Sky Watch - Black & Blue

Go here to join in or see more Sky Watch Friday photos!

Wordless Wednesday - More Than Corn

So I'm doing a flashback to my "More Than Corn" theme because it seemed way to appropriate today. There is more than corn in Indiana - there's snow... and lots of it!



The highway on the way to work this morning.





The snow standing on the upstairs deck railing.





The deck gives the best indication of the depth of the snow.

Meme - The Letter "S"

Lori invited me to do this meme and I thought it sounded fun.

You are assigned a random letter and you should then post 10 things that you love that begin with that letter.

The letter she assigned me was "s". So here they are in no particular order.

1. Soup - This is the first thing that came to mind. I do love homemade soup, especially when the temperature outside is below freezing and there is 8-10 inches of snow on the ground - like today!



2. Sweet Tea - nothing better, any time of year.



3. Sunsets - If you've visited my blog much you might have guessed this one. I have to really work not to have every Skywatch Friday post be a sunset. I just can't get over the beautiful and unique artwork God does in the sky almost every evening.



4. Seashores - I love the feel of the sand on bare feet, the swaying palm trees, the sound of ocean waves hitting the shore - add one of those sunsets and, for me, it's as close to Heaven as we can get here on Earth.



5. Sapphires - These are my favorite gemstone even though my birthstone is an emerald. I love deep blue sapphires.





6. Shoes - I do love shoes. I had my closet designed to accommodate my shoes. Now, we're not talking Imelda Marcos amounts of shoes, but I definitely have more than I really need. That's why when a local charity suggested charging a shoe tax as a way of collecting donations I decided it was the perfect way for me to help.



7. SPIFs - Those are Sales Person Incentive Funds in case you've never heard the term. That's where I can earn extra money or stuff for doing my job well. I've been in some type of sales for many years and have received SPIFs ranging all the way from a plastic candy dish to points to buy really nice stuff (name brand food processor, pack n' play, etc.) to an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii 11 years ago. Yep, I love SPIFs!



8. Smiles - I love to see people, and especially kids, smile. Real, genuine smiles not "beauty contestant I put Vaseline on my teeth" smiles.
9. Salads - For a long time I didn't like salads but now I really do. All kinds of salads. Hopefully hubby will learn to make some great salads in culinary school because right now his "homework" may turn me in to a future contestant on The Biggest Loser!



10. S*x - 'nuf said.

That was fun, although, I admit getting started was a little tough. All the "s" words seemed to have exited my mind.

So, if you're interested in doing this meme, just let me know in the comments and I'll pull out my Scrabble (hey, that's another "s" I love) letters and send you your randomly selected letter.

Two for Tuesday - Mixed Messages

WARNING ---- WARNING ---- WARNING

Okay, you've been warned that I'm on my soapbox today...

I never cease to be amazed at what a topsy-turvy world we live in and the mixed messages that the world, and we, send our children.

Several days ago it was on the local news that a baby had been left on the doorstep of an elderly woman one very cold morning. Follow-up stories gave us several bits of information.

• The baby was a few hours old (cord still attached).


• The mother was a 17 year old high school student (the "news" felt is necessary to name the school).


• The baby was in a large shoebox wrapped in a blanket and two adult shirts.


• The mother left a note saying she knew she couldn't take care of the baby.


• The mother was later identified and taken in to be tried in juvenile court.

Clearly this was not a good choice and I am certainly not saying that there don't appear to be better options. What I do want to say is that there are some other interesting facts we know and a whole bunch that we do not.

• They identified the mother because she got on the school bus after leaving the baby and upon arriving at school told the counselor what she had done.


• She said she left the baby at that particular house because she knew someone would be home.

We do not know this girl's particular circumstances. We do not know about her home situation. We do not know anything about the father. (It seems she may have been trying to take care of the baby the best she knew how and was able to.) She did not leave it in a dumpster or trash can. Some feel that because we have a "Safe Haven" law she didn't use that she deserves to be prosecuted. Hmmm. Did she know about the law? Are we teaching about it in our schools? Are the pro-life and/or pro choice advocates/agencies putting money and energy behind making people aware of the details of this law? The law here allows a baby up to 45 days old to be left at a hospital, fire station, or police station. Was there one of those within walking distance of this girl's neighborhood? Keep in mind that she had recently given birth and very likely did not have the money to take a city bus or cab to an "appropriate" place. Do any agencies make transportation available to someone in this situation?

Stop for just a minute - take off your judgement hat, your pro-choice hat or your pro-life hat and consider what a mixed message we, as a society, send. We have a Safe Haven law - but if you aren't fortunate enough to have one of the "appropriate" drop off places where you can access it - we will prosecute you. We have a law that makes abortion legal. Therefore, if this girl had chosen to kill her baby four to six months ago there would have been no headlines and she would not be being prosecuted. It appears as though they will "go easy" on her. Even so, since the newspaper and television both carried the story along with her age, her school, and the address where the baby was left, her peers will likely know or figure out who it is and she will still have that to deal with.

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

We send mixed messages all the time. Here are just a few examples:

• We want our children to practice abstinence but we allow them to watch movies and television shows that glorify premarital sex and show it as "what everyone is doing".


• We want our children to "just say no" while we can't wait to watch and read the latest information on the "stars" who have gone to rehab- been arrested - overdosed, or while we overuse or abuse prescription drugs or alcohol ourselves.


• We tell our kids their "value" when we complain about higher taxes to pay teachers, police and firefighters more or about the cost of daycare but turn around and spend anywhere from twice to ten times as much for a ticket to watch a concert or sporting event.


• We watch that team, buy their apparel, and are more than happy to discuss last nights game without a second thought about supporting the players who have been caught doing drugs, driving drunk, carrying unlicensed firearms, and a host of other illegal activities for which they mostly avoid prosecution.


• Then there are all the issues with models and advertising...

Sadly, I could go on. I think, however, that you get the point.

We as individuals and as a society send our kids all kinds of mixed messages every day and then wonder what happened when they do something wrong or make bad choices or don't know what to do in a difficult situation.

Shame on us.

Project 365 - Week Four - Step Into My Week

Sermon in a Sentence

The Seven Modern Sins

Politics without principles, Pleasures without conscience, Wealth without work, Knowledge without character, Industry without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice. - Canon Frederic Donaldson

Photo Hunt - Chipped

You say Tostidos, I say tostados...

Sky Watch - White

No blue skies or green grass - all the visible world was white.

Go here to join in or see more Sky Watch Friday photos!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Miss Jaiyda

Puzzling



Reading to Elmo



A raspberry for Grampa

It's Coming - Tonight!

Season Premiere Tonight


I can't wait to hear/read everyone's thoughts tomorrow!


I took this photo about a month ago and when I saw it it immediately made me think of the evil "Lost" cloud/smoke. Maybe that was because we were in the middle of a marathon "Lost" viewing in order to catch up all the seasons before this years premiere...

Two for Tuesday

I am choosing not to get into any political discussions or debates today and will only say that I pray (as I have for every elected president) for President Obama to have wisdom, to be able to see the bigger picture past the halls of congress, to have insight, and to have compassion. I pray that he will be surrounded by wise council and that he will not lose touch with the people who elected him. I pray for the safety of he and his family and that the people of this country will show him the respect that the Office of President deserves regardless of who is occupying it.

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

My friend from Small Reflections (via Jamie of Duward Discussion) posted this a while back and I hadn't taken the time until now to do it. So here goes - better late than never. To participate, just copy and paste the list in your own blog, and color all of the things YOU have done (mine are in red, but you can use any color you want). Things you haven't done will be in black.

100 Things

I HAVE...

1. Started my own blog

2. Slept under the stars (a couple times)

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii (most beautiful place I’ve ever been & I’d love to go back)

5. Watched a meteor shower ( a couple of times)

6. Given more than I can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world (both)

8. Climbed a mountain (Stone Mountain, Georgia)

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sung a solo

11. Bungee jumped (no way!)

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched lightning at sea

14. Taught myself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child (not in the literal sense but have supported a couple overseas through charitable organizations)

16. Had food poisoning (Don’t serve me KFC)

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (but I’d love to)

18. Grown my own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb (petted, never held)

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (several times)

34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (I have been to Holland, but just the airport and I’d love to visit Ireland)

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught myself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (only the one in my Mom's living room)

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt ( but it is on my to do list)

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had my portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (only the one at King’s Island)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia (no, but I have been to Kazakhstan)

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching (in Alaska)

63. Got flowers for no reason ( a long time ago)

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving (no way, no how)

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter (in Hawaii)

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (my only trip to D.C. was a business one so I only had time to see one thing. I went to the Vietnam Wall)

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square (someday - on New Year's Eve)

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (again, on the to do list)

80. Published a book (well not a book, but one magazine and several newspaper articles)

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem (but I’d love to someday)

84. Had my picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House (see #70)

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life (If pointing out to the intern and technician that my husband was turning blue counts?)

90. Sat on a jury(called but not seated)

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit (currently- goes with #46 above)

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee (and a wasp)

100. Ridden an elephant

Whew! How about you?

I Heart Faces- Photo Contest Entry

Isaac


Join in or see more faces here.

Project 365 - Week Three

Puzzling on Sunday




Lunch with Isaac on Monday




Old architecture on Tuesday




Snowy trees on Wednesday




Bundled up to leave Grammy's on Thursday




Below freezing on Friday




Snow on the holly on Saturday

Sermon in a Sentence

A man content to go to heaven alone will never go to heaven. -Boethius

Photo Hunt - Hats

To read the captions, click on grouping to make larger.

Sky Watch - Memories

These are the beautiful blue skies we were seeing at this time a couple of years ago at a wonderful family vacation to Daytona Beach!

Wish I was there now.

The temperature here today read -13 on my way in to work!

Our son-in-law, Jeremy, and daughter Christy peeking over his shoulder.



Hubby & me (Yep, I'm there behind him. If you look closely you can see my arm.)



Son, Justin and our daughter-in law, Amira.


Go here to join in or see more Sky Watch Friday photos!

Thoughts for Thursday

I am currently reading this book and I highly recommend it!



Written in 2007, the book takes aim at the long standing economic axiom that growth is good and more growth is better. McKibben notes that there are "Three fundamental challenges to the fixation on growth..." which are that "growth, at least as we now create it, is producing more inequality than prosperity, more insecurity than progress", that "we do not have the the energy needed to keep the magic going, and can we deal with the pollution it creates?" and that "less obvious and even more basic: growth is no longer making us happy."

Using plenty of facts and even more logic he builds a compelling case for rethinking our most basic economic premise. In case you are concerned that it might be like reading a textbook, I assure you, it is not.

~~~~~~~~~~~

It is cold, cold, cold in Indiana today. Ideally today I'd have stayed in bed cozily under my duvet for an extra hour or two. It's a day for a fire in the fireplace and making chili. Like much of the rest of the population of our state, however, I'm trudging off to work in the wind and the snow. The picture on my calendar of the French Riviera is taunting me.

Wordless Wednesday -Goodbye Coach Dungy

"The Coach is retiring? Grampa & I sure will miss him but we wish him all the best."




Coach Dungy has been a huge asset to both our Indianapolis Colts and our community. He has been a perfect example that you can accomplish all of your goals with complete integrity. He gave Indiana a team we could be proud of, not just for their winning record but, more importantly, for their character.

I think this photo (which obviously I didn't take) taken after the Super Bowl win clearly shows a leader with his priorities in order.



THANKS COACH DUNGY!

Project 365 - Week 2

Monday's snowy back yard.

Tuesday's tired puppy.

Wednesday's lunch with Isaac (and his Mommy).

Thursday's babysitting Isaac.

Friday's crossing the bridge to work.

Saturday's lonely deck.



*note-there is now week one since I joined in late on this project.

Sermon in a Sentence (or two)

We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to become so. You must undertake something so great that you cannot accomplish it unaided. - Phillips Brooks

Photo Hunt - Aftermath

The obvious...

Sky Watch - Orange Stripes

Go here to join in!

Random Thoughts for Thursday

So, I've decided to do this Project 365 thing. Mine, however, will technically be project 361 since I didn't know about it and decide to join in until Monday. I'll be posting each week on Sunday if you're interested.




I wore new shoes today! I like that they are comfortable on the first day and was pretty hopeful about that since I walked around the store in them for a few minutes before buying them. The down side - one of them squeaks when I walk. I know, I walked around the store - I did. Did I mention the loud music playing in the store? Hubby didn't care for it but it didn't bother me while I was shopping. It bothers me now though - every time my left foot hits the floor.


I've been planning my garden and I'm very excited about it. Isaac's mommy and my niece are both making most of the food for their little ones so I'm planning to have an organic garden. This also means starting a compost pile. I'm not quite as excited about that part - a little concerned about odors and critters - but I'm learning a lot.


Work has been unseasonably busy? Hope that is a good sign for the economy.


I took this quiz today...

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a Romantic Self-Knowing Believer

It also showed that - "0% of the 48841 people who have taken this quiz are like you." So, does that mean I am unique and special or just weird?


See, I knew I'd have made a good flower-child, Jesus freak hippie...