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!

How Old Are The Hills?

You have heard it, “He’s as old as the hills.” Or “She’s older than dirt.” (I think I have a pair of shoes that fit in that category.) So how old are the hills, and how old is dirt?

A couple of days ago while skimming the web news headlines, my hubby busted out laughing. “Here’s a headline that doesn’t make much sense.”

Oldest Rocks on Earth Found.

“Shouldn't they all be the same age?” he said.

If you believe in creation—God spoke, it happened, & it was good—yes. At least I would think so. But of course this bunch of questionable babble was written from the perspective that the earth was “…formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a disk of gas and dust circling the sun.”

I interrupt this thought with a question. If you believe all that hog-wash, where did the dust and gas come from? Better yet, where did the sun come from? Okay—back to the news.

According to the article, the earth has been recycling itself over the last few billion years. You know—plates shift, volcanoes erupt, melt down in the middle—that type of thing. And now some geologists have decided they found some old stubborn rocks that have refused the recycling process. They claim these rocks are 4.28 billion years old.

I don’t mean to be throwing old rocks at these geologists; I’m sure their mommas are proud of them. But I have my doubts. First, the article says that in 2001 geologists found this expanse of bedrock. So now 7+ years later they have finally decided how old these rocks are? I think maybe they should not take such long coffee breaks so they wouldn’t be so far behind at work!

I wonder what kind of a GPA these guys had. The article first says that the rocks are 4.28 billion years old, and then later it states that they are from 3.8 to 4.28 billion years old. There is a deference there of .48 billion years. That’s—well—that’s a lot of years. (My son-in-law can figure it out.) So I’m thinking these guys are neither fast workers nor are they very accurate. (What are they adding to their coffee?)

They may be stretching their story just a bit. The article says that the oldest know rocks (before this discovery) were 4.03 billion years old. These are all big numbers, and I’m fairly simple-minded, but isn’t 3.8 billion younger than 4.03 billion? So are these rocks REALLY the oldest rocks on earth? Maybe. Only if their real age leans to the higher end of our not-too-precise geologists’ estimations. It all sounds a little crazy if you ask me.

As a writer, I’m glad it was not my job to report that story. I would have peppered the page with words like assumes, thinks, guesses, & supposes. I have a hard time writing fiction.

Back to my original question: how old are the hills & how old is dirt?

They might be younger than you think!

Time For A New Picture

Have you ever tried to take your own picture? It's a HOOT!

The picture I've had here on my blog is getting old. Or is it me that is getting old? I guess the picture is outdated BECAUSE I'm getting old.

I hate having my picture made. I always feel so stupid. Well, try taking your own picture and see how stupid you feel!

This is my "Oh Brother!" pose.







Then I wondered what I would look like cartooned. So I put on the granny glasses. (I need them to read because I'm on the backside of the hill.)


Here is my cartoon look. It might be better than the real thing! Except it looks like I've been eating Oreo cookies and have crumbs on my lips.

That's just natural luster I promise. I don't have any Oreos in the pantry. But if I did...










This is my "I've got my eye on you" pose. Put me in a coloring book and I might look like this. They say the eyes are the window to the soul. So what do ya think? Those crow's feet around my windows really show up in this picture!








Here is my "I'm a writer" look. Think anybody will believe me?

I can't believe that I've admitted to the whole world wide web that I've spent the morning trying to take a decent picture of myself.

Oh well, I can rest knowing that only people who already know how nuts I am stop by here anyway.

What I want to know is this. How many of you have ever tried to take your own picture? It's easier said than done. But if you're sitting around with nothing to do, try it. It is an activity that is good for at least a dozen laughs!

The pose I finally decided on is in my sidebar. Wow Brittney, you already noticed! Good for you!

Does Anyone Ever Read My Sidebar?

Okay, so this is my second post for the day. That makes up for one of the many days I've missed in the past because I didn't have anything worthy to talk about, or I just flat didn't have the time.

I want your opinions and input about my blog. #1--Does anybody ever read my sidebar? Last night my precious husband commented on my post, so I knew he read it. I asked if he signed up to be one of my "followers." The blank stare & the weak grin told me that either he didn't have a clue what I was talking about, or that he thought I had lost my last marble thinking that HE should "follow" ME. (Our marriage is the old-fashioned type. You know--he holds the remote, he drives, he brings home the bacon, and I...well...I take care of all the "domestic" issues, and I blog.) Come to find out, he never looks at my sidebar so he didn't see the new thingies I added. One to subscribe to posts and/or comments, and the other to follow my blog.

Right now I have one follower and that is because I ASKED her to sign up. She is a sweet kid and likes to patronize her aging aunt, so she obliged. She also has a very nice blog and a huge heart for God, so you should stop by and visit her there some time.

I discovered that to "follow" me, you have to have a Google account. If you blog on blogger, you already have one. But if you are like most of my friends who have not moved into the age of "every body's blogging," you will need to get a Google account. It is no big deal and it costs you nothing. All it does is create a user name and password (like we all need more of those) and a profile that will let you into any of Google's stuff, and identifies you (if you so choose) when you comment on my or any one's blogger blog. Confused yet?

If you want to admit that you get up every morning and rush to your computer to see if I've got a new post, (okay, even precious hubby doesn't do that) or even if you just check in from time to time and don't mind letting me and the whole world know, then sign up. Please!
I'm proud to tell you that I do practice humility, and I'm NOT trying to create a "following" for myself. Honest! It's just that every good writer knows her readers. I know my kids, my husband, at least one niece, and two precious friends read my posts regularly. But beyond that, I don't know who I'm writing to. When a writer knows her readers, she can better write-to-fit.

#2--Now about the "Subscribe" button. That's kind of self-explanatory. If you want to know when I make new posts or update my blog, then subscribe. It's just like subscribing to your favorite magazine. (I know this has to be your favorite blog, right?) You can have me sent right to your home page. Yeah, the one that you do run to first thing every day.

#3--All the other stuff. My bookshelf. Do you care what I'm reading? Did you know that if you mouse over the books you can read my reviews and ratings? Is that helpful to you at all? What about the trivia quiz? Do you ever take it? Are you sick of seeing it?
Is there anything else on the sidebar you like, dislike, wish to see, or wish you didn't have to look at?

The writer in me wants to go way beyond being amused by my own fancies. I want to reach out to my readers and give you something worthy of your time. There is nothing wrong with online journals. I love reading them, so if you have one, keep writing and I'll keep on reading it. But I want to create something more--a tool God can use for His purposes.

If you are one of my REALLY un-savy-to-the-ways-of-the-web friends, simply click on the "comments link" at the bottom of this post and pour your heart out. You can pick how you want to be identified, and if you want to remain anonymous, that's fine.

Your input will help me minister to you, be a source of joy to you, and give you something to think about, smile about, or praise God about. This is my goal. Thanks for your help.

Chin Up!

Just in case you're having a bad day, I thought I'd share this photo I took a few days ago along with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I was sitting in my little home on wheels contemplating the meaning and purpose of my life. It started to grow dark and dreary, inside and out. Gloom, like heavy rain clouds, became my blanket. Storms seemed sure to come. Yet, when I stepped out of my traveling abode, and myself, it was plain to see that beyond the clouds of darkness and despair, the sun was bright and promising. Soon the rain came. The rain, and tears, brought a refreshing fragrance and hope, a cleansing of earth and mind. And when the rain ended, the sun shone brightly again.

May God bless your day, and remember to look above the clouds!

When The Phone Rings

Pay attention to this! You're saying, "Today or tomorrow we will go into some city, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money." You don't know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. Instead, you should say, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.

If you've been following this blog for even a couple of months, or if you know us, you know that when the phone rings these words from James 4: 13-15 come to life. I have probably put this scripture in a post before, and I probably will again. We literally do not know, from one day to the next, what our plans for the future, for the week ahead, sometimes even for the day, will be.

I know some people that would have a very hard time living this way. You may be saying, "I couldn't do it." Believe me, Lavonda can't either, but Christ in me can.

In the last 40 some years God has trained, taught, molded, shaped, filed, whittled, sanded, squeezed, squished, broken, and re-formed me into the still-imperfect but gettin'-there person that I am today. And through it all, I've come to pray, "God, put me where you want me TODAY. And wherever that is, I will trust you, knowing that you will keep me in Your hand. By an act of my will, I choose to be content in that place and in this hour."

The phone rang yesterday.
We won't be spending the next few month here in Baton Rouge like we thought we might. We won't be going to Houston (near Kaleena) to work, like we hoped. It looks like we will be headed to Mobile, Alabama.

The "powers that be" have decided that Rick should be back in the office for a while. It was a year ago to the day that the "powers that be" cut Rick from the office and put him back on the road and up on roofs. Go figure.

This time Rick will be working in a different department, housed in a different building in a different part of town with different responsibilities. We plan to stay in a different RV park as well. Oh, our spicy life. (Variety you know) It is supposed to be an assignment that will be "beneficial" to the overall career. His last stay in the office, which lasted 9 months, was good for the big picture, so we are hoping this time will be too.

Rick is working hard to finish up the claims he has here so we can make a mad dash through Texas to see all the kids and get my car. Just like any other place and any other assignment, we have no idea how long we will be in Mobile, but we expect (here I go making plans again) to be there a while. So, it will be nice to have an extra car so I can find and take advantage of a Bible study group, the public library, or maybe even a gym. (I'll have to think about that last one.)

We don't have a specific date to report to Mobile, just ASAP! (So what else is new?) So, ASAP we will be heading to Mobile from Baton Rouge by way of Houston and Amarillo, Texas. The scenic route for sure! But what could be more beautiful to see than the faces of our children and those most adorable granddaughters?

At least that is the plan tonight. But you never know when the phone is going to ring. "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans."