Approaching Glory

Getting There From Who Knows Where

  There is only one satisfying way to boot a computer.  ~J.H. Goldfuss

Jbird and I decided to head out to Hobby Lobby to use the gift card I had gotten for Christmas.  However, that little voice was telling me to call my friend and see how she was doing.  Actually, to tell you the truth I decided to call her only once more and than wait until she called me - all my calls were going to Sockland (if you know what I mean).  This time I got through on her cell and she let me know that her MagicJack went down after she had attempted to download the new upload (or something to that effect).  She had called her daughter but they were battling sickness over there and didn't want to expose my friend so they couldn't come help her.  Her son lives down near to Atlanta and he hadn't gotten back to her yet.

I thought for a minute and then prayed silently to myself.  My techie knowledge is pretty limited and I don't like messing with other people's computers - other than sneaking pictures up on their desktops :)  So basically I said, "Lord, You know."  Now that's a pretty good thing to say about anything - cause He does.  And I know that J uses her computer extensively and it bugs the hound out of her when something doesn't work right (big grin).  So I tell her I'll come over.

Jbird and stop and get some doughnuts.  I figure even if I kill her computer she might still like me for bringing over doughnuts.

To make a long story short - the computer is fixed.  Bad stuff off, a couple of programs updated, - the MagicJack functional.  Of course she asked me how I did it.  Reality?  I don't really know.  I tried this and then I went there and looked up this and did that and voila!

Some people can hack it, others can't.  ~Author Unknown

Yes, I'm Still Knitting - Here's Meret!

I look terrible in hats - just not me!  But when the weather gets to freezing you have to do something.  I've tried lots of hats over the years and nothing ever looks right to me.

  Well - meet Meret by Wooly Wormhead.  Get the download for the free pattern here!  The pic to the right was taken before I wet the hat and stuck it on a plate to block.  I asked my niece to try it on and she wants one with more slouch.  So I tried it on and guess what?  I love it!  It is MINE!

• Pattern: Meret by Wooly Wormhead - used size medium
• Needles: 1 pair dpns and 1 circular size 7's
• Yarn:  Peace Fleece worsted weight in Volgasippi Blue

Mrs. Moose Is Still Married to Mr. Moose

Today is our 35th anniversary.  Somehow I can't believe it has been that long.  Rich got the nickname, Mr. Moose, many years ago due to his wonderful mimic of Mr. Moose (think Captain Kangergoo show) saying, "Ping pong balls!" And so I became to many, Mrs. Moose. 

We just got back from lunch.  Hubby won the anniversary give-a-way this morning from WDUN (hubby listens every morning to the Bill and Joel show). So off we went to the Divana Mediterranean Grill - and the food and service was excellent!  Jbird has heard nothing but rave reviews from his buds at Gainesville State College - so he begged to come along.  Jbird had to taste the baklava.  Oh my - I could definitely put on a bunch of pounds eating that.

Hope you all are having a wonderful day :)

Some Things Never Change

Some things really don't change all that much over time.  I'm not saying the system hasn't changed, or that our culture hasn't altered.  What I am saying is kids are still kids in school.  You have the leaders, the learners, the "pay-attention-to-me-ers", and the "I need to use the restroomers - cause anything has to be more interesting than what is going on in the classroom".  Oh - and that kid that tried to pull something behind your back "just cause" - still there.  Or maybe that child that just looks so endearing - there too.  Or the one you see and just want to pray that what you see won't happen in their future - there too.  Oh - and let's not forget the "Space Invaders" - you know - the kids that just can not keep their hands to themselves and they haven't a clue why someone doesn't want their space invaded.  (boundary challenged)  Let's not forget the kid that drives everyone nuts cause they can't stay still or remain quiet - sorry folks - I've got a special place in my heart for those kids.

What I think I thought alot about watching them yesterday was - they have their whole life in front of them.  So many pages to be written upon.  I did my student teaching in that school around twenty years ago.  Believe or not the teacher I did it with walked into the office the same time I did.  I asked her what she was doing there.  She is retired and doing some subbing now and then.  Well, I felt like I was right back where I started at.  I hope I brought a bit of wisdom with me this time :)

Does Language Matter?

":How can we appraise a proposal if the terms hurled at our ears can mean anything or nothing, and change their significance with the inflection of the voice? Welfare state, national socialism, radical, liberal, conservative, reactionary and a regiment of others ... these terms in today's usage, are generally compounds of confusion and prejudice. If our attitudes are muddled, our language is often to blame. A good tonic for clearer thinking is a dose of precise, legal definition." —Dwight D. Eisenhower.

I was recently in a conversation with some friends over a movie.  A movie (like many today) that had a good message but assumed that the f-bomb was a word used as a part of the common man's everyday life.  Both friends were of an older generation but they had different views on whether or not this capricious use of the word was offensive.  I recently started to watch another film and within the first three minutes of the film the characters had f-bombed repeatedly and used the Lord's name in vain three times.  Off went the movie.

I come from a generation and family in which the use of the f-bomb word guaranteed a punitive parental response.  We won't discuss my father chasing me around the table when I decided to mimic my cousin and used the Lord's name in vain!  In fact, I remember quite clearly the look of shock and horror on my mother's face when I asked what the word meant (I had discovered it written on the back of stop sign - rather appropriate - lol).

During the eighties I was chastised by my employer for taking offense at "foul language".  Afterall, words are just words and the people in question were just expressing themselves.  This was being said by someone who held a doctorate in education.  I had to wonder at his limited vocabulary after all those years in college.

After years of Hollywood continuing to assume we all talk like sailors, we have a generation to whom these words have little to no meaning.  And that is the point of this post. 

What started as a way to shock the audience and cause impact - now just rolls through our desensitized ears.  We often hear of the results of watching graphic violence and the effect it has on desensitizing our emotions, but do we think about our ears and language?  I wonder if our culture would change at all if instead of being able to drop the f-bomb someone had to graphically define the word each time it was used.  And how would our culture react to having a family member's name used as a swear word instead of the Lord's name taken in vain?

Words do have meaning - it is out of the abundance of our heart that we speak.  Be careful little ears.......

Extending The Tent Pegs

"Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense!" Isaiah 54:2

This year has been a new beginning for the blogging for me.

• Got Richard started on both Facebook and Typepad.  You can find his blog here.  If you are looking for some good Word study -he's a great teacher.  And you can buy his book, Jesus in the Psalms there too!
• I finally got my own url and after 6.5 years here it is nice to have my own address
• With Typepad's many new features I can now have the navigation bar and pages that I've wanted to link to some of my other interests and writings

With that in mind, I introduce to you the tab and page Inspire Me - just go to my top navigation bar and voila!  Inspirational writing that I've done throughout the years.  I firmly believe in exhorting, encouraging, and edifying each other in the Word.  If you are looking some way to study the Bible or just need a quick pick up - I hope you'll go my page Inspire Me.

I hope to develop some other pages in the future - but for now I'm really excited to be able to do this :)

New People, New Situations, and Redemption

I don't know about you, but I'm not the type of person who enjoys being put into a situation in which I have to meet new people (especially when it requires going to someone I don't know's house).  Every now and then God must get a charge out of watching me react/respond cause I get set-up to be such a scene.

Last night was one of those times.  Let me tell you - it was a precious time of fellowship with folks I had never met.  Are there really strangers in Him?  I think not.  We had a grand time worshipping the Lord and finding our unity in Him.  Loved it.

Now the redemption part - the knitting!  The ones I made to fit Hubby are going to ripped out - losers.  But the other ones work okay.  I still want to modify the cuff some.  As soon as my niece gets back with "our" camera I'll take a shot of them.

All the things I had planned today had to be shelved due to finding out they couldn't be accomplished until the next couple of days (boo hiss).  So I am doing dishes, floors, laundry, etc. whilst I listen to some music on Pandora.

Why I Typepad

 I've blogged here at Typepad for 6.5 years now.  That's kinda amazing to me.  I can remember when I first went into Barnes and Noble trying to find a book on the "new thing" I'd heard about - blogging.  I was quite pleased to find the young salesperson caught off-guard about a subject he had never heard about - made me feel like a techie - lol!

Before coming to Typepad I had a website named Approaching Glory.  I had inspirational writings on it and I did the html coding myself (okay - so without Pete Levelle I wouldn't have been able to do anything)  Anyhoo - lots of hours went into its creation and hopefully it ministered to some people.  It's the first time I ever got a picture of the size of the Net.  I heard from people all around the world.  However,  I got the notice this past fall that the host was taking the sites down - so I copied my files and figured I do something else with my writings sooner or later.  Still trying to decide what would be the best way to post them again.

But somewhere in the midst - I came to Typepad.  And somewhere in all of this, I've longed for the day when I would be able to have my own url. Today is that day.  I start this year with my very own address, with endless possibilities ahead, and some new directions for my blog.

And let me tell you - I can NOT say enough good things about the folks at Typepad.  They have been great hosts and super helpful.  If you ever want a blog - they get my five star stamp of approval :)

PS - if you ever get bored out of your gourd and you want to read the past 6.5 years of my life - take a look at the archives!

Laugh or Cry?

Okay sometimes it is back to the drawing board!  I sewed up one of the pairs of slipper things I've been working on and it is UGLY!  So - I'm either going to have to re-design or create an afghan (and the afghan is looking mighty tempting right now.  All those hours - ugh!

Off to Rockdale county to spend the day with family.  This is our time-delayed New Year's celebration.  Supposed to be down in the single digits here today - that means turn the light bulb on in the pump house so we don't have frozen pipes in the morning.

Hope you have a great one and be blessed.

And 2010 Begins

These are the last few days of rest that I have before the next semester begins.  Hubby goes back to work on Tuesday and the 2 J's (Jason and Jennifer) begin their classes on Wednesday.  Lots to do before they start.  Jen's dorm room cleaned and readied.  Laundry ready to go.  Books to be bought and one schedule change for Jbird.  He wants to take the Introduction to Media Studies.

Jennifer got a car!  Woo hoo!  That should help with transportation issues.  Would love to get Jbird one but that is going to have to wait for awhile.

I continue to put in applications all over for a job.  Believing I will be led to go where I need to and will be placed where it will give the Lord glory.

Hubby's book is doing well.  He's blessed with some of the comments that he has gotten on it.

And I have been knitting.  I'll post the latest stuff up tomorrow.  I can't believe I've almost finished five pairs of slipper booties.  I've modified the pattern quite a bit to make it what I like - I'll share that information also.

Watching SG-1 and am up to season eight.  Also have been watching Sherlock Holmes and The Commish.

Hope your first day of the year was great.