sucked all the oxygen out of the vicinity" when I saw them (at least that's what Husband said when I started dancing and pointing and generally freaking out). Now, I'm not normally one to freak over bugs and whatnot, but I hate snakes and anything snake-like. I also tend to not wear shoes when I'm outside so that made me a little more freakish since the thought of stepping on one of these little guys made me want to vomit (guess I now have something new to add to the list).

We live in Northern Virginia, not Hawaii. This is not okay.

What is this thing anyway?!?!

Foreclosures

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
~Henry Ford

Finally some sense...

Economics

"No matter which of us wins in November, there will be change in Washington. The question is what kind of change?"
~Sen. John McCain

Cut taxes (leading to increase in consumer spending) vs. Raise taxes (decrease in consumer spending)

No more AMT (more money in the hands of the middle class) vs. AMT (Continuing to screw the middle class)

Decrease Government Spending vs. Hold Steady (which really means Increase Government Spending, see next two items below)

Corporate Job Creation vs. Government Job Creation (tax dollars/government spending)

No Government Mortgage Bailout vs. Government Funded Mortgage Bailout (more tax dollars/government spending)

Alternative Fuel Incentives (Including Nuclear Energy) vs. Tax Oil Corporations more (driving consumer prices up)

Capitalism vs. Socialism

McCain vs. Obama

I guess "economics" wasn't Obama's best subject, huh?

Six

My life summed up in six words:

All for The One and Only.

See BFF-MD's blog for more information about this blog post.

Puffs

I love Reese Puffs cereal. Could I ask for a more perfect breakfast food/late-night snack? No. No, I could not. Crunchy, sweet, peanut buttery, "nutritious"....it's so many things.

I mean, it has got to be better for me than eating peanut butter straight from the jar, right?

I mean, really, who does that?!?!

me!

Facebook

What if real life was like Facebook...

Cal

I'm 95% certain that the next 4 1/2 months are going to be full of Rach gag-reflexes. My apologies in advance, but since the American public has decided to be so disappointing, ridiculous, and, well, just plain stupid, you really leave me with no choice. You brought this on yourselves little ones, you brought this on yourselves.

Cal Thomas wrote an article that was on FoxNews today. Bold claims, bold truths, was it appropriate? I have no idea, but he definitely hits home on one of my hot buttons (i.e., universalism). I remember seeing Cal Thomas when I was in grade school at a retreat with my parents. Granted, all I really remember was that he was taller than any man I had ever seen before. Since then I have read some of his work in the newspapers and such.

A word of warning; don't read the "Comments" section below...that is, unless you enjoy screaming at your computer screen in frustration while people claim that an apple is really a pear.

Morons.

Martha

I have a confession. I love Martha Stewart's blog. I love that she actually writes and takes pictures for it (unless she's got a little minion running around after her taking pictures for her...but after watching/reading the blog for quite a while, I'm convinced it's Martha). The posts are entertaining and every once in a while I learn a thing or two. I'm getting really excited for my garden next year which will hopefully happen...in a real bed as opposed to pots, which didn't work out so we're not trying that again!

Today I learned that she does not care for the signature red soles on Louboutins. She has her wardrobe mistress (her words, not mine) paint them black before she will wear them. Only Martha!

Yes, I know I'm a loser =P

Skittles

While I was at the Sheetz this morning I was elated to see a bag of Skittles Chocolate Mix waiting to jump into my sweaty little hands.

Vanilla
S'mores
Chocolate Caramel
Chocolate Pudding
Brownie Batter

That's right folks. Those are the flavors present in the newest Skittles creation (well, new to me anyway, apparently they have been out since 2007, but whatever I don't get out much =P) Let me tell you, this is a happy day for confessed chocoholic Rach. I consumed my Skittles in the order listed above (yes, I opened my package and arranged a modest few into lines...shut it.) suspecting this would give me an increase in chocolate intensity as I processed from the lightest brown to the darkest brown. Chocolate Pudding was by far the most disappointing flavor in that it was just "chewy" and had very little flavor. The S'more seemed extra chewy, which helped conjure up the fantasy of eating an actual S'more in my action center. Although since I am impatient, my S'mores are typically laced with burnt marshmallow since I just catch the sucker on fire and blow it out a few moments later deeming it "done" and ready for eating. The marshmallow taste is what I imagine a S'more marshmallow "should" taste. There was no evidence of graham cracker though...slightly disappointing. Chocolate Caramel was just what you'd expect...although the flavor came mostly in the after-taste rather than the actual eating of the Skittle. Oddly enough, Brownie Batter and Vanilla are my favorites (being that I typically despise anything "vanilla" that isn't lotion or body spray, this is quite a shocker for me.)

I don't crave "candy" often, and when I do I am typically in the mood for a "chewy" candy, BUT I love chocolate. Now I don't have to choose, I can have both! I guess I could have gone for a Tootsie-Roll if I wanted chewy chocolate, but they just don't have enough chocolatey goodness for my taste...nor do they have a candy-coated shell. These amazing little Skittles are like having an M&M with Tootsie-Roll inside instead of just pain chocolate.

Want to make Rach's day next time she's feel like the tiny ninjas are after her?

Pick up a bag of Skittles Chocolate Mix and come save the day!

Police

So, say the police had pulled someone over onto the shoulder of the road (no, not me). At this point, the road has three lanes and a shoulder, just ahead of the pulled over vehicle and the cop car a right turning lane begins. Say you have to turn right up ahead, and typically you use the aforementioned right turning lane. Just before you enter the new lane, CopCar pulls out in front of you and creeps along and then stops (not anywhere near the traffic light or the turn mind you, just stops). Now you are stuck behind CopCar and cannot turn right. There's a break in traffic, so you decide to get back into the regular lane, go around CopCar and make your turn. Maybe there is something in the road he is shielding you from, or maybe something is wrong with the shoulder so he can't pull off the road properly, whatever the case may be, you decide to be nice and move around him (as opposed to honk your horn like you would if this were a "real person" and not a cop...somehow honking at a cop seems...wrong.) Well, wouldn't you know that as soon as you move over, CopCar starts creeping along in the turning lane. He's going just fast enough that you would draw much unnecessarily attention to yourself to gun it and whip around him...and even though you are technically "early" for work, you are not "early" enough to spend some time talking to CopCarCop while his lights flash behind you drilling into your very soul. So you try your best, use your turn signal, and nothing. What the crap was CopCarCop looking at? Why was he crawling to his next destination? Distracted by a donut? Coffee go cold?

I missed my turn and had to use the Toll Road to get to work (which requires paying fifty cents and encountering some insane sun glare). You have no idea how sad that makes me, especially since I was craving McDonald's coffee which could only have be purchased if I had made that freaking right turn! As previously mentioned in this blog, the "coffee" at work is disgusting...so tea will have to do today.

Cold

Strawberry rhubarb pie is the only pie I eat (by choice) cold. It's just better that way. For me, warm and tart aren't two words that should go together.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie = The Way Into Rach's Heart

Purpose

Okay, so this was some food for thought today from my daily devotional courtesy of Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven Life crew:

"… After David had served his generation according to the will of God, he died…." Acts 13:36 (NLT)

*** *** *** ***

Imagine having that statement inscribed on your tombstone: "She served God's purpose in her own generation!"

Wow. Now that's some perspective for you, huh? Every once in a while when I get bogged down by "life" it's good to remember I was brought here, in with this particular generation (no matter how frustrating it may seem at times) for a purpose. I was neither too soon, nor too late. I was brought to this Earth at the absolute perfect time in history.

How am I doing at living out my purpose?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

~Jeremiah 29:11

BO

"He was never my spiritual adviser, he was never my spiritual mentor — he was my pastor."
- Barack Obama, April 29, 2008

Seriously B.O.? This is how you will be "disowning" Rev. Wright? Really? Would you like to go ahead and claim Snopes.com as your source, or perhaps quote some revolutionary advice from a fortune cookie or two? If a pastor isn't a spiritual advisor, then what might he be? (Yes, that's right I said he, don't worry it was on purpose, we can talk about it later kids.)

Does someone write the dribble for you, or do you come up with it all on your own?

...there I go...about to vomit again...

Two

Today Kitty turned two years old. Quite an accomplishment in the home of the Bings I must say! We are pleased that we have successfully kept Kitty alive and well for the majority of her two years. That's way better than any of the plants we've attempted to keep alive (which we thought was a logical first step in preparing ourselves for children...apparently plants are harder than we anticipated...right or wrong, we quickly moved up to kitties.) We decided to give plants another go today, figuring Kitty has gone quite well, maybe it's time to "move up" in the journey to prepare for kids. Two planters had been purchased, along with our Christmas tree, back in October. Patiently they sat in the garage until springtime. After much deliberation, and reading of little plant ID tags, we settled on marigolds and geraniums.

We now have 3 3/4 cubic feet of potting soil in our garage. We don't estimate things very well. Anyone need any dirt?

Appauling

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351608,00.html

Art?! You call this art?! I agree with Wanda Franz, President of the National Right to Life Committee. This is serial MURDER, not art. And at Yale of all places? How ridiculous has our high education system become...?

This girl had better NOT be a recipient of Federal assistance to pay for her college education. My tax dollars are pissed off enough to be providing funding to frivolous majors which guarantee nothing in the form of actual employment upon graduation, or funding "undeclared" major students trying to "find themselves" while wasting thousands of dollars. They will not be paying for serial murder as well.

College is not for everyone. It should not be for everyone.

Our children will not be going to college until they can tell us what occupation they wish to seek out upon graduation. Should they choose to abandon that pursuit, they will leave school, get a job, and pay us (or someone else) rent until they determine whether or not a college education is necessary for their desired future occupation.

Ugh. I think I'm going to vomit.

Pope

"In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary." President Bush in remarks to Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday, April 16, 2008.

I may not be Catholic and I may not agree with the majority of Catholic doctrine, but I do agree that all human life is sacred.

Accountants

In honor of Tax Day.

15 Incredibly Awesome Accountants

#16 - Rach =)

Disappointment

Over the past year or so I have been bombarded with disappointment. Disappointment in friends, in family, in all sorts of things. As I have watchd self-destructive behavior rear it's ugly head to some of my dearest loved ones I have ached on the outside, while fighting the urge to shake them uncontrollably until they "get it" on the inside. Speaking Truth into several situations over the past 5+ years has be tough and has lead to the loss of friends and confidantes, but truly, the loss than stings the most, is witnessing the actions of these dear loved ones from the sidelines, having been pushed aside or deemed irrelevant, out-dated, or too conservative. As I watch as an outsider, feeling defeated and useless, I start to doubt. I start to doubt the effectiveness of my influence, the effectiveness of my Walk, my ability to speak Truth with conviction, and most recently, I have begun to doubt whether or not I will be a good parent. Sure, I make the Worlds Greatest Chocolate Chip Cookie (true statement, not an exaggeration according to Husband and others...) but what can I offer if I'm an ineffective witness for Christ? If it hurts this bad when friends and family are ignoring Truth, how much worse will it be if my own child turns their back on me and more importantly turns their back on their faith? I can't, an quite honestly don't want to, imagine...

This past week I have been able to set aside my doubt for something much greater. After talking with some of my Brothers and Sisters (thanks for your prayers by the way, obviously this was a quick turn-around time), Sunday it was all summed up for me in Lon's message about Caleb (yes, that's right...) where I was reminded, yet again, how big our God is (no wonder Caleb's story has stuck with me for so many years...) This concept has been with me through out my whole Christian walk and I wonder if it's something I will ever truly be able to grasp. All I know is that I absolutely LOVE being reminded of just how much God wants to bless us and how much of God's plan we cannot see because of our earthly "blinders".

"I may not know the future, but I know the One who holds the future."

I still love you, still pray for you, and I rejoice in God's sovereignty over all our lives.


PS - No where in Lon's message did he say anything about Caleb's "suspected weight issues". Don't worry, I made sure to point that out to Husband after the service 0=)

Previously

Guy Who Says 'Previously On Heroes' Wishes He Was Guy Who Says 'Previously On Lost'

LOS ANGELES—If it were up to him, voice actor David Cavanaugh would emphasize the t in Lost to avoid trailing off and leaving viewers confused and adrift.