If You’ve Missed My Random Musings…

Then today is your lucky day!!  A few lighthearted, as well as not so lighthearted things I’ve considered of late:

• Did you hear about this story? I am very curious to know if anyone outside of the local area did. Two young inner city men, on the street preaching the gospel, gunned down execution style. If these two young men had been crusading for gay marriage, the hate crimes folk would be taking to the streets!  If this had been a woman gunned down in domestic violence case, it would have been national news. But it was just two inner city guys who loved Jesus. Never mind that we so rarely hear any positive news about young black men, anyway. Even a local newspaper that covered the story didn’t feel it necessary to hide their anti-Christian bias, beginning the article by saying these young men “made the mistake of preaching religion.”

 

• I read a piece today on WorldNet Daily (not a site I regularly read), titled, “How ‘the pill’ has led to societal infantilism”.   While I think the pill is a dangerous abortifacient, I am much more understanding about  health issues and extreme financial concerns that prompt some couples to limit their family size than some in the conservative blogosphere. That said, I can find no fault with the author’s reasoning in this piece of writing. So much of what ails our society and undermines the family can be traced back to the infancy of this culture where babies are unwelcome while unrestrained sexuality is treated as a basic human right.  We’ve come a long way, baby! (ht: Kelly)
• Blog Award: Tracey, at In Word Adorning, graciously gave me a Beautiful Blogger Award and I need to acknowledge her kindness and pass it on before I forget. In response, I am supposed to offer seven interesting things about myself as well as seven other beautiful blogs. If you are a blogger who doesn’t “do” awards, feel no pressure to  pass this along or acknowledge it on your site. Just revel in the love I’m offering you here. First, seven possibly unknown things about me: 1) I live in the same city I was born in and have never lived anywhere else. 2) My oldest child is not my firstborn. I wonder if y’all ever noticed the distinction in my writings. My oldest daughter is a lovely girl born to my husband when he was a teenager. We shun the term ”step” in our family. 3) I cooked and ate brussels sprouts for the first time about 2 weeks ago. 4) When I was teenager, I swore I’d only have two kids and be a career woman. 5) I could eat italian food every night of the week and never get bored with it. 6) I’m afraid of heights, but it doesn’t stop me from getting on a ladder if I need to. 7) I work out using old VHS tapes of a workout called The Firm.
• I am giving this award:  to 7 bloggers whom I appreciate for either their candor, their tender heart for the Word and other believers, or the way their passion for truth permeates every thing they write. This award goes to: Diane at Tomato Soup Cake, The Berean Wife, Sheila at To Love, Honor and Vacuum, Julie at My Life As Julie Mom, Brenda at The Family Revised, Amy of Humble Musings, and last but certainly not least, Heather at The Narrow Gate.
• If you’re looking for a great pancake recipe to serve this weekend, let me suggest this one that I got from Coach Krystal’s blog and tweaked to make my own. Krystal always has great recipe ideas and fitness tips on her blog. My blueberry version of Krystal’s oatmeal pancakes:

4 T. butter, 1 and 1/2 cups buttermilk, 2 eggs, 2 t. vanilla

1 cup rolled oats, 2/3 cups whole wheat flour, 1/3 cup white flour, 2 T. wheat germ, 4 T. sugar, 2 t. baking powder, 1 t. baking soda, 1 t. salt

1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions: Melt butter in small saucepan. Turn off heat, and add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir to combine and remove from heat. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine wet and dry, and stir until just combined. Fold in blueberries. Cook on a preheated griddle until desired darkness.

Have a wonderful, worshipful, restful, and family filled weekend!

Finally… I’m Answering My Tag!

I was tagged with this meme by Jess at Making Home. It has taken me 2 weeks to answer the questions, little by little, but I finally got it done. Now you all know a little more about me.

Favorite Person outside of family? This was an especially hard question for me because the women I spend the most time communicating with are my sisters in law: the wives of my husband’s brothers. We share a lot with each other. But after giving a second thought I realized that my friend Judy fits this bill pretty well, too. She’s one of the moms in my weekly prayer group and is one of the most positive and giving people. I’ve learned a lot through my acquaintance with her these past 5 years.

Favorite food? Pasta, hands down. I love all the different shapes, the varieties of sauces, and the versatility of it. And it’s always good for a quick, tasty, and simple meal when short on time.

Quirks about me? I’m very clumsy when I’m not careful not to be. I’m a political and history buff. And I love NBA basketball- the more rowdy, the better. This may sound mean, but I hate it when a player whines about a hard foul. I want to yell, “This is the NBA! Man up!”

How would the person who loves you most describe you in ten words or less? Smart, clumsy (I told you so!), beautiful, goofy, a great mom.

Any regrets in life? So many I wouldn’t know where to start, which I why I try to avoid looking backwards. Some things are just too personal to post on a blog! One thing I would do over if I could was to homeschool my big kids. Of course, I didn’t know then what I know now, either.

Favorite Charity/Cause? I can’t say I have a “favorite”. I am partial to anything that upholds the rights of the unborn. My kids have learned a lot about gratitude and the fragility of material wealth from our times volunteering at the local homeless shelter. Right now my heart is grieved by the deep fractures in the Black community caused by the high rates of illegitimacy and the lack of present fathers and connected mothers. If that cause exists, I can hardly wait to get involved. When my kids are older I may start that one myself. First step: tell the truth, which is what I try to do on this blog.

Favorite Blog Right Now? What a hard question! Domestic Felicity comes to mind right away. I love her heart for all things home and family. I love the fact that despite her youth, she gets it.

Something you can’t get enough of? Right now, sleep!

Worst job you’ve ever had? Waitressing at Friendly’s as a teenager. I always loved their ice cream sundaes until I had to make those mammoth creations myself. They are much more fun to eat than they are to make!

What job would you pay NOT to have? Cleaning septic tanks. Can you think of anything more disgusting to do every day? Also, I have a thing about smells. Does that count as a quirk?

If you could be a fly on the wall, where? Barak Obama’s lunch meetings with his former pastor. I’d love to hear his unedited, unscripted responses to Rev. Wright’s political and racial views. They probably don’t have many of those lunch meetings anymore, do they?

Favorite Bible verse right now? 2 Timothy 3: 16-17: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Guilty Pleasure? Snickers Bars.

Got Any Confessions? Nope.

If you had $1000 to spend on yourself, how would you spend it? Lots of books, a few pairs of sandals (I love ‘em and we can wear them year round where I live), pedicure to compliment the sandals, a spa day with the works, and at least one dress.

Favorite thing about your house? Our foyer, pictured in this post. My handy hubby did a great job.

Least favorite thing about your house? The homeowners association. Well, not just the HOA, just the suburban location and all that entails. We one day hope to live in a place with a little less cement and a lot more nature. Of course, I will need to be able to get to the city in a reasonable period of time (30 minutes or so).

One thing you are bad at? Reading maps.

One thing you are good at? Cooking and Baking. I’ve also been told I’m a pretty good writer but you guys would have to be the judge of that.

If you could change one thing about your circumstances, what would it be? I have so much to be thankful for that I really can’t think of anything right now.

Who would you like to meet someday? My mom, if I could, who died the day I was born. I’m pretty sure she’s in heaven. She was a believer.

What makes you feel sexy? Hmmm…I don’t know why, but that’s a hard question. High heels and a new, salon fresh hairdo. And listening to old Motown love songs with my hubby.

Who is your real life hero? The late Mother Teresa. Now there’s a saint who practiced what she preached. My sister is a close second. She is another person who goes to great lengths to show love and make sacrifices for others.

What is the hardest part of your job? I’m a mom, so I wouldn’t know where to begin. First, to live a life consistent with what I “preach”. Second, to set right priorities and make good use of my time.

When are you most relaxed? After a shower, curled up with a good book.

When are you most stressed out? When I’m running late, which unfortunately is quite often.

What can you not live without? Music and books. In that order.

Do you agree or disagree with the recent article saying that blogs are authored by narcissists? It’s probably partly true, but as I haven’t read the article, I can’t really form an educated opinion.

Why do you blog? I love to write, and while I one day plan to write a book, my hands are kind of full right now. Blogging has been a great outlet for me to pursue that interest and get feedback from readers. I have also enjoyed learning from other ladies about things I was fairly ignorant about before I started blogging, like home schooling.

Okay, now I tag 2 newish bloggers: Adlyn at The Posthumous Papers of The Late Adlyn Morrison, and Bridget at Home With a Purpose.

I tag 2 bloggy friends: Brenda at The Family Revised, and Angela at Our World.

Bloggers you’d like to know better: Sheila at To Love, Honor and Vacuum and Tonya at The Kissack Chronicles.

Okay, ladies, this is my post for the week! Well, maybe I’ll have some baby pictures up later this week. Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

My Top 10

Amy tagged me to list the top 10 things that make me smile. Here goes:

10. The excited reaction of my toddler (known here as the Little Princess) when my big kids come home from school.

9. The excited reaction of my Little Princess when my husband comes home from work.

8. The quiet and serene atmosphere in my house in the wee hours of the morning.

7. The detective comedy “Monk”. It makes me laugh every time I watch it.

6. Watching my girls play the flute in their school band.

5. Watching my daughter K. play in a basketball game.

4. Seeing my husband wrestling and playing with all four girls at once. He doesn’t stand a chance!

3. Gaining new insight from a verse of scripture that I’ve read a thousand times.

2. Waking up on a Saturday morning at 5:30, and turning over to go back to sleep.

And the number one thing making me smile at this time is…..

1. The sound of my Little Princess running on the tile through our house. Whoever came up with the expression ‘pitter patter of little feet’ hit the nail on the head. That’s exactly what it sounds like!

Now I’m tagging Brenda. what’s your top 10?