Facebook

Back in late February or early March I deactivated my facebook account.  I just got to the point that I knew too many trivial details about too many people. Also, I was slightly annoyed at all the other stuff....too much political stuff....too many "interesting" articles...just too much junk. And to be honest, I got my feelings hurt due to a comment a friend said....and I didn't like getting private messages from old high school boyfriends. As Drew has said many times "there's a lot of junk!"

So. I deactivated my account.

At the time I really didn't know if I would re-join.  I knew if I did, I would "de-friend" many.  After all, if I wouldn't send them a Christmas card, why would I want them to know about my day-to-day life?  I know several friends that see facebook as "mission field". To some degree, I agree with that premise. But I, also, felt a "release" from that from the Lord.

I have to admit that I missed it. I missed being in the know.....at first, anyway. Then as the weeks and months went by, I got use to the not knowing and it was nice! A few friends texted or emailed, and I was able to stay in touch with them that way. After all, my email and phone numbers have stayed the same for several years now. If someone wants to get in touch with me, they can.

One friend from church told me about a conversation or rather a disagreement she and a fellow church member had one facebook.  Yea....that's what I'm NOT missing.

As school got out and summer began, I started to think that I would rejoin...but had no real date in mind. A few days it crossed my mind, but then I would get busy and just never got around to it.

Tonight I got an email saying that my account had been reactivated. Since Drew was on the computer, I asked him about it.  And was shocked to hear him say he did! WHAT?!!!  Turned out, when he opened a new tab in windows it had the facebook page as an option. He thought I had rejoined (he knew I was thinking about it). Just by him logging on, it reactivated my account. That was a surprised....I really thought it would be more work than that.

I told him no, MY account wasn't the reason there was a tab - William had check his account today.

But since he reactivated the account, I decided to go ahead and get on to see what all was going on.

What did I find?  About all the same things.....not that I was really shocked or anything.

I was still overwhelmed with all the trivial stuff about soo many people....just too many!! Do I really need to know where one friend ate supper tonight? Or that another friend went on a good run? But there are friends that I miss......especially, several of my friends from Guam. One recently had a baby....I didn't even know she was pregnant! I did love seeing pictures of my friends and their kids....seeing how they have changed.

In the end, I deactivated the account again.  I like knowing less.....makes for a quieter mind and emotions.  I am still on Instagram (mainly for the beautiful pictures by the professionals photographers I follow instead social aspects of it)....and I plan to keep this blog going, so I'm not totally out of the loop when it comes to social media. But I think for right now, I keep off facebook.

Back Home

I made it back home last night. I think the boys missed me....they ran and jumped on me as I walked in.  Melissa was babysitting when I arrived, but when she returned home she tolerated me giving her a hug. 

She's such a prickly pear at times....

Drew and I have a great time - like a honeymoon even! Five days of just us and no kids....so nice! We did leave the apartment some. We toured the Marine Corp Museum as well as President Lincoln's Cottage.  Both were very well done.  And we learned stuff!

I will say that there is a downside to where his apartment is....and that would be right next to a train station. Train stations have trains....trains have whistles....that they like to blow them. Every time they pass a crossing. Every few hours....all day long and all night long.... Drew now sleeps with earplugs. I actually ended up using my earphones as well. It helped some, but I'm just a horrible sleeper and trains just didn't help.

So, while I was sad to leave Drew, but I was totally happy to see my bed and my very quiet room.

As of now we don't know when Drew will move back home, but we are praying that it will happen before Thanksgiving.

Being Fanaical

As I said last year, I hate Halloween.  To seems to me it's just a time for kids to beg for candy they don't need (and in our case, my kids can't eat due to food allergies) and teens to act crazy. And many adults as well.  I think every year I'm surprised by the adults that dress up.

This year with Halloween being on Wednesday, it was easier for us - We went to church. Like normal. That's what we do on Wednesdays. Last year our church did a carnival thing on Halloween, but this year they had the event Sunday night.  The children's minister told me there were half as many kids last year as they were  the year before when they held the event on a different night.  So, she decided that instead of "competing" with it all, she would just have the event early. She wanted to have as many kids as she could get.

And if that's the goal - fine. Outreach is a good thing. But churches started fall festivals not as an outreach, but to give church families an alternative. Things are different here, I'm learning.

Once again, I did nothing for the church's event Sunday night.  Just had no desire to be involved in it. Benjamin did, though. He went with his good friend from across the street and helped out. He had a great time.

Every since the summer Melissa has known what she wanted to be - Queen of Hearts. She got the idea from our trip to Texas this summer. She saw a skirt made out of playing cards. So. she made one.   (I need to get a picture -it turned out cute!) For her it was just a time to dress up, act silly, and hang out with friends. The boys were going to dress up as well - William as the King of Hearts and Ben as the Jack. Or at least that was the plan before they all realized Halloween fell on a Wednesday.

One of Melissa' friends actually came with her to church last night (as her church cancelled all of their events), then afterwards they went to find their other friends. Of course, the youth went late last night, so by the time they caught up with the others, they were pretty much done with begging for candy and were headed home.  Melissa only came home with a handful of candy she got from her friend's father. Fine with me!

What really surprised me last night was the number of people that normally come to church who were not at church last night. I was shocked! I think the children's minister told her teachers not to worry about a lesson, so I think most of them skipped. Ben said there were less than ten kids  - when there's normal well over fifty - that's huge!!

I get that Halloween is only once a year. I get that kids LOVE dressing up and LOVE getting free candy.  But still.  Can't help but wonder what message some of these kids got last night.

(And if you think I'm being too fanatical about all of this - I get that too - and I'm fine with that.)

Yea...That Movie and That Book

Lately, I have heard a lot about being holy - one preacher said we are 'to chase holiness'. After all
I Peter 1:16 says to "be holy as I am holy" (which is a quote from Leviticus). You can't get more direct than that.

But at the same time I see from many friends on Facebook comments about things that are not holy; the two latest items being a book (Fifty Shades of Gray) and a movie (Magic Mike). I'm shocked and saddened at the friends who have posted about reading this book and attending this movie.

I am NO WHERE near perfect. I constantly struggle with how much of the world to let into my life...or rather how much I need to get rid of the world in my life. It seems to be a never-ending process. (Of course, the reality of it IS a never-ending process on this side of heaven.) I have enjoyed some books and movies only to be convicted afterwards. I am constantly trying to view things through God's eyes before I partake. Sometimes I fail - as I posted awhile ago about walking out of a movie.

I have to admit: some things in the entertainment world seem innocent....harmless...but it seems to me that many things are out-right beyond distasteful. God is my standard. Not the world. Not what is the latest "must see/read". I shuddered to think of having my Savior seeing me read a book or watch a movie that trivialize and cheapens an act He deemed beautiful. I'm also fully aware of three sets of eyes on me at all times....watching to see if I really believe and live what my words say I do. It cuts me to the core to think that I will ever give any of my children a reason to doubt the goodness and the reality of the Lord.

So, I call to all my fellow Christians:

Leviticus 19:2 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

As I said, I'm not perfect. I struggle with sin just like every other person I know. But God and His holiness need to be our standard in EVERY PART of our life. Not just when it's convenient.

Ice Coffee

I have scummed to the next social media: Pinterest. It's a place to post pictures of things you like - and you can see what your friends have posted as well.  All sorts of things are available to view - books, music, movies, clothes, recipes, pictures of wonderful locations, sayings & quotes...anything really! Basically, it's another thing to in the words of my friend, Suzi, "to suck up your time".  Sad, but true.

BUT!!! I have found a few things that I not only "pinned" to my boards, but actually completed in real like.

The first thing is ice coffee - which I love - but as the original author of the recipe said, hate to pay $4.00 for a small glass at that fancy coffee place.  So, through a blog someone "pinned" the recipe on their board, I saw it and tried it out myself. Totally sold!!  The recipe is actually easy. Just soak coffee in water for twelve or more hours then drain off the coffee grounds. Now, I have to admit this draining off the coffee grounds took WAAAAYYY TOOO LONG! I will be working on a better system for that, but the end product was one that I am very happy with. Since I don't want to infrige on any copyrights, here's a link to the original blog with the recipe.

There have been a few other recipes that have caught my interest - which I will pass along as I try them out.

Beauty Pageant

Last year Melissa went to her school's beauty pageant with a friend. Since then she has talked about participating in this year's pageant. So, she did.

My baby girl is just about all grown up. 

In yesterday's post I talked about a quote from a book, "The Lost Wife", about women who sparkle from within and without.  On the way to the pageant, I told Melissa that as much as she was sparkling from the outside with all the fancy dress, make-up, and hair, she really sparkles because she always sparkles from the inside.

She has such a thirst for life. One of my dearest memories of her as a toddler was one Wednesday night as we were going into church.  There she was - just a tiny little thing, but could run and walk and talk at nine and half months.  That night she was running in the church's parking lot toward the door -  just running and laughing - just because...like she was afraid of nothing...just enjoying life.

This girl? When she puts her mind to something, she does it.  While she did not place at the beauty pageant, she did an amazing job. I know at 13, I could not have stood on a stage and let everyone look at me and just stand there and smile.  She is amazing, that girl of mine.

Keeping a List...

The other day I was talking to a neighbor about books and how he now loves his e-reader (I can't remember which one he  has).  He said that when he can't sleep at night, he reads. Many times he's either finishes a book or doesn't like the one he is reading and wishes he could just pick up another - and now that he has his e-reader, he can - any book at all!
I totally understand that. But I told him the main reason I don't have an e-reader and the won't in the near future is that the ability to download any book I want at any time would be detrimental to our budget.

Yeah. I read that much.

So, I decided to keep track of how many books I really do read.  I know I list them here on the blog on a page, but I didn't put dates with the books to see exactly how many I read in a month. But this year or at least this month, I am.

So far I have completed five books and in the middle of two. (One book I'm only reading one chapter a week as it's the book my Bible study group is going through, so I want to stay on track and not get ahead.)

That's a total of seven this far - only the 19th day of January. Even if I'm able to get a good sale most books are at least $10-15 dollars. I get mine at the library for free. As in FREE. As in no money needed.

Take the Tim Tebow book (which was wonderful - highly recommend it to all - kids and adults! William loved it!) - the book is $12.99 for download.  I paid $0.

In my book that's $12.99 that stays in my pocket for other more important stuff.

Like food to feed three kids....two teens that are now getting in that "I always am hungry phase."

So. I'm keeping track of the books I read and see how much money I am saving.  I'm sure one day I'll buy an e-reader.....just not any time soon. For now it's the library.

It's free and just around the corner.

I Hate Halloween

There.
I said it.

I really do.

It's like a day people think they can be crazy and that's it okay. 

We only had one set of Trick-or-Treat-ers. Rude Little Rug-Rats is what they were. "But I don't like that kind!!" 

Really?  You come to my house and barley even say, "trick-or treat!" and you want to complain about what I give you?  You're lucky I even opened the door!!

Because the plan to not.  I didn't buy any candy - not even to donate to the church's event (bad church member!). But Melissa decided late in the day to not go begging for candy trick-or-treating. She was torn between handing out candy and helping at the church.  While we were waiting for a response from a text I sent to the children's minister to see if she did need help at the church, Melissa  went through the house for any candy she can give out.

She didn't find a lot....some left-over Christmas peppermints, two bags of candy from when we were "Boo-ed".  Not a lot.

Then that little Rug Rat had the nerve to complain? I really should have not answered the door.

But what really drives me crazy are the people who think normal rules are out the door.  As I was driving home from picking up the boys at church (Melissa did help out at the church,but came home earlier), I saw a truck with  several boys hanging out of the run-roof and sitting on top of the truck! 

Free candy should not a license for stupidity.

Ebay Update

eBay was a great success!  We ended up listing nine items and sold six of them.  Each child got $21.  Not bad. Not bad, at all - especially since I usually just give away our out grown items.  I refuse to do yard sells anymore.  eBay and Craig's List work so much better.

We now have four things listed on eBay for this week.  And the one item I told the kids that I didn't think would sell? That's the only item that has a bid on it at the moment.  Funny what sells and what doesn't.

Books and Movies

Years ago when the book series Harry Potter was popular, I didn't let my kids read it.  There were many reasons.  Rebellion. Protection. Fear.

Rebellion - mine  -  I seem to hate having people tell me how I "have" to read or watch something. I like to make the decision on my own - not to be "forced".  (Which is why I have never seen Titanic!)

Protection - of the kids. Because of the fear - that would be William's.  William has always hated books or movies with a lot of suspense. Especially, if music is added. 

We once were watching a documentary on Abe Lincoln. One scene was a shadow of a man welding a knife. William had nightmares for several nights.   So. We have learned to avoid things that cause nightmares.

And I thought Harry Potter would.

So. We didn't read the books or see the movies.  There were times Melissa or Ben said something about wanting to see the movies.  But they seemed to accept our "no" without too much pf a problem.

There was, also, the whole controversy several popular Christians started with the witchcraft used in the series.  It made me ....unsettled.  I didn't want the kid to think the witchcraft was real - didn't want them to get all caught up in it.  Also, I was uneasy with the way many kids were so obsessed with the stories and yes, the witchcraft.  I much prefer that kids obsess with love. Not so much with the evil.

But that was when the kids were younger. Now they are older.  They understand the difference between real and pretend more than ever. And while William still doesn't like suspense, he handles it better.

A few months ago, William came home from the library with the first Harry Potter book on tape.   I asked him if he would be okay with all the suspense and possible scary things - and he was. Okay, then.  No problem.

So, he listened to the first book on tape with Ben (I think Melissa listened, too), then William read the rest of the series in less than a month.

Today Ben found the first movie on DVD.  All three watched it last night. And so far - no nightmares. That's always a good thing.

Exercising

Most who know me, know that I'm not the best exercise fan around. I fully admit that I "dabble" in exercising.  I like the idea, but the actually running? Huffing and puffing? Yeah....not so much for me.   I'm always been amazed at my family and friends who do run - and run well! 

And secretly have wished I had that kind of body or strength to run like they do.

When asked if I run, my standard answer is some thing along the lines of "why run if there's no snake, bear, or rapist behind me?" or "no, I prefer to breath". This second response is more of the truth. I run and I just get out of breath so fast it just doesn't seem worth it - like how it's hard to breath in a sauna or on a really hot and humid day in the Deep South.  Then I'm  tired for so long afterwards - where's that extra energy every one talks about???  I haven't seen it!

Drew and I have always been walkers (okay - he would prefer to run, but walks with me). Mostly our walks in the past have been where we catch up with each other - our private marriage counseling sessions if you will. But here, he wants our walks to be more exercise since he is no longer exercising with the office like he did in Guam. So, he has been trying to get me to run some on our walks.  So. I do. A few houses, then I'm done. And he leaves me.  Off he goes to get a good sweat on as he says.

Secretly, he thinks I'm lazy or just plain out of shape. Secretly, I have always wondered if something is wrong with my heart or lungs.

The other day when we were walking he, once again, got me to run. This time I really did try to push my body and run farther than ever.  At the end of it, he looks at me and says, "You're not just breathing heavy, that's a wheeze! I think you have exercise-induced asthma."

I look at him and said, "I've been telling you for years that I don't run because I can't breath!! I wasn't making it up!!"

So, off to the doctor I went and came home with a nice inhaler.  Today was the first morning that I used my new friend. And yes! I did do better!! I ran farther than I ever have - even up a few (minor)hills and was still able to breath! Amazing!!!  And I'm not so exhausted now - which I learned is a sign of the exercise-induced asthma.

Will I ever be a great runner? Probably not. After all, my knees are over forty, but I do hope to be able to run the full loop that Drew does in the morning.  And lose weight....that's always a nice goal.

Time will tell, I guess.

Winter in Louisiana

Last week it was like 70 degrees here - which I loved. Such a nice way to spend winter...not too cold, not hot.  But this week??

Oh, my. It's like 24 degrees with a wind chill of 10 right now.

Growing up I always said I loved winter. I think really I just liked the sweaters that you could wear in weather.

Now, I still like my sweaters. But I'm done with winter.  Or at least this cold weather.   I really am not looking  forward to August and 100 degree plus temps, but I'm not liking this extreme either.

Spring, oh, where art thou?

My Commissary Trip

Today was my commissary day. We were out of several big things like toilet paper, Ziploc, napkins, toothpaste, as well as some cleaning supplies and I was shopping for a two weeks menu instead of one. So, this trip was to be a big trip.  I knew it was going to be a big bill. But when I looked at the computer screen and saw it reading over $700, my heart dropped!

(The first thought was "Drew is going to kill me.")

As I was asking how in the world I spent over $700, I saw that I was charged $444.83 for a bag of carrots. "Um, yeah...I don't want those carrots after all."

The cashier understand totally.

A Bad Omen

At one point Monday as the nurses were getting Mom ready for her surgery, something skidded across the floor and caught my eye.

A dead bug.

Yuck.

A hospital pre-op room is not really where you want to see a small black bug with his feet up in the air. (Of course, its better than a black bug walking on his feet.) I'm not sure why I was surprised to see a bug there on the second floor, but I was. I probably shouldn't have been - sadly -bugs are everywhere. As it turned out,  more was to come.

That was Monday morning. Then there was Tuesday night. In the original plan I was only going to stay one night, but I felt that I needed to stay another night. I just didn't feel right leaving her alone there.  I got my bed all settled then walked around Mom's bed and then I stopped.

There at the foot of her bed was one of the biggest roaches I have ever seen - just waving his antennas at me. I stopped cold! Mom looked at me and said, "Its not a mouse it is??!!"

I shook my head and showed with my fingers three inches - "A roach??"

Oh, yeah.

She immediately hit the nurses' button,"We have a huge roach in here!"

"Okay...we'll send someone soon," the nurse responded with a giggle.

I just stood there watching the Thing. After a minute he started toward me, I might have given a small scream.  Mom told me to just step on it. But no way was I going to step on that huge thing with my flip-flops and mom's shoes were way too close to him for my comfort.

Then my hero stepped in - an orderly named Danny.  He looked at the roach and tried to step on it, but it ran way. Danny then grabbed a pair of rubber gloves from the box on the wall. As he was putting the gloves on, our new friend started to move closer to me and my bed, so I did the only thing possible.

I jumped over Danny and made a bee-line for the door just as Nurse Megan walked in.  Of course, she's laughing at me.

As were the other nurses and aides at the nurses' desk.

Whatever.

Danny killed the huge intruder.

He's my new hero. 

Even if he was laughing at me....that's okay. The roach is dead. That's all that matters!