A Smile is a Curve that Sets Everything Straight

Blessed

2011-10-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed to have most wonderful, loving, teasing, hardworking, sweet, friend, talented, fun, exciting, dream come true, husband to say I love you to, and to kiss good night. :)

2011-08-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

Katalin M. Ford RN !!! :)

What people talk about when they hear you're getting married

2011-08-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

What are your colors? for the wedding or my curtains?

Are you having a kid next year? just because you become Mr. and Mrs. doesn't mean you have to add junior the next day.

what does your dress look like? It's white. :)

where you going on your honeymoon? really? I'll tell you when I get back.

or the statement. " So this is the bride to be!!" and proceed to kiss my hand.

You nervous, you sure He's the one? I am 100% sure, I am going to be spending the rest of my life with the one who makes me laugh, holds my heart and holds me close when the world is upside down. when you say yes to the most important question asked by your best friend, why would you not be sure? (unless you weren't?)

Lol I am supper excited and can not wait till September 18. :)

two things I have for tips for future brides make it simple and if you need help ask for it. :)

also two websites that have been supper helpful with ideas and planning are these.

greenweddingshoes.com

theknot.com

I Love Walking with my Best Friend

2011-07-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

51 days till September 18!

Goldilocks

2011-04-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you live in a big house with just a dog to keep you company? For you see my family has been away since February with the bee business, while I stay at home going to classes and taking care of the honey orders at home. One night I had a thought. "hmm, I wounder, if my bed is the most comfortable in the house?" It's the smallest the only single twin in the house except for the loft where we keep an extra bed, for extra guest. So if no one is home, and no one is sleeping in those beds...why not try it. So I did, I confess and these are the results. One bed was too hard. One bed was too soft. One bed ok, but the pillows didn't fit right and it was kind of chilly. I even tried the couch but finally gave up and went to My bed. Just right. warm comfortable and the pillows just how I like them. When I wake up in the morning I like looking at the trees out side my window soaking up the sun and the rolling hills that I miss every time I go away, and there are the flowers that sit on the chest next to my bed that make me smile. Yes I have conclude my bed is the most comfortable.

How would I feel if I had not my bed? Jesus replied "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." One thing I have learned as I have traveled gone places, slept in guest beds, the floor, the air mattress, the couch, in the car, the hotel bed, there is no place like my own bed the one I rest upon and forget all my troubles of the days to give way to peaceful rest. I don't know but that is a hard thing to give up. "Thank you Lord for providing me with a comfortable bed to sleep on. If I am ever with out a place to rest. Please give me the strength to be okay with that."

Ultimate Loyalty: Japanese Dog Refuses to Leave Injured Friend Behind

2011-04-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already seen this. you must watch it. it's amazing way of showing God's power in the mist of the worst. The story goes that they took the dogs to a shelter.

Spring Break: Blue skies and Tall mountains(with lots of snow)

2011-03-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

Spring break! who doesn't love spring break well it has come and gone for me, but my family and friends have been wanting to see some pictures of my westerly journey to the Colorado Rockies! Thanks to my two awesome cousins and Aunt I got to spend three whole days skiing in the rocky mountains, some time time in the hot springs and I even got some sunburn. :)

exploring the "Garden of the god's"

You're impressed right? ;-)

just for the Lacelles

now they picked a view to look at in the morning.

just some of the mountain we skied/ boarded on

now that's a mountain...

and that's a view!

Notice 3 things about the 3 musketeers. 1) hats are still on( hat hair) 2) short sleeves, yes we really did ski in short sleeves and tanks 3) our faces are glowing after 3 days of 12000 ft elevation (we forgot sunscreen) or maybe it's because we just spent 3 days having a blast. :)

Skijoring

2011-02-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

SnOw SkIeS and ToRi has become a new favorite sport of mine. According to google, "the sport of Skijoring behind a horse is to have originated as a method of winter travel, but today is primarily a competitive sport.Skijoring was a demonstrated sport in the 1928 winter Olympics ."

Here is a bit of all the fun you all missed out on with our grand expedition, although we didn't catch the moment where Tori decides to stop short from a canter and all I see is Teddy's boots go on a flying trip over her head, or Elizabeth's sinking out of sight into a 4 foot snow bank, or my very graceful dismount from Tori's back to being flat on my back in very fluffy snowbank. But we had lots of laughs well worth it. Were headed to the big competions next. :) lol watch for us in the next winter Olympics. :)

Whatever things....

2011-02-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

Philippians 4... 8 "Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.9 Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
Honest

–adjective

honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright andfair: an honest person.

showing uprightness and fairness: honest dealings.

gained or obtained fairly

sincere; frank

genuine or unadulterated

respectable; having a good reputation

truthful or creditable

humble, plain, or unadorned.

Archaic . chaste; virtuous.

Just
-adjective

1.
guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness

2.
done or made according to principle; equitable; proper

3.
based on right; rightful; lawful:

4.
in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct

5.
given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence,punishment, or reward

6.
in accordance with standards or requirements; proper orright

7.
(esp. in Biblical use) righteous.

8.
actual, real, or genuine.

Lovely
–adjective

1.
charmingly or exquisitely beautiful:

2.
having a beauty that appeals to the heart or mind as well asto the eye, as a person or a face.

3.
delightful; highly pleasing

4.
of a great moral or spiritual beauty

Pure
-adjective, pur·er, pur·est.

1.
free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminatingkind; free from extraneous matter:

2.
unmodified by an admixture; simple or homogeneous.

3.
of unmixed descent or ancestry:

4.
free from foreign or inappropriate elements:

5.
clear; free from blemishes

6.
(of literary style) straightforward; unaffected.

7.
without any discordant quality; clear and true

8.
absolute; utter; sheer

9.
being that and nothing else; mere

10.
clean, spotless, or unsullied

11.
untainted with evil; innocent:

12.
physically chaste; virgin.

13.
ceremonially or ritually clean.

14.
free of or without guilt; guiltless.

virtue
-noun

1.
moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.

2.
conformity of one's life and conduct to moral andethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.

3.
chastity; virginity

4.
a particular moral excellence. Compare cardinal virtues,natural virtue, theological virtue.

5.
a good or admirable quality or property:

6.
effective force; power or potency:

7.
virtues, an order of angels.

Sabbath Mom and I discussed this verse and while looking over the sabbath school lesson a point was made. Make a list of things you encounter in your life that are honest, just,pure,lovely ect. and so I've thought about it and some of the things see in my life that are purely heavenly. why then do I get dragged down by the thoughts of the the worried world on rumors of war, the states taxes increasing, classmate's gossip, or the times I failed. This is an incomplete written list of things pure & lovely in my life. But what of yours, whatever things are you considering....?

Family. Grace Of God. Friends. My Home. Winter & Snowflakes. Spring & Song Birds. Summer & Feeling green grass between my toes. Autumn & bright colored leaves. The inspiration I get when I think of doing something special for a friend. When I am still & listen. Sunsets and Sunrises. Hugs. Wisdom. Holding a brand new Baby. My dog who is so excited when I am back. The experiences God placed in my life to shape just me. Mirrors. A Meal with good Friends or Family. Feedback. Prayer. Honeycomb. Inspiring. Home Made Gifts from friends. Laughs & Remembered Laughs. When someone starts a new train of thoughts in my head. Angels. Music & Art of the Good kind. Running. Smiles. Education & Understanding. Time. Home comings. Devotions. Rain....

Horse Skiing

2011-01-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

This afternoon while out and about, I met a team of Horses coming up the road. Amish are pretty common around my hometown and I slowed down, so not to spook the horses. the horses were setting out at a brisk trot and a group of Amish guys were piled on to the sleigh the horses were pulling and two were hanging on to ropes and skiing behind the horses!! The fresh powder of snow we've gotten in the two past days and the sparking sunshine was must have been so inviting for them! We waved and laughed to each other as we passed. Their cheery faces beamed with delight at their Sunday afternoon entertainment. I wish I had stopped to get a picture but I didn't think about it until after I had passed them. As I saw where their ski tracks up and down the snowbanks, I suddenly had a burning desire to try it!! why not! I've down hill skied, I've cross country skied, water skied, I must try horse skiing!! Abby here I come. :D

Aliens from the ground up.

2010-12-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

About 40+ wind mills have been arriving in my home town's hills. They have gone up so fast one would think they were aliens that awoke one night and appeared the next morning. I am still not sure what to think of them, for you see I love the grand view of the country hills with wooded lands and farms. However is the air, land and water not better off with-out fossil fuel's emitting their smoke? I do have to consider. The part I still find a bit startling is to see them with the sunrise over the trees as I head off school in the mornings...

The blades look to be 80-100 feet, from experience I an tell you that meeting on of these on the road is no fun!

I grew up on summer nights watching the radio tower on the far away hill blink it's red lights to warn night time flyers of it's presence, in a way I found it a comfort to know it was out there winking to me. and I wonder will the next generation growing up in this town find the windmills waving to them just a part of the home town's welcome...and will I as well become a costume to seeing the white blades turning above the tree line.

Habits Die Hard

2010-11-29T11:23:00.000-08:00

This habit started at camp....I still skip the trays...why? I don't have to wash them, the hospital's cafe has industrialized sinks and power washers. It would be easier than stacking my food up in my hands. I could spread out my lunch where I sit...either it's a habit that will be hard to die or somewhere back in my subconscious I can't bring my self to take a tray, cause someone has to wash it.....

The Ford's Adirondack/Farm house, Part III

2010-11-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

At last for my family and friends most all the house is complete. I have put up some pictures to show the progress of our once leaky and breezy home, to its renovated state. Only the floor, a new sink and few minor additions to the kitchen is needed to complete it.

I've included a movie I did in the spring because it shows the cayous we lived in for good part of the remolding. My dad although doesn't hunt has enjoyed adding a deer and antolope head to our wall, he say's it makes it looks more rustic in here. ok......hmmm.. I am just happy that my parents are excited and happy with remolding after 20+ years of it. this year of remodling the house I grew up in will probably stick with me for life. the Noise the dust, the laughs, the aguments of where this or that will go, windows, that were put in, taken out and put in again, boxes and boxes of stuff moved from one corner to the next then again. The a log that was put in from camp Cherokee it's self. Tripping over cords and wondering why my toasted oats tasted like sawdust.

Before

After

coming in through the main door

kitchen area

the log from Cherokee and looking into the new addition area

New bedroom, if you can't tell mom likes purple

This spring as I left for camp I told my mom please when I can home at the end of the summer can the house be done. I was pleasantly surprised at the completion when I did come home. But alas..."Mommmmmm....where is....?" I can't find anything from paper, my shoes to garlic powder.

H2O

2010-11-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

Two things that interest me, is one the National Geographic Magazine and water. and guess what they had an entire issue published on water, wow so how cool! So anyways I thought I would share a few neat articles from the April 2010 issue. Water our thirsty world.

Health in Your Hands

The children are excited and giggling. It seems like a game—stand by a sink and scrub your hands. But in the poorest parts of Karachi, Pakistan, the lesson is vital for disease prevention, and the teachers get great results. After a few sessions, says public health expert Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla, "the mothers tell us children are constantly washing hands at home, many times a day.” And not just their own: "They’re making their brothers and sisters wash their hands too."

That ripple effect helps save lives. Washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds costs pennies—and when done properly, slashes the rates of infections, such as pneumonia and diarrheal diseases, that kill more than 3.5 million kids under age five worldwide every year. Recent studies of hand-washing habits in the United States and United Kingdom point up another problem. Adults—especially men—tend not to scrub when they should or as often as they claim. They’d do well to learn a thing or two about hand hygiene from Karachi’s kids. —Hannah Bloch

High marks for clean water
Retrieve a discarded water bottle. Tear off the label and fill with any water that is not too murky from a creek, standpipe, or puddle. Place the bottle on a piece of metal in full sun. in six hours the UVA radiation will kill viruses, bacteria and parasites in water, making it safe to drink.

SODIS, the acronym for the swiss-pioneered water-disinfection program, is now being used all over the world to provided drinking water for some four million people. "it's simple it's free and it's effective." says Ibelatha Mhelala, principal of the Ndolela Primary school in Tanzania. in 2006 her school started using SODIS to to disinfect its contaminated tap water, placing bottles on the buildings's corrugated metal roof. The result? Absenteeism due to diarrhea dropped considerably and examination scores soared. "Before we started SODIS, only 10-15 % of the children passed the national sixth grade exams." says Mhelela "Now 90-95 % of the students pass" _Mark Jenkins
http://www.sodis.ch/index_EN

Jesus used water as an illustration to salvation. If the swiss have found the simplest way of sharing clean water so that even children understand. How simple should it be to share the living water of salvation with the world? Just a thought...

Childhood Fantasy or Future Physiatric Patient?

2010-11-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

"What do we use teeth for?" We, student nurses asked the preschool class, we were teaching about dental hygiene. Smiling! Talking! Eating! Brushing! Biting! hmm...the pretty little girl with long blond hair and blue eyes, in seriousness looked at Sarah and I and said. "I'm half vampire, and I bit my sister's hand and tasted her sweet juicy blood."

Elisha's Bones

2010-10-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Recently in my devotions I was reading about the story of Elisha, well actually about his death. What I read was so incredibly inspiring. Its only a few verses, but a neat story in its own. These are a few of the thoughts I had on it.

II Kings 13
20. Then Elisha died and was buried. Every Spring, bands of Moabites would invade Israel. 21 One time they came when the Israelites were in the midst of a funeral. The people saw the Moabites coming and quickly threw the body into Elisha's tomb and ran. As soon as the body touched the bones of Elisha, the man came back to life stood up and walked out!

Wow God, You can work in some strange was to us. So what happened to this guy? Did he testify? Did God continue to have plans for his life? I sure hope the Moabites didn't kill him and he died again. He must have lived to have the story to tell. I guess I'll just have to ask when I get to heaven.

Then there is Elisha's Bones. The man who asked a double portion of the Holy Spirit to be upon him. It was so powerful that the Spirit was still with him in death. wow! God does not forget His loyal servants even in death.
But then I had to ask, how much am I willing to follow God to pray and ask for what Elisha had?
II Kings 2:9
...So he said to Elisha " What would you like me to do for you, before I leave?" Elisha answered "I pray that I'll receive a double portion of the Holy Spirit the Lord has given you."

Money that grew on a tree

2010-10-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

interesting to see people's reactions, so what would you do?

Looking at Water

2010-09-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

what will I see when I look at the image reflecting back at me?
will I see the out-side, or the inside?

A Day on Maternity Floor

2010-09-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks, its been back to school for me and I've been learning tons, and had some pretty exciting experiences so I thought I would write and share about it. This is my maternity nursing rotation and I've been enjoying it, although not sure if it's my cup of tea just yet. :)

6:08 a.m. in puzzled wonderment I open my eyes and wounder why the sky is so bright at five in the morning....What!6:08 a.m. It can't be! my feet are hitting the floor and I grab my clinical cloths/papers&keys and fly out the door. My worst fear has come true for nursing school!! I've over slept and I was suppose to be at school, like right now! I am pray Lord please get me to school safely and please let the instructor have mercy. I had promptly 7 minutes to get to school! school is 30 minutes away. Lets just say I was too scared to look at my speedometer.
By the time I arrived at the hospital I had so much adrenaline pumping through my body that is didn't didn't wear off till 3 in the afternoon which was actually a benefit, compared to my classmates who were still sleepy eyed, complaining of need for coffee.
Thanks to God I arrived on 3rd floor, maternity ward, ready to go!
The army of white and navy blue uniforms swarm into the nursery to find their tiny little patients. Perfect little figures clasp around mine, I wounder at how amazing to see something so tiny unique and perfectly made by God. I am handed a pair of stethoscopes and have to learn quickly to count really fast! A baby's heart beats 120-160 a minute! Try keeping up with that.
I draw up 0.5 ML of Hep B. vaccination. A little nervous I look at the tiny thigh I am to inject it into. To be honest two thoughts run through my head ,...act like you know what your doing every body is watching...second, this isn't Gent's horse-hide I am giving an IM to. (this summer at camp I had to give a horse an IM injection) Gave the injection no problems although I feel a little guilty as the baby cry's and I hope he'll forgive me.
Next we head to post-pardum floor to meet the baby's mom. My mind has to take a double as I have to remember I am not a med surge floor, where the patients there are over 45 and look pail and feeble. I almost wounder why is this healthy person in the hospital...oh right she just had a baby!
The rest of the morning consist of taking care of mom and doing(A Lot) of teaching. Teaching mom about taking care of her-self and baby. I just learned this info last week, and all of this I've never experienced my-self, makes me feel like a hypocrite. But I ask God just give me the confidence to teach what they need to know.

11:55 hey Katie I hear, come with me your going to surgery with me!I follow on my classmates heals through the labor and delivery doors and wounder what kind of world I just stepped into! Brenda has been in here all morning and she gives me a five minute intro as we walk down the hall. We're going to watch a C-section! she shows me the gowns and mask to put on, as our patient is brought into the OR. Watching the spinal block be put in was pretty fascinating. But when the doctor started cutting I wondered if my stomach was going to stay where it was suppose to. However fascination and the desire to know and learn drew me into to watch. The doctors' skilled hands brought a baby girl to the out side world. Tiny and slimy she let the world know she had arrived by a lusty cry. Her dad creeps over to say hi, touching her toes and watching her wriggle I saw a look of terrified joy on his face. Amazingly excited to see his new daughter yet scared to death to realize she was now his responsibility. The nurse is stamping her feet, and rapping her in warm blankets. She then hands the baby to dad so he can take her over to mom.

Should I tell the the rest of the experiences the blood and well to say it body parts I saw? only read this next part if you want to.
The doctor's hands suddenly disperse back inside the abdomen and emerge with a red muscular organ, I have too look at the baby for a minute or I just might loose my stomach. This is standered procedure I know, the doctors do this, they take the uterus out of the body make sure no remaining parts from birth are left inside and than proceed to stitch it up. At this I have a greater appreciation for skin! how it holds every thing inside and were it's suppose to be. They proceed to put it back in the body and continue to sew, till the last layer of tissue and skin is closed. procedure over, Mom and baby are doing fine.

Holding an infant my arms I study his perfect little face in blissful sleep. what will his life be like I wounder?. Will he find God on his journey through life? will he know the love of God is near him? I send a prayer heaven ward, Lord bless this child of yours. He's your miracle. Be near him through out all his life!

What a privilege it is to be able to watch life come into this world, and what greater value I have for the precious gift of life!

May 22,2010

2010-05-22T19:22:00.000-07:00

Destination: High Peaks, Nipple Top and Dial
Miles hiked: 13
Time: 7 hours
Hikers: Andrew, Teddy and Katie
Number of snowballs thrown at me: Don't know they all flew at me when I came around the corner.
Hardest point: probably going down.
Most memorable..."Alice Paul!,"... "Hey, anyone want to eat more food," (all of us packed too much food on the trip.) Beating both the guys to the top of Dial.
Person who should have been on hike: Jackie!
View from the top: Amazing!

Sleeping and Personalities

2010-05-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

I came across this information and found it kind of interesting. So I am wondering how true this research really is? Does how you sleep, really show your personality? lol you never thought what you did in your sleep reveals things about who you are? haha, well...I wounder, seems I talk in my sleep might be scary to know what I reveal unconsciously. :P
I find that I am a person who rotates from sleeping in the starfish to the fetus position, depending on how cold/hot I am. the Personality traits with both positions are pretty true of my-self interestingly enough. :p
The log and soldier positions fascinate me. Who would find those positions comfortable is beyond me, but I guess every one is entitled to their sleep.
so what do you think? The way a person sleeps turns out to show something about their personality. Maybe a new trend of getting to know people is just by watching to see how they sleep. :p

"Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.

* Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

* Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.

* Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

* Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

* Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

* Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/what-does-your-sleep-position-reveal-about-your-personality-1338293/
What does your sleep position reveal about your personality?

2010-04-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Today, I looked at the back of my Snapple juice drink and noticed that it said proudly "10% Juice". I'm scared about the other 90%. MLIA"

Who's Face will I Miss?

2010-04-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Ever have the feeling you just missed it? You just missed your chance. The chance to say "Hey, do you know my Lord?"
A prayer I prayed in a hurry this morning cause I realized I was late for class. "Lord please use me to show your love today."
4 hours later and hurrying to the cafe to get some not so healthy food. I shivered as I tried to decide if the precipitation was rain or snow. On the walk I passed a women carting two bags of clothes toted down with a the weight of them or was it an unseen weight? We did the eye contact, glance away sidewalk greeting. The thought of HOT food was screaming in my mind so loudly, I realized 2 steps too late I'd missed it, I'd missed my chance to say " Hey you need some help? let me carry one those bags for you."
Oh Lord please give me another chance, give her another chance. I don't want to reach home and miss a face I passed.

wilderness camping(never forget this)

2010-04-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

Tea-ya!!!

2010-04-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

Tea-ya apparently sounds like "Aunt Katie"...I find my-self amazed at what a niece and two nephew's can convince me to do. However it's all worth it hear them yelling Tea-ya and gigging while running out the front door begging me to come play. :D

Paid in Full

2010-04-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

Blue lights flashed in my rear-view mirror..."oh great, here it comes" I thought, as I had a feeling of dread come over me. This is not my day and not my moment.
Coming back to camp from visiting a church I had been lost in thought and simply fallowing the cars in front of me. I had not really been paying attention to my speed. Humiliated and embarrassed to have friends in the car as well. I felt like a kid getting scolded when the officer asked me "do you know why I pulled you over?" "I was going to fast wasn't I?" I answered back, trying not to sound flustered and annoyed.
He took my license and registration like they always do and then came back with a white paper. "slow down okay, and if you ask for to be reduced points I may consider it," he told me.
"Ok" I said. I drove off driving like an old granny going a respectable speed under the speed limit this time.
So I did ask for a reduced point violation and received a note saying accepted request, due fine payment of $150. well I wasn't excited about paying the $150 but I wasn't going to complain cause he had reduced my speeding points to a no point parking ticket. Paying the fine I didn't think much more of it, and just pondered why they never gave me a receipt but figured they hadn't come looking for me or the money so why bother.
Then I was going through the mail this week I found a letter from the Saranac village court. Opening it, was a note saying, your account was already paid in full. we are returning your money order of $150.
Paid in full? How? by whom? and Why? I am still puzzled and pondering who would know about my fine and why they would pay it. Or was it simply a mistake? do you think God has checks of his own? If the state wasn't intended to get the $150, than whom is? I do not deserve it, I broke the law. I didn't not expect anyone to pay for my punishment. Yet with the money I am now entrusted with, what purpose should it be used for?
The fact that I opened this piece of mail on Easter remind me of a greater payment that I owe. Do I fully realize the fine I must pay? do I realize the consequence of my actions when I commit a sin, "daily?" why do I take it lightly? I know I didn't take my state fine lightly, but it seems to me the fine of death is a lot bigger than a $150.
However when I realize deep my debt is the greater love, praise and rejoicing I have for my Christ, who died to pay, my fine of death.

A Moment Captured

2010-03-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Good Earth

2010-03-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Interesting Classic...good for culture, history, agriculture,and sociology, if you ever find time on your hands. :P

My Passion

2010-03-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

People who meet me and ask me what do you like to do? will know two things.
One I love skiing.
Second I love skiing so much, I want everyone else to love it just as much as I do! If they are already enjoy skiing they have just become my new best friend. If they give me a..."well I've never tried...seems kinda dangerous" stammering speech, they soon will become my newest victim to drag out to a ski slope, tell them they must strap pointed, long, and slippery things to their feet. Then proceed to point those things strapped to their feet, down a steep hill. Mean while I am excitingly telling them they are about to experience one of the greatest moment's in their lives!

My passion for skiing started when I was a kid. I remember my dad excitedly taking me to the ski slopes when I was big enough to learn. He first took me down the bunny hill. I remember thinking this bunny hill is HUGE, how am I going to get down this? But my dad would be right behind me and hold onto my coat, not letting me go to fast. First he taught me how to snow plow, then how to turn. I remember he stayed with me all day on the bunny hill teaching me how to ski.

The day that is planned to go skiing, I wake up excited! If I wasn't 20 and now considered an adult, I'd probably be dancing around the house like a little girl who just got a pony and pink ribbons. I love it all the snow, the wind, the slippery skis, the trees, the jump to get some air, the race to the bottom, the silly moments of laughter, but most of all the friends and family that make skiing all the fun!

This weekend as I got to go probably for the last time this season, the thought struck me, "The same passion and excitement I have for skiing, I want to have for Christ, for every one I meet I want them to know...
One I love Christ.
Second I love Him so much, that I want everyone else to love Him just as much and beyond what I do.

Maybe you love snowboarding instead, but has this thought struck you? "I want this kind of excitement that I have about snowboarding(or whatever it might be) to be a hundred times greater in my passion for Christ!!

The Old Farmer Had Something to Say...

2010-02-19T16:26:00.000-08:00

I read this in a Christmas letter (a few months ago)and thought it was worth sharing.Those of you who know what Farm life is like will probably get a laugh out of this. Remember though when someone shares "good" advice its good to put it to practice don't think it will hurt any to give it a try. :D

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

A Love Story

2010-02-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

This past week in clinical, I got to see a beautiful thing. Though it was through a sad circumstance, I found it amazing to watch.

Molly (name changed) was my assigned patient, an elderly women diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease needing total care. She stared at me in bewilderment, as I readied her for the day. She began to cry as she realized she was lost and couldn't remember why. Where had her life, her memory gone? She cried because she couldn't do the simple task of putting a shirt on by her self. It is a humiliating thing to lose the ability to take care of ones' self. I tried to distract her with cheery comments as I helped her to her chair for breakfast.
"My husband was a good man, but he's not here, and he left me in this place," Molly tells me, "but I wait. The man he's coming this morning to see me."
The nurses tell me Molly's husband comes in every morning, and sure enough at about ten o'clock an elderly man comes down the hall with a bag full of letters and a cat tucked under his arm... He introduces himself to me as James (name changed), Molly's husband, and willingly offers to have me come join him and his wife for the morning. He winks to me and say's "This is her therapy that I go over with her every day." He takes her to a quiet room, and sets the cat on the table. Now to tell you about this cat he has bought her: it's orange and white, with long and lush fur, and contently purrs and meows by battery.
Being near her husband, and the simple act of petting the fake animal seems to calm her. A huge change has come over this women who was lost and depressed just a few minutes ago. Now it seems that she has suddenly come alive.
He sings to her the songs they once sang to each other. He turns on the radio to the oldies station, takes her out to the middle of the floor, and they dance around and around in circles.
He'll then take her hand and guide her down the carpeted, generic halls of the nursing home for their morning walk.
He takes her to the dinning area to see the fake roses and irises. She smiles at the colors, not realizing they're dollar store fake flowers.
He sees that her back is in pain from walking so far, and so he sets her in a wheel chair. Back down the hall and back to the quiet room again, he pulls out cards and letters from old friends who have written an encouraging word to her. At last he pulls out a card that he himself had written to her on an anniversary years ago. She reads it aloud to him: "...If I had to live life over again I would do it with you, because you are my best friend. With love, James"
He implores her, "Who is that? Who wrote this card to you?" She smiles... "James." "And who is James?" he asks. "My husband," she tells him with spunk in her voice. "Then who is he?" he asks. She nudges him with her elbow, "Well you!" For a moment a smiles breaks his faces and he knows he has her for just that moment. Although she does not always recognize this man as her husband, she know this man has loved her, loves her now and always will love her.

I leave them for a while to go to lunch. As I come back, I see James' mind is weary. Keeping an up-beat attitude for his wife has drained his energy. They are holding hands as she finishes her lunch. He tells her, "Hon, I am going to go get my lunch and take a nap, but I'll be back at 3 o'clock." "Okay," she replies, and he kisses her. As he leaves her side, he doesn't tell me in words, but his eyes tell me, "Take care of her while I am gone. She's my life!" His shoulders sag just a little and his gait quickly carries him out to escape the surroundings of the nursing home. He is mentally fighting the fact that he is losing his companion. He will not give up a moment to spend with her; he knows each moment is a gift. He keeps fulfilling his vow: in sickness and in health 'til the last breath is breathed.

God has shown me more of Himself through this couple; it is an inspiration to see what love can do. I didn't want this to be a Valentine's Day story, but rather to show that God can write beautiful love stories through His people. He created Man and Woman together to show the world how powerful a family with God in it can be, to shine a light to the darkness.

As I think more about their story, James reminded me of Christ: every day coming to us, helping us to remember "Him."

What's Going on at the Ford's House: Part ll

2010-02-11T05:00:00.001-08:00

So it's been about six months since the remolding/addition has started on our house so I have decided to update with a tour of the construction. There has been plenty of hammering, banging, clanging, stomping, sawing, air compressors, dirt and dust and plenty of crazy events. For instance a bookcase falling over make a large crash and a huge mess, our little white dog still finds Teddy's boot tasty every Monday, I randomly get called to hold a board or measuring tape, my poor friend finds her self trapped in the bedroom after my dad started to jack the house up and resulting in the door jamming in the frame, you generally find yourself tripping over any sort of object when walking in Teddy's work space, walls are chain sawed out, I am surprised at this point my Dad and Teddy haven't brought home the entire Jay K Lumber yard and Lowe's store. Anyhow here's what it looks like...

The Beekeeper's Daughter

2010-02-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Yep that’s right my dad keeps bees. For about 13 years now I’ve been labeled as the beekeeper’s daughter. Now I am not saying it’s a bad thing, I’ve just run into a couple very interesting and sticky situations over the years…

The most frequently asked question I get is….”Have you ever been bit by a bee?”
(Now by this question I wonder if these people have taken biology at some point) I simply reply “nope, never been bit by a bee” …at this, they look at me with a very confused look but know for some reason, asking another question will place them in the category of "uneducated". I take pity and decide instruct them on what they seem to be lacking. “I’ve been STUNG by bees before.” I tell them “but never bit”

The second question I get is “So do you like honey?” I have to laugh. “Sure, I like it, I don’t eat a jar a day, but I like it.”

“Do you ever go out and work with the bees too?” they ask. I love the look on their face when I tell them “yep, I’ve been helping out since I can remember. And yes I have one of those white astronaut, marshmallow, Ku Klux, Klan, snowmen suits AKA bee suit” (note people have actually called our suits these names before)

The people who have passed biology ask some of these questions.
“How do you transport bees?” “Well we put the hives on a tractor trailer and away they go.”
“How do you keep them on the truck?” “A really big net”
How do bees know which house is theirs? “Well God gave them built in GPS”

To know what a few random every day events of my life is like…
I try to decipher the Russian lady’s order for honey on the phone…just hope I got the order right!! Arh!

My mom hopes some where out there is a beekeepers son...Me, not quite so sure about that plan.

After about 115+ trips from NY-> SC -> NY -> SC -> ME ->NY –>SC over and over again…well its no big deal at this point its like running to the grocery store.
(for those who don’t know, my family takes the honey bees south for the winter)

My dad tells me putting a few thousand labels on honey jars is just like putting stickers on letters. I use to be a big sticker fan and loved collecting them when I was a kid, some how they never seemed to be equivalent to stickers.

The local post office manager groans when he sees me arriving with 8 honey pails weighing 65.lb. For this means he must lift them all up on his scales and weigh each one to be mailed out.

Honey…well I am no longer surprised at where I find it…
Honey on my elbow, resulting in sticking to the table.
Honey on my shoes, results in me strapping my shoes to my feet to keep them on.
Honey on my fingers resulting in a sticky doorknob, light switch, facet...
Honey in my hair, ok I just give up.

But I have to say a little honey every day and life is sweet... :D

Winter...

2010-01-23T16:42:00.000-08:00

I've always wondered why people use winter for an example of dead, depressing, or cold hearts ect. Instead for me I've always felt winter was a season full of love, joy, peace but most of all, Life! So I have decided to share why I believe this and hopefully winter won't seem so cold for you.

Whether it's from the first soft snow that falls on golden autumn leaves or the crystallized snowbank hiding from spring's sunshine, I've always been excited about winter.
Laughter begins with...
snow ball fights
when the sleds are brought out
building a jolly snowman
a thrill to ski down a mountain,
skating on ice,
or hiking out in the snow to find a peace in the woods!

I wake in the morning to find the trees out side my window dusted in magic white dresses; and on the days that the wind has blown away those beautiful dresses the trees stand true and strong never bowing or lowering their self to the winds furry.
The frost that gathers on the window is more detailed than any art I have seen. Ice-sickles are like friendly chums that glisten and drip on sunny days.
The deer stare at me, asking whether they should flee or stay to hunt for left over apple on my lawn.
Chickadees and nuthatches brave a cheery song in the winter chill to remind me I too can sing an life's chilly days.

The morning's crisp cold air burns my lungs, and my ears and cheeks become pink. But the coldness breaths life to my sleepy body and I feel fully alert by the time I reach my class, which I am grateful for.
On Cold and bitter days, I hide away with a book and a friend or family to read aloud to each other. By the wood stove we toast our chilly toes and sip hot chocolate with warm home baked goodies. I enjoy these moments... for winter gives me a gift, the time, to spend with the ones I care about.
Holidays indeed bring a special feeling of their own. Thanksgiving and Christmas are rejoicing times with family, friends and plenty of food, why we wait for once a year to express our blessing or praise our Savior I don't know.
A New Year, oh how exciting! best wishes are sent out for happiness and health! Valentines day make the boys shy and the girls blush.
Easter may bring a few last flakes but the snow is like a final clothing of white pureness before God's creation of new life.

When snowflakes float down I believe they are each a gift from God. His way of saying "From Me: To You. I feel like a child again. I feel like dancing in circles but instead I am found standing still to study each one.

My favorite days, are days that the sun shines on the wintery world. The sun's warming essence gives me the hope that the cold will not last forever. As it sparkles on the thousands of snowflakes they come alive sparkling as if it was God's own throne room. In the evenings God tells the sun to leave one more gift for us. I've tried about 20 times to think of how to describe it cause "sunset" just doesn't fit and not matter how hard a camera can try, it can never catch the true picture. However, next time the sun is setting on a winter wounder land take the time to enjoy it and you'll have your own picture.

No, I rather see winter as a time of life not death. Call me crazy, but I just thought I would share winter through the eyes of an optimist. :D

Theraputic Communication, My Fellow Nurses.

2010-01-14T14:14:00.000-08:00

As I sat in a 5 hr. class today about the topic of therapeutic communication(Starting to wish I never heard those two words) I have less understanding and reasoning of it then I did before! (part may be due to my teacher) So I have decide to ask you my friends who are Nurses: and those of you who wish to put an input and are not nurses that's fine too. But I just want to know what your thoughts are on it. For I feel naive to this content. Some how I am torn between "the theory" of how to communicate therapeutically and the real life with my own experience. However most importantly I wish to know How a Christian nurse should use therapeutic communication.

So as a nurse...our role is to help our patients get better...this includes finding out whats wrong, working out a plan, implementing, and evaluating! Nurses are working for the client not them-selves, and So we listen to our patients this is the rules of nursing. Abide by them and your a good nurse...I understand this, I realize the reasoning and agree with them....except for therapeutic communication...

We are taught to say, "How are you feeling today?" "What makes you feel that way?"..."Go on tell me more"....I agree my job is to listen, not to say "I know how you feel." But I asked my teacher then...what about giving a story? What about being real and sharing how there is hope and strength to be found to keep going. Can it not be an encouragement to others to share a sincere story? For me personally I find an inspiration in testimonies shared to inspire and encourage us on life's path!
No! we as RNs are never allowed to share that! No the NCLEX, the Hospital, the Doctor,the Psychiatrist, the Teacher they tell us NO!

Nurses are told to let the patient answer their own Questions, let them think about it. Sure I agree, but how can they find the answer when they are continually on a cycle of un-advised. How would I find the answers as a child if I had not had the guidance of my parents. Are they to be continually uneducated? Is advice so far out there that we can not give it?

When it comes to the place where words can be given to encourage and uplift. Can they not be used to therapeutically help our patients heal? What did our greatest Healer of all use?
Matt.5:2-12 "And He opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

...is it so wrong to share Faith, Hope and Love?

I may be just a freshmen nursing student with little experience, but I am a Christian Freshmen Nursing Student.

My Grampie

2010-01-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

Gathering in the small room around Grampie’s bed my family and I sang Christmas carols to him. As we sang Silent Night I wondered at all the love in that tiny room and how blessed I was to enjoy and know my grandfather for nineteen years. As my mom and I held his hand memories flooded over me...

As a kid, the most exciting highlight of the summers was when Grampie and Grammie came to visit for a whole month! I remember waiting in anticipation for the day that they were to arrive. When that day came I would be watching out the window to see their truck and camper pull into the driveway. Racing outside I would dance with excitement as I waited my turn to give Grampie, Grammie and Aunt Tay the biggest hug I had.What fun and exciting summers those were when they came and spoiled my siblings and me, as grandparents always do.
so many memories I have of spending time with my Grampie. He taught me how to play catch, He always told me "keep your eye on the ball, you won't miss if you keep watching for it." then when we got too hot we would sit in the cool shade of our maple trees, drinking some lemonade. I loved to go fishing with him, he'd get out his fishing poles and that ever fascinating lure box. He'd then bait the hooks for me and tell me "keep an eye out for the bobber, when it starts to jump around start reeling in the line."
Sometimes when we went to Grammie and Grampie's house in North Carolina, I'd sit next to him on the couch, he'd be reading his book and I'd be reading mine.Or I'd watch him scraping his plate clean, and then smiling at Grammie saying, "Mmm, my favorite place to eat is Harriet's kitchen"
One time my cousins and I decided to go on an adventure down the hill from my grandparents house to the maintenance building, to see Grampie at work. However we forgot to tell our mom's we where going and upon arriving home we got in pretty big trouble. But the trip was well worth the punishment.
Tears spilled over as I realized my time was becoming short with my Grampie, I'll be missing you Grampie, I'll miss you saying "Hey Kate!" when I walk in the door, I'll miss you being so proud when I made straight A's for a semester. It was so much of an honor to know you were proud of me. I'll miss you for the big moments of my life someday having an RN cap, wearing a white dress or taking my own children fishing.
Grampie I love and miss you so much, but I am watching into the window of the skies for the Lord to return to wake you up and take us both home! Oh how I'll dance with joy to be able to once again give you the biggest hug I have!
.

Shoe Shine

2009-12-18T17:46:00.000-08:00

A memory I have as a kid was a chore I had. It was my job to polish my dad and brother’s Sabbath shoes. I remember taking great pride in this job. I don’t know why I liked such a dirty job but I think it was mostly because I got to visibly see the difference of before and after. I would sit on the rug next to our warm wood stove and take the old rag first to wipe of either the mud or salt depending on the season. It always seemed my brother had the most mud on his(probably because he would run out side right after church) I would then take the polish and shine them till they sparkled.
Then the best part was when I proudly presented the shoes to my brother. He would give me a squeeze and say “Thanks Katie they look great!”
A simple childhood memory reminds me, always take pride in even the simplest tasks and polish it till it shines!

Peruvian prank or hola from amios!?!

2009-10-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Hello....static.. I hear some more shuffling and I repeat more Hello's. I am about ready to hang up, but decided to hang on just another minute to see if the connection will work out. I hear "Katie Ford!" and familiar voices greets me over the phone. Yes can it be half way around the world I hear the laughter of two friends!
Ah two friends have decided to call to see what I am up to!! They tell me about their exciting adventures in the jungle and about the wonderful pineapples and mangoes they are enjoying with out me. Yep Andrew still runs however he finds that he must do it in the morning because of it being so hot. And apparently Ever thought my pizza was pretty good cause 5 months later I still hear about it. I ask about the Spanish/English lessons well I guess its a learning process. I can't wait till there will be heavenly language and no static. However there is one language that I clearly understand is laughter its contagious and just simply good. I figured out the mystery animal! ah so much to say in so little of time, we all want to ask a million questions from each other. I wish I was there even if it was just a day.
lol I am sure you are laughing as you read this Andrew and Ever, but I have to say that was about one of the most fun phone call I've ever received! :D

Just a few thoughts

2009-09-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

sometimes when we go to church and they ask for money, we may think "oh their just trying to get my money!" but when we go to the store and take a look at the clearance rack...we never think "they are trying to take our money. oh course they are just trying to give me a good deal!"

The earthly things we buy and stock up on, well they simply fade away get lost, forgotten, broken, stained. these things never make me happy at night, I never lay in bed at night thinking, "I'm so glad I have this!"
But the money I give away, the things I give away, I always remember! I remember what, when and who I gave it to.

It is better to store up treasure in heaven then here on a rotting world.

What’s going on at the Ford’s house!?!

2009-09-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

Arriving home from camp this summer was an adventure in its self. This story actually starts before I was even born. My parents bought an older farm house, with the intentions of fixing it up. However this fixing up process has been going on for over 20 years!
When I got home my parents excitedly planned their newest remolding project. Dig out the basement, add a PORCH! And add 12 FEET to the house!! Little did I know at this was really going to go into action and little did I know how many people would be suddenly involved in this project! And still I have yet to know what the extra 12 feet are for.

6:00 A.M.! (now don’t get me wrong I am a typical morning person, but I was enjoying having the luxury of sleeping in just a bit later than what I would wake up to at camp.) I am woken up to a very annoying beep Beep BEEP!!(and this didn’t have a snooze button). The construction men had come to dig a hole in my back yard with a backhoe and dump truck. Yes I said “a hole.” With the construction vehicles cluttering my lawn, tearing up the grass and boxing me in; I decided I’ll take my school books and escape to school.
When I placidly arriving home and thoughts on nurse/client care, I take a lark in the back yard with my dog; to almost fall into hole going to china. I skid to a stop at the very edge I peer over into the hole I see my dad and Teddy(who is helping us with this project) working laboriously away, “are you searching for treasure I ask?” they just laugh at me.

The next day after coming home from school I find that the hole has grown to the in the front yard and around the side of the house. I start to wonder if this going to be a castle with a mote around it. I hadn’t thought my dad was that serious about waging a war with every young man who comes to seek my attention.
However, I believe my dad saw that the dog may be more affective in chasing off the gallant knights than searching for a sea monster to put in the mote. And so the hole was soon filled in with brick, forms and cement, and the house had made progress.

Speaking of the dog, who is very confused at this commotion feels it is his job to saw off people’s lower legs to let them know, this is his house and not to mess with it. fortunately for most of the legs that were sliced into, are protected with work boots and sturdy jeans.

However the next predicament started with the windows. Poor Teddy has spent hours trying to level and square our windows, but that is nearly impossible with an old slanted farm house. The first set of windows he put in was of different sizes, so that it looks extremely unlevel. Teddy is a perfections and could not stand this so he finally convinced my dad(who is not a perfectionist) to fix the problem. But then my mom decided to take a look and added “why not just take one out and make this one bigger.” Ok so out come both windows. Now these two windows face the road and they are also the two windows that are in our dining area. If you know my mom she is an amazing cook and had lunch ready for the guys. Now remember BOTH windows are out and with PLENTY of view of the road. Pretty soon we see our (nosy) neighbor whom has been getting plenty of excitement watching our remolding project go up, come driving by. He cranes his neck out of his car window as he grins waves vigorously to us through our wide open dining area.
After lunch my dad decides the fastest way to fix the window’s framing is to use the chain saw! To mom and I this is no big deal…chain saw ideas is just something that dad does. However my friend Elizabeth who is also stay at my house had never met someone who CHAIN Saws through their house!! Wood chips fly every where as she stares wide eyed and yells to me to Come quick and bring your camera!!

So this is the state of the Ford’s house, the remolding and construction continues on and I wonder if this will be the last year our house is an ongoing project….

Laugh a little

2009-09-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

The original stress reliever ....Laughter!

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job 8:21

Playing the "I" game

2009-08-21T19:03:00.002-07:00

Flipping through some books on our shelves I came across one from the 60's a psychology book on how to make friends and influence people....hmm I thought I wounder how interesting this could be, just to give it a kick, I skipped around in it and read a bit.
The book talked about how to be a good conversationalist. What is a good conversationalist? To sum it up, its basically being a good listener.
Well I thought to my-self I know people's favorite person is always "me, my self and I" so...the next day I tried an experiment...

I sat down to eat lunch with one of my new class mates...I asked her a few questions about her self, general stuff...where she was from, what she did for work, where she went to school before...need I say more? No, the rest of the meal I hardly got two words in. And even by the end I was getting just a bit annoyed for not being able to talk about "Me" I chided my self when I realized what I was thinking-

I hadn't really cared about hearing that she worked at the pizza place, or about her long distance relationship. However I thought about this as I drove home from school. As a human race how far have we fallen into selfishness and pride, I see it a lot in my school, I hear conversations I do not even want to hear or imagine. Conversations are filled with mindless chatter and degrading to the human intelligence (at least to mine). How often do people take a genuine interest in someone else life, of others' thoughts and opinions? I had to ask myself How did Jesus talk in His conversations and how did he listen to people as they talked? taking a look at myself I realized, I have fallen short of a good Christian conversationalist. Lord please let it not be "I" but "You" and "Others!"

Horsein Around

2009-08-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

what adventures you can have when you work at the horse barn...so here are just a few of them... :) hope you enjoy this horse staff, ;-)

The first thing that always makes me wounder is why on earth you put children with animals that have the mind capacity of a 6 year old and are about 800-1000 pounds. why? I ask my-self, but we do.

"can I ride pixie," "I want to ride Pixie," "no I asked first"..."I WANT Queenie," "I am going to ride Yankee,please Please!!!" "I am not going to ride Red," "I want to ride Abby." All rings in my ears I wish I could climb the flag pole to escape the crowd that clamors around me squeezing in tighter, tighter, they pull on my sleeves. gasping for air,I call out roll call. then bracing my-self I desperately try to keep the kids charge up to the horse barn, over the fence cantering into the stalls.

You know you've worked to long at the horse barn when you start calling the riders the horse's names and the horse the rider's name.

You adjust stirrups for the billionth time and give the rider on Pixie a crash course in 5 seconds on how to steer the horse. While Red wanders out of his stall and his rider is yelling to me, "my horse is backing up!! what do I DO!!" while at the same time Gent and Kiwi are having a squabble over personal space issues.

The real adventures start when your on the trail and the horse trot through the mud...I here shouts of WHOA WHOA Queenie! I grit my teeth as I see her rider pull the reins up past his chin, as he clings to the the saddle horn with a white knuckles.
Then there are the adventures with...
Gent and Yankee, they hungrily eye the leafy branches that grace our trails. They wait wait...then yank their heads around at the right moments and shred the innocent trees of their leaves. If Yankee happens to see the fern bed that is rich with vitamins and fiber he dives in into the mist of them and up roots as many as he can before the drag rider can call to his rider to "tighten up the reins" tearing Yankee's tongue away from the leafy deliciousness.

Pixie what an Innocent name you would think... A calm spirit, a dusky brown color with a long tail and mane she seems so relaxed...but ah don't be fooled the adventure campers will warn you that she for sure was trying to kill them by barrelling straight through the brush and nearly knocked them off by going so close to the trees.

Queenie and Yankee made good friends with two crafty girls this summer and begged me every day if they could visit the craft house.
There is Thunder hooves Abby who has tried to kiss Alex however he strictly told her that was unacceptable!
...oh and don't ride George bare-back, at least not un-till he gets a little more meat on his bones, hmm...need I say more?

yet there is one more lark I must add(since Alex did bring it up in one of our conversations)
once upon a time there was lots of water and lots of dirt in our stable area, this was so thick, that when trekking across it you had to yank one foot out at a time...and on some occasion by the time you reached your destination you may find to your dismay, you left your boot about ten steps back. the only comforting thought as the mud squeezed between your toes, as you trekked back for the boot, was that the soil was well fertilized and for sure you was grow tall and strong. However thanks to my parents for make it possible for us to have gravel for this area, we no longer have to worry about growing too tall.

there is quiet a few more adventures I am sure our four legged friends could tell if they could blog...do ask them however to tell a story to you... :)

2009-07-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

"I don't want to, Katie!" I had heard for the about the hundredth time, Well I don't want to hear you say that one more time, I growled to my self! and I am changing my name, its no longer Katie!!
One of my adventure campers had been wining pretty much from the day that she had arrived. And was trying my patience to the core. Each morning I prayed God please give me wisdom and patience for this camper. Each day I prodded her along, scolded her, coaxed her, sympathized with her and disciplined her.As I worked with her I began to think about how God does the same to us.
we wine we say we can't, we say God am not good I DONT want to!
But God says no you can't, but I can give you the power to. how much patience He has for us, when we complain...how He never tires of us being children is beyond me.Thank you Lord for being patience with this child. :)

Jungle Thorns

2009-06-18T08:39:00.001-07:00

As I was walking on a jungle trail, and I had been observing everything around me; fascinated by all the new and exciting things to look at. I was hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of some jungle birds or maybe even a monkey if possible. However I was failing to watch where I walked. Across my path lay a jungle vine which is guarded by very sharp and plentiful needles, and anything that comes in contact with it can have a very painful experience. It grabbed my ankles and before I could escape it’s clutches, it left a ragged and bleeding wound there. Yelping in pain, and sputtering at the at the cursed plant I hobbled down the rest of the trail.
So many times in life we get distracted by things around us, we watch the more exciting views, rather than our own paths. When we are distracted from the path that God has set before us, Satan can cleverly set his snares in our path way that can leave us wounded and bleeding.

A Task Before Me...

2009-06-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

PR ok, I thought I can do that. Can't be that hard right? programming probably involves papers, pictures and coming up with ideas, and whatever ease they throw at me. One small detail I forgot to consider, IT'S IN SPANISH!
Jenni excitedly chats with me, telling me how excited she is to have me help her. still clueless that I had spent $600 on a plane ticket to come do, I smile at Jenni's commit.
"Come over to my house when you're finished eating breakfast." she tells me. "Ok" I reply, blissfully launching into my food.
I march over to her house to receive my work, a notebook, a hole puncher and a stack of receipts a foot high! little did I know how many hours I would be spending hunting, punching, filing, and cross checking with the computer's list! I was to receive a head ache to every fifteen receipts. And at one point I fell asleep filing them, to have Ever telling me "Wake Up, you still have more to do!"
65% of the receipts would be missing, meaning I would have to hunt for about ten minutes to make sure it didn't get shuffled and then if I couldn't still find I would mark the number in color in the computer and later go back to fill in the receipt by hand. then there would be random receipts that just appeared to have no home. what was I to do with them? Yes I came all the way to Peru to file receipts written in Spanish. How insane could I be?

I stared at Francis who sat across the table from me. dirt and grim staining his clothes and sweat dripping off him. within three hours of arriving in Pucallpa, by air, he was handed a machete that was to be his companion for the next three weeks. He would be spending hours in the hot sun attacking weedy invaders on the pineapple the lemon, and the yucca field. I wondered, God you sent us here to file receipts and banish weeds? why not something exciting like construct a building or help some one with a health issue. I wanted to touch a life in some small way.
But as I question God he reminds me patiently that He is trusting me with the small things and if I can achieve the small things, He will give me bigger things to tackle.
And so I wait for the next mission that God will set before me and I Pray it will not be receipts again but if it so, I know how to tackle it. And if you ask me if I would go back? I would go back on the soonest flight out.

The Peruvian Way

2009-06-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

•Flying into Pucallpa, over grass huts and tin roofs, you wonder what on earth you got your-self into.

•Your juice is given to you in a bag, and you simply drink it by biting a corner of it and sucking on it.

•Everyone stares at you; especially if you’re a girl- the guys will whistle or cat call you if you’re not walking with a guy.

•You hug the girl with pink-eye anyways.

•You get kisses on the cheek.

•Chicken is actually pretty good as long as you don’t think about where it came from.

•I don’t suggest coming to Peru if you’re a germ phobia. A lot of times you just tell yourself it’s clean.

•Carpooling is defined as three in the front, four in the back, and five in the bed of the truck with the weed-whackers and a stove.

•Lightning is beautiful at night, and you fall asleep watching fireflies dance above your mosquito net.

•Taking a bucket shower takes talent…especially if you have long hair.

•Be prepared to bring your own TP.

•French fries are better than McDonalds.

•Your lawn mower is your arm and a metal thing called a machete: warning first time use of a machete may result in blisters.

•A mop is your own invention.

•A battle with ants is an all out war.

•Washing machines are very portable, they are attached to your arms and they function with a bar of soap.

•Cold Papaya is like a piece of heaven.

•Peruvians have an awesome sense of humor.

•Don’t wear shorts when you’re macheting a pineapple field.

•75, is cold and a light jacket is required; warning though your first day you may feel like you’re having a heat stroke.

•Guess what’s for breakfast, lunch, and supper!?! Yep that’s right, rice and beans!

•Playing charades gets really old, but you do get really good at it.

•Being on time, who ever heard of that?

•Someone’s house is smaller than your bathroom, and only the upper middle class have cement floors.

•Kids are so easy to make friends with.

•Working for God is amazing!

"Hola" from Peru!

2009-05-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hey every one, I am in Peru, and I just thought I would share some pictures since they are worth a thousand words. I hope you enjoy them.

oh yeah they call this a public road!

trying out Jenni's new motorcycle

yes that is a house, and yes real people live there.

after a long day in the pinapple field. Bascially the first thing we got to do when we got here was to machete a 100x100 meter field!

my new hero's...these guys work from sun up till sundown in the boiling Peru sun!

my new casa

from a birds eye view

Caving and My "Manly Head Wound"

2009-04-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

I was was caving yesterday, and we were climbing up a section, and (since I am a kinda short, and the rock that I was trying to climb up was kinda tall) My plan of action was to give a mighty leap and attempt to get my body half way up onto the self of rock. however that plan came abruptly to a halt, for I found out really quick that the human skull does not move boulders. I had whacked my head on a rock above me.
After letting out a pretty loud groan according to what the others said, I made it up to where the others were had Morgan take a look at it. She's like "ah your bleeding all over the place." anyways I am ok, just so you know had a major head ache and now have a sore head but its all good. lol. Just thought I would share my adventurous caving experience.

stick figures

2009-04-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today as I sat in church, I had invited some of the younger girls who are all sisters to sit with me. Since there are five of them in a the family I thought I would help the mom out so she wasn't tying to keep all five quiet at one time. Plus my parents are out of state because of their business, so I've been getting pretty tired of sitting by my self, in the long empty pew. Ashley smiled up at me as she scooted in next me, and her two sisters Anna and Angel slyly peeked over at me. They sat perfectly for most the service and when the preacher started his sermon I decied to see if I could find some pens in my purse, to let them draw. My mom use to let me do this as I would fidget next to her during those long sermons. They caught on as soon as I pulled the pens out of my purse and bent there heads over there work. I smiled to my self as I thought about all the sermons kids have spent with a pen a paper. I watched as Ashley drew a picture of God on a cloud, she then drew her-self with her entire family, Her aunt and uncle and her cousin, and she added me to the picture as well. lol. Although the people were just stick figures and God didn't have any hair. Her picture was a thousand words. She knew the most important keys to life and she was only a child.
1. God, must be present and be the most important thing in life.
2. Family is a special thing
3. Love is the key to happiness. (each figure had a smile and reached out their hands to each other)
I'll probably forget the sermon on "working together as church" by next week, but I doubt I'll forget simplicity of the that picture and the lesson in it for a long time.

19 birthday memories

2009-03-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

19 – Got “I love you’s” from the people that I care about, and never been kissed, n totally ok with that.
18 – 18 roses and a Clear Word Bible
17 – Got a laptop/ was kinda Christmas present as well
16 - Scared my mom half to death trying out my permit!!
15 – mom took me on a shopping trip to the mall.
14 – went skiing with my dad
13 - my parents got me contacts
12 – Got balloons from my sister (I think that was the first time I ever got balloons for my birthday)
11 – I got my first curling iron and blow dryer…and I pondered what I was going to do with them.
10 – I got my first camera…back when they use to take pictures with film.
9 - I got some silly putty, and I wondered why they didn’t let me have this really cool stuff before.
8 – I don’t really remember other then my mom asking me what kind of ice cream I wanted…”cotton candy” and I still had to do school on my birthday.
7 – mom letting me grow out my hair (my mom always cut my hair short and I hated it cause my sister had long beautiful hair and I so wanted mine to be just like that.)
6 – picking out my own ice cream cake from the store, it was so cool!
5 – School books yeah real exciting, and Oatmeal (my favorite teddy bear till I got to old for him)
4 – a kitty cat cake! Just like the pictures In my mom’s cook book.
3 – my very own pillow case that was 101 Dalmatian dogs on it(funny thing is I never even watched when I was I was a kid)
2- don’t really remember but- the picture shows me getting a toy tractor from my brother.
1- lost in files somewhere.

randomly cool pictures

2009-02-20T16:49:00.000-08:00

Go Green...save the planet...:P

Interesting...and no I didn't use photoshop...

Wood gets you warm 3 times, when you chop it, when you burn it, and when you take the ashes back out...

"No!!not the camera"...

who says you can't be friends with a skeleton?...

I am fascinated every time I watch them...

As the dear that thirst for water...my soul thirst for You oh God...

The awesome view out my window

Boys will be boys...He really wanted to drive it...

The snow drift in my driveway...

This guy got a little lost...

God, amazing, doesn't even come close!!

Thank you God for giving me eyes to see...

Haunted by Hormones

2009-02-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

I’ve been studying about the endocrine system for about the past two weeks and I’ve been lost in trying to understanding that the adenohypophyis is the same thing as anterior pituitary, and that GH hormone is really stimulated by GHRH. So this is a warning to you, continue to read at your own risk, you to may be Haunted by hormones as well after reading this.
I thought as I am soon to turn 19, I might be able to leave behind all those crazy teenage hormones, and never have to deal with them again. But to my great disappointment my A&P teacher stated nope, hormones play a role in just about every system of the body...and if your going to be a nurse they are going to be coming back and haunting you even more…”what!!” "No!! I don’t want anything more to do with Hormone," I cried, but alas I am forever to be haunted by Hormones.

So how what exactly are Hormones (H)?
Aren’t they those mystical ion that floats around the body? And only start to cause us grief in our teen years? …..they make us grow extremely fast, make us break out in those horrible red dots the day before we go out on our first date…ah date…yes Hormones that make us realize that the opposite sex…is so fascinating, but then make us break out in a sweat when we even think about talking to them. Oh and don’t forget those one that make us have those mood swings…H are sure to blame, right!

My text book simply states it
Hormone: a chemical messenger released into the blood system, to bind with cells and carry out metabolic activity. (huh? Ok that’s it I really don’t understand…)

Actually getting into the cell is more completed then you think…
1)the H comes over to the cell that has a specific protein receptor for it. 2) the receptor changes shape and binds to a G protein which displaces a high energy compound(GTP) Hint G protein acts like a light switch with on/off. Ok so still following? Don’t worry I got lost on the first step. 4) so now this activated G protein binds with the effecter enzyme adenylate cyclase. 5) activated now here comes cAMP (man, wish I was at camp) a 2nd- massagers, from ATP. 6) from there the cAMP actives Protien Kinases well the that just sends off all kinds of chemical reactions, and enzymes go to work.

How come the H doesn’t get lost? I have no Idea. Oh but wait that’s only one way for those H to work theirs still two other ways….

You still have the Steroids (that bind easily with the proteins) but the complex ones have to enter the nucleus, copy the DNA and make mRNA production

Wait stop how does this all stay under control? Hormones can’t just float around in the body jumping into cells when ever they feel like it!

The pituitary Gland right? Every one calls it the master gland.
“Nope.” “What?”...the hypothalamus, is the master of the master.

Yep, and I Haven’t even mentioned the negative feed back system, That goes something like this…
Something internal or external triggers the H levels to rise  Target tissue release more H. they flow through blood and report back and shut off either the Hypothalamus or the Pituitary gland, depending on the H.

Should I continue to tell you about the 21 hormones I have to memorize and their glands stimulation inhibit...what? Did you say your cerebral hemispheres can’t take any more? Oh come on this is only one page compared to 20 pages of my notes.
Ok but are you sure you don’t want to now about…
(Anterior pituitary) GH, TSH, ACTH, GSH & LH, PRL, MSH,
(Posterior pituitary) Oxcyotcin, and ADH
(Thyroid gland) T3 &T4 , calcitonin
(Parathyroid glands) PTH: increases Calcium in the blood
(Adrenal cortex) aldosterone, cortisol, androgens,
(Adrenal medulla) E & NE,
(Pancreas) glucagon and insulin
(Ovaries and Testes) Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
(Pineal) Melatonin
(Thymus) thymosin

Cortisol, is reminding me I have a test tomorrow and that I must cram every bit of information into my brain so that tomorrow it doesn’t have to go into Fight or flight mode when the piece of paper is handed to me. While I am telling my estrogen to chill before I say something stupid to the good-looking guy that sits behind me in class, and my pancreas just sent out some insulin to take care of the glucose (sugar/food) I just ate, probably going to put it into lipid(fat) cause I ate to much of it. And Melatonin is telling me to go to sleep, ‘cause the lack of natural light is gone. But if I sleep, these hormones still haunt me, and I have dreams about the TRH releasing TSH which releases T3 & T4, which increase metabolic rate. And I am still trying to figure out how that leads to cAMP.

You better watch out, I might run you over.

2009-02-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

Ok I thought to my self, don’t tell me you’ve never seen a girl with a carhartt coat, barn boots, and able to drive a skid steer. Come on I live country, where girls learn how use the jumper cables at 13, check the oil on the car and if they live on a farm have driven more miles on the tractor then the car. Yeah and so what, if its kinda odd, you just learn how to do those things. Well these guys just kinda stared wide eyed at me. Whatever, I ignored them. They where wanting to buy a car off my Dad, but since he is in South Carolina at the moment, My mom and I had to take care of it our selves. The problem was I was to plow the snow in front to of the shop and my dad had some pallets of bee equipment in front of the car as well. I had to move all that before they could drive the car out. I growled under my breath why hadn’t Dad taken care of this earlier and why hadn’t they come a week ago when my dad had been here. Oh well at least I knew what I was doing. My dad had taught me how to run the skid steer when I was about 14. I am not as good as he is but can pretty much get done what needs to be with the skid steer.
I started on plowing the snow, and the guys just kinda hung around drinking some coffee and smoking, the one guy who didn’t seem to have to much in his head, stood right where I needed to plow. I tried to get his attention, but he couldn’t hear me with the machine going. I finally waved to his buddy and point for him to get his friend out of the way. Afterwards I wish I had just started plowing in his direct to see how long it would take for him to get out of my way.
After switching to the forks on the skid-steer I started taking the bee equipment out. At this, the guys seem to be a bit irritated that a girl could pretty much handle the thing. They started over exaggerated their directions that I could plainly see for my-self and they just ended up getting in my way.
Ok, is there a problem I thought? With a girl being able to handle a job that usually took a guy to do? I might be only 5’2 but that still doesn’t’ mean I can’t do a job. Guys seem think they can’t give a girl credit when she can accomplish something. No, they must always prove their Mr. macho-man who knows how to do every thing. However I find that Mr. macho- man rarely ever has any (I’ll put it in a nice way) Common sense.

Lol I am not classifying every guy in this category, but if I catch you standing in front of my skid steer, you better watch out.

An hour of my time...

2009-01-23T11:20:00.000-08:00

I knocked on the door, and heard our elderly neighbor lady call out to me to come in. I wrinkled my nose at the funny smell of her house that greeted me; as I came in to her dining area she sat at the table, cutting up some garlic cloves. I sat down in chair across from her, and she proceeded to ask me how my day at school was, before I could even say two words, she chattering on about a thousand things, and so it went for about the rest of the visit.
I had stopped by to pick up an application her daughter had gotten for me from the place she worked at. I wasn’t exactly in a big hurry, I just didn’t feel like hanging out with this aged women. However before I knew it had been forty minutes and I really thought to my-self I could go now. But she continued to chatter on asking me questions I could hardly answer before she was off talking again. She offered me a piece of cake and some milk, and since I didn’t have much for lunch the offer sounded pretty good. As she pulled the piece of cake and milk out of the fridge she was telling me how she still enjoyed baking and such even though she couldn’t eat half the stuff because of her doctor had told her to stay away from it.
As I savored the cake (it was quite good) I studied her. “Man I am going to hate it when I get old.” I thought to my self, her face was wrinkled, her hands showed they had arthritis and her hair was gray, she even was missing a few teeth.. ”I sure hope I don’t lose any ever, I sure do like mine,” the thought flickered through my mind.
She talked about the plane that had crashed into the Hudson, and she stated she was scared to ever fly in a plane. I laughed when she asked me if I’d flown before, “sure” I replied, “it’s not as bad as it seems, it really neat to look down when your flying” she just shook her head at me.
Finally I stated, “I really do need to go,” as I got up from the table she continued her talking still…”Do you want to take a piece of pie for you mom?” she asked. I felt like she was trying to delay me, “ok,” I replied. What was another five minutes, she dished out some pie onto some paper plates. As I inched towards the door she stated she would need to go put some wood on the stove out in the garage part. Following me out the door she again asked, “do you want some garlic cloves, I know you mother would like some.” Ok, I thought if she feels like giving me some garlic I am not going to protest. As she finally handed me a garlic clove she hurriedly asked “do you want an apple or an orange?” At this I protested we had plenty of those at home and no need to take more of her stuff.
Finally she turned to me, taking my hand in hers, she grasped it, and I saw the look in her eyes, she so hated to see me go and if she could just hold on to me for a few more moments she would treasure it for a long time. I smiled, “thanks,” I said. “for the pie and the application, I’ll tell my mom you said Hi.” She nodded and smiled, as I turned to head out the door she called to me, “stop in anytime, I really enjoyed your visit!” I nodded and waved.
As I sat in my car and turned the key, I thought about the visit again, she had been lonely and I knew I had brightened her day so much more. No I hadn’t done anything really; I had nodded my head and made a comment now and then trying to answer her questions before she ran off on another topic. I had watched the clock tick away thinking of all the other things I could be doing. However as I backed out of her driveway, I thought to my self, “Really I must try and stop to see our neighbor more often.”

I love UPSTATE New York...

2009-01-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

well I didn't really come up with this but I found it amusing and believe anyone from upstate NY or has lived there will enjoy this and if you aren't in NY at this moment...Your missing out. ;-)
Upstate New York
1. If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 36 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Upstate New York.

2. If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights a year because Saranac Lake is the coldest spot in the nation, and Syracuse gets more snow than any other major city in the US.

3.you might live in Upstate NY If your local Dairy Queen is closed from October through May.

4. If you get 131 inches of snow in a week and you comment that 'winter's finally here'you might live near Oswego in Upstate New York .

5. If you instinctively walk like a penguin for six months out of the year becuase you are bundled up, you might live in Upstate NY.

6. You might live in Upstate NY, If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead.

7. you might live in Upstate New York If you have worn shorts and a parka on the same day.

8. you might live in Upstate New York If you have had a lengthy phone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number.

9. YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE UPSTATE NEW YORKER WHEN: "Vacation" means going South past Syracuse for the weekend and You measure distance in hours.

10.You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.

11.You often switch from "heat" to"A/C" in the same day and back again.

12. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

13. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

14.You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

15.Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.

17.You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

18.You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

19. why buy a four-wheeler? you only get use if for about three months so that's why you have a snowmobile.

20.You find 10 degrees "a little chilly." and 55 is shorts weather.

Hiking in God's art work

2008-09-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

What is fun?

2008-09-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Ok so recently my english teach wanted us to write a short essay on what is fun. Lol I had a little fun with this one, I thought I would post it and perhaps give you something to think about. I never sat down and thought about what is fun? but after disscusing in in class seening fun in other peoples eyes and in mine I had a some intresting thoughts. so Heres just what I wrote. :)

“Having a good time” how does one define that? Webster will tell you (paraphrasing) having a good laugh, enjoyment and amusement. I do not see fun as a certain activity. For example you may get and awesome adrenaline rush that you love when you go sky diving. Instead I may be scared half to death. Fun is not simply an activity but must be a feeling, and an emotion. God has created us each with a unique personality, where different things make us laugh or give us a rush of exhilaration.
Fun is something that should leave us a better person not worse. I am going to take drinking for example people drink because it makes them feel good at the time. Alcohol however slows down the nervous system which can lead to making fools of them selves in front to their peers. They will wake up with a pounding head ache that makes it hard to focuses the next day, and they are simply burning their money up. I believe that fun is some thing that brings out a pure hearty laugh, leaves the soul with peace not addictive yet appealing to do it again, and able to leave the body healthier.
“You asked how is church suppose to be fun?” “I asked what do you get out of church?” This I believe can be applied to all the activities by how you look at it. Did you get anything out of it, did you learn, did you grow as a person. Going back to the question about church people look at church as going sitting in an unconformable pew, while the pastor preaches forever, people giving judgmental glances to one another and the feeling they are sitting in the presence of God is uncomfortable. These were just a few reason some people may say church is not fun. But what if I said God is fun. You may not believe He is none existent, but in my world I believe God also has a sense of humor. Why would He create in the first place the ability to laugh, why would He give us the ability to enjoy something with all our senses? He created us to create and learn. Therefore being with God in church should be an enjoyment in which you’re spending time with the creator of fun.

He Know's the Begining and the End

2008-08-22T15:11:00.002-07:00

This summer I had an accident where I broke my leg. It was the first time I ever broke anything so it was all pretty painful and new to me. And On top of that I was Working at Camp Cherokee, with Horses and gymnastics. lol as you can see I couldn't really do those things with a cast on. But as the Kids camps finished up the family camps started, I had contracted to work in the kitchen back in Jan. never knowing I wouldn't be able to work with the horses for the rest of the summer. However I still need to explain more of the story, I had wanted to work with the horse all summer but I delayed getting my contract in on time and so Pastor Dan, told me I wouldn't be needed because other people had already filled the spot, but if I wanted, he really needed help in the Kitchen for the family camps. I agreed but not to excitedly. I had worked in the kitchen the year before and didn't really care for it. But like I said God knew what he was doing. It also turns out that the Head Cook could no longer stay for the rest of camp right about the time I was to switch to work in the kitchen, and so the kitchen really needed help, and someone one who had experience.
I learned an amazing lesson from this, how much God cares about just my life. I know he didn't want me to break my leg but He had a plan for my life just for this summer, He knew exactly how I couldn't work with horses but I would be needed in the kitchen. You can never go wrong by trusting God. You may not see why things happen at first some times you may never figure it out. But so far He's never let me down, if I let him lead. :)
Oh yeah if your wondering...my leg is pretty much better I have the cast off now and can get around pretty good. :D!!!