It's Here!!!

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Happy April Fool's Day!!! It's a good day 'cause it's the start to "My Favorite Things"...and no, I'm not pulling a trick on you. Actually, I thought about acting like I wasn't going to do it anymore as my April Fool's joke...and decided against it since I thought that would be fun for...well, no one. :)

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So, let's get started!!! I'm going to begin by introducing a "game" that is going to go all year round...it's called, "Character Counts". Let me just say here that I'm not going to announce what my favorite thing for the month is until we have a winner...but I'll let you know that I believe good character and great examples should receive the best prizes...so with that said, the prize for "Character Counts" will be the best prize of them all...

A. because there will only be one winner for a contest that goes for an entire year and

B. because I love acknowledging great character!!!

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Presenting...

Character Counts

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What: Each month, I'm going to introduce a character quality. During that month, you can nominate a person who has demonstrated that character quality to be entered for a chance to win the prize at the end of the year.

Where: You can nominate someone on any post during that month.

When: You can only nominate 1 nominee per month and only for the character quality of the month in which you're nominating.

How to nominate: Tell us their name (don't give the last name for safety reasons with this being an open blog), and how the character quality was demonstrated.

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April's Character Quality:

Dependability vs. Inconsistency

"Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice"

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_______________________

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April's "My Favorite Things" game: 25 Questions

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For those of you who have been with this blog for a while, you may remember playing this game! It's been one of my favorite "Silly Nothings" games played...so I thought it was only appropriate to have it be the first one.

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Who: You

What: I have a person, place, or thing in my mind and everyone can ask questions. I'll take up to 25 questions and whoever is the first to guess, will win! If 3 people think a hint is needed, I'll give one, but there can only be 2 hints given so that's why there have to be at least 3 people asking for one

Where: You can ask the question on any post until a winner is announced...I recommend posting your question/guess in the most recent post or I may not see it.

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It's a THING.

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So there you have it! Let the games begin...25 Questions and Character Counts!

What do you know for sure?

I know that no one is out of God's reach.
I know that everyone wants to know they matter.

I know that oreos taste better with milk.

I know that no one loves me as much as my sisters do.

I know that integrity and hard work will always pay off.
I know that I don't know very much.

What do you know for sure?

Dear Grandma,

You're on my mind tonight. I can't help but just want to talk to you. I know we were told to "say our goodbyes" to you as the doctor believes it wont be long before you leave us. But when given the opportunity, how does one say goodbye? I don't know.

I know that we've said all along how happy we are for you to be able to go home to heaven...I can only imagine how awesome that is going to be for you. But I'll be honest...tonight I'm sad. I can't help it. Even though our conversations aren't quite like they used to be, as time and disease has made it more difficult for you to express in words what I know is in your heart, you're still my Grandma...and there's still a part of me that is finding it hard to let you go.

You've been an anchor in my life...from before I even knew who you were as a little baby, to now when you're sometimes confused to who I am. You've been an example of faith, a friend, a confidant, encourager, and prayer warrior in my life. The very thoughts of "remember when's" of the times we've shared gives me strength through days when all I want to do is ask for one more piece of advise, share one more thought, and laugh over one more memory with you.

I know how to lose someone quickly and unexpected...but watching your body slowly die is something very different. I don't like watching you change...but as you've taken on this final battle, you've done it with great love and grace. No doubt, there have been difficult days and weeks, but you've continued to remind me through your life why I respect and love you so much.

I love being your granddaughter...a title I hold as a badge of honor. And though there's a part of me that wishes I could reverse time and savor the moments with you again, I know that if you could, you'd tell me to keep my chin up and know that it's only time that will seperate us until I get to be with you again.

I don't know how much longer you have here...maybe a day, maybe a month. But know that I'm celebrating your life and legacy. And I'll hold onto the words that you were able to share with Aunt Pam and Aunt Cindy the other night when you said,

"When you wake up in the morning...know that the Lord will see you through. No matter what you face, He will see you through to the end. His mercy, love and grace will always be with you to see you through. That's the way it's always been for me. That's the only way to do it."

I love you, my dear Grandma.
Your Nixsh-nootz

Introducing...

This is going to be fun!!! You all know that I love to PLAY GAMES...and we've had a lot of fun playing games on my Silly Nothings...and we're going to dial it up a notch. HeRE's tHE THiNG...I don't know if she still does this, but I know that years ago, Oprah used to have a show once a year where she would give her audience some of her "favorite things".

Well, this got me to thinking,

"Why does Oprah get to have all the fun?!"

Well, she doesn't.

So beginning in April...

I'm KiCKiNg OfF MY VERY OWN

"favorite things"

that is going to last an ENTIRE year!

Every month, I will be giving away a prize, which will be one of my favorite things. We'll play old games, we'll play new games, sometimes I will be running a secret contest that you may not even know, or I may just pick a "favorite things" winner because they were my hero for the month.

So we're in for fun, suprises, and great prizes!

Check back in on April 1st for the kick of

"A Few of my Favorite Things!"

"Hope Does Not Dissapoint" - Romans 5:5

The verse is talking about the results of trials being this

"hope that does not disappoint."

That phrase lingered in my mind tonight as I drove home from meeting with my mentor. Those words met me at a place where I've found myself shying away from words like hope, great expectations, or promises fulfilled...and instead, I find myself more comfortable with verbage of a cynic. I have to be honest, I found myself thinking, "That's a really bold statement. If I was Paul, making that statement, I probably would have felt the need to pad it with a lot of qualifiers so that we're not REALLY bitter when hope does disappoint."

I'm still processing it.

There seems to be this cause and effect pattern in this verse:

God's cause and effect for trials is:

Trials>Perseverance>Character

= Hope

.But why does it seem to play out differently in my life as I often maneuver and survive my way through "trials" in my life? This cause-effect patten often looks more like this...

My cause and effect:

Trials>

A lot of self talk of this not being fair or what am I doing or not doing to cause this>

determination to 'get through' this>

viewing 'happiness' as the desired end>

pride in making it through>

fear of it happening again

= Bitterness and disappointment if and when it does

Complete opposite result from God's.

It's led me to wonder, "How do I tangibly live out these trials so that God has His work through these difficult experiences rather than Satan?

Evie (my mentor) taught me tonight about the value of living life with

"palms up".

That there's a relinquishing that is part of tribulation...letting go of personal desire, motive, agendas, way of processing and desired ends. Letting God change my perspective of the trial so to develop His perspective of life and this world...

the very definition of wisdom.

But how? How do I live "palms up" actively when all I want to do is the opposite? When I go through trials, I often let Satan pour fear into my heart. And with that, I live out the reflex of fear which is the need to control. So, you can imagine my excitement as I looked at the rest of the verse:

"And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us"

Love...the very thing that God said will cast out fear. So often, I reject His love and choose fear. I have sooo much to learn!

So, this is my prayer this week:

That God would soften this heart and open it wide so He can pour His love in my heart. And that His love will turn my "palms up" as He has His way in my heart and life through this valuable experience called trial.

Thanks for letting me "think aloud"...I don't mean to be confusing. :)

I haven't blogged much this week...

My apologies.

However, I have some good news...I lost my camera battery's charger last year and haven't had a camera ever since. Well, I just bought a new charger, so hopefully, this blog will have more interesting material since I will be able to post my own pictures.

Well, I'm off for the weekend...I'll be back to "see" you all on Tuesday night!

I've been sick...

...and it's not fun.

Obviously, this stomach flu has been 'going around', and I caught it. :( I tend to feel really sorry for myself when I'm sick and seem to justify every excuse for self pity.

Well, since I've been spending more time than what is needed on the pitty-pot...among other 'pots' :), I thought it was time for a chin-up and give some thanks (inspired by my friend, Taryn):

So here's my T10 list of things I've been thankful for this past week:

10. Plumbing. I think about this every time I get sick...Oh how being sick would be that much worse if I had to walk outside and have all my senses (which are already more sensitive from being sick), experience all that out-houses have to offer. I always have an increased affection for toilets, sinks, and running water when I'm sick.

9. Work. I had to think as I was calling off for my second night in a row, how blessed I am to have a job that I could call in to. Not only that, but one that actually has provided an allotment of days where they will still pay me as if I had worked even though I didn't...simply because I was sick. Wow...I know that seems like a 'given', but it really amazes me.

8. Popsicles. They have been a lifesaver these past couple days. Great to the taste. Easy on the stomach.

7. Rob and Laura Petrie (Dick Van Dyke Show). Most of the time, I've just slept...but being couped up in a house by myself has not been that terrible with some time spent with my favorite TV couple, the Petries.

6. My Snuggie. Check out the cheesy video by clicking here!

Call me weird for buying one, but I'm sure you wish you had one too. :)

5. iphone. Since I don't have internet at home, my phone is the only way of keeping in touch with people outside my four walls, so although, I couldn't post from my phone, I still checked up on people's blogs! It was great.

4. Rebekah's Chicken Noodle Soup. Okay...so there's chicken noodle soup, and then there's Rebekah's chicken noodle soup. Two very different things. One is good. The other is great. Thanks, Bek!

3. Dimmer Switch. I have a new appreciation for the dimmer switch. It's truly a great invention for many situations in life, but in my case, acting as a great nightlight.

2. Family. My family is very faithful in feeling sorry for me when I'm feeling sick, and got daily calls checking up on how I was doing. Family care is probably my favorite part of being sick...that's right, I'm the baby of the family...I'm not ashamed to admit it!

1. God. Truly, whenever I'm sick, I spend a lot of time thinking...and all my thoughts just boil down to the fact that I'm so thankful to Him and all the ways He has blessed my life. It makes me thankful that I was sick, as it was a good time to stop life for a couple days and thank Him for how He continues to work in this world and in my life.

Celebrity Look-A-Likes...

I find myself saying, "She looks like _________" a lot...

so I thought I'd actually put some of the pictures side by side

and see what you guys think!

Sadie : Taylor Swift

Jill : Hillary Duff

Bryce (?) : Lucas Grabeel

(I don't even know Bryce, I just know his wife)

A. Candy : Ellen Degeneres
(Actually, I just think Ellen looks like a Nussbaum)
Amber : Reece Witherspoon

What do you think?

Yay or Nay?

I'm awake tonight...

...but my creative juices are not.

Dear Tomorrow,

I'll wait for you and hope that with you comes

some InspiRaTioN!

You know you shouldn't be blogging when...

You write a post like this one!!!! I wrote this post last night in all ernest thinking it was a normal post...although, I remember trying to read it through again and it not making sense to me, but thinking it was just because I was tired. Wow...I think it would take a Joseph to interpret this!!! And just for your information, I honestly don't know what "handsom man" I'm referring to...really, I don't! I almost took that part out because I'm embaressed I even wrote it, but I actually think it's the funniest part...so hope you enjoy this absolutely ridiculous post I blogged last night at 3:00 AM!!!!:

Jessica, Brooke, and Jami...
I tried. I really did, but...even now, I am at a complete loss of any words or thoughts that could be construde as coherent. Wow...for the past hour, I've been making out an excel spread sheet of my schedule for today that only read: "The handsome man burdens the heart and I'm a cold, short person. Oh man. If it's possibly for time to stand still, i did that and reverse for a while." Oh yeah, back to the exercise thing...in my schedule i wrote "go home, and gothorrises

I hope that's okay 'cause I'm not sure what else I would odoooanyway. sally want me too ahim? why, you knos? whewohow...how am i going to live thfroufh the rest of my day...you'ldd do a beeterjob. P

You know the 'run' isn't going well when:

- I'm moving so slowly that I can't remember if I'm running or walking
- I realize that I could walk faster than I 'run'
- I start rehersing my excuses for why I couldn't finish today's training
- I begin to seriously contemplate if sitting on the couch and moving my legs fast would be an equal replacement to this training.
- I think I'm running at a level 5 incline on the treadmill, only to find out that there is no incline at all.
- My arms are tired from holding myself up on the treadmill.
- I'm convinced that the movie I'm watching is playing in slow motion 'cause I KNOW it didn't take those twins this long to get their parents back together the last time I watched it.
- I make a list like this!

Does Jesus Really Live EVERYWHERE?

We were discussing with out Sunday School students the fact that Jesus lives everywhere which led to the following conversation...

The children: Does Jesus live in our car?
Miss Karen: Yes, Jesus is in your car!
The children: Does Jesus live in Sunday School?!
Miss Wendy: Yes! He lives in Sunday School!
The children: Does Jesus live in my house?
Me: Yes, Jesus lives in your house!
Megan M (squinting and pinching her eyelids):

Jesus lives on my eyeballs!

Me:......um......yeah?.....I.....guess so?
All I had was a mental image of Jesus pitching a tent and camping out on little Megan's eyeballs! :)

Oh the joys of Sundays with my 3 year olds!

Debit cards and Mini-marathons...

I've cancelled my card and let the bank know about the situation. They're going through the process to see if they can reimburse me. There's also a detective working on the 'case'...wow, sounds so crazy. Anyway, that's the update. It's been a good lesson either way that if they don't reimburse the money, ultimately, it's not my money, it's God's, and He can take care of His own! :)

Thanks for all the comments...I have to admit, I was pretty annoyed the day I posted that!!!

Secondly, we're now running a mini-marathon in Indianapolis instead of the one in Chicago...mainly because it's on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. Well, that's it for the updates. :)