Would you want to know...

We have this little elderly lady that comes into the church office QUITE A BIT. She LOVES TO TALK quite a bit as well. So, usually when we see her coming - everyone makes a mad dash for the other room.

Now, I know what you're thinking...not very Christ-like...or loving. But, I really feel like Jesus would do the same thing if He were walking the earth. I can just see Him saying "Oh, look...this guy needs to be healed. Now, you just remember where you left off - telling me about your bowel movement - and we can finish this conversation later. Or, better yet, could you just tell God this..just pray to Him...then we don't have to worry about this conversation on bowel movements."

I digress.

So, here is the thing about this lady...other than the incessant talking. I guess that several years ago she had a mastectomy [now, I don't think this is funny - really...I am not heartless after all]. But it seems that a prosthetic booby was not so important to her in her advanced age. So I don't know what she uses - but it is not as...hmmm... heavy...as the real thing.

So, I noticed one day that she was WAY off balance in the booby department. I mean we are talking a good SIX inches difference here...in length! And I thought, oh no, one has gotten away from her and she doesn't even know it. Should I say something about the blatant un-evenness? This has to be embarrassing!

But I thought about it and I decided I didn't want to embarrass her or, heaven forbid, start an un-wanted conversation about elderly boobies - so I left it alone. But now, I have noticed that it is a permanent fixture. They are ALWAYS un-even...really, REALLY un-even.

To use my husband's phrase... it's like a train wreck...I just can't look away...I can't help but notice it. And it just looks so terrible. I mean, the vast expanse of the length of the real one - compared to the fakie - is really shocking.

So, now I just think - surely she knows that they don't match. I mean, you know, one is like Barbie Booby and the other looks...well...like a Maxine booby. So, I have come to the conclusion that she just must not care one bit about the matching booby pair. I guess getting old has its perks...I mean...if you are comfortable enough to walk down the street with one booby standing at attention and the other one taking a nap on your belt...then more power to you!

Paaartaaay!

Well, it's my birthday today! It is funny how they don't seem to be such a big deal as an adult...well, until you hit the BIG ones...30...40...50. I am happy to say that I haven't reached any major milestone birthdays...yet. But I am getting very, VERY close!

My sister wrote an incredibly sweet post today...just for little ol' me! She was nice enough to include a good picture of me and not one of those horrible awkward pictures from Junior High!

So far- for my birthday I have been out to eat three times with 3 different sets of people. Maybe what I really need is a membership to the gym - instead of all these dinners! So, "THANK YOU!" to everyone who called, sent cards, or took me to dinner! I have the bestest friends and family in the world!!!

The Bedroom Redo

I am actually ready to show some weekend project/ redo pictures. My parents came a couple of weeks ago to help me out with some projects - since we have so many - and we are incredibly grateful for the help! So one big project was the master bedroom. I have hesitated to show any pics because I am not completely finished...and I wanted it to look perfect...but oh well! Here it is anyway!

I have no before pics - but the walls were white with a few pieces of mis-matched furniture. So now the walls are blue and the furniture matches...well, at least the furniture that is staying. Notice that the night stands don't match. I am still searching for the right ones.

The headboard is a blue/gray suede...with brown and blue accents. My mom made all of the throw pillows AND upholstered the headboard. Dad painted the room (as well as finishing several other projects)!

This is my favorite piece...it was a horrid looking garage sale find that I painted brown and added new legs to. I love it! This picture doesn't really do it justice - it looks much better in real life! Also, there are doors for the shelf end - I just haven't gotten the hardware to add them yet.

This is the awkward little nook that is a work in progress. It hides the doors to the closet and bathroom.

So, there you go! I will - hopefully - get some stuff on the walls soon. The hubs informed me today he might want to re-arrange! So I will have to wait and see where we put things before I can commit anything to the walls!

A Tribute to the End of Summer...Part 1

Not that it won't be hot for another 4 months, but, ya know...technically it is becoming fall.

Part 1 - THE GUESTS

For the past few years we have had a somewhat-annual-get-together of the siblings and cousins for the 4th of July. The weekend is full of swimming...cookouts...cookies...and a great deal of fun!

Best pic of the whole summer:














If we could understand him, I think he would be saying one of the following...
a) "Come here often?"
b) "Hey baby!"
c) "My water wings aren't really inflated...those are my actual muscles!"
d) "If you like my Big Bird water wings...you should see my Elmo beach ball!"



















Daniel is mastering the art of sliding without holding on to the sides...all the way down...with his hands and feet...which...when sliding in this manner...makes the most horrible screeching noise (you know, due to all the friction and stuff)...and it, in fact, makes the trip to the water REALLY slow!




If I can recall correctly I believe what Jack is saying here is "NO, I did not eat your cookie...and I really resent the accusation!"

I think that is what he said.







And here we just have Vivi...your basic miniature DIVA...complete with stylish swimsuit cover-up and shades to match.

I am not sure what to say about the cheesy grin...but I am sure she will LOVE this picture in about 12 years.

My brother's family couldn't make it to the 4th O' July bash. But they did get to come see the new house and stay for a visit over Labor Day. Since we are now (happily) without the pool...we played a little Shuffleboard...the sport of cruise-ship-dwelling-seniors everywhere!


Here we have the...ahem..."Leader" showing us how the game is played. The best thing about playing with Levi is that he does this little hop-step before sliding the disk. That in itself was hours of entertainment for me!!


Now this boy has some shuffleboard skills!
I mean...everyone was good...but Luke had the skills while the rest of us (except the husband) just had dumb luck.


Now, I think the Hope-sters goal was more along the lines of how she looked playing the game...not so much how well she played! But then again...she does have a bit of an aggressive side...as demonstrated by the look on her face.


So that wraps up Part 1 of the End O' Summer series. Next up is What I Did On My Summer Vacation.

I Will Never Forget

I wasn't going to write a "tribute" to the 9/11 tragedy - not because I don't care, but because I find it all so draining. Draining because of the constant coverage...the videos of that second plane crashing through the tower...the videos of the enormous buildings tumbling to the ground...the mourners...the firemen...the rubble.

I won't ever forget the day it happened. I don't really think any American will. But I was thinking today, after reading blog after blog paying tribute to the victims, of the morning it happened. I saw the plane hit the second tower. I saw the horror on the faces of the GMA anchors. I couldn't believe it. But it didn't really sink in.

Then I went to work. I was so busy - rushing around from room to room, organizing workers and children. Then I heard one of the ladies say that the first tower had fallen. I said "Oh my gosh" with this look of fake sadness. It still didn't sink in...then I went on with what I was doing.

Then it hit me.

It fell.

Those people didn't have time to get out.

They are dead.

Thousands of people just died.

This doesn't happen to us in America.

Now don't get me wrong here - I have GREAT respect for the men and women that gave their lives on September 11, 2001 - but, here is what I get out of 9/11. I don't want to dwell only on the 2,973 people who died in those towers and the others "still missing".

I also want to remember the thousands of people around the world that lose their lives every.single.day. to some terrorist act.

I want to remember the 365 children at the school in Belsan Russia,
the 52 victims of the London bombings,
the 191 victims of the Madrid train bombings,
the thousands of victims of suicide bombers in Iraq & Afghanistan,
the civilian casualties of the violence in Iran,
the thousands of victims of genocide in Darfur.

I want to remember their families, their children, their spouses.

I hope that I always remember that I live in a free country. A country with more liberties than the majority of the rest of the world.

We are lucky. We have rights. We have democracy. And our military fights for that freedom every. day.

And while 9/11 was certainly a tragedy...while it is heart-wrenching...while it is frightening...it was one day. One day in an otherwise protected existence. One day of terror in America - when everyday is full of terror in so many other places.

This may not always be the case in my country...I may not always be relatively safe...I may not always have freedom...but I do now. And that...I will never forget.

OKAY....

The husband is gone on a trip with his brother.

The parents are here.

Mom has her sewing machine.

Dad has his paint brushes, saws and numerous other tools.

SO, let the decorating BEGIN!!!

(Stay tuned for some before and after shots!)

Place your bets...

I have mentioned before that I work at a church...and that sometimes some really funny things happen...well, at least I think they are funny...it may be the fact that it is a Friday afternoon, before a LONG weekend...and I really NEED the weekend...and I am looking for any excuse to laugh...

Sorry...back to the story...

I was going through the mail today when I found this...







































Do you know what it is? It's a book (playbook) on what games to bet on for NFL and College football. Well, this in itself is pretty funny...being sent to a church and all.

I kept looking at it wondering if it was some really clever marketing ploy - and was, in fact, for a conference or a new Bible study or something.

Nope, it's the real deal!

No kidding.

BUT, here is the really funny part. Would you like to know who they sent it to...this book on how to place your bets on games...

















Can you read that?

Yes, it says PRAYER WARRIOR!

So, for all you prayer warriors out there...do I have the book for you!

Sinners!!!