Lydia's One Liner Week. Oh, to be surefooted!!

Being a klutz is hard on the knees. *shifts ice pack*

Lydia's "One-Liner Week" Day 2

This morning I dropped my hairbrush down the laundry shoot with my towel because I'm very absentminded.

7 Year Olds Are So Observant

Luke: "Lydia, you sure drop things a lot."

I Dare You Not To Tear Up While Reading This

There are some games where cheering for the other side feels better than winning.

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? "

Ever since I can remember we've watched It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. Maybe we we're at home in front of the fire after celebrating Grandpa's birthday and it's snowing outside or we're in Florida at a hotel after dinner at Denny's and it's 80 degrees.

And every single time...



I cry.

Zuzu: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.
George Bailey: That's right, that's right. Attaboy, Clarence.

Note: We don't celebrate Christmas within our family. Here's a good post about some of the reasons we don't celebrate Christmas.

I haven't done a "Me Lately" post in... forever.

I'm Excited About.... My new laptop. Okay, so it's new to me. It was Debi's and then somebody managed to break it. Debi got a (really nice) new one and David fixed the old one so it's now mine. A certain party that we won't mention by name thinks it's junkie, but it's mine, so I love it.

I've been Writing... Pure randomness. Since I have a wonderful laptop to write on I've had the writing bug. I started a story (if you can call a page and half a start) and we'll see where it goes. I've been wondering lately if I actually am I writer. Sometime "genius burns" as Jo March says it, but most of the time I only have a few embers. I have to write sometimes to get all the pictures in my head onto paper. I do admit last night I turned my light on at midnight to write a scene down, I couldn't sleep with it running through my head.

I've been Wearing... My totally awesome monkey sock/slippers. They're like slippers but feel like a really thick sock on your foot.Sorry, no picture, the batteries in the camera are dead.

I'm Reading... The sequel to Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians. I can't say anything for the sequel (I'm about 30 pages in) but the first book, I can honestly say, is the funniest book I have ever read (I would say Princess Bride being a close 2nd.) I think I like the Alcatraz books because they're very much my sense of humor. Completely random. I also can not honestly call it a "wholesome" or "Christian" book. It's fantasy so there is some stuff that might be considered "magical". (They explain it as advanced technology, so there's no real magic.) I picked it up at first because I'm a librarian and it looked amusing. If you want to read a book for pure amusement's sake read Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians.

I'm Watching... The Andy Griffith Show. I always forget how much I love that show. Aunt Bee is so cute, so is Opie, Barney is hilarious, and Andy is Andy.

I've Been Thinking About... My Grandpa's birthday. He's turning 70 on Christmas Eve Day (I always thought that was weird... Christmas Eve Day, kind of an oxymoron.) I got him a really nice present that I think he'll like. Hopefully, because I'm not the best present-buyer.

My Plans for This Weekend Are... Babysit tonight, go to a sledding party tomorrow afternoon, write, sleep, read, maybe go to a move...

I'm Listening to... Days Of Elijah by Twila Paris.

What I want for Christmas... These Extremely Cute Shoes.

Randomness... I wore my checkered flannel PJs until after 10 today. I was wearing them under my overalls under my big DQ sweatshirt under my jacket. Can anyone say snow storm?

Quote of the Day... "A smile cost nothing but gives much. It takes but a moment, but the memory last forever."

I'm Wondering...How I'm supposed to post, listen to some music and sing along,write, chat with Erica and read a book and do some school at the same time. Also, why am I trying to do all that at the same time? (I admit, the school is getting the least attention.)

I'm Questioning... Whether people like to read my blog or just do it out of obligation, is it interesting and fun, or just a chore?

God is... Merciful.

Life is... Busy

Children are... Adorable.

I am... Me.

I've Noticed...

If somebody in a story says "I would rather die!"

They often do.

*thinks*

"When It's Dark and it's Cold..."

Now I'm going to be honest. I deal with being fearful, overly fearful. Since I'm human and female this is not an unusual thing, but it's something that, lately I've realized, has been taking up too much of my time. I'm constantly worried about this or that, breaking this losing that, messing up something important etc. The annoying thing is, when I'm worried about something I get stressed, and then I usually mess it up anyways.

Now if I worry this much about little things you don't even want to know what happens when there's actually something to worry about. Take for instance this Sunday afternoon: Debi Katie L. and I went to a play a friend of mine was in. It was in a town about 90 miles away. We had a pleasant drive up and the play was really well done. About halfway through the performance Mom texted Debi "Call and leave immediately after the show. Bad Weather."

Needless to say, I was more than a little worried.

We started home in a light rain.

It turned to ice.

Then hail.

Then it got dark.

Then we got lost in the hills of southern Wisconsin.

On icy roads.

In December.

In the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception.

I was slightly freaked out:-)

We finally stoped at a T in the road and Debi and Katie poured over the map.

"Where are we?"

Debi put in a CD and this song started to play:


Now I love this song, it's so simple and heartfelt I've heard it many times before but This verse had verse suddenly had new meaning to me:

When it's dark and it's cold
And I can't feel my soul
You are so good
When the world is gone gray
And the rain's here to stay
You are still good
So with every breath I take in
I'll tell You I am grateful again
And the storm my swell
Even then it's well and You are good.

As I listened to this I suddenly felt peace fill my soul. God is good. He'll take care of us and he didn't need me freaking out.

By some miracle we got through to Mom and eventually got home, we took the scenic rout but we got home safe and sound to our warm and dry home.

When the sun starts to rise
And I open my eyes
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day
With each stone that I lay
You are good, so good

With ever breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
When the moon climbs high
Before each kiss goodnight
You are good

Umm.. Okay...

So I got home from work tonight to discover my I was locked out of my room.

No, there wasn't anyone inside my room.

No, I don't have a key.

No, I didn't lock it before I left. I know this because a certain party used my room as a passage way to get to the furnace room.

I tried the door a couple of times, so did Debi, it was definitively locked from the inside.

?????????????????????????????????????????????

I did eventually get it open, but only after moving some boxes of canning jars and having Luke crawl through a dusty passage way beside the water heaters from the closet to the furnace room back into my room.

Yes, I have a (sort-of) secret passage way in my house. I never really appreciated it much, until tonight that is.

I'm feeling irritated

Wordy Wednesday #5

Mood:The state of a person's mind; the general feeling of a group.

I've always loved the way LiveJournal does moods, but I'm dedicated to blogger, I'd never switch. So I decided to bringing moods to blogger when I found this cool set of Jane Austen ones. I'll try to put one at the end of each post as well as changing it about every time I visit so I now have a "current mood" gadget on the right part of the screen beneath my profile.

This is more of something I wanted to do than something for my readers.

I guess I'm feeling moody and random right now.

(BTW, I checked, there isn't one for random. A pity, I would use it often.)

How to Check a Book in at My Library in 8 Steps.

This was an English assignment where I was supposed to explain a process that was familiar to me, but that I was supposed to assume my reader knew nothing about. Enjoy!

Libraries are a part of modern life. It is a place to gain knowledge, or even just to enjoy some entertainment. Libraries are places of order, but do you ever think about the people who keep it that way? You randomly pull a book off the shelf check it out and bring it back. You drop it in the return book and think nothing else of it. After you leave a librarian must check the books in. Here how she might do it:

(We are of course assuming this library has updated to computers, instead of the old card catalog, which, while having it’s merits, is now old technology.)

First we must look at the quantity of book in the return bin, in this particular case; we have a square hole in the counter. Below is a hollow wooden box of the same size of the hole with a top on springs, the heavier the load of books in the return bin the lower the top. If there are only a couple of items in on top of the bin I advise taking checking them in with not much fuss. Easy.

If, as it is the norm, the return box is quite full of items, I advise going about it in this orderly fashion:

1.) Take everything out of the box. (If there are especially a lot of books and the top is way down you might have to go below the counter to remove the books more easily, especially if you are shorter than the average human.) Check for items that are wedged between the top and the lip of the box. Also when the bin is empty (and if it has wheels) roll it our from under the hole and check around the area for anything that might have fallen off the over-stuffed bin onto the floor. Replace the bin.

2.) The items you have removed should be placed in stacks around the hole on the counter. Divide them into sensible categories: The VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, Books on Tape, Large Print, Children’s, Paperbacks, Teens, Mystery, Adult Fiction, Non-fiction and Fantasy all go into several assorted piles.

3.) Pick a pile and start with the item on top. (I usually start with the DVDs because they are high-demand.)

4.) Locate the barcode. (A barcode is a series of parallel vertical lines, or bars used yp assign a unique identification code.) Depending on the item and who it belongs to the barcode could be anywhere. On our DVDs the barcode is usually in the right side of the case above the DVD. Other libraries have the barcode on the front, some on the back. CD cases almost always have the barcode on the front.

5.) Place the barcode under the scanner’s red laser light. (A scanner is an input device that puts something into digital form.) Now this is the most difficult of the process, I can’t really tell you how to do it because it’s a “touch” one must learn how to do. You must place it in the exactly right place and pull it out quickly. There can’t be anything too close, even your hand, or the scanner will become confused. If the scanner reads the barcode correctly the name of the item with appear on the screen and the computer will give you a reassuring “beep”.

6.) If, indeed the barcode is on the inside of the case, when you open it you will be able to see if the DVD or CD is there. (You’d be surprised how many people return the case but leave the DVD or CD in the player.) If the DVD/CD isn’t present use your mouse to click where the name of the item appeared on the screen. The name of the patron who had had the item will show in a pop-up window. Write down the name and put aside to call later.

7.) Place the item on put it on the correct cart. In my libraries check-in area there are three carts surrounding the counter. To the left of the hole there is a two sided yellow cart with two shelves in each side. On the inside cover of most items is the month and year which the library purchased it; if it was purchased in the last six months, place in on the top shelf of the left side of the yellow cart. The top right shelf is where all the other books go (no matter if they are children’s, teens, adults etc.) Magazines go on the right and left sides bottom shelves. Adult DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs and Books on tape go on a single sided three shelved black cart behind me. DVDs on the top shelf, VHS tape on the middle and CDs and Books on tape on the bottom. There is a low one sided yellow cart to your right. Children’ DVDs, CDs and Books on tape go there.

8.) At our library we trade books with some neighboring libraries. If one of these borrowed items is returned the computer will tell you who to send it back to. You then put the item in the crate on the shelf below the computer that is there for just such a purpose. It is also possible that an item might be requested by a patron of the library when checked in the computer will tell you. You can then print out the slip of paper and tape it (with removable tape) to the spine of the item and put it on another shelf below the computer in the area marked “To Call”.

It is a possibility that a personnel item may be returned, or even an item from a church or school library that your library is not associated with. If it is a church or school library item return to the library. If it is a personnel item you can try to find the owner by searching the names of people who have just brought items back.

Sound complicated? Well then would you like to know then that the item is not even half-way back to it’s proper spot. From the carts it must go to the shelves in the staff room where it will sit until someone takes it and puts it on a different cart, takes it to the right place in the building and puts it on the right place on the shelf. (All this is has a system unto it’s self.) Often enough the item doesn’t stay there for more than a week, when somebody checks it out, takes it home, utilizes it, and drops it into the return bin. Here we go again.

Just Because I'm Silly...

Prince Caspian Bloopers

I did it!!!

30 days. 30 posts.

*is proud of self*

Bygone Days *sniff*

Oh, how I wish I lived in the days where it was fashionable to wear this:

Instead of this:

*Gags*

Teenager Affluenza

Thankful Thursday #24 Thanksgiving Edition

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

No contest.

I was trying to think of something deep, unique and poetic to say about Thanksgiving, but I guess I'm not in a uniquely deep poetic mood today.

So I'm going to do a very normal thing I'm going to make a list. 17 items for the 17 years I've been alive. There's some serious stuff, some random, and some normal stuff, Enjoy!!


1.) Family. My family is unusual, flawed and very imperfect, but I wouldn't even think about exchanging growing up with them for the most normal, flawless, perfect family in the world.
2.) Friends. I am very blessed to have a great circle of very close non-related friends, people I can trust my life with, people who laugh with me and cry with me. You know who you are and you people better get used to me, because I'm not giving you up for a long while!
3.)A great job. I love my job, it's awesome. God knew just what I wanted to do and he fixed it so I didn't even do anything to get it, it was all him. I have a wonderful group of co-workers who are really nice people, they need Jesus and I pray that I can be a witness to them.
4.) Being Homeschooled. People might disagree with me, but I honestly think I wouldn't have made it through public school. Without the dedicated teaching of my mom I would be no where with my school work. I'll be graduating this spring, something totally unbelievable to me right now.
5.) Living in Small Town Wisconsin. I truly love small town America. The friendliness, the laid-back atmosphere, where everybody knows everybody and life is muffins and jam. (Okay, so it's not quite that great, but I had to be poetic somehow!)
6.)Books. I love books. See yesterdays post to sum up my feelings on reading.
7.) This daring adventure that we call Life. I'm alive, I live, I breath, that's a miracle in it's self.
8.) Ice Cream.
9.) My church.
10.) Those ink pens that make my handwriting look good.
11.) A God who always cares, never gives up and has a sense of humor.
12.) Afternoon shopping sprees where you try on a lot and by little.
13.) Quotes. Can anyone say "My Mother is always in excellent health thank you."? LOL
14.) Skype. Skype is awesome, wonderful, stupendous, incredible, marvelous, the best invention of the 21 century.
15.)Moments of complete happiness.
16.) Strength for today and...
17.) A bright hope for tomorrow.


Note: Go HERE to look at most of my previous TT post.

Wordy Wednesday #4

Aptly; This quote describes my feelings aptly.


"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."

Apparent Apparel Holiday Edition

Take
One: cute new dress (Khols super sale).
Pair With: a matching long sleeve shirt.
Put On:Your trusty boots.
and you have...

...a cute holiday outfit for Thanksgiving with your family!

IMHO.

Hopefully your hair will be better than mine...

Sink Me!

"My dear chap, I never would have dreamt of

depriving you of your moment of triumph.

Alas, a moment was all I could spare. "

Together...

Is the Very Best Place to Be.

I've Been Awarded!!!

Now I just have to live up to it...

I inturn give this award to Rebecca.

FREE ADVICE!!!! Episode 2

Let's say you want to read "The Hound of the Baskervilles". Maybe you want to read it because you like Sherlock Holmes, or just like mystery in general. Maybe you read it because it's a classic and you thought it would be smart to have it under your belt. Maybe you just saw it on the library shelf and thought. Aww, why not?

Let's say you progress through the book at a good pace, remembering how much you like Dr. Watson and how much Sherlock Holmes's stuck-up brilliance drives you nuts. The mystery has you totally mixed up and you have no idea what's going on. Finally one night you snuggle in bed hoping finish the last few chapters and find the solution to the perplexing problems all before falling asleep.

Let's say you decide tonight would be a fun night to try to read by candle light. (This is something you've wanted to try for forever.) You realize, to avoid hurting your eyes too much you must hold the candle chest high with one hand, and hold your book the same height with the other hand, that way shining the best light possible on the page.

Let's say, for pure amusement's sake, that as you get to the climax of the book (right where the huge hound is chasing the nice guy through the foggy moor) you absent-mindedly lean forward.

Let's also say that your candle has been burning for a long time, and while giving off a warm steady glow has also been accumulating a pool of melted wax below the flame.

Let's say as you lean forward in anticipation your hand tilts too and the nicely pooled melted wax shifts and ever...so slowly... drips down the side of the candle.

Let's say, just for fun, that you are sitting cross legged in Indian style. So the dripping hot wax just might hit your ankle, which just happens to be bare. May I remind you this is very hot wax.

Let's say, although completely engrossed in your book, (thus the leaning) you do become distracted by the burning hot wax hitting your innocent bare leg.

Let's say it's possible that, gives the suddenness of the distraction, and the intensity of the book you overreact a tiny little bit. You shriek, throwing your book in the air.

Let's also say, since wax is hot it therefore presents a burning feeling, which is painful. You therefore hop about the room on one foot trying to get the hardening wax off your other ankle.

Let's say it's still early enough so that your family hears your yells and comes rushing to your room prepared for the worse, only to find a shame-faced girl. When they see this girl they roll their eyes and sigh.

On the other hand... let's say not say that. It's late and nobody hears.

Let's say you get the wax off your leg, turn your bedside light on, blow out the candle and sensibly finish your book (there was a reasonable explanation, as there always is.)

If this hypothesis was not just "let's say" but the gospel truth, let us hope that you go to sleep a wiser person.

Let's hope.

Thankful Thursday #23 Be Still My Heart Part 3

You might remember my taking me drivers test and *faints* passing it.
I was shocked.
Mom was shocked.
Everybody couldn't believe it.

This is not too surprising, considering I'm an awful driver. The point is, I passed, and, thanks be to God, I got my license.

Pop Quiz #1:
What are you allowed to do after you get your license?
a.) Have a none-related person in the car with you.
b.) Drive by your self without an adult.
c.) Not have to have your family pick you up to and from work.
d.) All of the above

Answer: d.) All of the above.

Pop Quiz #2:

Which of the above have I done since getting my license more than a month ago?
A.) b & c
B.) b & a
C.) a b &c
D.) None

Answer: D.) None.

It's true, I haven't even been out by myself since I got my license. It was okay with me, but I really did feel bad with everybody else having to take me places. So yesterday I determined to take myself somewhere.

I went to the library, got a book for school, stopped by the flower shop to give Becca something, and came home.

ALIVE.

IN ONE PIECE.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN

... and I'm thankful for them.

Wordy Wednesday #3 As I Like It

The Bard: William Shakespeare or a poet, especially one of national importance.

Tragedy: A serious play with a tragic theme, often evolving a heroic struggle and downfall of main character.

Comedy: A play, movie or book depicting amusing events, entertainment that is amusing.

Ask anyone who knows me well, I'm really not a fan of the Bard. For history 2 years ago I had to read some Shakespeare tragedy, none of which I liked. There was King John (the first act is all about illegitimate children, ugh!!) , Antony and Cleopatra (I disliked it for obvious reasons!) and Julius Caesar("say he is sick" was the only line I truly understood in that play...) After laboring through those with much lamentation I decided I would never like the Bard, ever.


Just shows you should never generalize...


I had forgotten that Shakespeare wrote comedies, now I'm not talking about the "comedy" Romeo and Juliet, (don't ask me why two stupid people killing themselves because they think the other person is dead is supposed to be funny???? Morbid, is more a kin to it...) I mean his real comedies, Much Ado About Nothing, A Comedy of Errors, and As You Like It.


As You Like It is a story in which the whole cast is hiding from the new Duke in the forest of Arden, most don't know the others are there and all are within a days (or less even) journey of one another. The main character being Rosalind a.k.a. Ganymede (daughter of the old duke) who's pretending to be a boy to protect herself and Celia (daughter of the new duke, who happens to be her cousin). Whilst in her disguise, she's giving advice to Orlando, who is running from his brother and happens to be madly in love with Rosalind, and of course doesn't recognize her, but he leaves poems he has written to Rosalind's wonderfulness all over the forest.

So it's silly, but it's really funny. I'm not a huge fan of Mr. Shakespeare, but he had some classic moments.

ROSALIND:


O, I know where you are: nay, 'tis true: there was


never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams


and Caesar's thrasonical brag of 'I came, saw, and


overcame:' for your brother and my sister no sooner


met but they looked, no sooner looked but they


loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner

sighed but they asked one another the reason, no


sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy;


and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs


to marriage which they will climb incontinent, or


else be incontinent before marriage: they are in


the very wrath of love and they will together; clubs


cannot part them.

The classic example of love at first sight...Now that's comedy!

The quiz of the hour...

NOTE: I filled this out Friday night, but am just not posting it until now.

1. What is your occupation right now?
Student/Librarian

2. What color are your socks right now?
Brown tights

3. What are you listening to right now?

Complete silence. I am home alone, it's a bit freaky.
4. What was the last thing that you ate?

Cookie.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
I can barely drive... anything.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?

Dad.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
No, Debi, I really don't like you.
Just kidding, of course I do! What kind of sister do you think I am?

8. How old are you today?

17 years. 7 months, 21 days.


9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?

I really don't like to watch sports on TV... but I guess baseball and football are okay.

10. what is your favorite drink?
Wassail

no contest.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Not a hair.

12. Favorite food?
Pasta.

13. What is the last movie you watched?
The Incredibles.


"I never look back Darlin' it distracts from the now."

14. Favorite day of the year?
It's a toss up between play night, my birthday and Thanksgiving.

15. How do you vent?

I play on the piano. Loudly.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?

Blue Bear.

17. What is your favorite season?

Not winter.

18. Cherries or Blueberries?

Blueberries.

*skips all the "who do you think going to e-mail you back?" ones*

22. Living arrangements?

My basement bedroom.

23. When was the last time you cried?
When I watched that youtube video about abortion that I posted on Monday.

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes, bags, hangers...

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?
My sisters have known me since birth:-)

26. What did you do last night?

Watched The Incredibles.

"Yes, words are useless! Gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble! Too much of it, darling, too much! That is why I show you my work! That is why you are here!"

Can you tell I like Edna quotes?

27. What are you most afraid of?

Messing up. Big time.
Not that I haven't already done that....

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese.

29. Favorite dog breed?

Good dogs :-)

30. Favorite day of the week?


Friday!

31. How many states have you lived in?

Three

32. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds

33. What is your favorite flower?
Roses.

34. How did you meet the person who sent this to you?
When I was born.


Check out the IDD BLOG for a giveaway!!!!

You Know You're From a Big Family If...

-There are pictures of your family in matching outfits
-You write your name on the bottom of your socks
-You go to the bathroom just to get some "alone time"
-You never say "I'm bored"
-You have valuable negotiating skills and have honed them from a very young age
-You know that just because someone says your sibling's name, it doesn't mean they're not talking to you
-You find creative ways to hide things you want to keep for yourself
-You've seen your mother walking laps around your property so she can get a few minutes of peace & quiet
-You shake your head in disbelief when you hear someone say they've never changed a diaper
-One sibling is getting on your nerves it's okay because you can just go hang out with a different one
-Strangers think that big sister is actually mom
-If you want some ice cream, you don't wait around to get some, because tomorrow it will be gone
-You wouldn't trade the fact that you have the opportunity to make a bunch of best friends that are stuck with you for life!
-Whenever your family goes out to eat the waiters always have to put tables together for you and when they do it is always in the back corner of the restaurant so as to keep your stereotypically rude family away from their other customers
-People continually comment that you could have a whole basketball team, or even better a baseball team
-You have laughed at all the cars that were stuck in traffic on the freeway while you flew by in the carpool lane
-Your mom is trying to say someone's name and she's already gone through 6 sibs' names, she probably is trying to remember yours
-You aren't worried about getting beat up at the playground, because if someone messes with one sibling they mess with ALL of you.
-You are proficient in cleaning up broken glass and ceramic and you can tell from the sound it made when it crashed whether the item dropped is fine, cracked, or broken
-You can hear a cry and tell whether the child is hurt, angry, sad or throwing a temper tantrum within 3 seconds
-You're walking around a store with little siblings and people assume they're your kids
-You start to pile out of the van, and your dad proudly turns to the people who's house you've just invaded and mentions something about the Normandy Invasion
-Your family can't fit in a mini-van
-Instead of learning from your own mistakes, you learn from your siblings'
-You are the shyest person in the world, but the loudest in your family
-Other people "don't understand how your mom does it"
-Your parents want you to do something, and they usually tell another sibling to tell you to do it
-You've gotten hand-me-downs from older siblings
-You routinely hide choice foods/leftovers so no one else will eat it all before you can get some
-You own enough books to start a library
-Your family has paid enough overdue fines to fund the building of a new library
-Picky eaters are not tolerated because mom simply does not have the time to prepare different foods for one child
-You go anywhere before 3:00 on a week day and people ask if your class is on a field trip
-You go looking to purchase a new appliance and the capacity is the only feature that really matters
-People continually ask you to repeat yourself after you told them how many children are in your family like they must have heard incorrectly
-Everything under the sun is discussed for an hour straight around the dinner table because everyone has to put their two bits in
-Your brother leans over your shoulder and corrects your grammar and spelling while you type on this site. (grrr!)
-You smile when people ask how many kids you have because you know when you answer they will repeat the number even more loudly to help themselves hear it
-Your family is referred to as a clan, pack, horde, gang or gaggle
- You invite your friend(s) over and they feel like they're a part of your family
-The invention of the wide-angled lens made your family portrait possible.
-Getting from one side of your living room to the other requires skillfully making it through an obstacle course of toys, coloring books (plus the spilled crayons), school books, extra chairs dragged in from other rooms, and small children
-You've been asked over and over if you're Mormon, Catholic or homeschooled
-You have to bribe the trash men to take all of your family’s garbage
-You take your driver's license test in a 15 passenger van
-You bring a friend who's an only child over for dinner and they just stare in shock, confusion and awe for 90% of the time!
-You are frequently compared to Russian dolls because you all look so much alike
-At your family reunions there are more cousins in your family than in all the others combined
-Everyone comments about how cute your daughter looks when you carry your three-year old sister around at Wal-Mart
-You shared a room with no less than three people for most of your childhood
-You have to squeeze four people in a row of seats in your van that was only designed to hold three
-You're 28 and you still have a few siblings under 6th grade
-You're closer in age to your mother than you are to your youngest brother
-You pull into a campground, and the neighbors start using their fingers to count how many are getting out of the car

I intentionally did not post today.

Deborah is at My House!!!

We share one thing in common...

We don't photograph well.

But we love silly pictures!

!

What on earth...?

The take-out box was warm against my lap.

Mom and I chatted pleasantly about nothing much in particular, Luke tested out how it felt to put his tongue in the place where one of his front teeth had been. I had plenty of unused brain to engaged in thought.

"Boy Lyd, what's with your blog, you try to post once a day for a month and all you come up with is "I'm glad it's half-way through November." Where is your old creativity????

I was slightly ticked at myself.

I vaguely noticed two squad cars at the stop light as we turned toward home.

"Somebody's in trouble..."

Mom turned into our neighborhood, as in the flash of the headlights I caught a glimpse of two beads of lights about 4 feet off the ground-

"MOM STOP!!!" I cried.

I lurched forward against the dashboard, the car squealed to a stop.

Silence reigned as we stared at the road in front of us.

"Mom..." Luke sounded uncertain. "That's a cow?"

Cow? More like cows. A whole heard of them. In the middle of the street. Blocking the road home.

We were a bit shocked.

It was past sunset but suddenly the night was filled with flashing lights and loud voices.

The police had arrived to do what they do.

Ensure public safety and apprehend ummm... criminals.

Rather than handcuffs and guns these umm... criminals, were controlled by the good ol' arm waving, flashlight chasing and "GET GOING!! SHOO!!"

Recovering my surprise I glanced at Mom.

She was practically chocking with laughter.

"That's not funny." She said.

"But it really is!" we said at the same time, smiling ourselves silly.

"That's not something you see everyday." I pointed out.

"That's not something you'd see any day." Mom countered.

As we drove home in the cleared street I made a mental note. "That was something to post about."

Join the P___ Police Department!!

Stop criminals, do public service!

and maybe even herd cattle!!

Thankful Thursday #22

I am so thankful (in a shocked, surprised sort of way) that I'm 13 days into November and I've posted something every single day!! I kind of set a bet with myself to see if I could do it, and now I'm (almost) half-way through. To boot I have at least one comment on all (but one) of the posts.
Sometimes I amaze myself. It must be a miracle, so this week I am thankful for miracles:-)

BTW Have my Thankful Thursdays been a little... ummm.. flat lately? Maybe not as thankful as they should be??

Wordy Wednesday #3

Tragic~ Provoking deep sadness, distress or grief.

Poem~ A complete and self-contained piece of writing in verse that is set out in lines of a set length and uses rhyme.imagery, and often rhyme to achieve its effect.

Remembrance~ The act of honoring the memory of a person or event

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

BTW: Check out THIS cute apron give-away!

Only Six?

Sadie tagged me.

1. )Right now I am wearing a skirt I have had since I was 8. It's ripped, stained and worn. But it's comfy and familiar so I wear it on my "home days". Some people call it ratty and junkie, but it's still my favorite skirt.

2.)I have at least 18 notebooks in my room full of doodles and writings, All this and no novel.

3.)I randomly quote.. anything quotable. Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis,Myles Leland III, my favorite movies...

4.) I say "since sliced bread" way to often.

5.) I am semper doctus domi.
(It said random...)

(It's Latin for always taught at home.)
(A fancy way of saying I'm homeschooled.)

6.) I love names. I am always checking out baby name books from the library. My current favorite guy name is Anders, current favorite girl name is Ahuva which is Hebrew for beloved.

I tag:
Ri

"You can never say again you did not know."

I've been thinking rather deeply lately (by deep I mean deep thoughts.)I am aware that you might consider this a rarity for me, so hold on to your hats and prepare for a rant.

A couple of events have started the wheels in my head turning, just ask my family, I practicably gave a sermon at dinner last week.

I think first it was THIS you tube video. WARNING: This video contains graphic pictures of what the cruelty of abortion truly does.


I had to pause the video twice, overcome with emotion, before I could finish it, and when I did the tears were streaming down my face.Then I watched COME WHAT MAY. It appalled me how it is so causally legal for the horrors of abortion to be excused away.

Saturday night we watched "Amazing Grace". Watching that movie it is hard for us to comprehend that the M.P.s found slavery so right, they justified it, they believed it to be right. We can scoff at them, but we forget that in our present society untold thousand of babies are killed every year. A sin just as great as slavery. What do modern people do about abortion? They either justify it, or ignore it if it doesn't apply to them.

"Having heard all this, you may choose to look the other way
but you can never say again that you did not know."
~William Wilberforce

I watched the video posted above. I have a responsibility in God to do what I can.

I remember a Sue Thomas F.B. Eye where Jack was feeling guilty for having such a privileged life compared to the Russian peasants who they were working with. "I was born to a loving family, in Wisconsin!" he said. Sue told Jack he was doing the best he could for less fortunate people by being a F.B.I. super agent.

HELLO!!!GUILT TRIP ALERT!!!

Really, here I am in my nice comfy house surrounded by a loving family working my nice safe job. To boot I have something denied legally denied to thousands of babies:Life. I have a heart that beats, eyes to see, a mouth to speak. It is my moral duty to speak for those with no voice.

But what can one person do? A whole lot I think. Look at William Wilberforce, he was just one man. A man with God given talents and determination to fulfill a God given mission. One man changed millions of people's lives.

One might say that abortion has nothing to do with them. It doesn't affect me, why should I bother and stick my head in somebody else's business? Well abortion doesn't apply to me directly either, I believe it abstinence before marriage, and when I am married my husband and I will welcome children as a blessing. So I could say abortion doesn't have anything to do with me.

Oh, am I wrong, it does.

"THOU SHALT NOT MURDER."

It's a commandment. Abortion is murder, no matter how you look at it.It is my moral duty as a child of God, as a human, to stop the murder of these innocent children. These children have no voice, no defenders, just as the Africans had none. One man, who heard his call from God, a man unconnected to slavery spoke for the speechless, cried out for the oppressed, denounced the wicked to set the captives free.

He puts me to shame. I, who have been blessed with life have no choice but to turn and give life to as many as I can. I am determined to do my best in this dying world as I believe we are commanded by God. Not just to have good morals, not just to say great things, or pray great prayers, but to DO something. We are commanded to ACT, not enjoy our gifts and talents, we are to give them out to do good with them.

I am determined to do something.

Will you join me?

Oh, to write like Lewis...

On Christianity:
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

Simple Wisdom:
"When things go wrong, you'll find they usually go on getting worse for some time; but when things once start to go right they often go on getting better and better."

"The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed."

On Writing:
"Don’t say it was delightful; make us say delightful when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers Please will you do the job for me."
- C. S. Lewis

Most of these were found on Wikiquote , my new favorite website.

What Say You?

I think the smell of potatoes baking smells exactly like the smell of brownies baking.

I'd provide smell samples, but the Internet isn't THAT advanced.

Winter Is Almost Here...

You know what that means?

Lots more ice.

It's snowing.

:-(

Thankful Thursday #21

I am Thankful for all my wonderful friends, and especially for that one friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Ri sent me this forward, I thought it was interesting, if a bit sappy. I don't do forwards, but I thought I post it here for you all.

LEMONS and SUGAR

You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

1. There are at least two people in this world

that would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world

love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you

is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone,

even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you

before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to some one.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,

something good comes from it.

10.When you think the world has turned its back on you

take another look..

11. Always remember the compliments you received.

Forget about the rude remarks.

And always remember.....

when life hands you Lemons,

ask for Sugar and call me over!

Good friends are like stars.

You don't always see them,

But you know they are always there.

I would rather have one rose and a kind word

from a friend while I'm here

than a whole truckload when I'm gone.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Life keeps You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only

God Keeps You Going

I told you it was sappy, don't say I didn't warn you :-)

Wordy Wednesday #2

Photogenic: Tending to look attractive and good in photographs.

Camera Shy: Shunning photographers because of a dislike of being photographed.

Example 1: It is good to be photogenic for your senior pictures.
Example 2: Grace Photography worked wonders with the camera-shy girl.

Steph took my senior pictures on Monday.
It was an interesting experience.
Fun, but I'm not going to go into modeling anytime soon.

Here's some of my favorites.
Copyrights go to Grace Photography.


Note: These are my favorites. I don't think Mom and Steph are crazy about #3 or #5.
My new profile picture is from Monday too.

Four Months Too Late

I was born four months to late to vote in this vastly -important election.
Why so important you ask? Because Ladies and Gents, if Obama wins this election, we are going down. This is the man who wants to "spread the wealth around." *Clears throat* excuse me? That wouldn't be SOCIALISM would it?????? If he's elected, our fore-fathers will roll over in their graves.

Honestly, I'm a bit nervous. I always am on election nights. 8 years ago I felt sick to my stomach the whole day and hardly slept that night. 4 years ago I was smart and spent the night at Lillie's house. This year I'm going to Heather's for a bible study and then I'm going to shut myself in my room and read the nicest un-political book I can find.

But I really don't need to be like that. Because whatever happens today, tomorrow or the rest of my life I know God will take care of me and mine. It may not be what I want, It may not be what I expect. On the other hand It may be all my wonderful dreams come true. What ever happens God will take care of me, and that's a reassuring thought.

Here's just one example of Jesus caring for his people in amazing ways:


And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. ~Matthew 14:15-21

Last night we read this as a family. Luke asked "How did Jesus do that?" We told him it was a miracle. A miracle. You know some people say that the time for miracles is over. But I don't agree. I'm not frightened of the future because I believe in God, and I believe in Miracles.



Because our country matters...

I'm A...

I'll admit it.
I'm a Kdid waiting for my Kisa.
Although I'm not an Ididiot
I'm definitely a rotic.

Kdid~Kluzy Damsel In Distress Kisa~ Knight In Shining Armour Iddiot~I Don't Date -iot Rotic~ Romantic without a man.

I Believe This Is Called British Humor...

For some reason this made me laugh. Hope it does the same for you!!

Happy Birthday My Katie!!

"For Katie's a Jolly Good Fellow,
For Katie's a Jolly Good Fellow,
For Katie's a Jolly Good Fellow,
Which nobody can deny!"

Thankful Thursday #20

I am thankful for...

CUTE NEW HEELS :-)
*squeals*




The best part is I bought them with a gift card, which is like free money,
which kinda means they're free shoes!!

Less Than a Week From Today America Will Vote

Vote Life.

So I Like Jane Austen...

... a lot.

But so do quite a few other people.

Here's some Jane Austen Fun.

Enjoy!

Pride and Prejudice, The New Musical I've read some reviews of this and it sounds awesome!! Not that it will ever play close it here :-(

A Jane Austen Word Game. Let me know how you do on this, it harder than it would seem.

Note: This post makes the most posts I've ever had in one month, 15! I was thinking about in November trying to post once a day for the whole month. Do you think I could do it?

I've Been Published *dances*

To read my (published) review of Fireproof go here.

In Honor of the World's Series...

Thankful Thursdays #19

I am thankful for my sight and my hearing.

Luke S.B. and I watched The Miracle Worker a few days ago. Yesterday I wikipedia'ed Helen Keller, and I was impressed once again by this amazing women. She was trapped in a cage of darkness and silence when Anne Sullivan reached through the darkness and gave her the understanding of the world that seemed forbidden to her.

You don't realize how important your sight and sound are until you're without them. It's really amazing. I really have to admire people who don't have hearing and/or sight. But I thank God for giving me my sight and hearing.

Wordy Wednesday #1

Obsequiously

Guess What it means:-)

No Google.

No Dictionaries.

Pure Gray Cells.

EDITED:
Obsequiously means:
Submissive; excessively eager to please or obey.

I'll pick an easier word next week ;-)

Who Would'a Thunk It?

TV Reviews

EDITED TO SAY:
Haha, the Blank Page is this:

Movie Reviews

"Be Still My Heart..." Conclusion

For those of you who were wondering...
A MIRACLE HAS OCCURRED!!!!!!!!
I squeeeeeaked past my driver's license test this morning.

*celebrates in a rather shocked way*

Now I just need a car :-)

Thankful Thursdays #18

I am thankful, that even in this changing time of political upheaval, God is still the same. In 20 days, the U.S. will be picking a new leader. Whoever that leader is I'm glad I know that God will never change, he will take care of me no matter what happens, my obedience to him is all that matters. In God I know what is right and what is wrong, no matter what carnal man may say.

"We may safely assert... that no civil rulers are to be obeyed when they enjoin things that are inconsistent with the commands of God... All commands running counter to the declared will of the supreme legislator of heaven and earth, are null and void; and therefore disobedience to them is a duty, not a crime."

Jonathon Mayhew From a sermon in 1750