Give Me Five Meme *SPECIAL EDITION*

*Special Year End Edition of the Give Me Five Meme*

This week, I've decided to push back the Give Me Five Monday Meme until today, Wednesday, for a special year end edition. 2008 brought many small moments to reflect upon as well as the bigger moments we will never forget. So, without further ado, I bring you the topic of today's GM5:

Give Me Five of your personal favorite moments, memories, stories or photos of 2008.

1. I got to meet Kirk Cameron!!! Ok, for those of you who know me, you know I was a big fan of Kirk's back in the day. I never thought I would actually meet him this side of heaven and I did. Here's a bit of the back story on how it all came about and why meeting Kirk Cameron had such a special meaning to me.

2. Baby DJ is born! On Father's Day (June 15th) my cousin had their first baby, a boy. He's so cute and precious, it has been a real joy watching him grow these past few months. He's doing really well and thriving and getting stronger and bigger every day.

3. I discovered Setting Captives Free, a wonderful website for people who are afflicted with addictions. Mine is with food. I started 'The Lord's Table-Phase 1' and enjoyed healthy successes! Of course, I began to slack with the bible study part and soon after, the eating part began to suffer as well. I am sooooo looking forward to getting started on the study all over again and getting back to eating in a way that glorifies God!

4. Home improvements. Well, I'm still under construction but there are many great changes that have been accomplished and many more to come. The work done in 2008 is setting a great stage for a more organized and tidy 2009, much overdue too. When I was on my trip to Maryland, I visited (I tore up!) an Ikea store, purchasing lots of new styled kitchen-y type items to redecorate that space with. I'm so over the 'Americana' decor that I've had ever since I moved out of my mom's house 9 years ago. So out with the old and bring on the new! My brother has been over lately helping me put up shelves and a pot rack...I can't wait to show you pictures once everything is cleaned and put up/out! After the kitchen, it's on to the other rooms....I could really use a tv stand...oh bother, that's just getting me started! LOL

5. My recent trip to Maryland. I didn't blog about my recent trip because it was so short and sweet. But I also don't want to sell it short either! I enjoyed many things about my trip, especially when I'm in a new city just mulling about trying to find things and getting around on unfamiliar public transportation, it's incredibly humbling and yet it gives you a sense of strength at the same time. When you are taken out of your comfort zone and get to experience new things that other people take for granted. It's great, a thrill of sorts for me. I visited some museums as planned and shopped in Ikea, much to my overwhelming joy......for 5 hours! Plus we also visited the Creation Museum on the way back. It was great!

So that was a brief highlight of my 2008, of course there were many ups and downs along the way, including the bad news about my baby boy, PJ who now has some health issues we are working on. I'd like to leave this year with a thought from one of my favorite songs this holiday season. Peace on Earth is a holiday album released by Casting Crowns. A very noteworthy line in the song 'I heard the bells on Christmas day' says, "God is not dead. Nor does He sleep." Remember, there is no Plan B. He's still in control of the original Plan A!

What is the deal with the weather today?

Today is December 26th and it's literally 63 degrees outside at 1 am! I can't believe how muggy and warm it is, this *has* to be a record of some sort.

I know, let's think of some things we could do to take advantage of these unusual weather conditions that we normally couldn't do. How about, we could break out the BBQ pit and get some steaks, we could also put off some fireworks and celebrate the 4th of July early! :)

Seriously, we need to get out and enjoy the warm weather, although I heard it's supposed to rain and storm so maybe we'll have to do some healthy grilling inside instead.

All I want for Christmas...

We had great weather here in St. Louis for the Christmas holiday. We had a wonderful day visiting with family. I think despite the state of our economy these days, people have been getting quite creative with their gift giving. You'd be surprised how sentimental gifts like dad's old basketball trophies and a photo of him in uniform will really tug at your heart strings.

For me this year, all I wanted for Christmas was to come home to discover my cat had finally eaten some food. I have 2 cats and the youngest one (now 14 years old) PJ, was recently diagnosed with feline diabetes and kidney disease. Right now both are out of control but we have started him on twice a day insulin injections. Yesterday was the first day, last night was the first dose I gave him at home and I know he didn't get all of it because I pulled away before I finished pushing the meds and when I rubbed the spot, it was wet.

Basically he has been drinking more and not eating much and so on. I happened to notice he hadn't eaten much since yesterday and I know I can't keep giving him the shots of insulin if he isn't eating. I locked him in the bathroom with running water, his food dish, his litter box and a bed near the radiator. I felt a bit sad about leaving him in there as if he were in trouble but honestly, I had to know if and how much he had eaten. If I left him and his food out, the other cat could have eaten some and I wouldn't know for sure about his intake so I had to do it.

All I wanted for Christmas was to come home and find his bowl partially eaten. My Christmas wish came true :)

Give Me Five Monday Meme #45

Monday, December 21, 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 holiday foods.

There's nothing like the holidays for creative special foods that people only make once a year. Yummy!

1. Fudge.
2. Pumpkin bread.
3. Eggnog.
4. Cheese balls.
5. Turkey.

BeccA, out!

Well today is the day, I'm outta here! I'm off on my Maryland trip for a few days. So far, so good on the inclimate weather. I keep checking the Southwest Airlines website and my flight is scheduled as 'on time'. It's supposed to start snowing again here pretty soon and I can see some flurries dancing around out there but I'm not worried. It could be worse...

I am, on the other hand, wishing I had partaken in some (Ok, alot of!) exercise or some Leptorexin or *something* to drop a couple pounds before flying. I hate being the 'fat loner chick' on the plane. Oh well, there's some incentive for next trip LOL I will try to blog while I'm gone, we'll see how it goes :) Tomorrow...the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington, DC. Woot! The weather is supposed to be in the 50's and 40's this week in the Baltimore/Washington area with showers from time to time. I'll be right back!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #44

Monday, December 15, 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 holiday songs.

I love Christmas music, in fact, I listen to it all year long! Some songs are more special than others. Every year, I like to discover which one of my favorite artists have put out a holiday album and I buy it up, sometimes sharing it with friends as well. This year, here are my favorite Christmas songs:

1. Third Day - O Holy Night.
2. Casting Crowns - Peace on Earth.
3. Third Day - Jesus, the Light of the World.
4. Casting Crowns - While you were sleeping.
5. Third Day - Do you see what I see?
Give Me Five Participants

1. Vivian 2. amber 3. PhoenixTheBloggingMama

4. Dawn\'s Daily Life 5. The Gal Herself 6. Kwizgiver

7. Pinaymama

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Room for improvement?

Today I went to visit one of our church families who's youngest child had a double valve replacement surgery on Friday at St. Louis Children's Hospital. I'm happy to report the little guy is doing well. The family waiting room on the other hand, left a lot to be desired!

There were people/parents laying around on the couches covered up trying to sleep, other people coming in and out for the snack machines and still other people sitting around with their family members trying to have conversations that didn't disturb the sleepers. I would have thought, for a top notch children's hospital, they would have a little better accommodations for the parents of the sick kids. I mean, I don't expect them to have nice individual rooms like a hotel in las vegas but *something* better than a large communal lounge room. It just seemed so impersonal and un-family friendly to me.

Wanna get away? Me too, here's the scoop!

Only 5 days left until I'm outta here for a few days! I'm going Eastward to visit some friends and then ride back to St. Louis for them to visit here. I am planning to leave on Tuesday, flying out to Baltimore, Md. On my first full day there, depending on weather, I'm hopefully going to drop off my friend at her office, park at a train station, connect with the metro and then on into DC for a couple of museums. The first one would be the National Museum of the American Indian:

On a leisure drive through DC about 3 1/2 years ago with a friend, we drove past this beautiful organic building amidst the gray granite and marble government buildings near the Capital. It's sandstone walls seem to ungulate in contrast to everything around it. Upon inspection of the NMAI website, my anticipation grows! It has 4 levels and 2 theaters and lots of exhibits to take in. I am told that I have Cherokee Indian in my heritage, although it would be distant, I have always had an affection for American Indian culture and traditions. I'm very much looking forward to this experience.

The second one I'd like to see in DC is the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. This is right up my alley!

The NMCP website describes how the museum shows us the history of everything 'crime' from medieval knights and pirates to modern day serial killers and computer hackers! They also cover punishments, crime fighting, csi topics, the actual America's Most Wanted studio and many fun interactives from police line ups to high speed chase simulators, FBI shooting ranges to an autopsy for those of us who are forensically intrigued. You can even have your child fingerprinted for real!!!

*If* I can fit both of these museums into 1 single day spent in DC, I plan to spend day 2 of my trip more leisurely in B'more. I'd love to visit Mary Alice from Ace of Cakes at the home of Charm City Cakes. What a photo op that will be, even if I don't go inside and disturb them (I'd hate for Jeff or Duff to throw me out!) I can still go by there and snap off a couple of photos for myself and get a feel for it. *Hey, Mary Alice, if you're reading this, let me know if it's ok to stop by next Wed. Dec. 17th or Thur. Dec. 18th :)*

Next, I've discovered there's an Ikea store in B'more! Hello, I would love to wander around there for a couple of hours or so....I have a feeling I could get into much trouble there though LOL

The last couple of days will be spent driving to St. Louis, Missouri from Maryland with my friend so she can have a visit here. We plan to stop in Cincinnati overnight enjoying a short trip to the Creation Museum. I can't wait!! I've wanted to go to there since I heard about it the first time! What a privilege to be visiting during the Christmas season, too. They have a free live nativity from Dec. 12, 08 - Jan. 4, 09 called 'Bethlehem's Blessings'. I'll take lots of pics and give a full report when I get home. Pray for good weather for the trip to and from. I'll keep you updated and I'll try to post here while I'm gone too.

Reflections of God's Holy Land: a book review

Reflections of God's Holy Land: a personal journey through Israel was very much a treat to receive & review.

The cover sleeve on this book is vividly colored with intriguing photos and it’s a nice size, comparable to that of a coffee table style book. The inside is filled with glossy pages; you immediately desire to flip through wildly, your eyes wandering from every photo to its caption. This book takes you on a journey through God’s Holy land and there is much to see and experience. You soon discover the background of the two writers and what perspective they contribute to the project.

Miriam Feinberg Vamosh is a Jew who shares her vast knowledge of Israel’s landscape, history and archaeology along the way as the tour guide and interpreter. Her “Did you know?” sections offer a wonderful physical and historical impression of each sacred destination along the way.

Eva Marie Everson, a Christian, is a Bible scholar, novelist and teacher who had always yearned to see the Holy Land. She shares her own personal “Reflections” on the emotional and spiritual aspects that are invoked along the journey as she soon begins to experience how the bible stories she has studied and taught are now dimensional and tangible. She sees for herself, the impressions the events of the Bible have had on the region.

Each of the biblical sites are paired with corresponding scriptures and fantastic photographs that allow us to glean a greater sense of their experiences first hand.

Of all the stops along their way, one of them in particular spoke to me the more than the others. The Jordan River. I’ve always been a country girl at heart, growing up in Missouri which has no shortage of rivers for hot summer days’ delight. I was taught to swim in the cold and swift spring fed waters of the Current River by my grandmother who also taught me about Jesus. She would tell me stories of how they used to have ‘dinner on the ground’ services on very hot (or sometimes very cold) Sunday afternoons where new believers would be baptized in the river and they would sing songs of praise and glory! Yes, I have always been drawn to the waters of rivers and the Jordan River is no exception.

Biblically speaking, baptism is a public profession of an inward decision, a symbol of how God washes the old sins away and cleanses believers with His spirit. Miriam gives us much information about the Jordan River, from where it begins as snowmelt from Mount Hermon to its final destination 100 miles away spilling its waters into the Dead Sea. Eva on the other hand tells of being ‘drawn to the water of forgiveness’, how the murky and dark waters the Jordan River offer a symbolic view of the dirty sins that are washed away inside our hearts. Her writing is eloquent and I really enjoyed reading her words of enlightenment and spiritual revelations. This book was a very nice addition to my library and I will enjoy it over and over again as I will most likely not be able to travel the Holy Land myself any time soon.

'If money were no object' shopping

Ah yes, holiday shopping is here again. I really dislike how commercialized and consumer oriented the holiday season has become. I feel like we have lost sight of traditions and the pure enjoyment of the magical season by stressing out about what to purchase for people that we can afford on our budgets. If it's true that "It's the thought that counts." Let me be the first one this year to pick out some gifts from my heart and not my wallet. If money were no object, I'd start off with this:

My nephew is crazy about some super heroes and Star Wars and he also loves fish! What could be better than his very own 1.8 gallon R2-D2 interactive aquarium that buzzes like R2, has a rotating head at voice commands, a motion sensitive light, secret feeding compartment, filter and has a real working periscope to enjoy the underwater inhabitants!? I'd definitely get him one.

For my mom, a house of her very own, in a safe place, that is all one level so she doesn't have to do stairs with her knees hurting her. For my friend, some fine corsets to celebrate her new body with her husband. For my boss, I'd get him a paid vacation to somewhere he can't take work with him. He needs a break, 21/7 year after year after year is about to kill him. That would not be good for me or my mom or him or his family either, I suppose. Anyway, I could go on and on. It's fun shopping when all you have to do is consider the person and not your budget! So, there are my thoughts, sorry I didn't wrap them this year but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Ok, back to reality now.

Crush alert: Peyton Manning

As some of you already know, I have a HUGE crush on Peyton Manning. The guy is incredibly down to earth, funny, handsome, tall, a great football player (Super Bowl 41 MVP to say the least), the list goes on and on. Tonight while enjoying my weekly viewing of House, I watched a very entertaining commercial for Master Card starring Peyton:


So I visited the website and created a personalized suite talk greeting just to see what it was all about. Too funny!!! Peyton said my name and gave a pretty good pep talk to a friend of mine. Anyway, I just wanted to remind everyone that I have a big ol' crush on Peyton Manning, just in case anyone forgot today. Peyton, I luv ya! :)

Give Me Five Monday Meme #43

Monday, December 1, 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 items you purchased on Black Friday or over this past weekend for the upcoming holiday season.

As cold as it is in some areas across the country, I'm sure lots of people will say they bought a new electric blanket for themselves. I actually did buy some things for myself, taking advantage of the Black Friday sales. I actually don't buy much for people considering I am trying to break that old association of gift giving as the holiday instead of celebrating the true meaning of the season. So when I give gifts, they tend to be the kind I can make myself. People do appreciate home made gifts and this year will be no exception. I will have more on my holiday crafts after I have begun to share them with those who may read my blog ;-) So with that in mind, here is my list:

1. Kitchen cart.
2. Craft supplies.
3. Lotions.
4. Candles.
5. Decorations.

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