Autobiography Carpal Tunnel

Please pray for us.  We are enduring the pages, 16 of them, that need to be filled out for our adoption. Some of these questions, my word, why do they ask such things?  We are struggling to get through this.  We need endurance and wisdom as to what we should write.  Those who have gone through this before us know exactly what we are talking about.  Thanks!!!  I'm half way through...Aaron is a little bit behind me.  

Live Like You were Dying

Ok...I'm not talking about the hit from Tim McGraw...it is good though! I'm talking about our sermon series at church. It has been EXCELLENT!!! And...has really challenged me. Do I live like I'm dying?? Like this could be my last day here!!??? Hmmmm...it's hard to put this into practice. One of the first messages had a HUGE impact on me. See, my Dad passed away in November of 2006 after a 4 1/2 battle with cancer. Yes, I miss him!! He was and will always be my hero. You see...he lived like he was dying, even though he was absolutely sure that God was going to heal him. In the end, He did heal him...the ultimate miracle...HEAVEN and I know without a shadow of a doubt he is running and fishing and enjoying his time walking on those golden streets. Ok, Pastor Kim set up a scene during his message...a scene where he sits down with his wife, Anne, and their 5 kids. He explains to them that he only has 30 days to live (the length of the message series) and what he would like them to do. He explained how important it was to him that the kids take care of their Mom. He explained it so eloquently and with such emotion I started crying, of course, he was crying as well. It just reaffirmed to me how important it was that Aaron and I take care of my Mom, because that's the way my Dad and My Jesus would want it. Today proved to be another amazing message...."Give Forgiveness". WOW!!! We had communion today and after we sang a favorite song of mine by Chris Tomlin "Amazing Love". Just wanted to share:

Chris Tomlin
Amazing Love

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again.
(Chorus)
Amazing love,
How can it be
That You, my King, would die for me?
Amazing love,
I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again

Helpful Hints

I've had some interesting things happen lately where I just needed some helpful hints.  My husband, Aaron, is soooooo handy.  He always seems to have just what I need.  Some cases in point....lighter fluid, denatured alcohol, a spare key....and the list goes on.  So...I thought I'd share some of these hints with all of you.

1.  Carry a Tide-to-Go pen in your purse.  This was one of the best stocking stuffers I ever received.  It even took raspberries out of my khaki pants.  I have heard that it isn't good to use on white....some people say it will turn the piece of clothing yellow? I don't know...I honestly can't remember if I've used it on white.  I probably have that's usually when I spill the most!!!!!

***Edited to add***This morning at church we had communion and you guessed it...I got sticky grape juice on the sleeve of my WHITE shirt.  So...I thought I'd test out the pen on white...guess what??  It worked and the grape juice is gone and I don't have yellow mark.  So...I will still use this on white!  HOOORAAAYY!!!

2.  Lighter fluid takes out candle wax.  Interesting you say...well, let me tell you.  The other night in my cold medicine induced coma, I "accidentally" knocked over my tart burner and spilled wax all over my counter, in my coffee mug (weird) and down the front of my brand new sweatshirt.  I was not a happy camper and cleaning all of that up with a cold was NOT fun.  Well...I had used the paper bag and iron trick...do you all know that one?  It works great if you get wax on the carpet or even your clothes or my kitchen rug in this case.  You put the paper bag on the wax and use the iron on top...that pulls the wax into your bag....BRILLIANT!  If you don't use a "Yankee Farmhouse Apple" tart.  That left a stain on my sweatshirt.  I thought it was ruined....not so!!!  Aaron to the rescue...."Let's use some lighter fluid, it's a mild solvent".  Let me tell you...it worked like a charm.  Who would have thought!!

3.  Denatured Alcohol (whatever that is...apparently you can't drink it, duh) will remove hairspray.  Ok...so I don't have BIG hair, but...I do use hairspray.  I had a pretty good layer going on my towel bar...GROSS!!  So, I was trying to clean it to no avail...even the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser wasn't working and I had tried lighter fluid too....so, Aaron to the rescue yet again....Denatured Alcohol did the trick.  I love it!!!  

4.  OxyClean does wonders to your tennis shoes.  Ok....so my sister, Amber, always has the whitest, brightest Nikes around.  HOW??  Just wash them in the washing machine with OxyClean in your load.  So, I did just that the other night....my Nikes are as good as new and I'll be the talk of the town.  

5.  Spare car key.  Well....here's the deal.  My Mom, sister and I went to Lincoln City, OR a few weeks ago for a long weekend.  It was so much fun!!!  Pictures to come later.  We took our car and Aaron the ever thoughtful, always careful, husband of mine decided I needed a spare car key.  Now...we have a clicker/opener thing so I usually use that and have yet to lock myself out of the car.  If I did Aaron is a locksmith, so...he would usually be nearby.  But..Oregon is a ways away and Mom and Amber depended on me so....a spare key it was...hidden in a place in my wallet.  Very good idea Aaron.....you are so good to me!!

Changes on the blog

So...we got this new computer and it has inspired me.  While Aaron is watching that silly, "The Red Green show" I decided to have some fun.  And...frankly, I just wanted to spruce up my blog.  I think I like this better.  It's fun now that I know what to do.  Thanks to my friend Andrea for helping me originally set this up.  I hope you aren't offended that I have changed it.  Does anyone else love their IMac as much as I do?  Boy, things have changed from when I first worked on one of these when I worked at Premier.  I think our screen now is three times the size it was then.  And....frankly, our 8 year old IMac was tired.....it was time to change things up a little.  I feel so blessed that we were able to get this.  HOOOOORRRAAAYYY!!!  

A new computer!!!!

HOOOORRRRAYYYY!!!  Our new computer is here!!! I'm so excited...can't you tell?  I can type faster and there is FINALLY no delay....I feel as though I'm watching a BIG screen movie!!! AHH....can you tell I love it???  More to come.......Seriously, I don't even need my glasses.  Now if we could just figure out why our e-mail is not getting here.  I'll leave that to Aaron.  

Just thinking....

How thankful I am.....for everything around me. My husband, my house, my MOM, my sister and brother-in-law....my in-laws and the big family I became a part of when I married Aaron. I feel blessed....but, on the other hand, I feel and know that God is going to be giving me so much more. We were overwhelmed and blessed last week after talking to Margaret at Christian Homes. She called to go over some of the subsidy logistics with us. And...during that conversation we learned someone who loves us very much had sent in $3000 towards our placement fee. God is so good!!! And...if that someone is reading this (because we were not told who it/they was/were)...we thank you for the bottom of our hearts. What an AMAZING blessing that was to us. And...Margaret was so thrilled to be able to share that news with us. And while I'm talking about Margaret, she is wonderful....we love her! I just want to reach through the phone and give her a big hug. She has made this experience so easy.......thank you Jesus for people who love what they do. It is very apparent that Margaret is one of those people!

Airport noise forgotten?

Well...the de-humidifier and all the fans are gone!!! HOOOORAAYYYY!!!! But, we're still sleeping in the office and our carpet won't be back to normal until Wednesday. Just a warning: Don't do laundry while you're gone. We are so thankful we were home. SHEESSSHHH!!!