Someone please tell me what politics is coming to in this country? A new chapter in the Hillary vs. Obama fight for the nomination has been brough to my attention. Superdelegates are famous people (ex-presidents, sentors, etc) that are allowed to vote for the Democratic nomination and by casting their support one way or the other, can help influence the common vote. Due to affirmative action Obama as a black man will get anyway from half to all of the superdelegate votes that have not already been pledged. Hillary on the other hand wants at least 23 of the votes that have not already been pledged because she is a woman and women are paid on average 23 cents per dollar less than men.

Apparently the candidates are now taking rules orginially passed with the intention of protecting a group of people (not I used the word intention here, I do not believe that Affirmative Action or the modern version of Women's Rights are remotely helpful) and are using them to prevert the will of roughly half of the American people. For more see here...

Whatever happened to the concept first of statesmen? Not professional politicians but statesmen. I think that perhaps Stephan A. Douglas was one of the last. Do you know what happened when he lost the race for President to Abraham Lincoln on November 6, 1860. He spent the remaining 7 months till his death on June 6, 1861, traveling all over the South in an attempt to convince the states that session wasn't the answer. He made alot of pragmatic decisions, while trying to be everything to everyone, but in the end, he worked himself to death in an attempt to save the Union, not caring that it was going to be the end of his political career. That's the difference in a statesman and a politician, one does what is right, what is best for his country, and the other only does what will get him into and keep him in office.

Now, I don't believe that this country is or should be a democracy, however, without true statesmen I don't believe that a republic will (or perhaps even should) long endure. This country was founded as a Republic. One that would take into consideration the peoples wishes and ideas, but be governed by a knowledgable and ultimately responsible elite. Those who could and would take the time to be informed on all issues and to act on issues in the way that was moral right and of greatest benifit to this country. Those men (and occasionally their influential and outspoken wives) were not by any means in agreement on all the issues, but it was a different mindset. This was put into place, because it was easy to see that democracy will lead to mob rule without checks just as an elite few ruling can quickly turn into a dictatorship of the rich and powerful. This was done because it was understood that for the most part the people would not or could not make good decisions because they were not informed. Let's be brutally honest, do we take the time to indepthly explore all the issues and come to a decision based on what is right and what is best for this country?

However, if we are going to follow democratic tendancies in this country (little d means type of government as opposed to big D being a party) the people should be allowed their choice. That means not thwarting their opinion by rediculous laws like affirmative action. All affirmative action is today, had has been for several decades now, is reverse descrimination. You have two kids equal in all respects trying to get into college, who do you take the white kid or the black. Colleges will take the black, because they are required to fullfil a racial quota. I believe that women and men in the workplace who do equal work should receive equal pay; however, my question becomes if their quality of work is equal. I don't care what gender, race, or anything else you are you desire to be rewarded based on your merits, not your condition.

My father taught me that work ethic was important. No matter how I was being treated, how much I was being paid, who my boss was, that whatever job I had I was to do to the very best of my ability, because my contract wasn't based on those other things, it was agreed that I would fullfil all of these requirements and be paid x amount. The role of President is no different. You present your merits to the people, and they make a decision hopefully based on what is morally right, and what is best for this country. They won't all agree, but when it's over you play by the rules.

As I finished reading Mandfield Park last night (to myself, not aloud), I have one final observation, before happily returning to the year 2008. Fanny is a delightful character. While, sometimes you want her to grow up a little and get a harder skin, she is amazingly gentle and thinks nothing of herself. Our main problem in life isn't that we think too poorly of ourselves, but that we think too much of ourselves. Infact, that's pretty much what Bro. Buddy preached on a few weeks ago. Reading of how Fanny never thinks enough of herself to be offended reminds me of a verse, Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

(This is found in Chapter 2, or Volume I, Chapter II)
Fanny, with all her faults of ignorance and timidity, was fixed at Mansfield Park, and learning to transfer in its favour much of her attachment to her former home, grew up there not unhappily among her cousins. There was no positive ill–nature in Maria or Julia; and though Fanny was often mortified by their treatment of her, she thought too lowly of her own claims to feel injured by it.

(This is found in Chapter 28 or Volume II, Chapter X)
She had hoped to have William all to herself the last morning. It would have been an unspeakable indulgence. But though her wishes were overthrown, there was no spirit of murmuring within her. On the contrary, she was so totally unused to have her pleasure consulted, or to have anything take place at all in the way she could desire, that she was more disposed to wonder and rejoice in having carried her point so far, than to repine at the counteraction which followed.

For Christmas, Mother gave me all of Jane Austin's works, a set of books, often checked out of our public library, but someone never personally acquired by myself. There is an excelent observation that she makes on reading in Mansfield Park (Chapter 37 or Volume III, Chapter III, depending on your book). The first quote is about the skillful reading of Shakespeare by Mr. Crawford for the first time in many years, and the second quote is on the woeful state of reading aloud by the country at large. I only observe this to say 1) what sad condition does a nation fall into which has no skill at reading, and 2) what a wonderful gift it is.

Crawford took the volume. “Let me have the pleasure of finishing that speech to your ladyship,” said he. “I shall find it immediately.” And by carefully giving way to the inclination of the leaves, he did find it, or within a page or two, quite near enough to satisfy Lady Bertram, who assured him, as soon as he mentioned the name of Cardinal Wolsey, that he had got the very speech. Not a look or an offer of help had Fanny given; not a syllable for or against. All her attention was for her work. She seemed determined to be interested by nothing else. But taste was too strong in her. She could not abstract her mind five minutes: she was forced to listen; his reading was capital, and her pleasure in good reading extreme. To good reading, however, she had been long used: her uncle read well, her cousins all, Edmund very well, but in Mr. Crawford’s reading there was a variety of excellence beyond what she had ever met with. The King, the Queen, Buckingham, Wolsey, Cromwell, all were given in turn; for with the happiest knack, the happiest power of jumping and guessing, he could always alight at will on the best scene, or the best speeches of each; and whether it were dignity, or pride, or tenderness, or remorse, or whatever were to be expressed, he could do it with equal beauty. It was truly dramatic. His acting had first taught Fanny what pleasure a play might give, and his reading brought all his acting before her again; nay, perhaps with greater enjoyment, for it came unexpectedly, and with no such drawback as she had been used to suffer in seeing him on the stage with Miss Bertram.

Edmund watched the progress of her attention, and was amused and gratified by seeing how she gradually slackened in the needlework, which at the beginning seemed to occupy her totally: how it fell from her hand while she sat motionless over it, and at last, how the eyes which had appeared so studiously to avoid him throughout the day were turned and fixed on Crawford—fixed on him for minutes, fixed on him, in short, till the attraction drew Crawford’s upon her, and the book was closed, and the charm was broken. Then she was shrinking again into herself, and blushing and working as hard as ever; but it had been enough to give Edmund encouragement for his friend, and as he cordially thanked him, he hoped to be expressing Fanny’s secret feelings too.

...

The subject of reading aloud was farther discussed. The two young men were the only talkers, but they, standing by the fire, talked over the too common neglect of the qualification, the total inattention to it, in the ordinary school–system for boys, the consequently natural, yet in some instances almost unnatural, degree of ignorance and uncouthness of men, of sensible and well–informed men, when suddenly called to the necessity of reading aloud, which had fallen within their notice, giving instances of blunders, and failures with their secondary causes, the want of management of the voice, of proper modulation and emphasis, of foresight and judgment, all proceeding from the first cause: want of early attention and habit; and Fanny was listening again with great entertainment.

I haven't posted in sometime other than the prayer request, because other than being sick, there really hasn't been much going on. However, today something exciting came in the mail, a big box of cds that I ordered.

We recently had to buy a new computer. The old one finally took all the stress it could take, and will no longer manage all the programs that I need it to for work. One of the more annoying things that it did in it's last few months of life, is that it got into a fight with my itunes while looking for more space, and deleted one of the folders. Leaving me with alot of music that had to be completely reloaded. The one minor problem is that I had a number of cds that friends had loaded on for me to check out, or that I loaded on to it that actually belonged to my brothers. My thinking was that if I actually liked the stuff I would eventually get around to buying the cds, and if not I just deleted it off. In reality, I haven't managed to buy that many of the cds, and now I'm almost musicless.

The biggest loss was that it erased most of my Contempory Christian, which in my experience is harder to find on cds in stores. The best of that stuff was pretty much every cd that Third Day put out. I orginally got all of these from my dear friend (who is no longer South of me) when I first started listening to some of this type of music. Happily I ordered them all (at a discounted rate) from their website last week and they arrived today. The one downer, I couldn't order Southern Tracks, because it was a limited release in 1999. Maybe I need to borrow it... :)

On another note, I was able to see MercyMe in concert on Saturday night at the Strawberry Festival, it was pretty amazing. They even sang So Long Self (you know the one from the previous post.)

First, Bro. Buddy went home yestserday. He is still pretty tired, but they have him on some pain medication, some antibotics for the infections, and are planning to do a colonoscopy in six weeks. They were not able to do one in the hospital already because they were afraid of rupturing his colon.

Secondly, Mom continues to inprove. Today she is going to town, getting out of the house and driving on her own for the first time since the surgery. She's already ordered all of us to stop bringing her food, and carry it to the Abernathy's instead.

Nextly, the plague has been going around down here, aka some version of the flu/stomache bug. Several have been sick last week I was sick for about 12 hours, and was feeling tired in the morning until this morning. Gary was pretty sick for a couple of days. Abel has been sick for about a week, and as of last night Sara seems to have caught it. (I've moved on to the Abernathy's now.) Hopefully everyone will be back to normal in the next few days.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would remember Bro. Buddy in your prayers. It appears that he has had a relapse of the diverticulitis, that he had back several weeks ago, or perhaps it never really healed. He has an infection now, and isn't feeling well at all. He's had alot of pain and they have him on morphine right now in the hospital. They are planning to run a colonoscopy and a few other test in the morning, and hope that he will be ready to go home by Saturday, but we'll see.

As for an update on Mom. Thanks for all your prayers, she's already doing more than she is suppose to. She went home yesterday morning, and is feeling much better than she did before. The doctors told her that she was luck that they took care of everything when they did, because she had alot more cyst than they orginially thought. Of course, she had to correct them and tell them that she was blessed. :)

I'm a little sad to be saying good bye to "Bound." I've been saying since we've gotten married, that the blogspot needs to be overhauled to represent both of us. After month upon months, we finally found a verse that Gary liked enough to put on the blogspot. So now we are Joy or something like that, in the nice blues and browns that my hubby requested.

It seems a little sad to be changing everything over finally. I started Bound a couple of years ago while I was in college; and we have delayed the completion many papers together in that time, and pondered over alot since then too. Oh well, they say that all good things must come to an end, so "Goodbye Bound, I'm going to miss you!"

I have been so homesick the last week or so. I'm really over due for a trip home, as I haven't been since Thanksgiving. I was hoping to go a few weeks ago but car problems, postponed that. Now I keep trying to tell myself that I can wait until Grandma's wedding and just plan to stay a little longer than Gary.

However, it's seems like everything is reminding me of home these days. The azaleas are in full bloom, and we had alot of those in the yard at home. Mother had one redbud tree and I saw one of those blooming yesterday. We have several dogwood trees in our yard (four I think). I'm sure you can guess what I saw blooming this morning. Yep, dogwoods.

I wish we could move back to Alabama. Not that I don't love Gary and Little Union, if it wasn't for the two of them, there would be absolutely no reason to live here. Does anyone else have this problem?

In case you haven't heard, Jay and Amber's baby Nathan has arrived. For more info, just read what the proud dad had to say about it.

Gary's mother will be having surgery tomorrow morning, 8:30 eastern time. Please remember her in your prayers, that all goes well and she'll have a speedy recovery. Thanks bunches.

We had a very good weekend at the FFM last weekend. Little Zion hosted it, and they are currently without a pastor. They had it at the Ramada Inn in Kissimee. They did an amazing job, they put alot of work and money into the meeting up front and they don't have that many members. They didn't want to hand the meeting off, because they wanted the blessing of holding it, and I believe that the Lord blessed their faith. We had a great time visiting with a lot of people, but the best part was services. I think that my favorite two where Doff Painter's "Six Ground Types" and Bro. Lonnie's "God the Gardener."

Bro. Painter started in Hebrews 11 talking about Moses. He laid out Moses as an example for us. Moses starts out as a benificiary of his parents faith. Because they had faith in God, and didn't fear men, he was saved in that he lived. Next he will walk away from a cushy life in Egypt refusing to be called the son of Pharoh's daughter, and later leaves Egypt all together and benifits in a closer walk with God. When he shows further faith in keeping the passover he saves his family namely his son and his older brother. Finally his faith will save the people of Isreal. He used it as a great example of how the faith we exercise, as it becomes more mature, we gain blessings from God for ourselves, our families, and even out community. I really liked the way that he explained it. Next he went on to explain that if we charted Moses's faith on a graph it wouldn't be a straight shot upward. There were dips. There were times when he doubted and sined: in killing the Egyptian, in telling God he couldn't/wouldn't lead his people, in failing to circumstize his son, etc. He compared those dips to the 6 ground types in Mark 4. He gave examples in his life of each, and then told us that we are to be striving for 100 fold. It was a really good sermon.

Then Bro. Lonnie preached two sermons that I really loved. In the first one he gave this great imagery of how Satan was hoping to take away the one thing that meant the most to God, his son. He talked about how he planned and schemed and then when he thought that he won, Jesus did the one thing that Satan never saw coming, He forgave everyone. Bro. Lonnie did a great job with it. The sermon I most liked though was the one that he preached about God being a Gardner. He talked about how God loves a Garden and how He finds joy in the beautiful (Song of Solomon 5:1). Then he how we were a plant grown up in Him, and as such are we just going to take up space or bear fruit? He then went on and told us that the whole reason that we are to bear fruit, is because it gives God great joy. Like a grandbaby brings a grandparent great joy. He reminded us that the whole world is God's and it and we are only here for His pleasure. Aunt Joanna and I talked about the sermon some afterwords, and we both agreed that we had never really thought about being able to please God and bringing Him that kind of joy.

Next year it is our turn to hold it at Little Union so ya'll will have to come down! It's February 13, 14, and 15 so put it on your calendar, because Gary wants to have a houseful.

The messages preached were:
Elder John Yadamec: Perspective of man vs. Perspective of God
Elder Doug Meeks: 'Consider'
Elder JC Stanaland: Environment in which the early church prospered
Elder Mike Green: How many will be in Heaven?
Elder Lonnie Mozingo Jr.: Being subject/obedient to civil authority
Elder Daniel Woods: Good in HIS sight
Elder Dolph Painter: Doctrine of Circumcision
Elder Charles Kitchens: The word of God is for God's children
Elder JC Stanaland: Men in the Bible who did not persevere
Elder Dolph Painter: Six Ground Types (Parable of the Sower)
Elder Lonnie Mozingo Jr.: God the Gardener
Elder John Yadamec: Godly habits vs. Rituals
Elder Charles Kitchens: The New Creature
Elder Daniel Wood: Christ~ the husband of one bride
Elder Doug Meeks: The New Birth
Elder Doug Meeks: God is not mocked (Reap what you sow)

If anyone wants a copy of any of the sermons talk to Sis. Kelly as she and Bro. Jim are in charge of all that good stuff.

I don't know how many of you might listen to Contempary Christian music out there. I listened to it a great deal when I was in Florence, but until last week, I hadn't found a station down here that actually comes in remotely clearly on my radio. Today I got my itunes working again, so I flip on Mercy Me.

Today Bro. Buddy talked about the proper view we should have of ourselves, in contrast of the self-esteem that the world says we need more of. One of the things he mentioned was the the old man and the new don't live in a truce, that it's an active war going on, every day. Then he went on to tell us that we have to make an active decision and work daily to put off the old man, and to follow that new nature. So when the song basically said the same thing in places I was very happy. I like those sorts of connections, in everyday life.

I think the songs pretty funny too, because the song is this happy jont about trying to get rid of the not so pretty side of us described in Romans 3. Plus the music video is just funny, cause they keep trying to lock their evil side in side rooms, and leave them. haha.

So Long Self by Mercy Me

Well if I come across a little bit distant
It's just because I am
Things just seem to feel a little bit different
You understand
Believe it or not but life is not apparently
About me anyways
But I have met the One who really is worthy
So let me say

Chorus:
So long, self
Well, it's been fun, but I have found somebody else
So long, self
There's just no room for two
So you are gonna have to move
So long, self
Don't take this wrong but you are wrong for me, farewell
Oh well, goodbye, don't cry
So long, self

Stop right there because I know what you're thinking
But no we can't be friends
And even though I know your heart is breaking
This has to end
And come to think of it the blame for all of this
Simply falls on me
For wanting something more in life than all of this
Can't you see

Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away

Wouldn't that be a great kids name? Ok, probably not, but it would have to be better than having a third Gary Britt. Ok, maybe not.

Pardon for the order of things on the blog spot. I really am going to be getting back to all the sermons from this past weekend, but I would really like to share Bro. Buddy's Wednesday night sermon with you all.

First he gave us a little bit of an overview so that we could place Nehemiah in the right time frame. God made the earth in 7 days about 6,000 years ago. The world was destroyed in a flood about 2,000 years after that, and only Noah and his family were saved. Then came Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Joseph (Jacob's son) was sold into bondage, and eventually God placed him in a position where he could provide for his family when famine came. Jacob and his family went down into Egypt where they stayed for 400 years in bondage. Moses led the people out and after 40 years of disobedience in the wilderness Joshua led them into the Promise Land. During this time they never conquered all of the land that God was to give them, and they never obeyed him in destroying the other peoples and not intermarrying. First, they were ruled by judges, and then they got to wanting kings like everyone else. They have a few good kings, but mostly bad ones rule. Then because they have disobeyed God for so long, they are carried away to captivity and spend 70 years in Babylon. Only a few will return in three waves: first, 42,000 under Zerubbabel, 1,700 under Ezra, and finally some under Nehemiah.

The lesson last night was about rebuilding. As a Primitive Baptist, I have long heard of how great things once were in Zion. I grew up on stories where there were so many at meetings that windows were open and people sat outside just to hear the preaching. We pray for a reviving in spirit and in numbers in Spiritual Isreal. If there was ever a chance for Isreal as a nation to turn over a new leaf and seek God once again, it was here in the rebuilding after Babylonian exile. However, you can read Ezra 9 to see that the people have returned back to the sins that lead to exile to start with. In chapter 10, Ezra prays to the Lord, and the people turn back to God, preventing further punishment.

However when you start in Nehemiah (1:1-3) you find out that the walls are still down and the gates burned with fire. This was about as low as it could get, with out strong walls and gates the city could never be safe. So Nehemiah, hearing this report prays and desires to be used by God to be part of the solution. Skip on over to 4:10, and once Nehemiah gets there the people are simple overwhelmed. They are not only discouraged, but they are too tired to build, and they can't build until the rubbish is removed. Likewise today we need strong walls to protect us from the influence of the world. In verse 11 it goes on to tell us not only is there a bunch of rubbish in the way, and everyone is tired, but there enemies have plans to over run them and kill them all. So how then do they manage to build 2 1/2 miles of wall in 2 months?

First, in verse 14, Nehemiah tells them to not be afraid of men, but to remember that they have a great and terrible God. They have a God that is greater than their enemies. A God that is on their side. So they are instructed to fight for their breathren. We need to stand up, even when we are discouraged, tired, and feel at a complete loss to do anything else and fight for our those we hold dear, because their welfare is at stake, instead of thinking about ourselves. There is a time to fight for what's important to keep from losing those we love to a life that will only end in misery.

Later on in Nehemiah 8:1-8, the people as one person (in one mind, in one accord) return back to the Lord. They stand when the scriptures are read, and have a new respect and a new understanding of God's word as their only guide for how to live. We need to be like that.

These two things, being willing to sacrifice themselves for others and put God's way/word first enable them to build the wall. In Nehemiah 12:43, they build the wall and give great sacrifices. They worship the Lord in joy of what he will do. We have it much easier, we can look back, and say that the Lord did it all. That he came, and did what he meant to do, and all that is left for us is to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, not because we need to do something to get to heaven, but because we are greatful that the Lord did it all. Their joy was so great that many heard them afar off.

I want that. What about you?

I just wanted to let everyone know that Sara, Rachel, and I have decided to start the grand hobby of quilting. Hannah has graciously agreed to document the journey in pictures on the following blogspot...

http://www.sistersandstitches.blogspot.com/

We are planning to quilt on Tuesdays so there should be weekly updates. Wish us luck.

I personally hate Valentine's Day. It seems to be an excuse for a fella to be nice to his lady once a year. It takes all of the surprise out of getting flowers, dinner, or anything else for no reason. However, it's something Gary likes to do, so I broke down and let him. Just before midnight on Wed, we were sitting up and hungry, so Gary was going to eat a pizza and asked me what I wanted. I replied with my classic biscuits and bacon. Just past midnight this is what he came back with...
Then when I woke up that morning, he had left me an impatient, Reese's, and a Dr. Pepper. I love impatients, they aren't my favorite flower, but they are one of the flowers that my mother plants every year in big pots on either side of the front steps. I was hoping for some for our new apartment patio. I really miss being at home and alot of our flowers and trees, so it was very sweet. Then after work he came home and fixed shrimp alfredo (gotsta be my favorite) and even decorated it all up parsley and a red, paprika heart. I should have taken a picture of it too. We spent a quiet evening cuddled up on the couch watching some tv. It was pretty awesome.

We were led astray by an under shepard this weekend. Brittany and Bethany's blog have plenty of incrimidating pictures, but I'll be happy to share some of the stories, from John's green pants to his experience with my neice, poor child she'll never recover I'm sure.

The sisters always make a point to clean either every Monday or every other. However, several were sick today. Mom is sick, and she thinks Brystal might be sick. Sis. Kelly is sick and so is Brady. So the sisters decided not to clean today. However, since I was already at the Abernathy's and had Gary's church key, me, Sara, Rachel, Lydia, Chole, and Abel went on to go clean.

As Saturday night has drawn to a close I can say that this has been one blessed weekend in all ways. God has been good to us.

Also while there will be more to follow, I am proud to say I am the first to post. Hahaha, I beat you all to the first post about the meeting.

I am very unhappy right now.

Gary's car has had two problems in a month. The brakes were pretty much gone, so they had to be replaced, and a there were a few other complications. Gary managed to talk him down from $400 to $260, but still. Also, Gary had to get new tires several months ago and they either bent his rim or it was bent and they didn't tell him. The rim has been letting air out of the tire so that he's had to fill it up more often than usual. He had been planning to get a new rim, but Monday it wouldn't hold air at all, he didn't make it all the way to work. Phil, one of the brothers from El Bethel Church in Tampa, happened to have a tire and rim the right size in so, Gary's going to be picking it up from him last night for just $50.

However, when Gary arrived to change out the tire this morning the car had been towed. It's not like we abandoned the car, we had a flat. It was Tuesday before we could find a tire and rim, then it was Wednesday before we could get it from Phil. They towed it Tuesday evening late, after Gary checked on it. Now it's going to cost us another $200 to get it back, and they notified the insurance company and the bank the loan is from. Why? What purpose did that serve?

I suppose we should have left it, even over night, but it was in a well lit parking lots, with several other cars around. This is just most annoying and means that I won't be able to go home next week now, because the money has to be used elsewhere.

Katie Beth is getting married Sept. 20th. Am I the last person to find out? Anyone know her email address, email me so I can write her.

So we didn't make it to church tonight, sadly. Tonight at six was the only appointment that Gary could get for us to get our taxes done.

I've never had someone do my taxes. The first year I worked, Daddy helped me file them. We've always done them ourself so this is new. I feel kinda guilty for all the deductions they found. Like I'm ripping someone off or something. For example, internet and and my cell phone was writen off for business, but in reality neither one is primarily for business.

Are these legitimate? What are your thoughts.

Well, it's almost completely official. Gary and I are moving at the end of March/beginning of April. We've been scouting around looking at apartment prices just to see how we are looking. We decided if we could find something cheaper than the $839 we are paying now, that would be great, since we always need more money. :)

I was pretty much thinking we might find alittle difference in price, something Carlton might be willing to match, since they are panicing at the number of empty apartments. However, we found too good of a deal to pass up. It's $75 less than we are paying now, and $125 less than Carlton's equivanlent. It's an apartment at Hunter's Ridge on the ground floor, facing the lake.

It's really good for Gary in that it is about 2 minutes from work literally, and that means he's home sooner and can sleep later and might even be able to come home for lunch alot. It's sad for me because I really like Lakeland much better, I'm finally comfortable with shopping here, and I like being about 10 minutes from half a dozen churchy friends.

Gary laughed at me, and pointed out, that we can't sit at the Lakeland table at church during lunch anymore. Sniff, sniff.

Every good meal has a desert at the end (or in my husband's case, in the beginning). Grandmother always has desert anytime we come over, often times she just has a feeling that one of us will be by, and has just made something that afternoon. My favorite of all of her deserts must be her peanut butter pie. One of the best things about this recipe is it is very low fat/sugar/etc. but you can't tell the difference (not even Gary).

1 Cup of Splenda
1 12 oz container of Light Cool Whip
1/3 Cup of Peanut Butter (chunky, reduced caleries)
1 3 oz package of Fat Free Cream Cheese
1 Reduced Fat Graham Cracker Crust

Mix cream cheese and peanut butter together, add splenda and cool whip until mixed well. Pour into pie shell and chill. (Grandmother's note: It's better to fix it the day or night before, to let it chill a really long time. You can also sprinkle crushed graham cracker crumbs on top of pie, and/or sprinkly chocolate chunks in or on top of pie.)

Now I better go and get everyone else recipes copied down for my recipe box.

First of all, I'm sorry to the TLCers out there, since I've posted mostly recipes from my thing last month.

Second, everyone should know that I am not a good cook. I'm simply terrified of recipes that I've not tried before without someone standing right next to me. Oh and if you are suppose to eye something and not measure it, just forget it! That said, I'm trying to be a better cook and get more comfortable with it. When Gary and I first got married, this was about the only thing I could cook with any confidence, infact we would eat it at least twice a week. Grandmother's notes are in parentheses and mine are bolded. Enjoy!

Oven Fried Chicken
4 Pieces of your favorite chicken parts (I usually use leg quarters)
{note: often I cook skinless, boneless breast, sometimes I use tenders, you can use any chicken you like.}
Small Amount of milk and 1 egg
{note: the idea is for this to stick to the chicken, you don’t want it too soupy, and for more chicken you use more eggs.}
Ritz Crackers (Crushed)
Salt and Pepper to taste

After Washing and cleaning the skinless chicken, line baking pan (dark metal pan is better) with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Mix together: beaten egg, milk, salt, and pepper. Dip the chicken in the egg mixture then roll in crushed Ritz crackers. {note: Grandmother always use to say that it was easier to crush the Ritz crackers by dumping them in a Ziploc bag and rolling them with a rolling pin. She said it was an easy and quick way to be sure that all of your crackers where crumbled evenly without complete pulverizing them.} Layer the chicken in your pan lined with foil and sprayed with non-stick spray. Sprinkle any left over cracker crumbs over the chicken. Then spray over the chicken with non-stick spray. Bake uncovered in pre-heated oven on 350 degrees for about an hour or until done and golden brown. {note: Chicken tenders only take about 35 minutes or so.}

No meal is complete without bread in some form or fashion. If you are like me you usually resort to canned cresent rolls or frozen buscuits. Unlike my father I don't have that biscuit touch, and anytime I have tried to make them they are HORRIBLY flat and hard. More like hard tack that's been at sea for years than real light fluffy biscuits. However, this recipe (once again from my fantastic Grandmother) cannot be messed up. Enjoy.

1 cup of Flour
1/2 cup of Milk
2 teas. of Sugar
1 teas. of mayonnaise
1 pat (just a sm. amount) of Butter in each muffin tin.

Mix the flour, milk, sugar, and mayonnaise together and put evenly in a 6 space muffin tin. Bake on 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Makes 6 rolls.

This is one of my favorite reciepes that Mother makes, she got it from Grandmother. It's great to carry to church or have for family gatherings.

20 oz of Frozen chopped Broccoli
1 cup of Rice
1 large onion
2 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 1/2 cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese (medium or sharp is best)
save 1/2 cup to go on top

Cok Rice according to direction on package. Cook broccoli and drain well. Saute onion in a little margarine and mix all ingrediants together. Put in a buttered casserole dish (9x11) inches. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Yeilds 10 servings. This casserole may also be prepared and frozen if you wanted to make it ahead of time. Take out and let thaw at room temperature before baking.

Any good meal general starts with some sort of appitizer or soup or salad. So here is my first entry in the week long recipe sharing.

Dressing:
2 T. sesame seeds
1 T. poppy seeds
1 T. minced onion
1/4 c. distilld white vinegar
1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 c. white sugar
1/4 teas. Worcestershire sause
1/4 teas. paprika

Mix all and chill. You will need to make up the homemade dressing before hand and it is great! The less time that you leave it to cool in the fridge the more paprika you will taste and the longer you leave it in the more sweet and tame it will be. I would suggest roughly an hour but not alot more.

Salad:
about 10 oz. of spinach: rinsed, dried, and torn
about 1 quart of strawberries: cleaned and sliced
1/4 c. of blanced, slivered almonds or of honey roasted almonds

Toss together and serve with dressing. I like to just buy a bag of spinach and dump it in a bowl, means even less work. The Walmart bags and Winn-Dixie bags are 9 oz. so I don't use quite 10 oz. Also depending on how much you like almonds you can add a little more.

Enjoy one incredibly healthy salad!

Saturday night Gary and I finished reading the Old Testament together I am so excited!!!

Something that we have done that makes a world of difference in our attitude toward each other and a stronger couple is that we study the Bible together. I'm not positive but I don't think Gary has ever read the Bible all the way through, and while I have tried several times, I never seem to make it. Joshua is about the furtherest I've read.

This habit started when we were dating. To learn more about each other we often asked the other what's your favorite verses, book, song, and why. We even studied the book of Ruth together over the phone over a couple of nights.

We got married on July 7th, but on the 1st we started reading together 5 psalms a night and one chapter of proverbs. The night before we got married I had to read it over the phone, and we talked about it and Gary said prayer before we got off. We had finished both books by the end of July and started at the beginning of the Bible. We haven't read every night but we try to not forget, and sometimes read double the next night to make up. We talk about what we've read and Gary always says prayer before we go to bed and sometimes I add things at the end if he forgets.

I guess I'm just so happy to have a husband to study with and to encourage me. We are hoping to be finished by July. Then we think we might study some topics together.

We all know that I have about a billion cats hanging out back here so they need names to be registered spayed and all of that stuff. So I'm annoucing a game/contest/whatever to come up with interesting cat names. Here are the exciting divisions...

Biblical Names
For example...
Silas and Paw

Siamese Names

Female Names

Male Names

Remember funny is good, very good.

(Warning: Sis. Kelly inspired this post and as a result is probably already ahead in the crazy Biblical Names)

Why I Love Country MusicBy Jeff Foxworthy 2007 CMT Awards

I like country music because it’s about the things in life that really matter. It ain’t about braggin about how your gonna mess somebody up or about how somebody ain’t respectin ya. It’s about love, family, friends, with a few beers…. With a cheap woman and two timin’ man thrown in for spice.

It doesn’t take political sides even on things as ugly as war. Instead it celebrates the men and women who go to fight em, the price they pay to do it, and the longing we have for them to return home to the ones that they love.

It’s about kids and how there ain’t nothing like em. I get tired of hearin about how bad kids are today because there are a lot of great kids out there that just need somebody to love em and believe in em. Country folks love their kids and they will jack you up if you try to mess with em.

People in country music don’t forget the people that allowed them to do what they do for a living. They sign autographs and they take pictures with the fans because they know without em, most of us entertainers would be getting a lot dirtier in the course of our workday. We are thankful that people want to hear the songs and the jokes that we write.

Country music doesn’t have to be politically correct. We sing about God because we believe in Him. We’re not trying to offend anybody, but the evidence that we have seen of him in our small little lives trumps your opinion about whether or not He exists.

We love country music because it touches us where we live. It’s about mammas. and when they were hot, and when they are unappreciated and when they were dying.

It’s about daddies and the difficulties they have telling the people they work so hard to protect and provide for how they feel about them.

Country music is about new love and it’s about old love. It’s about getting drunk and it’s about getting sober. It’s about leavin’ and it’s about comin’ home. It’s real music, sung by real people FOR real people. The people that make up the back bone of this country.

You can call us rednecks if you want, we’re not offended, ‘cause we know what we are all about. We get up and go to work, we get up and go to church and we get up and go to war when necessary.

All we ask for is a few songs to carry us along the way and that’s why I love this show (the CMT music awards.) Because it ain’t some self-important Hollywood hype where the winners are determined by somebody else. On this show, YOU decide who goes home with the trophy and YOU get to dance and sing along with the people that bring you the songs of your life.

So I didn't intend to type out the whole weekends worth of sermons (see last post), though I feel like I easily could. It will suffice to say we had a marvelously blessed time. Saturday morning we heard another pretty awesome sermon on John 6 and what it means in verse 53 to eat and drink of the flesh of Jesus. To try to be very short he explained that this doesn't refer to literally or to communion, but that we are like a baby in the mother's womb. That child is passive in that it can't care for itself, but that it draws nurishment from it's mother, it is eatting and drinking from it's mother. Likewise we are to be in Christ and he in us. He is the Bread of Life and for us to continue daily, and get our daily grace we need to make it. It was one good sermon.

Then all Saturday afternoon after lunch, me and Gary, Sara and Rachel, and Justin all hung out at Jim and Kelly's house. We sung songs, we talked and generally had a great time. Saturday night we ate at church again, then we had communion. It was very special. I got to wash Mom's feet for the first time (Gary's mother). Everyone was expressing the encouragement and help they get from one another. It was especially touching to watch Abby (who is seven) going around to wash everyone's feet she could. She asked her mother if it was ok to wash more than one person's feet because there were lots of people she wanted to serve, and Sis. Kerry told her that she didn't think that we ever got too clean to not need our feet washing so that would be ok. I counted five different people who's feet she went around washing.

Then Sunday morning Bro. J.C. stayed and preached another sermon about what it meant to become the Sons of God. Several years ago, Bro. Randy preached on that topic for two months straight. But as always, I heard somethings in a new way that make things even more clear to me.

Then after lunch on Sunday something very special happened. Alot of Sunday afternoons, some of us older kids (mostly the teenagers plus me and Gary) go back into the Church and sing songs, or work on hymns and stuff. Well, as I was carrying my lunch out to the car, what did I see but the little ones mimiacing us. There were seven of them in there together, taking turns leading. Katie Sue (4) started singing "All hail the power of Jesus name" where she didn't know the lyrics she sung la la la to the tune. Then Abbey picked out a song, and she and a couple of the older ones who can actually read, would sing the verses and they would all sing the chorus together. We were all shocked and kept watching them from the lobby, because we didn't want them to stop. We didn't realize that anyone had even noticed us let alone wanted to copy us. Before long, Katie Sue walked to the back, and opened the door, and said you can come in and listen. So we did. Then they took turns calling us up to the front to sing with them, then we all sung together a couple of songs. I wish I had gotten a picture, though Bro. Jim I believe got a few. Maybe Sis. Kelly will post some (hint, hint).

It was truely a blessed weekend.

We had a really good church meeting this weekend at Little Union. Elder J. C. Stanland from the Church in Panama City was with us. On Friday, we had a fish fry (like usual) to start things off. Then we began Church about 7:00. Brother J.C. had a great sermon on our "Just and Righteous Souls." We all know that Christ is our righteousness and it is by him that we are made just and acceptible before God the Father; however, Bro. J.C. explained it in a way that I had never heard preached.

He started with a text from the New Testament, II Peter 2:7-8 which says how just Lot's righteous soul was vexed by the sin going on in Sodom and Gomorrha. He told us that we knew that Lot had no righteousness of his own, and proved it by going through the beginning of Genesis 13 and the entire chapter of Genesis 19. He showed some of Lot's many mistakes: 1) great wealthy created strife between Abraham and Lot, 2) Lot looked about with a carnal mind and regarding not his uncle took the best land, 3) Lot knowing the evil of Sodom and Gomorrah pitched his tent facing Sodom, 4) and when we see Lot again in ch. 19 things have only gotten worse he is now living in Sodom. However, we know that he is a child of God (not only because Peter tells us he has a righteous soul), but because when he sees the angels come in there is something in him that draws him toward them, just like those with the Spirit have something about them that draws them together. He insists that these men stay the night with him, but leave early, because he knows of the sin and evil in the city and is trying to spare them the worst of it. However, the men of the city, intending evil come for the two men. Lot offers his daughters to them, but instead the angels smite the men with blindness. In the morning, the angels tell him to get his stuff together and get out of Dodge, because they are going to destroy the city. From this point forward Lot's actions are astonishing. After seeing the mircle the night before and being told God is going to destroy this place, he lingers to the point that the angels have to take them by the hand and lead them out. Then they tell him to flee to the mountains and he then argues basically saying, "I just can't do that God, I might die in the mountains." So then he pleads to get to go to a "little" city nearby, he emphasises twice that it's just a little city, and by extention, that it must only have little sins. God says he will spare the city, but not because of the argument but for Lot's sake. Turns out not much time passes before he flees from the city to the mountains. There his two daughters say there are no more men left on the earth, they knew better, they knew Abraham and they had just come from a town that had to have men. So the last we hear of Lot he is drunk and commiting insest, not a good record for his own righteousness.

The next example he used was Solomon. This was the wisest man to ever walk the earth (aside from Jesus) and at the end of his life we don't see much wisdom or righteousness in I Kings 11. We are told that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines and that they were all strange. Bro. J.C. stopped to say that they didn't look fun, but that they had strange religions, and that Solomon built alters and temples and gave sacrifices to them all for his wives. This happened to the point that we are told that "Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord." So at the end of Solomon's life he is doing evil and worshipping every god except the one true and living God.

Finally he showed, how Isreal had no righteousness by going to Hosea 11. God is telling Hosea that he loved Isreal when they were a little child and took care of them, but as time passed they turned away, and that all this evil they are bringing on themselves, but he still loves them.

After that he wrapped up by showing how not a one of us is any good, and that Jesus is our righteousness and that he makes us just. It was an especially good reminder of our shortcomings and the goodness of Christ as we prepared to go into communion Saturday night.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. - II Timothy 3:13

At the Emmy awards, Kathy Griffin's acceptance speech said, "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus." She went on to say, "Suck it, Jesus. This is my God now!" referring to the Emmy.

I read this and thought what is the world coming to these days. Then I remembered about the last 15 sermons that Brother Buddy has preached. The last two Wednesday nights he talked about our speach, and how we should honor the Lord in it and not be like the unreginerate (James 3:1-12, Romans 3:14). About a month ago or so, he preached about the Last Days. He has talked about how we, of all people, ought not be surprised by these people because we understand that humans are total depraved. Still I couldn't hardly believe it when Grandmother emailed me.

When we caught Momma Kitty, I was intending to catch Brodie. She was obviously pregnant and we obviously had a problem. Over the last several months, feeling sorry for a number of stray and feral cats behind our apartment, I occasionally leave them food. A lady several doors down has been doing the same for the last five years. Interested in trying to help these cats, I started doing some reading.

Earlier this week reading over at the Beehive has left me inspired to make a New Year's Resolution or two, after some thought here they are...

1) I am going to get some form of regular exercise at least 3 days a week. I was going to say every day, but who am I kidding here. I use to run cross country, that was pre-Asthma. The doctor has worked on my asthma medicine some, and I am actually good to start excerising and stuff tomorrow (had to let meds kick in and get over bronchitis first). My goal is to get out and do some serious walking (and work back up to running) at least on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hopefully Tuesday and Thursday too.

2) Blog at least twice a week. I know very few read this, and even fewer are actually interested, but it's good to talk to someone other than the cat during the day. It also keeps my brain cells active, and if you haven't notice, my grammer and spelling could use the extra work out.

3) Secretly wean Gary off of sugar. I'm not sure how doable this is, but at the way the boy is eating (and drinking sweet tea) he'll be dead of a heart attack or some such by 50. I want to make him miserable for a whole lifetime, haha. :)

Today, Gary and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary. To celebrate, this was the gift he got me. I think it was just an excuse to get himself a wii game. What do you think?

I am terrible upset. Brodie has been lost for more than 24 hours now.

New Year's Eve and Day were alot of fun this year despite being sick. My favorite red-headed sibling flew down on Sunday and stayed until yesterday. He took that picture of us right before we left to go back to the airport yesterday.

I have asthma. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it before. It kinda sprang up out of nowhere a few years ago. It was February-ish 2006. I was sick, and wasn't willing to skip class to go to the infermery. Yes, yes, I know I'm a nerd. Then in a week I was so sick I couldn't go to class. After a few days of that, a friend or two literally carried me to the car (complaining the whole way that I would be fine in another day or two) and down to the infermery. To make a long story short (I know, too late) I had acute bronchitis. In another week, I had asthmatic bronchitis. Ever since then I have had asthma.

Asthma is not fun. Before asthma I did all sorts of things. I played softball and I ran Cross Country. I wasn't ever great or anything, but it was fun and it was exercise. Since the asthma, I can't run a quarter of a mile without seriously dragging on my emergency inhaler. I have had several major attacks that mean I get to go and visit the hospital (which I might also note is absolutely no fun). Anyway, my doctor in Alabama had decided it was time to see a specialist back in March, since we couldn't get it under control, and all we knew is that I am allergic to cigerette smoke. However, since I was getting married and moving to Florida I saw no point in starting with someone up there and then moving. So I figured a few more months wouldn't hurt.

I finaly got in to see Dr. Price last Friday. Come to find out (170 needles later) that I am not allergic to a single thing... well, except maybe a little to ragweed. Instead I have asthma and non-allergenic rhinitis. Basically it means something to the effect that my bronchial tubes are particually sensitive to things in 7 areas: smoke, gasoline, arosal sprays, perfume, cold weather, sudden changes in temperture and humidity, and something else I can't really remember. So he changed all my medicine around and I reckon we'll see if that helps any.

One the other hand, since I had to go off my meds for a week before he could test me, I have gotten bronchitis. Never fun, it has been particually annoying since the one cold day of the Florida year was yesterday. Laugh if you like, it was actually below freezing here. Also since I was involved in a massive water gun fight (I'll get to this in the next blog perhaps) I have the beginnings of ear infections. Joy. I feel like a little kid again. haha.

Anyway, several have been asking about me, and that's the update.