I HOPE I WIN

Hey, you can't win if you don't play. So I'm playin'. Not the lottery though my odds of winning are probably about the same. Lisa, The Preacher's Wife is doing a give-away. And she's starting an online book club to discuss the book she is giving away.

I can't seem to find time to shave my legs these days but the book club thing sounds fun and educational, so I hope to give it a try.

I double my chances of winning a copy of the book if I post and link back, so here's my post and a link to Lisa.

If any of you have read the book, let me know what you think about it. If you want to join in the book discussion, check out The Preacher's Wife and see how to get involved. If you want to try to win a copy of the book yourself, go to Lisa's blog and leave a comment. And if you don't care one way or the other, just pray for me to win. And if you think you shouldn't pray for something so, well, selfish and trivial, then just wish me luck--the good kind. Thanks!

I hope to post this afternoon--a new word for today. So check back later to see how my day went. Have a good one yourself!

My Word for the Day

I like words. I like to read them, write them, hear them, say them, study them, define them, pick them apart, combine them... In words there is power. (tool-man grunt) With words we can change a man's opinion, shape his thinking, encourage him, inspire him, heal him, and bless him. Words can also do the opposite if used in an unwise and evil manner. I can't think of a more powerful tool or weapon than the spoken or written word. Think about it. Once launched, like heat seeking missiles, words can't be called back and they will have an impact. Heavy stuff.

Today my word is cuisine.

Defined: A noun--style or method of cooking.

My favorite form of the word: Southern cuisine

Defined: fried green tomatoes, blackeyed peas, okra, pulled pork, cornbread, fried chicken, turnip greens... I could go on and on.

Don't get me wrong here. One of my favorite things about living everywhere and nowhere is the exposure to different regional cuisines. (Maybe one reason my backside looks like the seat in my hubby's Dodge Ram.) I've eaten the best pizza, lobster, and scallops ever in New England. Everyone knows that if you want good south-of-the-border food nothing beats Tex-Mex and that's found only in, well, Texas of course. I guess Texas and Kansas will always be at odds over where you can find the best BBQ. And if you are craving crawfish you'd better go to Louisiana. But the one cuisine I could eat day after day and never get tired of is good ol' down-home Southun Cookin'. There is plenty of that here in Mobile. Um um good!

After spending the morning doing the laundry at still yet a different laundromat, (I've been washing around to see which one I like the best) I met my sweet hubby for lunch at the Big Time Diner. And yep, I'm ashamed to admit, I ate fried green tomatoes, pulled pork, fried okra, and mashed potatoes. But I was a good girl and had UN-sweet tea. (What-Ev-er!)

I justified my menu choices--I've had a bad stomach ache the last two days and have eaten only chicken-noodle-soup and half of a grilled cheese since Saturday morning. I feel much better today so... And tomorrow?

Did I tell you I joined a gym?

And Aren't We Glad?

Brittney sent me this really cool link that I've added to my sidebar. You can go there, type in your name, and see how many people have your same name.

Guess what I found out? I'm one of a kind! And aren't we glad? One's enough, right?

Why don't you see how many people have your name and leave your findings here as a comment.

Settling In and An Awkward Moment

So you've been wondering what has happened to me since we arrived here in Mobile. I've not posted here very often. I guess my brain has been in the idle position. I've been busy though, trying to get settled in.

Have you ever been to the beach or even sat on the edge of a child's sandbox and found yourself wiggling you feet down into the sand? You don't have the intention to bury yourself, but you just kind of turn your feet back and forth until they are hidden in the sand and you are slightly planted. I guess that's what I've been doing these last couple of weeks.

I've got my car with me (which I usually don't have) so I've been scoping out the neighborhood. I've not actually driven around the trailer park, but I've ventured out as far as needed to do what I need to do. And, I've not gone far.

Within a mile or less from my camper there is Wal-Mart Super Center, Super Target, Family Christian Books, Hobby Lobby, two Starbucks, a Baptist church, and various fast food joints and restaurants. There is a laundromat less than two miles away, and the gym (yes, I found a ladies only gym) is probably around five miles from me. Oh yes, there is a beauty salon down on the corner, but I've not gone there yet. Tell me, what else could a girl need? An Ulta store! But I'm out of luck on that one. There's not an Ulta in the whole city of Mobile! What ever will I do?!?!?!?!?
This bit of junk mail is evidence that my feet are wriggled down in the sand a little. Not enough to hold me here forever, but enough that I've set Space 81 Green Park Drive as "Home" on my Garmin.

There must be hundreds of catchy little saying about where home is. Some of them are--Home is where you hang your hat--Home is where you belong--Home is where the cat is--Home is where you can say anything you like because no one listens to you anyway--and the most popular, Home is where the heart is.

But even with all the advise about where home is, I always feel awkward when someone asks me where I live. Yesterday I went to church. I didn't know what time the services started so I got there plenty early to ask and not be late. I ended up being there in time for Sunday school and big church.

A nice lady led me down a narrow hall as she asked me if I wanted to attend a ladies only class or a couples class. Rick has to work every day of the week, so most of my Sunday school attendance will be done alone. I thought a class just for women might do, and besides, I was just visiting anyway.

The first awkward feeling hit me when I saw that the classroom where the women's class met was obviously deigned and decorated for little ones. I'm talking creepers and crawlers, maybe toddlers. The entire hour I was there I had trouble keeping my mind on what the teacher was saying because I couldn't help but wonder where the children that belonged in that room were.

The second and more awkward moment happened when I realized that the teacher and I were the only ones who were going to be in class that morning. "Where two or more are gathered..." she said.

Maybe so, but it is hard for two people to make a good discussion group. I was so preoccupied with thoughts of missing children that when she hit me with the question about which one verse in the Bible was my "Life's Verse," I'm afraid I shot her one of those "Are you KIDDING me?" looks. How many verses are in the Bible anyway? And I'm supposed to pick only one that has impacted my life? Yeah, it was another awkward moment.

But I think the most awkward yet so familiar moment for me was when the teacher asked where I live. My first instinct was, and always is, to reply, "Everywhere and nowhere." (For any first time readers of this blog, you're just going to have to read several older posts to fully understand.)

Home is where the family is? Mine is scattered all the way from Houston to the northern Texas Panhandle and into Oklahoma. Home is where I own property and pay taxes? Or is home where I get junk mail? What about the address programed into the GPS unit?

I think about what God's Word says about Jesus' home. (Luke 9:57-58) As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

I'm sure Jesus never had to fill out a visitor's card at Sunday school, but if he had, do you think He would have listed his address as "Everywhere and Nowhere?"

When I read Hebrews I see that I'm not the only one who has ever felt awkward about my address. And in 1 Peter, the Bible points out that maybe I should feel awkward and out of place concerning my temporary home.

So where did Jesus and these aliens call home? Their minds and hearts were set on one place--heaven, in the presence of God. So maybe home really is where your heart is.

The next time I visit a new church and they want me to fill out one of those little cards, I think I might just write "Heaven" on the address line.

If home is where the heart is, what would you write?

Spouse Appreciation Day

I love this stuff!

If you've never tried it, you should. It is "the original creamy, chocolaty hazelnut spread." It is great on apples, bananas, strawberries, or toast, mixed with cream cheese, or honey, .... or just right out of the spoon. You can find recipes on the web using the stuff. It's just...just...just down right luscious. Two tablespoons contain 190 calories and 11 fat grams. That tells you how good it is!

But this post is not about Nutella. It's about my wonderful husband. He's top drawer and I want to brag on him. (I think all married people should brag on their spouse.) Oh, he's not perfect, but neither am I. So it works.

What's so great about my man? He spoils me. He knows I love Nutella. I seldom buy it for myself because, well, it is 190 calories of wonderful flavor but little nutrition. Rick doesn't eat it, and I just can't bring myself to spend money on such a delicacy for "just me." But my beloved will buy it for me anytime I have a craving. I think that is special. But you know what else my sweet hubby does? He pays for a gym membership for me AFTER I've eaten a jar full! Now is that indulgence or what? Makes me want to kiss him just thinking about it!

Now here's what I want you to do. I want you to brag on your spouse. If you're human and married, your spouse deserves a little praise simply because he or she puts up with you on your bad days. I'm sure there are many more reasons for you to brag. So, leave your comments here so we can all know what a great guy or gal you are married to. If you blog, feel free to blog about the wonderful person you are married to and link back to this post, but go ahead and leave a comment too. You don't have to over do it--save a little for the next time we have "Spouse Appreciation Day" here at What's Up. Just let us know one or two things you appreciate about the love of your life.

Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.

(Proverbs 12:25)

HighCalling Blog Community

I've recently joined up with other bloggers at HighCallingBlogs.com. It is a group of people whose faith and love for reading and writing blogs have created a community. There is no city hall or community center. No local watering hole or clubs, but it is community all the same.

One reason I signed on was because community is one thing that is missing in my life. My have-camper-will-travel lifestyle limits my opportunities to connect with other people. I miss being able to minister to others. I also can use some words of encouragement or conviction from time to time. High Calling Blogs help fill these needs.

I'm still learning my way around, just like the way I have to learn my way around a new town every time my husband is deployed. So far I'm enjoying the scenery. If you are not a part of a blogging community, and you have the time for it, I recommend High Calling. Who knows, we might run into each other on the street! If we do, I'll be sure to say "hi"

Lookin' Hard to Find the Joy

I know a lot of negative people, and I don't want to be one. I want to be a source of joy to everyone who knows me. And I want this little blog to be a source of joy to everyone who happens by and stays long enough to read a post or two.

But you know what? Some days I have to work at having a joyful attitude. I'm genetically inclined to negativity and pessimism. When I get lazy, who I am genetically wins out over who I am in Christ. Today I feel lazy. So, I'm having to work hard at being joyful. I've got plenty of reasons to be happy and joyful, but there are some little things that, over the last couple of days, have crawled all over me and stolen my joy.

What are those little things you ask? Okay, I'll tell you. They're ANTS!!! Thousands, no, make that tens of thousands of ants.

Remember my post a while back about ants in my plants? Well, that was nothing compared to the ant problem I've got here at our new "home."

We arrived here in Mobile Monday afternoon and set up camp. Tuesday morning Rick left for work around 6:30 and I went back to bed and dozed off and on while I got my morning dose of the Weather Channel. I got up around 7:30 and headed for the shower.

UGHH! The shower was FULL of ants. The bath mat was covered with ants. The ceiling was covered with ants. Trails of little ants crisscrossed the walls and floor like bad plaid wallpaper and worn out carpet.

I forgot my desire to take a shower and went straight for the bright orange spray can. Tiny black bug carcases peppered my private space and I coughed from breathing in too much insecticide, but I won! Or so I thought.

Then I went into the kitchen and saw more legions of ants making their march over the counter, around the ceiling, across the floor, and by now, up my legs! That did it.

I headed for the lawn and garden department at Wal-Mart where I picked up various forms of ant bait and poisons for use indoors and out. I spent the rest of the day engaged in battle. I was greatly outnumbered.

Today dawned new and I got out of bed with hopes that I had the ant problem under control. I had emptied the bright orange spray can, placed all the bait stations around the inside of the camper and sprinkled all the poison on the ground around our rig. That should have done the trick. So after Rick left for work I peeked into the bathroom. No ants. I went down to the kitchen and there were ants on the window ledge, but they were hard at work on the bait station and not running all over the counter. Things were looking up.

I took my shower then remembered I needed to put out the Damp Rid. (Humidity control is a big deal when you live in a camper on the Gulf Coast.) Now don't ask me how I did it, because I really don't know. But when I squatted down to open the cabinet under the sink where I keep the Damp Rid, I lost my balance just as I opened the door, and I whacked myself on the forehead with the corner of the door. (I hadn't had my coffee yet.)

When blood started to run down my face I checked the mirror. No wonder it hurt so badly! I had a gash across my head that needed a butterfly band-aid. Good thing I had one! I really needed someone to feel pitiful for me. Even if Rick would have been at home I don't think he would have pampered me, though I would have tried to get some benefit out of the purple knot swelling up on my face. But since he was already at work, I patched myself up and decided to find some comfort food for breakfast.

That's when a bad day turned terrible. Inside my pantry every ant in the neighborhood had gathered for the feast of all time. All four boxes of cereal were infested. Even the package of Fig Newtons that had not been opened had ants inside. Everything on every shelf was covered with ants!

My arsenal was empty. Frustrated and fuming I headed to Wal-Mart for more deadly dope. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror before I got out the door, and it was a good thing too. My hair had that "just out of the shower" look which went well with the butterfly bandage on my oozing forehead.

Yeah, I'll admit at that moment I had a hard time finding joy in the journey.

I'm a little better now. My head still hurts and I have no cereal, but thousands, no, make that tens of thousands of ants have lost their lives today. And I still have amunition on hand for tomorrow's early morning attack!

Yep, sometimes you have to look for it, but you can usually find reason to rejoice if you look hard enough!

The Movie

I've been busy. There's nothing like spending a few days with the grandkids! The computer has taken a back seat. I've been soaking up kisses and hugs, reading board books, cherishing giggles, and pulling the little red wagon. In general, I've been having the time of my life.

I hope you all are just dying to know what I thought about the Fireproof movie. It was great. I was very pleased to see how the quality of this film is improved so much over Facing The Giants. And the story line... Oh my goodness. At times I felt like I was a fly on the wall observing moments in my own marriage. Some scenes made me want to squirm in my seat because they were so true to life. Kirk Cameron was better than he's ever been. (That's my opinion.)

I laughed and I cried. If you've seen the movie, you'll understand when I say I loved the next door neighbors! I bet you did too. And if you have not seen the film yet, well, you need to. It is well worth the seven bucks you'll spend. Over the next week or two more theaters are adding the film to their list. Check to see where it is in your area.

Please leave your comments about the movie. I'd like to hear what you thought of it. Would you like to see more movies like this? Let someone know!