Omnibus

Definition: pertaining to, including, or dealing with numerous objects or items at once

1. My neice, Avery (2) calls her snow pants- "Snowman panties"

2. A quote from Kiterunner: "Children are not coloring books. You cannot fill them with all your favorite colors."

3. I leave for Chile in 28 days!

4. My Aunt Judy at Thanksgiving dinner: "So, Jim, it'll be colder this winter."
My Uncle Jim: "Yeah, and it sucks! I want global warming back."

5. When Joseph was in the stable with Mary and the newborn Jesus did he wrestle with himself on whether he had missed God's direction somehow and that why they had just given birth in an animal cave. "Oh Crud! I just made God's Son be born in a donkey stall"- as he watches for lightening bolts divinely directed to his head.
(Even when it doesn't seem like it... it just might be God's plan after all- try asking just to make sure.)

6. My mom: "Well, I tried to put blueberry yogurt in my tea because we ran out of milk. Yeah, it was pretty yucky."

7. If you are looking for an interesting book to read (and are old enough to handle its contents) I suggest the Freedom Writer's Diary. It is hard to believe (and sad to know) that the things revealed in that book happen everyday in America.

8. Reflex tears (those shed while cutting onions or cleaning foreign objects from eyes) and emotional tears (sad or happy tears) are chemically different.

9. The World's smallest country is the Vatican city with .2 square miles. Montenegro is the world's newest country- officially on June 28th 2006.

10. Just one cow gives off enough harmful methane gas in a single day to fill around 400 liter bottles.

Love to all!
Lizzi

Feet

I hate feet. To annoy me all you have to do is put your feet near my body. (just ask Sarah, the little sister) Feet are eternally dirty, they usually have at least a hint of foul odor, and they are home to several different types kinds of fungus.

No, you may not borrow my shoes.
No, I do not like your socks either.

Keeping my hatred for feet in mind- a verse in Mark chapter one (in the Bible) intrigued me. The verse in John the Baptist saying that when Jesus comes he (John) would not be worthy enough to help Him remove His shoes. When I got to this verse I pictured John dressed in camel's hair potato sacks afraid to touch another man's shoe.

Not out of disgust
But out of self- unworthiness

What kind of man is this that we dare not even touch his dirty shoes when they are attached to his feet?

Confession: Probably if Jesus was walking on earth today and He came to my house and I needed, as a good host, to wash His feet (though it is no longer a custom) I would most likely debate- on whether I wanted to touch feet today (or ever). I would contemplate using rubber gloves... and finally, mentally scold myself with the reminder that-
"This is the Man that was beaten and crucified so you have never-ending life and fellowship with God... and you think you're too good to just wash his feet"

"Jesus... um... could I- uh, help you take off your shoes?"

Love to all!
Lizzi

Nieces and how they make me laugh

My niece, Bailey, is 3 and very smart. I don't just say that because I am a doting aunt. She knows and recognizes all of her letters and the basic numbers. She knows all the shapes, colors. She uses compound sentences. (never mind the fact that the 3yr old logic is evident throughout them.) Here are some of the quotables from my time entertaining a crazy, high-energy, ornery, fuzzy headed little girl.

*While I was buckling her in her car seat,
"Aunt Wizzy, you're such a nice, sweet dirl (girl)."
"Why, Thank you, Bailey, you are a nice sweet girl too."
"NO, I'm not! I'm itchy!"

*She often mixes her words up,
"Mommy, you gotfor my tup!" (mommy you forgot my cup)
"Aunt Wizzy, tan I sidebe you lay?" (Aunt Lizzi, can I lay beside you?)

*Everything did or did not happen to Bailey when she "was little"
She wore that dress (on a tv actress) when she was little
When she was little and she was a boy she didn't have a motorcycle.

Now, Avery, is 2 and SO Adorable!! She has one little dimple on her chubby cheek. She insists on calling me mom-mom.

*One day at dinner she reached over and grabbed my sleeve making my my neckline move over and slip down over my shoulder. Avery patted my bare shoulder and started saying, "Cow! Cow!"

*She started whining her ABC's. She was fussing one day over something and in a whiney voice she says... "A- B- C! D, E, F!" Half in tears and that wasn't the only time. Later in the day she started with "O, P, Q!!"

* She calls Bailey's princess castle, "Bailey's Boody House"

Darn! I love those girls!!

Becoming Jane

There is a movie with Anne Hathaway starring as Jane Austen called Becoming Jane. I saw it and liked it if only because I love Jane Austen and it is a sappy love story.

But, I have watched three of Jane’s books made into movies today and now am on a fictional rendition of her life. I am thinking in Victorian English and I won’t be surprised if this blog ends up sounding a bit “Jane-ish”

Anyway, my reason for explaining all of this is… I can see myself becoming somewhat like Jane Austen. She was single her whole life, took care of her sister (who was also unmarried) and her widowed mother until Jane died at 41. She wrote a series of vastly popular novels about love and marriage. Some of them were not published until after her death. She was a woman and in her day women did not get published and those who did were at times considered a bit shameful.

I know, I am only 23. I am not even close to being an old maid, and much further away from being a vastly popular author. (I don’t see this blog bringing me any closer to the latter and much nearer to the former) But, like Jane I prefer my imaginary heroes, the men in my books, much more than men in real life. “The only way to get a Mr. Darcy is to make him up yourself” I am dreaming of Mr. Darcy but only finding “Mr E’s” (read Pride and Prejudice and Emma to figure out the analogy)

As it seems from this movie, “Jane Austen Regrets” many men are in love with her wit and charm but she turns them all away or they get tired of chasing her and find someone else to love. One day she wakes up and find herself old, still loving men in reality but preferring those in her books. But, she is 40 and she doesn’t know that she is going to die soon.

I may end up like this. Never satisfied with the ones I find and therefore making up my own and being more pleased with them. Happiness in marriage only happening in my books and never for me personally.

Newest fear, Becoming Jane
Love to all!
Lizzi

The Biggest Loser

I do not watch television much. I do enjoy The Antiques Road Show, Globetrekker (which I sadly haven’t seen in about a year or more), What not to wear, and The Biggest Loser. I haven’t found much else to watch beyond these three.

My newest addiction is The Biggest Loser on NBC 10. It is about a bunch of obese people on a workout ranch trying to lose weight and win the grand prize of 25,000 dollars. Every Tuesday night between 8 and 10pm my parents and I are stuck to the couch watching fat people die on treadmills. Well, there is a little more to the show than that.

This show could be the reason for my newest frettings about my weight. I am not fat by any possible definition of the word but, I am afraid I will get there… slowly, each serving of ice cream and every chicken bacon ranch cheese steak I eat at work. (just typing it makes me want one)

I’ve never been fat, in fact at times my family has worried about me being way too thin. In Chile I put on some weight, enough to make me worry about buying a new wardrobe. How did fat people get to that weight? I’m sure they didn’t just wake up one day fat. It came on slowly in miniscule amounts with French fries, ice cream, and chicken bacon ranch cheese steaks.

So, with these ponderings I have determined to watch what I eat and… exercise! I know I always talk about running and exercising but, this time I will actually do it. In fact I have started tonight, I did sit ups. :) How many? I don’t know, I don’t count. I just do it until I get tired of doing them. So, probably no more than 15. It’s a good start.

Now begins my life long attempt to never, ever make it on The Biggest Loser.
Love to all!
Lizzi

“With eyes wide open to the differences of the God we want and the God who is, but will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle.” ~ Caught in the Middle, Casting Crowns.

Recently I have been completely “enthralled” with the latest Casting Crowns cd, “The Altar and the Door.” Partially because every time I listen to it, if I close my eyes I can imagine myself in the place where I first fell in love with that cd (a cabin dorm room in a camp in Chile)

The real and persisting reason is with every song I am struck with the validity and impact of the words. Whether they (the group) is praising God, lamenting past mistakes, or praying for a lost friend, the lyrics are heartfelt and deep. I have found that so many Christian artists have “fluff” lyrics. Every song is about a. themselves, b. how God loves them, or c. that God saved them and they are going to heaven. All of this is may be true but, the songs have no depth or personality or real spiritual meaning.

The other thing I find so often in current Christian music is the vagueness of the lyrics. Half the time I cannot figure out exactly what the song is talking about, let alone if it is Christian or not.

Now, I am not talking about groups like Lifehouse and ( ) who have moral, often uplifting songs. I am talking about singers and song writers who attempt to write a song about God but can’t even mention His name; like they are afraid if it says His name their song will not get on all the radio stations. So, their songs of praise to God often get confused with odes to a girlfriend or a boyfriend.

Casting Crowns sample:

“Who am I that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt? Who am I am, that the Bright and morning star would choose to light the way for my ever wandering heart? Not because of who I am but because of what you’ve done, not because of what I’ve done but because of who you are.”
~ Who am I Casting Crowns, self titled cd

“Here I am Lord and I’m drowning in your sea of forgetfulness. Chains of yesterday surround me, I yearn for peace and rest. Don’t want to end up where you found me and it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight. Lord you’ve cast my sin as far as the east is from the west and I stand before you now as though I’ve never sinned but today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from you leavin’ this way. Jesus can you show me just how far the east is from the west… from one scarred hand to the other.”
~ One Mistake Away, The Altar and the Door

Love to all!
Lizzi

Deadlines

I have always known that I do not enjoy deadlines. Which to me means every bit of what the very word implies… dead or death- to cease to live, and lines- a certain geographical or figurative location, boundary. In other words, “the point at which you must cease to live.” I take the word quite seriously and therefore have avoided or casually missed every deadline ever set for me.

I prefer to write on my own time when the inspiration hits me. I do not want someone to tell me when and what to write. Quite the obstinate, bratty little girl I am, I know.

Now, once again, I am faced with deadlines. (The very word gives me chills.) I have decided to take my writing hobby to the next level and sign up for a two year writing course through the Christian Writers Guild. TWO YEARS of DEADLINES!!! Every two weeks I have a list of writing assignments to turn in to my mentor or writing coach. They tell me what to write, how to write it, and when to write it.

I guess, if I want to finish this thing- and do it well, if I want to be the accomplished writer I’ve always dreamed of being; I am going to have to suck it up and do what they tell me to.

Well, with that said, my first deadline is October 1st which is on Wednesday and I still have half of the assignments to do. :) Guess I better get to work and try to be a big girl. (which would mean leaving my bratty, childish self behind for a while)

Love to all!
Lizzi

Nonsense

I am going to write a bit of nonsense in this blog purely as a writing exercise. I read my blog posts today and realized on paper I am quite a serious person. That made me surprised because I am never serious about anything in person! (Usually on a daily basis that is). So, here it goes.

Every superhero has their enemy, their arch nemesis. I, being the heroine of my own life story, also have an arch nemesis. The enemies I face change with time and place and on how soon I can defeat them. I have found one enemy that is unconquerable- crickets.

Black, ugly, loud bugs that have a fondness for chewing on clothing. I HATE THEM. This year we have an epidemic of these creatures on the Briggs “farm.” They are under our cabinets, our couches, in our closets and any other dark place they can find to hide. When I come into my room I must announce my arrival so they (the enemy) can run and hide before I turn on the light and discover them.

While Sarah (the little sister) was home and an unfortunate cricket happened to emerge while we were in the room the sighting would end up in a slapping, jumping, yelling match.

The scene: We are both watching tv on our wonderfully comfy leather sofas and suddenly Sarah whispers my name, “Lizzi, give me your flip flop.” She is squinting intently at a spot on the floor about two feet away from me with her tongue between her teeth, poised over her top lip. (That is her “something is going to die” look) I catch the enemy in my sight and slowly slip off my neon green flip flops, one for me and one for her. We take our positions.

The next minute is a flurry of slapping and flashing green. We jump around trying to keep it from getting under anything and smack as hard as we can, missing it half the time. Finally we are victorious, settling back in our spots on the couch and our enemy’s carcass lying crushed on the floor. We leave the bodies for daddy to pick up :)

My theory is though, if I leave the bodies around any cricket in the vicinity will see the corpse of his dead friends and think, “I better not enter here, this is the cricket massacre place.” and turn around and leave. This may sound disgusting but, after leaving one dead cricket on the floor I have a week without seeing another one in the same room.

Maybe autumn will give me some relief.
Love to all!
Lizzi

A Scary moment

Friday I worked; thirteen hours running around with food, drinks and such (waitressing). Had an insane night (which will probably be the subject of another blog). Got home, ate dinner and sat down at my usual, favorite spot- the computer!

While I was checking my email and etc. my dad casually asks, “So, did you feed the cats this morning?” Why does he always ask me this? I always feed the cats (well, almost always) Now, if I only had the two stupid cats, Teddy and Bob, I might always forget to feed them. But, the cats will always be fed as long as I have George.

** Me- “Yeah, I fed them.”
Daddy- “Ok, was George there this morning?”
** Me- “Yes.”
Daddy- “Did you happen to see any of the cats when you got home?”
** Me- “Well, I saw one running away. But I don’t know which one it was?” What was he getting at??

Daddy- “Oh, well, I saw a cat George’s color on the side of the road”
** Me…… Silence, Silence. I think my heart may have stopped beating.

There is a special bond between a girl and her best friend. Some one to hang out with, to talk to for hours on end, to laugh with- even if this friend happens to be small, furry, and orange. There have been times in my life when I realized that George was my ONLY friend. (Which is pretty sad when I think about it now) I have a friend that listens to me whenever I want to talk, doesn’t bore me, doesn’t get mad at me, doesn’t scold me, doesn’t judge me, is always around (when I’m home anyway), and who scratches up the back deck, bites me when I try to pick him up, and leaves dead moles at my door. He is perfect!

Now, he was possibly lying on the side of the road, stiff and ripe to be buried. I’m sad to say that my first thought was.- “Oh crud, I wonder if daddy will let me use his gun to shoot the two stupid cats so I can get a kitten.”

I didn’t say anything, I just sat there for as long as I could possibly stay still. Finally I got up and went out the back door yelling his name to kingdom come. He didn’t come. HHmmm- maybe I should start asking for that gun, it might take a while to convince my dad that getting another George was necessary to my sanity.

I went back inside, through the house, and out the front door- and called again like my life depended on it. Bob, a stupid cat, meowed and jumped up on the steps. “I don’t want you! Stupid cat!”

George came from around the corner. My heart started beating again. I scooped him up and he made a deep growling noise in his throat. I didn’t care. Him not being dead got me out of having to shoot the stupid cats. I told George I was glad he wasn’t dead and he just kept on growling at me.

Just a bit of nonsense.
Love to all!
Lizzi

Pero no estoy Contenta!

One of the Spanish words for “Happy” is “Contenta” or content. We are taught in Spanish classes in high school that one should actually say, feliz or alegre both of which are correct but, when talking to a native Spanish speaker in Spanish you would tell them that you are “contenta.”

This fact, though it seems trivial, dawned on me a year or so ago. I was independently studying Spanish at the time, preparing for ministry in some Spanish speaking country. It made me realize that- the word happy is alright but to be content is a better form of happy. While in Chile when I would tell people that I was “contenta” I would often stop and think, “am I content?” Usually the answer would be yes, I was loving the trip, satisfied (usually) with the work I was able to do there, and thoroughly happy and grateful that God had given me the opportunity. Now, when people ask me how I am doing or how it is to be back home in Spanish I would have said, “Estoy muy contenta.” It is a good thing I do not have to answer in Spanish here in the U.S. because “Estoy muy contenta” would be lying. I am not content.

“So, big deal!” You are thinking- “who is content? And why does it matter?”

“For I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Right now, that verse haunts me. To be completely honest and open, here are the things I am not content about:

1. I am only working three days a week, I am not busy enough.
2. My car is broken and not worth fixing, I want (need) a new one.
3. I am 23 and still don’t know what God wants me to do next, I want clear direction (and I want it now!)
4. I am 23 and I am not married and have no boyfriend and therefore - marriage in the near future is unlikely, what I want here is obvious.
5. The list could go on.
Basically, I don't know where my life is going- and with that, I am not content

So, I have just proved to myself that I am not content even though I should be content with whatever stage and place I am in life.

Now, how do I achieve the state of contentedness? There are a lot of “Christian clichés” that would help me in this situation like- “let go and let God” “just trust Him” “Pray about it” but, I don’t want those answers. I want to know what you all (if there is a “you all” out there) would do to fulfill Phil. 4:11 in your life. What would you do to make yourself content with where you are and what you are doing?

If you are reading this and don’t have a blog name to leave me a comment- just send me a message in my facebook inbox, because I’d really like to know what you think.

Love to all!
Lizzi

Loving People

“Learn to love the people with you and love them as they need to leave and as you need to leave. If nothing else, heaven will be full of old friends.”
~ Journal, April 2008

I have mentioned several times by now that I went down to South America for six months. I met many, many people and some of them became good friends. I may never return to Chile and I am almost certain none of these new friends will be able to visit me up here.

There comes a point during life when you look around and realize that in 5 years or so many of the people you interact with, whom you call friends will be gone, long gone- moving on with their lives without giving a thought to you or the friendship they once had with you no matter how strong the friendship was. I came to that point during high school once but- looking around at my friends- I wanted them to go on without me and I would contentedly go on without giving them a thought either. The second time that thought occurred to me I was in college all of my friends – who were older than me- were graduating and I still had a year or two left. I refused to believe it would happen and with a couple (partially thanks to facebook) it has not yet happened though there is time for that too.

I was in Chile and I had a decision to make- my time there was short as was the plan. I did not need to make these people my friends (with some it did take a bit of effort and with others it just happened without trying) why should I make them good friends… I was going to leave them in a couple months and they would go on with their lives just as they had always planned to do without a thought to me or to the friendship we had. It would be easier on my heart if I didn’t love these people, if I didn’t become attached, if I kept them all at an arms distance, and thought of them as acquaintances and not as friends.

My choice? I loved them. I held them dear. I did my best to make them know how much I treasured them for as long as I had them near me. And when it is possible I reach out and keep those friendships still hanging on even though we are countries (and in some ways—years) away from each other.

Was it the right choice? HHmm, for now I say yes and I don’t know that I will ever regret making that decision but it is still too soon to say for sure. Love is not something that runs out, I do not think one day I will find out I am out of love to give and wish I had not given so much of it to people I can no longer be in contact with.

Love to all! Y Besitos tambien! (Anna, Angelica, JP, Mama’, Papa’, Manolo, Felipe, Jonathan, Vicente, Mati, Isabel, Melissa, Rachel, Benjamin, Andrea, Vicente V., Caroline, Juan, Andres, Fabiola, Fabian, Raquelita, Min, Danny, Matias, Zach, Kristen, and every one else I do not have room to name- even though many of you will never read this because either you are too little or because it is in English)
Lizzi

Taking Opportunities

“Never be afraid to step out on God- There may be things that you don’t know why, or how long, how it could possibly happen nor do you understand (anything at all.) Take confidence if only in Him alone - not in the security of circumstances, or the preplanning and arranging you have done or even in the ignorance of everything.
It may seem risky but the jump is worth it and when looking back you would not have done any different and it even scares you to think of your life without making that jump.”
~ Journal, April 2008

A year ago I was in a very different position and in some ways a very different person than I am in right now. I suffered a personal loss and I hurt through and through. Most of it I cannot explain nor would I want to if I could but… My choices and happenings had made me for a while into a hurting, battling little girl; unsure of anything except for the pain in my heart. I could not even be sure of why exactly I was hurting, whose fault it was, or if it would ever stop. Each day I was facing questions that burned in me, fears, guilt, shame, and tortuous discontentment with myself and with my life.

This is when God set down a farfetched plan to go on a six month missions trip to Santiago, Chile. A trip halfway across the world, without the funds, the time to earn the money, any knowledge of what I was to do when I got there- nothing, just that I was going because I knew God wanted me too. I cannot image what or who I would be right now if I had never taken that chance, if I hadn’t stepped out on God.

When the opportunity presents itself, no matter how crazy it may seem, If God ever puts something in front of you without explaining the why’s, how’s, and what’s just step out and let Him do what He wants. It may be a trip; literally, it may be just a choice that needs to be made. At the moment things are uncertain and going ahead with such a vaguely outlined plan may seem mad (or nutty :) ) but, like I said before- once you have made the choice and all is said and done, looking back you will not regret it.

Just step out and do it.

Love to all!
Lizzi

We did not lose "just" a baby, but a whole future." ~ Sherokee Ilse, Empty Arms

My mother is a strong woman. Most people have no clue because she bears things so well; that is a part of her strength, it's silence. There have been times when she is stronger about what life throws at her than my entire family together. She carries the pain and she carries us as well.

My mother lost her fifth child the other day... well, the fifth child that she has lost. It was a boy. His name is Samuel, my baby brother. While we are all grieving, my mother is the one that holds us and tells us that God is in control and we just need to trust Him. I can't imagine the pain that she is bearing within her heart that she hides for our sakes.

When she came home from the doctor's office just after finding out the life within her no longer held life- she took a nap. I ran away; back into the woods with my journal and a pen in hand. There was so much pain in my heart and so many tears in my eyes I felt like a bomb trying not to explode. I went there- mad at God because it all seemed unfair. I had no answers, no reasons. Did we need to go through all of this again?!? Wasn't the last four babies dying enough for one lifetime? This final miscarriage, was it necessary? Why did He give us a bit of hope and kill it after just 5 months?

In my mind I can picture myself pounding on His chest as He patiently holds me, comforting me. By the time I left my spot in the woods there was no more anger- just emptiness. What good does anger do at a time like this- it only makes bitter people.

I still have no answers or reasons all I know is that God is good and God is just. There is a reason and good will come out of it. I just can not see it yet.

"There is, I am convinced, no picture that conveys in all it's dreadfulness a vision of sorrow, despairing, remediless, supreme. If I could paint such a picture, the canvas would show only a woman looking down at her empty arms." ~ Emma, Charlotte Bronte

Love to all!

Lizzi

My job stinks!... yes, I am complaining

I had a slight melt down at work the other day-- but before I go into that let me give you a couple details.

I have worked a part time job at a restaurant near my house since the restaurant opened. Waitressing; tips paid my car insurance and tuition for four years in college.

I went to Chile for six months and when I came back- of course- my position had been filled and any available positions had a waiting line... except for prep- cook on Saturdays. They offered it to me and I said, "I'll try it but if I hate it I'm quitting."

Three weeks of prep cooking (which is a fancy word for pot washer and bacon cooker) and I hate it!!! I spend most of the day leaning over a huge sink full of soapy, greasy water and even greasier pots and pans. Greasy steam wafts in my face making a thick layer of yuckiness. The other parts of the day I cook pounds and pounds of bacon. There is a permanent cloud of bacon grease in my side of the kitchen.

In short, it is a brainless, messy, tiring job. Hence my melt down. I had my rubber gloved hands deep in nasty water fishing around for what was left at the bottom of the sink and I thought, "Did I really go through four years of college to be a potwasher? It would have been alot cheaper to skip college if this was going to be my destiny. What in the world am I doing here!" I started to cry (only started and forgive me I am female) I know I am better than this job. Why don't I just quit and find a job that I can actually use my brain for? But, as I write this I realize- "He is teaching me humility."

an ipod is the only thing standing between me and insanity back there washing pots

The kitchen was definately designed for a short person. There is a metal shelf jutting out above the sink right at forehead level. I have been blessed with many lumps and bruises thanks to this shelf.

I sneezed all day long, I may claim that due to medical conditions (being my obvious allergy to grease) I can no longer do that job.

...Should I quit?

love to all!
Lizzi

The Ultrasound (is that one word or two?)

My mom had an ultrasound the other day. My sister (Sarah, 20) went along on this appointment because we were supposed to find out the gender. My sister and I stood there in a dark room staring at a grainy image on the ultrasound monitor, trying to figure out what the heck we were looking at. The little "wand" thing was making nasty "sloshing" noises (the sound was like a tongue and spit wiggling around in a mouth) on the gel on my mom's stomach. I thought it was only me that was getting sick hearing the sound of it but, I looked up at Sarah and her face was showing her disgust.

The technician was going through each body part, "left femur is (measurement) long"... "here is the right kidney..." Every bone and almost every organ labeled and measured. The image was so unclear- the only thing I could recognize was a hand, a foot, and the outline of a head. It was a long... almost irritating process. I just wanted to say, "Is it all there?... Good, now, girl or boy?"

Then, I got to thinking; do I really care if it is all there? Not to sound insensitive or anything but- the fact that the baby does or does not have all four limbs will not make me love it any less, or any more. A healthy normal baby would be great; but a baby in general is just a blessing in itself. A couple of scary words were thrown around during the appointment like "down's syndrome" and "cystic fibrosis." We can only pray that these things don't happen but- if they do, then, it is a part of God's plan. He knows what He is doing.

Lighter notes:

Sarah: "Well, I got really excited because I thought I saw the belly button a couple times... until I realized he doesn't have a belly button yet."

Sarah: (whispers to me)... "How does he breath?"
My mom: "Gills, Sarah, he has gills"


P.S. Our modest little baby wouldn't let us see which gender he or she is...

Love to all!
freshrain

Happy Birthday!

"Happy Birthday!!"

~ Frosty on Frosty the Snowman whenever he comes alive. I say this because it is the birthday of my blog and hopefully a step closer to my writing career.

There are a couple of basics that need to be known- I am 22 (almost 23) years old. I have graduated from college, spent time volunteering overseas and am now back home again. I'm trying to hold back my independent "free-meandering" spirit for a while, at least until December.

Why December you may ask... well- My mother, who is 46 (almost 47) with four grown children and two grand children is pregnant and due in December. I promised to stick around until my newest sibling is born. (Sometimes I think God does these kinds of things- like have my mother get pregnant- for His own amusement) Now, by His grace she will be able to give birth to a healthy baby.

Some of my post in the days to come may stem from this fact.

Interesting conversation of the day:
In Vacation Bible School, 3rd and 4th graders

Me: Who can tell me what a slave is?

Little boy: Well, the only places that was big on slaves was Africa and Asia. But, you know Moses, well, his helper was making them all be slaves and stuff and Moses said, "No, don't do that" but they didn't listen so Martin Luther King went over there to Africa and he freed all the slaves. He was the only one that could do it!

Me: (speechless, confused, and trying not to laugh) Oh! ... well... I don't think I know that story!


Word of the day: "meandering"- yeah, we all know it means to aimlessly wander but... can you use that word 3x's today?

Love to all!
Freshrain

post 1...

HHmmm, seeing how I wasn't really prepared to write anything on my blog site just yet I will say...

I'll post something a bit more significant later!

love to all!
Freshrain