Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Bono on Music

“The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt.”

~Bono

Monday, December 29, 2008

Benjamin Button

Yesterday I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I give it one and a half thumbs up. If you enjoy interesting stories ala Big Fish or Forrest Gump, or you enjoy contemplating life, or you enjoy great acting, or you enjoy Brad Pitt, then you should probably go see this movie.

Before I talk about the movie, however, I want to talk about the previews. They showed four previews before the movie, and I'm excited to report that for the first time ever, I was interested in all four movies! Three of them (Duplicity, New in Town and The Soloist) I will definitely see.

Now onto the review.

First of all, it was long. I can always judge how captivated I am by a movie by whether or not I wonder what time it is at any point. This movie is close to three hours and the pace of the story is slow, so I found myself wanting to check my watch two or three different times.

Also, the concept of the film takes a little getting used to. It's a little creepy to watch an old man acting like a child. When Benjamin meets Daisy for the first time, it feels like we're watching a 70 year old man hitting on a 12 year old girl. As I watched, I kept having to remind myself that he was a child and not a pedophile.

The other critique I have is this. There were several events in the story line that seem to have no other purpose than to lengthen the film. In my opinion, they didn't add any value to the story. For instance [spoiler alert], when he is about 30 years old Benjamin has an affair with a married woman. A good twenty minutes of the movie are spent detailing the affair, and then suddenly, it's over. It's never really referenced again, aside from a moment in a diner years later. I feel like the story would have been just as complete (and 20 minutes shorter) had that part just been left out completely. (If any of you see the movie and can help me understand the significance of this part, please enlighten me!)

However, these critiques aside, by far the best part about the movie was the acting - it was FANTASTIC. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are phenomenal. I knew going into the movie that I liked both of those actors, but they were able to pull off these characters in a way that far exceeded my expectations.

There's one other the thing I noticed about the movie. The hands. The progression of the closeup shots of each character's hands throughout the movie seems to parallel the aging process that each character experiences. I first noticed it when Benjamin learns to play the piano. Later, someone asks if his arthritic hands are painful. As he ages throughout the movie, his hands look younger. If I were writing a critical analysis of this movie for a college course, I think that's what I'd write about. If you haven't seen the movie yet, watch the series of hand shots. It's very interesting.

In summary, I recommend this movie. (Except to Carolyn because she and I never agree on movies so she'd probably hate it.)

Friday, December 26, 2008

Matt Lepsis

I read this incredible story this morning and thought it was worth sharing.

Not only was I surprised at the story, but also at The Gazette for publishing something so blatantly evangelical.

I love how God is in the business of redemption.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Sisters

I'm REALLY missing my sisters today.
It doesn't feel like Christmas without them here.


Monday, December 22, 2008

Accident

Ohmygosh.

Listen to this.

Hilarious.

(See ... working during Christmas week isn't so bad.)

ht: Mandy

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Sach

My sister Sara got engaged a few weeks ago. She's getting married to this great guy named Zach. (Henceforth, they will be know as The Sach.)


This last year, The Sach decided to move from San Diego to upstate New York. As my sister is now a resident of New York, engaged to a native New Yorker, her wedding is going to be in New York.

In February.

I don't know if you heard, but just last week The White Witch took up residence in New York. She announced her arrival to the area with a severe ice storm. President Bush actually declared a state of emergency.

It's FLIPPIN' freezing.


Here are some pictures sent from The Sach ...



I'm a summer girl. I love me some tank tops and flip flops and the beach. And I hate being cold.

I'm going to start praying right this second for an early summer.

(In case you missed it above, my brother designed them a really cool wedding web site.)

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Core Strength

My chiropractor has been teaching me exercises to strengthen my core muscles. There are six different exercises and I'm supposed to do them every day. The goal is to be able to hold them for a minute each. I know, it doesn't sound like much, but I'm telling you, they kick my butt.

I bet this guy knows a thing or two about core strength.

Should I add this on to my daily routine, Dr. Vin?

Monday, December 15, 2008

I Win

I know everyone thinks that their nephew is the cutest but seriously?

I win.
Would you like to see the rest?

Friday, December 12, 2008

A Word of Advice

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever ask a coworker how her baby is unless you are 100,000,000,000% sure she is pregnant.

I just learned that the hard way.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

I Am Second

January 22 will be a year since Heath Ledger died. Actors in Hollywood die all the time, but for some reason his death hit me harder than most. I remember reading the headlines about him, and feeling a profound sadness. I was sad for his fiance, sad for his little girl, sad for his family but mostly I was sad for him.

I remember the big controversy about whether the pills he took were suicide or an accident - whether his role in The Dark Knight had influenced his death. Rumors were rampant and people looked for any reason why a young, successful actor would purposefully end his life. Whatever the cause of his death, it definitely shocked a lot of people.

Whenever something like that happens, I realize how totally hopeless the world is without Christ. So many are desperate for meaning and will do anything to find it.

That's why I Am Second is so inspiring.

Hearing these people put God first and proclaim the Truth is incredible.

Watch the ones about Rod Bayron, Brian Welch, Shannon Culpepper and Nate Larkin. Oh and I enjoyed hearing Jason Castro's story, too.

Actually, you should probably just watch them all.

One of the most amazing things about God is that He is a God of redemption. He longs to redeem broken people. I love this about God.

The world needs to know.

ht: Fay

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Laughter is good for the soul.

One of my favorite bloggers has again written a post that cracked. Me. Up.

You should probably stop whatever you're doing and read it.
Right now.

It's that funny.

(This is especially for those of you - you know who you are - who failed to find the Dave Barnes videos particularly funny. If this one doesn't make you laugh, we might have issues.)

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Merry Christmas, Dave Barnes Style

Installment #3.
These videos just get more and more outrageous, just like his outfits.
This is fast becoming my favorite Christmas tradition.

Does he remind anyone else of Fez?

In case you missed it, here's last year's Part 2.
And, of course, who can forget the BEST ... Part 1.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Remember

I spent over an hour last night looking through my blog posts from the past 11 months. I got very sentimental. It was a little like reading my journal - remembering where I was emotionally during different events and experiences. As I was reading, I had a really weird, almost out-of-body experience, kind of like I was reading a blog about someone else's life.

It totally blows me away to look back and see how God moves in my life. I mean, it's almost as if He had it all planned out from the beginning.

Take, for instance, my job. I'm working in a job right now that suits me well. I truly enjoy it and everything about it fits my strengths perfectly. However, it took eight years and four other positions at Compassion to get where I am. Looking back now, I can see how God was arranging things from the very beginning, but many times during those eight years I questioned God's plan.

Another example is my living situation. I've never had the desire to live alone. I've lived with roommates since I moved out of my parents house to go to college. As soon as I moved back to Colorado after graduating, I shared an apartment with a roommate. From there, I moved into a house with several roommates. As they got married, I'd find new ones. A couple years ago, I bought a townhouse and had several roommates here. Last year, for the first time in my life, I started to get the desire to try living alone. It was right around the time I got a dog, and I was also at a place financially where it was an actual possibility. God consistently provided roommates when I needed them and the means to not need them when I didn't.

And finally there is the matter of my dating life. You know the story there. Or at least parts of it. Maybe someday I will write more about that, but suffice it to say, that is the biggest example of God showing up with a FAR greater plan than I could have dreamed of or asked for.

Recognizing the hand of God all over my life is a very humbling experience, especially when I feel like I struggle so much with hearing His voice. Even though I might not always acknowledge His involvement, He's always been there. He is truly worthy of all my trust, faith and hope.

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. (Psalm 143:5)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Snow Globe

I have this weird idea that I'm living in a snow globe and someone shook it up today. The view through the window of my work space is gray, cold and dreary. The snow has been falling steadily all day long and it finally feels like Christmastime. Three weeks ...

Speaking of Christmas, I decorated my house the other day with my collection of Christmas-themed items. All six of them. Seriously, my lack of holiday flair is a little embarrassing. I apparently don't have a smidgen of Martha Stewart in me. I think I'll go buy myself a little tree after work.

This is the first Christmas that my whole family won't be together. It's going to be very different and I'm trying hard not to be sad about it. It's going to feel rather lonely without my two sisters. (And who will play the other part of the Sleigh Ride duet on the piano with me?)

Next Thursday is Compassion's Christmas Banquet. I found out yesterday that my sister-in-law Valeen and I bought the same dress. (Apparently we both have impeccable taste.) At least we bought different colors. I have a feeling, though, that we'll still be the Tschamler Twins.

That's it for today's update. I leave you with a picture of what I look at all day long ...
I never thought I'd like working in a cubicle, but with the snow falling outside, a cup of hot chocolate (second of the day!) and Tony Bennett singing me "Winter Wonderland," it's a pretty sweet deal.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Step of Faith

It's been a while since I posted on The Compassion Blog, but I felt like God wanted me to share what I did today.

It was a big step of faith for me.

Monday, December 1, 2008

I'm a Mapple Person

Last Friday (you know ... the Black one) I went with my brother, an avid Mac user, to visit the new Mac store.

We spent a long time in there. We played with all the gadgets and reset all the web browser home pages to his design web site. We drooled over the iPhone. We ogled the ginormous 30 inch monitors.

Anyway, when I saw this video clip I cracked up because it is SO true.

So Brother, Erik, Ric, Suzanne, Chris, Fay and all the other Mac lovers I know ... I dedicate this post to you.



Ht: Vince

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Punctured: A Snowy Sunday Story

We had our first real snowstorm of the winter today. I woke up this morning and looked out the window to find several inches of accumulation and lots of large, fluffy snowflakes falling.

I got ready for church, bundled up and then took Havana out. She loves the snow and I like to take her out when it is snowing because there's usually no one around and I can let her run around off leash. That's what I did today.

After about 10 minutes, I called her back to me and we headed toward the house. When we got to the entryway, I looked down and noticed red paw prints in the snow. It looked like one of her feet was bleeding a bit.

As soon as she stepped through the door, I saw that it wasn't just bleeding a bit, it was gushing blood. Being a young lab, she ignored my command to "stay" and within a few seconds, there were large puddles of blood everywhere. As she moved around, more blood splattered all around, both from the growing puddles as well as from her still bleeding foot. I grabbed a bunch of paper towels and the masking tape and crafted a crude bandage so I could stop the blood from spurting everywhere. Already, the tile by the front door looked like a gruesome murder scene.

As the roads were snow-packed and icy, I was relieved to find out that the emergency vet was only a couple miles away. I taped a couple more layers of paper towels on her (the blood was soaking through her "bandage" at an alarming rate) and headed out.

Considering how much blood she had lost, she was surprisingly animated when we arrived. As she investigated all the new smells, she tracked bloody footprints all over the lobby and exam room. After a short examination, the vet said she had a deep puncture wound in her paw that had hit an artery (thus the massive amounts of blood.) She would need to be anesthetized and need emergency surgery to fix the wound.

Several hours later, I called the vet and found out that, in the process of fixing her foot, they had discovered a gash several inches long on her chest (the result of an encounter with a barbed wire fence last week) which they also stitched up. They were still having trouble stopping the bleeding, and thinking she might have hemophilia, gave her a blood test, but thankfully it was negative.

I picked her up with strict instructions to keep her off her foot as much as possible, to restrict her activity and to keep the Elizabethan Collar on her for two weeks.

The surprise barbed wire injury.

Here is her paw, which I am supposed to keep dry. With a foot of snow on the ground. Right.

When I put the collar on her, she won't move. She just sits there with a pitiful, forlorn look on her face ...

Poor sweet Havana.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanks

Wow. Was this really just eight months ago?

About six weeks after I wrote that I hung out with this new guy from work for the first time.

Today is a day to reflect on what I'm thankful for.

Want to know what I'm most thankful for this year? This ...

Monday, November 24, 2008

Kingdom Coming



Shaun Groves is a passionate advocate for Compassion. He wrote the song Kingdom Coming as a result of his experiences with the poor. You can download it below. For free. No strings attached.

You should. It's a very good song.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I saw this on another blog I like and learned some interesting stuff.

So speak up ... share your favorites:

1. Movie
2. Song
3. Smell
4. Person
5. Blog
6. TV Show
7. Radio Station
8. Web Site
9. Blog Post YOU’VE written
10. Famous Person

I'll go first.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Music to My Ears

For all you fellow music lovers, I'd like to share with you a few recent additions to my collection, all of which I highly recommend:

The Weepies
Band of Horses
Heidi Talbot
Blind Pilot
Seal

And last but certainly not least ... I was excited to read in a recent post on his blog, that John Mayer is currently working on a new CD.

Finding new music is one of my favorite things in life.

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Grey Goose

We made it home from our road trip! Robert and Wendy are married and off honeymooning in Mexico.

We had many adventures along the way. We picked up a new friend named Hugh. He was 100 ounces and could be refilled for just $2. Which we did ... many times.

The most outrageous event of our trip, though, happened on the way home. I will do my best to recount it for you, moment by moment.

Through a somewhat debatable series of events, I somehow managed to not have a driving shift at all on the drive out. Therefore, on the drive home I felt it my duty to take the first driving shift at the buttcrack of dawn.

We were about 45 minutes into the drive. It was a Sunday morning so there was no traffic and we were cruising along nicely at 80 miles per hour. It still very dark out. The girls were sleeping in the back seat and a Jack Johnson CD was playing softly. It was very peaceful.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, we saw a large dark shadow appear just to the right of the car. It looked like a mini airplane coming in for a landing. Right in front of us. We saw a shadowy blur of a body and wings spanning maybe four feet. The next second there was a loud THUD and an explosion of feathers.

Although the noise was quite loud, the car barely slowed. We debated stopping right away, but the car seemed to be running fine so we decided to wait until it was light out. We figured there might be a small dent and a little blood.

When we stopped at a gas station to fill up a little later we hopped out to assess the damage. This is what we saw ...

Half of a large goose was mangled into Jamie's cracked and broken fender.


And to give you some perspective ...

Thank the Lord the goose wasn't three feet higher. It would've come through the windshield.

But seriously? Jamie had graciously allowed us to drive her sweet new Rav4 across the country and I wreck it by hitting a freaking goose.

Not too much longer, during our next gas stop we happened to pass this ...

I hate Iowa.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Trip Tally

Minutes stuck behind 18-wheelers: 40
Roadkill: 16
Number of electronic gadgets being used: 14
Missed exits: 2
Tub of caramel corn consumed: 1

Road trip with friends: PRICELESS

I Love Technologeeeee!

So here we are on our way to Minnesota. We're in the car in the middle of Nebraska somewhere. Other than a bunch of hay bales and a few rainstorms, there's not much around.

I haven't been on a real road trip in a long time. Never have I been on a trip like this.

We're sitting in the back of the car. The iPod is plugged into the stereo. The cell phone, plugged into the lighter, is connected to the internet. This laptop (upon which I am typing) is connected to the cell phone via Bluetooth. We are taking photos, uploading them on the laptop, then posting them on Facebook.

In fact ...






Ohhhh I love technologeeeeee ...

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Stop the Pop

I think I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. I pretty much like a little of everything. The music I listen to depends entirely on my mood. Even the stuff people normally hate (country, rap, pop) I occasionally get a craving for.

But this morning my pop music tolerance was pushed over the edge. On my way to the dentist I heard the new Britney Spears song "Womanizer." Have you heard it yet? It is without a doubt the worst song I've ever heard. EV. ER. I'm not exaggerating. The lyrics are ridiculous (there are about five words in the whole song), the beat is annoying and the singing (if you can call it that) is atrocious.

I was going to give you a sample of the awfulness that is this song, but when I went to link to the video on YouTube, I found out that the majority of the video is naked Britney. I mean buck naked. It's disgusting. I feel a little sad for her, actually. She's obviously desperate for attention.

In other pop music news, did you know that Vanilla Ice has a new album out today? Oh yeah. Hip Hop Classics. But the best part about it? He does three mixes of Ice, Ice Baby. Hello, Junior High, remember me?

Ugh. I feel dirty. I think I'm gonna have to go listen to some Andrea Bocelli just to cleanse my music palette.

So what's the worst song you've ever heard?

Sunday, November 9, 2008

The Retirement Party

Today was my parents' retirement party. They actually retired back in May (both were public school teachers) but have been traveling pretty much non-stop since then, so this was the first opportunity to celebrate with them.

The party was fun - tons of good food. Plus, my dad made seven (count 'em ... seven) kinds of ice cream. I have a new favorite now. Orange. Sounds weird but it was flippin' AWESOME.

Also my brother snapped this picture of my mom and me right before we dug into the ice cream. I think it's my favorite one with her ever.



Oh I also like this one with my cousin Katie...



Pretty much my whole weekend was spent preparing for this party. So there's not much else to tell you right now.

A few of us are leaving Thursday morning for a road trip to Minnesota so I'm sure there'll be some good blog posts coming soon ... )

Thursday, November 6, 2008

8

Today is my 8th anniversary at Compassion.

Eight years. It's hard to believe I've worked here for almost a third of my life. It's getting the point where it's hard to remember life before Compassion, actually.

A little background for you ...

I spent the last semester of college living in downtown Chicago. I was an intern in the event planning department at the National PTA. As the weeks wound down towards graduation, I thought more and more about what was next. I considered many options, but moving back to Colorado Springs was not one of them. I had this idea in my head that moving back to the city I grew up in was somehow a cop-out. So I applied for jobs all over the country - FL, CA, WA, IL, MI - basically everywhere but Colorado.

I didn't get a single job offer. Not one. Finding a job long distance is very difficult. Finding a job in event planning with very limited experience, is virtually impossible. As the rejection letters continued to come, I resigned myself to the fact that I had to add "Moving back in with Mom and Dad" to the list of options.

So I graduated and moved back to Colorado. I spent the next six months applying for all sorts of event-type jobs here. I applied at many different non-profits and ministries. I went to dozens of interviews. All of them told me the same thing - something I'm sure every college graduate dreads - they really wanted someone with more experience.

In November, I began working at a local coffee shop. Four days into that job, I got a call from Compassion. (Unbeknownst to me, they had kept my resume from an earlier job that I applied for and hadn't gotten.) They asked me to come interview for an assistant job. Desperate for anything that paid more than minimum wage, I was ecstatic. I interviewed with HR, and then a few days later with the managers I'd be assisting. Finally, I got a call.

It was only when I accepted the job offer and asked more about the job that I found out that I'd be assisting the event managers in the marketing department.

So you see, that is how I know God called me here. That is why I've stayed here for eight years. As it turns out, event planning is not for me. But Compassion is and, of course, God knew that. In those eight years I've changed positions. I've changed departments. I've changed teams. I've changed desks. Through it all I've fallen in love with this place and what God is doing here. I'm in a position now that fits my gifts and calling so perfectly that it could only be God.

I don't know what He has planned for me in the future. I'd like to live somewhere else, eventually. Maybe even another country. What I do know, though, is that for today, this is where He's called me.

I love this ministry. I love my job. And I feel so blessed.

Psalm 73:25-26

Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Hope and Change

I've heard the words "hope" and "change" used more times in the last few months than any other time in my life. There are a lot of people in this country counting on our new president to follow through on his promises for a better future. I will certainly be praying that he leads us with integrity and wisdom.

But do you want to see what real hope and change look like?

Read this post.

It is one of the most moving things I've read in a long time.

Oh, and speaking of hope, do you have your own story of hope? Share it and win some sweet books. Check it out.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Eight Hours

This election is the most divisive thing I've ever experienced in life.
I cannot WAIT until it's over.

Eight hours and counting...

Monday, November 3, 2008

At Least My Head Won't Sweat

I've started going back to the gym on a regular basis. In the mornings. For some reason it's always easier for me to go to the gym when it's dark out. Anyway.

A couple mornings a week I go to a spinning class at 5:30 am. That means getting up at 5, which isn't too bad if I go to bed at a decent time. I'm somewhat of a morning person, but I'm still pretty out of it before class. Afterward, I'm wide awake. Usually.

Evidently, spinning for an hour this morning didn't work to wake me up as much as it normally does.

See, I go to a frou-frou gym where there are lots of amenities. They provide all sorts of supplies in the locker rooms like Q-tips, lotion, mouthwash, deodorant, hairspray, etc. So this morning I got dressed and did my hair, and right before I left, I decided I liked how my hair turned out so I thought I'd use a little hairspray. I stopped by the sink, grabbed the bottle and lightly misted my hair. It didn't seem to do much. So I sprayed a little more. Still no hold. I figured it must be some cheap hairspray since it was the stuff they provide, so I went ahead and sprayed my hair again. Nothing.

It was then that I noticed a rather sickeningly, sweet smell surrounding my head. Not the slightly acidic smell of hairspray, but a strong mix of floral scents. Something like what I imagine my great aunt's bathroom might smell like. Finally, it occurred to me that perhaps the reason the hairspray wasn't holding was because it wasn't hairspray.

I realized that the hairspray bottle is exactly the same shape and color as another bottle and I had doused my hair (three times) in spray-on deodorant.

So now my head smells like an armpit.

Nice.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Spent

Have you ever been so busy that you feel like no matter how hard you try to keep up, life is still passing you by? That's how it's been for the past couple of days. I'm spent.

Today I actually got to the point where I was so overwhelmed that I basically shut down. I was sitting in my team meeting, normally a relaxing and slow-paced time of catching up with each other, and I just sat there like a zombie. The whole time, all I could think about was everything that wasn't getting done. I had spent the last three days working on an enormous project that was overdue, and while I was working on it, other urgent things were piling up in my inbox.

The thing is, with the position that I'm in now, when something doesn't get done, it directly affects the kids we work with. Sometimes in not such a small way. It might mean they have to wait another day before they get an emergency kit after a hurricane or that less money is raised for the Global Food Crisis. It's a lot of responsibility, so it makes days like today - when I feel totally inadequate - very difficult.

It's not just work that's overwhelming me. I feel like I've neglected ... well ... pretty much everything else in my life: my friends, family, my dog, my gym schedule, my blog and most importantly, my time with God.

I'm a strong extrovert, but I've discovered that there's limits to my extrovert-ness and I think I've reached my limit.

I need to recharge. I need to get plugged back into God and His word. It's hard to believe that I started this month off with 12 days of vacation. How quickly I can get sucked back into the crazy pace of life and lose focus on what's important.

If you think of it this week, pray for me. I could use it.

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Jesus

Monday, October 27, 2008

Micah for your Monday

My sister sent me this picture of Micah wearing his latest Aunt Becky present.

Nothing like a baby's smile to brighten my day.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Done.

The envelope is sealed.
I voted last night.
It is in God's hands now.

No matter what the outcome, November 4th will be an exciting and historic day!

Note to anyone thinking of going to the polls: You might want to get there early. It took me an hour to get through the ballot.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Oak: A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there was a townhouse. It was a nice townhouse with a very good view of Pikes Peak. The problem was, the very nice townhouse had very disgusting carpet. (And linoleum.)




One day, Becky, the owner of the townhouse, decided to go on vacation. While she was gone, some little gnomes appeared, tore out the carpet, and installed some very beautiful oak floors. When Becky came home, she was delighted.




Becky and her loyal lab, Havana, lived happily ever after in her beautiful townhouse with a beautiful view and beautiful floors.

The end.

P.S. If anyone in the Denver area is interested in new floors, I know a great guy ... I mean ... some gnomes I highly recommend.

Monday, October 20, 2008

I Hate Politics

I'm sitting here on the couch in the middle of a mountain of political mail. For the last couple weeks I've been saving the flyers as they came in the mail intending to sit down and sift through them so I can educate myself on the issues and be an informed voter.

My intention was to remain as neutral and unbiased as possible until I could research the facts about each issue and form my own opinion. I'm finding, though, that it's almost impossible to form an opinion on anything without some sort of input from someone else - and by it's very nature that input will always be biased. As I sort through the mail, I see very passionate and convincing flyers on both sides of issues and I'm at a complete loss for who is telling me the truth.

I've discovered that I'm way too much of a feeler to enjoy politics. People feel so strongly about politics and get so emotionally involved they become irrational. It's going on right now on Compassion's blog. I hate how divisive political issues are. I feel like we are giving Satan a wide open door to pit Christians against each other and destroy the unity of the Body of Christ.

I'm putting all this mail in the trash. There is only one source of Truth and I'm counting on it to have some solid answers for me.

Hurry up, November 4th.

I'm going to go find someone to give me a hug.

Friday, October 17, 2008

You Have Really Big Glasses

It's Friday! Let's laugh.

Ever wish songs just sang what was happening in the music video? Well now they do.

Tears for Fears' "Head Over Heels"


And here's another ...

Aha's "Take On Me"


Catch ya on the flip side.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

31


Happy Birthday, John.

May this year bring you peace and happiness like you've never known. Thanks for making great music.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A Thousand Questions

My heart beats faster when I watch this video.
Turn up the speakers and get inspired.



It's Blog Action Day today. What will you do?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Winter

Pikes Peak was covered with snow this morning. It was beautiful, but also ominous. Ominous because it means winter's on the way. Even the air has been smelling like winter the last couple days. It seems that somehow we skipped right past fall.

I'm not ready for it. I'm not ready for bitter wind and the naked trees. I'm not ready snow that turns to brown slush and cakes my car fenders. I'm not ready for my front walk to be a sheet of black ice. I'm not ready for the endless reports of school closings and late starts. I'm not ready for the traffic accidents and hour-long commutes to and from work.

But in an effort at optimism, here are a few things I am looking forward to. I am excited to use my fireplace. I'm excited to drink gallons of hot chocolate and Russian Tea. I'm excited because Home Alone will be on TBS. I'm excited because winter means Thanksgiving and then Christmas and the New Year with all the festivities. I'm excited because winter means Eggnog season. I'm excited because Havana LOVES the snow and it makes me happy to watch her play in it. I'm excited because I often wake up to a view like this out my bedroom window ...


Actually, I guess it's not so bad after all.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Thus Ends the Vacation

Inhale. Hold ... and exhale slowly. Ahhhhh. Twelve sweet days of vacation. And for once, I actually went on vacation ... no checking email. No talking - or even thinking - about work. It was glorious!

I'm back at work now and digging out from a mountain of email. But in the meantime ... here are the last of the vacation photos. First, one final photo of Micah. (Sorry for being the crazy aunt who posts one zillion pictures, but I seriously can't get enough of him.) He has a perpetual look of surprise on his chubby little face. The kid's a real life cartoon.


These are from our time in D.C., which is a surprisingly beautiful place. Here we are in the glass house in the Hirschhorn Sculpture Gardens.


They had statues that looked just like us. Weird, huh?


Then we ran into some famous people at Union Station. They wanted their picture with Chris.


My favorite.


Here I am acting like the Washington Monument.


The new WWII memorial is beautiful.


We ended the trip with dinner at an authentic Ethiopian restaurant. Which, judging from a previous injera experience I thought would be gross. Thankfully, it wasn't.

Now ends the photo diary. Thanks for indulging me. Tomorrow I shall resume posting on whatever random topics happen to be on my mind (doing my best to avoid overdone issues such as the financial crisis, the election and climate change.)