Sweet Day At The Beach

Happy Mama

Nothing makes Laurie happier than time in the sun.

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We Have Arrived In Florida!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

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"Though Troubles Assail Us"

I love BSF... 12-years ago I could NOT say those three words. In fact, I detested BSF. My excuse was that it reminded me too much of college... i.e. Bible college. Sitting through classes on specific books of the Bible like Acts, Isaiah, Romans, Revelation. Or series of books like the Epistles of Paul, Life of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Or classes on Christian theology, Christian worldview (ah, good old IDS... also lovingly called I-D-Test), homiletics, Greek, History of Restoration Movement, etc.

Don't get me wrong... I loved attending Bible college at Lincoln Christian University (f.k.a. Lincoln Christian College & Seminary). But, just 10 years after graduating from Bible college I had a very difficult time sitting in a weekly "Bible study" that resembled my Bible college classes.

Fast forward 13 years... I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on Monday nights except at BSF.

This year we're studying the book of John. Weekly I'm being challenged by the notes, questions, discussion time and teaching time... every week one or more points, questions, answers, SOMETHING is timely to ME.

But tonight... it was a hymn we sang immediately before the teaching time. Actually, "we" didn't sing the hymn... They sang, I listened.

I listened to a hymn??? Usually I laugh at the singing of 300 year old hymns at BSF... ALL verses... too slow... old english. BORING!!!

Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,

though friends should all fail us and foes all unite.

yet one thing secures us, what ever betide

the promise assure us, "The Lord will provide."

The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed;

from them let us learn to trust God for our bread.

His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied

so long as 'tis written, "The Lord will provide."

When Satan assails us to stop up our path,

and courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.

He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,

this heart-cheering promise, "The Lord will provide."

No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;

yet, since we have known of the Savior's great name,

in this our strong tower for safety we hide;

the Lord is our power, "The Lord will provide."

John Newton, 1779

I have to be honest... It's not that I detested BSF 13 years ago. I detested being confronted with truths week after week.

Thank you BSF... Thank you John Newton.

Mother Hen er... Dog

Hard to tell but that would be the dog giving the cat a bath - specifically cleaning her ear out.

Pumpkin Huntin' Time

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Phil's 75th Birthday Get-Together

Do You See What I See?

Ok, please tell me... Do you see what I see? I think it would help if you could see a video of what I'm watching, but my Blackberry can't do that (Why RIM? Why can't a Blackberry do video?)

Anyway - our kitten, Alexis, is suckling on Andrew's polka dot teddy bear, Tangie. She's been going at it for about 10 minutes now... Purring, prodding with her right front paw against Tangie's chest and sucking... Sucking on... well, THAT I'm not quite sure, but she's sucking on his chest.

Interesting... I guess she found a "mommy figure" in Tangie.

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Chocolate Lover

Yes... Andrew LOVES chocolate. :-) He's like his mommy and daddy.

He's decided his new favorite candy bar is Caramello... Good choice! Yum!!!

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McC Family - Photo Proofs

If there's one thing I'm learning about photography it's patience. Not with the subjects I'm photographing, or my equipment, not the surroundings and not even the weather... but with the processing of the photos. I become a perfectionist and spend way too much time on them... even with basic editing. I do, re-do and re-do again. I'm getting better, but still have along way to go.

I spent a couple hours taking photos of friends a couple weeks ago at a nearby nature center. Laurie and I have been friends with the McC's for several years. Mr McC was one of my first friends when I started attending Eastview Christian Church in 1995. Mr & Mrs McC started dating right after our wedding in April of 1998, which they both had attended.

There are some definite winners in the photos below... I'm looking forward to hearing what ones the McC's choose so I can let my creative juices flow. I already have some favorites I'm hoping they choose... Let me know what you like, too.

Recycling Business Idea

What a brilliant idea! I amaze myself sometimes! Why didn't I think of this years ago!

You might be wondering what I'm talking about... Well, I'll tell you...

SHOULDER PADS!!!

YES! You read that correctly... Shoulder pads. Not the football kind, but the kind women wear under sweaters & tops (not as much as they use to, though... Like in the 80's... WOW! BIG shoulder pads in those days).

Anyway... Here's the idea: RECYCLED SHOULDER PADS.

Yeah... you got it. And here are ten ideas for their use:

• Yarmulkes - Jewish head pieces

"Oy vey..."

• Chinese headware for cats

• "Adam" halloween costume (many are in the same shape as a leaf... might need dyed, tho)
• Bikini tops and bras for women (I know, duh, of course women... just thought I'd be clear for some men out there)
• Nursing pads (men, ask a mom what this means)
• Cell phone holder - Sew a couple together and VOILA!!!
• Eye blinders for horses
• Hot pads for little girls cookware sets
• Dr Scholls-der shoe inserts (Get it? "Shoulder pads" ... "Scholls-der pads")
• Light bulb remover pads (for those of us that lichange light bulbs while they're still hot)

Sorry I didn't have time to create photos for each idea... Laurie wouldn't participate with the bra/bikini & nursing pad ideas, no friends were available for the "Adam Halloween costume," we couldn't find a horse for the blinders, we don't have a sewing machine for the cell phone holder... blah blah blah.

Hey, I'm a dreamer and visionary... I let someone else work out all the details and do the marketing.

A Recent "Remember When...?"

I turned to Laurie the other day and suddenly asked... "Do you remember when we learned to drive you had to use a floorboard button to turn on the brights?" I have absolutely no idea why that came to mind... again, (as I stated in my previous post) I have stopped asking "why" when I think of something strange.

I'm not really sure when they stopped doing that, but it sure does make more sense than putting it on a little stick that also includes front and back window washers, cruise control and blinkers. Especially when my hands are already busy with the A/C, my music choice on my iPod, texting and setting my GPS. I guess they considered "foot multi-tasking"dangerous back then... it is quite hazardardous for all those left foot brakers (i.e. brake-riders) and clutch users. I've also heard there were a lot of drivers without left legs suing car companies for "equal opportunity high beam rights" (yes, that was a joke... please don't google that).

I wonder what a car salesman (oh, excuse me... salesperson) would say today if I asked for a "floorboard high-beam button" to be installed as an option for a new vehicle?