posting soonish

I have new pictures to post. I have new stories to tell. But. My air conditioner does not work. The heat and humidity are sucking the life out of all of us, and making certain tempers VERY short. Also. This is day 2 of a humdinger of a migraine. It is a wonder that I can make my fingers cooperate to type this much accurately. I hope it's accurate anyway. God bless generic excedrin migraine. And God bless you, my friends. I will post coherently soonish.

Things that make you go, "hmmm."

I'm borrowing this post from my friend over at Living in Fairyland. I did check at snopes, just like she did. I think it's reasonable to note that snopes did have a few qualifiers about energy use and such. However, the researchers at snopes do agree that for the most part the following information is accurate.

Tale of Two Houses

House #1
A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2400 per month. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern 'snow belt' area. It's in the South.

---

House #2
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every 'green' feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground.

The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.

~~~~~
HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville , Tennessee ;
It is the abode of the 'Environmentalist' Al Gore.

HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford , Texas ;
It is the residence of the Ex-President of the United States , George W. Bush.

An 'inconvenient truth.'

I sure hope this gets passed to everyone!
And, yes ... I DID check Snopes prior to forwarding it.


You can verify it at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp

Working it out in my head

Yesterday marked six years of marriage. Usually, we do not get along on our anniversary. I don't know why. This year, we got along just fine. Unfortunately, while we were at church, our apartment was broken into, the television removed, and several video games stolen. I need to make it clear that while I am upset about the stuff (it was our stuff), it isn't that big a deal. It's just stuff and it is insured. My pets were unharmed. That is a big deal. God is very good to us. In case you're wondering why my dog doesn't prevent events like this, it isn't his fault. I lock him in his kennel when I leave the apartment. Then he doesn't eat my stuff. Then he isn't in as much danger of being hurt or running away if someone breaks in. Moving on.

So we came home to a broken (but closed, and so my cat did not leave) door. A missing TV. The knowledge that someone had been inside the apartment and violated our space. I called the police. I cried. Not over the stuff, but over the paralyzing fear that hit me when the cat didn't come to my call and I was too afraid to walk through the apartment looking even though reason made it perfectly clear that no one was there but me. I called the insurance company. Bryan began cataloging his games to make a list of the missing. Bryan called his mother. We couldn't meet her to have her take Sean so we could go out for our anniversary. The broken lock had us securely bound to our home. She came to us, fetched lunch, helped Bryan set up a spare TV, bought new cables for it since all of the cables had been damaged when the TV was ripped away from them. She is a rock, thank God. Maintenance came and repaired the door, installed a new lock. We could go. We sent Sean with his Lala. We stayed home. Neither one of us had much appetite, and I saw no point in paying extra for food we wouldn't enjoy. Maybe we'll try it again another night. Maintenance also gave me a gerry bar. It's a 2x4 cut and notched to jam up under the door knob to keep intruders out while I am home. On the slippery linoleum, it doesnt do much, but it will give me a second to grab Bryan's rapier from the high shelf by the door while I send Sean to his room with the dog. I learned this about myself: if the need arises, I will not hesitate to stab someone to defend my son and our home. I'll feel really bad about it later, but I will still stand in the door, cell phone in one hand dialing 911, sword in the other, waiting for an opportunity.

Today I had to go get Sean. Leaving was hard. What if...I refused to finish the thought. I was not made to live in fear. I am keeping my mind steadfast with every ounce of determination I can muster. I will be kept in perfect peace. I had to pick Sean up, shop for food, go to the apartment office to request politely that I be given a different, higher, less isolated apartment with no transfer fee. The manager is out for training for three days. I was assured that my requrest will probably be granted upon her return, because it is reasonable. And because the police officer suggested that I move because now the thieves have seen our electronic wealth. They will probably be back. I will call again later in the week. It's a slow week, so I won't be going out much. I can stay home, near the rapier and the door.

I stayed in the office for too long, chatting with the receptionist. Fear had crept in while I was grocery shopping. In between prayers praising God for his faithfulness, thanking Him for the Good that will come out of this, asking for His favor as I handle police reports, insurance claims, and moving, fear had slipped back into my head. So I chatted with the receptionist to avoid going home. Nothing in my life experience has prepared me to be afraid of coming home.

So I came home. The groceries had to put away. The pets need me. I live here. I marched up to the building, arms full of food, praying my confidence out loud. I am not afraid. I have not been given a spirit of timidity. And I stopped to examine the door anyway. It appeared untouched, so I turned the knob and pushed. Still locked. So I unlocked the door, and while I spoke fearlessness, my hand shook. I put the food on the table, walked through the apartment. All clear. Back to the car for the rest, and Sean had to go with me. I don't know what I think will happen while my back is turned for two minutes. I don't want to know. We took the dog out. I called Bryan to let him know I'm home and safe, even though I still don't feel safe.

I'm working it out in my head. Jesus will work it out in my heart. He is sovereign, and will keep me in perfect peace because my thoughts are steadfast. With His hand on me, I will overcome the fear that I know does not belong to me. I just wanted to write it all down, so I'll have a clear testimony of my deliverance. And because now that I've said it, now that I've identified it in words, it's easier to keep moving past it. It is fear, and it doesn't belong to me. Better, I do NOT belong to it. I belong to the King of Everything. God is for me, who can stand against me?

A random pic, and some picnic pics

Can you say Picnic Pictures five time fast? I can (said a book-reading parrot name Louie)!

Here's one taken before the festival on Saturday.


On Friday, we went to Newnan, hunted down an elusive park, and had a lovely picnic with my sister Hope and her kids. I only took a few shots (phone battery was going to die).
Here's one of Hope and Jonathon.


Another of Jonathon (he was easiest to take pictures of. He was sitting still).


And one of Simon.


Next time I'll try to get some of Elizabeth and Sean, too. This time they were just TOO busy!

Renaissance Festival

We love the Renaissance Festival. We love it so much that this year we are going twice! This past Saturday was opening day, buy one, get one free tickets. So we went with our friends Peter & Kristen and their daughters. First, we had to decide where to go at what time. Here's Sean, hanging on to the map.


Both girls wanted their pictures taken as the Mona Lisa, so Sean had to do it, too. Here he is, peeking out.


Sean's favorite thing at the faire this year was the pirates, so it is appropriate that in this picture, he is a pirate and Kaylin is a fairy (Kaylin and Alyssa had fun dancing 'round the maypole with the fairies).


Here's a close-up of Sean, in case you were wanting to see his beautiful brown eyes, awesomely short hair, and the birthmark that gets really red when he's playing hard or getting mad (not to mention his very toothy smile).


Sean has this need to mimic Kaylin in all things. So when she pretended to be cargo under the stroller, well...


And last, but not least, I don't remember what he was trying to hand me. I think it may have been grass. Pulled out of the ground. Maybe rocks. Either way, I ♥ this kid.


I'll try to take more pictures when we go again in June...very possibly in full Renn Faire garb!

Another nifty giveaway

Go to Baroness Bijoutery if you have any interest in winning a really pretty necklace! Mother's day IS coming! Also, If you're looking for something for Mom's day along the bejewelled and unique lines, I encourage you to visit her Etsy Shop.

You can also find "Altered Art and Vintage Treasures" at Everything Nana, which is operated and stocked by a friend of mine from Tennessee.

Stay tuned for pics from our first trip to this year's Renaissance Festival!

Bloggy Giveaway

Click on the title of this post for a look at FlightFancy. It's a nifty blog, and she's giving away a beee-you-ti-ful necklace from her Etsy shop!

The Jesus Song

Last week, Sean and I left the house for Wednesday morning Bible Study. I turned on the radio and we listened to a couple of songs on the Fish. Then Sean announces, "Mommy, I have a Jesus song." So I turned off the radio and invited him to sing it (I was amazed. Usually he only talks to or about Jesus if I bring it up and prompt him). So he sang it, and I told him that it was an excellent song and that Jesus loves it when Sean sings to Him. He's been singing it since, sometimes randomly, sometimes on request. He's also added it to his bedtime prayer (which formerly consisted of "I love you Jesus and goodnight."), so that now he sings the song and then says the aforementioned prayer. I asked him to sing it for me into the microphone this morning so I could share it here and so that I could keep it. As precious as it is now, I imagine that when he's a man and living his own life, I will hold it even more dear. Without further ado, Sean's Jesus Song.



(the lyrics are: Jesus, I love you. You're my best friend.)

Caboodle Ranch

When I saw the headline about the man with hundreds of cats, I groaned inwardly. Hoarding stories make my stomach turn over. However, upon reading and researching further, I realized that this guy isn't hoarding. So if you're interested in finding more about this amazing rescue, click the picture above!

Can you hear it?

Created by Train Horns

I heard it! It was awful. But the cool thing is British high school students who use it for a ring tone to text in class. Teachers can't here it, but the kids can!

Bloggy giveaway

Marsha at Living in Fairyland is having a giveaway! Check out her etsy shop and post a comment to her blog telling her what your favorite thing in her shop is. Tada! You're entered! The prize is

One beautifully crafted pink geisha domino pendant necklace
A choice of Jasmine Sunshine or Clean caramel pecan soap
Any greeting card from her etsy shop.

favorite lol ever

so i posted the synchronized puppies. i captioned them. i'm still proud. i also thought i should post my favorite lol ever. here it is. bryan and i even named our rock band group after it.

more animals

a couple of pics

in case you were wondering how the boy is doing...

My boy helping me carry groceries


Sean and his latest build-a-bear friend...Sean the Frog

Killing the Bad Guys

Just the title of this post is likely to bump up my rating on that thing that tells you if your blog is G, PG, or whatever. And yet...killing bad guys is a fairly major component in my conversations these days. I'm not raising a violent boy, but the kid is a born warrior, and his play reflects that.

At night we have these sweet conversations about Jesus, about family and friends, about love. We also talk a little about fear. My mighty warrior-child is afraid of the dark (some bloggers give their children nicknames and then abbreviate them. I thought, Warrior-child. WC. Water closet. Never mind). Bad guys lurk in the dark. So one recent conversation goes like this:
Sean: You'll sleep in your bed?
Me: Yes, in a little while.
Sean: And MY sleep in your bed, too.
Me: No, you need to stay in your bed.
Sean: But my be scared.
Me: I'll leave your fish light on (the fish light is a dim lamp that has tropical fish swimming around it).
Sean: My still be scared.
Me: There's no reason to be scared. Jesus watches us all the time and takes good care of us while we sleep.
Sean: And God?
Me: God, too.
Sean: Jesus and God have guns, kill bad guys?
Me: Nope, Jesus and God don't need guns, and anyway, there are no bad guys in your room.
Sean, thoughtfully: Them not have guns, them have swords?
Me, thinking of Revelation: Actually, yea, I guess they do.
Sean: Them kill bad guys with them swords. My okay.
Me: Whatever works, buddy.

i has a lol!

I am SO excited, folks! I'm a big fan of lolcats and loldogs. For the longest time, I've occasionally submitted a caption, hoping someone else would think I was as funny as I think I am. No deal. I was starting to doubt my own powers of amusement. But! I should not have been afraid! Today, I was looking and giggling and THIS is what I saw!


see more puppies
picture: dunno source, via our loldog builder. lol caption: stillgrace

I made it!!!!! Woohoo!!!! Yea, I know it's a small thing, but it makes me happy!

a chart

Since I was so amused by the charts that Tara and Karen posted...


more music charts

A Headline, A Rant

This morning I saw this headline: Good News for Foreclosure Victims. Foreclosure victims I tell you! Argh! The only people affected by foreclosure that I think of as victims are the renters whose landlords failed to pay the bills, causing the renters to be unfairly evicted. The article did address those people, too. Freddie Mac has decided that to avoid unsightly vacancies and properties falling into disrepair, the bank will graciously allow the house to be rented to the foreclosed-upon owner. In the even that the house was already occupied by renters, Freddie will rent the house to them instead of evicting them. For the renters, who likely can't afford to start a new lease elsewhere, this is great news! For the owners-turned-renters, this is also good news. Sort of. Sure, I think it's great that they aren't going to be kicked to the curb and their pets abandoned to the local shelter or worse. I do have a couple of questions. First, if they weren't paying the mortgage, what makes Freddie think they'll pay the rent? Is he going to drop the monthly rate? If he IS going to drop the monthly rate, then what motivates a struggling homeowner to keep struggling. Why not give up the loan and the house and pay the decreased rent? Same house, same standard of living, price break. Yes! The decision to borrow too much is first rewarded with the loan itself, and then with a possible drop in rent. Second, what makes these people victims? They chose to take the loan. They chose to buy a house that was beyond their means. I know there are exceptions. There are people who could afford the monthly payments but disaster struck and times got hard. In my opinion, they aren't victims either. They could have waited to buy a house until they could pay cash or at least had enough savings to cover them in the event of an emergency. Why is Freddie continuing to reward people for their irresponsible choices?!

Fight FOCA

FOCA. Freedom of Choice Act. Laws that allow teenagers to have abortion with no parental involvement or consent. Even partial birth abortion. Laws that will allow botched abortions- babies born alive and possibly even viable- to be set aside to die alone and uncared for. Most Americans wouldn't let their dogs die like that. Laws that will take away the moral choice of doctors and nurses who are opposed to abortion. All facilities with the ability to perform abortions will be under a legal mandate to provide them. The choice will be to abort or close down. President Obama supports this act and has promised to sign it into law.
To sign a petition against it and read more, go to http://www.fightfoca.com/.