Fear

Have you ever noticed how fear is a great motivator? It either motivates you to do good or motivates (induces) negative action.

I've noticed lately that those around me react differently to fear. There is the fear that there might be something terminally wrong with your body. Fear that a financial trial is around the corner. Fear that a child might not do what he/she should. Fear that a job is not stable. Fear of the Second Coming.

I have had an awakening of sorts. I still have fears, but I try not to let them run me. While that sounds a little sanctimonious, I don't mean for it to. I know that I am far from perfect, but I also know I have a Savior who loves me and is rooting for me. True love casteth out all fear. Faith is the opposite of fear.

What is it you fear? What can you give over to the Savior and let go of? He is there for you - you have only to knock.

Let go of your fears.

Hmmm...I'm an addict?

64%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

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Actually, I thought I was more an addict than this. I guess this is good news?? LOL

Writing for Money

Okay. The word is out - some people can actually make money by writing. Of course, you have to have something worth reading...ie, JK Rowling. sigh. I couldn't believe she was the first Billionaire writer! I'm not sure what that says about the world of today.

I have no illusions about my writing ability. I feel that I am good, but I don't think I'll ever make it to that mark. I just want to be read. I want to influence youth to think good thoughts and enjoy reading.

I am a writer. I am an author and I am an illustrator.

Today is the last day that I will allow myself to slump into mediocrity. I can do this, and I can earn money while doing it.

giggle...

I am woman, hear me roar!

Tagged!!!

5 people who will be annoyed you tagged them: Keith, Karlene, Tristi, Nichole and Connie. They're all tired of this game...lol

4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth: Apricots - Dandelions - mosquitoes - morning glory (can you see I have an issue with plants?) stink bugs

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently: argue about stupid things - pull out in front of me - use the last of the toilet paper and not replace it.

2 things you find yourself moaning about: heat --heat--- driving in the snow - did I mention heat?

RULES: Link to the original tag at freelancecynic.com so people know what it's all about! Be as honest as possible, This is about letting people get to know the real you! Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it or are very, very ugly! Post these rules at the end of every blog!

Impeachment?

Well..I usually put this kind of post on my other blog, but since no one reads that blog, and some do this, I figured it would have more exposure here.

I just heard the most disgusting thing on the radio...Mrs. Shehan is at it again. She claimed a little while ago that she was going to retire from the protesting business. She was going to go back home and rest. Yeah.

Well...today she's at Arlington Cemetery shouting for Pres. Bush's impeachment. Okay...and where was she when Mr. Clinton was chasing skirts? Apparently there were two bunch protesting. One was her group, and the other was in support of the military, calling her a traitor. She calls herself a patriot. She claims that if the Leader of the House doesn't call for his impeachment, she's going to run against her next year. More power to her. She'll probably get elected. sigh.

I guess it all comes down to point of view. If everyone who had ever had a family member die in fighting for our country, or for the cause of freedom, decided they wanted to impeach the current president, we would have a lot more than 42. It's like kicking out a family member instead of working through the difficulty every time you didn't like what they were doing.

Just because you don't agree with the current president doesn't mean you can toss him out on his ear when he doesn't do what you want. It's called being elected -- it was a vote. He won. He is the best man for the job, despite his weaknesses and mistakes. I would rather have him than anyone else out there right now. I guess we'll see what happens in 2008 -- I'm terrified as to what's going to happen.

I find it interesting how this one woman has gained so much attention. I couldn't get that kind of attention if I begged for it. (And I usually am! lol)

Let's hope that saner minds will prevail. Truth is finally coming out in little bits that we are succeeding over there -- perhaps the world will see afterall.

Only time will tell.

I'm Avoiding the Dentist

Okay, not really, but it probably seems like it. I've just had to cancel my second dentist appointment this week, and it's getting down to the wire. I have a toothache that comes and goes and isn't a real problem, just one of those things that you know is going to be trouble if you don't take care of it. Monday I had to cancel because my son was going to be left home alone and unlike the kid in the movie, he doesn't handle it well.

Today I got called to work, and when it comes to earning money or going to the dentist, which would you choose? So...I canceled the appointment. Even now, as I type, my tooth is telling me that it was a mistake, and I might be having the pits of a weekend. sigh. The soonest they could get me after today was Thursday... It might be a very long week.

Wonder Woman!

Well...we had an experience a couple of days ago that was different.

I am not a person that likes confrontations. I get nervous and upset when I have to talk to my kids about something they've done bad! I really hate disagreements with my hubby, and rarely would talk to someone else about what I think they're doing. But this experience was an exception -- I guess.

My brother lives just less than a mile up the road from me in the old family house. (grin) It's only been this year that I've been able to refer to it as my brother's house instead of dad's house... Anyway, there is a big space behind his house that my dad had leveled and was hoping to make into a Tennis court. (My family is big on tennis.) Anyway, the neighbor who lived to the west of him owned land that we thought we did, and needless to say, it never was built. It's just this big empty lot behind the house.

His neighbor to the north has been using it to get to his back yard, which he had permission to do. Well, here we were, driving to pick up my son from work, and noticed someone was dumping garbage there! I about came unglued! My husband said we should turn around and get the license plate, so I turned around but we couldn't see one on the smaller dump truck. So, I pulled over and got out of the car. There was no way I was going to let someone dump in my brother's back yard! Part of the reason I was anxious is my brother has been on vacation and will be coming back this week. He wasn't there to defend his yard.

My hubby about had a heart attack as I walked in front of this truck and made him talk to me. He was sure the guy was going to pull a gun or run me over. Did I even think of that happening?? Not. Do I have a brain? Anyway, the guy was Hispanic, and didn't speak any English other than 'over there', etc.

He got out of the truck and a little kid came over an translated that they apparently had permission because my brother (or the neighbor, we weren't quite sure) wanted the dirt that the neighbor across the road was digging out of his back yard and dumping. They could dump the other stuff as well, and then pick it up all at one time when they were finished.

I figured I'd collaborate the story with my brother when he finally got back, and he'll probably laugh at me, along with the neighbor who is doing the work (who I also know). sigh. This is going to be a red faced moment for me. But who knew?

We get back in the car, and my hubby says, "Well, I guess we know what will make you confrontational, don't we?"

I about died.

My writing space

There have been some talk on the blogs about writing spaces. I saw someone's office that was positively adorable, with painted walls that would drive me crazy. I mean, it was wonderful, and most people would find it helped them with ideas, but it would have been too distracting for me. My writing space is in the corner of our 'sun room'. It's called the sun room because it gets the most sun, heat, etc. (grin) It used to be a huge deck (which I really wish it still was, but you know) and my mother-in-law enclosed it and used huge windows so that it still has a feeling of openness.

In one corner is our computer desk and on it is everything I need to write and work. (It used to be my hubbies desk, but he has let me take over.) I have CD's stacked near by, my reference books (such as they are) and printer and scanner. Usually, it's a mess (sigh) although I have been better at keeping it picked up.

But I wanted to show you my view. The photograph is the view out of the window right behind my desk. Actually, it's only one side of the window (I told you they were big) and so you have the most open view. The other side of the window has the computer monitor in front of it, so it wouldn't give you a very good idea. Anyway, I mentioned in my blog the other day how I love mornings and talked about my yard, now you can see what I was talking about. Isn't it a lovely shade of green?

If you look really hard, you can see the bean plants growing in our garden behind the wild looking apple tree, and to the other side you can see our melons and other part of the garden.

I had no idea how large our willow tree had gotten until we were looking at some old home movies and saw how small it was when we'd moved in 8 years ago. Man! The apple tree was about 1/2 the size you see now. sigh. We aren't very good at trimming...

Anyway, there's my office with a view. I love it, and the kids will tell you I spend most of my time there - of course it's not always time spent writing...lol

I am Elizabeth?

I found this quiz on another site, and had to check it out. I Love Jane Austen, at least the movies made from her books. I have a hard time READING her...LOL. Anyway, apparently, I'm Lizzie!! Who knew? At least I'm not Mary! LOL

Take the Quiz here!

Garening 100....101?

I am not a gardening fanatic. In fact, if I had my way, I'd probably have a little box on the porch with a cherry tomato, a bell pepper plant, a zuccini plant , perhaps some lettuce and some herbs. Something that I could sit and weed in a half hour and keep for fresh use. sigh...bliss.

But...since I am striving to follow the words of the prophets and have a large family that is difficult to feed cheaply, a garden is a necessity. So is weeding...and making the kids get up to help -- which is such a joy, I can't tell you. My 17 year old decided to have an attitude about half way through, because weeding is like, not his thing, you know? And he'd already done his bit, and I never said there had to be a unlimited time thing and hey, he was finished. He finally came back and finished with the family, but he's going to be unhappy when he discovers his nintendo time is cut short because of attitude.

sigh.

At least one daughter came out without complaining. The other one wouldn't even turn over. We worry that in a real emergency, she wouldn't wake up before the house burned up or fell down around her ears in an earth quake. I pity her hubby when she has children and they wake up during the night...

At least it was a cooler night last night and I didn't have to move into the basement. grin.

Anyone need some apricots?? We have loads.

The world is Mine

While yesterday my brain was not working, today it won't sleep. My hubby had to go to work at 5:30 am...my son had a river trip that he left for at 6 am, and I am surrounded by a quiet house with everyone else sleeping. I tried to go back to sleep, (read yesterday's blog if you wonder why) but it wouldn't come. I sat outside for a moment, enjoying the quiet semi-coolness of the morning, and remembered again how much I love my back yard.

It's not a wildly manicured thing - in fact, it's a little wild - but that's how I like it. It's green...one would hardly know we live in an arid climate, but there you have it. If I don't look past the grass, I don't worry about the weeds in the garden or the tall (rapidly turning brown) grass behind that. I gaze at the large flowing willow tree and the green foliage of the Day lilies and just breath a little easier.

In the midst of my paradise the kittens wander through the yard and a neighbors rooster announces it's morning, even though the sun hasn't really lightened the sky yet. It's enough to make me glad to be alive.

There's got to be a better way...

Okay, while that statement is true, I just don't know what it is. Perhaps I could try like my son and just go with no sleep at all, but I don't think I'd function much better. If I just got a good nights sleep...I would be a whole new person! sigh.

I made some goals yesterday as I realized that I was letting this summer slip through my hands. I've been given an opportunity to use my time wisely, and it's not happening. Soo...

I'm going to submit at least one article today and prepare a manuscript for submission this week. How does that sound? Then I'm going to write every day (more than just this blog) and edit some as well. I have loads of time that I could be using more effectively, and that is what needs to be done...
Oh and somewhere in there I need to paint, do laundry, shuttle children back and forth and sleep.

Does anyone have a time turner handy? My son is going to get to see Harry Potter tonight, and my daughter can hardly wait. Did I mention she's 20? Some people never out grow excitement.

Have a good one.

What flavor are you?

Okay, I saw this on someone elses site, and just had to take the test. This is the result. I think it's great...it's me! Chocolate!!

You Are A Chocolate Ice Cream Girl

Dramatic. Powerful. Flirty.

What Flavor Ice Cream Girl Are You?

I also did the sandwich one, and it said I was a turkey sandwich. I'm not sure what to think of that...
Anyway, check it out. It's fun! Kind of a mindless thing to do on a summer day...LOL

Facing our Giants or...er... Fears

Over the weekend I was privileged to watch a movie a friend recommended called Facing the Giants. Now the premis is the same old story...underdog school over comes odds to become champions, but the story is in how they got there. And...the fact that this is a Christian based movie and takes place at a Christian Academy.

Because it is Christian based, they are able to freely talk about God in our lives. The best part is when the coach is having one of the players do a 'death crawl' to the 50 yard line. He then blindfolds him and they proceed.
The Death Crawl is where the kid has another 'lighter' kid on his back, and he does not touch his knees to the ground, so he's walking on all fours in a crouch. It's a very difficult looking activity, and I could see where they got the 'Death crawl' termination.

The coach is on the ground, following the young man, yelling encouragement and reinforcement as they went. He didn't let the young man give up, just kept going and going with him. The rest of the team razzed them at first, and then grew silent and started following them as they continued down the field. Finally, they got to the ending point, and the boy gives up...totally spent. The coach tells him to look where he's at. They take the blindfold off and he sees that he is in the end zone...he'd gone past the halfway mark, and gotten to the end. He wasn't able to be distracted by seeing where he was going. He wasn't distracted by the derision of the rest of the team. He only heard his coach and kept following him.

Back in the locker room, the coach elaborates on the experience, reinforcing the idea that without God's help, that wouldn't have been possible. That with GOD, NOTHING is impossible.

We have a song in our church, "With God, nothing is impossible, but you must reach and take his hand. With God, nothing is impossible. Those who have ears to hear, will understand..." But this was the most visible representation I'd ever seen.

This has so much effect on the rest of our lives. So many of us are afraid of what is before us. Afraid to take the first step in the right direction, the first page of a novel, the first photo of a career, the first step in any positive direction that might equal change.

It spoke to my heart, and encouraged me to continue on the path I have started. I hope anyone who reads this will search out this aspect in their lives. We are here for a reason. What is your reason? What is it you need to conquer.

Happy 4th!!!

I want to wish all of us who live in this great nation a Happy 4th of July! Many of us will spend it with family, watching parades and lighting fireworks. I just hope we take a moment to think of those who are serving in our military who are far away from home, and who see the real fireworks almost every day - but are too worried about their lives and those around them to oooh and ahhh.

I have two nephews who are out there in the thick of it, and I am so very thankful they are willing to serve in this manner. They have courage and determination, the same stuff our fore fathers had.

So...while we eat our bbq's and potato salad, homemade ice cream and slurp down that soda, take a moment to think of the great men and women who are out there keeping it free for us to do what we will.

I honor mine in the best way I can.

I Pledge Allegiance
to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the republic
for which she stands
one nation
under GOD
indivisible
with liberty and justice
for all

Happy Independence Day!

Transformers

Well...I got the job of jobs sometimes...I'm a mystery shopper, and sometimes I get to do theater shops and see movies for free. Last night was one of those times, and I got to see Transformers, not just once, but twice...ugh. Although, I did really like it, so it wasn't that big of a pain, it was just LATE.

I ended up getting home at around 2 am, and then had to fill out the reports. That means I got to bed at about 3am because our stupid DSL keeps going down at the most inconvenient times...so today I'm wasted. I hate when I feel like this, my brain is in a total fog. But...at least it was a way cool movie. If any of you grew up on Transformers, you'll really like it, because the way the machines transform is totally cool! (grin - I sound like a kid) Anyway, I think your kids will totally love it, and want to buy the movie. It's actually pretty clean on the language too...just a few words here and there. The military men are surprisingly clean mouthed...

So, anyway, hope you have a good one...I think I'm going to go back to bed.