Talent

So, it's been over 2 months now since I've posted anything, and I'm sure you're ready to hear the profound thoughts that have spurred me to dust off the ol' blog. If so, I'm sorry to say, you'll be sorely disappointed. I'm only here to complain.

Billy and I don't watch a lot of TV. We made a decision a long time ago to steer clear of cable, since it's just expensive smut. But we have found the vast network of TV available online. Currently, we're enjoying the Piers Morgan shows - America's Got Talent and old episodes of The Celebrity Apprentice.

Celebrity Apprentice is its own beast, but I'm here to ridicule the top picks for tonight's finale episode of America's Got Talent. The biggest disgust is Grandma Lee. She has one joke, and well, it's just not funny. Who really wants to listen to an old lady talk about sex? (Yes, I know... apparently several people want to since she keeps getting voted back.)

But what I really don't like is how the show basically turned into a singing competition. Out of the 10 finalists, 6 of them are singers. Ummm... hello? We already have a singing competition. It's called American Idol. How about we branch out a little and have a real talent competition. Cause sorry, but learning a new song in a week is WAY easier than coming up with a new dance routine that 5+ people have to be perfectly in sync. It's also WAY easier than training a dog in a new routine. I'm not a dog people, but personally, I would've liked to see the frisbee-catching dog make it. I mean, c'mon! His owner had to quit his job to compete, and he was way more impressive than any of the singers.

But if we're gonna make it a singing competition, why do people keep voting for the lame-o ones? I mean, I like Kevin Skinner as much as the next non-hick. But all he's done is slow ballads where he shakes notes cause he's too emotional while he performs. I would have much rather seen Mia Boostrom perform another amazing song like "Hallelujah."

Anyway, I didn't get to vote cause the downside of internet watching is that you get it a day late. But out of the 10 finalists tonight, my top pick is The Fab Five. The bring it every week with lots of energy, creative new moves, and super tight execution. But I'd still be happy with Hairo Torres or Recycled Percussion. Basically, any of the "variety" type acts... except Grandma Lee.

Do you watch? Who's your pick, and why?

Satisfaction in Volunteering

Billy and I have talked recently about the epidemic of "experience-driven service." Meaning... people serve... at a local mission or somewhere overseas because of the experience they get out of it.

It causes us to ask whether this is an okay motivation. Does service "count" if you're only motivated to do it because of where you can go or how you can feel afterward?

I know it's a natural by-product that we tend to feel good when we help others. But where should that feeling come on the priority list of motivating factors?

I read an article today about a Kentucky family that is selling the $350,000 home that was given to them by their community in conjunction with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The family has a regular sob story... the husband was injured in the line of duty on the local police force, the wife is a school teacher who has battled cancer.

After a free trip to Disney World, the family returned home to find their own house demolished and a new one worth 4x as much in its place. Along with the house, they got the "blessing" of higher utilities, higher property taxes, and also got to keep their previous mortgage.

In an effort to become debt-free, they've announced that they will sell the 3-year-old house to pay off debts and buy a home closer to town, which will be closer to family and medical needs.

So, the question is... do the people who built this house have any right to complain, as some of them have? (Others have been supportive, to varying degrees.)

What was the purpose of the service offered to this family? To bless or to curse? To help someone else or to feel good for themselves?

What do you think?

Should this family face ridicule for selling the home? Is our reward a valid reason to serve in the first place?

Sunday at Summit - The Sermon on the Mount Week 1

This last Sunday, we started a new series at our church. We just wrapped up a 16 week series on Exodus, and have now transitioned into the Sermon on the Mount. Our lead teacher, Paul, explained that having just studied the law, he thought it made sense to go see what Jesus did with the law.

Now this can make me a little nervous because the Sermon on the Mount is the trendy thing for all those social gospel, works righteous people out there to start quoting. Instead of using the teaching as a plumb line, they use it as a means to an end, and this is really dangerous.

As a Christian, I am fully accepted by God, completely forgiven and made righteous. God's Spirit in me lives the righteous, holy life that I'm called to. So, the sermon can be something I refer to in order to test if I'm in the right place, but it's not something that gets me in the right place. Only God can get me there.

But I shouldn't have worried because our elders are so solid on truth, and Paul addressed this very thing early in the message... instantly putting me at ease. He warned that, read in the wrong context, people could easily see the sermon as a checklist of what we're supposed to do to be God's people. But, as Jesus clearly taught in John 6:28-29, the only "work" the Father requires of us is to believe in Jesus.

Okay... moving on....

Even though we aren't required to do works to reach God, God's perfect plan for us include heart change that leads to actions that show evidence of this heart change. As Paul put it, "Our conduct flows from our character in Christ."

Another point Paul made that I appreciated was that Jesus' teaching and his miraculous power aren't sold separately. It's a package deal, and to lean one way is to ignore the balance that Jesus showed while on earth. Jesus is not just a good teacher, and he's not just a genie in a bottle.

The last point that stuck out to me was Paul passionate admonition that the Church (at large) and our church (Summit, specifically) needs to stop trying to look like the world. He gave a few comparisons of the dichotomy between the two.

The world is concerned about being hot. The church is concerned about being holy.

The world is full of greed. The church is full of generosity.

The world is swooning over celebrities. The church is swooning over Christ.

If the Church isn't showing these attributes, then we are living in our old patterns and not surrendering to Christ. It is Christ that lives through us... our old self was crucified and we are made new... Christ is in us, we are in Christ. It is the Spirit that bears fruit in and through us. Are we letting the Spirit do his work?

Dear Mr. Creditor

I am debt-free. I owe you nothing. So please stop calling me. It's not my fault that Miss Carter had my number before me. I don't know her. I'm not related to her. (And by the way, if I were... do you really think I'd give you information about her?!)

It's not my business how many outstanding, bad debts she has, but once you find her, I have a feeling you'll have to wait in line for quite some time to get your precious money.

So, actually... go ahead and call... cause you know what... I'll report you to the Fair Trade Commission. Stupid Redline Recovery, with immature people that call back, yell, and hang up on innocent bystanders.

Seriously... get a real job! One you can be proud of.

How can you live with yourself knowing that you make your measly living by harassing people? Don't you know you're worth more than that? Don't you know that God has given you real gifts that He wants to use for real work? God didn't create you to ridicule people and to threaten and to act like the scum of the earth.

New Shoes

Well, I went out again last night (alone this time... oh, it was glorious!) to see what I could find in the way of sandals.

I didn't quite get what I was looking for. I wanted something to replace these (sorry for the picture. It's rotated on my computer, and I tried 5 times to re-upload, but bloggers not co-operating. You'll just have to turn your neck!):



As you can see they're pretty worn in between the toes. That'll happen after 6 or 7 years.


I didn't quite score the jackpot at RackRoom shoes, but since I had a $50 budget, I was able to settle for some nicer sandals that will work for casual, but not necessarily for everyday playing in the back yard. In addition, I got some cute discounted brown flip flops, and as a bonus, I was able to run over to Target and grab a pair of $3 pool flops as well. My current ones are cracking and I expect them to break any moment now.

Bloggable World of Target

The kids and I ventured out of the complex today. This is a rare occasion. We tend to frequent the grocery store, the bank, and the pool. Rarely do we go to actual stores, never do we go to malls. Today we did both, and I was actually overwhelmed with the amount of junk there is out there. Not just material stuff, but all the things I could blog about. No wonder, I mused silently, my blog is slowly dying. I have no inspiration.

So, I could probably make about 5 posts out of today, but since I really doubt I'd have the stamina to make it through, I'll just summarize here quickly.

1. We went to catch the free kids' flick at the Monaco, which is a super posh theatre. They were showing the Tales of Despereaux. We were excited because my good friend Kara gave us a copy of the book and Eve devoured it. We're also reading it for bedtime right now. The show started at 11. We got there at 10:30, and all the tickets were gone. Nice.

2. But never fear because Maggie Moo's was just down the mall from the Monaco. Now... for those not in Huntsville, you have to realize that this is the coolest mall EVER. It's an outdoor mall, complete with fountains to play in (note to self: bring bathing suits next time in case the movie is again full). Just being at Bridge Street Town Centre (see... it doesn't even call itself a mall, that's how cool it is) well, it makes you feel rich. Even if you can't afford anything there, which I pretty much can't. Except for when jewelers there throw in a free prong repair with my soldering, but that's a different story.

So, at Maggie Moo's, I had a waffle cone with Red Velvet Cake ice cream and Oreos mixed in. It was nothing short of divine. The only problem was that we had Ashlyn with us, and I really hate for her to have sugar, but I was able to take big bites so as to limit what she had off my cone. :)

3. We headed to Target to pick up Eve's camp gear today. We got a kick-butt sleeping bag with pink camo on it. Very cool. But I couldn't believe that cosmetic bags are so freaking expensive. $20 for a plastic package? Seriously? Fortunately, we scored the one $15 bag that was on clearance for $3. Almost walked right past it, but then that red tag caught my eye. It's plaing black now, but we'll use a little acryllic paint and have it personalized and pretty in no time.

4. Being at Target made me realize how much I've been saving by not going to stores. Seriously. I felt like every single aisle we walked down, I saw something else that I really wanted. Yesterday, I didn't want it. But just being in its presence made me think, "Oh that would be so nice for organizing." Or, "I could use that to decorate in Eve's room."

Billy and I have been focused on contentment a lot in the past couple of years. Part of it has been out of necessity. We're commited to having me stay home with the kids and to being responsible with our money, so there's just not room in the budget for excess. Because of this, we've been intentional about being thankful for what we do have and trying not to focus on everything we don't have.

But money aside, we just don't want to be slaves to stuff. Dave Bruno has an inspiring on-going 100 thing challenge that began as his quest to get out from under the control of stuff. He continues to be an inspiration to me. Sometimes, I see posts about the CVS game, and I feel like some of the women that play that are just accumulating more stuff because they can afford it with their shrewd couponing skillz. I'm tempted to play that game. I'm tempted to find my worth in how far I can stretch a dollar by obtaining things I wouldn't normally buy anyway. (Seriously, CVS rarely has bonuses for things I actually need.)

Lesson learned: stay out of stores whenever possible.

5. Another thing I was looking for today was some sandals to replace the ones I got about 7 years ago. I am sad to see them go, but lucky me... looks like I get to keep them for a while. I looked while at Target, but not surprisingly didn't find anything that caught my eye. (Well, I did find some fancy flip flops, but I was really looking for something a little more durable... something to last me another 7 years, maybe.)

I also stopped by Shoe Carnival since it's over there anyway. Row after row after row of sandals. But alas, nothing of what I wanted. All I'm asking for is a nice brown leather sandals with a chunky heel (but not a wedge!) that are dressy enough to wear with business casual attire at the pregnancy test center, but casual enough to wear everyday in my back yard. Basically, I want the exact sandal I have now... but new... and not falling apart. Is that too much to ask? I'm gonna try to find one more shoe store near me, and then I'll resort to some cheaper dressy flip flops from Target for $8. Then, I guess I'll try it all again next year. :(

Whew... all that in a few hours. Who knew there was so much in the world?

Life Without Coffee

Breaking News at the Chia Household: Billy and I have stopped drinking coffee.

I know. I never thought this would happen. I love coffee. But ultimately, it was doing me in.

Over the last months my energy level has plummeted from my natural low energy to a minuscule amount that was most often used up by being in a bad mood. How fun is that to live with. And if you're starting to feel sorry for my family, you ought to feel just as sorry for me. I mean, I can't get away from myself! It was getting pretty miserable.

So, aside from that a couple of other factors led me to make the final decision. One was a conversation at small group about our bodies being God's temple. We have been going through Exodus at church, and we learned about the splendor of the tabernacle and how the priest's garments were like a mini-temple, as a symbol pointing to Jesus - that when Jesus came, our bodies would become the temple.

But the final straw was a segment I heard on Sean Hannity's radio show featuring everyone's favorite wrestler-turned-governor Jesse Ventura. He and Hannity were arguing about legalizing hard drugs such as heroine, which is retarded that anyone even thinks that's okay. But still, he made the point that if caffeine were suddenly outlawed, we'd see a lot of violence by people to get it. I'm not sure it's really comparable to heroine, but the point is that caffeine is a drug, and I don't believe in being addicted to anything, except Jesus.

So, anyway, what's life like without coffee?

1. Awake, surprisingly. The first couple of days I slept a LOT. I'm talking 12 hours at night plus a few hour or 2 naps through out the day. Out of 24 hours in a day, I probably slept about 18 of those the first couple of days. But then the third day, something clicked, and I've been doing really well. I definitely wake up more easily in the morning. So, it's nice to not have to wait until after I drink coffee to start that process.

2. Cheaper. We are quasi coffee snobs around here, so there's no Folgers for us. We usually opted for Seattle's Best, which I could get for $6.48/bag. We would go through 2-4 of those a month, depending on if I needed a pick-me-up in the afternoon (which I did a lot!). I also have to have non dairy creamer which is around $3 for the month. So, we're talking $17-29 off our grocery budget. Hello! I have some other things I'd like to buy for $17-29.

3. Holier. Okay... this might seem like a stretch to say I'm "holier," but I just wanted a one word description. Sue me. I will say that I'm more able to control my responses to my kids when I'm annoyed at them. First of all, I've been annoyed less, actually. That's been a good attitude change to have. But even when I am annoyed, I've been able to approach my response with more patience. Instead of snapping at them to go away or be quiet, I've been more able to ask, "What's going on?" or "What do you need?" Not always succeeding, but it's a process, anyway.

I'm still not feeling awesome in the energy department, so my next step is to get some detox kit and clean myself out of toxins. This is still in the R&D phase, but suggestions on ones that work (or other thoughts on coffee dependencies) are welcome in the comments.

Psyched for Small Group

Life has been good. Lots of new things on the horizon... from beginning my pregnancy counseling ministry to enrolling in a new homeschool cover (where I'm excited to be teaching a class to teens on making a school yearbook!).

Billy and I recently became debt free (yeah... I really ought to have a better announcement on here than that little sidenote). He's doing awesome things in his career, Eve's progressing in some impressive gymnastics, and little Ashlyn knows how to use a potty!

But of all the things that have been going right, the highlight of every week has been Wednesday nights, when we go to our new small group.

Small groups have been my favorite thing about church for a long time. I like small groups in general, as opposed to large groups, so I'm sure this is a reason. But really, I just feel like so much growth takes place within a small group of people who can build a relationship based on trust and shared faith.

When we first got assigned to this group, I thought it would be interesting. We were the only parents in the group and the oldest ones there. We've always been the youngest. (The second week, another couple joined in. They have kids and are older than us by a couple of year or 2. Whew!)

Our leader is a 23-year-old guy with a huge servant's heart. His wife is pregnant. We have another couple expecting their first. The husband is a deacon at our church and from what I can tell is incredibly conservative. Then, we have 2 single guys who came over from a disbanded small group - an experiment to see if singles and married could actually interact in meaningful ways. :)

Then there's us. It's a random group. And it has been amazing!

I'm excited for the encouragement we've already experienced. Talking about living a Christian life, reading the Bible, serving our community. I've been in the Bible more since this group started. I've been encouraged to return to the prayer life I slipped away from after Ashlyn was born. I've been stretched to offer grace for things that aren't how I think they oughta be.

In all that, I've found a great group of people who I'm thrilled to be committing to for the next 12-18 months.

So... yeah... I can't wait until 6:30 tonight.

Convenient Sacrifice

I'm getting tired of eating rice. It's a sacrifice we make because of a principle we believe in, but this week, I remembered that it can really be easy to grow weary of doing good.

A big part of Saturday nights is to be hungry, to connect with the struggles of brothers and sisters around the world.

Still, it's difficult to live in America and really feel this.

Last night, my stomach hurt as I ate the rice. It's not the greatest thing for the digestive system, and I realized how difficult it would be to eat this when you're really hungry. If you haven't had food in three days, rice is not the friendliest thing you can partake of. It sits heavy and is difficult to digest (which makes me wonder why people say you should give a baby rice cereal first. It messed with both of my kiddo's systems, and I stopped it pretty quick for their health's sake).

I couldn't finish my meager bowl, and I was "starving" 2 hours later when our normal snack time arrived. So, I ate. And ate. And ate.

I had an egg and tuna and cereal and fruit. I had a bounty... which kinda counteracted the rice initiative in the first place.

But my point is that this "sacrifice" is only a convenient 2-hour hunger strike, and still it's hard.

Praise God that His Kingdom isn't contingent on me, but is built on His own strength. And by his strength we will continue to push forward to sacrifice for the sake of our little boy.

Wordless Wednesday: Too cool for skool

When Failure is a Victory

I was doing some research last night on Obama's Freedom of Choice Act. Wanting to sift through the emotional responses and get down to the facts, I thought it best to look at sites in support and in opposition to the bill to see what they had to say about the law.

I happened to come to NARAL Pro Choice America's website, and of course, what I found was some disgusting propaganda about our so-called constitutional right to choose being "in dire peril." (Because over 4,000 American abortions a day just isn't good enough?) I always find it interesting that pro-choice people forget that our revolution was fought in order to preserve the right to life.

Anyway, I also found something on their site that was beyond pleasing. It was a grade for the state of Alabama. A big, fat "F."

We, in Alabama, have failed to provide easily obtainable abortions. Things that weigh against us here, in the view of NARAL are the following:

1. Required Biased Counseling and Mandatory Waiting Periods: This is defined in their own words as "Biased counseling and mandatory delay laws prohibit women from receiving abortion care until they are subjected to a state-mandated lecture and/or materials followed by a delay of usually at least 24 hours before they can receive services."

In Alabama, a woman must be told of the details of the procedure, potential risks, probable age and physical development of the baby, and alternatives. The waiting period is 24-hours, and the woman must receive a state-prepared handout of resources that are available to assist with pregnancy and raising a child or placing a child for adoption.

Sounds like some great education to me!

2. Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortions: Alabama requires 1 parent to consent to an abortion, if the pregnant girl is less than 18. If circumstances in her family make it impossible to gain this consent, the girl can obtain permission from a family court judge. Harsh.

3. Restriction on Low-Income Women's Access to an Abortion: Alabama doesn't allow tax money to go toward abortions for low-income, unless the pregnancy if life-threatening for the mother. The cost for an abortion, by the way, is usually less than $500.

4. (Unenforced) Bans on Early and Late Abortions: Abortions are not supposed to happen before 12 weeks or after viability. Health of the mother is an exception to the ban on late abortions.

5. Ban on Pro-Abortion Counseling: The Office of Women's Health in Alabama can't advocate for abortions. It is only allowed to educate about abortion and other alternatives.

6. Licensing Requirements: Only a licensed physician can perform an abortion in Alabama. If a facility performs more than 30 abortions a month, or advertises as an abortion provider, it must have be licensed. Abortion facilities must have ultrasound equipment to perform pre-abortion ultrasounds (currently, the law doesn't require that the woman be shown this ultrasound, but she has the right to view it).


Often, you'll hear pro-choice advocates use the rhetoric that they are fighting for fewer and safer abortions. These laws of Alabama are educating women on healthy alternatives. The laws help women make the best choice - one that is thought out and backed with information, not just emotion. When abortion is the choice a woman makes, the law is intended to ensure that facilities will provide safe ones.

Still, we get a grade of "F" with NARAL. This is one bad grade I couldn't be happier with.

**To find out how much your state supports education and life, go to NARAL's State Profiles. Remember, "bad" grades are those that provide for education of women and encourage them to make an informed choice.

Looking Presidential

A friend had a picture on facebook today that I thought had to be a joke, until I googled it and found a page on Amazon.


In case that's too serious-minded for you (cause we all know that Chia sculptures of presidents' heads have the potential to be too serious-minded), you can opt for the "Happy" version.



And of course, to answer the question on everyone's mind... no, we don't have a say in the ridiculous paraphernalia that gets marketed under our last name. Nor do we have any inheritance coming, that we know of.

Heroes

Okay... so, before we started watching Heroes on nbc.com 6 months ago, I never would have done this kind of thing. Proof, there, that TV corrupts.

But here is my superhero self:



http://cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/

WFMW: Organized Hangers

I have a hate/hate relationship with clutter. I just really hate excess stuff around. But not only do I like to kill the clutter, I also really love an organized home. Mainly because I have trouble thinking in a mess. (Hmmm... seems to be a theme going on... me and problems with thinking)

So, today, I took some time to organize the hangers in our closet because my mind goes crazy thinking about what a "mess" they are. Not that they really are... I'm just weird like this.

Billy hangs all his clothes, so his side of the closet is incredibly tight, and well... unorganized. It's not a mess or anything, there was just a lot of visual clutter with different colors of hangers, and there was not much rhyme or reason to where shirts and pants were hung. Wish I had a before picture.

My side is sparse because most of my clothes are in a dresser, but I still had the same problem with the colored hangers. Just drives me crazy every time I walk into it.

So, today, I organized Billy's clothes so that like items were together (short-sleeved shirts, tee shirts, dress shirts, pants, you get the picture). But I also went a step further to - wait for it! - color code the hangers! Yes! This is what we stay at home moms do all day. Organize things that are actually already pretty organized by the rest of society's standards.

Anyway, it will be much nicer for me to go into there from now on. I got my side together, too.



Color-coding hangers is actually harder than you might think. Since my budget for this project was $0. I had to use what I have, so I was switching and counting and counting and switching a lot. But I finally came up with a good system.

Rock! One less place in my apartment to provide an excuse for my ever-increasing mental chaos. (Yes, Mom... I have some Mental Acuity Plus. I just forget to take it!)

Here are more Works for Me Wednesday posts.

The Murdering Power of Facebook

So, my blog's lain fallow for a while. As usual.

And I blame facebook. No, seriously. (It's all facebook's fault, and none of my own.)

It's like this: I grew up in a time when it went from embarrassing to fashion to have ADD. From there, it become not good enough, and everyone needed to add in that extra hyper-activity in order to fit in: ADHD.

I didn't have it. And I was proud.

But now, my friends, I think I might be coming down with something. Not quite sure what to call it, but it is strongly tied to my status updates.

Writing blog posts, well... you kinda have to have something to say. But ever since I got addicted to facebook, I think in status updates. I think it one-sentence, unconnected, fleeting moments. And it's harder to see the big picture.

But I've found that I'm not alone. A few weeks ago, Billy introduced someone to the concept of twitter and explained, "Twitter killed my blog." (For those who still don't know...(Mom) twitter is just like facebook, but it's not fun.) My sister Kate is a facebook fiend, too, and her blog gets ignored, as evidenced in this post... which by the way is very similar to this post by Laura Anne. Others mentioned it too, but then claimed gardening as the reason their blog is suddenly quiet (I still have my suspicions on whether that's true, Beth. j/k)

Anyway, it's gotten hard to put together a strand of thoughts lately. That whole status thing is just to quick and easy.

Isn't that pathetic? Seriously. I mean... c'mon! I'm a college graduate, majoring in freaking WRITING! Hello!!!!

Yes... facebook is a strong force to be reckoned with, and I'm not sure if I'll win. But I won't go down without a fight.

But just in case, you can find me here:

Why I'm 20th-Century Dumb

So bear with me here, cause I've been going through my yearly life crisis. This is the time when we enter the last quarter of the "school year," and I have to re-evaluate what we're doing and if we're still gonna be doing it next year. This year has been worse than ever, honestly.... mainly because I thought I could make my own curriculum, from the internet, for absolutely free.

And, well... I did.

And it sucked.

So, this year's schooling has had some good times, but mainly it had a lot of bad times. Mainly, I've just been feeling like a failure as an educator, as a parent, as a competent person, really.

But I'm about 90% sure right now that we're sticking with it next year.

I got here for a few different reasons:

Because I'm 20th-Century dumb and so are today's students

As I started preparing for our 4-week unit on the roaring 20's and the Great Depression, I found nothing in my normal online resources. One of the staples that I've used has been some free online chapter summaries from some 5 - 6 grade public schooltextbooks. They are reading comprehension worksheets and vocabulary reinforcements that just go over the basics of the chapter, which have been great for my 2nd grader. The bad thing is that the public schools don't really teach much after the Civil War. So, if finally hit me why I know a TON about the founding of our country, and nothing really about the 1900's. This is how it was when I was in school, and this is how it still is.

5th graders learn about the Indians, the Revolution, Expansion, and the Civil War. It takes all year. 6th graders seem to learn all of our history, but they start back at the Indians again, so for the 1st semester, they're reviewing. Second semester, they get to cram in everything that's happened from Reconstruction on.

Because I never got that I was supposed to actually get science

I was trying to figure out where to go for science. I'm tired of the same old, same old. I've gotten a little bored of animals and plants, and I wanted something a little bit.... well, cooler. Again, curricula online failed me. What is this! It's like everyone thinks that kids only have the capacity to learn about cute, furry things and seedlings. I was think something a little more in depth like... you know... chemistry or something. Cause when I got into chemistry, I didn't get it. I mean, I got the grade. I did fine on my report card and all. I could do the problems; I could pass the test. But I didn't get it, you know. I always felt like if I had understood what I was really supposed to be learning, instead of just memorizing which formula to use, I would have really liked chemistry. I want Eve to have that chance.

Because there's more than one opinion and we ought to hear about them, even if we don't agree

Also along the lines of science is a documentary that Billy and I watched last week from Nova. It was about Intelligent Design being thrown out of public education as a theory to be mentioned as something a student could investigate on his own. Seriously. These schools in Pennsylvania had some copies of an Intelligent Design text book donated. The school board voted that science teachers should read a 1-minute statement that reveals that evolution is an un-proven theory with gaps in it, and that there are scientists who research other theories, such as intelligent design. The books were to be available at school libraries for students to look at independently if they were interested. ID was not to be taught in the class.

In typical America fashion, some parents sued. And the judge declared this statement to be unconstitutional as establishing a religion. WHAT?!!?!?!

I don't believe in macro-evoluion, but my daughter knows about it. I don't believe in Buddhism, Islam, or Greek gods either, but my daughter knows about them. I don't believe in big government, but she hears about that, too. I teach her. I let her watch debates so she can hear things from the people who believe it. (Not saying she gets it all yet at her age, but I expose her to it.)

Because believing something without investigating other options and opinions is mindless, and I'm not interested in mindless education.


So, I remember now that part of the reason I home educate is that I just don't think public schools teach kids what they ought to know.

Wordless Wednesday > Ghetto Scrabble

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I love Veggie Tales with a passion. Here's a great, funny but real history of St. Patrick, a great missional man who spread the love and truth of God.

The Cost of Beauty

So, on Wednesday, Billy and I had a great time at PF Chang's (see pic in the previous post). But y'all didn't get the funny side of the story.

I was excited to get a little dressed up for the evening. It's not normally my thing, but c'mon! This is a special day! So, I fit back into the cute black capris that I wore the first day Billy and I met. I had a cute red and black top, and some hot black heels that I literally hadn't worn in years. These shoes made the outfit. I was looking pretty darn good if I do say so.

As we walked toward the restaurant, I noticed that my left shoe was a little too loose, so I figured I'd need to re-buckle when we got inside. I sat down when a bench opened up to do so, but it didn't see to help. I tried again, and noticed this time that the strap was broken. It had come off of the shoe where it attached right near my heel.

"Nice," I thought. But I played it cool... tucked the strap in under my foot and elegantly walked to the table when it was ready for us (and thank God that Billy thought to call for reservations. That place was hoppin' for a Wednesday night!).

Dinner was great, but as we were almost ready to leave, I needed to stop at the ladies room. It was more than a little awkward to walk in a broken shoe, especially when my normal footwear is a pair of well-worn Vann's. But I am a woman! So, I did it with grace.

We came outside and saw a Mac store, so of course, we had to head in there. My foot was starting to hurt from the way I had to hold the shoe on with my toes, but we don't get a lot of chances to hang out without kids, so I really wanted to spend some more time with Billy before we headed home to pay the sitter.

Somewhere between the iMac and the iPhones, my other shoe broke.

Yes... I'm serious. There I was, in the Mac store, looking good with two broken shoes. But that didn't stop me. On the way back to the car, we stopped at a couple of jewelry stores to get a watch battery for Billy and a ring polishing for me. The cool people at Kay's didn't charge for either one. :)

Finally, on the way to the car, I couldn't stay cool about it anymore. I told Billy my feet were hurting because both my shoes had broken.

He offered his condolences and gave me a piggy back ride to the car.

I joked about the leg workout he was getting, and when he put me down I could feel the muscular relief he experiences as his body could go back to it's normal 160 pound burden.

So, I said, "Hey... aren't you glad I lost 20 pounds in the last year?"

He just smiled. And I laughed. It was a good time.

Wordless Wednesday > 3 Year Anniversary

21st Century Cleaning: Review of Scrubbing Bubble Automatic Shower Cleaner

So, the cool people over at BzzAgent.com hooked me up with a neat little gadget from Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner. Brilliant, huh?

When they asked if I wanted to test it out and tell people what I thought, I was like, "Uh... yeah!" I already used Scrubbing Bubbles as my cleaner of choice in the bathtubs and sinks, so I was hoping I'd be pleased, and I am. Here's the low-down.

the set-up

Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner is a daily cleaner that is safe on most showers and cleans literally with the press of a button. The "new and improved" version that I got has two sprayers that rotate 360 degrees. One sprayer sprays wide, reaching most of the shower. The other sprayer sprays more focused targeting the rim of the tub.

The cleaner machine sells for around $14.99 for the whole contraption, which comes with a bottle of cleaner that is supposed to be about a 21-day supply. We've used ours for 14 days, and I think it will last longer than 1 more week. Refills cost $3.99 each. Coupons are available when you sing up for The Scrubbing Bubbles Bulletin.

the good

Quick and Easy: This is really the biggest benefit of the cleaner. No more scrubbing the shower stall. Heck! This is so easy that Billy has taken it as his task. Each morning after he showers, he simply closes the curtain and pushes the button. Viola!

Fresh Scent: I can be picky about smells. I've always found that I like Scrubbing Bubbles smells. But this shower cleaner is even more mild and fresher than their spray foam. (I will say that the automatic toilet cleaning gel I got in my bzzagent package is pretty strong, but it works, too, so I've decided the scent is worth not donning the rubber gloves and sticking my hands in the toilet once a week!)

It Actually Works: I will admit... I was super skeptical. Most things that are toted as "easy" are not good cleaners. I typically believe that you have to put some effort into it to do a good job. This shower cleaner is curing me of that belief.

the bad

One Noisy Little Bugger: The cleaner beeps at you for about 15 seconds before it cleans. You know... so you can make sure your door's closed, curtain closed... whatever. Once it starts it makes more noise than you thought it could, but it's not obnoxious. The first time Billy used it, he thought it would wake me up, but it didn't.

Missing Spots: While the cleaner's nozzle rotate 360 degrees, they don't tilt up or down. So, the spray only hits the walls about chest high and down, leaving the top 1/3 of the shower uncleaned. This is not a big deal to me, since we don't tend to get the top 1/2 of our shower dirty. But, it's something to note in a review.

A bigger deal is that it doesn't seem to cut through on our textured shower floor. The videos on the website show a very dirty shower getting clean, so I didn't clean my shower before installing the auto cleaner. The walls are looking good, as are the ledge of the tub and the shower curtain, but the floor is falling behind. It's getting clean, just not at the same pace.

the verdict

Definitely a great product! I typically wouldn't spend $15 on a cleaner product, but when you look at it as a tool, instead of just the cleaning solution, I'd say it's worth it as a one-time investment. The refills are a little pricey, too, but I would say that if you clean your shower really well before using this tool, you could get by with every other day and stretch out the cleaning solution to up to 2 months. That only averages about $2 a month (without coupons!)

Have you ever tried an automatic shower cleaner? Would you?

Leta Joy

To finish up the week, let me introduce you to another Evansville blogger. Leta's kinda the bonus interview because her name and quotes didn't make it into the article, so y'all never even knew that she impacted my article at all! But she did. Her answers to my few questions helped to solidify some ideas and also helped me to reframe a couple of points. Just having the extra perspective was invaluable.

Without further adieu...

What introduced you to blogging? What was your initial motivation to start your own blog?
My husband first introduced me to the concept of a "blog" in 2000. He is an art director and spends a lot of time on the web researching new media. He thought I would find it intriguing. I opened a free blogger account and skimmed a few blogs. But back then blogs were not anything like they are today. There were no fancy layouts or widgets. I wasn't really sure what to write to begin with and I felt kind of silly writing something that no one would ever read. The few blogs that I did read seemed rather mundane and I wasn't convinced that blogging was something that would take off. (Boy, was I wrong!) I gave it up after a few weeks.

Fast forward six years and suddenly blogs were everywhere. There were famous bloggers. There were blogging conferences. People actually made a living by blogging. I had quit my job to stay at home with our first baby in 2004 and without a career to define me, I didn't know who I was anymore. I didn't want to be "just a mom". I was searching for people who were experiencing the same things I was. A lot of my friends still worked or didn't have kids yet. I needed a creative outlet that I could pick up whenever I had the time. I started to read multiple blogs, blogs about parenting, crafting, cooking, photography, fashion. You name it, it was out there. And these weren't just boring online journals. These were well written, thoughtful sites that people poured their heart and souls into. I was smitten. My bookmarked list of blogs continued to grow. Finally, after several friends and loved ones continued to urge me forward, I started my own blog in April 2006. If only I'd listened to my husband, I could have been a blogging pioneer!

Do you spend most of your blogging time reading or writing blog posts?
I currently have 128 blogs in my RSS feeder, so I would have to say that I spend the majority of my time reading rather than writing. There are so many great sites out there, covering such a wide array of topics, it is difficult to narrow down the list. A few outstanding ones that come to mind are dooce.com, soulemama.com, thepioneerwoman.com, angrychicken.com, rosylittlethings.typepad.com, www.weewonderfuls.com. I typically write after the kids are in bed, and sometimes it takes a few days to cobble together a post.

Do you have hopes for growing an audience or do you like to blog for yourself?
I do enjoy writing for myself. However, I think I write in a different voice when I know that I have a wider audience. I'm wittier, more likely to cut through the fluff and get to the heart of the matter. I would love for my readership to grow and to have a site that brought in revenue, but I will continue to write whether that happens or not. Blogging has expanded my involvement with the outside world. I read blogs written in England, California, Oregon, Maine, Texas, Utah, Australia, Africa, New Zealand, France. The list goes on and on. I have online friends who I have never met in person that are very supportive of me. Blogging has become a part of my life, a part of my creative process. I no longer have the time to fill journals with script but I can hammer out a few paragraphs on the keyboard in my pj's if I want to. Blogging has given me a voice and a platform for my voice to be heard the world over.

++++++++

Leta is currently posting daily about finding grace in small things. It's a quick daily read that reminds us of the blessings all around us. But she also intersperses fun posts like this one that shows of her creativity and this one that presents us with her adorable kiddos.

Introducing Eve Chia

Today, my friends, was the absolute happiest day of my life. Now, other days like my wedding and the birth of my children are close seconds, but those days still left me with a burden hanging over my head, a weight and a fear that I have been in constant struggle of giving over to God. Today, God took that situation out of our lives, and my heart is free. After today, I don't have to wonder what will happen to my child after I die. I don't have to wonder whether I could lose my first-born by the ignorant judgment of a judge who makes a snap decision after being on the bench for too long.

Today, Evie legally became a Chia.



For those of you who don't know, Eve is my child from a relationship long before Billy and I ever knew each other. He isn't her biological father, but he has been the daddy that my daughter so desperately needs.

Since before they met, Billy has prayed for Eve, and from the first times the spent together, their relationship has been a priority to him. The first day they met, my precious 5-year-old ran up to me and said something I'll never forget.

"I have a great idea for my daddy. He could be my daddy."

I told her that we would talk to God about it. Little did she know that I'd been talking to God about it for several months, and He'd already made it quite clear that Billy would, in fact, be her daddy.

When we were engaged, Eve called him her "almost-daddy," and the word step-father is not uttered in our home.

But still, there was the legal issue. To the government - that all-too-powerful entity that seems to think it has a right to stick its nose everywhere it's not welcome - she was not a Chia and Billy was not her dad. She was a Moore, and he was just a step-father.

Today, all of that changed.

Today, he is recognized as the father of Eve as if he'd naturally fathered her. Today, I can go out knowing that if I die in a car accident, Eve will remain safe with her daddy.

I guess I feel like I could go on and on, but this post has to end somewhere...

The Secret Life of Kat, et.al.

I found Kat through Shlog and others in that niche who talked about the 40-Day Fast. She was the mastermind behind it (or... she was the tool that God used, whichever.) I visited her site off and on, here and there until this post's lead-in cracked me up so hard, I had to subscribe.

But Kat's not just funny. She's also deep. Seriously. I'm pretty sure this woman is as multi-faceted at a valuable diamond.

Check out her interview to see how she combines both of these to create some pretty darn entertaining inspiration.

Can I use your full name in my article? If not, how would you like to be referred to? Her Royal Highness, The Queen of Blogdom. Or you can just call me Kat. :-)

How long have you been blogging?

3 years in January. Happy Anniversary to me. What is that paper...or wood? Off to google I go...

Apparently, it's leather.

What was the initial motivation to start?

I'd just discovered Shaun Groves blog and I was deeply challenged by his thought provoking posts. I started my personal blog as a place to air my ideas and questions. It was a wonderful outlet. I stopped talking my husband's ear off and started to use writing as a way to iron out my thoughts and make sense of my crazy days. I turned exhausting and sometimes frustrating situations with my kids into stories that made me (and others) laugh.

What caused you to begin 3 separate blogs rather than just sticking all your content on one site?

I think the main reason that I started 3 different blogs instead of just 1 is because I didn't want to waste people's time. I planned to post regularly on all three and I knew not everyone would be interested in all of the topics (family, faith, social justice and music). My music posts also tend to draw a pretty random crowd and wanted to keep those readers somewhat separated from my family posts.

What part did blogging play in your development of your passions?

Oh my goodness. Blogging has revolutionized my dreams. Writing has forced me to think deeper and plan more thoroughly. I've found that I love to inspire people and be inspired by them. For example, last year I ran my first half marathon. While it's always been a dream of mine, I don't know that I would have done it if it weren't for the encouragement and accountability of my readers and blog friends. At the same time, many of those same people told me that they were inspired by my efforts and signed up for their own races.

Another benefit of blogging is that I can continue to be a part of my field of interest and even influence it - while I'm still a full time stay at home mom. I would venture to say I've done more networking in the music industry from the corner of my couch with my MacBook than I ever did in the office.

How integral is the blogging community to what you aim to do with your blogs?

I thrive on the interaction. It inspires me and challenges me. I honestly don't think I'd write if it weren't for the community aspect of blogging.

What do you hope your blogs accomplish?

The Secret Life of Kat - I would love to inspire those who read it to pursue God more deeply than they ever have before. I'd love to help them organize their life, priorities and activities - resulting in a greater sense of simplicity and accomplishment. And I want to make them laugh.

Inspired to Action - This is a team blog and right now, a blog friend named "Euphrony" is taking charge of it. He and the rest of the team are working hard to help people learn to live in a way that positively impacts those in need. We often hear stories about people in need (around the country and around the world) but it's hard to know how to help. That's the goal of Inspired to Action. To help people take action on behalf of those in need and give them practical ways to do it.

Bloggable Music Network - I want to see this site become a thriving community of bloggers who are passionate about spreading great music. We've got an amazing group of musicians who have jumped on board with the idea and we have some huge plans for this year. It's only a month old, but I'm really excited about where it's heading and the impact it can make on the careers of hard working musicians.

Do you mainly blog about how your already live or does your blogging have an impact on your daily life?

I do both. I blog about things that have worked for me AND things that I'm working on. That's really the beauty of blogging - it's a two way medium. Whereas a magazine writer only shares her knowledge, a blogger can share her knowledge AND ask for wisdom from her readers. I've gotten amazing parenting advice as a result of situations I've written about.

Blogging also impacts my daily life by helping me enjoy those crazy moments in life (with 3 small kids, I have many) because I look forward to translating them into funny posts for my readers.

How much time a day do you tend to spend blogging?
Technically, I try to spend 30 minutes a day writing and then I probably spend at least another hour or so reading blogs, formatting posts and replying to readers.

Rainy Day in May

What do I say about my next blogging interview? Misty is amazing. I honestly don't even know how we got connected. I just know one day she commented on my site; then I commented on hers, and it just turned into one big reciprocation until now... a couple years later, and she is my favorite blogging buddy. (Sorry, everyone else who had their fingers crossed, but she is.) You can do a search for Misty in my sidebar there to see how much she's influenced me over the last couple of years. You can also look at nearly every post on here to see what a faithful reader she's been.

But enough with sap... on to what she had to say about blogging:

How long have you been blogging? Since 2004.

What was the initial motivation to start? We lived far away from family and I had hoped that it would inspire them to take an interest in my daughter's life. Also, writing is therapeutic and parenting an emotionally special needs child left me with a need for an outlet.

How has blogging expanded your social network? I've gotten to know some truly extraordinary people. A few I've had the privilege of meeting in real life, and several have become wonderful long distance friends.

Has blogging introduced you to interests that you previously didn't have/didn't think you'd necessarily enjoy? Yes. I am not the craftiest of persons. A few years ago I was the woman with the credit card, who loved to shop. Today I'm the girl who just finished a handmade Christmas (mostly), have no credit cards and I now structure my week around the days spent in my kitchen. Then, I wanted a high rise apartment in Manhattan and today I want a little country house and wouldn't mind a few chickens. I completely hold blogging responsible for this... Not so much my writing of my blog, but what I read on others...

Do you ever use blogging as a way to maintain your identity as a woman, writer, thinker, crafter, scrapbooker, photographer... (basically anything BUT mom)? Perhaps unintentionally. There are those days when I just need to know that I, as a person, exist- beyond the roles I play in my household. Blogging offers that instant opportunity.

Do you feel like you blog to "get things off your chest" or do you blog for your audience's benefit? Both... Some weeks it is one more than the other. I firmly believe, above all things, a blog should be real. I am NOT a people pleaser and so, unfortunately, I will have those times when I just need to rant.

Is your blog's purpose one to help/encourage others or one that is for you and just happens to also appeal to others? I would love my blog to be the first oriented, but I can't say that it is. I'm just a girl, after all. What others derive from what I say- is based on their need. Where as, a thousand different people on any given day, may read my blog- it may only shed some light upon the life of one or two. We all stand in different places, craving different things. I guess my goal is simply to stand in my own place, on the ground of honesty.

How do you decide what to write for your own blog and what to write elsewhere? With a lot of discretion. I keep a notebook (or try to) of things to blog about, which could be interesting. I go over, and over... Sometimes I post on a whim, but pretty rarely.

If a mother asked you, "How do I start blogging?" what would you tell them? That every woman, mother or not, has something to say. Sit down and write. It's that simple. Don't do it for the aqlaim, or the comments. Do it, and write about, what you want to say.

Total Mom Haircut

I was introduced to Beth of Total Mom Haircut's writing last fall, and it was an instant daily read. This woman knows how to balance some great laid-back humor with poignant mothering moments.

So, you can imagine how honored I was that a great blogger like Beth was willing to answer questions from me. I loved her honesty and the stories she shared, so let me share them now with you.

How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging nearly 3 years.

What was the initial motivation to start?

When I was at a well-visit for my first child, who was then about 9 months old, I found one of those parenting magazines which had an article about mommy blogging. I thought the whole thing sounded really stupid, but I still went home and looked at a few of the sites the article mentioned. Immediately I felt a sense of connection with many of the writers, and connection was definitely something I was missing in my new Stay-At-Home mom position. Within 24 hours I started my own blog.

How has blogging increased your support network?

I feel I've made friends in this way - I know women through the blogosphere and I can tell you about who they are, who their kids are, and what's going on with them. Some of them have been reading my blog since I started it nearly 3 years ago and we now email on a regular basis (in addition to reading each other's blogs).

Has blogging introduced you to interests that you previously didn't have/didn't think you'd necessarily enjoy?

I didn't actually know that I loved writing. In every other venue of my life it has not really been something I enjoyed, or maybe I didn't have anything I felt I needed to write about until I became a mom. It's become a big part of my life now as I write for a few different websites and am exploring other writing opportunities. (Beth also writes at Imperfect Parent, Philly Moms, and Mama Speaks. Quite an accomplished woman!)

How much does "bragging rights" factor into some of the posts you put up about how cool/cute your kids are?

Maybe in the beginning, when I was still sort of finding a voice for my blog. I talk about my kids much less now; it's more about me, really. That said, I certainly share lots of pictures, and I wouldn't do that if I didn't find them to be gorgeous in the first place.

Do you consider yourself a "Mommy Blogger" or a mom who blogs? Do you see a distinction between the two?

I'm a Mommy Blogger. I started my blog as a direct result of becoming a mom. The majority of my posts have something to do with being a mom or a parent from the standpoint of the day-to-day as well as the overall shift to that new identity. Most of the people who read my blog are also Moms, as far as I know.
I do think there is a distinction between the two, but I'm not a mom who is blogging about gardening or cooking or politics, etc. I'm a mom blogging about being a mom, so to me, it's a "Mommy Blog."

Do you feel like you blog to "get things off your chest" or do you blog for your audience's benefit?

Blogging is quite addictive once you start. It becomes a habit very quickly, I think. I blog to keep my thoughts in order and to remember these times in my life, especially since mommyhood can be so very hazy sometimes (like when one has a new infant). I suppose I would blog even if no one read it because it is just something I need. Certainly having an audience changes the tone a bit though. It has taken it from more of a journaling type of style to something that (I hope) is a bit more entertaining for readers.

I, Mollie

I had the pleasure of talking to Mollie Erickson on the phone a couple of month ago to talk about why she blogs. Honestly, when I called her up, I expected about 10 minutes because I was really just looking for a quick quote to localize my article. I'd pretty much already written it in my head when my editor gave me the names of a couple of Evansville women who blog.

But I quickly realized I had one very interesting mom on the phone.

Mollie really impressed me as a mom who took her work seriously. I discussed her creative blogging in my article, but what I didn't get to talk about was the way she models her creativity in her life. I believe wholeheartedly that actions speak louder than words, and Mollie has made the priority to prove that creativity and art are important to her.

Our conversation made me wish that I could have known Mollie while we were still in the same town because I know I would've loved to get in on her creativity workshops - evenings that she has hosted at her home to encourage adults to keep up with their own creations even while being overrun by the hectic schedule of life. I highly value the idea of creating and taking time out for priorities, and Mollie is actively showing her kids that art is a worthwhile priority. I really appreciate that.

But enough about what I have to say. I hope you'll visit her blog, tell her hi, and get to know her and her sweethearts, Henry and Svea.

A couple of my favorite posts to get you started:

Hippy Potty Mas - for a look at this woman's talent.
Just in Time for the Oscars - to remember how kids' minds memorize and connect in crazy ways.
A Call for Community - to join in prayer for another mom (and rest of the family) that desperately needs God's peace and wisdom right now.

What Motivates a Blogging Mom?

This month, I had the privilege of writing a fun article for Evansville Parent about why moms blog. It was a great opportunity to get to know some of my own favorite bloggers (who graciously participated in some e-mail interviews) and to find some not-so-new, but new-to-me bloggers from my own hometown of Evansville.

You can see the cover above and read the PDF spread here. (page 8 of the PDF)

But why stop there?

The fact is that when I interview someone for an article, the conversation often includes way more than I could possibly fit into a 1200-word article. And I felt like these ladies gave me so much good stuff that it would be a shame to limit it to what could be worked into my piece.

So, this week, I'll be featuring the interviews of some great blogging moms.

Here's the 5-day forecast for This One Goes Out...

Monday (see next post): Mollie Erickson from I, Mollie - the cover girl of the piece.
Tuesday: Beth from Total Mom Haircut
Wednesday: Misty from Rainy Day in May
Thursday: Kat from Secret Life of Kat (and 2 other blogs!... this woman is amazing.)
Friday: Leta from Leta Joy

Hope you'll come back to see what these ladies have to say and be sure to visit them as well!

Week in Review

So, it seems like forever since I posted, but now I see that it's only been a week, so I don't really feel bad about that.

I wish I had some great excuse for why I never keep up a steady habit on this darn thing, but ultimately, I usually just don't feel like writing much these days.

I will say that I've spent significant time lately getting other things going, and the blog has kind ... sat. Alone.

But anyway... in the last week, Billy worked quite a bit of overtime, which is difficult for him, and also can be difficult for me. I miss him when he's gone, and it's particularly hard after a long day just me and the kids to not have him home until after bedtimes. His presence gives the place a different feel, changes the scenery a bit.

We also haven't had a car for ... oh a month and a half. We're getting the run-around from the mechanic. I mean... really, how can you really justify keeping someone's car for 46 days (and counting) and not calling once to let us know what the freak is going on??? Supposedly, they're working on it. At some point, though, I guess we're gonna have to figure out how to get our hunk of junk back without paying for the repairs that have supposedly already been done but have not actually fixed the problem.

But, I was fortunate to have a friend volunteer to come pick us up last week to get together at their place. That was a very nice change.

And today, I finally succumbed to a sickness that has been stalking me for literally weeks. But I'm downing vitamin C like it's crack and throwing lots of water for good measure. Hopefully, this won't last too long.

And for the record... "succumbed" is the actual past tense to succumb, even though some people say it's "succame." I think they are confused because of the homophone at the end of "succumb" and "come." But I looked it up just to be sure, and this is right. :)

Throwing Out the Fat Pants

So, I just wanted to take a quick moment to share a victory.

In December, I stepped on the scale at my parent's house to see that I'd lost 10 pounds since the last time I'd checked, which was probably around April. At that point, I'd been frustrated because the scale wasn't moving, so I just stopped weighing myself. Oh, and the minor detail that I didn't actually have a scale. That helped, too.

But anyway, seeing the drop in pounds was quite a motivation for me to lose those last 20 pounds that were still hanging on from the pregnancy.

My first goal was to lose 10 lbs. by Valentines, and then another 10 by my birthday in early April.

So, here we are just 4 days from Valentines. How'd I do? Well, the official weigh-in will be Saturday, but I'm pretty pleased with the results so far. I think I've only lost 9, but still. That's pretty darn good.

But the real victory came this morning when I cleaned out my dresser and got rid of the fat pants! I am now able to fit into every pair of pants I used to wear except one (and really, who likes that pair anyway!) So, I'm officially donating the larger sizes to the local thrift store for some other overweight chick to grab up and hopefully slim her way out of soon.

Song Story

When Billy and I were still in the "getting to know you" stage, the topic of music obviously came up. With both of us being musicians and having spent lots of time in college playing rock instead of hitting the books, we had lots to talk about.

One of those things was Billy's theory that people like the music they like (or not) because of the memories associated with it.

You know those songs you can hear and instantly you have an emotional response? We got to have that experience at church this Sunday.

Now, since Billy used to be a worship pastor, some people might think that music was a really important thing to us in looking for a new church, but we really felt like musical style was quite low on the list of priorities, taking a back seat to solid Biblical teaching, heart for missions (local, domestic, and church planting), and a focus on small groups.

We do think that the lyrics of the songs are important, but we just felt like we could manage with a wide array of possible styles, so it wasn't something we were analyzing at the churches we visited. We were so excited, though, that Summit's music rocks - down to the intentional feedback and everything.

Anyway, this Sunday, we got to sing 2 songs we love: "In Christ Alone" and "Not to Us."

These songs are just songs that are catchy or that we're familiar with. They invoke deep emotions for both of us because these are songs that we had at our wedding. And we had them at our wedding for particular reasons.

"In Christ Alone" (led at our wedding by B.J. Barnes) is an amazing song that tells the entire gospel process in a few short stanzas. We wanted to have this one because we wanted everyone at our wedding to hear the gospel message by the time they left.



"Not to Us" (led by Cassie Hodges - an incredible vocalist who was only 17 at the time!)was also important as a message that even though it was our wedding, our lives are not our own. Our marriage is God's. It will be successful only when God is getting the glory for our triumphs and when we are turning to Him during our struggles. Our lives are unified because God had a purpose for us, not just because we're in love (although we are!).

Start 'Em Out Early

I believe in the idea that housework is fun until you learn that it isn't. Combine that with the concept of "If you can get it out, you can put it away," and suddenly you have your 2 year old doing the cleaning. Boy this is the life!

Other responsibilities include putting plastic bowls away, answering phone calls, and flushing the toilet. :)

Where I Belong

This morning, I leaned over to my hot husband during Paul's sermon and said, "I want to marry Summit Crossing Church."

Today was awesome on so many incredible levels, but one thing that I'm thinking of in particular is the concept of church membership.

We went to this class called Discover this morning, where we heard about some vision, mission and history of the church. This is kinda a class to tell people what the church is all about, and if people are down, then it leads to church membership.

I have a weird relationship with church membership.

Believe it or not, I was not even a member at the last 2 churches where Billy worked. At the first one, Billy was a member by default by being on staff. But the pastor told us that I could could go through a membership class that was supposed to start the month after Billy got hired. It got canceled for some reason, and a month later, the pastor announced that he was leaving the church. No new membership classes were given.

At Chase Valley, no one told Billy that he wasn't a member until about September. (This would be 9 months after he started working there.) He asked what he had to do, and they said that he had to come up front and proclaim that he wanted to be a member and serve there. It was odd, as he'd been serving there quite prominently for quite a while. Yet, still, we weren't members.

The church we went to in between those two (which I'd gone to for several years before marriage) didn't really emphasize formal membership because they held the belief that members would make themselves known by their participation in the church life - small groups, service, etc.

Today, though, I got another flavor of membership. There is a commitment made with membership at Summit Crossing. Membership is an agreement and there are requirements, and I appreciate that because it helps to show people that there's more to following Christ than saying, "Oh... yeah... church is cool." We're supposed to learn more about the specifics next week, and I'm excited.

But one thing that really excited me and Billy was the heart that the elders have for reaching the city. Having requirements for membership will limit the number of people who want to join, but it never has to limit the number of people who will meet Jesus and eventually join the Kingdom of God and grow in their faith and relationship with God.

We learned today that there are about 230 members of Summit, but there averages 500 people who come to a service on Sundays. This means that the members of Summit are reaching out to our community. Instead of having tons of people "on the rolls," and few people in the chairs, Summit has lots of people in the chairs and then asks for a deeper commitment made to be considered an actual member.

I don't know. I guess I don't really have a point to this post. I just thought that it was neat, and I love my church, and I wanted to share where we are in the process of getting involved.

OMFG!!!!!

(That, btw Mom, stands for "Oh, my freaking gosh!")

Okay, kids.... like, as if DDR music didn't super exceed my expectations, I just found out that one of my favorite songs from DDR (30 Lives) is gonna be on "Cardio for Indie Rockers."

Yes, you heard right. Indie rock has actually entered the field of fitness. At first, I thought this was a joke. There's a review of it on The Onion, after all. But it's actually available for pre-purchase on Amazon. That is crazy.

I'm still trying to figure out if it's April Fool's day somewhere, cause this just seems weird to me.

I'm not sure this is gonna be a kid-friendly workout, so it may not make it into my library, but still.... c'mon.... how freakin' awesome is that?

Rockin' My Socks

So, I ordered DDR X for the family last month. Kinda a Christmas gift, kinda a way to actually save money by not having to join a gym. Whatever. It doesn't really matter, what matters is that this game ROCKS!

Seriously, I knew that I'd get some good cardio, and that it would be tons of fun, but I really never expected for it to have such good music. I'm not typically a club music fan. I mean, it has it's uses, and I really thought that DDR would be about the only good use for it. But I've actually found that I enjoy a lot of the songs just for their musical quality. And I've been pleasantly surprised that there are some fun songs that aren't all club-y.

Here's a playlist of some of our favorites. Great songs, great dances.

Who wants to come play with us first?