Retarded Car

Ok, I know... I'm supposed to be packing and whatever. But I saw one of these on the road the other day and just couldn't stop laughing.

They call it smart fortwo. The name style pretty much indicates how cramped it must be. And I wonder if they thought about ever traveling anywhere with luggage. Doesn't seem too smart to me.

brb

Well, today was the magic day. We closed on our house. What a relief. I'll write more on the trauma of the weeks leading up to today, but for now, I just have to say that I'll be gone for a while.

I'm planning to sell the desk that my computer is on and will be breaking the computer down here soon.

It should be back up and running by mid-April.

So, keep me in your reader, and I'll catch you up on the hassle of moving day.

Looking Good on a Lousy Day

Today was beyond hard. The details aren't relevant, but trust me, it wasn't a pretty day. BUT, that's no reason why I can't be pretty!

I've been feeling just plain worn out lately. I'm not the only one. Pianomomsicle feels it, too. It's part of being a mom to a baby and having... well... basically anything else going on at all.

So, as a light-hearted break from some of my normal heavy stuff, I wanted to share some of my favorite "look alive" make up solutions for those days when you're feeling like dropping over dead.

Under-eye Concealer

My current favorite is a liquid concealer from Neutrogena. It goes on smooth and blends well. I use a color 2 shades lighter than my normal foundation because it gives a more natural look. Just blend in the foundation to the bottom area of the concealer and you have a nice fade into your face color. All of Neutrogena's products have built-in skin care elements, also. So, I feel fairly confident that this concealer isn't clogging my pores to no end.

Pressed Powder Highlighter

Physician's Formula has a great product to bring extra glow to your skin to help you look brighter and more lively. I learned about this product in college, but never tried it for myself until I was shopping for wedding make up. The first time I applied it, I was sold. The last powder I got was a neutral, solid color, and I was so glad to run out the other day so that I could get this one again.

Quotable

From Lifetime Guarantee by Bill Gillham:

"It's easy to praise the Lord when everything's cool, but you can "offer up a sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15) only when it's not. A sacrifice costs something. It hurts to give it. Praising the Lord when you feel bad is not being a phony either; it's being obedient. Your heart can be in it even when your emotions are not."

I highly recommend this amazing book.

Friends are a Waste of Time

Last night, my pastor was talking about friendship and our great need for it. He mentioned that in our society today, we are always busy. We always have places to be, things to do.

Sometimes simply spending time with people seems like a waste. But this "waste of time" is the most valuable time we can spend.

Today, I walked down to my old friend Mary's house and "wasted" about 45 minutes. The other night, I "wasted" time on Kara.

Who do you need to waste time on this week?

Asleep in the Light

Last week, Shaun Groves posted about Larry Norman's death, wondering if the Christian music community would really miss him. He noted that other conviction-filled Christian musicians, such as Rich Mullins and Keith Green, are rarely referenced well these days.

Now, I don't know much about Larry Norman. My knowledge is limited to a song that dc talk covered with end times theology that I don't agree with, but Rich Mullins has been a favorite of mine for years. I remember seeing him in concert when I was a wee lass in junior high. I thought he was weird for performing barefoot. I would pay lots of money today to see him perform barefoot. Since he's dead, that won't be happening. But fortunately, I have a DVD of one of his last concerts that I can play over and over.

Anyway, Keith Green is one that I haven't listened to in a long, but I got out my Keith Green: The Early Years CD today, and jammed to the first few songs on the way home from the gym.

Man! This guy has some hard-hitting lyrics. The CD opens up with "Asleep in the Light." This song is one where he chastises Christians for not caring that others around us are dying.

But it's easy to rip on the church, right?

What I liked was that Green also isn't scared to offend non-believers. It seems to me like young, hip, emerging Christians of today hold un-believers up as the idol du jour. There are calls to make things relevant for the un-believer (read: cater to them). We consult non-Christians on how they would like to be reached for Christ, and then we sell books on the topic.

But the 2nd song of Green's album is called "Soften Your Heart," and it comes with lines such as,

"You're so proud of saying you're a seeker
But why are you searching in the dark
You won't find a thing
Until you soften your heart"

So, what I appreciate so much about Keith Green -- okay there are TONS of things I appreciate, and I learned most of them in the biography of him that his wife Melody wrote -- is that he's able to call a spade a spade whether he was in Christian circles or with non-Christians.

Cause after all, we all need the same thing: Truth.

Are You Serious????

Apparently my husband forgot about this post.

Let the Journey Begin

Today was carefree.

Without jackets, we headed to the Ohio River in Newburgh.

It's been a long time since we've been down there, and it was great to walk along the river petting dogs and playing in fountains, looking at overpriced artwork and beat up used books.

We stayed there for about 90 minutes, doing everything that we won't get to do for much longer.

It's supposed to snow on Tuesday. And we'll be gone in a month.

As I walked around in Newburgh, I thought about how much I'm going to miss it. This is my town, you know? This is where I grew up, went to high school, came home to during college, bought my first house, got married, had children.

And through all that there was this quaint small-town remnant along the southern part of the Ohio, one state before it merges with the Mississippi.

This downtown where I marched in parades and went for countless walks with strollers. Where I have taken pictures year after year, even exposing photography students to the artistic possibilities all around us when we're only aware.

This is the downtown with the tree that withstood the tornado, where Billy and I made a point to go on our wedding day -- a symbol that our home will be strong through all kinds of storms.

There were so many reminders of good times and special memories. It could be easy to be upset right now. To be uncertain of the future, trying to hold on to the past.

But today was carefree. It wasn't the sadness of loss, so much as the joy in the moment. The happy remembrances of years gone by and the eager hopes for years to come.

Because more memories will be made, no matter where we are. Other places will earn my favor and become attached to the beauty of a memory. And there will be other times to mourn.

Today was a time for laughing.