Scribble Scrabble 23

No, I Did Not Drop Off the Face of the Earth...

2010-02-07T23:20:00.002-05:00

Hello everybody! I'm back! I've been a tad busy with life. My goal is to try to get back to posting on this blog again on a regular basis. We'll see how that goes....anywho....this is officially the first of the "regular" posts.

A Song that is Dear to Me...

2009-10-02T10:11:00.003-04:00

Click on the link below to hear this song...I also posted the lyrics...this song is so uplifting to my soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7bE_y75AA&feature=related

Mighty To Save
by Hillsong Australia

Everyone needs compassion,

Love that's never failing;

Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour;

The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever,

Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in,

Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,

We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,

You are mighty to save,You are mighty to save.

Forever, Author of Salvation,

You rose and conquered the grave,

Yes you conquered the grave

Sprinting Turtle Coming Thru!!!!

2009-09-23T22:08:00.002-04:00

Turtle Anyone???

2009-09-23T20:26:00.005-04:00

Today on the way home from school I saw this big turtle hastily crossing the street. I love turtles and pulled over and grabbed him. All the way home in the car he climbed all over the floor. My brother had to make sure he didn't climb under my seat and out by my feet as I was driving. He was HUGE! He was almost the size of a 12 inch dinner plate. He was not afraid of me and actually scratched me with his looooong claws. This guy/girl is definitely a land turtle...I'd never seen 1 inch claws on a turtle before! At home I had fun snapping some cool pics of him before letting him go free to find some dinner in the garden outback. I couldn't believe how quickly he could run...yes...this turtle was literally sprinting away from me when I put him down. It was hilarious to behold. I laughed when I saw how the pic turned out with me holding the turtle....I look like a waitress offering fresh turtle or something...but I posted it so you could see the size of this guy! I'll have to google him figure out what kind he is...let me know if you find out what type he is. I don't think he's an Eastern Box Turtle, but I could be wrong.

Yes, I am a Nature Girl

2009-09-14T15:05:00.003-04:00

Yes, I am a nature girl. I have always loved, and still love bugs, snakes, turtles, and all manor of creeping, crawling critters. I happened to be walking through the woods behind my house and spotted a rotten log. That's were these big, black, hissing 1 1/2 inch beetles live. My brother and I used to catch these suckers all the time when we were kids and keep them for weeks. They are still so cool!

The 912 Project

2009-09-12T21:29:00.003-04:00

It's not all about red states or blue states...but the United States...take times to check out the 912 Project. Good stuff.

http://www.the912project.com/

My Lips Will Praise You - My heart's song today

2009-08-14T10:49:00.002-04:00

This is the song of my heart for today...Worship songs are some of the best ways to dwell upon the LORD. My soul is nourished by the spiritual feast He daily sets before me. I love this song...it's one of my favorites.

My Lips Will Praise You...

My lips will praise You

For You are holy

My voice will ever rise

Before Your throne

My heart will love You

For You are lovely

And You have called me

To become Your own

I am Your own

And I will worship You alone

I am Your own

I am Your child

I am Your own

And I will worship at Your throne

I am Your own

And I will love You

Soft Summer Morning...

2009-08-07T17:29:00.006-04:00

We have one of those Topsy Turvy tomato growers. Basically the tomato plant is grown upside down. There's a green, canvas bucket with a hole in the bottom. When the plant is small, it is inserted in the hole and held in place with foam that fits snuggly in the hole. And the canvas bucket is filled with dirt of course. You just pour water and plant food in the top of this doohickey and it works like a charm. At first I didn't think we'd get any tomatoes, now the plant has had a growth explosion!!!

I love taking pics of cool looking mushrooms. Some of them are simply disgusting to look at, but then others, like this one, have such beautiful texture.

Find this itsy-bitsy spider web in a little hole near our house. The whole thing was about 2"x2".

Flowers are so photogenic...guess that's why I like to take pictures of them all the time.

These pink flowers are just the one's we've got planted around the mailbox. They're so pretty.

Just some more smiling flowers around the house.

Outrageous LOVE!!!

2009-07-29T10:25:00.005-04:00

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did ever such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross,

O the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

O the wonderful cross,

O the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near and bless

Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all

~by Chris Tomlin~

This is the song of my heart today, tomorrow - FOREVER!!! I am so thankful for all that God has done for me. I praise him for the fact that when I look at the cross, I am reminded that I am forever FREE!!!

He owed me nothing. My sins were hideous in the sight of my sinless Creator - Holy God. My sins separted me from knowing God and His son Jesus. I owed God a ransom for my trangressions. But there was nothing I could do to earn His favor. I knew even my "good works" were tainted and could not outweigh my bad ones. But Jesus paid my debt for me! He did for me, what I could not do for myself. He made a way for me to get to God!!! "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) My Jesus died on the cross for my sins all because of love. He suffered for me so that I did not have to. I am no longer facing eternal separtation from God...

Unreasonable, unbelievable LOVE! My heart was dying separated from Christ. Now I am united with Christ, my Father and friend. My heart was filthy, but now when God looks at me He sees that through the work of Jesus, my heart is "whiter than snow". (Psalm 51:7) I praise You LORD, for seeking me out, calling me by my name, and establishing with me a personal relationship. I LOVE YOU LORD!!!

Romans 5:7-9:

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"

Meet Max

2009-07-25T19:33:00.004-04:00

Max is 6' 2". He has sandy blond hair, blue eyes, dark tan skin, big hands – rough from years of hard work, a strong upper body, muscled arms, and a handsome, face-splitting grin. Maxwell is incredibly outgoing and loves people. His precise and clearly articulated words often impress his listeners. He sounds quite intelligent, like a brilliant professor. He strikes up conversations with anyone about anything - anytime, anywhere & anyplace. Often he dominates the conversation with his opinion, sometimes not allowing the other person to get a word in edge-wise. He is not as good a listener as he is a talker. Some of his favorite topics include cars, engines, anything mechanical, anything having to do with air conditioning units, industrial fans, engines, steam powered trains, chimneys, fires and politics (really don't want to get him going on politics!). Often, he fixates on a particular topic far too long, completely unaware of his listener's increasing disinterest or frustration.

His intellectual abilities are far better developed than his social skills. He is extremely egocentric, rarely able to see another person’s viewpoint. Because of this, his ability to empathize with others is poor. Most people assume he is just eccentric - fairly normal for the most part with a few quirks. He is incapable of hiding his feelings and wears his heart on his sleeve. He has a childlike personality and naïve innocence which is clearly seen in his boyish behavior. In spite of his dominating tendencies and seemingly eccentric behavior, his honest personality wins the hearts of many. Others lose patience and seek to be rid of his company as quickly as possible. Some are highly amused, often too amused. They just sit back and tauntingly laugh at him, asking questions which provoke the reaction they find entertaining.

You may be asking what my point is. His description so far most likely describes a number of guys you have encountered. You might be saying: “So what?” However, as you get to know Max better you will see various abnormal patterns in his behavior, mainly in the way he socially interacts and communicates. Remember, you’ve only just met him. These certain abnormal behaviors I mention, become obvious overtime as you begin to interact with Max. Here are some examples of the abnormal behavior I speak of, some of which have already been mentioned: ***The following list of symptoms were taken from various online resources (see bottom of page for more info.)***

"Peculiarities in speech and language"

"Repetitive behaviors or rituals"

"Limited interests or preoccupation with a subject"

"Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and interpersonal interaction"

"Problems with nonverbal communication"

"Lack of empathy"

"Clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements"

"Problems with hand-eye coordination and other visual skills"

"Poor pragmatic language skills. (This phrase means that the child does not use the right tone or volume of voice for a specific context, and does not understand that using humorous or slang expressions also depends on a social context.)"

"Learning difficulties - which may range from mild or severe."

These are the basic symptoms of someone with Asperger’s Syndrome. My relative, Max, was born with this syndrome. Thus far you may doubt how pervasive and serious this syndrome is, but as I said, you’ll understand more as you get to know him better. It affects everything social in his life – how he functions in public, one on one, with his mother, with his sisters, with his close friends, with the stranger on the sidewalk, with his boss, with his co-workers, with his neighbors, in a crowd, in a small group…the list is extensive. I hope you’ll stay tuned as I try to define and explain Asperger’s Syndrome. I look forward to sharing with you the many touching, funny, sad, frustrating, and delightful stories about Max’s life.

*Resources Used:

http://www.middisorders.com/

http://www.asperger-advice.com/

http://www.webmd.com/

A Major Force in Education -- Homeschooling in America

2009-06-03T17:46:00.002-04:00

A Major Force in Education -- Homeschooling in America

Shared via AddThis

The U.S. Department of Education has released its periodic review of schooling in America, and it offers a revealing look at the growth of homeschooling. The picture of contemporary homeschooling offers some real surprises and raises some new questions.

"The Condition of Education 2009" is produced by the National Center for Education Statistics, and it contains a wealth of statistical data. Approximately 50 million children are enrolled in the public schools for grades K-12. In 2007 5.9 million children were enrolled in private schools and the percentage of those enrolled in "Conservative Christian schools" increased from 13 to 15 percent of that total.

Homeschooling was the choice of families for 2.9 percent of all school-age children in the United States in 2007, involving 1.5 million students......

Click on the link to read the rest of this fantastic article by Dr. Al Mohler.

Worms Anyone?

2009-05-30T19:43:00.005-04:00

I love gummy worms. And well there were tubs of them for sale at Wally World (Wal-Mart). I, like the overgrown kid that I am, couldn't resist buying them. Yuuuummm! My favoite are the white and red colored ones.

We Got the Power!!!

2009-05-25T22:39:00.003-04:00

My goofy bro. and I. We make a good yard team. By the time we were done mowing, trimming, trimming, and did I mention trimming?....the yard looked beautiful! We tackled some gynormous bushes in front of the house. They thought they were going to take over...we had other plans. I love givin' the bushes a haircut! I love it a little too much actually. I've been known to take the life of a few shrubbs from overtrimming them. We had more leaves and branches to rake when we were done than we do in the Fall!

What we're really like.

Yeeeeehaaaaaah people!!!!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!!!!! School's OUT!!!

2009-05-21T11:09:00.005-04:00

Come on everybody

It's a zippa dee day

Come on everybody

Do you wanna rock on a doo dah day?

Come on yeah oh

Here we go

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-Ay

My oh my what a wonderful day (Come on sing along)

Plenty of sunshine heading my way

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-Ay

Oh Mr. Blue Bird's on my shoulder (What's up Mr. Blue Bird?)

It's the truth it's actual

And everything is satisfactual

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-Ay

Wonderful feeling wonderful day (Yes sir)

Come on everybody

It's a doo dah day

Come on everybody

And zip this way

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-Ay

Oh my oh my it's a sunshiny day (Sing along)

There's plenty of good times heading my way

Zip zip a dee doo dah

Zip-A-Dee-Ay

Doo dah day

Zip zip a dee

Doo dah day

Zip zip a dee

Doo dah day ee ay (Man I love this song yes sir)

Brown Sugared Ham....Yum!

2009-05-16T20:21:00.003-04:00

A little butter...ok...a lot of butter, a lot of brown sugar and some fresh spiral sliced ham...mmm...mmm. Fry er up til the ham starts to look nice and golden.

A little brown rice. Tastes soooo much better than white. It has a lot more flavor. We sautee' the rice with garlic and onions in olive oil. This makes a delicious rice pilaf. Maybe this healthy stuff will balance out all that brown sugar. ( ;

I hate cabbage! BUT I love it fixed like this. Sautee' it in olive oil with some butter, salt, and pepper.

Add some chunky applesauce and the meal is complete. Yeah...it was reeeeally good. Try it! The time required is only about 30-40 minutes.

Spring is Rockin' and Rollin'

2009-05-13T13:59:00.005-04:00

My yard is full of blooms and bees! Here are a few bizillion pics of some of the many flowers growing everywhere! Peonies, Azaleas, and Purple Irises are the most beautiful part of spring.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT KIM!!!!

2009-05-10T22:12:00.004-04:00

Hi Aunt Kim. This is that nutty, goofy something I promised from all of us! Hope you enjoy it and die laughing! We did!

More Tea Party Spirit!!! GO USA!!!

2009-05-05T16:55:00.003-04:00

Tea Party Protest!!!

2009-05-05T16:18:00.002-04:00

TEA = taxed enough already !!! Patriotic Genius!!!

2009-05-05T15:29:00.005-04:00

Nationwide there has been a grassroots movement taking place in towns large and small. Americans are coming out to unite together in peaceful protest of mainly over-taxation and other current government issues, like pork spending. When I attended the rally in my hometown I was thrilled to see I was one of several hundred people. There was also a variety in ages and professions. Babies, children, teenagers, middle aged adults, veterans, businessmen, local politicians, salesmen, craftsman, rednecks, entire families...the list goes on...attended. The point is that there was a diverse cross-section of our American culture. Everyone was excited and laughing. There were several great speakers, several prayers lifted, and time for the national anthem and a salute to the flag. Many, many cars drove by honking their approval. People lined the side walk in droves as they wooped and hollered in response to the car horns. One mom had her mini van doors wide open with her kids hanging out waving flags while she honked all the while. These Tea Parties (inspired by the original one in boston in the 1700's) do not consist of pathetic little pockets of ragtag Americans protesting here and there. These events are BIG! They are sending a loud message to Washington. The voice of America will be heard! They are gaining in momentum and size, as more and more Americans get involved. I would guess that the event I attended had anywhere from 6oo to 800 people involved. There was no foaming at the mouth or violent protesting as the mainstream media would have its audience believe, just peaceful, but passionate protesting. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I would encourage you to attend the next one in your state capitol or town! Google it!!!

My patriotic doo!

The sidewalk crowd.

It was body to body during the speeches and I wish I had a pic taken from a treetop, b/c this pic only shows about 1/20 of the people who were there.

See!!!? Our peaceful protestors are only armed with tea! Giving it away for free as a matter of fact!

Little girl who came with her whole family.

Elvis was reincarnated just for this event!!! He was lookin' hot!

Me to the left with some friends: Gina, Jordan, and Nick on the end.

I love this dude's poster: "It's an Obamination!" LOL!

The local radio host even showed up!

**************MONSTER!!!

2009-04-28T18:15:00.004-04:00

Bethany shall slay this beast who's name is homework! Paper by paper, quiz by quiz, test by test, book by book, he shall die!!! (yessss, I am insane!!!) Mwhahahahah!

Let's Play Ball!!! More of My Mexico Trip...

2009-04-24T19:38:00.004-04:00

Here's a few snapshots of the fun we had at camp! I have to say I'm very biased...my team was the cutest! I had ages 5-8! So sweet!

Group shot. (L to R) Coach Nathan Akin, Skill Instructor Stephen, and Interpreter: Moi

Say "Hi" everybody!

Go Valentine!

The lovely little Miss Sinay (pronounced Sin - ah) I just wanted to squeeze her up everytime I saw her!

Perla was very athletic. She did great. And Sinay is in the background.

Omar...so cute! He struggled with keeping up, seemed a little delayed in his responses, but had a good time for the most part. He was very sweet.

I couldn't believe this when I saw him! The kid on the right looks just like a friend of mine...Sam Bulman. You can see pics of him in previous posts. I swear this is Sam's long lost twin!

2009-04-19T19:20:00.002-04:00

In case you can't read the picture above it says, "I can't do homework for medical reasons. (It makes me sick)" I am definitely coming down with a bad case of the homework bug. It simply won't go away. Over the next 10 days I have tons of reading to do, a 10 min. speech to prepare for and give, a 5 page paper due, a 10 page paper due, a book to read, and a summary/critique of a section of Calvin's writings on the church....just to name a few things...Oh SUMMER do hurry and come!!!!

The Best Part of Mexico!!!

2009-04-14T12:49:00.003-04:00

God works in amazing ways! This fellow is Valintine. (Prounounced Bal-in-teen) He is eight years old and was one of the kids on my team. Read below to hear the story of how God worked in his heart! (V. = the kid in front in the pic below)

Several weeks before my trip to Mexico I had worked and fretted and worked and fretted over my Spanish. Knowing that I was going to be an interpreter on the trip added extra pressure. I wanted to be able to communicate really well. One of the reasons that concerned me most was the fact that I'd be sharing the gospel with these kids in spanish. I really didn't want to mess that up! God was at work before, during, and after my trip! He had gone before me and prepared the hearts of the kids. He prepared my heart...

A Few of the ways God encouraged me before the trip:

During my Communications class, a fellow classmate shared his favorite Bible verse. I was so thankful in his willingness to be so open about his speech impediment, and talk about how this verse had aided him so many times. It was Exodus 4: 10-12,

"Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. 11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

I realized that this verse applied to me too! That God would tell me what to say.

When I realized I'd be working with kids ages 8 and under after the first day of camp, I immediately felt very capable. My level of spanish is more than sufficient for this age as well. I love this age bracket!

I was truly empowered by the Holy Spirit working through me in answer to the many prayers said by my mom, family, and friends! Thank you!

Many of my fellow classmates on the trip encouraged me, telling me that my spanish was good.

God replaced my fear with confidence.

God inspired me with the perfect idea for sharing his plan for our lives with the kids!

What God did in Valintine's Heart!

...The night before it was my turn to share the gospel (the coaches, skill instructors, and interpreters shared the responsiblity) God inspired my with the perfect plan! I wanted to be effective in my communication with the little kiddies on my team and knew I needed to keep whatever I said short and sweet. The other thing I knew, was that it had to be tangible to them. God inspired me with the idea to present the gospel in a symbolic way.

The next day, after my team had just had their snack and were all squishing up beside me in a tight circle I was soon ready to share about Jesus. I was excited as I looked around the circle of chubby cheeks and smiling faces. I told the kids that they each had a door in their hearts, "Tu tiene un puerto en el corazon." I described that the door of their heart had a keyhole in it, "La puerta de su corazon tiene un agujero." I said that Jesus Christ is the key that can open the door of their hearts to let God in, "Cristo Jesus es el llave que puede abrir tu corazon para Dios." I drew a simple picture of this idea and had it ready to show to the kids. I further explained that our hearts are dirty with sin and need Jesus Christ to come clean them. After finishing my gospel presentation, I looked at the local Mexican pastor who continued the discussion and eventually asked the kids to respond. They were told whoever wanted to stay behind and ask more questions could do so, while the others moved on to the next station. To my surprise, 3 boys stayed behind!

The pastor and I talked with Valintine and the other 2 boys who had stayed behind to be sure they truly understood what I had said. Valintine had a genuine interest, and his facial expression was serious. That afternoon, right out there in the dusty grass of the ballfield, Valintine took a step of faith and recieved God into his heart. This is the first time I have ever gotten to help lead someone to Christ - to actually see the decision be made! What a moment! The other thing that was so appropriate, was that the local pastor got to aid in this step of faith Valintine took. I was only in Mexico for the week, but the pastor obviously lives there, so the goal was to get the pastors involved in hopes that they'd to able to establish and build lasting relationships with these kids. GOD IS SO GOOD! What a great day!!!!

The other two boys were probably only 4 or 5 years old and did not sufficiently grasp the gospel truth to be able to make a decision. One of them told me that he didn't have lots of sin in his heart...he only had one sin! I laughed when I heard this! So cute! I explained that everyone actually has lots of sin in their hearts and they need Jesus to come and cleanse them from it. While these two cuties did not pray to recieve Christ as Valintine did, they got to see and hear Valintine's heart and attitude. They watched him pray. I hope some seeds were planted.

Please pray for Valintine and all 80 of the kids who came to camp! Pray that the pastors will be be effective in contacting them and building relationships with their families. (We left each pastor with the contact info. of the kids who live in their area) Pray that these kids would have a chance to become part of a church family and learn about the truth of the gospel so they can live in the freeing love of Christ! Pray that there would be lots of opportunites in each kid's individual life to hear about the God of the Bible. Pray that they and their families would understand that God seeks a personal relationship with them, and that there is nothing they can do to merit/work their way to heaven. Pray that there would be many sons and daughters of God over this next year out of Acuna!

Arriba!!! Mexico was Amazing! More Coming Soon!

2009-04-12T21:48:00.002-04:00

The sombrero above is perfect to wear outside while weeding in one's garden. The one below is for wearing to la Fiesta!!! (arriba!) As usual school assignments have left me no time to even blink! I go for my spring break to Mexico, come back home, and BAM, I'm immediately suffocating under a heap of homework....ok...ok...it's not quite that bad...BUT almost!

Who are those Goobers? Oh it's the Bulmans&Peases! No wonder...

2009-03-20T21:28:00.003-04:00

The lovely queen Victoria and her loooong, lovely hairdo. These pics are of my sisters and I hangin' with the fun Bulman kids. I used to babysit them and when we get together, things go downhill in the sanity department. Basically, we're nuts. The following pics are proof of this fact. I LOVE MY BULMANS!!!

A smiley Caitlyn, a scrunched up Sam, and a weirded out Bethany. Sam you've got Caitlyn and I hands down for having the best goofy face! LOL!

More weirdness....hee, hee, hee! I love the rosey cheeks on that kiddo!

Me and Sammydoo! (I hope you don't hate that nickname. I'll edit it if needbe. I can always tweak an entry.)

Yeah.....um.....there are no words.....

Giiirls! What did you do!!!!!!?

2009-03-20T13:48:00.002-04:00

My friend Angela and my sisters Candace and Caitlyn had the brilliant idea, so they thought, to ruin my 6 page research paper I've spent 2 weeks working on for my American Lit. class. Our printer is broken at home so I emailed my paper to my friend Angela who printed it out for me on her printer. My sisters were already out so they picked it up for me. While talking with Angela one of them said, "Man, it would be terrible if we dropped this thing outside!" (it was raining). At that moment all three conspirators looked at eachother and giggled!!! Angela quickly fetched a casserole dish and hot cocoa. They proceded to lay my masterpiece in the casserole, soak it with water, and smear it with the cocoa. The result was pretty convincing. They even sprinkled leftover coffee grounds on for the finishing touch. I had asked Angela to slide the paper into a plastic bag to protect it from the rain which she very diligently made sure to do. Thanks for your thoughtfulness Angela! The twins put the plastic bag on my bed. A few hours later I found it and quickly opened it to glance over it and put it in my backpack. Much to my shock and disgust, I found a filthy, brown, curling, damp paper. "GIRRRRLS!" I yelled! "What did you do to my paper!?" They responded with a torrent of loud giggles, "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" They're such stinkers. When they had quit laughing themselves silly, they assured me that there were two copies of the paper and showed me the good copy. I then had to laugh myself. All I have to say now is, "You big goobers!!!"

THANK YOU DEB!!!! I LOVE IT!

2009-03-15T14:53:00.003-04:00

Deb Hedges, an extremely talented knitter and crocheter, designed and crocheted the lacey bolero I am wearing. A few weeks ago, my mom spied a pretty little black dress in a clothing store. She thought it might fit me. So she and I went back to the store, and go figure, it fit! (That never happens! It was so fun!) Mom had the idea to put a lacey sweater or jacket with it, so that it could be worn during spring and fall, not just summer. Knowing how experienced Deb is, mom asked her to help come up with a pattern for the jacket. About three weeks ago Deb, Mom and I met to discuss design possiblities and take my measurments. Yesterday, Deb arrived at the yarn store, and told me to get on my black dress. Mom had told me the day before that Deb was coming and to bring the dress. After changing into the dress, I walked over to Deb who told me to close my eyes. Grinning, I closed my eyes. When I opened them I was delightfully surprised at what Deb was holding. WOW! I had known she'd probably do something really cool, but this jacket surpassed all I had imagined. Yeah, let me just say it again, WOW. AND it's MINE!!! Hee, hee! All mine! Thanks Deb!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!! I feel like a princess when I wear it.

The talented Deb and I.

My favorite part was the sleeves. I also loved the special edging Deb did. And Berroco's yarn, called Seduce, felt wonderful to wear - very cool and comfortable, with a flattering drape.

Nate's Cookin' Again! YUMMY!

2009-03-06T12:48:00.003-05:00

I still haven't figured out how to get these pictures not to post out of order...Dangit! Anyways, Nate (the bro.) made Irish Soda Bread this week. It was soooo good. He's quite a good cook! This bread was perfect toasted with butter and jam! Mmnmm. The last delicious crumb of my slice of bread before I consumed it!

YUMMMM!

This bread had the best texture. It was not a light bread, but not heavy either. The taste was mild.

The chef proudly showing off his masterpieces.

They were reeeeeealllllly good!

My 21 year old Sisters Brushing Eachother's Teeth

2009-03-05T20:50:00.003-05:00

My identical twin sisters Candace and Caitlyn, or Thing 1 and Thing 2, are nursing students. They have begun clinicals and had to practice brushing and flossing someone's teeth. What better people to practice on than eachother! Here Caitlyn is flossing Candace's teeth.

Candace cracking up.

You can just see me in the background in the mirror snapping this shot.

Here they are in their full nursing garb. I captured a crack up moment. They sound so funny when they laugh.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!

2009-02-27T14:10:00.003-05:00

I LOVED this movie! My mom and I went to see it recently and laughed our way through most of it! Suspense, comedy, romance, combined with a major shopping addiction create a fantastic storyline. Let me clarify up front, Guys this ain't for you! Girls, if you want to go spend a couple of hours having fun with some of your friends or mom or sisters, go see Confessions of a Shopaholic. I'm buying this one when it comes out.

This scene is my favorite! She pulls off the most rediculous dance moves with such flare - hysterical!

My Tree

2009-02-21T21:40:00.001-05:00

This is my tree because it has the letter B in it. Look closely at the center of the pic and should be able to see the letter B.

Here's the "B" zoomed in on.

Cool sunset!

Omelet Master

2009-02-06T17:29:00.006-05:00

My brother Nate can cook omelets like nobody's business. He made Mom and I some killer ones the morning that it snowed. They were filled to overflowing with sautee'd yellow peppers & onions, freshly shredded white cheddar cheese and butter fried ham. Mmmm, mmm, mmm!

Here's Nate handing me my omelet. See the size of that whopper!?

Embarrassingly Hilarious!

2009-01-31T21:31:00.002-05:00

Hello all. I decided it was time for another entry on Asperger's. I have been meaning to write about it, but with the beginning of la escuela, all my time has been devoured by the demands of stinkin' homework! Although, I have to say that I'm lovin' my class on Communication.

One of the chief issues of Asperger's is lack of social discretion. In fact, one might say this is the chief symptom of Asperger's. Often the reason for lack of social discretion stems from the person's inability to empathize. My relative, whom we will call Max, has no idea how to put himself in other people's shoes. The definition of empathy is: "Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives." If I am embarrassed about something and show clear signs of how I feel, such as covering my face with my hands, or cringing, or turning red, Max doesn't understand why I feel that way. Sometimes he doesn't even realize I'm embarrassed unless I say so. He often gets annoyed with me and tells me" Aw, come on Bethany! That's not embarrassing! You're too sensitive!" In reverse, if he does something embarrassing sometimes I'll say later, "Weren't you embarrassed?" His response is exactly the same as mentioned above. To illustrate the point, I will tell an embarrassingly hilarious, true story.

Max and his family attended a social get-together at their church a few years ago. Most of the people who attended knew Max. One of them was James who is an older, married guy, with kids. Max was used to seeing James on Sunday morning, not usually during the week. James always arrived on Sunday mornings with his hair neatly combed, wearing a crisp white shirt, black slacks, tie, and shining dress shoes. At the night of the get-together, James was an entirely different looking man. While his hair was still tidy, he wore a huge, baggy t-shirt, worn jeans, and comfortable shoes. Well, the baggy shirt emphasized his "fatherly figure". (He's not a slim Jim). Background: Most of Max's friends are the dads at his church. He has never had any close friends his own age. Well, all these dads have "fatherly figures" so Max now sees having a gut as a mark of manhood. It is hysterical to watch Max pull up his shirt and try to pinch his flat stomach as he loudly declares: "See! I have a gut. I'm getting a belly too!" The things he thinks of! Having the framework in place, here's what happened...

Max was chatting with everyone at the get-together and eventually started talking with James. I happened to be walking past during the conversation and overheard Max say, "Man James! Looks like your puttin' on some weight!" I cringed. James replied: "Oh, well THANKS Max!" He was obviously annoyed, but knew who he was dealing with. I was far enough away to pretend not to have heard it. Max, comprehending that somthing may have been amiss, put his arm around James and said comfortingly: "But don't worry James, I really like big, fat guys!" At that point James just cracked up and so did I.

Thankfully, James put up with Max's remarks and saw the humor in them. The reason why Max said what he did is because of his belief that having a gut is a mark of manhood. Hence from Max's perspective, he was paying James a big, heartfelt compliment. Max also had no comprehension of the feelings and emotions his comments may have stirred up. He is incapable of reading subtle body language. Also, Max himself has never experienced mortification or embarrassment. The thought or emtion of being embarrassed has never been part of his experience. It is impossible in these types of situations for Max to imagine the other person's point of view. There is a complete "short circuit" in this area of communication - a disconnect. It's rather baffling! But if you as the reader take a moment to empathize with Max it all starts making sense. Stop and imagine, if you can, what Max's world looks like. It is hard to picture, much less explain it. It is so much easier to gain understanding of this from observation. I find it difficult to fully illustrate this wacky characteristic of Asperger's.

Bye for now friends!

On the Bright Side...

2009-01-29T17:10:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all of you that have been praying for Caitlyn. She saw a specialist the other day and was given some posative options. Pray that the new medication she is taking works. And that she continues to remain headache free so she can finish out the semester well. She is still facing BBBBIIIIGGGG tests and labs for nursing school. Not to mention real, hands on work at the hospital. Despite her rotten headache, she still managed to make an 89 on her first test which isn't too bad after missing a week's worth of classes and having a headache during the test. Thanks again!

Urgent Prayer Request!

2009-01-21T19:28:00.002-05:00

My poor sister Caitlyn has had a migraine for over a week now. She had a day or two of relief, but has gotten another one this evening. It's no fun. Please pray that she'll be able to get rid of this one, and that we'd find solutions to the problem. Also that she'd remain migraine free for the rest of the semester!

Sigh....

2009-01-21T19:25:00.002-05:00

School starts tomorrow. I've been spoiled rotten because of being on break since December 15. Cinderella really understands the difference going to the ball/daydreaming and going to work. I've been at the ball, but now I have to get to work. Waaaaaah!

KittyWinkies

2009-01-18T14:02:00.003-05:00

These are the babies - Toby and Pebbles. We have all kinds of goofy nicknames for them like:
Kittywinkies, fatso, fuzzy face, piggy-wiggy, cutie pie, squeaker, little pig, fuzz ball, the little thing, the blob, Pebble-webbles, Tobitses, Mr. Tobbers....the list goes on.

Toby was annoyed that I was interrupting his beauty sleep to photograph him.

Pebbles follows Toby wherever he goes. She adores him! He gives her a good, firm swat every now and then when she gets on his nerves.

He Can Move the Mountains

2009-01-16T16:09:00.006-05:00

This was taken during the three weeks I was on the couch or my crutches after having ACL reconstruction surgery this past August. I got a little weird on all those pain killers. And let me just say, "Hip-hip-hooray for vitamin I!" (Ibuprofen, better known as advil) That stuff's a life saver!

Needless to say, surgery is expsensive and caused much financial strain. I have had to face many mountains - the kind that are impossible to climb. Yet in my need, God faithfully demonstrated His loving care for me as He moved all those mountains one by one. In July, while playing soccer, I tore my ACL, which is a major ligament in my knee. Basically, to make a looong story short, I racked up close to $10,000 worth of damage in about 3 seconds. Not to mention the fact that it would be a six month recovery! I was making a sharp turn while running after the ball, and my left foot slipped causing my knee to twist in the opposite direction of my body. I actually heard it pop! I soon learned that my torn ACL would not self heal but had to be surgically removed and replaced with 2 of my hamstrings. Being a college student who pays her own tuition, I was beginning to get a little freaked out when all the bills started arriving. I had no idea where all the money was going to come from! My bills added up to about $6,000. That does not include all the frequent physical therapy and doctor's office visits which were $50 a pop. It also does not include that fact that being a young adult gauranteed a high insurance deductible. The bill deadlines kept relentlessly charging forward while my bank account was rapidly dwindling. "Ouch" is a good word to describe this time. I was literally standing in the shadows of some massive mountains. My heart sank as I realized that all my striving to remain debt free was in vain as I would now be in debt for at least a couple of years. All the time that I have been in college I have managed, by the grace of God, to stay debt free.

During my devotional time with Jesus one morning I read such a refreshing piece by Dr. David Jeramiah. It was about discouraging "giants." It was exactly what I needed to hear, and I recorded it in my journal. Here's what He says: "One of the problems with being discouraged is that we also become discouraging. When we fail to trust the Lord with our giants, we're telegraphing a message to others: 'The Lord can't help you with your giants either.' Discouragement becomes as contagious as smallpox." This was where the rubber had to meet the road. I laid down my burden that morning and starting trusting God to provide the money I needed. This was one of those times where I felt blindfolded, but had to trust God's firm grip on my hand. The conclusion I reached after reading this was that I had no reasonable reason to be discouraged. All that I am and have is in Him. He is the greatest treasure I possess. Being human, I managed to trust in the Lord's provision for a few days but quickly found my heart snagged by discouragement again. He told me through his Word and prayer, not to worry. Well, as always He provided beyond my feeble hopes and limited prayers! He also provided things for me which I had not realized I'd need.

1.) Hospital Bill: $2, 546.24 ~ The hospital had a financial assistance program which I applied for. I turned in my application late, and did not expect to hear from them for 3-4 weeks. Well Paula, one of the fantastic administrative employees, saw that my bill was due in just a few days and quickly processed my application. THE HOSPITAL FORGAVE 100% OF MY BILL!!!!!!

2.) Anesthesiologist Bill: $1,278.48 ~ There was no financial assistance program that I knew of with CHS. I was on the phone several times with Reuben who works in the billing department. About the third time I spoke with him he informed me that CHS had a program in which they match the financial assistance that the hospital gives. For example: if the hospital were to cover 50% of my bill, CHS would deduct 50% off of my bill with them. Well, after much finger-crossing I found out that they had matched the hospital. 100% OF MY BILL WAS FORGIVEN!

3.) Orthopaedics Bill: $1, 829.26 ~ money from an unexpected source came and my dear sisters also helped my pay for it. Thanks Candace and Caitlyn! THIS BILL IS 100% TAKEN CARE OF!

4.) X-ray Bill: $185.00 ~ I PAID THIS "LITTLE" ONE IN FULL ON TIME!!!!!

How God provided beyond my feeble hopes: not only was I able to pay these bills off on time but, THEY WERE PAID IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AFTER MY SURGERY!!!! I also had more than enough money to buy some much needed itms. I needed new clothes to wear with my huge, bulky, leg brace. I was able to buy some very comfortable leggings that fit under my brace and some tops to match. Also, I was able to afford a pair of shoes that provide the proper support to my knee. THANK YOU JESUS!

Ezekiel 38:20
" The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground."

I think this photo of Mt. Everest is an appropriate illustration for my story.

Funky Fringe!

2009-01-14T09:20:00.002-05:00

Yes, people, I am a dangly earrings girl. I LOOOOVE them! I can't ever seem to have enough of them. They are so pretty, and I had this paper lampshade on my lamp that needed something. Fringe? Yep! Dangly earrings are a very important part of any sophisticated gal's wardrobe!

I thought this pic turned out kinda cool.

BOLT ROCKS!!!

2009-01-01T21:12:00.004-05:00

Bolt was absolutely hilarious. I had never seen a movie in 3D until this one, and it definitely enhanced the experience. For instance, during the action scenes I felt like the flying debris was actually flying toward me or during the several times Bolt lept over objects, that he was jumping over my head. So fun! And Rhino the hampster was too much. My favorite line he says is: "I eat danger for breakfast!" & "I'll get a ladder." Though Rhino is the smallest animal in the movie, he has the biggest ego by far. Bolt, the hero canine, is played by John Travolta, and Miley Cyrus plays Bolt's "person"/owner Penny. I highly recommend this movie for the whole family. It is clean, cute, and highly entertaining. It definitely appeals to a broad audience, my mom loved it, kids will love it - I'm a college student and I love it. I'm buying Bolt when it comes out.

Santa's the Man!

2008-12-27T22:18:00.005-05:00

My sisters Candace and Caitlyn, also known as Thing 1 and Thing 2, used to work as administrative assistants at an Architect firm. One of the benefits of this was yearly pics with Santa. Les, one of the men who works at the firm, takes his Santa role seriously. Summertime is when he begins working on his hair and beard length. By the time fall is past and Christmas is looming, his beard and hair are about 4 to 5 inches long. The last step in this process, involves lots of bleach. Les is so dedicated to looking authentic that he even uses white hairspray in his beard. So the beard and hair you see here are homegrown, not storebought. His suit is also high quality with a custom made belt. We get our own private pic session every year (really a how's it going and catch up with eachother). We always have such a good time together. And Les brought his daughter and elf helper Carolyn. She was fun to chat with and an excellent help to her dad. As they were leaving 3 kids saw them outside. Of course, Santa sat down on a nearby bench and asked them what they wanted for Christmas. One of the kids had a big ice cream cone (ice cream, beard, and santa suit do not make a good combo). Carolyn very nicely but firmly pointed this out - preserving the pristine suit. She also brought in crazy hats for us to try on. We had such a good time. Thanks Santa!

Caitlyn with Santa.

Candace with Santa.

Mom and all of us girls with Santa.

Santa's elf Carolyn...(hope I spelled it right.)

Old Navy Spree...Yeehaaah!

2008-12-27T21:09:00.003-05:00

Snyder's chocolate covered pretzels, no other brand will due, are an important part of the diet of a shopping girl. Chocolate and shopping, shopping and chocolate...they go together people.

Me with my fat bag of goodies.

Candace felt a strong urge to kiss the chocolate....don't ask....it's a girl thing. Those of you who have wives or sisters will understand.

We were in Old Navy for about two hours. Can't you tell?

Santa Came in his Truck

2008-12-25T13:51:00.002-05:00

More pics coming soon....

Diaper Drive!

2008-12-23T20:22:00.003-05:00

God is so good! Check out the "stuffed" honda! Starting December 7 I did a Diaper Drive at three different churches for our local Crisis Pregnancy Center. They are an amazing center that really cares about women. They are dedicated to communicating accurate and truthful information to those affected by an unplanned pregnancy and to provide them with physical, emotional, and spiritual support. The center is often are in need of material and financial aid, being a non-profit organization. That's where the Diaper Drive came in. Doing a diaper drive is a practical way to serve the center while raising community awareness. Because of the current financial crunch, I wasn't sure what the end result would be - some diapers and wipes or none. But I was hopeful because it doesn't cost that much to buy a couple of boxes of wipes or a bag of diapers. I was

delighted when I had to drop off two car loads of diapers at the center. I currently have a pending third load (still collecting). People were so generous! The majority of the diapers recieved were the "jumbo pack" size! It was great. Also people really paid attention to the flyer I made and were sure to buy the right sizes. The center has no need for sizes larger than 3. One of the best parts of this effort was that from just one family the center recieved $130 worth of gift cards to Wal-Mart. These are always needed. Many of the women who come to the center have had difficulty affording gas in the recent past, and it has been the distribution of these gift cards that has made it possible for them to come. I loved doing this! I was so pumped! I can't wait til next year! It was so rewarding after pouring several hours into organizing this event to have such fantastic participation. To see how many men and women really cared and eagerly wanted to help was an encouragement to me and of course to the staff at the center. I hope that this inspires you to reach out and serve your local crisis pregnancy center whether by a consistent pledge of financial support, or by volunteering, or just doing a diaper drive. Think about it and ask God how He might have you serve in this way.

Imprisoned?

2008-12-17T19:26:00.004-05:00

A topic that I have been wanting to post about is Asperger Syndrome. I know a relative who has this syndrome and have been strongly compelled to share what I have learned about it. I love my relative dearly and want to give the rest of the world a glimpse of what life is like for this person. Inability will not be the sole focus of these posts, but also ability. Attitude is another topic I'll discuss. It is a privilage to know someone like my relative. People don't ever seem to know how to react to him and respond either with delight or strong dislike. I want to help educate people on how they can bless and be blessed even more by someone with Aspergers. It is unfortunate that people like my relative are imprisoned by these types of sydromes. Yet here in the midst of human weakness is an amazing opportunity to see the mighty strenghth and tender love of God. I used to say, "I just want him (my relative) to be free!" By this I meant free to share in all the "normal" life experiences that I have had. After looking at my life and then looking at his, I think that he has missed out on so many opportunities. He can't drive, he'll never grow up enough mentally to handle being married, he'll never be a dad, he can't, can't, can't....it is sad. But a dear friend from school recently gave me her perspective on this. She had a brother with far more severe problems that passed away when she was just 15. She told me, "You know, it's not freedom they need, it's joy. They need to be able to find joy in the midst of their circumstances." (I'm paraphrasing.) Unlike her brother, my relative knows he has a problem. His attitude about it varies; one day he admits it, the next he angrily denies it. Still, this is my prayer right now - that he would find joy. My dear Dad in heaven has said in His Bible:

" 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.10I rejoice greatly in the Lord....11I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philipians 4: 10-13.

2008-12-14T15:39:00.002-05:00

Grand Illumination and Party Bash! Wooohooo!

2008-12-14T14:56:00.002-05:00

A week ago today, December 7, my family and the Bulmans went to Williamsburg, VA to see the Grand Illumination fireworks display. This event is free and the fireworks are unbeatably fantastic. It's freezing cold outside after nightfall at Williamsburg, but I prefer this to sweltering 4th of July weather. From left to right in the pic above, we have Isaac and Sam Bulman and my bro Nate.

This freezing cold person, is my dear Aunt Ann, who is quite a character.... a regular nutcase you might say. I love her to death. She's like a second mommy in a lot of ways.

Here is the rest of Aunt Ann's pretty face and also my Uncle Stuart. (They're not actually blood-related, but have known my family since before I was born.) Uncle Stu is like a dad to me - love him a lot too. I've know these wonderful people for forever and still can't ever seem to get enough of them! They love Jesus, and this is evident when you see what how much they seek to serve and care for their friends and family. They have such big hearts for my family. I am blessed to be able to watch them live their lives for Christ and see their exemplary marraige.

This lovely lady is my best friend in the whole, wide world - my Mom. It would take a bizillion blog entry's to describe how amazing she is. I would not have a personal relationship with Jesus like I do and be the kind of person I am without her example. I am thankful she puts up with me and all my issues. Big hugs to you Mom.

This is almost all of us. We're missing the three boys and me (I'm taking the pic of course.) But these smiles are genuine, because for much of the time that's all we did was crack up and laugh.
The Bulmans and Peases always have a blast together! The lady in the middle is Debbie, Uncle Stu's sister. We had lots of fun yacking with her. (Yacking is my way of saying 'talking'). I'll probably post a few more pics of this. I only took half a million.

2008-12-05T14:48:00.002-05:00

I still haven't figured out exactly where the text is going to end up each time I post, so I hope this is in the right place! The twinzos, mom and I all love to go for walks. Where we live is beautiful and we get a lot of good excerise. On the last walk, I brought my camera along. Well as you can see us girls where feeling goofy. What you are about to see is not just pics of three sisters, but also three BIG HAMS! We had a blast going down the slide, running and jumping. One of our neighbors saw us while we were doing this. I'm sure he thought we were nuts....and we are. It took several tries, and after much coaching from Candace (Thing 1) I finally got a pic of them in the air. We were really cracking up in the one of all three of us because we kept cutting off eachother's heads or only getting 2 of us. It was easy to smile that day too, because it was soooo cold - chattering teeth....brrrr! And believe it or not, we really do act grown up most of the time.

Never Was There Such a Pair of Sisters...

2008-11-29T22:03:00.004-05:00

I am thankful for my best friends ~ Thing 1 and Thing 2 ~ my identical twin sisters Candace and Caitlyn. They are so cheerful and always inspiring me and challenging me in so many ways. Whether it's sharing their favorite new movie clip on Youtube or telling me about a fantastic book they're reading or being patient with some of my pigheaded ideas, or comparing school stories with me, they are an example to follow. I learn so much from them. Even though I'm slightly older than they are, I feel like I can't quite keep up - they're always one step ahead of me! The only problem with the twins is that I have two people to answer to when I do something to one of them. For instance, when we were kids we would often swim in a friend's pond with a floating dock. One day I decided to sneak up behind one twin and push her off the dock. I had stupidly forgotten about the other one who in no time at all was pushing me straight in after the first one! So be forewarned...even though most twins look cute, they're feisty, especially mine.

2008-11-28T17:25:00.003-05:00

Live Music after Thanksgiving Meal at the Taylors...so fun!

Fun-packed Thanksgiving at the Taylors

2008-11-27T20:20:00.002-05:00

How I Pay for Tuition Continued...

2008-11-23T21:17:00.001-05:00

Free-form feather design up close.

This pic was taken from the backside of the Gammill (that's the brand of long-arm machine I have). It gives you a better view of just how big it is. The machine rests on wheels and the wheels sit within grooves that run all the way down the length of the 12 foot frame. (It's kinuv hard to explain it exactly.)

First Layer: Quilt Top given to me already pieced by the customer.

Second Layer: Batting (it is like a very thin blanket of cotton)

Third Layer: The Backing of the quilt.

My Job: Sandwich all three layers with my free motion stitching. You can see here that I used my "freeform feather" design on this quilt.
Sometimes I put both hands on the handlebars, but most of the time just one. This way my other hand is free to smooth out unruly puckers and deal with other issues.

How I Pay for Tuition...

2008-11-23T20:42:00.000-05:00

This is the longarm quilting machine I work on. I love quilting quilts. The machine itself is about 4 feet long and and frame it is positioned on is about 12 feet long. There are also overhead lights for sewing at night. The motor is very powerful and makes a loud, steady whirring sound. It is quite impressive and tons of fun to work on.

As you can see here I hold onto the handlebars and sew at speed 80. I regulate the length my stitches by how quickly I move my hands. The actual technique I use is called "free-motion quilting." This means that I create with "free motion" the stitched designs on the quilt. I don't use pantographs and the machine is not pre-progammed, I simply design my own. Waaaaay fun! I'll have to post a video sometime.

This kinuv gives you an idea of what it actually looks like to have a quilt in progress.

Step#1: I recieve the quilt top from the customer along with the backing.

Step#2: I pin in the backing and the top to the cream colored canvas fabric which is attached to the black metal bars. The batting (the stuffing in between) is gently draped between the two layers and not pinned in. Every time I complete 2 passes (sewing down the quilt top from left to right) I roll up the part I just quilted and start on the next 2 passes until I'm done.

Little People

2008-11-23T14:45:00.000-05:00

11 week old feet, with tiny toes!

12 week old hand with fingernails! Wow....

12 week old foot.

2008-11-23T14:19:00.001-05:00

A perfect little ear at week 14. (Odd how the ear itself sortuv looks like a fetus.)

2008-11-23T13:45:00.002-05:00

I was shocked to find out that in 2007 there were 9,546 abortions in a nearby county. That's just one county...I can't imagine how many there were in all the local counties combined. The baby pictured here is 8 weeks along.

2008-11-21T23:05:00.000-05:00

I FINALLY HAVE MY OWN BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEHAAAAH!
(Ok, the cone of silence can now be lifted)

One of my favorite pastimes is perusing friend's blogs. I love looking at all the photos and seeing what God is doing in other people's lives. It has always looked like fun to have a blog, so I finally joined the club.

Scribble Scrabble will be a place for my ramblings and musings. I will post glimpses of my daily life as a hard-working, almost broke, college student. God is a big part of my life - so He'll be mentioned a lot. Hobbies and fun pastimes are some of the other things I'll write about. Family too. For now, I'm done with my first post. It's 11:14 pm, I'm going to bed!