You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel.
Only by Your power can we push back our enemies; only in Your name can we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me.
You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; You disgrace those who hate us.
O God, we give glory to You all day long and constantly praise Your name.
Psalm 44:4-8
I was talking to God today about circumstances in my life, and He led me to the Word, and to this passage. Now, I don't live in Israel, my life isn't full of literal war. But right now, I feel like I have enemies. My enemies are my negative circumstances.
They are always on my mind, always present in my life, reminding me that my life is sometimes complicated and difficult. Moreover, they make sure that I am aware that I cannot fix or solve these problems. They are above me, bigger than I. And me, in my humanity and finiteness, cannot get over them or around them. Not when I trust my own "weapons."
But God reminded me that He is above everything, even my big problems. He can see the end, He can see a solution where there isn't one. He can change the circumstances completely. He can also change hearts. No human can do those things. But God can. He wants to, and He will, if we ask and trust.
What would we do without God?
August 23, 2007
August 21, 2007
Plane Ticket Answers
So.....remember how you were all joining me in praying for plane tickets at a good price? Well. Today was my deadline. I checked AirCanada.com today, and guess what: The prices indeed went down! I got the times I want, and the prices I want, and it was marvelous. Praise God!
I put in all the credit card information, and........here's the kicker: as the website was processing my transaction, a notice came up that my prices had changed, and asked me if I still wanted to book this flight.
The prices had changed WHILE I was in the middle of buying the tickets. The prices went DOWN while I was the middle of buying the tickets. I mean, I was already perfectly happy with the low prices that were offered, and then they went DOWN by $30!!!!! Did I still want to book this flight???? OF COURSE!!!!
So I did. I'm officially booked for my vacation in September. I'm very happy. And thankful. Yay!
I put in all the credit card information, and........here's the kicker: as the website was processing my transaction, a notice came up that my prices had changed, and asked me if I still wanted to book this flight.
The prices had changed WHILE I was in the middle of buying the tickets. The prices went DOWN while I was the middle of buying the tickets. I mean, I was already perfectly happy with the low prices that were offered, and then they went DOWN by $30!!!!! Did I still want to book this flight???? OF COURSE!!!!
So I did. I'm officially booked for my vacation in September. I'm very happy. And thankful. Yay!
August 13, 2007
Best Headache I've Ever Had
So Josh Groban came to town yesterday. And boy, was I there. I actually bought the tickets on a whim, and then immediately afterward, I thought, "I hope I can find someone to go with." And, "I hope it was worth all that money."
Well, I ended up taking my sister, because she is a huge fan as well, and yes, it was TOTALLY worth it! We were in row 21 on the floor. (I'd say those are pretty good seats.)
The opening act was a woman named Debra Cox. I had heard of her, but I really only knew one song by her. She has an incredible voice, and she is a very classy performer. And then.
The main event. The lights dimmed, the music started, the crowd started screaming. And we heard his voice: "Don't give up; it's just the weight of the world." I got chills.
(My sister told me later on that as soon as he started singing, the baby started kicking and jumping and moving inside her. I guess even unborn children are fans of Josh Groban.)
He kept singing, the curtain lifted, the lights came on, and there he was on the stage in front of me, in all his glory. I was in heaven.
He had a live band and a live orchestra, and it sounded so grand and majestic. The lights and stage show were very good, not too flashy or distracting. He even had some animated videos that played while he was singing. It was all so incredible. Josh Groban was all around me.
For one song, he even came out from a totally different part of the stadium, and walked through the crowd. Now, I have never been one to get all starstruck over famous people (not that I'm around them very much), but when he came down the aisle close to where I was sitting, I gave quite a shriek, and then was immediately embarrassed.
Although, every other woman around me was squealing just as bad, and most of them were older than me! But seriously! I was 10 chairs away from him!!
And of course, he just HAD to have 2 false endings to his concert. You know: he says thank you and good night, walks off stage, the lights go down, but everyone knows it isn't the end. Sure enough, he came back and did two more songs. And he did not disappoint. And of course, the grand finale: You Raise Me Up, complete with a live choir. Oh, but it was a glorious evening.
Other concert highlights: he plays the drums. Like, he's freaking awesome at the drums! He played piano for a few of his songs too. Now that is talent: playing the piano, while singing, and he's sitting down, and somehow he still manages all those powerful notes.
And he just happens to be totally down to earth and funny. I love it. His songs and his singing are so serious, but then he just cracks jokes and makes fun of himself and of other people. It was hilarious.
So basically it was a good time, and this blog does not do it justice at all, and I'm very glad I went, and I hope I'll get another chance to see him live again. :D
Well, I ended up taking my sister, because she is a huge fan as well, and yes, it was TOTALLY worth it! We were in row 21 on the floor. (I'd say those are pretty good seats.)
The opening act was a woman named Debra Cox. I had heard of her, but I really only knew one song by her. She has an incredible voice, and she is a very classy performer. And then.
The main event. The lights dimmed, the music started, the crowd started screaming. And we heard his voice: "Don't give up; it's just the weight of the world." I got chills.
(My sister told me later on that as soon as he started singing, the baby started kicking and jumping and moving inside her. I guess even unborn children are fans of Josh Groban.)
He kept singing, the curtain lifted, the lights came on, and there he was on the stage in front of me, in all his glory. I was in heaven.
He had a live band and a live orchestra, and it sounded so grand and majestic. The lights and stage show were very good, not too flashy or distracting. He even had some animated videos that played while he was singing. It was all so incredible. Josh Groban was all around me.
For one song, he even came out from a totally different part of the stadium, and walked through the crowd. Now, I have never been one to get all starstruck over famous people (not that I'm around them very much), but when he came down the aisle close to where I was sitting, I gave quite a shriek, and then was immediately embarrassed.
Although, every other woman around me was squealing just as bad, and most of them were older than me! But seriously! I was 10 chairs away from him!!
And of course, he just HAD to have 2 false endings to his concert. You know: he says thank you and good night, walks off stage, the lights go down, but everyone knows it isn't the end. Sure enough, he came back and did two more songs. And he did not disappoint. And of course, the grand finale: You Raise Me Up, complete with a live choir. Oh, but it was a glorious evening.
Other concert highlights: he plays the drums. Like, he's freaking awesome at the drums! He played piano for a few of his songs too. Now that is talent: playing the piano, while singing, and he's sitting down, and somehow he still manages all those powerful notes.
And he just happens to be totally down to earth and funny. I love it. His songs and his singing are so serious, but then he just cracks jokes and makes fun of himself and of other people. It was hilarious.
So basically it was a good time, and this blog does not do it justice at all, and I'm very glad I went, and I hope I'll get another chance to see him live again. :D
August 9, 2007
GOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!
Okay, so it's not that exciting. But I almost forgot to mention that when Art visited, he helped me complete another goal. Goal #64, actually: to own Dr. Seuss' If I Ran The Zoo. I never owned any Dr. Seuss books when I was a kid. I don't know why, but I never had any. So why this book in particular?
Well, once upon a time I saw a movie called "Picture Perfect." It stars Jennifer Aniston, it's kind of old, I wouldn't recommend that you see it, but this is where it all started. In the movie, she goes to a friend's wedding and catches the bride's bouquet, and gets her picture taken with the guy who catches the bride's garter.
She keeps the picture and contacts the guy and asks him to be part of a little scheme she's cooking up. She needs to pretend she's engaged or something, and I don't remember why, but she uses the picture as proof.
Things get more complicated, because they have to start being seen together, so then they have to make up all sorts of details about their pretend relationship. But he has never liked this scheme, and of course, he starts falling for her for real.
At one point they are talking about their childhood experiences, and she remembers that, once, when she was a little girl, she had very badly wanted a Cinderella watch. She gets a surprise from him the next day when he mails her a small box, and inside is a Cinderella watch. And of course, she realizes that she loves him, and they live happily ever after and so forth.
So anyway. It got me thinking. I realized that when I look back on my childhood, and at the toys or books that have sentimental value to me, the one I have always wanted was If I Ran The Zoo by Dr. Seuss. I remember reading it when I was 8 (or something) and laughing and laughing because the names of the made-up animals were SO funny.
And, just like the movie, I liked the idea of having my true love buy me the book, instead of me buying it for myself. How romantic. And so, Art did just that! He bought me the book, and now I am the proud owner of the object of my childhood affections.
So, now it's your turn. What book/toy/object from your childhood holds great sentimental value for you?
Well, once upon a time I saw a movie called "Picture Perfect." It stars Jennifer Aniston, it's kind of old, I wouldn't recommend that you see it, but this is where it all started. In the movie, she goes to a friend's wedding and catches the bride's bouquet, and gets her picture taken with the guy who catches the bride's garter.
She keeps the picture and contacts the guy and asks him to be part of a little scheme she's cooking up. She needs to pretend she's engaged or something, and I don't remember why, but she uses the picture as proof.
Things get more complicated, because they have to start being seen together, so then they have to make up all sorts of details about their pretend relationship. But he has never liked this scheme, and of course, he starts falling for her for real.
At one point they are talking about their childhood experiences, and she remembers that, once, when she was a little girl, she had very badly wanted a Cinderella watch. She gets a surprise from him the next day when he mails her a small box, and inside is a Cinderella watch. And of course, she realizes that she loves him, and they live happily ever after and so forth.
So anyway. It got me thinking. I realized that when I look back on my childhood, and at the toys or books that have sentimental value to me, the one I have always wanted was If I Ran The Zoo by Dr. Seuss. I remember reading it when I was 8 (or something) and laughing and laughing because the names of the made-up animals were SO funny.
And, just like the movie, I liked the idea of having my true love buy me the book, instead of me buying it for myself. How romantic. And so, Art did just that! He bought me the book, and now I am the proud owner of the object of my childhood affections.
So, now it's your turn. What book/toy/object from your childhood holds great sentimental value for you?
August 7, 2007
Happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy
To all of you out there who have a boyfriend/fiance/husband, I'm sure that man is a wonderful, incredible man. But let me take a moment to brag about how amazing my boyfriend is.
It was early Friday evening. My mom was making dinner, I was sitting at our kitchen table doing a crossword puzzle. My back is to our front door. I hear said door open and close, and my ears subconsciously tell my brain that my dad is home.
I hear him walk up the stairs (again, my brain tells me it's my dad because it sounds like him; I know his steps). I feel an arm go around my shoulder to give me a side hug. I smile and lean into the hug, but I don't say anything, and I don't look up. My dad is just giving me a casual hug and then he will go say hi to my mom.
But then his hand stays on my shoulder, and my peripheral vision tells me that he's looking at me and that I should look up and acknowledge him. Perhaps he got a haircut, or he just has something to say or show me. So I look up. But it is NOT my dad. :D
No siree, that was not my dad that came through the door, walked up the stairs, and hugged me. I lifted my gaze up from the kitchen table and looked straight into the face of my beloved Arthur Morgan.
I wish I had enough words (or perhaps some pictures) to truly convey the absolute surprise and shock I felt when I realized that he was here in my house. I remember screaming and saying "Oh my gosh!" over and over, and he tells me I made him deaf in his right ear. But I think he would say it was worth it.
After I stopped screaming and laughing and crying and hugging him, I remember feeling kind of lost. Or, more accurately, I didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't know what to look at, or what to say or think or do.
He had been planning this surprise with my family for about two weeks before he came here (plus my mom told absolutely everyone she knew that he was coming out to surprise me). They helped him come up with some money for his bus tickets (yes, he took a bus. I think that was the longest day-and-a-half of his life).
And then he came up with some very clever lies about where he was so that I wouldn't suspect anything, or wonder why he wasn't calling me for a couple of days. ;) As it was, he did call a couple of times from his cell phone. And of course, everything seemed very normal for me.
He had been worried that I would have figured it out, but I had no reason to suspect anything, so all of the seemingly obvious clues went right over my head.
We went to the lake this weekend with my whole extended family (dad's side) like we do every year, and he got to come with us and meet some of them. I remember saying to him a couple of times, in the weeks before, that I wished he could come out for the weekend, and unbeknownst to me, that's exactly what was going to happen!
We had a great time, especially since it was a long weekend, so we got in nearly four full days together. *SIGH* I have the BEST boyfriend in the WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!!! And I am the luckiest woman in the whole world, because this man loves me.
He left late last night, and I should be more sad, but I don't think I have quite gotten over the shock that he had been secretly planning this and lying to me, and that he had actually been here. But now I can't say that we had to go the whole summer without seeing each other. And now I can say that I only have to wait one more month before I see him again.
I must be the only person who is eager for summer to end. Bring on September!
It was early Friday evening. My mom was making dinner, I was sitting at our kitchen table doing a crossword puzzle. My back is to our front door. I hear said door open and close, and my ears subconsciously tell my brain that my dad is home.
I hear him walk up the stairs (again, my brain tells me it's my dad because it sounds like him; I know his steps). I feel an arm go around my shoulder to give me a side hug. I smile and lean into the hug, but I don't say anything, and I don't look up. My dad is just giving me a casual hug and then he will go say hi to my mom.
But then his hand stays on my shoulder, and my peripheral vision tells me that he's looking at me and that I should look up and acknowledge him. Perhaps he got a haircut, or he just has something to say or show me. So I look up. But it is NOT my dad. :D
No siree, that was not my dad that came through the door, walked up the stairs, and hugged me. I lifted my gaze up from the kitchen table and looked straight into the face of my beloved Arthur Morgan.
I wish I had enough words (or perhaps some pictures) to truly convey the absolute surprise and shock I felt when I realized that he was here in my house. I remember screaming and saying "Oh my gosh!" over and over, and he tells me I made him deaf in his right ear. But I think he would say it was worth it.
After I stopped screaming and laughing and crying and hugging him, I remember feeling kind of lost. Or, more accurately, I didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't know what to look at, or what to say or think or do.
He had been planning this surprise with my family for about two weeks before he came here (plus my mom told absolutely everyone she knew that he was coming out to surprise me). They helped him come up with some money for his bus tickets (yes, he took a bus. I think that was the longest day-and-a-half of his life).
And then he came up with some very clever lies about where he was so that I wouldn't suspect anything, or wonder why he wasn't calling me for a couple of days. ;) As it was, he did call a couple of times from his cell phone. And of course, everything seemed very normal for me.
He had been worried that I would have figured it out, but I had no reason to suspect anything, so all of the seemingly obvious clues went right over my head.
We went to the lake this weekend with my whole extended family (dad's side) like we do every year, and he got to come with us and meet some of them. I remember saying to him a couple of times, in the weeks before, that I wished he could come out for the weekend, and unbeknownst to me, that's exactly what was going to happen!
We had a great time, especially since it was a long weekend, so we got in nearly four full days together. *SIGH* I have the BEST boyfriend in the WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!!! And I am the luckiest woman in the whole world, because this man loves me.
He left late last night, and I should be more sad, but I don't think I have quite gotten over the shock that he had been secretly planning this and lying to me, and that he had actually been here. But now I can't say that we had to go the whole summer without seeing each other. And now I can say that I only have to wait one more month before I see him again.
I must be the only person who is eager for summer to end. Bring on September!
The Ants Go Marching...
...but there ain't no 'hurrah' about it.
I looked at my bedroom floor last week Wednesday, and I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. It was an ant. So I killed it.
Then I looked again, and realized that the ant I just killed had some friends. About 15, actually. So I went around my room, slapping my carpet to kill the ants (and I probably looked like a crazy person who sees things that nobody else can because those things aren't really there). But I assure you, they were.
So I went upstairs and promptly told my mom: I have ants!!! Where did they come from? Why are they in my room??
Then I went on the internet to look for a homemade solution to my ant problem (because it was evening, so we couldn't go out and buy ant traps, and also, I wanted them gone NOW). I found a recommendation for vinegar mixed with water, apple cider vinegar to be exact. Just fill a spray bottle with water, add a bit of vinegar, and spray the baseboards and wherever you see ants.
Well, it actually seemed to work! I went back downstairs, saw twice as many ants as I had before, and started spraying. It smelled a little bit, but I was feeling very positive about my efforts until I lifted something off of my floor.
You may remember my post about my birthday, and how my mom bought me some frying pans. They have been sitting on my floor (but out of the way) this whole time, still in their original packaging, until I move out.
So as I was lifting things to spray my carpet, I picked up my pans, and behold, the creepy-crawliest sight I have ever encountered in my own bedroom: a hundred ants, swarming about, right where my pans had been sitting. Whey they picked that spot, I have NO idea.
It was gross, I screamed, and then I attacked with a vengeance using my potent vinegar mixture. Well, they disappeared in an awful hurry. But then so did I, because the scent was starting to be too much. I let my room air out, and the next day my mom bought me some ant traps.
The combination of my homemade treatment plus ant traps seems to be working, but I still see a few ants here and there everyday. I guess I have to wait longer than a week before all the ants are gone. So if any of you ever have trouble with ants, remember to give them a hearty does of vinegar water.
I also read that a mixture of baking soda and powdered sugar works. Or cinnamon. Just sprinkle those around the edges of rooms. And if all your sprinkling and spraying doesn't work, well, I suppose you could mix all those things in a large bowl and bake something instead!
I looked at my bedroom floor last week Wednesday, and I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. It was an ant. So I killed it.
Then I looked again, and realized that the ant I just killed had some friends. About 15, actually. So I went around my room, slapping my carpet to kill the ants (and I probably looked like a crazy person who sees things that nobody else can because those things aren't really there). But I assure you, they were.
So I went upstairs and promptly told my mom: I have ants!!! Where did they come from? Why are they in my room??
Then I went on the internet to look for a homemade solution to my ant problem (because it was evening, so we couldn't go out and buy ant traps, and also, I wanted them gone NOW). I found a recommendation for vinegar mixed with water, apple cider vinegar to be exact. Just fill a spray bottle with water, add a bit of vinegar, and spray the baseboards and wherever you see ants.
Well, it actually seemed to work! I went back downstairs, saw twice as many ants as I had before, and started spraying. It smelled a little bit, but I was feeling very positive about my efforts until I lifted something off of my floor.
You may remember my post about my birthday, and how my mom bought me some frying pans. They have been sitting on my floor (but out of the way) this whole time, still in their original packaging, until I move out.
So as I was lifting things to spray my carpet, I picked up my pans, and behold, the creepy-crawliest sight I have ever encountered in my own bedroom: a hundred ants, swarming about, right where my pans had been sitting. Whey they picked that spot, I have NO idea.
It was gross, I screamed, and then I attacked with a vengeance using my potent vinegar mixture. Well, they disappeared in an awful hurry. But then so did I, because the scent was starting to be too much. I let my room air out, and the next day my mom bought me some ant traps.
The combination of my homemade treatment plus ant traps seems to be working, but I still see a few ants here and there everyday. I guess I have to wait longer than a week before all the ants are gone. So if any of you ever have trouble with ants, remember to give them a hearty does of vinegar water.
I also read that a mixture of baking soda and powdered sugar works. Or cinnamon. Just sprinkle those around the edges of rooms. And if all your sprinkling and spraying doesn't work, well, I suppose you could mix all those things in a large bowl and bake something instead!
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