~~ Shine Like Stars In The Universe ~~

El Escándalo!

2010-10-24T21:40:00.000-05:00

What comes to mind when you read about camera crews, video camera equipment, and whispering of spies? No, not another TMZ coverage of yet another Lindsay Lohan court appearance... This article describes the anguish and denial Robert Estrada, former holder of the "World's Biggest Enchilada", feels as he learns of Mexico City's 230-foot long record-winning enchilada on October 17th, 2010.

“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting” ~Jack Handey of "Deep Thoughts"

Border Faceoff: Who's Got the Biggest Enchilada?

Published October 22, 2010
Fox News Latino

It’s the phone call every Guinness record-holder dreads, and for Robert Estrada, it came Sunday, Oct. 17.

"You lost the world record," a friend rang to say. That day, the residents of Iztapalapa, a Mexico City borough, had cooked their way into the records book with a 230-foot long enchilada, topping Estrada's previous 2000 record.

But judging by a story by the Las Cruces Sun News which was later picked up by The Associated Press, Estrada believes his home of Las Cruces, N.M. is still a record-holder: His certificate names him the creator of the world's largest, flat, three-layeredenchilada. Mexico City's version was rolled.

"It's not the same category that I'm in," said Estrada. "It's different."

Estrada told Fox News Latino he's been trying to reach Guinness for a week in order to get clarification.

In an email with Fox News Latino, a Guinness World Records spokesperson was crystal clear. "We do not have separate categories for different types of enchiladas," she wrote.

Estrada's enchilada, which he recreates each year, is about 10.5 feet in diameter and takes 750 pounds of corn, 175 pounds of grated cheese, 50 pounds of chopped onions and 75 gallons of red chile sauce. The same ingredients that, in smaller quantities, Estrada uses daily at his restaurant, Roberto's.

The giganto-chilada can feed up 5,000 people and does so annually, as the centerpiece of the three-day The Whole Enchilada Fiesta, which celebrated its 13th anniversary in September.

Las Cruces resident Barbara Marta said that in southern New Mexico, where Las Cruces is located, the flat enchilada is preferred. Rolled enchiladas are more common in Mexico and northern New Mexico.

"And of course, the taste of the chile—there's no comparison," she said.

In October 2000, when Estrada set out to establish the record, there was a lengthy documentation process. All the ingredients were weighed; senators, the mayor, law enforcement and U.S. representatives acted as witnesses, and the event was video taped and photographed extensively, he said. The enchilada was even measured by satellite, which sized the its circumference at 33.89 feet.

It's achievement was a point of pride, said Christine Rogel, a Las Cruces Sun-News reporter who interviewed Estrada for the story. "This is something that has been part of the community for so long."

Estrada has long been leery of losing his crown. He said he's heard whisperings of spies looking to uncover his process during this year's fiesta.

"There were a lot of people there that told me there were some people from Mexico using video camera equipment and taping us while they were making it," Estrada said. He also received reports of camera crews from Mesa, Ariz.

But folks looking to steal his secrets might want to save the effort.

"At one point Robert Estrada was the record holder for largest enchilada," the Guinness spokesperson wrote. "But since then our guidelines have changed, and we now only accept the tradition rolled enchilada for this category."

Source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2010/10/22/southwestern-enchilada-survives-attempted-coup/

Zach at the "Pittsburgh Penguins" game in Nashville, Tennessee!

2010-10-24T19:37:00.002-05:00

Here is a compilation picture of Zach and players from the "Pittsburgh Penguins" taken after the Pittsburgh Penguins played the Nashville Predators on October 21st of this year. Zach is posing with players from the Penguins, including his hero: goalie "Marc-Andre Fleury". Sidney Crosby is currently the top player in the NHL; he scored the game-winning goal during the Olympics for Canada! In the top left picture you can see Zach and his dad (Kevin) laughing as Malkin (#71) smooshes TooToo (#22) against the glass! This was Zach's fourth time meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he had a great time talking with the players!

Zach playing hockey... He wants to be a goalie one day!

Dreams Really Do Come True... For Those in Mexico City!

2010-10-17T23:30:00.001-05:00

I came across this article tonight, and I just had to share it with everyone! For those of you who know me well, you know I love (is love really a strong enough word?) Mexican food, so imagine my delight at the following:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexico City borough went for the whole enchilada — and got it!

Residents of Iztapalapa cooked up a 230-foot-long (70-meter-long), almost 1½-ton enchilada Sunday. Guinness record official Ralph Hannah announced that it was the world's biggest. The colossal concoction was made of corn tortillas, white onions, serrano chilis, green tomatoes, avocado, cheese, cream and a sea of salsas, among other ingredients. "With this Guinness record we are showing the world that Iztapalapa is a high-level tourist destination," said Mexico City tourism secretary Alejandro Rojas.

"Chefs prepare the world's largest 'Enchilada', a traditional Mexican food, during the National Enchilada Fair at the neighborhood of Iztapalapa in Mexico City, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. The enchilada, measuring 70 meters long and 1,416 kgs, entered the famous Guinness Record book Sunday. (Marco Ugarte / AP) "

"A boy waits to be served a portion of the world's largest 'Enchilada', a traditional Mexican food, during the National Enchilada Fair at the neighborhood of Iztapalapa in Mexico City, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. The enchilada, measuring 70 meters long and 1,416 kgs, entered the famous Guinness Record book Sunday. (Marco Ugarte / AP)"

Article, pictures, and captions taken from http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Mexican-borough-makes-world-s-biggest-enchilada-710754.php

Unfortunately, our family was ~~unaware of~~ unable to attend the enchilada festivities in Mexico City today! However, those who know me and love me (certainly love is a strong enough word to use here!) best can attest to the fact that from the moment of conception; I have done my best to instill a love for Mexican food in my children! Just look at the picture posted above: Graden heartily enjoying a taco bigger than his own head as a young boy! And who else would name their cats Gordo, Pancho, and Tucson?! Do you like ~~chimichangas~~, cats? I mean, do you really like ~~chimichangas~~, cats?!

Reckon all y'all have to be from Tucson, AZ to get that last one?

Who can forget the tasty red chili con carne, or the teeny-tiny chicken enchiladas that were rolled tighter than taquitos? Look at the plate and serving bowls! Maybe that is why my family is eating off Fiesta Ware dishes in the South- and just looking at that picture makes me want to order the paprika collection for my own home! Oddly enough, I just now notice that the plate, beans, taco, rice, tamales, and chile con carne all seem to blend together?!

It was always a tough choice though... While Gordo's was definitely my favorite; the novelty of going to Pancho's and being able to "Raise the Flag" when you were ready for more was definitely fun too! Plus, Pancho's had a soft-serve machine, I didn't have to settle for sopapillas & honey for dessert...

"Homecoming Parade"

2010-10-15T22:11:00.000-05:00

Here is the beginning of the "Homecoming Parade"; it was such a wonderful experience for everyone involved! Mrs. Wanda (the School Resource Officer) led the parade with her husband in the police car while letting her sirens roar! The children loved it!

Graden and Elizabeth proudly carry their sign during the parade! They are "Tigeriffic" together!!

Does anyone else notice that Graden and Elizabeth look so similar? What is so cute is that they have picked up on each other's mannerisms as well...

Gibson takes a break from watching the parade to wave to the camera...

Proudly wearing his "Tiger Paw" spirit necklace; Gibson's attention is turned back to the parade once again!

Graden's "Class Favorites" Poster

2010-10-13T21:06:00.001-05:00

Today Graden and his close friend Elizabeth posed beside their "Class Favorites" poster. They were each voted as the boy/girl class favorite of their 2nd grade class; tomorrow they will march together in the "Homecoming Parade" holding the sign.

Here is another picture of these two cuties!

Here is the class picture! Such a good looking group...

"Nightmare On Hatley Road"

2010-10-12T21:08:00.001-05:00

Our school is having a "Door-Decorating Spirit Contest" which involved, of course, decorating our classroom doors to show the "tigers" (us) beating the "wildcats" (them). We came up with the following for our door:

Can you guess yet which movie this was ripped off from?!

I take full credit for those lyrics; the Mr. Rogers putting on the Freddy Krueger sweater I found on the internet and couldn't pass up!

Notice the "R.I.P. Wildcats Oct. 15, 2010"? Complete with little "bloodified-wildcats"? Can you tell I was raised on and addicted to horror films as a child? ;) And now, for your amusement...

Today Was "Parents Eat With Your Kindergartener" Day!

2010-10-12T20:45:00.000-05:00

Today I was able to enjoy lunch with Gibson during his lunchtime! Our school had "Parents Eat With Your Kindergartener" Day! I am sure that wasn't the official title, but it sums it up nicely...

Isn't he just the cutest Kindergartener of 2010-2011 you have ever seen? Yes, I thought you would agree! In that case, enjoy another picture of my cutie-pie...

John "Gibson" Jarrell ~ Class of 2023

Cheating Excerpt from Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?"

2010-10-11T21:08:00.000-05:00

Angela: What is this, an intervention? That has absolutely nothing to do with this. I know how to tell! If your man goes to work all day long and then comes home smelling like a fresh bar of soap, something’s up. I ain’t got time to be sitting around all day guessing…

Sheila: Relationships are supposed to be about… trust.

Angela: Now I’m an ol’ skool fool. I’m checking his bank statements, I’m checking his credit card statements, I’m checking his time card at work and I’m comparing it to the hours he said he was working and it better match the amount of money he’s bringing home. I’m checking his cell phone bill, I’m checking the numbers he was calling on his cell phone bill. I’m checking his mileage in the car. His job is 10.5 miles, school is 2.1 miles, I check the mileage when he goes to Terry and Diane’s house- it is 6.7 miles! And when any of those miles come back 2.2 or 5.6 or 7.9 or 10.7 if he comes back and I see 4.8 and a ½ of a mile that means he came from Keisha’s house, he rolled to the store to get some breath spray,

Sheila: Do you check his pulse when he walks through the door?

Angela: His resting heart rate is 42 beats a minute. If Marcus comes home to the house and he claims he was at work all day and that resting heart beat is 58 beats a minute; he been cheating!

Dianne: I’m not doing all that; that’s a full time job!

Sheila: Exactly!

Angela: The bottom line is that I have to check him. All of that I spent training that man on how to be right for me, you think that I really am going to let some other woman take all that on-the-job training?

Dianne: Well is he a man or a puppy?

Angela: He ain’t either one. That’s why I got his cell phone right here and I’m waiting for it to ring!

I thought this scene was hilarious; I can't imagine exerting that much effort into "catching someone cheating"?! Angela definitely made the movie for me! If you haven't seen any of Tyler Perry's movies, you are definitely missing out! Two of my favorite films by Perry are "The Family That Preys" and "I Can Do Bad All by Myself"; watch them for yourself and see if you don't agree!

2010-10-06T20:46:00.000-05:00

I found an interesting article this evening written by Todd Smith, entitled "Your Words Reflect Your Character". I believe it is a timely piece; I pray it touches your heart as it touched mine!

If you are old enough to read this post, I am sure you have experienced what it feels like to have people talk behind your back. When this happens to you, how does it make you feel towards the person who spoke poorly of you?

Your Words Are a Mirror

What we say about others reflects on our own character. Specifically, when we speak unfavorably of others, it not only hurts the person our words are aimed at, but it also damages our credibility and reputation in the process.

Richard Carlson put it this way: “ When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.”

When we speak negatively about someone else, others often perceive it as a ploy for our own personal gain.

When our words persuade others to our point of view as to the faults and shortcomings of someone who is not present, we are taking unfair advantage of that person. This holds true whether we’re talking about an individual, a group, or a business.

The Critical Cashier

For example, last week, I was in my local supermarket picking up a bag of ice. I took a shortcut through one of the empty lanes to get to the service desk since I was only purchasing one item.

A cashier happened to be in that lane and said he could help me. I told him I didn’t realize his lane was open because he was standing off to the side. He proceeded to tell me about the “stupid policies” of the store. He ranted about various things during my purchase and spoke nothing but ill of his employer.

All the time he was unloading his personal dissatisfaction, I was questioning his motives and forming my impression of him—and it wasn’t a good one! I immediately summed him up as an inconsiderate employee who failed to see himself as a store representative with an obligation to act and speak accordingly.

Positivity Is Good for Your Reputation

It is also important to keep in mind that where your attention goes, so goes you’re your emotional energy. Focus on positive things and your life will be positive; focus on negative things and your life will be negative. When you say destructive things about others, your emotional energy is also negatively affected.

On the other hand, when you brand yourself as someone who refrains from speaking disapprovingly of others, not only will people’s respect for you grow, but you will also be happier. When you hold back saying something negative about someone else—especially when given the opportunity—you exemplify self-control and concern for others.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” Dale Carnegie

Do not, however, confuse speaking of someone in a derogatory way with participating in a formal critique, such as job performance reviews or when you are asked to point out deficiencies for the purpose of helping someone improve in certain areas. In these instances, use tact and diplomacy to focus on performance issues and always avoid personal attacks.

Tips for Avoiding Negative Conversations

•Refuse to engage in negative conversations about others.

•Refuse to be part of groups who speak poorly of others. Remember that if you are surrounded by people who thrive on cutting others down, it may be time for you to reconsider with whom you spend your time.

•Avoid making negative or unflattering comments about other people by remembering that your comments influence people’s views of you.

Sometimes figuratively (and sometimes literally) I bite my tongue when I am on the verge of saying something negative. I do so knowing that quelling the urge to speak my mind on impulse helps me show consideration for others, uphold my values, and maintain my reputation.

You can build a reputation that commands respect by refusing to speak negatively of others in all circumstances—regardless of who is or isn’t present.
http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/blog/2010/09/02/your-words-reflect-your-character/

Graden's Award Day ~1st Grade~

2010-05-27T14:29:00.000-05:00

Graden received several awards on "Award Day", and we are very, very proud of him!!!

Here is Graden smiling ever-so-handsomely as he waits for the assembly to begin...

Here is Graden receiving the "Accellerated Reader" award for earning the most points in his class in AR. Graden earned over 120 points!!! Yea Graden!

Graden just received the "Honor Club" award for earning all "A's" during the school year... "Amazing, Awesome, and Astonishing!"

Graden is receiving "Outstanding Student" for having the highest grades in his class...

We are so proud of him, and also so grateful to his teachers! He had a wonderful first grade teacher this year who was brilliant, she really went above and beyond with Graden. We were also blessed to have another teacher from the 3rd grade who worked with Graden this year as well, she was wonderful to Graden! There just aren't enough words to thank these women enough...

Graden and the rest of the award-winners in his class!!!

Gibson's Preschool Graduation!

2010-05-27T13:53:00.000-05:00

Gibson recently graduated from preschool! He is very excited to begin "Big Boy School" and is looking forward to Kindergarten.

Here is Gibson walking down the aisle toward the graduation stage...

Here is Gibson receiving his "Preschool Diploma"...

Here is Gibson with his Daddy... They are so handsome!

Here is Gibson with his Mommy...

Typical Graden Story

2009-11-24T23:33:00.002-06:00

A "Typical Graden Story" shows great insight and an intuitive-knowledge, whereas a "Typical Jenn Story" shows the complete opposite... ;) Tonight as Graden was staring at his lava lamp, he said to his father "Dad, I know how lava lamps work. The light bulb heats up the lava. It boils to the top, then it cools down, falls back down and starts over."
What 7-year-old thinks about how a lava lamp works?! I know a certain 36-year-old who has never thought about how they work... When I was seven, all I wanted to know was how did Jem & the Holograms actually meet Synergy? Where did Care Bears live, and why was it impossible to actually find the Love Bear at Toys-R-Us? And why did we throw cat food out on Christmas Eve to feed the reindeer? But that is another entry entirely...

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND

2009-11-24T19:18:00.000-06:00

This is what greeted me this afternoon on my HP Vista laptop! This is enough to send me over-the-edge! How on earth will I manage without my laptop?! There are certain fundamentals that I need to exist, such as oxygen, water, Milkduds, Dt. Mt. Dew, and my laptop with internet access... Luckily I took out the extended two-year-warranty from Wal-Mart when I purchased my laptop, but I still have to wait to have it repaired and mailed back to me?!? Ugh!!!

My fingers are twitching already... Friends, expect numerous texts in the meantime.

Why Acorns?

2009-11-24T13:24:00.001-06:00

I chose my background for my blog because it represents Fall, Thanksgiving, and mainly; the background represents Gibson's love for me. Gibson brings me acorns home from school everyday as a reminder of his love for me. It is so sweet... He will call out to me from the truck as he slides out "Mommy... I have a surprise for you!" and then he will dig deep into his pockets and pull out several acorns for me. Gibson doesn't have money to buy me presents, so I know those acorns have been chosen with love and given with pride! He points out the varying characteristics of each acorn- this acorn is small, this acorn is huge, this acorn is a beautiful shade of nearly red, etc...
The gifting of acorns started with Zach when he too went to the same daycare that Gibson currently goes to. When Graden started going to that daycare as well, Graden would come home and bring me acorns as well. I have a few of those acorns in my jewelry case. They are more valuable and treasured than any of the other pieces in my jewelry case... would any other mother feel differently?!

2009-11-22T11:19:00.000-06:00

These are three of my all-time favorite songs... two are old, they have been out since I was in high school... Yikes! :) The third one came out a few years ago... I love it. "The Hardway" is like the story of my life.

"The Hardway" by DC Talk

(chorus)

Some people gotta learn the hardway

I guess I'm the kinda guy

That has to find out for myself

I had to learn the hardway, Father

I'm on my knees and I'm crying for help

Now I've been high and I've been low

I've been some places that you will not go

I never thought there would come the day

When I wished I never would've lived this way

But I've been searching for a long, long time

I thought the devil was a friend of mine

I turned my back on everything that was true

And wasted years that belong to you

(repeat chorus)

It took so long for me to see

That I'm a victim of nature and me

Left to myself I realize

I am the maker of my own demise

But you accept me every time and again

And never mention just how selfish I've been

Why must it always take me so long to see

That I have fallen but you will forgive me?

(repeat chorus 2x)

The warning signs are like flares in the night

Still I proceed my greed is in spite of the fire

I know that's bound to burn

Why is it that I always gotta learn...

The hardway, the hardway, I had to learn the hardway

The hardway, the hardway, I had to learn the hardway

"No Stone To Throw" by Sierra

Maggie lives on Second Street

Downtown by the river

She looks away from everyone she meets

They've got no time to give her

Because on her shoulder is a scarlet letter

And nobody told her she could do better

I've got no stone to throw

No axe to grind

I look at Maggie's life

And I see mine

I see somebody searchin' for somethin'

A little love and understanding

And the longer I know the Lord

The more I know

I've got no stone to throw

Maggie wears a cross of gold

But she don't know why

She says she tried religion once

But it made her cry

She's been to hell and back so many times

And she's done anything to survive

Maggie lives in every town

And people talk about her

'Cause it's easier to put her down

Than to care about her

But she has a Savior; He is her Judge

Oh, Maggie, you deserve to be loved

"My Jesus" by Todd Agnew

Which Jesus do you follow?

Which Jesus do you serve?

If Ephesians says to imitate Christ

Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died

He spent His time with thieves and liars

He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant

So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness

Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins

He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars

He loved the poor and accosted the rich

So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow

This picture of the American dream

If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion

Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins

But the Word says He was battered and scarred

Or did you miss that part

Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died

He spent His time with thieves and the least of these

He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable

So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church

The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet

But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud

I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd

And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!

I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus

You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity

I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus

Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me

Can I be like You Jesus?

I want to be like my Jesus

15 of My Favorite Films (Not In a Particular Order...)

2009-11-22T11:07:00.000-06:00

Be sure to comment afterwards and tell me some of your favorite films...

1. Return to Paradise

2. Schindler's List

3. Sophie's Choice

4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

5. In The Company Of Men

6. Welcome To The Dollhouse

7. Born Into Brothels

8. Office Space

9. The Last Supper

10. American History X

11. Hostel (I admit, made me cry when I got back to my hotel room alone, go ahead... laugh!)

12. Changeling

13. The Pianist

14. Shopgirl

15. Notes On A Scandal

My 25 Random Things about Me...

2009-11-22T02:00:00.000-06:00

1. I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona.

2. I had to go to speech therapy for three years to learn to pronounce my "sh" sounds.

3. I walk on my toes when I don't think about it, so I wear heels most of the time so people don't notice!

4. I have a SERIOUS case of ADHD! (But honestly now... Who "knows me KNOWS me, and can't tell?!)

5. I was in the United States Air Force for four and a half years. I miss working at USAFA. I had some of the best laughs there...

6. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Master of Education in Special Education. I am certified in Mississippi to teach Family & Consumer Sciences, Elementary Education, Mathematics, Social Studies, Spanish, Psychology, and Special Education-Mild/Moderate and Severe/Profound.

7. I have been to England, Paris, Amsterdam, and Guam. I want to go back to Paris so badly... England is where I met three of my greatest friends ever- Teddi, Julie, and Suzanne!! :)

8. I have a very dry sense of humor. My favorite game is to play "Ask a stupid question with a straight face" and watch people answer it.

9. My favorite television show is "The Office". I would love, love, love if I worked with my own "Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert, and Michael Scott" daily!

10. I love Mexican food! I could eat Mexican food for the rest of my life and not grow sick of it... That is why I like my nickname to be "Jennchilada"...

11. My best friend since elementary school is Jacqueline Framm Alquist. We are still best friends but live in different states. Her daughter was born on June 19th, which is my birthday. My son was due on her birthdate, but came early... Jacqueline invited me to church in high school, and that is when I accepted Christ as my Saviour and was baptized at Tucson Baptist Temple.

12. My second oldest and dearest friend is Kimberly Mackel Munger, who also lives in Tucson, Arizona.

13. I love to read books. I could read all the time if I had no other responsibilities! I just finished the "Twilight" series which I loved! I bought a poster from the American Library Association which has "Edward" and "Bella" on the poster holding a copy of "Twilight" and it says "READ" at the bottom for my classroom!!

14. I teach special education grades K-4 inclusion. My students love me because I am "goofy". Lately they have enjoyed earning "Vampire Smiles" on their papers because of the "Twilight" craze that has hit. Today Aden challenged me to a "Twilight" trivia contest... I won!! ;)

15. I love Milkduds and Hot Tamales. I love Ding-Dongs and glazed donuts. Cinnamon flavored salt-water taffy. Toblerone candy bars. John Wayne Casserole but the school cafeteria won't serve that anymore...

16. Every morning I start the day with a Dt. Mountain Dew. Seriously. Others have coffee, so don't judge!

17. I have three wonderful boys: Zachary Allan Divers, Bobby Graden Jarrell III, and John Gibson Jarrell. They are my stars in life. They make me want to shine brighter, and they brighten up my world as they shine!

18. I really wish I had a daughter... but I was told never to even bring up the subject of having another child again. ;)

19. I love pop music. I know I have awful taste in music. I love my Milli Vanilli, NKOTB, Debbie Gibson, Vanilla Ice, and other cheesy music on my iPod. I had a friend tell me once that if someone gave him enough money to buy 200 CD's he still couldn't buy a collection as awful as my collection.

20. I LOVE J.C. Crew "Critter" pants. They are cordorouy pants with embroidered bugs, animals, or other whimsical designs. They have been discontinued for women, so I have to hunt them down to find pairs that are still available.

21. I collect "Precious Moments". Recently the company came out with a new collection of "Disney Precious Moments" that have "Beauty and the Beast" ones, so that was a double score because I also collect "Belles". I love "Belle" because she was the first Disney heroine that had brown hair and brown eyes, and read books like me!

22. I have a really good heart, and I always try to "fix" things for people... but somehow I always manage to make things worse. I see someone hurting and I try to intervene, and somehow, inevitably I make things ten times worse?!

23. I am very tender-hearted and sensitive. Maybe insecure. I easily get my feelings hurt.

24. I have "book-smarts" but not a lot of "common-sense". The Christian rap group D.C. talk has a song called "The Hard-Way" about "some people have to learn the hard way... I guess I'm the kind of guy who has to find out for myself..." It is like the theme song for my life! Some people were blessed with wisdom, not me. I know the bible speaks about wisdom, and lays it out for us, but that has not been my gift.

25. I do have the gift of compassion. I have gone through a lot in my life. Divorce and other heart aches that I wouldn't wish on others... but I believe in the end it is so I can encourage others as they go through similar trials in their own lives...

"What a wonder God we have--he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us." (2 Cor. 1:3-4 TLB)

Funny Flashback~ a.k.a. Typical Jenn Stories...

2009-11-22T01:38:00.000-06:00

Monday August 3rd, 2009 (Looks like SOMEONE had a case of the MUUNDAYS!!!)

So today for lunch I decided to order a hamburger for .89 cents at the Wendy's drive-thru... Unfortunately, when I get up to the window to pay I realized I had forgotten my debit card, and I did not have a dollar or any change either in my van! I asked the cashier if Wendy's accepted checks as payment, and apologized for not having .89 cents for one lousy hamburger?!? Ugh, how embarrassing, right?! Well, not quite as embarrassing as her shaking her head at me as she yelled "CANCEL!!!!!!!!!!" and shut the glass window in my face!!! Seriously?!? That was so embarrassing... I was so glad Kerri was on the other end of the cell phone able to enjoy the exchange and laugh her head off-sigh... ;)P

Poems By Graden to Celebrate His 7th Birthday!!!

2009-11-22T01:32:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my sweet baby's 7th birthday! As a special treat for you... the reader... here are two poems he wrote earlier this year!

Mom's Poem
when I stand beside the ocean blue,

I think that its true,
that I love you,
and then I say what the heck
of course I love you!

Dad's Poem
As the night goes by,

the sun comes by.
I love my dad,
so very much.
he does a lot,
I don't have a robot.
but I still love him a bunch.

I think my favorite part of this picture is Gibson jumping and preening at the same time in the back... Just so that he too could be included in the picture!!!

Conversation Peace Bible Study

2009-11-22T00:54:00.000-06:00

This is the bible study I am going to begin leading next month! I plan to start it on Friday, December 4th from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M. :)

Would you like to join a monthly bible study for women only? The bible study is called "Conversation Peace: The Power of Transformed Speech". I bought the member's book from Lifeway Online for only $11.95 and I will purchase the 7 videos (I have already purchased and downloaded the first 2). All each of you would need to purchase is your own copy of the member's book! The videos seem to be rather short, only 20-30 minutes each. I am thinking if we met monthly we could meet for an hour and a half?

Here's a women's study that really hits home. Mary Kassian masterfully presents the biblical principles to help women revolutionize their speech habits and improve their relationships by focusing on ways to positively avoid sharing gossip, throwing negative barbs, or snapping sarcastic replies throughout everyday life. Includes leader helps. (7 sessions)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Kassian is an award winning author, internationally renowned speaker, and a distinguished professor at Southern Baptist Seminary in Lousiville, Kentucky. She has published several books, Bible studies and videos, including: In My Father's House: Finding Your Heart's True Home, Conversation Peace, and Vertically Inclined.

I have my copy of the workbook, and thought I would post what the back cover says:

Have you ever left a conversation feeling like shredded wheat? Stuck your foot in your mouth? Been at a loss for words? Had difficulty getting your point across? Or been talked into doing something you didn't want to do? Do you find it difficult to connect with others? Do you suspect that your speech patterns are hindering your relationships? If so this study is for you! You need some Conversation Peace.

Conversation Peace: The Power of Transformed Speech is an interactive workbook and video study designed for six weeks of individual study and seven small-group sessions. Each week through video Mary Kassian will introduce your group to one powerful speech-transforming element for communication. Then for five days you'll study and apply what you've learned.

* Discover seven powerful speech-transforming elements.

* Master the skills of effective communicators.
* Strengthen your vocabulary with Words from the Word.
* Connect with others in a small-group experience.
* Freshen Your Breath with weekly scripture memory.

If you're the type that can't resist sharing that choice morsel of gossip, throwing that negative barb, or snapping a sarcastic reply- or if you bottle up those impulses inside- this study will revoluntize your speech habits and improve your relationships. Let God's Word change you from the inside out! Be transformed! Get Conversation Peace!

Welcome "Back" To My Blog... It has been a couple of years!

2009-11-21T22:31:00.000-06:00

Hi! My name is Jennifer, and I created this blog so I could keep family and friends posted on "Jennchilada's Shining Stars". I plan to post news about our family and daily events, and I invite my family and friends to check as often as they like...

What Is On My iPod!

2007-12-21T14:08:00.000-06:00

There are two possessions of mine that I absolutely adore- My Stairmaster 4100 PT stairstepper, and my iPod! The following is a newly compiled list of what is on my iPod, though I couldn't list everything of course!

100% Funk, 90210 Soundtrack, A Night at the Roxbury Soundtrack, Abba, Acappella, Aerosmith, Alan Jackson, Allison Krause, Amazing Grace 1, 2, & 3, Amy Grant, Andrew Wommack, Amy Winehouse, Anna Nalick, Avalon, Ayeisha Woods, Barlow Girl, Beastie Boys, Beatles, Bebo Norman, Bee Gees, Benjamin Gate, Bethany Dillion, Black Crowes, Black Eyed Peas, Bonnie Tyler, Brad Paisley, Britney Spears, Brooks & Dunn, Caedmon's Call, Carrie Underwood, Casting Crowns, Celine Dion, Chris Daughtry, Chris Tomlin, Christina Aguilera, Cindy Morgan, Coldplay, Crystal Lewis, Culture Club, The Cure, Cyndi Lauper, Cyndi Thomas, Darlene Zschech, Darryl Worley, DC Talk, Debbie Gibson (all of her albums!), Dietrik Haddon, Depeche Mode, Destiny's Child, Dierks Bentley, Eagles, Elvis, Erasure, Eve 6, Expose, Faith Hill (again, all of her albums!), Fatboy Slim, Fergie, Flashdance Soundtrack, Eighties Music, Gary Allan, George Michael, George Strait, Grey's Anatomy, Gwen Stefani, Hinder, Jaci Velasquez, James Blunt, Jeremy Camp, Jewel, Jon Gibson, Josh Turner, Kanye West, Kathy Troccoli, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, The Killers, KJ-52, Lee Ann Womack, Lone Star, Luther Vandross, Madonna, Mandisa, Mariah Carey, Mark Schultz, Martina McBride, Mat Kearney, Matchbox 20, Melissa Etheridge, Mercy Me, Michael Bolton (umm, yeah... what can I say?! I celebrate his entire collection-Office Space quote!), Michael Jackson, Michael English, Michael W. Smith, Milli Vanilli, Miranda Lambert, MTV Party to Go 3,7, and 8, Nelly, New Kids on the Block, Newsboys!!!, Nickelback, Nicole Nordeman, Nicole C. Mullen, Nine Inch Nails, Now! 22 & 23, N'Sync, Oasis, Office Space Soundtrack, Our Hymns, Pam Tillis, Patsy Cline, Petra, Plumb, Point of Grace, Prince, Pulp Fiction Soundtrack, Pussycat Dolls, R. Kelly, R.E.M., Rachael Lampa, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Rebecca St. James, Romy & Michelle Soundtracks, Sandi Patti, Sara Groves, Sarah McLachlan, Say What, Sierra, Songs 4 Life Collection, Spice Girls, Stacie Orrico, Staind, Still Blessed, Superchi[k],Taylor Swift, Teen Riot, Third Day, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, TobyMac, Tori Amos, Vanilla Ice, Wedding Singer Soundtracks, Whitney Houston, Worship Jamz 1 & 2, WOW cds, Yolanda Adams, ZOEgirl...

I like a little bit of everything!

One Year Down, One More Year to Go!

2007-12-14T02:36:00.001-06:00

I have completed my first year towards my Master of Science in Special Education/Emphasis on Dual Disabilities/Deafblind. The first year our courses were through Texas Tech University. Our second year our courses will be taken though University of Southern Mississippi. I earned straight A's for the six classes I took this year, I am very proud of myself! I copied and pasted my grades from the TTU website... And when I have completed this degree, I am going to give myself a couple of years off, and then I plan to go to Mississippi State University and earn my Specialist degree in Community Counseling. I am so excited about that!

Jennifer Jarrell

Unofficial Graduate School Academic Record

-----------------------2007 Spring-------------------------

Admitted Program:
Graduate School
Non-Degree
Major: Continuing Professional Education
Development

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDSP5383270 ANATOMY & FUNCTIONS VISUAL SYS
A 3.00 12.00
EDSP5388270 PRGMS/SERV FOR DSI STDS
A 3.00 12.00
-----------------------------------------------------------
Readmitted

AHRS EHRS QHRS QPTS GPA
Current 6.00 6.00 6.00 24.00 4.000
Cumulative 6.00 6.00 6.00 24.00 4.000

--------------------2007 First Summer----------------------
EDSP5384270 BASIC ORIENT & MOBILITY SKILL
A 3.00 12.00
-----------------------------------------------------------

AHRS EHRS QHRS QPTS GPA
Current 3.00 3.00 3.00 12.00 4.000
Cumulative 9.00 9.00 9.00 36.00 4.000

-------------------2007 Second Summer----------------------
EDSP5390270 SEMINAR IN SPEC ED A 3.00 12.00
-----------------------------------------------------------

AHRS EHRS QHRS QPTS GPA
Current 3.00 3.00 3.00 12.00 4.000
Cumulative 12.00 12.00 12.00 48.00 4.000

------------------------2007 Fall--------------------------
EDSP5389270 MTDS/MTLS TEACH DSI STDS
A 3.00 12.00
EDSP5390271 SEMINAR IN SPEC ED A 3.00 12.00
-----------------------------------------------------------
End of Matriculation

AHRS EHRS QHRS QPTS GPA
Current 6.00 6.00 6.00 24.00 4.000
Cumulative 18.00 18.00 18.00 72.00 4.000
---------End of Graduate School Academic Record-------------

My Last Day in Guam!

2007-11-25T01:53:00.000-06:00

Today was my last day in Guam, and we went to visit "Two Lovers' Point". The "Legend of Two Lovers' Point" by Puntan Dos Amantes follows:

"In ancient times, a beautiful maiden, the eldest daughter of the most powerful Chamorro chief was ordered by her father to wed a Spanish Army Captain. The maiden was so young, shy, yet strong-willed, she had no intention of allowing her heart to be just given away. She had chosen her love: He was a strong handsome Chamorro warrior. Alas, her parents forbade their daughter from seeing her chosen one. Despair filled her heart because without the blessing of her family, they could never marry.

The lovers met in secret at the waters edge planning to flee the island by canoe. The moon's silver veil of shimmering light danced across Tumon Bay, annointing its surface with magic. Suddenly, Spanish soldiers appeared ending the lovers' dream of life together. With their freedom gone, the two lovers fled. High up on the summit of the cliff, the lovers united for the last time, sharing their love to its full ecstasy, fulfilling their hearts and souls. Moonlight touched their beautiful faces. They were so young, so perfect, their beauty unblemished. As one, they tied their long shining black hair in a single knot. Now they were united, inseparable. Holding hands, they fearlessly walked to the edge of the cliff and gazed down to their destiny. The soldiers appeared breathless. But too late. Soft moonlight caressed the lovers' journey to eternity as they leapt to their fate. Now they would be together forever.

To this day, there are those who claim to hear the whispers of the two lovers upon the waves, proclaiming their undying love."

It was a beautiful site, I will post pictures soon! Afterwards, we went to the Navy base and swam at "Gab Gab" beach. Shannon and I went snorkeling together, and it was so cool to be underwater looking at all of the fish! Fish were literally swimming by our faces... I loved the fish that appeared to "glow in the dark" underwater! I saw many sea cucumbers, and sea urchins too.

While we were at the Navy base, I happened to see an old man who had been at the same showing of "The Mist" as Shannon and I earlier this week. I went up to him and asked him how he had liked the movie, and he said while the movie was scary, he knew most of the movie had been computer-generated so that did not bother him very much. He then said that the last five minutes of the movie did bother him very much, that he found the ending to be very tragic, and he cried afterwards. I had to agree with him!

We ended the day at "Jamaican Grill" and I had the "Serious Seafood" platter of tuna steak and shrimp again. It is so good! Now Jerry and Shannon are making their characters on "World of Warcraft" dance (Jerry's character does a dope dance to "Lean like a Chollo", ha ha...), and I am ready to go to bed. I have 20+ hours of flying to look forward to in the morning, ha ha...

Stephen King's "The Mist"- The Movie

2007-11-23T01:47:00.000-06:00

Wow!!! What a movie! This movie was awesome, I am sure it was much better viewed in Guam than if I had seen it in Mississippi... The suspense literally had me jumping during the movie, especially when my soda was "sweating" onto my hand and I was like "What is on my hand?!" All I could imagine as I felt drops on my hand was "It is blood! I know it is blood on me!" Shannon kept laughing at me when I would jump... but she wasn't laughing when the movie ended!

The movie was so intense right up to the very end, I won't give away the ending, but it was heartbreaking! The last five minutes of the film are the most intense minutes of the entire movie. If anyone read Stephen King when he wrote under the name "Richard Bachman", you will love this ending! "The Long Walk" was a favorite story of mine by King when he wrote under Richard Bachman, and this tale of his is now right up there! This movie was more than a horror movie, it had several messages about humanity, a few of the points the movie made were very reminiscent of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.

I found this review and quote at http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/2007/11/on-mist-best-stephen-king-quote-ever.html.-

"In what could be the best Stephen King quote ever, I heard word Tuesday morning that he said the following at a press conference on Monday about "The Mist," which is based on his novella:
(Director) Frank (Darabont) ("The Green Mile," "The Shawshank Redemption") wrote a new ending [I love]. It is the most shocking ending ever.

There should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last five minutes of this film should be hung from their neck until dead.

The statement is designed to both be a blessing of the film adaptation as well as a chilling message to anyone who dares to give away the film's ending."

And for the record, here is one of my parental-double standards, MY children will not be watching horror movies while they live with me... seriously.

Thanksgiving Day in Guam!

2007-11-22T14:11:00.000-06:00

We just finished Thanksgiving dinner, and it was delicious, if I do say so myself... I made enchiladas for dinner, that is what my sister and her family wanted! She said they aren't really into turkey, and she also said she loves my enchiladas. Tonight Shannon and I are going to see "The Mist" by Stephen King at the mall. I love when I am able to watch scary movies with my sister! We grew up watching scary movies together... I still remember the first one I watched when I was 10 and she was 8 called "The Funhouse"- Pay to get in, pray to get out... I love the suspense of not knowing what is going to happen horror movies, but I don't like the blood and gore... Tomorrow we are going to the water park along the beach, Cameron is dying to go!

Yesterday Shannon, Cameron, and I went to the beach on base. It was so pretty! The beach has white sand, and black reef in the water. On the reef were several crabs that were sunbathing. I tried to take pictures of all of the crabs, but they would get really shy and hide in the crevices of the reef. My sister told me that the reef was actually very dangerous, that people often get cut on the reef, and many had drowned after being sucked into the reefs by the strong underwater currents! I stayed close to the edge after hearing that!

In the evening Jerry, Shannon, Cameron and I went to the aquarium called "Underwater World". It is a gorgeous aquarium! The seahorse display was adorable, some of the seahorses even had horns. There were Spider Crabs that were huge, if I saw one of those without glass surrounding it I would run! I even saw a case that had Clown Fish in it, just like the little fish from "Finding Nemo". I took several pictures of those, to show the boys when I get home. After we visited the aquarium we went to eat at "Planet Hollywood" which was a lot of fun! They played two songs which nearly everyone in the restaurant got up to dance to... I laughed so hard and took pictures of all of the people dancing! We were the only Americans in the restaurant, apparently Guam is a very big tourist attraction for the Japanese. Everyone here is so friendly, the locals and the tourists. After dinner and the aquarium we visited stores like Channel, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Tiffany and Co., Tag Heuer, Pucci, Gucci, etc... It was fun to look at those stores, but I can't imagine paying those prices! In one store there was a cute denim dress by DKNY, and I looked at the price tag and it was $495.00!!! For a denim summer dress?! I looked inside at the seams and other details, and it didn't look as if the quality would be that much better than something at the mall in Tupelo to make it worth that price! I did fall in love with these purses that are sold in a store called "Le Sport Sac", the brand of purses that caught my eye are called "Tokidoki". They are a cartoonish-type print of purses, with a little grim reaper named "Adios" and his girlfriend named "Ciao-Ciao". The prints are very cute, very emo... but way too expensive! A wallet-sized purse was $97.00, and the prices went up from there. In the states I love a brand called "Bobby-Jack" which has a cute little monkey, and here the island sells a popular brand called "Julius" with a little monkey and his friends.

My First Days in Guam...

2007-11-20T08:38:00.000-06:00

I left Saturday morning for Guam, and what a trip that was! I worked Friday, and when I left work I went home and took a three hour nap so I would not fall asleep on the drive to Birmingham. I left Wal-Mart at 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning, and drove to Birmingham airport. It is four-lane now the entire way, and it only took two hours to get to the airport from Amory! I boarded for Houston at 6:00 that morning, and arrived in Houston a little after 8:00 a.m.. I bought a burrito and a Mt. Dew in the airport at Houston, and paid nearly $12.00! Then I boarded for Honolulu before the 9:35 departure time, and flew for nearly nine hours to Hawaii! My legs were so sore from just sitting... I did manage to watch "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" though, and it was good (And "Transformers", "License to Wed", and played plenty of "Hang-Man")! I departed from Honolulu to Guam at 3:20 p.m., and that flight was another eight hours again! The total duration of the flights, including connections was 21 hours and five minutes. At one point I decided to brush my teeth, and when I came out of the bathroom a man was clapping for me, and saying "We thought we were going to have to go in there and get you! We didn't know how much longer it was going to take..." Pretty embarrassing!

When I arrived in Guam it was beautiful! There are palm trees and ocean everywhere, and the weather was 85 degrees. My sister, her husband Jerry, and their little boy Cameron picked me up. We went to Taco Bell and then to her house on base. We spent Monday getting a base pass for me (while everyone in my little Mississippi town was sleeping on Sunday!) and then to the mall. It was so different being in the mall and seeing shops like "Benneton, Esprit, Diesel, Juicy" etc... A definite culture shock after shopping at "Dollar General" and "Wal-Mart" the last 9 years, ha ha...My sister bought me the prettiest Fossil watch, it has a pink face with a diamond cut, and there are rhinestones all around the face of the watch! We looked in one store at the Precious Moments collectibles, and they even have a Hawaiian one where the little girl is dancing with a lei on it. I may go back and choose that for my souvenier!

My little nephew Cameron is hilarious! He was taking a shower by himself, and entertaining himself by singing "My humps, my humps..." then he starts talking to himself and says "I don't even know what that means?!" Very cute! He had to go to school Monday, and was devastated! He is obsessed with sharks, pirates, and dinosaurs. I bought him two dinosaurs at Kay-Bee Toy Stores in the mall, and I told him one was named "Gibson Shreds" and the other was "Graden Roars" and he was impressed, wanting to know how I knew that! I bought my three boys surprises, too.

We went to the gym on base last night, and I loved it. One thing I remember about the Air Force is how nice the gyms always were. This one was no exception, they have spining rooms, raquetball rooms, a rock climbing wall, etc... Shannon and I worked out together on the Eliptical machines, and the base has "Cardio Theater" attached to each cardio machine. You can watch almost any channel while you work out, on a flat screen monitor attached to every individual machine! When we drove back to my sister's house, the roads were covered with frogs that were out enjoying the rain! It was funny to see so many frogs, and my sister told me at night coconut crabs come out, too! She said her husband let one play "tug-of-war" on his foot!

It is 6:38 early Tuesday morning here in Guam, and only 2:38 Monday afternoon back home... I miss my boys at home!

Guess What My Husband Bought Me Today?!

2007-11-14T01:25:00.000-06:00

My very own PINK Nintendo DS! It came today in the mail, he ordered it so I could play with it on the trip to and from Guam! My DS came with a Princess Peach pink carrying case, and extra pink stylus'. It has a wireless interlink card, and when I am in the airports that have free wireless, I can check my hotmail and my MySpace, and Perez Hilton and Dlisted all from my DS!!! How cool is that?!!? Maybe I won't have the shakes from internet withdrawal at the airports... ;)

My five-year-old son is going nuts right now because we can connect to each other through the free wireless our city offers, and we can play against each other on our own Nintendo DS's! He has Mario Cart, which can connect with up to 8 players. We had so much fun tonight playing our video games together! I only own the wireless interlink and Brain Games 2. Graden has all the cool games, maybe he will let me borrow them?!? Yeah... right! ;) And maybe Bobby will buy me the hot pink rhinestone skins to put on my DS... Hey, a girl can dream!

My Favorite Disney Tale: "Beauty & the Beast"!

2007-09-29T01:32:00.000-05:00

Beauty & The Beast: "Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 21st year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?"

My pastor’s missionary trip...

2007-08-27T06:30:00.000-05:00

Tonight at church our pastor spoke about a missionary trip he went on this summer. He was in the Pacific Rim area, and he told us the country he was working in. He is not allowed to say it very much, because the country he was in is 98% Muslim, and the missionaries and believers there would be persecuted for being Christians.

He showed us pictures of a worship ceremony he attended, and pictures of two men who had both lost family members because they were Christians. A man's father and another man's wife were both beheaded for being Christians. This country has mosques everywhere, and speakers to announce when it is one of the five times for Muslims to pray. He said there were more mosques in this country than the United States has gas stations, to give us an idea of how many there are... The men that my pastor was worshipping with met in secrecy, and they worshipped all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They only stopped to sleep, and would begin again at 5:30 in the morning. A 79 year old man drove on a motorcycle 8 hours each way to attend this gathering.

Our pastor showed us pictures of the men studying intently, craving teachings from the bible. It made me feel awful to think how I am guilty of wondering "When is this going to end, I need to get home to ..." after an hour and a half, while these men were risking their lives to study all day. One man cried because he thought he was the only believer from where he lived, and he had never heard a prayer spoken to God in his own language. When that weekend was over, the men would return to where they lived, and would not contact or see each other again indefinitely. We saw pictures of children standing outside a public school where children still had to pay to attend. Only families that could afford school were able to send their children.

Our pastor was impressed when he arrived that the maid service would iron all of the laundry, including underwear. He later was told the reason the maids iron everything is to kill the bugs that live in the water the clothes are washed in!

I cried tonight, I felt so ashamed to think of how much I take for granted because I live in the United States. I don't face death or persecution because I am a Christian, and neither do my loved ones. I can worship freely, I can go to church and worship with others, and enjoy the fellowship of other believers. Other believers are not so lucky. I own multiple bibles in various translations, while these people can not afford clean drinking water. If it wasn't for the grace of God, I would be living in that country...

Funny Story from Church!

2007-08-27T02:37:00.000-05:00

Our church has a ministry called "Secret Sisters" where we are matched with another woman, and for a year we pray for that woman, and send little gifts to let the woman know she is being thought of... We reveal ourselves at the end of the year...

I made a gift bag of several books for my Secret Sister this morning, and left it on the table in the foyer so she would see it. I happened to see her later that afternoon walking out of church looking through her gift bag, and she pulled out one of Gibson's "Transformers" toys! Evidently, he had stuck the toy in the bag while it was in the van! It was all I could do not to grab it back from her, and she was looking at it like "Why on earth would I want this toy?!" I am sure we will have a good laugh over this at the end of the year... :)

I love this song!!!

2007-07-30T23:56:00.000-05:00

"My Jesus"-by Todd Agnew

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world
of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on
the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a
clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt that we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But he reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus

Not a posterchild for American prosperity,
but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that
means to be like you Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You
but then You died for me
Can I be like you Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus

Reflection of Something
By Todd Agnew
Release date: 16 August, 2005

I am "Right-Brained"!

2007-07-07T22:39:00.001-05:00

I took this quiz to see if I was "right" or "left" brained: http://www.testcafe.com/lbrb/

According to the test, I am "right-brained".

You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.

Are You Left-Brained or Right-Brained?
The brain is composed of two hemispheres, known as the left and right hemisphere. While each hemisphere has unique functions, which one side performs and the other does not, both hemispheres possess the ability to analyze sensory data, perform memory functions, learn new information, form thoughts, and make decisions.

The way you use these abilities determines a large part of your personality and behavior. By the time we, as humans, are two years old, one hemisphere begins to dominate your decision-making process. Communication between the two halves is possible due to the corpus callosum and this process continues to improve until the age of 15.

The left hemisphere specializes in analytical thought. It is responsible for dealing with "hard" facts such as abstractions, structure, discipline, rules, time sequences, mathematics, categorizing, logic, rationality, and deductive reasoning. It is also responsible for details, knowledge, definitions, planning, goals, words, productivity, efficiency, science, technology, stability, extraversion, physical activity, and the right side of the body. Left hemisphere ability is the predominant focus in school and society.

The right hemisphere specializes in "softer" aspects than the left hemisphere. The right hemisphere is responsible for intuition, feelings, sensitivity, emotions, daydreaming, visualizing, creativity, color, spatial awareness, and first impressions. It is also responsible for rhythm, spontaneity, impulsiveness, the physical senses, risk-taking, flexibility and variety, learning by experience, relationships, mysticism, play and sports, introversion, humor, motor skills, and the left side of the body (the old belief that left-handed people are more creative does hold some scientific credence). The right hemisphere also has a holistic method of perception that is able to recognize patterns and similarities and combines those elements into new forms.

Beth Moore-The Hairbrush Experience

2007-05-06T18:20:00.000-05:00

For those of you who do not know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible studies, and is a married mother of two daughters.

This is one of her experiences:

April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville, waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.

I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport...an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me.

All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man. I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please, no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"

There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane."

Then I heard it... "I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair." The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man."

Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."

I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:17)

I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"

He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?" "May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"

To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that."

At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?"

At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks.

Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush."

"I have one in my bag," he responded.

I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull.

A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's.

I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?"

He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought.

He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."

Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft.

I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?"

I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!"

And we got to share.

I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!

I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way, all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Dissecting a Cow's Eyeball!

2007-03-13T02:09:00.000-05:00

Last month I drove to Hattiesburg, MS to attend a weekend class for the deafblind degree I am working on. We were required to dissect a cow's eye as part of our midterm exam. My cow's eyeball was huge, the size of the palm of my hand, and then attached to the eye was muscle and fat also! Disturbingly, there were also two eyelashes still attached that I could not pull off with tweezers.

We were instructed to cut the eye open, and find the lens inside the eye. When I cut the eye open, black gushed out. I asked the teacher "What is the black stuff?" and she looked at me as if I were kidding and said "Blood..." (as if she were saying duh...). That stumped me, and I actually said "Oh, humans have red blood, and cows have black blood?!" Bobby still can't believe I asked that, but really, how am I suppose to know about a cow's blood?! The teacher told me no, that we all have blue blood until it hits the air, then it turns red, I knew that... but what I didn't know and learned from her explanation was that blood turns black after someone dies! She asked me "Don't you watch C.S.I.?". Umm, no. I watch "Grey's Anatomy", and the blood is still red on that show... So I was humiliated and acted engrossed in my eyeball so attention would be diverted elsewhere. The girl next to me leaned over then and whispered "I am glad you are here, you ask the questions I am too afraid to ask!" That is because I lack the "inhibition gene" which most people do have, the one that prevents every thought that passes through my mind from being spoken! ;)

When I did find the lens, it was actually very cool. It was similar in shape and texture to a "smashed marble", it was even as hard as a marble. When I placed it over text, the lens actually enlarged the text as a magnifier would! This degree is definitely challenging, but fascinating...

Taco Bell Opens in my Itty-Bitty-City!!!

2007-03-06T20:22:00.000-06:00

Today was the grand opening of "Taco Bell" in my itty-bitty-city! Those of you who know me know how much I love Taco Bell! So I left work today and drove to the Taco Bell, ready to enjoy a meal of fine Mexican cuisine... When I neared the Taco Bell, traffic was literally backed up, because the drive-thru line was backed up into the street! A manager was directing traffic in the parking lot, and he had to escort me to a parking spot when I told him I did not want to go through the drive-thru. I ordered my meal, and only 30 minutes later I was served! As I ate my meal I noticed there were three managers directing traffic, and one policeman writing up an accident report in the parking lot as well. Apparently everyone who lives in my itty-bitty-city all wanted to indulge in the fine Mexican cuisine of "Taco Bell"!!! ;)

I wasn't planning on going on opening day, I really thought it had opened yesterday. This makes two grand openings of Taco Bell I have attended, the first one being in England. I took Zach in his stroller, and we waited 45 minutes in line to order, and 45 minutes for our food that day. Zach had his first taste of "adult food", I let him have a nacho supreme chip, fully loaded! Now Zach loves Taco Bell also, his favorite meal is the "number 7" which is the chicken quesadilla with a taco and drink.

A Sentimental Pineapple Charm!

2007-01-28T00:33:00.000-06:00

Today I bought a silver pineapple charm for my charm bracelet, and I am so excited! When Graden was first learning to talk, Bobby would show him pictures and ask "What's this?!" and wait for Graden to answer. One day Bobby showed Graden a picture of a pineapple, and asked Graden to tell him what the picture was. Graden answered "House!!". At first Bobby didn't know why he had said house, but then he realized that Graden had watched so many episodes of "SpongeBob Squarepants" he thought pineapples were houses!

It was such an adorable moment with Graden, I had to have the charm when I saw it... :)

2007-01-14T13:29:00.000-06:00

The Books I Am Reading For This Semester!
Current mood: energetic

This weekend was the Orientation Weekend for my second master's degree I am earning from University of Southern Mississippi. The degree I am earning will train me to teach children and young adults that are deafblind, meaning they are deaf and blind, not an either or...

At the orientation, they told us we will be dissecting a cow's eyeball next month! Ugh... :) They also told us that next year they are paying all expenses to send the students to Long Island, New York to do a field observation at the Helen Keller Center!!! I am so excited about that!

Then they gave us the books we are required to read THIS SEMESTER, meaning we will have even more books next semester! Here is the list:

1. Hand in Hand: Essentials of Communcication and Orientation and Mobility for Your Students Who Are Deaf-Blind. Volumes 1 and 2 (over 800 pages)

2. Learning Media Assessment of Students with Visual Impairment (over 200 pages)

3. Remarkable Conversations: A Guide to developing meaningful communication with children and young adults who are deafblind. (over 300 pages)

4. Foundations of Low Vision: Clinical and Functional Perspectives (nearly 500 pages!)

5. Program in Low Vision Therapy (nearly 200 pages)

6. Dictionary of Eye Terminology (288 pages)

7. Vaughan & Asbury's General Opthalmology (466 pages)

8. A Guide to Planning and Support for Individuals Who Are Deafblind (over 500 pages)

9. Children with Disabilities (nearly 900 pages)

I am sure we won't read every page of every book, but I do know I am going to have a lot of required readings this semester! So much for my leisurely reading of "War and Peace"! ;) I am so excited to have been accepted! Dr. McDowell told us they had 526 total applicants and accepted a total of 46 over the past four years. I will be in the last cohort group, and will be graduating in 2009. This degree is entirely paid for, our tuition and books, and even traveling expenses. I am very blessed!

Love,
Jennifer

Funny Sixth Grade Student Story!

2006-11-05T00:57:00.000-06:00

One of my sixth grade students asked me Friday "What is a stripper?" I didn't really know how to answer that, so I said "Sometimes when a house needs to be painted, the old paint peels, and you have to hire a person to come peel the old paint off the house. You call the person who does that a 'stripper'."

He thought about this for a minute and said "There must be two meanings for stripper then!"

Sigh... ;)

I Was Accepted!

2006-09-01T21:51:00.000-05:00

The University of Southern Mississippi called today to tell me I have been re-accepted into the Master of Science-Special Education-Severe/Profound program. I will be earning a degree in Deaf/Blind- Dual Impairments.

I had been accepted last year, but turned it down because I had just finished my Master of Arts in Teaching, and I wasn't ready to write papers again... Sigh... I still don't really want to, but this degree will help me with my special education teaching. I am really excited!

They only accepted 10 for next year, because the government pays for the entire program. My tuition, books, travel expenses, and child-care expenses are all paid for. In exchange, I have to teach SPED in MS for two years, which I am already doing... :)

My Favorite "Grey's Anatomy" Quote...

2006-08-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

This is my all-time favorite quote from the show, "Grey's Anatomy".

My Favorite Quote from "Grey's Anatomy":
Meredith: I lied. I'm not...out...of this relationship. I'm in. I'm so in, it's humiliating, because here I am, begging--
Derek: Mere--
Meredith: Just...shut up. You say Meredith and I yell, remember?
Derek: Yeah.
Meredith: OK, Here it is. Your choice, it's simple. Her or me. And I'm sure she's really great. But Derek...I love you. In a really, really big...pretend to like your taste in music... let you eat the last piece of cheesecake... hold a radio over my head outside your bedroom window... unfortunate way that makes me hate you...love you. So pick me. Choose me. Love me. I'll be at Joe's tonight...so if you do decide...to sign the papers...meet me there.

I was bawling when that scene was over! Of course, those tears were nothing compared to when Denny dies last season in the season finale. I could not believe it, I felt as if the air had been sucked out of me when Izzie was laying in his bed crying...

Disastrous Day! ;)

2006-07-27T22:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Bobby saw my profile while I was looking on my page, and he read where I wrote "Yummy Wentworth Miller". He has teased me non-stop since then about using the word "yummy" about a guy when I am married! He said "I am going to make a page with pictures of Carmen Elektra and write "Yummy" all over my page!" or "Am I yummy?" Then he walks around the house going "Ummm... Yummy!" I explained to him it was a twist on Grey's Anatomy where they call people yummy, or actually McYummy, McDreamy, McSteamy, etc... I told him I liked the personality of the character the actor plays on "Prison Break". So he said "No, you didn't put "Yummy personality"!" Ughh!!! ;) And then, once again I received the reminder "We need TWO adults in this marriage, Jennifer. TWO!" ;)

And the disaster of the day was when I decided to try to color my own hair, even though I have NEVER once did it successfully on my own. So I go to Wal-Mart, get a box of light ash brown, and color my hair. It comes out too light for my taste, almost blonde with red even though I used an ash (My hair always grabs red, no matter what!). I didn't like it, so I went back back and got medium reddish brown. That turned my hair a clownish coppery-orange! The ends were now black, the middle red, and the roots orange, no exaggeration! I was in tears by then because I go back to work next Wednesday, so I went back to Wal-Mart and had highlights put in professionally at their salon. The stylist tried to put a toner in my hair to calm the color down I had put in, but that didn't work. She did put some blonde and caramel highlights throughout my hair, and that does look a lot better, if you can get past the copper red at the roots, ughh!! Everytime I try to color my own hair, I promise it will be the last time. Hopefully I have finally learned my lesson, an expensive one, too!

Our Day at the Waterpark!

2006-07-26T19:01:00.000-05:00

Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early to go to Geyser Falls waterpark in Philidelphia, MS. Gibson went to Mamaw and Papaw's house to be spoiled, he is still too little to spend a day outside in the heat... Bobby, Graden, Zach and I loaded into the van, and begun the 2 1/2 hour drive to the park...

Graden and Zach played Metroid the entire trip up there. They have played that game together all summer with Bobby, so much so that Bobby now refers to the three of them as "The Metroid Monkeys". It is like listening to another language, and there is no telling how many times I have heard "Yes! I killed the Motherbrain!". ;)

We got to the park and paid our eighty dollars to get in, and the children chose the "Lazy River" to go into first. Graden didn't want to ride on an inner tube, so he wrapped his arms around my neck and rode me through the entire river! He would make me walk through the waterfall with him on my back, squealing with delight. My legs however were squealing from being overworked! The kids wanted to play the majority of their time on the "Creaky Water Factory". A huge, multi-leveled park that water pours everywhere, the entire time. There is literally no way to avoid getting wet on this attraction. The kids love climbing the rope nets to get up to the waterslides, over and over and over... Of course I had to do it each time along with them, to make sure they were ok! It was definitely a work out for myself. Bobby positioned himself by a water gun and hoses, and would spray the people across from him if they attacked little children with thier water weapons. Bobby loves, loves, loves to do that! He said there was a girl there who was pouring water on little toddlers, so while she would do that, Bobby would soak her with his hose. She became so angry at Bobby she shook her fist at him and reported him to the lifeguard. The lifeguard told her she was doing the exact same thing to little children, and laughed that she would complain... Zach really loved the wave pool, so we went over there for a few minutes. Both children enjoyed playing on the beach located by the restraunt we ate lunch at. Zach had an order of nachos that was the size of a small mountain! He ate quite a bit of it, too! Bobby ordered a BLT wrap that was mostly eaten by Graden. It does not matter what Graden orders, your order is always going to look better to him when the food is served! :)

At the end of the day (for us!) we told the boys it was time to go home. Graden was so upset, he started crying and saying he didn't want to leave. I told him we would stop and get a candy bar, and he starts running excitedly, yelling "My daddy is getting me a candy bar!". Graden played Metroid the entire drive home (after eating his M&M's, Mt. Dew, and a bit of Zach's Tootsie Roll, too!) while Zach took a long nap. It was a great day at the waterpark, we all enjoyed ourselves very much!

www.geyserfalls.com

The House Is Too Quiet!

2006-07-16T01:45:00.000-05:00

Zachary is spending the night at his cousin Austin's house tonight. Austin is having a slumber party to celebrate turning 11, and there are six boys sleeping over, playing video games as late into the night as they can... Zach is excited because last year they all snuck into the kitchen in the middle of the night to get food, and he is hoping they do it again this year! Austin's mother, Cindy, told me that one boy was literally able to climb the wall, and showed her. I do not envy her tonight, ha ha...

Graden is spending the night at Mamaw and Papaw's tonight. He is sure to be spoiled over there, as always! (He has his own coffee mug there that says "The Boss" for when he visits!) He helped pack his little suitcase, making sure his Buzz Lightyear pajamas were packed, both pairs?!? Why two pairs, I have no idea... Poor Graden has lost his voice though... He has thrown so many little temper tantrums accompanied with ear splitting screaming in the last two days he finally lost his voice. A conversation would go something like this:

Graden: "Can I play the Gameboy?"

Mom: "No, not right now... wait until later."

Graden: "AUUUGHHHH!!!!" with his little fists clenched in fists... Not sure why he is doing this, it hasn't accomplished much of anything for him. I must admit, when he awoke from his nap this afternoon and had a raspy whisper of a voice, I was secretly thankful! ;)

At any rate, the house is way too quiet tonight. I often long for an evening away, and when I get one, I spend the entire time missing the little guys! :)

What Will Your Life Say?

2006-07-14T00:32:00.000-05:00

What Will Your Life Say?

I copied this from a devotional I receive daily from the Purpose Driven Life website. The address is at the bottom in case anyone is interested in subscribing for themself. It really hit me how a person can make a difference in other peoples' lives just by being an example of faith... We are all reaching out to other people in the daily roles we live as mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, friends, etc...

July 13, 2006
Listening to a life
by John Fischer

I received word recently of the passing of a 68-year-old woman who was both a mom and a grandmother. She had been traveling to the wedding reception of her oldest grandson when she was involved in a tragic automobile accident. Her injuries were serious, sending her into a coma from which she never recovered. She died 10 days later.

In the words of a family friend, she was just a normal housewife whose family was her career. For those 10 days, that family never left her side. They covered her in shifts, talking to her and simply being in her presence. And when they spoke at her funeral, they all spoke about a remarkable woman who had a profound influence on their lives by merely being there and being faithful to God. But something struck this friend after hearing their words of tribute. They had all agreed on how much they learned about their mother/grandmother during those 10 days at her side that they hadn't realized before, for in the silence of those days, they had time to listen to her whole life.

There's no substitute for the power of a steady life of faith. It may not hit you over the head, but over time, the reality of a loving life takes hold and you cannot shake it. We often hear about the more glamorous stories of radical change faith can produce, and these are indeed thrilling and inspiring stories, but the real examples are often unclaimed until someone is suddenly taken from us, or we are given time to listen to the silence of someone's life. And that silence can speak volumes.

The family friend who wrote me about this story called it Mission Accomplished. Pouring her life out to the people she loved was this woman's mission. Think of all the unsung heroes like her who will shine like stars in Heaven. It's not always the convincing argument or the riveting miracle that changes lives. It's more often the quiet power of a steady faith that leaves the final impression and can win over the hardest heart.

If someone listened to your life today, what would he or she hear? Anxiety, fear, confusion, hurry, or love and a faith that was bigger than all those things? What speaks loudest in your life? It's a sobering thought and I, for one, have to say I am not real pleased with the results of my own self-assessment in this regard. Good thing we've all got a little more time and the grace of God. Let's spend them both well today.

REMINDER: If for some reason you do not receive your devotional on any given day, you can go to our website, www.purposedrivenlife.com, to read the current days entry.

Honor The One Who Wears Your Ring!

2006-07-10T23:29:00.000-05:00

Honor The One Who Wears Your Ring

I am copying a portion of the article from "HomeLife" magazine, the July 2006 issue. The article is an interview with Max Lucado, and his wife, Denalyn. It is an awesome portion of the article...

"Looking toward their silver wedding anniversary, Max and Denalyn reflect on how husbands and wives can keep their marriages vibrant.

Denalyn answers confidently. "The biggest thing that's going to keep a marriage together is prayer and keeping our eyes on the Lord. My relationship with the Lord is vital, and Max's relationship with the Lord is vital. If I'm out of my time with the Lord for too long, then what I see, touch, feel, and hear become my realities. I start losing touch with what's important, and that's an invisible God who is very present and very real and very alive. He's the one who sees us anyway. Max can't see my soul, and it's not fair for me to expect him to... The Lord does that, and Max and I can love each other in a pure way if we're receiving from the Lord what only the Lord can give."

Max agrees with his wife. "I think at the bottom of it, there must be a fierce resolve to maintain a marriage," he says. "In a sense, it's saying to Satan, 'You're not getting this.' You must refuse to do anything that would distract you from your spouse. I urge people, don't flirt, don't touch. Be [willing to be] seen as a prude, to be perceived as rude... Honor the one who wears your ring."

I loved this article! We receive this magazine free at our church, but if you are interested in a subscription, you can order online at www.lifeway.com/homelife

A one year subscription is $21.45, but would be well worth it!

Graden- My "GQ" Toddler!

2006-07-08T22:52:00.000-05:00

Graden, my three year old, loves clothes! When we take him to "The Children's Place" he will search through the racks, pulling what he likes and pleading for the latest styles! I found a hoodie jacket yesterday marked down to five dollars, so I bought it for him and brought it home as a surprise. He had wanted it before, but it was not on sale, so I didn't buy it that day. When he saw it yesterday, he was so excited! He put it on immediately, despite the fact it is over 90 degrees here in Mississippi! We had to put our feet down when he wanted to wear it last night to McDonald's! Today he tried on every jacket he owns, and came out wearing a Mickey Mouse one Kim had mailed him for his birthday. I couldn't believe he was wearing jackets in July, and I told him "Graden, this is goofy!" and he looks up at me so innocently and says "No, Mom. It is Mickey!" I laughed so hard...

Gibson, the nearly two year old, loves shoes more than anything. His second or third word was "shoe", honestly! He walks into Payless like he owns the place, and even knows which aisle to go down for his size. If he was given the choice of a toy trip to Toys-R-Us, or a shoe shopping, he would pick the shoe shopping! He cries when his shoes are taken off, even if it is bedtime...

Zach, however, is not fashion minded like his brothers! He doesn't care what he wears, as long as it is not pink or a dress! ;) If he can play video games in it, he will wear it!

~*~ Shine Like Stars In The Universe ~*~