Give Me Five Monday Meme #20

Monday, March 31, 2008

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net


Give Me Five future events you are currently looking forward to and/or planning or attending.

I have alot going on and coming up that requires alot of work from me but there's so much to enjoy when it finally gets here!!!


1. Friday & Saturday, April 18 & 19-'Transformed' @ FBCA: Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort and others are putting on a wonderful conference at my Mom's church. Please see my previous post called 'Kirk Cameron is coming to my town!' for all the details. The Friday evening session is a special conference being put on by the women's ministry and the guest speaker is Barbara Cameron (Kirk's mother) teaching about how to raise Godly children in an unGodly world. I plan to attend that as well. My mom mentioned Kirk will be in church Sunday morning as well, so looks like I will be visiting her church 3 days in a row, but woooo hoooo!


2. Saturday, May 3-Mother's Day Tea @ Valley View: This is proving to be a big task for me to get involved in with all the other things I have going on but it will be a nice day with mom and the other women in my life. I am looking forward to enjoying this tea!


3. Sunday, May 4-Baby shower for my cousin: I am planning this baby shower all on my own, I have so many ideas, it's difficult to narrow it down to just a few without going over board! It will really be alot of fun for everyone who comes. In a way, I am looking so forward to this happy occasion and celebration of love and new life and in a way, I have so much to do, I am anxious about getting it all done. Oh, who am I kidding? It's gonna be so fun and fabulous!


4. Mid June-Special delivery: My cousin is due on June 13th and we don't know if it will be a boy or a girl. So it will be an extra special delivery and surprise to boot! Yay!!!! I can't wait to meet this new member of our family, I love babies!


5. Summertime: I am really looking forward to getting out and enjoying the rivers and lakes and fishing and boating and 4 wheeling and so forth this summer with my dad and others. It has been a long winter for me and I am really really in need of some sunny days around here! I intend to take better advantage of the good weather and get out there in it!Give Me Five Participants

1. Helena 2. SaraLynn 3. MomOf3 4. Julie 5. Penny Lane

6. maryt/the teach 7. boogiemum 8. Kwizgiver 9. Stacey @Real World Mom 10. Joyce T.

11. Dawn\'s Daily Life 12. Bethany 13. Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy 14. MizSassy

Learn more about Give Me Five here.

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A possible new diagnosis for an old problem

So, I've had this patch of skin on my right wrist, just where the bone is near the surface of the skin and prods out. Well, at first it was just sort of red and puffy. Then it quickly turned to dry hard and almost scaly! I know, yucko, but these are things that are going on with me.

It all started with a dime sized patch around 3 years or so ago. I kept putting lotion on it, but it only helped relieve the dry scaly aspects, it never fully went away. As a matter of fact, the longer I have it, the larger and more intense it has gotten. It is now about the size of a half dollar! I don't often go to the doctor for things and when I do, I always forget to ask about it. For the most part, it's more unsightly than it is anything. Although at times it does seem to 'flare up' and get red and itchy and scaly more than other times when it's just sort of a callous.

While looking up some info on a psoriasis treatment, I've discovered that my symptoms fit! Here's what the National Psoriasis Foundation says psoriasis is:

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, genetic disease manifesting in the skin and/or the joints. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis. In plaque psoriasis, the most common type, patches of skin called "lesions" become inflamed and are covered by silvery white scale. Psoriasis can be limited to a few lesions or can involve moderate to large areas of skin. The severity of psoriasis can vary from person to person; however, for most people, psoriasis tends to be mild. No one knows exactly what causes psoriasis, but it is believed to have a genetic component. Most researchers agree that the immune system is somehow mistakenly triggered, which speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells. A normal skin cell matures and falls off the body's surface in 28 to 30 days. But a psoriatic skin cell takes only three to four days to mature and move to the surface. Instead of falling off (shedding), the cells pile up and form the lesions. Psoriasis often appears between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can develop at any age. Approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of those with psoriasis get it before age 10. Some infants have psoriasis, although this is considered rare.

All the info I am reading fits my symptoms and situation, including the ages and such. It's good to get answers, at least I know what this pesky patch is now!

Garage sale update!

I'm working today but my friends are having a garage sale! Normally I enjoy spending the night and bringing all my junk and participating in the garage sale because I don't have a yard or garage in which to conduct one of my own where I live. I love garage and yard sales, having them and going to them. I always have, since before I was old enough to walk, I was going to them. My mom would drag along behind us, one of those metal carts with wheels like you used to see old ladies dragging along behind them. She'd bring that and we'd make our rounds through the surrounding neighborhoods on Sat. morning leaving no sale unvisited! She might only have had $3 or $4 but we would always find treasures!!

So, being that there are only 3 Saturdays before the dreaded tax deadline, I must be at work this time. My friends were gracious enough to allow me to come out Friday evening and drop off some bigger items I had ready to sell in exchange for the few tables I have to offer and some help setting things up, which I am happy to help with! I mean, I don't have any Hansgrohe faucets but I do have an older 19" color tv for $10.00, a practically new Chefmate 2 lb. loaf bread maker with books for $5.00 and an older style 3 pc. set of luggage in great shape for $5.00 along with a couple other smaller odds n' ends. She just called with an update! So far, they have sold the TV and bread maker and a couple of little items for a total of $15.75 for me, yay!!! If you haven't had a yard sale or garage sale in a long time, do it! It's a great way to downsize clutter and increase mad cash :)

Busy, busy, busy...

I can see it now...a few days to myself in one of those Branson cabins. You know, a little r & r, some good food, maybe a show and some shopping.....

*WAKE UP, BECCA!*

Oh, yeah, that was a nice dream! Not only am I in full swing of 6 days a week for tax season, my friends are having a yard sale tomorrow, I'm taking stuff and tables out there tonight, I got an email today about a 'purse party' tonight @ a lady's house from church, Sunday is 5th Sunday dinner at church, Sat. after work, we are going to have dinner with my cousin who is coming up from the country to celebrate his 21st birthday, then I'll come home and make food for 5th Sunday, after the 5th Sunday dinner is done, I will meet with my mom to go to a Catherine's store sale to use our gift cards, I'm still planning the baby shower, working as much overtime as I can, trying to spend time with my pregnant cousin so I don't miss out on her pregnancy, helping my brother learn to use his new computer, reconciling with an old friend, trying to keep in touch with my now friends........AAAAH! Calgon, take me away! LOL

New Yahoo group

I've recently been thinking about starting a new Yahoo group. No not about used cisco! It would be a group where the women's ministry could post ideas and communicate in between meetings and church services. I could see it being really handy during times like these, planning for events and fund raising.

Maybe I'll just have to go over to Yahoo and investigate to see what group names are available. I actually have a couple of other yahoo groups that I don't even do anything with. I think it's a single woman's group. I think I need to delete that one, not because I'm not still single (cause I am, of course) because I don't do anything with it! LOL

Wordless Wednesday - After Easter

Heads or Tails - Surprise

This week's Heads or Tails is coming to me from a brand new home on the web! Heads or Tails now has it's very own website! So check in each week for all the latest HoT news and information!

This week's topic is 'Surprise'. I'd like to say, first of all...I would like it to be know that luxury vacations make it to the top of the list of 'good' surprises! I would love to be surprised in this way any day of the week, seriously.

I have always wanted a surprise party. I've been saying it for years! I've helped plan many surprise baby showers, birthday parties and other types of surprises as well. I have rarely been on the receiving end of one though. I know how much work goes into putting on a surprise party. There's alot of love and sacrifice that's given in order to fully pull off a surprise and I guess I just haven't been the deserving type that people would go to that much trouble for me. I am remembered in smaller surprises, but not a full on surprise party.

The last great surprise I remember was a double or really, triple surprise. I helped plan a surprise birthday party for my cousin's husband....who came to the 'fake' surprise party for his friend, Brian-whom he ushered in blindfolded. The two of them came in, Brian took off his blindfold and we all shouted "Surprise Larry!" and went right into singing the happy birthday song. He was so utterly confused and surprised, it took him half the song to finally get that we were all there for him! He started crying and said, "For me?!" Bless his heart, he had even started singing Happy Birthday with us even though he thought he was there for a graduation party! LOL The creme de la creme of the surprises came a little later in that same party when my cousin surprised all of us by giving Larry a birthday card that read, "Happy birthday, daddy!" and inside was a positive pregnancy test!!!!!!!! Yes, surprises can be very good indeed, I'm happy to watch other people get surprised, it puts a smile on my face, too!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #19

Monday, March 24, 2008

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net
Please be aware that I am currently unable to send group emails from this account and will need to use an alternative for now. Please send me an email at the above addy for more details.


Give Me Five favorite memories from your Easter day 2008.


1. Easter morning breakfast at church. It is becoming an annual tradition at Valley View Baptist Church for the 'Valley Girls' (the name of our women's ministry) to host a breakfast on Easter morning before service for our church family . We kept it simple this year having fresh fruit, donuts, bagels & cream cheese, muffins, oatmeal and cereal. Fine food and good visitations were had all around!!


2. Easter morning church service rocked! This morning, we had extra people at the service because we ordained a new deacon and had one person get baptized. Our praise and worship was especially good this morning as well. I really do love my church! Praise God, Jesus has risen!!!


3. Seeing my pregnant cousin. Once I picked up mom, we made our way out to her cousin's house where some of the family had already arrived. Their daughter, the cousin I'm throwing the baby shower for, was already there and I got to see her belly for the first time in weeks! She's due in June so she has a couple of months to go but her belly has really popped out there! She's doing really well and I even go to see her ultrasound scans!! Yay!!!!


4. Lunch! We had a wonderful home cooked meal today, including stuffed mushrooms, yum!!! My tummy was so very happy after that meal.


5. Bingo!! My cousins always pick up lots of little gifts throughout the year and we play single slide card bingo until they are all distributed. Then we play more games to 'rob' each other, it's very fun and entertaining. It was another great and fun spirit filled Easter day for me!Give Me Five Participants

1. Sandy M 2. SaraLynn 3. Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy 4. Stacey @Real World Mom 5. Stacey & Madison 6. Comedy Plus 7. Tammy

8. Fit4aprincess 9. Helena 10. Natalie - Red Sox Mommy 11. boogiemum 12. MomOf3 13. Julie 14. Penny Lane

15. MizSassy 16. TT&TOT- 17. Amanda 18. Dawn\'s Daily Life 19. Amy @ Memoirs of a Mommy (1st timer) 20. maryt/the teach

Learn more about Give Me Five here.

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Baby shower plans abound

My cousin and her husband are having their first baby and I am delighted to be the planner for the baby shower!!! I really can't remember the last time I've been able to plan a baby shower, it's so fun! Last November, I helped her plan a fun surprise birthday party for her husband and they were all so impressed by all my ideas, I was chosen to plan the shower. Her mom is funding and I'm planning, this is right up my alley! It's really a joy for me to plan and figure out all the details, I am very detail oriented.

Unlike in the past, this time I have used the internet for much of my planning. One website was able to allow me to create postcard type invitations and have them printed out. This will save on postage since I will be sending out nearly 60 of them, that's a savings of $9.00 in postage alone. With a special rebate, I got 100 personalized invitations for $14! They have all the information about where and when and where she is registered, who & how to RSVP and a special note to beckon them to attend. They really are quite nice, if I do say so myself!

I have also used the internet to plan games and activities. There are many you can purchase and many you can get ideas of your own from for FREE! I even found creative ideas for thank you favors for the guests to take home.

This shower will be alot of fun, as it is also fun to coordinate with the mom-to-be on things she will need, advice and her likes and dislikes. Among some of the things for the parents-to-be to contemplate: baby furniture, college savings, car seats, children insurance, diapers, diaper pails....the list goes on and on. She's so cute when she says, "I just can't believe how much stuff it takes to take care of one little baby!" How precious to welcome a new life into the world and a new life style to a wonderful couple who enjoy a God centered marriage! More on the developing shower details as they arise.

Thoughts of another time and place

I'm at work, like so many of you are too. I know, yucko, right? Well, I'm working at my desk but not on my computer so the screen saver starts up. The current screen saver on this computer is set to randomly display photos from a given file, which I have chosen my "European Vacation 07" file.

Watching these random photos of such vast array is very entertaining! I sit here with a child like grin, in anticipation of what photo will pop up next! My mind races from England to Italy to Wales!!! I mean, I've stayed in a Vegas hotel before, but hello, we're talkin' Ruthin Castle in Denbigshire, Wales and our airy apartment in Florence Italy here! My thoughts are definitely floating in another time and other places this afternoon!

Predating test post

This is a testing post to discover if Blogger can be set to publish a post I've created and predated. It is now Tuesday 3/18/08 around 4:30 pm and I am going to set the date stamp for Wednesday 3/19/08 Time 00:01. Let's see if this will post immediately, as I believe it will, or if in fact it will post 1 second after midnight tonight as some say it will.

I may need to stock up on some travel supplies and head out for a vacation after all this!

Heads or Tails - Any part of or place in a house

This week's Heads or Tails is being guess hosted by Tidbits of the Tippets blog. This week's theme is about 'any part of or place in a house.' I choose flooring. Although I rent my apartment, I have made some small improvements here or there. I mean, I am the one living there after all! Unfortunately, flooring is no small task.

Of course all the floors in my house need to be cleaned (definitely falls under things I can do, just when I'm supposed to have time for that, I'll never know!)...but even when I first moved into the apartment about 3 years ago, the kitchen floor was in need of replacing. They used those square peel and stick linoleum style tiles that are now very worn, scratched and discolored. I'd really love for them to install a new tile floor. Maybe some nice travertine? Anyway, one of these days I will buy a house and I can choose any style flooring I want! :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, O' Danny Boy!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #18

Monday, March 17, 2008

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net


Give Me Five favorite green things or your favorite ways to be green or favorite things about St. Patrick's day or mix and match!

First off, I am not Irish and I do not promote drunken stupors. So please enjoy St. Patrick's Day responsibly. And to all those who are Irish, your home country is beautiful, I hope to get there some day and "Top o' the mornin' to ya!" Secondly, my favorite color is green, yay! Lastly, everyone is interested in learning new ways to 'go green'! So you can mix and match under any of these wonderfully green topics!


1. Wicked (the musical)-Today is a cold rainy day and I am seizing the opportunity to wear the green sweater I bought to wear to the last performance of Wicked I went to in December, 2007. This time I was able to take my friend and cousin along. I really enjoyed this musical the first time I saw it a couple of years ago and boy oh boy, is it green in Oz! If you ever get a chance to go out and see this show, do indulge yourself the privilege. The show is quite entertaining and gives you a new perspective on the land over the rainbow.


2. Can recycling-I am always 'can hunting' and I can't wait for the weather to get better so I can go out and pick up all this cash laying all around the area. My local recycling center has a sign posted that hey are paying $.70 per lb. for 10 lbs or more at one time. That's even better than the last time I was busy recycling cans @ $.60. It doesn't sound like much but you'd be so surprised how quickly it adds up! It's free green in your pocket and it feels great to get those cans picked up and back onto a reusable track!


3. Clover-I remember sitting in the front yard when I was a kid, looking through all the green clover just trying to find one with 4 leaves! I always loved that there was a special day every year where people dressed in and decorated with my favorite color!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!


4. Grass & Trees-I have always loved the color green because God created the green grasses and green leaves all over the trees, especially in spring time! It's such a fantastic display after a cold dark dormant winter of 'resting'. It's like everything comes alive again!


5. Green Vegetables-I was just saying the other day, I really don't think there are many green vegetables I have met that I don't like or love! Of course, I have my favorites: asparagus, spinach, green beans, broccoli, lima beans, lettuce, cucumbers, peas, okra, brussel sprouts, collar greens...the list goes on! (And let's not forget about green tea!)Give Me Five Participants

1. Gabrielle 2. boogiemum 3. Blogging By Sandee 4. MomOf3 5. Penny Lane

6. Dawn\'s Daily Life 7. Kwizgiver 8. Joyce T. 9. Bethany 10. Lydia

11. PhoenixTheBloggingMama 12. Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy 13. Tina Kubala

Learn more about Give Me Five here.

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Croc Flat Iron Review

If you are like me and have curly and/or wavy hair, you probably already know what flat irons are. I have one at home already that is, well, let's just say it's a cheapy that I could afford at the time. I recently ordered the Turbo Ion's Croc flat iron. When it arrived in the mail, I was so excited! I took it home that night and could hardly wait to try it out the next morning!

Who knew there were so many different flat irons out there anyway! They all seem to be special in one way or another. Some are metal some are ceramic. Some are for wet to dry styling, some work only on dry hair. I always start the day with towel dried hair after shampooing and conditioning during my shower. With my old flat iron, I had to blow dry my hair and then use the flat iron to style it just so. This gets to be time consuming. I like being able to complete 2 tasks in one going from towel dried hair to dry and styled at the same time.

My new Croc flat iron came with directions for the temperature settings for my specific type of hair and styling method as well as information assuring me that the loss of moisture during the damp to dry process doesn't mean my hair is being damaged.

A little better explanation from the website explains it like this:

This iron features a patent pending, built-in turbo ion generator. This generator emits 5 million negative ions per square centimeter. Ceramic plates generate 6 times more ions then metal irons, and seal the cuticles of hair to prevent split ends, reduce frizz and retain hair's natural moisture, oil and color. Its top-of-the-line ceramic heating element allows for quick heating, quick cooling and an even distribution of heat across the plates.

The iron heats up in just a few seconds, you can watch the temperature go up, up, up on it's digital display! The temperature settings go up to 430 F, I find that 340 F is a good setting for me. I've also noticed that it maintains your desired level of temperature as you use it, unlike some that cool off as you are waving it around and with repeated strokes.

It's a big time saver and the 1.5" flat plates help in that matter as well. The plates line up well too, as I've encountered others that hit first at the end leaving less pressure to the inside of the plates against your hair. Actually, my old cheapy one at home tends to pull individual hairs in that section, so I have to be careful not to get too close to that part of the plates.

The iron has a nice 8' long swiveled cord and is light weight, about 12 oz (according to the website). Which is nice with my carpal tunnel these days. The Nano silver coated dual cover keeps the temperature of the handle to a minimum and has grips for ease of use and safety. All in all, this has been a really great experience! I look forward to many happy hair styles made easier by this opportunity! The Croc Ion flat iron has made a spectacular addition to my arsenal of hair care accoutrement. Thank you, Misikko!

The job search goes on

I had a meeting at 7:30 this morning with recruiter #3. This man was very nice, very informative and helpful. He had some great suggestions for my resume, which he said already looked really attractive. Yay!

He also mentioned that the market for job openings in my field here in St. Louis right now is on the small side and informed me that with the upcoming Macy's headquarters closure, there will soon be 100's more in my line of work being added to the qualified pool of applicants. This could be bad... I'd love to find something suitable before that happens.

Who knows, I may end up staying here a little longer. Hopefully not for long or I'll never be able to get out of debt. Guess who looks down on bad credit and low income.....mortgage lenders, that's who! I'll be 60 before I can get a house! Ugh...

I shall not worry. I know the Lord has a plan for me. If He wants me to stay here and fix my finances, I will. It's not impossible. And I won't complain because at least, like my brother mentioned, I still have a job! Of course, my boss is supposedly putting the word out to find someone to replace me....

No, I won't fret! I'm letting it go.....I'll keep you informed!

About time for a change around here.

I am tired of being fat.

Seriously.

I have been getting progressively larger since I was around 10 years old. In the past few years, my weight has been holding steady and I don't seem to be gaining really...until lately. There is a certain point where I am used to the weight I have, I can get most things done without exerting myself and really noticing the weight being a problem per se. Obviously I am not as healthy and attractive as I wish I would be or even as much as I know I can be. Lately, my weight has began to go up again. Maybe age and hormonal reasons, bad habits getting worse....I know the reasons why I've always abused food and eating. I've dealt with those issues. It seems as though, at this point, I have such horrible habits and practices that I can't seem to break the cycles long enough to make important necessary healthy changes to my routine and eating schedule and habits. Lately, even routine tasks are labored. I won't even begin to tell you about the nightmare I endured Friday night with my computer because of my excessive weight.

Oddly enough, I love exercising! I love the foods you have to eat to get healthy! I don't think I have ever met a green food I didn't really like and I would eat salmon 5 days a week, if I could! There in lies part of my issues. Currently (remember, I'm looking for a new job too) I can't afford food in my budget. I eat what I can, when my mom buys, when a friend cooks and invites me over, when someone else pays, whatever I already have bought in the house from prior bad food choices...you get the picture. Somehow, even though I don't have money for food, I eat in one way or another every day. But to just go to the store and purchase the best foods for me to eat is just a dream for now. I hate this!!!

I'd even be open to trying some kind of hoodia or really, I'd love to join one of those weight loss centers and get proportioned food from them. Right now, that's impossible!

So for now, my plan is to eat smaller portions, picking the healthiest possible choices when I can and adding exercise into my daily life. Especially now that the weather is getting nicer! That is something I can control. I should totally make 'cleaning' into a form of exercise and kill 2 birds with 1 stone!!!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #17

Monday, March 10, 2008

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net


Give Me Five ways you like to de-stress, relax, wind down or kick back.

Ooo, I love these because I get good ideas from everyone else! I say, "No need to pack up the old Rimowa luggage and head to the airport for a full on vacation!" There's plenty of stuff right here we can enjoy to kick back and relax.


1. Knitting-I learned to knit a couple of years ago and it is a great way to relax and the repetition is soothing. The feeling of the fibers working through your hands is great! I also love the sense of accomplishment when I finally finish a piece. Sometimes it bothers my carpal tunnel but for the most part, knitting is a great way to de-stress for me.


2. Watch TV-I almost always end my day watching some kind of recorded show in bed. I love having my DVR. I tell it what I want to watch then, when I get the time, my favorite shows are sitting there waiting for me! Also, I get to skip right through those stinky commercials :)


3. Fishing-I really love fishing. I always liked it as a kid but didn't get to go with 'the guys' very much. As an adult, I dated a guy who's favorite thing in life is fishing and we went all the time on his boat. We'd leave early in the morning and get to a lake and fish at sunrise or go after work more locally and fish until after dark! I miss it alot. When I get to go fishing, I have a big smile on my face because it's a great way to get out into nature and enjoy the great outdoors! If I'm fishing, I'm not worried about work or other responsibilities!!


4. Reading-I don't read as much as I wish I did. I don't make enough time for it. I do enjoy it! It's a great way to get your mind off your issues and into someone else's for a while. When I read in bed at night, I'm all into it at first and then before I know it, I'm drifting off to sleep!


5. Playing games online-I love to play over at GoldToken.com. I pay for my membership, it's a turn based game site, but I really love the games (especially Dice Pipe) and all the other members are so friendly. I have several friends who also play there, so it's fun to have games going with them. I've discovered a few other free websites for playing games too. I really enjoy it. It puts you in a playful mood, also not thinking of work and responsibilities when I'm playing.
Give Me Five Participants

1. Bethany 2. Mama Pajama 3. Stacey @Real World Mom 4. Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy 5. Emelita

6. Kwizgiver 7. Forgetfulone 8. Penny Lane 9. Anna 10. Tina Kubala

11. *jimaiemarie* 12. Serena 13. MomOf3 14. PhoenixTheBloggingMama 15. storyteller

Learn more about Give Me Five here.
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Ooo baby video rebuttal.

Misty has brought out a great point. I have not explained my issues with the 'Ooo baby' video on YouTube as presented by Barb over at Skittle's Place. I didn't think it was appropriate to get that deep on someone else's blog. But this being my blog, I think I'll take a couple of minutes to explain. It is with love and reverence in my heart that I write this rebuttal.

In today's existential world of everything coming from yourself, and all this 'positive thinking will do the trick' mentality, the world is so far from seeing they need Christ in their lives that they are easily impressed with a mesh of images and words giving false hope and pressure to think that they can make a change in this world if they only have enough hope and love and wish for it.

The video starts off by saying, "Every single person has wished for something more." I couldn't agree more. The problem is that most people miss the mark and look to other people or society or laws or pleasures to complete that hole inside them. Next the video asks you what is your wish? Food? Shelter? Love? Hate? Then it goes on to say that "There is always more. It's what we strive for." What? More of what? "More is not a mere word. It's an ideology." Ok, this I can agree with.

Then it goes on to show a shot of the first airplane back in the day and next a shot of a man on the moon. Followed up by saying "We have accomplished so much. In such a short time." Next it shows some images of violent crimes and a child with a gun around his neck, ground zero...all the while saying "But we seem so determined to bring it all down." Making it sound like we didn't 'wish' hard enough to keep these people from acting out in these ways.

"We have so many questions. And very few answers." I agree with the first 1/2 of that statement. I don't feel like people are asking their questions to the right resources. Consult a bible once in a while. All the answers we need are right there, in print, just waiting for us to seek it out.

"With time and love and hope..." (as it shows a photo of the earth) "We can accomplish anything." Wow!!!

Here in lies my biggest issues with this video. Are people so far removed from God that they think they are capable of anything? Since when does time *do* anything to get accomplished? Since when does love *do* anything? It's a feeling after all, am I missing something? And this idea of hope?! Unless hope is directed toward Christ, it's empty. There is only hope in Christ. 'In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my rock my strength my song.' In whom or what are people wishing on? Where are they seeking hope? The earth isn't capable of supplying any payment of accomplishment of hope. The earth, being itself created by God, does what God tells it to do. It's foolishness to think there is hope in this earth. God doesn't have a plan B. He's still on track with plan A and it's up to us to find out what that plan is! If anyone has hope that they can make it through this life with happiness and health and wealth and good fortune all the days. I feel terribly sad for people who seek this life here with no regard for eternal destinations and retributions.

The video goes on to say "The time is ours. Right now we can make a change." Ok, I agree with that, but they aren't trying to get us to change towards Christ, but to some power we can see in ourselves. I'm afraid that is fruitless as well.

"The world is beautiful. And is capable of beautiful creations." Ok, let me just add this in right here. The world maybe be beautiful, but it, like us and everything in it and on it were created by God from His perfect will. So saying that 'the world' creates beauty is also trying to take away from the fact that God created everything.

"It shall no longer be a simple hope. It shall become our duty. A duty to ensure the safety and happiness of our children. And for future generations to come. Change can be difficult when you're comfortable. But who can say they are truly comfortable when there is so much more? Every single person, past and present has wished for something more. What was your wish?"

This video has sparked a wonder in your mind about what you want to pass on to your kids and what are you doing with your life. But it is not a call to salvation or to seek God's will for your life. God's plan for us is so much more than we could ever imagine for ourselves. This video feeds the secular ideas that we can get along great by wishing big broad beautiful loving wishes for people in bad times, but they are empty wishes if they are not routed in God's will. This fluffy video does nothing to glorify God and actually reinforces the ideas that are popular right now that say we are capable and there's no need to look to God...that we can change things and making this world a better place for ourselves and the next ones to come. If we don't seek God first, all of our efforts are empty. The best thing we can do for ourselves, our children and any future generations is to give them a firm foundation in God and seek Christ for our own lives. Look into it! See if you can find out why God chose you to be here and be brought through your particular life into this place. What future does God have in mind for you?

If God's not in it, it's worthless and fruitless and not unlike the serpent in the garden who changed one word and lead a girl's thoughts away from God's will for her life. Your decisions affect more than just you. You have a choice to believe you are capable of accomplishing change of grandeur or seeking to discover how God wants to use you to make changes that He is making.

God has no plan B.

For Skittles...

I'd like to share this video found on GodTube.com. I don't think it's the official video for the song, but someone has thoughtfully constructed images & scripture to go along with it and it's a great rendition to enjoy. This song, 'Tunnel' by ThirdDay has been very special to me since the first time I ever heard it. As you listen, let the words fill your heart. You are not alone. I, am not alone.

Hope = God, the light at the end of this tunnel-your tunnel.

Kirk Cameron is coming to my town!

I am so stinkin' excited about this!!! As you may have noticed, I sport a link in my sidebar to a website called 'The Way of the Master'. If you haven't already, please take a few minutes to go over and check it out. It's very informative and encouraging for believers and unbelievers! Click the banner to go there now or read further, then come back to it.

Today my mom comes into my office (yes we work together) showing me a bulletin from her church for upcoming events. She says, "Oh wow, sis! I almost passed right over this page, until I noticed a familiar face!" I was thrilled to find a segment advertising a conference coming next month with Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort. They have a great ministry and I can't wait to go!

Here's the back story: When I was a teen, I became absolutely obsessed with Kirk Cameron. I often used my babysitting money to feed my addiction of new photos from teen magazines. He graced the cover of many Teen Beats and I wanted them all! I'm not kidding...I had over 2.000 photos of Kirk on my walls and ceiling. Of course, only full page or centerfolds were special enough for the ceiling. I would lay on my bed and dream about him. I'd listen to the radio and dream about him.

Reading anything and everything about him went right along with it. He always seemed like a decent guy. I never read about involvement with drugs or trouble with the law. Back then, I could tell you pretty much anything that was in print about the boy! I knew I would never meet him. Who was I? Some fat poor chick living in the Mid-West! I considered writing to him but he received thousands of fan mail everyday. There was no way he would get mine. Besides, what would I say that he hadn't heard from 10 million other screaming teenage girls? What could I say to him that would make a lasting impression?

So I decided to pray. My prayers were very selfish. I didn't pray that I would meet him. I didn't pray that if we met, he would fall in love with me. I don't think I was obsessed with him in this way, exactly. It was like I just really had a burden in my heart or something for him. It was impressed upon my heart that I knew I would never meet him on this earth so I prayed that the Lord would bring *someone* into his life that would tell him about Jesus and that he would get saved and believe so he could go to heaven and then I could meet him there! I could spend eternity visiting and not have to worry about what I look like or what to say. I prayed that way a few times, I don't know how many times or for how long. I know now that although it was great to pray for him to find God for his life, it was still wrong of me to do it with such selfish intentions.

The feeling of concern for Kirk weighed this way on my heart, until one day. Kirk's face began to fade from the front pages of the magazines. He became less and less visual in the Teen Beat scene. Then one day, much to my joy, I clipped my last photo of Kirk Cameron from publication. It was a photo of him standing with his arm around Billy Graham! From the time my eyes found that photo, that weight and burden has been lifted from my heart and mind!

So now, to see him happily married with 6 beautiful children and fervently working a ministry to help others get excited about evangelism for God, I couldn't be happier! It really touches my heart in a special way and I guess you could say, Kirk Cameron was my first real answer to prayer! And WOW what a big answer it has been! God sure knows how to show us that He has a plan and it's better than we could imagine for ourselves!

I hope I get the opportunity to meet Kirk at this conference at First Baptist Church of Arnold, MO and let him know that I prayed for him back then. I'm pretty sure he would appreciate knowing that :) If not, I'll see you on the flip-side!