The Porch Light copyright by Revka (2006-2010). All rights reserved.

Friday, August 31, 2007

The Last Straw


I was already in a foul mood when the telephone rang. Grumbling under my breath, I searched for, and finally located, the phone, only able to answer it after six annoying rings. My "hello" was none too friendly, but that didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the person at the other end of the line.

"Sissy Anderson?"

The cheery accents only served to annoy me further.

"This is she," my tone of voice was disinterested to the point of being curt.

"You're in luck! You have been selected for one night's stay at one of our Arizona luxury real estate holdings (location to be disclosed later) - absolutely free!"

"Look, I'm not interested. There's always a catch, and..."

Rudely interrupting me, the telemarketer continued his pitch.

"Oh, no, ma'am! There is no catch. Your stay is guaranteed to be absolutely, 100% free. Now how can you pass up an offer like that?"

"Very easily," the dry reply popped out of my mouth. "Look, I'm busy, and you are wasting my time. I've already declined your gracious offer, and that is the end of the story."

"But, ma'am, surely you can't seriously..."

This time I interrupted him.

"Oh, but I can, and I am. Thank you for calling and have a great day."

I gently hung up the phone, though I really wanted to slam it down instead. Then I headed to my computer, determined that I was finally going to place my phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. I was through with telemarketers!

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Luminox Watches

I used to have a watch. I found a watch that I really liked in Wal-Mart's $5 section, and it gave me good service ... until my girls "discovered" it and kept messing around with it. Somehow, it didn't last very long after that. I prefer analog watches with a brown leather band and a square or rectangular face.

Luminox watches are designed with luminous dials and hands, a great feature when you need to know the time but your surroundings are dark. Luminox has such a good reputation that they were commissioned to design a watch for the Navy SEALS.

My favorite of the watches on their page is the Luminox Ladies' Dress Field Ivory, Leather/Brown, Model 1554. Guess what it looks like? Analog with a brown leather band and a round face (which doesn't look too bad). I told you that was what I like. *smile*

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Anniversary Trip - Thursday

Here are photos from the first day of our anniversary trip, which was dedicated to pursuing Mr. Incredible's NASCAR fixation. *grin*

Here's DEI, named for its founder, Dale Earnhardt, Sr.


The lobby display prominently features the revered #3 car driven by The Intimidator himself.

Here's a photo of the Stars and Stripes car Jr. drove earlier this year.

We also visited JR Motorsports, Jr.'s NASCAR team headquarters.

Up close and personal with the driver himself...

well, almost!
Highlights from the day included Mr. Incredible's finding 4 diecast cars he needed for his collection. While he browsed through that store, I hit the sale at the thrift store next door: you could fill a Wal-Mart type of plastic bag for $5. I filled two bags. We ate at Burger King for supper, which I am proud to report was the only time we ate out during the whole trip. We also splurged and stayed at Comfort Suites the first night. I loved their whirlpool tub!

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Monday, August 27, 2007

Our Anniversary

This is going to end up being a series of posts because there is just too much to tell in one post.

As you already know, our actual anniversary was Tuesday. We weren't planning to do anything special that night because we didn't have a babysitter, but Bill and Rosie, who consider our kids to be their adopted grandkids, kindly offered their services (without any prompting on our part). So Mr. Incredible and I got to have a lovely celebration on our actual anniversary.

For several years now, Mr. Incredible has wanted to go to Outback Steakhouse, so when he asked where I wanted to go, I chose that restaurant. We decided to try their blooming onion, which was pretty good. Our meals were alright, but we didn't think they were worth the price we were charged for them. We also did not like that their bar was in the center of the restaurant. We enjoyed trying the restaurant but both agreed we probably wouldn't go there again.

Afterward, Mr. Incredible took me shopping to pick out my present: a digital camera! I was thrilled when he told me that I was getting one; I have wanted one for quite some time now. He told me that we would get a cheaper one right now and that perhaps in three or four years we can get a higher quality one. I ended up choosing a Samsung S730 (photo courtesy of B&H Photo Video) with 7.2 megapixels and many fun features. I took many, many pictures on our trip, which is one reason I'm having to split this story into segments.

After purchasing the camera, we picked up the kids and went home where we exchanged cards. All in all, it was a perfect day - one that I will surely remember with fondness.

Here's one of my favorite photos from our trip.












How did your week go?

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Adieu for a Bit

I just thought I'd let you know not to expect to hear anything from me until Monday. :) I'll tell you all about our anniversary then. Have a great weekend!

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A Patch for Eveyrthing

It seems like there is a patch for nearly everything. If you want to stop smoking, try the nicotine patch. If you don't want to have a baby, there is the contraceptive patch. Now there is even a patch to help you shed that excess weight - the hoodia patch. It makes me wonder what kind of patch will be invented next.

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Bed & Breakfast in Mendocino

I really like the website associated with this assignment about Mendocino lodging. I enjoyed looking at the different cottages and room available. The natural beauty evidenced in the pictures is absolutely breath-taking. I hadn't heard of Mendocino and had to do some research to find out where it is located. Apparently, it is a county in California that is renowned for its beautiful coast line, lovely accommodations, and many wineries. I would love to see the sights of Nature, but wineries don't interest me very much.

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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Thank You, Darling,

for making me your wife eight years ago today. You are one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I delight in belonging to you. I hope you know how very much I love you and how my heart belongs to you.

I love your heart for God and your desire to please Him. I love that, no matter what may happen, you are committed to our relationship. I love the way you care for me and our daughters. I love that you work hard so that I can stay home with the girls. I love the way you consider the options and consequences of an action; that balances out my propensity to leap before I look. I love that you, unlike me, consistently fulfill your responsibilities, whether or not you enjoy them. I love your laugh, even when you are teasing me yet again. I love that you still retain your love of adventure and enjoy outdoor activities like camping and hiking. There is so much more that I love about you, but I know you don't like reading, so that's all I will list.

Through everything, our love has only grown deeper and stronger. I look forward to the years ahead and am glad that God gave me such a wonderful man to share my life. I love you, Darling. Happy anniversary.

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Compare Prices before Purchasing

If you need memory for your computer, try comparing physical store prices with online prices. Shopping around is the best way to make sure you are getting the most product for the money you spend, no matter what item you need. Memory Store.com sells many brands of memory, including Dell Memory. They might be a good place to begin your price comparisons.

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Monday, August 20, 2007

Will I Make It?

My deadline looms in five minutes! How long will it take me to create a sixty word post pointing you to cabinet hardware? (That reminds me that not only my hardware but also my cabinets need a thorough cleaning!) Will the assignment completion site take forever to load, like it so often does? These are the stresses that are causing my heart to beat faster and my blood pressure to rise just a bit.

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I'm Feelin' Loved

I won something better than the Berndes cookware over which I am currently drooling. (Hey, I'd even be happy getting some of that as an anniversary gift! *grin*)

Here's what has given me the feeling of being loved:

First, from my dear friend, Karen, whom I finally met in person on Thursday, by the way, comes this.
I asked Karen how she knew that I had been wanting one of these. I guess there is always that little piece of you that wants to be popular. In posting about this kind award (created by Roberta Ferguson of Blogging Made Devilishly Simple), I am accepting the following terms:

-Place the badge on your blog.
-Give credit to Roberta.
-Pick 5 rockin’ girls of your choice and add them to the list. (I'll get to that list in a moment.)

As if that weren't enough, I just learned today that Shawna gave me this award:


Someone thinks I'm nice?! *wink* Seriously, though, I am honored to be given this because I do try to be kind and considerate toward others. I don't care what that old saying says; I'd rather finish last while being nice than finish first while being a complete jerk.

Here are the conditions that accompany this badge:

"This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people, good blog friends, and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!"

So here is my list of people to whom I would like to pass these badges of honor.

Rocking Girl/Guy Blogger:

  1. MInTheGap - His conservative values and thought-provoking posts (both at MInTheGap and at Weekend Kindness)are a real encouragement and are sometimes often the proverbial kick in the seat of my pants. (He gets the Awesome Guy Blogger award created at New Blogger.)
  2. Cheryl - She is so busy and is so creative at everything she does. She has just been certified as an interior redesigner and is having me design her new site, Just Heavenly Decor.
  3. Kate - Honest and forthright, Kate blogs passionately about new motherhood and is a great source for plain information about what happens after you have a baby!
  4. Rindy - Her posts range from deeply insightful to journal-style entries of everyday life, but every facet of her blog is enjoyable.
  5. Tracy - I love The Simple Life of the SuperMom (formerly Mom's Niche blog)! She offers such great information and seems to have the whole Mom-blogger thing by the tail.
Nice Matters Award:
  • Karen has become a dear friend and is a wonderful encouragement to me. Thanks!
  • Linda - We share a special friendship, even though with her living in Brazil we will probably never meet in person. It is so nice to be able to talk to someone who "gets" my sense of humor!
  • Holly has been special encouragement to me during a particularly difficult trial. I appreciate her taking the time to help me, even during the midst of moving and finding out about pregnancy complications.
  • Jenn also came alongside during my time of need even though she only knew me from my comments at her blog. She took the time to find my contact information and asked me if I needed a helping hand. That meant so much more than she will probably ever know.
  • Frank is a friendly face in this vast blogosphere and has been for quite some time. I enjoy his parenting insights and have enjoyed even more the exchange of ideas between us. Always courteous and thoughtful, he is training his daughter to be the same.
  • Sho, my sister, my friend. We share so many memories, and it wouldn't be the same if I couldn't talk to you nearly every day.
  • Lizzie is such a great example! She shows such courage in dealing with her circumstances. Her blog is truly inspirational.

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

So Time Flies

clip art courtesy of fotosearch.com

It seems as though time, which had seemingly slowed to a crawl just a little while ago, has decided to make up for lost time (bad pun, I know). These past two weeks have kept me busy, and this next week looks to be no different.

Tuesday is our wedding anniversary. We are going out to eat that night - ALONE, thanks to our friend who offered to watch the girls for us. We're actually going on our trip a little after our anniversary, but we are both really excited, I can assure you!

I am getting ready to start homeschooling Pookie Bear. The target start date is the day after Labor Day. This year is going to be an eclectic mix of materials, but I plan to use Brightly Beaming Resources Letter of the Week as our main curriculum. Some of the extra materials I have accumulated include flashcards, worksheets, two "art" books (the kids get to create such things as paper plate animal masks, which I'm not sure really qualifies as art), and some workbooks and write-on mats that I found in the dollar section of Target. This is certainly going to be an interesting year!

What have you been doing lately?

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Friday, August 17, 2007

More About Life Insurance

When I talked about life insurance last Friday, I only talked about this important issue from the angle of adults needing life insurance. Mr. Incredible and I have life insurance on all of our girls because no one is guaranteed tomorrow - not even babies.

Most often, children qualify for a "life insurance no exam" policy. My girls all have whole life policies - the monthly premium is low because the policies were put in place before any of the girls turned one, and having a whole life policy means that, if for some reason we could no longer afford to insure our girls, we could cash in the policy for at least a return of all premiums paid.

Do you have a life insurance policy on your child? Why or why not?

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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Kiki's Fashions - Stylish Maternity Clothes

shirt photo courtesy of Kiki's Fashions

No, I'm not expecting ... yet. But I thought it would be great to get a new maternity top and jumped on the opportunity to receive one in exchange for a review. The photo above is the product image for the top I received from Kiki's Fashions, which specializes in maternity clothes.

I like Kiki's site - user-friendly with easy navigation, this website is both attractive and functional. I like that the product images, like the one above, are taken using live models rather than mannequins. I also like the photographs that head each category's individual page.

I received my order in good time and with no problem. Even though this company does state that their sizes run a bit smaller than other maternity brands, I decided it was worth taking a chance on placing an order. Unfortunately for me, the XL top I ordered did not even come close to fitting. That, however, is fortunate for my sister, because she is due in September and will certainly benefit from my misfortune. *smile*

As far as the shirt I received, it was accurately pictured at the website. The material was thinner than I had anticipated, and the quality was not as great as I would have liked, but I do love the colors and design of the shirt. I think this shirt is priced fairly well for what I received. For me, most of their tops would need a tank top or other layer underneath for modesty's sake, but they are quite cute.

If you want to look a bit trendier than traditional maternity clothing allows, Kiki's Fashions is definitely a good place to shop. Their designs include tops, bottoms, dresses, and skirts which are designed to flatter your pregnant body.

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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

My Crossroads

I mentioned that I have been thinking hard lately. I actually even posted about one of the biggest areas with which I struggle: housework. However, that it not really the root of the matter. I was reading a book a friend loaned me and came across this passage where two sisters are discussing marriage:

"You've come to a turning point. A decision-making time. Many marriages flounder when the marriage reaches that point. But it's a decision, Virginia. A choice you get to make. What are you going to do with a real marriage? Not a fairy tale. A real marriage. Are you going to throw your heart and soul into it and, with God's help, build a happy and stable home with the man you love? Or are you going to retreat, still wanting to be the little princess on an imaginary throne? [emphasis mine] You can't have it both ways."

"But I love romance."

"Romance? That's when true romance begins. That's when you learn to appreciate romance for what it really is. That's the real beginning - not the end. You get so busy looking for ways to show love that your whole day becomes one exciting opportunity."
- from A Quiet Strength by Janette Oke

That conversation aptly describes my true dilemma: am I going to put myself first or am I going to live for others? Am I going to throw my whole heart and soul into creating a happy home for my husband and my children? You would think that after 8 years of marriage (next week), I would have conquered this problem, but I am finding that the struggle has been intense lately. Perhaps because of my recent salvation?

Whatever the cause, I am becoming ever more aware of how self-centered I really am and how often I procrastinate when I need to do something that I don't enjoy. Frankly, I am quite disgusted with myself because I know that I need an attitude adjustment when it comes to serving my family. I say that I love my family, but I sure don't act like it! I know what I should do, and I know what I want to do, but I simply don't follow through on those good intentions. My family deserves so much better than that.

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Refinancing - One Less Worry

clip art courtesy of fotosearch.com

I have had three major concerns weighing on my mind: preparing for the inevitable hurricane, creating a will, and refinancing our home. I am very happy to say that at least one of those worries is about to be laid to rest for good. We are refinancing our adjustable rate mortgage, and it appears that we will acquire a fixed rate mortgage in about one week.

For us, refinancing was a smart move for a few reasons:
  • refinancing means that we will have an a fixed rate instead of an adjustable rate.
  • the real estate market here continues to be strong; in fact, in one and a half years, our modest home has increased in value by nearly $40k. (Can you believe it?!)
  • due to our home's appreciation, we will no longer have PMI on our loan, which decreases our monthly payment by about $25.
  • we were able to get a lower interest rate than we have with our initial loan.
  • we have no plans to move in the foreseeable future.
Refinancing is not the best option for everyone, Here are two big reasons not to refinance:
  • if you plan to move within five years, you may not have time for your monthly payment savings to recoup the costs associated with your new loan.
  • if you cannot secure an interest rate that is at least two percentage points lower than your current interest rate, odds are high that you will move before being able to recoup the loan's costs. (Apparently, homeowners average length of residence is 6.6 years.)
Also, as a former loan processor, I advise against refinancing for debt consolidation. I understand that some people believe this is their only feasible option, but here are the drawbacks as I see them.
  • The debts that are consolidated into the mortgage are not really paid off. You will continue to pay interest on them for as long as you pay on your new mortgage.
  • Consolidating debts by refinancing means that you borrow more money for the mortgage, which means that the monthly payment will be higher than it would have been had you not used the loan for debt consolidation.
  • Many people who refinance for the purpose of consolidating their debts fail to close accounts with a zero balance. Eventually, most of these people run up a new balance on these accounts, placing themselves in an even worse predicament than they had been in.
I'm very glad to have this worry taken off my mind, and I feel confident that we have done the best thing for our family. If you are considering refinancing, please make sure to conduct the research necessary to be fully informed regarding this important decision.

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Thoughtful Tuesday



"'Tomorrow' is the devil's word; 'today' is God's Word."
- Pastor Dwight Williams

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
- Thomas Jefferson
(found in his 10 rules of comportment which he compiled for his namesake)

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Monday, August 13, 2007

Finding Flowers

I have been thinking hard about some things lately. (My posts this week will expound more on that.) I ended up thinking of an analogy that I would like to share.

I would liken life to a vast garden which encompasses every climate. Sometimes I am in the lushest part of the garden, and sometimes I am in the arid desert with all of its heat and downright misery, but no matter where I happen to be in the garden of life, there are flowers to brighten the landscape. Whether nettle or sweet pea, every plant, no matter how thorny or unappealing, bears a flower which in turn becomes the fruit of which it was but a promise.

When my journey takes me through the richest, most lovely portion of the garden, I quickly notice the beautiful flowers that are so abundant. Life is easy and happy, filled with laughter and peace. Everything is going well.

When, on the other hand, I find myself in the desert, I often have a hard time seeing any beauty in my surroundings. Misery is my companion; everything seems to be going wrong. I sometimes rage silently, wondering why I am traveling through the desert yet again and feeling as though too much has been required of me. I fail to see any beauty or reason for thankfulness in the desert, yet I know that even a cactus bears blossoms.

If I take my eyes off my unpleasant surroundings and seek for the flowers that I know are there, I learn once more that there is beauty in even the most dire of circumstances, but it is only after I shift my focus from the apparent barrenness of my surroundings that I can find the flowers that exist in every circumstance of life.

"For I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

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Friday, August 10, 2007

Life Insurance

I know I have talked before about preparing for the future. Especially if you have a family, preparing for the future is an absolute necessity. In the event of your death, you would not want your family to have to deal with financial woes on top of the emotional difficulties that will surely accompany their loss.

Life insurance is one way to safeguard your family's financial state. I personally favor whole life insurance because it builds cash value which can be borrowed against should you face a dire emergency; however, term life insurance is often much cheaper in the short term and may be the best option for you if your budget is already tight. (You do have a budget, don't you?)

Talk to an insurance agent regarding your specific needs. After you understand what type of policy is best for you and your family, request a quote from several companies and make a selection based on which company best suits the needs of your family.

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Thursday, August 09, 2007

I'm Still Here

... I promise. I've been busy trying to get the house in order, establish a routine (without much success, I'm afraid), finalize our anniversary plans with Mr. Incredible's help (we are going to have so much fun!), gather the necessary supplies for beginning to homeschool Pookie Bear in the fall, ... the list seems endless. I did give Little Fun; Little Learning, my blog focusing on children, to my friend Karen. At least that cuts out one responsibility.

Anyway, I thought I'd give you a quick update since it seems like it has been a very long time since I last posted anything. I wouldn't want you to be worried. *smile* I'll be back soon. Take care of yourself in the meantime.

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Saturday, August 04, 2007

This Kind of Crazy I Like - updated 8/30/2007

Update: well, apparently the saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it is" still holds true. I've removed the links to the contest site because it was apparently, and not surprisingly, a rather effect scam to garner links and boost his Technorati rating. It's annoying when people are dishonest like that, but I didn't lose anything by participating so it could be worse.

We all love receiving freebies, and some of us enjoy giving freebies. Obviously, a few really, really enjoy giving things away! See what I mean:

"Over at A's blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!"

This contest ends August 20. Payment will be made via PayPal. What are you waiting for? I'd definitely jump on this one if I were you. Oh, wait - I just did!

(Hat Tip: Lani of The Wooden Porch)

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Friday, August 03, 2007

Announcements and Updates

clip art courtesy of fotosearch.com

I've been busy lately. Actually, I am always busy! Anyway, I have been meaning to tell you guys about a few things that have been going on with me.

First, for those kind people who may be interested, RS Designs is slowly growing and gaining more exposure. The recent giveaway contest and fundraiser for Parker helped as RS Designs participated in both events. In June (has it already been two months!?), I asked my friend, Linda, to join me at RS Designs. She is not an employee by any definition, so I don't need to purchase payroll software just yet. *smiling* We simply share the site and alternate incoming jobs unless the client specifically requests to work with one of us. I'm really glad to have her working with me, though. It seems "more friendly with two" - to quote a certain lovable Pooh Bear.

Second, I was thrilled when MInTheGap asked me to join the wonderful community of bloggers that he is carefully crafting for another of his blogs, Weekend Kindness. This invitation is a result of MIn's deciding the blog needed a sharper focus.

"...[O]ver the next few weeks you can expect a retooling over here at WK, with more emphasis on loving your spouse, challenges and suggestions of how to meet their needs and surprise them!

We’ll still give you something to try out this weekend, and we’ll still give you some suggestions on how to show your love to your family– and maybe to the general public– but we’ll definitely have a new focus, and more content as well as challenges that talk about families and family life."

I am honored to have been picked to contribute to this blog as an author. I will be posting several times a month. I may do the "over-achiever" bit and write a weekly post - we'll see. You can read my introductory post, a good place to find out how to pronounce my name if you don't already know. The more I read the archives, the more I love this blog, and reading through my fellow-contributor's introductions has whetted my appetite for the insights they are sure to offer.

I also wanted to tell you about two of Linda's blogs: at Making a Happy Life, Linda writes paid posts but also offers Work-At-Home tips for Moms and has compiled a very helpful list of WAH resources. Through her links, I have found freelance sites and forums that I may not have found on my own. Her newest blog, Mama's Coffee Corner, is a cozy blog that invites one in for a chat. I particularly like her idea to feature a different mom blogger each month in her "This Month's Mama" section on her sidebar. Becoming a featured Mama is quite simple; you simply need to link to the post with the instructions.

This has been another one of "those" days, although I must admit I brought this one upon myself: my friend loaned me some books on Thursday, and I became immersed in them today. I read six books of several hundred pages each, and it only took me about six hours. I was deaf and dumb to the real world, a fact which I regretted immensely once I emerged from my fantasy world! *sigh* My point (yes, there is a point here somewhere!) is that I think I wanted to share something else with you, but now I can't remember what it was. Oh, well. I reckon I'll just post it when I finally recall what "it" was.

Have a wonderful weekend, my dear friends!

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Scary Biker or Middle-aged Preacher?

I know that stereotyping people based on outward appearances is foolish, but how often do I find myself doing that very thing? Take, for example, people who ride motorcycles - bikers. I must admit that the sight of a "biker" sends my imagination into overdrive. I carry a mental image that pegs all bikers as "Hell's Angels" decked in leather paired with Wiley X sunglasses, doing drugs, and looking for trouble. In recent years, I have learned how laughable that stereotype actually is.

One of our acquaintances is a soft-spoken, laid-back, rather reserved preacher. Since his temperament is steady and rather unadventurous, I was shocked to learn that he had bought a motorcycle. A motorcycle - him?! Well, there went all my biker preconceptions!

Let this be a lesson to you, Revka. That person you wonder about may not be a scary biker at all; he may just be a middle-aged preacher enjoying the motorcycle he has dreamed of since he was a kid.

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Having Too Much Fun!

That's what the girls and I have been doing lately. That's also why I haven't blogged very much this week.

It all started with Baby Bear's party on Saturday. I invited all the grandparents, cousins, and a couple of friends, but I really thought we would end up with only the grandparents putting in an appearance. However, nearly everyone we invited came - how exciting! After the party, all three girls went home with my mother. She brought them back the next day, and everyone enjoyed the break.

On Tuesday, my sister, her kids, and a couple of her friends all went to the beach and invited the girls and me to meet them there. We did, and we had a wonderful time. It was a strange day, alternating between blazing hot sunshine and cool sprinkles of rain, but it made for nice beach weather.

Wednesday was not fun at all. In fact, it was a nightmare-turned-reality. Suffice it to say that I dealt with smeared po*p, a broken home theatre system (I did find out how to correct that problem - a huge relief after dealing with the PS2 disaster!), and water everywhere. I dealt with several other problems, but those were the biggest. The water was a result of the girls playing with our kitchen faucet. Usually, they turn on our bathroom faucets, which is why they are discouraged from being in the bathroom for anything other than baths or necessary "bodily functions."

Yesterday, thank God, was a great day. We spent the whole day with some other friends. The kids played in the little kiddie pool and on the family's trampoline. They had invited us to stay for lunch, and we were pleasantly surprised to be fed grilled steaks and NY strip, butter beans, baked potatoes, rolls, and individual cherry cheesecake tarts. It was a wonderful meal, and, to top it all off, the family told me to ask Mr. Incredible to stop by on his lunch break if he had time. He had time and did stop. So nice! I was getting the girls ready to go home after lunch, not wanting to overstay our welcome, but the lady of the house expressed her disappointment that we were leaving "so soon," stating that she had expected us to stay all day. So we settled back in and did stay all day. Friends are wonderful!

How has your week been going?

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Thursday, August 02, 2007

My Thoughts and Prayers Are with You

My sympathy and prayers are with all who were impacted by the Minneapolis, MN bridge collapse. I pray for the injured to have a quick return to health and for comfort for the grieving families of those who have been killed in this tragedy.

My thoughts and prayers are also with our friends as the husband lost his grandfather yesterday morning. Please pray for our friend and his family. The grandfather was not a Christian, which makes this loss even harder.

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Wednesday, August 01, 2007

I'm Experimenting - Fixed!

If you view my blog in IE, I apologize for the way it looks right now. I am attempting to figure out how to get the middle column of my 3-column layout to load first, and IE does not like the fix I have found so far. Firefox does just fine - love that browser! I'll let you know when everything is back to normal.

Updated: After much research and even more frustration, I have found the solution, and my IE readers will now see everything as I intended. Thank you to Joshuaink and Position Is Everything for their detailed explanations! I could not have fixed this without your clear directions that even a novice like myself can understand.

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