Thank You Mr. President

I guess it's no secret I'm going to miss President Bush.

And it looks like Steven Curtis Chapman feels the same way.
You can listen to his song free for a limited time.  It won't be released on an album. 
Good-bye Mr. Presiden

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving all my wonderful blog readers!! Thank you, THANK YOU, for reading my words.  For leaving your comments, for giving me your opinions and for just supporting my hobby!!!

I'm thankful for you today.

Quiet

Yes, it has been pretty quiet here this week.  Chalk it up to me having nothing interesting to say.  Or, me going through a lazy spurt.  Or, the weather is turning cold and I've gone into hibernation mode and any activity that doesn't involve a blanket and a cup of tea is not high on my list of priorities. 

 But, I'm still here.  Just quiet. 

I'm learning to knit in the round.  Which so far is a very slow process.  If there weren't going to be leg warmers at the end I might give up. 

Thanksgiving tomorrow!  YEAH!  I do love Thanksgiving. 

So, happy Wednesday everybody!

My Thanksgiving Prayer

For Life, to serve You

For Grace, always enough

For Prayer, without ceasing 

For Comfort, You are there

For Beauty, so I can see You

For Justice, Your perfect plan

For Breath, so I can praise You

For Faithfulness, never giving up on me

For Peace, deep down at the core of my soul

For Wisdom, to see that Your way is flawless

For Joy, moments of feeling Your love, so real

For Family, so I can better understand Your love

For Strength, because mine isn't enough, and never will be

For Mercy, new every morning before I even open my eyes

For Providing, more important than what I want, what I need

For Love, unconditional, when I don't deserve it, when I don't even love myself

THANK YOU

THANK YOU!!

I have been awarded!!  

Thank you!  I'm sure I don't deserve it!

I, in turn, pass the award to Rachel

Cinnamon Apple Chicken

3 Chicken breasts, thawed

1 clove Garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

2 Tbsp. Cilantro

1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves

1 tsp. Curry

1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar

1/4 cup Honey

2 Apples, diced

Marinade for at least 2 hours.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 

SO YUMMY!

  

Unless otherwise noted all recipes published here are my own creation and copyright to me.  

City of Ember Movie: My Review

If you have read Jeanne duPrau's YA novel The City of Ember than, no doubt, you were thrilled (as I was) to learn that a movie adaptation was in production.

I first read City of Ember only a few months ago, having been captivated by (no kidding) the cover.  The age old proverb says not to judge a book by it's cover, but in this case I saw the cover, judged it to be an intriguing book, dove into it, and was pleasantly not disappointed.  :)

The story follows the adventures of young teens Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow as they discover that their home is rapidly self destructing and do everything in their power to save themselves and their loved ones from peril.  Lina is a responsible girl who is raising her adorable younger sister, Poppy, and caring for her dying grandmother.  Doon is the driven "jack-of-all-trades" who fights to fix everything.  What Lina and Doon don't know (but we do) is that the town they have grown up in and known as "the only light in a dark world" is really an underground city created to preserve life for 200 years while the world above is destroyed through nuclear war.
War rages above.  Life thrives below.  For 200 years.
Until the electricity starts to run out.  And the food starts to run out.  And the massive generator that powers the entire city keeps breaking down leaving the entire "world" in complete darkness. 
Lina and Doon must entertain the idea that there might be more to the world than this.  Armed with incomplete instructions and no knowledge of anything but Ember they must venture into the unknown and darkness to save the entire city.

So, last Saturday night I sat in the theater with some of my siblings and their friends and felt a thrill run down my spine as The City of Ember appeared on the screen.  Exactly as I had imagined it.  :)
I give this movie 2 thumbs up!  Excellent adaptation.  Probably the best book-to-movie transformation I've seen in a long time.  The score was beautiful, the actors and actresses perfect, the set design was GORGEOUS.  Seriously, at the beginning of the movie the thought actually wildly crossed my mind that I wouldn't mind living in Ember.  Before the destruction of course :).


While some people argue that the idea of the apocalypse (the circumstance which necessitates the creation of Ember) is a bit dark for a children's book, I found it refreshingly honest.  Of course, I'm a bit older than the average reader :) I was intrigued by the idea of a civilization existing with no knowledge of the outside world, in fact, believing that they ARE the whole world.  While Lina and Doon struggle to inform the city of the impending danger, no one wants to believe them (despite obvious signs).  They are forced to take matters into their own hands, only believing that the rest of their city will somehow be saved through their actions.  Definitely a "think outside the box" theme.  Which I love. :)  And the idea that one (or two) people CAN make a difference. 


Rated PG.  Definitely some very scary parts not suitable for children.  Mostly consisting of a giant mole attacking the teens.  Creepy.  And not original to the book, either, the mole was added for the movie. 

HERE is a review at Plugged In that is more detailed if you're interested.

Giveaway on the IDD blog

Make sure you head over to my other blog today.  We're doing a tea basket giveaway that you don't want to miss!!!!
IDD BLOG

*happy sigh*

I have recently discovered Lady Grey Tea

and I love.... I love... I love it.  (said in a breathless Mr. Darcy-ish voice)

Quiz Debbie Sent Me

Oky doke.  I got this in an e-mail.  But, I don't really do the e-mail forward-y things.  I do blog-y stuff instead.  Aren't you all lucky? :)  Feel free to fill the questionaire out in the comments if you like.  Have fun reading!
Oh, and I did try to make it fun for you all to read.  Hopefully you learn something new about me :)

1. What is your occupation right now?
Florist (Betcha didn't know that, huh?)

2. What color are your socks right now?
no socks.  brown toe nail polish

3. What are you listening to right now?

Steph and Katie talking

4.  What was the last thing that you ate?

hershey's kiss :)

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
No.  definitely not. I'm very sad about that.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Hmmm... I think that was probably Katie Lux :) 

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
*snort* of course.... my sister
8. How old are you today?

one day older than yesterday *smirk* ok, 26 years, 8 months, 16 days, 23 hours, 53 minutes.9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?

Baseball.  I will only occasionally be interested in watching football, and I get bored watching basketball.  definitely baseball.

10. what is your favorite drink?
COFFEE!!!  Lady Grey tea, vitamin water, root beer, pepsi, Dr. Pepper, milkshakes, :)

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
No.  I know.  I'm boring.

12. Favorite food?
Totally depends on what I'm craving at the moment. 

13. What is the last movie you watched?
part of Beauty and the Beast.  Last whole movie??  I think... a Miss Marple Mystery

 14. Favorite day of the year?

 this is a tough-y... hmmm...  I don't know... whatever day comes and goes and I'm happy the whole day.

15. How do you vent?

I don't.  Usually I try to hide until I cool off.  If I really need to spout off Mom hears it.  Sorry, mom :)

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I have no idea... I don't think I had one.  I was more into books than toys.

17. What is your favorite season? 

Summer!!! and then Autumn :) Spring!  (the only season I do NOT like is winter)
18. Cherries   or Blueberries?
no contest.  Blueberries all the way.

(I skipped a couple in here)

21.Living arrangements?

What does this mean?  Um... tiny little house?

23. When was the last time you cried?
Probably this morning. Or last night maybe... I tear up often. 

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
Laundry basket

26. What did you do last night?

Got a new cell phone :)

27. What are you most afraid of?

I don't want to say.... 

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?

spicy cheesy?? please?

29. Favorite dog breed?

umm...  I'm not picky about dogs.  all of them are adorable.

30. Favorite day of the week?

Tuesday or Saturday (my days off :)

31. How many states have you lived in?

3.

32. Diamonds or pearls?

Depends on what I'm wearing?

33. What is your favorite flower?

WRONG QUESTION!!!  Here we go... :)  ok, I'll spare you all.  I love them all.  :)

34. How did you meet the person who sent this to you? 
We met when she was about 6 hours old.  unfortunately I couldn't hold her for the first 3 or 4 days.  stupid jaundice.

 If you read all the way to the end.  KUDOS!  :)

Gas House Gang - William Tell Overture

more from the extremely talented Gas House Gang!

Great Expectations Part 2

PART ONE HER
              Girls, let’s face it.  There are not very many of us that are totally and completely content with our lives as they are.  I’ve never met anyone that could tell me they loved their life so much, that there wasn’t one single thing about it they would ever want to change.  And if I ever did hear someone say that I would probably assume they were fibbing.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we all have terrible lives.  I certainly don’t have a terrible life.  In fact, I have a pretty good life.  But, I’m not wholly and absolutely happy all the time.  Sometimes I feel like I have huge voids in my life.  Since I’m single I find myself quite often blaming my discontent on being single.  I’ve heard a lot of girls doing this same thing.  And along with that comes the idea that “if I had a husband I’d be happy.”  I’d have someone to talk to.  Someone who understands me.  I’d feel like I had a purpose in life. 

                 This is a very dangerous way to think.   Of course we girls should long for marriage.  It’s a very good and proper thing to desire.  We’re supposed to desire it. But, marriage is not a cure-all for what-ails-you.  If you’re struggling with something in your life, don’t just chalk it up to your lack of a significant other.  Dig a little deeper.  Find the real reason and deal with it.  If you don’t, it will be all that much harder to deal with later when you are married.  Once you are married you are responsible for so much more than just yourself.  Everyone and everything you are responsible for will suffer for your buried issues. 

                  Imagine this.  You have a bitterness buried deep in your heart, and all your single years you refuse to deal with it.  You assume that the real reason you are unhappy and discontent is that you are lonely.  Someday a handsome prince comes into your life.  He is just wonderful, everything you’ve ever wanted in a husband.  He sweeps you off your feet.  You get married in June.  You are happy for a while.  But, then something happens that upsets you.  He says something insensitive.  He doesn’t mean to, but he’s human, after all.  He makes mistakes.  But, you are hurt.  All the old bitterness comes to the surface.  Suddenly, whatever little thing it was that upset you to begin with blows up into a huge issue.  He doesn’t know what he did that caused you to get so riled up, and you are mad that he is so insensitive that he doesn’t know.  You’re certainly not going to pour salt in your own wound by spelling it out for him.  So, you stomp out of the room and slam the door.  Icy silence for a few hours.  Or days maybe.  You’re not happy, He’s not happy, the kids aren’t happy…  When Mama ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy… right? 

                Girls we need to be so careful in our expectations.  It’s not fair to our future husbands.  We can’t expect them to be perfect.  We can’t expect them to be able to take away all of our unhappiness and give us happiness, we can’t expect them to solve all of our problems.  They can’t.  They’re just men.  Just human beings like us. 

I’m not saying we shouldn’t have expectations.  We should.  But, we need to expect reality.  Not utopia. 

BUT, the good news is:  there is a utopia for us! 

God has Great Expectations for us too:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

               The really good news is:  God actually can fill all of our voids.  He can help us with our bitterness.  He understands us, He’s always there for us to talk to, and He can give us a purpose in life.  In fact, He gave us our lives to begin with.  Without Him we wouldn’t even have life. 

Psa 62:5  My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Pro 23:18  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Pro 24:14  So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Great Expectations Part 1

                     I have some great expectations.  I have always, always, for as long as I can remember supposed that I would get married.  I believed that I was called to be a wife and mother.  I imagined that I would marry at the age of 19.  I would be done with high school by then.  I had no plans for college.  Why would I need to go to college?  I wouldn’t need a career because my husband would be our bread-winner.  My career would be “stay-at-home-mom.”  There are no courses to be taken in How to be a Good Wife,”  “Raising Children to Serve God 101,” “Homeschooling Your Children” or “Housekeeping for Dummies.”  Everything I needed to know I learned at home from my mother.  I learned to cook and clean.  I helped my little brothers and sisters with their school work.  I didn’t date because I knew that God would bring me my perfect match so why should I fool around with fate? 

                    My “great expectation” to be married at 19 did not happen.  Ok, so 19 is a little young.  I’ll concede that.  Then, I planned on getting married at 20… and then 21… and then 22… and so on.  It’s been quite a few years since 19.  But, I wonder what expectations we all have about our princes and marriage in general.  Here’s a couple of scenario’s for you.

                    It’s a beautiful summer day, the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining.  The time is late afternoon; you’re in your bright, sunny kitchen preparing dinner for your family.  The children are playing sweetly outside on the swing set, their laughter floats to you on the breeze that is whispering at the open window and dancing with the curtains.  You smile and hum to yourself as you chop home-grown vegetables and dump them into the frying pan..  Any moment your husband will walk in the door, he’ll toss the boys in the air and hug the girls.  But first, he’ll have a kiss for you.  When dinner is ready, you’ll all sit down to a wonderful candle-lit meal, served up on those adorable dishes you ordered from Crate and Barrel.  You’ll all laugh together as you talk about your day.  Later, after the children are bathed and tucked into bed with a story and a kiss, you and your husband sit outside under the stars, and just talk.  Just enjoy each other’s company…

                   We all have great expectations.  Reality is often another story.  Here’s another scenario.

                  It’s still a beautiful summer day, but you’re too tired and hot to notice.  The air conditioning is broken and you’ve spent the whole afternoon trying to fix it.  Frustrated, you finally give up and go inside.  The children are climbing the walls, crying, they just want your attention, but you don’t have time.  Your husband will be home any minute and you haven’t even thought about what to make for dinner.  You pop a video into the VCR (the DVD player is broken) and set the kids in front of the TV.   What to do for dinner?  There are no homegrown vegetables to glean from the garden, because there is no garden.  You’re not allowed to grow anything on your rental property.  The fridge is almost empty, you haven’t been to the grocery store yet this week, in fact you haven’t been out of the house at all because you only have one car and your husband takes it to work.  You grab a jar of Prego out of the cupboard (the last one) and a box of pasta.  Meatless spaghetti.  Again.  Your husband comes home from a long day at work.  He’s hoping to sit down to a steak dinner, but instead he gets a dirty house, crying kids, a cranky wife and meatless spaghetti.  Again.

Part 2 Coming Tomorrow....

Streamline 2008 CSD Fall Contest - Cedar Rapids, IA - Semis

woo hoo! ok, I'm on a Barbershop Quartet kick, surfin' Youtube... and whadda ya know... I found Streamline! That's my cousin on bass :)

They got 4th place, by the way :)

GAS HOUSE GANG THE MAGIC FLUTE

Man. I saw them sing this live probably 8 or 9 years ago.

Amazing!

Shoutout!

Today I'm doing a shoutout for two of my friends that have GORGEOUS jewelry to sell on ETSY

You really need to check out their shops. 

Sweet stuff. :)

THINK VICTORIAN
MARIES MIRACLES

Thursday Musings

I'm ready for a change

But not the one they mean

I'm not strange

I want to be clean

I'm ready for a fight

Not running from strife

I'm running to the light

I'm fighting for life

I have a hope down deep

I have a prayer at heart

The path I choose is steep

The way I walk is hard

But, change is what I crave

I'm ready for a fight

I'm ready to be brave

I choose to climb the height

-Copyright, Rebecca November 2008

October Media

In the month of October  I read 

The City of Ember

Highly Recommended.  One of the best YA books I've read in a long time.  Very engaging, the characters were loveable and realistic, the story was fascinating and intriguing.  There's also a movie adaptation which has recently been released in theaters.  I haven't seen the movie yet, (not playing around here, *snaps fingers*) but you can watch the trailer HERE

I also just started the sequel The People of Sparks

Also, a gift from my friend Krista Miss Match

Haven't laughed this hard at a book in YEARS... literally.  Absolutely enjoyable. 

I've also started reading the rest of the series ReMatch and MatchPoint

Currently Reading George Warnock's Feast of the Tabernacles  which is fantastically ineresting. 

So... didn't get much reading done this last month.  Sad.  But, everything I read I really enjoyed so that makes up for the lack of material.  :)

Movies I watched:
The Princess Bride

Total re-watch.  This may be the hundredth time... LOVE it.  

Also recently started watching the A&E's Agatha Christie adaptations.  Poirot is my favorite.

Another re-watch to remind myself how much I love it: Northanger Abbey

A couple of fast forward scenes but still one of my favorite Austen adaptations.  Probably because Tilney (the hero) is so... regular.  So, not Darcy.  "I must give you one smirk, and then we will be serious."

Also... :).... Superman Returns

Call me goofy.  I'm a Superman fan. :)  "You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior.  But, everyday I hear them crying out for one."

Yep, love it. :)

Election Day 2008!!!!!!!!!!!

There are times when I am so thankful to live in this country.  Election day is one of those days. 
Today I get to go to the polls and place my vote just like every other American.  I get to have a say in who will represent our country.  My voice will be heard today.  My vote will be for life.