Authors and Laundry and MckAroons, oh my!

This will be a rather quick and random post, but I would like to share a few things.

First off, meet my new baby:


This beautiful Canon PowerShot, which I have named Frank (I tend to name my things, don't ask), is my new buddy. My delightful parents gifted me with Frank as an early birthday present. Hopefully, you will see some good things come from Frank and I. I also checked out Digital Photography for Dummies from the library and hope to come away with some good tips. Let us also hope that Frank is more compatible with my computer so that I can update you with some pictures.

I also would like to, once again, sing the praises of the library. I couldn't love it more. I recently discovered the glory that is the Main Library of Cincinnati. This is the library that is downtown. Oh, mercy. It is a piece of heaven for us book lovers. I just went today. I checked out the first season of Army Wives and it is eight kinds of wonderful. I am almost finished with disc 1. Oh, how I love summers off of teaching.

I have been sitting here enjoying the company of my new army friends while folding the scads of laundry that have been piling up in our room. Here's the deal about laundry: I love it. All of it. I don't mind a single bit, other than running down to the basement for all of the loads. What is bad about clean laundry? NOTHING, I tell you, NOTHING!

I also just finished a chocolate dipped MckAroon. Oh my delicious. I made these for the group of friends that came over last night to watch the parade drive down our street (another post, another time) and everyone gave them a thumbs up. This is one cookie that I will make again.

And before I say goodbye, I have a question for you. Please listen carefully, because I need your help. This is clearly a very important question.

What are your favorite authors/books?

I am a reading fanatic. I go through books in a day or so. Reading is my favorite pasttime and I have some favorite authors, but when I find an author, I tend to go a little nuts and read ALL of their books as fast as possible. This has happened with Mary Higgins Clark, her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, and Harlan Coben, along with some others.

I would love for you to comment and let me know who your favorite authors are or even what your favorite books are. I would love to know some reading interests that we have in common! I would also really enjoy finding some new authors to explore.

But before you go all gung-ho (and I'm hoping you will!), please read this statement: I do not care for historical fiction of any kind. I know, hate me if you must, but this is one genre that I cannot get myself into. However, before you verbally beat me to death for this, please understand that the only historical fiction that I have ever truly enjoyed is that by Francine Rivers. If you have not read Redeeming Love, go out and BUY this book. I promise that you will not be disappointed, even if you are crazy like me and don't care for historical literature.

On that note, I've gotta go switch the Army Wives disc. Can't wait to hear from you all.

I'm Here!

Well, ya'll are probably wondering where I ran off to and died. Never fear. I have returned.

I have been MIA because I traveled to Poland for a short term missions trip. It was nothing short of a delight. I got to work with missionary kids and their families and it was such a rich time for me. I met a new kindred spirit (Anne Shirley, anyone?), Michelle. Have you ever met someone where you instantly connect as precious friends? It was such a blessing for me. Hopefully Tyler and I will be able to go out to California next summer to spend time with Wes, Michelle, and Sidney.

Anyway, I promise that not only will I give you an entry of substance sometime very soon, but I will also give you Part 2 of A Bug's Life. I promise you-- this is one entry you will not want to miss.

In the mean time, I would like to pull a "BooMama" and give you all a taste of some of my favorite things out there on the Internets right now. And yes, I did pluralize Internet and no, I do not care. I'm an individual, and by golly, I like myself.

I digress.

And here goes.

--I adored this post by my sweet (IRL* and bloggy) friend, Lindsey. I can identify with it so much. Girls, for those of you who are blessed enough to live by your families, do not take a moment for granted! Linds, can I get an amen!?

--I want to share with you two things that I love an appropriate amount: bacon and BooMama. So therefore, I almost peed myself when she wrote a post on bacon. She also included a recipe that includes bacon, shrimp, butter, Old Bay, garlic, hot sauce, and OH, DID I MENTION BACON? Loves it.

--A revelation from one of my favorite bloggy friends, Mandy. A revelation that I will be trying, by the way.

--Bill O'Reilly's take on the whole Michael Jackson situation-- I do love when someone just says it like it is. Do I always agree with Bill? NO! I do, however, agree with the fact that we need to move on with our lives, America. Don't get me wrong; I have been carefully formulating a MJ post because he truly was one of my favorite entertainers, but he was just that to me-- an entertainer, not a saint. On with the show.

That's all for now. However, as I sit here as my husband watches Deadliest Catch, I would like to proclaim ALL PRAISE BE TO GOD THAT HE HAS NEVER AND HOPEFULLY WILL NEVER ASK ME TO BE A CRAB FISHERMAN BECAUSE, TRULY, I'D RATHER NEVER EAT CRAB AGAIN THAN GO OUT ON A BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA AND SUFFER FROM STAGE 1 HYPOTHERMIA AND SEA SICKNESS ALL THE STINKIN' TIME.

Amen and amen.

P.S. I missed ya'll so terribly when I was gone.

*IRL=In Real Life

A Bug's Life: Part 1

I love my bed. We have a beautiful bed and a wonderful pillow top mattress. I also love my bed linens and the person that sleeps next to me, so really, I never have any reason to not want to get into my bed.

Until two nights ago, that is. That was when something happened in my bed that still makes me shudder. I only felt as if it was appropriate to share it with you all.

Let me set the stage for you...

It's dark and cool in my bedroom. It is about 5:15 am. I am fast asleep as is the man next to me. (Clarification: the man I speak of is my husband. Thank you.) I am sleeping so soundly because I know that it is summer time and I can wake up whenever I want. Life is good.

As I am sleeping, something awakens me. Is it a sound? No. It is a feeling. A feeling of something scurrying up my arm. Now, let me give you a disclaimer. I often feel as if something is "on me". The sheets touching me often make me think that I have bugs on me, so this is nothing new. However, this scurrying thing woke me up. That has never happened before. After waking up and feeling this, I laid there and thought, "Was that really what I thought it was?"

It was. The thing scurried Back. Down. My. Arm.

Please stop and let the weight of the previous statement sink in.

I grabbed the thing and absolutely booked it into the bathroom to throw it into the toilet. After throwing it in the toilet, I turned on the light. I did not turn on the light before it was out of my hand because I knew that if I saw what it was, I would probably scream bloody murder and drop it. Not okay. The thing needed to die.

When I made my way back over to the toilet to see the scuttling culprit, all I found was a single antennae-- still wiggling. I knew it was still wiggling because I had dropped it on the toilet lid. The best worst part? The rest of the bug was nowhere to be found.

I then did what any self-respecting bug catcher would do. I woke up my husband, turned on the lights, and searched for the bug for twenty minutes. Nothing. I peeled back the sheets and blankets and pillows. Nothing. I looked everywhere. Nothing.

Naturally, I could not go back to bed. Couldn't. Wouldn't. So I sat in the family room and googled things like, "What kind of bug has a yellow and black striped antennae" and "wriggling antennae on dead bug". I got nothing.

Finally, I did go back to bed. I know, I know. But I was so tired. I got in bed and I prayed. Seriously, I did. I prayed, "Lord, please let me either find the bug already dead or let me find it alive so I can kill it."

And I fell back asleep.

To be continued...

Grocery Store Rant.

Tonight, I made a trip to the grocery store. I needed a few things, like ice cream and nail polish (yes, my grocery store sells nail polish!). I also needed to return a movie at the RedBox. If there are three things I love it is ice cream, nail polish, and a $1 new release! Oh, and chips and salsa. And Paula's Party, which I am watching right now. However, Rosie O'Donnell is a guest and I'm not such a fan, so I may be changing the station soon to a deliriously entertaining Lifetime movie.

But, I digress.

I am home now and I am disturbed. Truly disturbed, not sarcastic disturbed. As I was walking out with my cart full of groceries, two high school aged girls walked in. One of them dropped her sunglasses, and do you know what came loudly spewing forth from her mouth? One of the loudest "f-bombs" I have ever experienced. Just like that. Loudly. In an establishment where mothers regularly bring their small and impressionable children. Loudly. In front of many, many people, simply because she dropped her sunglasses. And have I happened to mention that the word was said loudly? I was shocked and saddened by this. How long has this girl been saying this word in order for it to come out of her mouth so freely and naturally?

You'd hope that's the end of my story. But it's not.

I walked my groceries out to the car and realized that I had forgotten to return the movie. No biggie. I walked in, returned my movie, and as I was walking out, two gentlemen were walking in. I would peg them as about 30 or so. They were apparently carrying on a conversation because as I walked past them, I heard the one guy say (again, loudly!), "It's okay. I'll be the cart b*t*h." WHAT? Clearly, those asterisks are mine. All this within a span of probably 3-4 minutes.

I have no words.

It really made me stop and think, "Do I seriously want to bring children into this world?" A world where my babies could learn expletives from complete strangers who we pass in the supermarket. A world where even though my children might go to a Christian school, they learn at a young age what certain slang words mean for body parts and what a middle finger being held up means.

A world that was not meant for this.

But as I was pondering all of these things, a verse came to mind. John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (Emphasis mine.)

Praise Him. I have nothing to fear as long as I take heart and find my peace in Him.

He's got the whole world in His hands. Now there's one phrase that my children will know.

How much would you have to hate someone?

This is quite contrary to my normal posts, but I felt so compelled to share.

My dear friend (and boss), Donna, told me about this video many months ago. However, I came across it only this morning and it blew me away.

Penn (from the magic act Penn & Teller) is a self-proclaimed atheist, but in this video, he shares a powerful experience from after one of his shows. It was such an incredible reminder of why I share my faith.

I had never thought about it this way and I don't think I will ever forget it.Please take five
minutes to stop and watch.

What a Steal!

I have fallen in love with clothing from Tulle. They have such darling items and they have incredible sales. Also, I saw Whitney Port from The City wearing a coat from Tulle in US Weekly, so I feel really famous when I wear my Tulle clothes. Pretend I didn't say that. Anyway, about a month about, I got six clothing items for $37-- and that was shipping included! I really like what they sell, but considering who I am married to being who I am, I don't spend a whole lot on clothes. Their regular priced items are pretty steep, so I get so tickled when I can buy something I like on sale! Check out this adorable tie cardigan that I just picked up for $15 (shipping included).

I got it in this banana color.

I think that this will be so cute on one of those cooler evenings this summer, paired with my black shorts and a black top. Just as long as no one makes a comment on how I look like a bumblebee, I'll be happy!

Grace in Small Things: 6

Michigan Edition!

1. Eating at Sonic on the way to Michigan and getting a big old Cherry Limeade to enjoy... mmmm.
2. My dad's barbecue chicken. Holy delicious.

3. Two wins for the RedWings! Woo hoo!

4. Seeing two of my best girlfriends for coffee on Sunday morning-- such an unexpected, delightful blessing! Thank you, Jesus!

5. Loving on sweet, sleeping Avery Lynn Prisk for many hours on Saturday night while catching up with her wonderful momma, Michelle, who is one of my dearest friends.

What a great weekend!