Sermon in a Sentence

"Sin would have fewer takers if its consequences occurred immediately." -C. H. Spurgeon

Sky Watch Friday - Hail to the Chief

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UN-green - By The Numbers.

136 million tons - waste from home remodeling per year.

3,000 gallons - water wasted each year by leaving it running while brushing your teeth.

25+ - percentage of bottled water is just processed tap water.

20 gallons - average number of gallons of hot water used for a shower or a bath. (Yep, they're the same, so do whichever you prefer.)

1,500 miles - how far most produce travels to get to supermarkets. (Buy local!)

50 to 100 billion pounds - estimated food wasted in the U.S. each year.

20 - percentage of the energy bill in a typical U.S. home from appliances and home electronics.

70 - approximate percentage of power saved by putting your computer in sleep/stand by mode.

15 minutes - turn off fluorescent lights if you are going to be out of the room longer than this to be the most efficient.

0 minutes - (Yes, zero) turn off incandescent lights if you are going to be out of the room longer than this to be the most efficient.

7.5 tons - the national average individual carbon foot print annually.

13.9 tons - my personal carbon footprint each year. (And I thought I'd been doing pretty well!)
Go here to calculate your carbon footprint.

35 - My eco-footprint rating (I feel a little better now.)
Go here to calculate your eco-footprint.

Wordless Wednesday-From My Front Porch NW

For the next few weeks I'll offer the view from my front or back porch looking various directions.

Today's view is looking northwest from my front porch

Pet Peeve Tuesday - litter

I live out in the country at the corner of where two county roads meet. Most mornings, and especially Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, I pull out and see trash. Since I do not live near a dump, nor are any of those days the day our trash pick-up runs, there is no good excuse for the trash spewed along the front of my yard and along the ditch/easement of the road.

I really do not want to collect your pop or beer bottles and cans. I definitely do not want what is left or your McDonalds or Taco Bell. Since the closest fast food restaurant is several miles away, I'm sure you have passed several appropriate places to put your trash. If it is going to be a very long time before you can stop somewhere to appropriately dispose of your trash and you cannot stand the smell of those fries a second longer, fine. Throw out the fries - but, just the fries, not the bag they came in. It is likely that a bird or racoon will gladly dispose of the food itself but not the paper, plastic, etc. which may even be a danger to them.

I'm guessing you would be shocked and angry if I drove through your neigborhood and threw all my "car trash" in your front yard...

Sermon in a Sentence

We cannot control life's difficult moments but we can choose to make life less difficult. We cannot control the negative atmosphere of the world, but we can control the atmosphere of our minds. Too often we try to choose and control things we cannot. Too seldom we choose to control what we can -- our attitude. - John Maxwell

Global Warming

This says it all...

Photo Hunters - Wrinkled

I love this shirt with the fabric that is supposed
to be wrinkled. Wash it, wad it up and it's ready
to go - great for traveling!














Baby Isaac's wrinkled up forehead as he lets out a big cry!











To find more Photo Hunters go here.

Sky Watch Friday - Turbulent

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Got Stress?

Your Stress Level is: 57%

You are somewhat prone to stress, especially when life gets hard. When things are good, you resist stressing over little problems. But when things are difficult, you tend to freak out and find it hard to calm down.

How Stressed Are You?

Yep. that sounds about right!!

13 Ways A Woman Knows She's Old

It isn't a specific age, it's a mental shift.
Here are 13 ways a woman knows she's old (can also be read as menopausal).

It's when:

• the good looking guy in the truck takes a long look as he passes you and you flip the mirror down to see if you have something on your face or wonder if you left your drink sitting on top of the car.
• you're more concerned with if you'll get too hot in that new outfit than if you'll look "hot" in it.
• the GQ gorgeous construction worker takes off his shirt and you think "Boy, I bet he's hot out there." not "Man, is he HOT!"
• the romance novel you're reading tells of the couple "making love all night" and instead of thinking "oh, ya!" you think "ya, right!".
• and you realize sleeping all night (no trips to the bathroom or hot flashes) is way more appealing anyway.
• you can't keep up with your own mood swings.
• romance takes way to much planning to be romantic.
• you know what black cohosh is and what it's for and that it isn't some recreational drug from the 70's.
• you have a paper calendar, a calendar on your computer and a day-planner and you still need your daughter to call and remind you of any important obligations/events so you don't forget the. (Thanks Christy!)
• the styles you wore as a teen are now back in style - and you can't believe you ever wore them.
• your tweezers have become your "must have" beauty implement to one hair at a time ward off that mustache, beard, and/or unibrow.
• you have feminine hygiene products in your purse, your desk and your car because you just never know.
• the scales (which may or may not have been an enemy before) become your taunting antagonist as its number changes by the hour, let alone the day.

NOTE: For those of you who visited last week and left such kind comments, thank you. I seem to be narrowing in on the underlying source of my anxiety and that in and of itself is helping.

Wordless Wednesday -Baby Isaac

No words needed...





Baby Isaac is smiling!! They grow so fast.

Pet Peeve Tuesday - cart trashers

Cart trashers- you know who you are, you leave your store ad or mostly empty drink container or dirty Kleenex is the cart when you leave the store. Why? There are trash cans at the door of almost every store that has carts. Further, many of them have trash containers in the parking lot too.

But, obviously, you are too good to trash your own trash. So the next cart user or some poor store employee has to remove your spit covered drink or snot covered tissue so the cart can be used by someone else. Or your trash blows out and across the parking lot.

You are probably the same inconsiderate jerk who leaves that same cart wherever you parked instead of in the cart rack so it too blows across the parking lot...

The Simple Woman's Daybook # 1

For Today...

Outside my Window...the sky is full of puffy clouds and the sun is shining - a beautiful start to a new day.

I am thinking...I'd really like to be outside taking photographs of nature.

I am thankful for...my family in general. Specifically today for my son's help over the weekend with some household tasks over the weekend and my daughter & son-in-law's willingness to come and join me to make more comfortable a situation out of my comfort zone.

From the kitchen...whatever Rocky's cooking! I am thinking of doing some baking this evening though.

I am wearing...my favorite jeans, a light blue shirt with some beading, silver and blue jewelry and black sandals.

I am reading...The Complete C.S. Lewis - the first book in the compilation is Mere Christianity. It is very thought provoking.

I am hoping...for everything from a buyer for some tires/wheels my husband is selling, to a vacation, to a job for my husband that he enjoys, to bright, healthy, happy futures for my grandbabies.

I am hearing...the weather on the radio followed by country music.

I am creating...a plan (be afraid, be very afraid).

Around the house...the dog is pouting because she can't leave and go with me (she loves to ride in the truck), the curling iron is turned off, the cell phone is turned on and , undoubtedly, the weeds in the garden are growing.

One of my favorite things...is chocolate - enough said.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...I hope to get the onions pulled and started drying and to get some more of the garden weeded. I also hope to get some more reading done and to help with finishing the remodeling we are doing in our basement. On Wednesday I plan to meet with some girlfriends to pray for our husbands and various other things and then go to Panera for dinner-yeah! On Thursday I will be at my least favorite place, the hospital, while hubby has some surgery.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

of some very large crows hanging out in our woods.



Other Simple Woman Journals can be found here

Sermon in a Sentence

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it." -Norman Schwarzkopf

Sky Watch - Majestic

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Horrible Movie

Please join me in boycotting the movie "Tropic Thunder". It is a sick and sad attempt by Hollywood to poke fun at people who already endure much mistreatment and misunderstanding. Please read this post by Leah and be sure to read clear down to the article by Timothy Shriver.

Thursday Thirteen - Do Not Be Afraid

I have been struggling lately with fear. Not any particular fear, just an overactive sense of anxiety and trepidation. Fear is addressed numerous times in the Bible from the beginning to the end. Therefore, today's TT are 13 verses to remind me that I have no need to fear.


Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.

Deuteronomy 3:22 Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you."

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.

2 Kings 6:16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Matthew 10:26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

Mark 4:40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Mark 5:36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Luke 12:7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Wordless Wednesday - More Than Corn Part 2

There is still more than corn in Indiana- There are beans.... And round barns....

Pet Peeve Tuesday #1 - Clothes Styles

Fall is approaching and instead of being excited to see what the new clothing styles and colors are, I dread it. This particular post is not really about about the skimpy, trashy styles that are being put on younger and younger girls, although that is related (and obviously I could do a whole post on that topic).

This is about trying to buy clothes that you look nice in and want to wear. If you are over 30 and under 70 the selection is pretty limited. There are a few select stores (cheers for New York & Co.) that actually have a good selection to choose from and where you might even find something that fits!

Otherwise, you are stuck trying to create something wearable out of nice looking, fashionable clothes that would look great on your mother and the tween, teen, college styles that often don't even look good on 16 year old, let alone an actual adult woman.

Don't even try to find a dress unless you want to spend a small fortune (think Coldwater Creek). This gets even worse if you are either taller or shorter than "normal".

Seriously, is it too much to ask for a pair of jeans that hits somewhere between 5" below your navel (good luck finding underwear that won't show in the back) and 3" above your navel (maybe even without elastic anywhere on the waistband). I know it's not just me. I drove by the sign of a local petite shop recently that read "Not Your Daughter's Jeans".

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure a large chunk of the population falls in this "no womans land" of fashion.

What about you? Do you know a store that offers nice, affordable, fashionable clothes for middle aged (there, I said it) women?

Sermon in a Sentence

As the students return to school...

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. –Stacia Tauscher

Misty Morning - Sky Watch

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Thursday 13 Summer Things

Summer seems to have gone by at the speed of light this year with many summertime activities still undone.

Here are 13 ways I know its summer-

1. Vacation- a trip to somewhere I've never been before.


2. Visits to the Farmers Market.


3. The annual trip to Gene's Root Beer stand.


4. Several trips to Ivanhoes.


5. Fresh garden vegetables


6. Walking the dog at the park.


7. The smell of swimming pool chlorine and suntan lotion.


8. Fourth of July cookout and fireworks.


9. Doing things outside instead of inside (eating, reading, painting my toes).


10. Attending summer festivals.


11. Going to the State Fair.
12. Hiking at a State Park.
13. Driving everywhere with the windows down and the sunroof open.

Wordless Wednesday- More Than Corn

There's more than corn in Indiana.....

There are bugs....

And dogs....

Sermon in a Sentence

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. -Gandhi

Clouds -Photo Hunters

Sunrise, Sunset - Sky Watch

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