tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15654386315808326382024-03-19T13:15:28.217-07:00halfway seriousJulie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-610072625522625982012-09-05T13:10:00.002-07:002012-09-05T19:58:14.985-07:00What Makes a Good Mother<br />
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What Makes a Good Mother?</div>
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I remember being a young teenager (14-15?) And this was the
question on the flip board at church in my Sunday Class one week. We, all girls
age 13-15, were in our Sunday best in the “over fill” room with dividers
between our class and the boys our same age next to us.</div>
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The Teacher posed this question to us and our prim proper naive
little hands shot up with all kinds of wonderful answers. A good mother is
kind. A good mother is patient. A good mother sings songs. A good mother makes
healthy meals. A good mother is well kept… and on and on it went. I have no
idea what the point of this lesson even was other than to romanticize an ideal
in our minds that was supposed to make us all gush and leave the building super
excited to start using our bodies for their intended purpose, childbearing.</div>
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The question of why this should be a Sunday school topic can
be saved for another day. Wherever I heard it, all women have heard something
similar to this every day of their lives. Either through church, media, movies,
even other moms who know better but have to hide behind the image they have
developed of what motherhood has to look like to the rest of the world.</div>
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But our daughters deserve to be handed something better than
an ideal, and our sons need to know that “mothering” isn’t going to be graceful
and easy for their partners any more than it was for us. So, for just a minute
lets be honest with ourselves and others, lets say what that Sunday school
teacher should have said to a class full of young girls. Lets lift the
motherhood utopia cloud that every cook book, magazine and pledge commercial is
trying to shove down our throats and just be real.</div>
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Motherhood is hard. There I said what we we're all thinking.
Sometimes I don’t actually like my kids. Sometimes hearing my name made into 15
syllables makes me cringe and hide in the bathroom. Sometimes I don’t care if
they eat healthy as long as they just eat! Sometimes I fake a migraine because I need an excuse to lay in a quiet room.</div>
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Some days what separates a good mom from a bad mom is a 20
minute freak out and hot bath. Sometimes dishes get broken. Sometimes there is
no differences between a good mom and a bad mom there is just a mom who’s
tired, and crabby, and has way too much crap piled on her in a 24 hour period.</div>
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No one told me in that Sunday school room so many years ago
that a flip chart can’t define a good mom any more than it can an omniscient
being who all life comes from. No one
said that while you are picking out baby booties and onesies with funny sayings
on them your kid is growing and going to turn in to a creature you don’t even
recognize. No one said, “hey, when you are at your wits end and the self help
books tells you to take a deep breath and count to five and then you throw that
book across the room and break the blinds because whoever wrote it is likely a man with
his own mommy issues… that that’s okay.” Where is the Pillsburry commercial
that shows a mom crying in the corner of the kitchen because she doesn’t want to bake the damn
dinner rolls?</div>
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A seasoned mom told me recently that parenting is like
walking a tight rope. She is right, it is, but not like a Cirque du Soleil<b> </b>tight rope walker who has beautifully shaped legs and
a tight butt. It is not like that at all. It is like my 65 pound pit bull with
a chunky frame and missing hip socket trying to walk a tight rope with four
paws. It’s comical and wrong and all kinds of unflattering and awkward. That is
what parenting is like. You won’t see that in your Sunday school room or on the
Focus on the Family section of the news. So there it is. I’m telling all those
new, or yet to be, moms out there that there is nothing “well kept” about
motherhood. If you really want to know what it’s like picture an uncoordinated,
slobbery dog trying to walk a tight rope and falling over and over again but
still getting up each time and putting her toes on the rope. Bring that image
to the table and then we’ll have a place to start from, because in the real
world what makes a good mother is someone who has no idea what she is doing but
still loves her children enough to keep slipping and fumbling with the stupid
rope.</div>
Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-11032703478250075712010-01-09T06:03:00.000-08:002010-01-09T06:13:53.444-08:00Nothing Like Insomnia To Get You Back In The GameLife has been too crazy to blog lately, but It's 6:00 AM on a Saturday so here I am. Here is something just for fun. I love this show.<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ornIWg0VG7g&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ornIWg0VG7g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-712313089272534982009-10-21T18:04:00.000-07:002009-10-21T18:08:20.807-07:00A New Sart To a New Life<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JIkfYzJaWNw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JIkfYzJaWNw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>This just makes my heart happy!Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-13505169944165876862009-10-07T21:31:00.000-07:002009-10-07T21:34:07.172-07:00Because You Can Never Have Enough Pictures Of A Giant Cat!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK_cclScqKj4OZQoxaCSXMjOcdGyATTv1Kw4SLVj151DMDFiWorK-KpDa620EGgkjenV9ThuuhfD5AiJPtPNye1hfRne4fFVMa7ktAw2X61_vLXTKKaQP-jC6QUj2Fv0esGN9BZ8-bQPz/s1600-h/P1020032.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390082715948149730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK_cclScqKj4OZQoxaCSXMjOcdGyATTv1Kw4SLVj151DMDFiWorK-KpDa620EGgkjenV9ThuuhfD5AiJPtPNye1hfRne4fFVMa7ktAw2X61_vLXTKKaQP-jC6QUj2Fv0esGN9BZ8-bQPz/s200/P1020032.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-87728998049182374572009-09-17T11:58:00.000-07:002009-09-17T12:24:05.662-07:00100 Year Diet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0m_RL-uq1H6mO98KcilfMYIDct3_mJjUVChJOC8td80P0dDuBpsSLSzMLQyY4Gim8VT2HuwNveBbogXyEpfvAiMZqNu4xU13ZUU9bvjvw5mQKS4Yxav778PdKOgTGZiDrbPP-AQsEIhT/s1600-h/food.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382519275400215778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0m_RL-uq1H6mO98KcilfMYIDct3_mJjUVChJOC8td80P0dDuBpsSLSzMLQyY4Gim8VT2HuwNveBbogXyEpfvAiMZqNu4xU13ZUU9bvjvw5mQKS4Yxav778PdKOgTGZiDrbPP-AQsEIhT/s200/food.jpg" /></a><br /><div>So I have been having headaches for oh, well just say a decade or so. Most of the time they are not bad 3 or 4 a week, I take a Tylenol and they go away. Sometimes they are worse than others but not too bad, just annoying. My friend said "I bet it's something you eat". I said it's stress, doctor says maybe caffeine. Who knows!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But I was intrigued enough to find out so my friend (who is ever so smart with nutrition and a role model for healthy living) introduced me to the elimination diet. Let me just say that it is the <strong>worst diet in the whole world</strong>! You are supposed to eat NOTHING but fresh raw fruit, fresh raw vegetables, plain chicken and plain pork for 10 days. Then you can slowly add thing in and see if you get a headache.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well I made it 5 days and it was the longest 5 days of my life! I did not figure out what caused my headaches but I did come to some realizations. 99% of what we put in our body is JUNK! Even diet drinks are nothing but unnatural products! Yogurt...full of corn syrup and artificial dyes. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So while I did not like not being able to eat hardly anything, it did open my eyes as to the junk we eat without thinking. I have decided I'm going to start what I'm calling The 100 Year Diet. I am trying very hard not to put anything into my body that was not around 100 years ago. No corn syrup, no processed, junk no dyes or fake sweeteners. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It takes some creativity and label reading but I'm having fun with it. Who knew that all natural rolled oats with a little cream and 1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar was really good? Did you know you can get 100% natural peanut butter that taste great? The only ingredient is peanuts! I even found Dannon makes a yogurt with nothing but natural ingredients.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The best part is that I feel really good, have not had a headache and lost 5 pounds. I now feel good when I send lunch to school with my kids and know it's really healthy. Dinner feels more like an experiment than a chore, and after not very many days my body stopped craving all that junky stuff. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Not to say that never again will processed products enter my body (yesterday I had a pumpkin spiced latte and I have yet to read a book where the pioneers stopped off at Starbucks for a pick-me up) but I am eating and living more consciously, and that feels good.</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-22431159953604128462009-09-09T20:02:00.000-07:002009-09-09T20:12:22.739-07:00Scale Tipping Cat!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8xGML6CeFLY2RdemeFDWaA7AeTQgpoMtBJejEoQ67KS7aZ-oucdfnT6QhUxvWC9yqgGcZzilzjrv2vhBzucsgu3IxwJS-9uIvPEG8pnSG0mgKkk4kuBD1HMiMHMwggTp8Rp5-Q3imyL6/s1600-h/P1010987.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379669855419186114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8xGML6CeFLY2RdemeFDWaA7AeTQgpoMtBJejEoQ67KS7aZ-oucdfnT6QhUxvWC9yqgGcZzilzjrv2vhBzucsgu3IxwJS-9uIvPEG8pnSG0mgKkk4kuBD1HMiMHMwggTp8Rp5-Q3imyL6/s200/P1010987.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div>Sorry I've been away for a while. Busy with kids back to school, and I have started working at our local animal shelter. Which is where I found this big guy who needed a home and since our 10 year old kitty just died (sad story) there was a spot avaliable in ours.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K4NsxDye-8HFGkk8ZePpidZWf6SglxBiMVWYvFvtfqKaBWhb6-2PjOjXq3NlwkLBeWCj-pphhHntBj-u4SKF9v5Y-PYce61LQVAweaNORT2DTsDzOBhqAMcIUTtarVx_mDu69jX_QnRv/s1600-h/P1010986.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379669661104299490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K4NsxDye-8HFGkk8ZePpidZWf6SglxBiMVWYvFvtfqKaBWhb6-2PjOjXq3NlwkLBeWCj-pphhHntBj-u4SKF9v5Y-PYce61LQVAweaNORT2DTsDzOBhqAMcIUTtarVx_mDu69jX_QnRv/s200/P1010986.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>We named him Murphy or Murph, and he weighs in at 17.5 lbs! He <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg911cfqqGbXjrjodpqIi2wPkQYc30gOI15VpeiKtwSqz2-Ubv5u5dKQ4pzBbCXN8ftPg8ulI5j_6x3CcJ-9tegEsz0fJXfsV0rgVchjnnrcsiFi25-kIfWYJw7LzlDeW3Qrt4Nnm10WaFh/s1600-h/P1010990.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379669854679201586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg911cfqqGbXjrjodpqIi2wPkQYc30gOI15VpeiKtwSqz2-Ubv5u5dKQ4pzBbCXN8ftPg8ulI5j_6x3CcJ-9tegEsz0fJXfsV0rgVchjnnrcsiFi25-kIfWYJw7LzlDeW3Qrt4Nnm10WaFh/s200/P1010990.JPG" /></a>is one large cat! But so gentle and sweet to everyone!</div></div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-25243755662084323792009-08-25T16:22:00.000-07:002009-08-25T16:38:09.107-07:00The World Needs To Know This!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aJcelehYCsKMZZhA-etIWqQ0np4R6Cw_eSrhK-Oxz_dVg3Tur58X6qeNYlsodXqRoDaPjaQcmWF3jKy56Okzu_0XOr01lbG_g3jjOO07cCBuucmH2f-8dgujapBi0uPE9IXqVrirLx3d/s1600-h/fly.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 91px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374049217100885570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aJcelehYCsKMZZhA-etIWqQ0np4R6Cw_eSrhK-Oxz_dVg3Tur58X6qeNYlsodXqRoDaPjaQcmWF3jKy56Okzu_0XOr01lbG_g3jjOO07cCBuucmH2f-8dgujapBi0uPE9IXqVrirLx3d/s200/fly.jpg" /></a><br /><div>So after 2 years of "country" living and dealing with the flies that come with that I was at my wits end! I have spent much time and money trying to find away to keep flies out of my house. I have been spending hours keeping my kitchen an unhealthy clinical clean just to starve out the little buggers, then today I get an e-mail from a friend. 12 cents later I am fly free! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The e-mail gave simple home remedies to everyday problems. One of them was to keep flies out of your house hang a plastic bag, half full of water, and 4 pennies up in your door frame.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What the heck I think, I have tried EVERYTHING else!!! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Normally there are 30 or 40 flies hanging to the side of my house just waiting for the door to open. I take my little water bag, get up on a chair, and hook the bag to the door frame. As soon as the sun hit the bag...BOOOM! Every dang fly in the area took off!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I googled it and apparently the science is that their eyes are so big they pick up the tiniest reflection and get spooked!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Forget drugs, global warming and cancer screening...this is what we should be spending our advertising dollars on! The world needs to know!</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-45822164846766943192009-08-13T09:32:00.000-07:002009-08-13T09:33:53.770-07:00Summers Great!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4pTEODL9di19E4vE7n9RZ1AoQ2ZXSchXJKk4BEo6U-oYQ7N2avsf7TGoBCqXAtHi9kT12IEz9hI1N91lPyo5rjvdyl-Ha9M_gAAMhfijlFxSBXZsMeyHlK0EejKswYI4dm05GSvQzkNy/s1600-h/elephant.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369487422864885138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4pTEODL9di19E4vE7n9RZ1AoQ2ZXSchXJKk4BEo6U-oYQ7N2avsf7TGoBCqXAtHi9kT12IEz9hI1N91lPyo5rjvdyl-Ha9M_gAAMhfijlFxSBXZsMeyHlK0EejKswYI4dm05GSvQzkNy/s200/elephant.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-67802917249594970802009-07-29T18:24:00.001-07:002009-07-29T18:50:12.452-07:00Our Back Yard In Full Bloom!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex8K3fQ4YW1gJ34nI46vnHZkYaDZDqGoi9XKFQpRf3vRgolRyTE7mlWe7lT5PatpKzEyg3QHsz935BjtWCDMyn4WTV7YM7JIsjGz-kAP9hCGUBz_flnJ1qQ1OYAAnT8dWqWKjgxYy_BNB/s1600-h/P1010698.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364060791732993298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex8K3fQ4YW1gJ34nI46vnHZkYaDZDqGoi9XKFQpRf3vRgolRyTE7mlWe7lT5PatpKzEyg3QHsz935BjtWCDMyn4WTV7YM7JIsjGz-kAP9hCGUBz_flnJ1qQ1OYAAnT8dWqWKjgxYy_BNB/s200/P1010698.JPG" /></a><br /><div><em>Here are some shots from the back patio<br /></em><br /><div><br /><br />These are my Cana Lillies. In another month they will be 8 feet tall.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kBnUNbKL3gsb0b5n6d0MZBRJxcIX67RmBqSyRMpSOKcT96c1Lxu4WhychdXkuO-XilnUFPSs4LdGQJkeduKW1Jjn3QI5XMaWrBdxCqB-uqwbe2qZ4BnssLby2jhVO-4c9_yPlcIrAmPm/s1600-h/P1010693.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364059151406554690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kBnUNbKL3gsb0b5n6d0MZBRJxcIX67RmBqSyRMpSOKcT96c1Lxu4WhychdXkuO-XilnUFPSs4LdGQJkeduKW1Jjn3QI5XMaWrBdxCqB-uqwbe2qZ4BnssLby2jhVO-4c9_yPlcIrAmPm/s200/P1010693.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Wish this shot had turned out better so you could see how beautiful the pond is right now.<br /></div><div></div><div><br /> </div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-PxW_Z1Pm2mh6I0vInfmX4K9Rf0zGKJxtWsEMCctpSHqmgGBtHj19UrKncOA9sGebVr1TP10eSzHFF9dbo0QOG9jHd0UHsEdgLT-7j9QfcrJY_qZRlahRupOrzdH8Qu2MNXbyNJDQmlR/s1600-h/P1010695.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364060782871004770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-PxW_Z1Pm2mh6I0vInfmX4K9Rf0zGKJxtWsEMCctpSHqmgGBtHj19UrKncOA9sGebVr1TP10eSzHFF9dbo0QOG9jHd0UHsEdgLT-7j9QfcrJY_qZRlahRupOrzdH8Qu2MNXbyNJDQmlR/s200/P1010695.JPG" /></a><br />My Flocks are attracting bees and butterflies.<br /><br /></div><div></div></div><div></div><div></div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a4lwfmoTDzJ8PYNxZhLxuQJQUW1UpNRiXsQut_9x8sW_G6QOrAQw5L7I95DLMZU5fNGvhVh0MbFFoow_ROB3cnqAy9TyEKgnG0Kmp5YyIjZpiXl66hGhn7DvsppowUcupPt4kNB6B7el/s1600-h/P1010699.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364059158563533890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a4lwfmoTDzJ8PYNxZhLxuQJQUW1UpNRiXsQut_9x8sW_G6QOrAQw5L7I95DLMZU5fNGvhVh0MbFFoow_ROB3cnqAy9TyEKgnG0Kmp5YyIjZpiXl66hGhn7DvsppowUcupPt4kNB6B7el/s200/P1010699.JPG" /></a><br />The pond is full of life! Fish, frogs, newts, and plants all live here, and it is my favorite spot in the yard!</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIfnn_0cFMwABtJrsRqLtBobDW3Yv1rqUf8ts1k-1dz6Z2iYYZ7ZCwxI0IQ9dX6l3ivuXfRu7h5p5D0PO3GW93R72oKybhqklGOcGq2cskKwf7P8f1IKFFim1XT2qaYV14EpUcwKzBT-6/s1600-h/P1010697.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364059164228106402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIfnn_0cFMwABtJrsRqLtBobDW3Yv1rqUf8ts1k-1dz6Z2iYYZ7ZCwxI0IQ9dX6l3ivuXfRu7h5p5D0PO3GW93R72oKybhqklGOcGq2cskKwf7P8f1IKFFim1XT2qaYV14EpUcwKzBT-6/s200/P1010697.JPG" /></a>The garden is giving us about 4 squash, 6 cucumbers, dozens of patatoes and tomatoes on almost a daily basis. Not to mention all the beans and lettuce. We are giving it away by the truck loads.</div></div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-29300546373857700332009-07-27T10:07:00.000-07:002009-07-27T10:29:37.400-07:00Pink Wars!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUqyGmGRq-_IDVmZVdggakJsu6-1nGi2zDsKrwUmmeunowiavgUupmy2yCiYWryzr-ZxA6axBCOIf0W3-tPbv5iayXRGEjJrMQSaNIfFbaqPBxmhInvlyrsOtHlJ4VmUUptDug_MC8WGr/s1600-h/halo3multi3evapinkphotolj6.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363193124416587234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUqyGmGRq-_IDVmZVdggakJsu6-1nGi2zDsKrwUmmeunowiavgUupmy2yCiYWryzr-ZxA6axBCOIf0W3-tPbv5iayXRGEjJrMQSaNIfFbaqPBxmhInvlyrsOtHlJ4VmUUptDug_MC8WGr/s320/halo3multi3evapinkphotolj6.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Back to school shopping has begun! That is the good news. The bad news is that with it comes the yearly battle of the wardrobe. Specifically, Lou Lou's wardrobe. Every year she wants pink EVERYTHING. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to pink. I love a good frilly dress or sparkly hair bow as much as the next person, but it would be nice to have a bit of variety in her dress.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">This year I finally figured out a way. We went shopping, and bought 10 or so pink shirts, pink shoes, pink hair bands, jeans with pink accent, and a few pink skirts. Then I found the cutest teal dress, old fashioned buttons, faded seems. It is a dress straight out of the 40's, so cute and simple. But it also came in pink. The pink however was not nearly as cute and we already had a shopping cart full of pink. So, me, being the the very clever mother that I am, removed all the pink dresses from the rack, hid them in a row of Pokemon shirts and called out to Lou Lou.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">"Oh, Lou Lou, look at this super cute dress. It is so pretty. And look, I bet it twirls like a dream. It is just too bad they don't have it in pink. I guess we will just have to put it back. (dramatic sigh) Oh, well, (shoulder shrug)"</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">wait for it...wait for it...</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">"I still like it even if it is not pink."</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">BULLS EYE!</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">"I guess I could have one dress that is not pink"</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Eureka! And we have a winner! She's happy with her mound of pink and 1 teal dress, and I am happy with the hint of variety. As for the next boy to come along and want a Pokemon shirt only to find a pink dress...? Eh, you can't please everyone.</span></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-60546475940484549692009-07-21T09:49:00.001-07:002009-07-21T09:53:12.891-07:00Here Is What I'm Up ToThis is a blog I have been following. It is Year Of The Bible. And everyday there is new text to read until you get through the whole Bible. It started on June 1 and will end next June 1. If you want to folow along here is the site. The reading is not to heavy just 2 or 3 chapters a day.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.southminstersyearofthebible.blogspot.com/">http://www.southminstersyearofthebible.blogspot.com/</a>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-35080484151533275602009-07-06T17:23:00.000-07:002009-07-06T17:30:02.379-07:00Animal Quote Monday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt28JvRy9TIM52Ydm5JY_VQCJ3qdJW_CzQ6JT5tGcq53GhAmtOdhJvFvkcyB_VT-Eupi-trMlVDnYCi6oaQkP1HxvhKg7xecNN5WpzdKdO03t2ReWbJ0sqcrC_QLmb33rgbCxSdeWJDUH/s1600-h/bangel.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355508888106522866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt28JvRy9TIM52Ydm5JY_VQCJ3qdJW_CzQ6JT5tGcq53GhAmtOdhJvFvkcyB_VT-Eupi-trMlVDnYCi6oaQkP1HxvhKg7xecNN5WpzdKdO03t2ReWbJ0sqcrC_QLmb33rgbCxSdeWJDUH/s320/bangel.jpg" /></a><br /><div>"Summertime and the living is easy..."</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-80555525260641949972009-06-29T19:16:00.000-07:002009-06-29T21:45:03.741-07:00People of the Pool<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfj94o_0Mrv8Hlfi3w5U0l6assn1UP8_MGqDnKQLCR0zWd8gfeYW7FRaqkkj6j_FsxHBxrlh86S_Ws3AjLAeLj2a19OlDJ0UuJXzDa_340AV0lB_4dEhBfbv9ovveA5z2lPwVmbFr-sbu1/s1600-h/pool.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352966293685858770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfj94o_0Mrv8Hlfi3w5U0l6assn1UP8_MGqDnKQLCR0zWd8gfeYW7FRaqkkj6j_FsxHBxrlh86S_Ws3AjLAeLj2a19OlDJ0UuJXzDa_340AV0lB_4dEhBfbv9ovveA5z2lPwVmbFr-sbu1/s320/pool.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Our neighborhood dues are expensive, and most of the time when I see dead grass in the common area, or hear an annoying little yapper all night long I wonder what in the hell we are getting out of our money. But today the price seemed worth it.</div><div></div><div>The kids and I went to the neighborhood pool, we do it 5 to 7 times a week! In fact we kind of take it for granted that we can just walk 4 blocks and be at a very nice private pool with only our neighbors around to compete with for water space.</div><br /><div></div><div>My sister-in-law was there, as she usually is, with her 4 kids, and we did what we usually do. But today I realized the community within the community. We often see the same moms, or dads, the kids that go to school with ours (the school is next to the pool by the way.) </div><br /><div></div><div>This pool community is really quite fascinating if you step back and really look. You have your kids, big ones near the deep end, small ones in the shallow, those in between kids with floaties on their arms bobbing in the middle.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Us, the moms, sitting on the sides with our sunglasses and soccer mom visors discussing the best place to find an affordable swim suit and swim diapers that really work. We take turns yelling at our kids to stop splashing, or not to jump where it's so shallow.</div><div></div><br /><div>The hours wind away as we laugh about our husbands never getting to that honey-do list, and pass around the spf 8 sunscreen (so we can still tan through it). We make each other feel better by talking about our stretchmarks and cellulite and reassuring one another that they are not so bad, you can hardly see them.</div><div></div><br /><div>Undoubtedly there is a mom with a really young one shaded under a beach towel in her arms. She tells of her horrific birth story and we all try to top it. This is where we really feel proud of being a woman because, as we all agree, men could never go through what we do and still be able to walk upright.</div><div></div><br /><div>The kids shout to us to watch them swim under water, hold their breath, front flip, and whatever else they have learned this week. Every few minutes a loud "MARCO" followed by "POLO" is heard. </div><div></div><br /><div>Every single child in the pool tattle tales at least twice, and when they do we all roll our eyes and tell them to try and work it out on their own, (we got that from a book I'm sure.) When our youngest is showing signs of stress, and or heat stroke, we pack up the floaties, pool noodles, goggles, and soaker balls and the other moms wave us off.</div><div></div><br /><div>Our oldest grumble about having to leave and beg for 5 more minutes, the younger ones are only seconds away from a melt down and a few are already well on their way to tantrum, but nobody minds because we have all been there. We are the people of the pool, all linked by chemical-filled water and an incessant need to talk with someone who does not pick their nose.</div><br /><div></div><div>Today the neighborhood dues don't seem so bad.</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-60286598936011327042009-06-25T13:29:00.000-07:002009-06-25T13:31:12.302-07:003,700 miles Of Fun!<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5441774f4467324d44453d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: ROADTRIP" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5441774f4467324d44453d0d0a.jpg" width="386" height="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" width="386" height="46" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-73284297506106635382009-06-24T08:19:00.001-07:002009-06-24T08:35:36.070-07:00Plinkie's Adventures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhaCliZCbcGSpUV5ufnzGJtxyT4x_B2FrJgDybenIG4vDKHKJos6UkU9_AQ8YMti1ySzfy7s4J1kR_atb8wJH1ma2bnxpw5u1bMay685KZ2aZy5i-hE1nOBe8x2o2uhB5Swb8g78IGoHv/s1600-h/P1010482.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350916670622552290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhaCliZCbcGSpUV5ufnzGJtxyT4x_B2FrJgDybenIG4vDKHKJos6UkU9_AQ8YMti1ySzfy7s4J1kR_atb8wJH1ma2bnxpw5u1bMay685KZ2aZy5i-hE1nOBe8x2o2uhB5Swb8g78IGoHv/s320/P1010482.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Meet Plinkie. He is a 5 inch stuffed flamingo adopted from the Minnesota zoo, and as you can see he quickly became the family mascot.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tHUUvV0d1X1X5GcbZb5bxvl9m12WecNPe8AmlccbpWlcbwXIw8biK-nacbYFAt4j-sK9yr5n4aA3wwloSCYhacmfXk13upAnoZiQooVc5tR-Ae1FeOwZpQFrf2Q8FfssH-cn72uXvon0/s1600-h/P1010471.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350916667438830050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tHUUvV0d1X1X5GcbZb5bxvl9m12WecNPe8AmlccbpWlcbwXIw8biK-nacbYFAt4j-sK9yr5n4aA3wwloSCYhacmfXk13upAnoZiQooVc5tR-Ae1FeOwZpQFrf2Q8FfssH-cn72uXvon0/s320/P1010471.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Plinkie at the Bad Lands of South Dakota</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT_PuRR3-5yPsaaoOP8UGAVp70LInIkyUl1iYATBBtALjzv4yPIXOqBQ403ZuNZR7jHOY21VXkwNiaE6utjMhkPkN6clWW3YPfvQNFvg_1gFKxZBJYLwPtNAeiOC1K9Nm1Vd18VdU3O0u/s1600-h/P1010507.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350916659156272018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT_PuRR3-5yPsaaoOP8UGAVp70LInIkyUl1iYATBBtALjzv4yPIXOqBQ403ZuNZR7jHOY21VXkwNiaE6utjMhkPkN6clWW3YPfvQNFvg_1gFKxZBJYLwPtNAeiOC1K9Nm1Vd18VdU3O0u/s320/P1010507.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Plinkie in Yellowstone</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7dpGxbPg9aUd046N9rX5QAKbftCTRMXf_lhuG04xCBFp_7wxj8zxUkbFjzud-ElNGlH5u8CQ4vP3lBJvNgcJvG_LLJH3RRWlmAEHghYj_3TzlziEGMgbAOJrkatcQeHdtuF_8pzjCkKr/s1600-h/P1010480.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350916652889291746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7dpGxbPg9aUd046N9rX5QAKbftCTRMXf_lhuG04xCBFp_7wxj8zxUkbFjzud-ElNGlH5u8CQ4vP3lBJvNgcJvG_LLJH3RRWlmAEHghYj_3TzlziEGMgbAOJrkatcQeHdtuF_8pzjCkKr/s320/P1010480.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>Plinkie made some friends along the way</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKsVz97Qsbri6GwVil60zNYzZcJVOSGvaZ-QkPCXvVtV_02ljZJUbdlWrNVEeknhocHUxaj-8H7UyYaQPtGMcGiCJ2DhEJUtcN2fhRTjX_L6EcQM8RoDJ3PWwO-acSIBHeFrQY_mtNeSh/s1600-h/P1010502.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350915290844535890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKsVz97Qsbri6GwVil60zNYzZcJVOSGvaZ-QkPCXvVtV_02ljZJUbdlWrNVEeknhocHUxaj-8H7UyYaQPtGMcGiCJ2DhEJUtcN2fhRTjX_L6EcQM8RoDJ3PWwO-acSIBHeFrQY_mtNeSh/s320/P1010502.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><em>I don't remember where this is... I'll ask Plinkie</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi_ulKwTqbDU8u7qmWMAkPVcKJoHK_7SQmiKbMS1fO1ZygEMK_iB95NUjfHxLkg2XkO52cr7Yvxzyp3bZxD826t54n2ZblieYgDMQmvs4ggK6eC8Z3OvZxvr0dWHeLh2NeNdNu7ZTZn3n/s1600-h/P1010486.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350915285157264962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi_ulKwTqbDU8u7qmWMAkPVcKJoHK_7SQmiKbMS1fO1ZygEMK_iB95NUjfHxLkg2XkO52cr7Yvxzyp3bZxD826t54n2ZblieYgDMQmvs4ggK6eC8Z3OvZxvr0dWHeLh2NeNdNu7ZTZn3n/s320/P1010486.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Patriotic Plinkie</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9eAjUu780Ph-w_StNqavxupXD15qD9IubBuejdtdyQ3IigCXL4NLFY7U33YfSzt6nphOVa3tNGznoCA4T6bUNvEaH0Qos0WhlHGdwQZdPbpcmthP7g5tyixVIHP6a1AZZTCeJy6SqIki/s1600-h/P1010467.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350915274953056946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9eAjUu780Ph-w_StNqavxupXD15qD9IubBuejdtdyQ3IigCXL4NLFY7U33YfSzt6nphOVa3tNGznoCA4T6bUNvEaH0Qos0WhlHGdwQZdPbpcmthP7g5tyixVIHP6a1AZZTCeJy6SqIki/s320/P1010467.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Wild west Plinkie</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0Wwgx4Fl9skm1TmkKDIadH_fKQ-CYqL57CwuauPfWGZ8joGf3pRuskQnVe5kAG351dEEIHqXvbvjP8f9PK94vDEw9iJhsxOI7koUy2khQOheP6jrhJmMucJJ6QsieZgje80MqOCIC1R_/s1600-h/P1010465.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350915270965394738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0Wwgx4Fl9skm1TmkKDIadH_fKQ-CYqL57CwuauPfWGZ8joGf3pRuskQnVe5kAG351dEEIHqXvbvjP8f9PK94vDEw9iJhsxOI7koUy2khQOheP6jrhJmMucJJ6QsieZgje80MqOCIC1R_/s320/P1010465.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>Plinkie at the corn palace</em><br /><br /><div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-1690815846089644302009-06-23T10:06:00.001-07:002009-06-23T10:10:23.317-07:00HOME!In the near future there will be posts about our family's 2 week trip across the US. But seeing as how we just got back last night, this is how I will be spending the day...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZdaArAUGhnBltX9hoddVgfdDxw9q2Oq_birESqHgOs2zzEclPoTFceia913eDPsL0w4QvRy2PT9rNbMPyackbN9ANczXQ1aT3bipMVeF9x3_tHcleN4EwjHMv-me0diSoaoJmSWMc8JO/s1600-h/sleepingcat.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350571232404694562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZdaArAUGhnBltX9hoddVgfdDxw9q2Oq_birESqHgOs2zzEclPoTFceia913eDPsL0w4QvRy2PT9rNbMPyackbN9ANczXQ1aT3bipMVeF9x3_tHcleN4EwjHMv-me0diSoaoJmSWMc8JO/s320/sleepingcat.jpg" /></a>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-13814386152874233512009-06-12T09:54:00.000-07:002009-06-12T09:55:16.725-07:00Happy Anniversary Charlie!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4f5467774e4441774e413d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: 10 years!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4f5467774e4441774e413d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-16307962429720425852009-06-11T21:31:00.000-07:002009-06-11T21:32:51.427-07:00This Is Really Great! Must Watch!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lj-x9ygQEGA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lj-x9ygQEGA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-78242252678942936592009-06-11T07:44:00.001-07:002009-06-11T07:44:59.363-07:00I Like Dumb Dog Tricks<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DalB-CvO7Qc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DalB-CvO7Qc</a><br /><br />This is kinda fun!Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-88985516079354510582009-06-08T10:10:00.000-07:002009-06-08T10:18:20.414-07:00Animal Quote Monday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-a4FVnAjKM-jG9WP5eITMS2SWnG-IQi32fgie3_wtmou3jD0n5Grj-mA3o9qU6dAYckW0b87a8JVehbs1sq2FQIBe_NbIqrPgMUhzCl95X698Td4ZVykHXaXU3RlTX5qf2KSDQ7zPemL/s1600-h/goat.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345005315986891874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-a4FVnAjKM-jG9WP5eITMS2SWnG-IQi32fgie3_wtmou3jD0n5Grj-mA3o9qU6dAYckW0b87a8JVehbs1sq2FQIBe_NbIqrPgMUhzCl95X698Td4ZVykHXaXU3RlTX5qf2KSDQ7zPemL/s320/goat.jpg" /></a><br /><div>"Truth is the tallest of all mountains"</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-1165416657679485852009-06-01T11:17:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:25:06.596-07:00Animal Quote Monday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX50tPMyfcix5-5G-3V0DmhC3ReOYlxGW_lOo1xiSaVKIjm97oMarf8gdrc7wjJ3wbGU2hzUXvc1W0n2-g7uN7t-7dsevHAIt6niqk7SwA0-bGlf50hpaiyJ3MuwK_sJ5TQa2wnztjYxg/s1600-h/hamster.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342426865957617442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX50tPMyfcix5-5G-3V0DmhC3ReOYlxGW_lOo1xiSaVKIjm97oMarf8gdrc7wjJ3wbGU2hzUXvc1W0n2-g7uN7t-7dsevHAIt6niqk7SwA0-bGlf50hpaiyJ3MuwK_sJ5TQa2wnztjYxg/s320/hamster.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Unless life also gives you sugar and water your lemonade is going to suck!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>-unknown</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-1200532221096188022009-05-30T22:25:00.000-07:002009-05-30T22:33:35.807-07:00Brotherly Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez7UrXiRmRBiPHdp4jxM573i0yknMN-TQ6mOUePKmoscX3JHiqsUG7oCCmUqiHJb2URHYCx6EXdVigpBdsuszpjACI-guPV0-pZf6JVNpfCesNwqdiwikMQfK58em5DlBSL9eH6VuXtFj/s1600-h/P1010084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341856666607056514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhez7UrXiRmRBiPHdp4jxM573i0yknMN-TQ6mOUePKmoscX3JHiqsUG7oCCmUqiHJb2URHYCx6EXdVigpBdsuszpjACI-guPV0-pZf6JVNpfCesNwqdiwikMQfK58em5DlBSL9eH6VuXtFj/s320/P1010084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><span style="color:#000000;">This is a the final paper I wrote in my seminary class and I will present it on Thursday. It goes along with a paper I wrote earlier in the class. Basically the assignment was to pick 5 verses from Matthew and dwell on them for 8 weeks. The picture is of me and my brother, a person I admire and love very much.</span></em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></em></div><br /><div></div>Matthew 28:16-20<br /><div></div><br /><div>I have been putting off writing this paper because I could not find an angle to take it that had not been done. The one thing I found from the three commentaries and five versions I have read on this passage is that they are all very similar. It seems to just be given that Jesus is telling the disciples and us to go out and spread his word.<br /><br />My question that I have been dwelling on is, what is that word. The obvious and what I have heard preached is that Jesus is the son of God, if you want salvation you must come through him, be Christian like the rest of us. But what if there is more here than has met the eye for the last 2000 years?<br /><br />This is what I have been thinking…<br /><br />It started when I wrote my paraphrase and tried to get inside the minds of the 11 who were there on that mountain. How had they felt? What had their thoughts been? And it went further when I was sitting in church last Sunday listening to the sermon. My pastor preached on the ascension in Acts 1:1-11. She talked about how the disciples watched Jesus ascend into heaven and just stood there starring up at where he’d been. She went on to say that she would have done the same thing. But is it what we should be doing.<br /><br />If we stand and stare up to heaven, who is here to get things done? Who will do the work Jesus has asked us to do? She played a song by Johnny Cash called “No Earthly Good.” The main line is, “ But you're so heavenly minded and you're no earthly good”<br /><br />It was a good sermon and got me to thinking about what we are to be doing here and now. But it wasn’t until a day latter when my brother, who was visiting and had been at church with me, commented on the sermon. He just briefly said how much he had enjoyed it and how he had never heard before a pastor say that we ought to be more focused on earth than heaven, or at least as much. He even confessed that he had gone to the pastor’s blog and reread the sermon.<br /><br />That was the moment it finally hit me, and the moment I realized what the Spirit was saying in this text. For you see, my brother is gay, and has been very hurt by the christian faith. In fact, I was shocked he had even heard the sermon; I thought he had just been playing with his blackberry, and I had given up hope that he would ever see God as more than a ploy to damage those who are different than us, because lets face it, that happens all the time, in all religions.<br /><br />What if we read this text again, but we wipe out everything we have ever heard about Jesus, Christianity, the disciples, and the kingdom of heaven. I encourage you to do that for just a minute. Try very hard to come at this as a total stranger to all things religious. Look at it as if you have never before heard of any of these people.<br /><br />(NIV) Matthew 28:16-20<br />16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.<br />18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing you in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”<br /><br /><br />I did, and here is what I heard. Eleven scared, confused and lonely people, they have been hurt by their very own. Their religion, their God, these things have turned out to be nothing they thought they were. Where was their happy ending? Where were the trumpets and victory that the scriptures promised? The faith they had devoted themselves to all their lives had killed their teacher, master, and friend.<br /><br />Had a faith with so much promise really turned into an angry mob that would go to any length to silence some one who would challenge conventional thinking? Even if that someone was God himself? They had become no earthly good.<br /><br />And then, there he is, their teacher. A man they had known, and yet not known at all. Coming back to them after being killed by the very faith he believed in. He was not a man or teacher in their eyes now, but he had become a God. Or, they were finally able to see him for what he had been all along. And does he tell them to go out and avenge his death? To right the wrong the world has done? To prove to everyone that they were right all along and that now, finally every one will know it and realize how sinful they are?<br /><br />No, he tells them to go to all corners of the earth and make everyone a teacher, disciple, baptizing them in the Father, Son, and Spirit. And what happens when you baptize? You submerse, cover, and surround.<br /><br />In this new light after letting the past go about what I’ve heard this means, I saw something new. I saw this through my gay brothers eyes, through the homeless eyes, through the eyes of the oppressed and battered, and I can never again unseen it.<br /><br />I have dwelled in the word, and the spirit has shown me that I, along with the eleven, have been called to embrace ALL of the earth, all of God’s children. Submerse them in Jesus’ love, cover them in God’s grace, and surround them with the Spirits strength. In short, love the unlovable, comfort those who have been hurt, be what Jesus was, and do what Jesus did.<br /><br />What similarities do we share today with the world back then? Are we so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good? Our we worshiping tradition over God? Dwelling in the word is an amazing thing, it can allow us to let go of preconceptions and see in God’s word what God needs us to see. This can be a fresh light, a new way of coming closer to being the people we are called to be.<br /><br />I think of my brother and others like him. They have been hurt by the very book, and people that have been called by God to baptize them. Jesus did not say, “Change them to be like you when you baptize them”. Or “If you try hard enough you can make a gay person straight, the homeless man on the corner wealthy, or even a sinner to repent.” He simply asks us to embrace them, and surround them in God, Himself, and The Spirit.<br /><br />Thanks be to God. Amen.</div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-34842903647918757272009-05-29T21:06:00.001-07:002009-05-29T21:16:24.431-07:00Cousins By A Nose<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjlSR5AT2rPlAVVuqWsgstAVALI3aYZvCWoxnCC8DajjKJmGtJ8iChdg4LM_672Rf63dNqMpdft_x_m79kW343GOZTG0ckY4o9eAtpiUQChyphenhyphenn3andMUHVSZaWidbYdHnI4fYbJuyl2l4C/s1600-h/P1010173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341464561795765074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjlSR5AT2rPlAVVuqWsgstAVALI3aYZvCWoxnCC8DajjKJmGtJ8iChdg4LM_672Rf63dNqMpdft_x_m79kW343GOZTG0ckY4o9eAtpiUQChyphenhyphenn3andMUHVSZaWidbYdHnI4fYbJuyl2l4C/s320/P1010173.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Two of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cousins</span> had a sleep <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">over tonight</span>, and as I watched them <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">watching</span> "Open Season 2" I noticed that they all have the very same nose. A cute little button nose!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixV1hs3nPtXUMa411-uyWHXVO-kcQ4MoFE_BVNRGEbuNlNeD8PCQ5bLSJE4SeR2tJlKS3k3Y0gwGoa2eGeTmTNHz9Px8rFKTEvfcGLiTuLNrMr0Rp5zM0zRmghOK6xkHn4xQVefVUmUinw/s1600-h/P1010177.JPG"></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHnoBZVSNKFNSZLCrVz1VhzVdpBOD8_omYk-A4s0NfLjN_Wb-RY8-zrCW2IjmksTx2NxYrEhnTj3KmPdEzJ6YY6TcSygsY8AxxYy_IOOB0933oDTwPKBfGbiUzfdQPVgAPYOvuPpZkApy/s1600-h/P1010180.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341464540722372754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHnoBZVSNKFNSZLCrVz1VhzVdpBOD8_omYk-A4s0NfLjN_Wb-RY8-zrCW2IjmksTx2NxYrEhnTj3KmPdEzJ6YY6TcSygsY8AxxYy_IOOB0933oDTwPKBfGbiUzfdQPVgAPYOvuPpZkApy/s320/P1010180.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>From left to right we have an 8, 4, 6, and 6 year old. The 2 in the middle are my kids' cousins and they live just 2blocks away. Fun for all of them. Two older <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ones are</span> missing here, and they have the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">same</span> n<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ose</span> too! Round <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">pinchable</span> cheeks also the same!</div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-72606453754606444882009-05-29T10:04:00.001-07:002009-05-29T10:07:34.835-07:00Life Lessons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknqsi1b2AZtc5tzHTTj5w6L4jvRqviI1XnbWnL9HvUeYeHI2ti_PPYBXhrpqnbpu1J4qke3uiKcaDMKtgPRGoYHtq8yIusqHfSOikF6crS19hlNSQh7CbC6b4DODFxsRu6bm9qG8GmVcb/s1600-h/birds-caribbean.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341293264237833266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknqsi1b2AZtc5tzHTTj5w6L4jvRqviI1XnbWnL9HvUeYeHI2ti_PPYBXhrpqnbpu1J4qke3uiKcaDMKtgPRGoYHtq8yIusqHfSOikF6crS19hlNSQh7CbC6b4DODFxsRu6bm9qG8GmVcb/s320/birds-caribbean.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on<br />by Regina Brett *columnist<br /></span><br /><em>To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.<br />It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:</em><br />1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.<br />2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.<br />3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.<br />4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.<br />5. Pay off your credit cards every month.<br />6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.<br />7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.<br />8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.<br />9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.<br />10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.<br />11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.<br />12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.<br />13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.<br />14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.<br />15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.<br />16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.<br />17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.<br />18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.<br />19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.<br />20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.<br />21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.<br />22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.<br />23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.<br />24. The most important sex organ is the brain.<br />25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.<br />26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"<br />27. Always choose life.<br />28. Forgive everyone everything.<br />29. What other people think of you is none of your business.<br />30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.<br />31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.<br />32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.<br />33. Believe in miracles.<br />34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.<br />35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.<br />36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.<br />37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.<br />38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.<br />39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.<br />40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.<br />41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.<br />42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.<br />43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.<br />44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.<br />45. The best is yet to come.<br />46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.<br />47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.<br />48. If you don't ask, you don't get.<br />49. Yield.<br />50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. </div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565438631580832638.post-60989757636247570342009-05-25T21:16:00.000-07:002009-05-25T21:26:28.275-07:00Animal Quote Monday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVg7VqFz7WhfFgYKZrOX_1b1mhsBtQ_P2NYW-58jPPvjsfY7qLc0LFI9J8Os9hQK6ZvvOUXb1p33aAcLbXxCVstjeomFkffdYB0UwYCR_tmA0FbP7UelbKTcu-EVVy_7BeSXy48oAW7eZ/s1600-h/2636163690_aea7b6b4fb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339983985369469234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVg7VqFz7WhfFgYKZrOX_1b1mhsBtQ_P2NYW-58jPPvjsfY7qLc0LFI9J8Os9hQK6ZvvOUXb1p33aAcLbXxCVstjeomFkffdYB0UwYCR_tmA0FbP7UelbKTcu-EVVy_7BeSXy48oAW7eZ/s320/2636163690_aea7b6b4fb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhLunGuwrhRXZ33rt5HBszpOO45N1Kh3xW2yqWrp9-u9FFFJ7YXemg9sel954ps2Y6hKQpsRNB6OoI9f52skPtbEigkDkNmy_NQ21RzcttK_yWRcLiOPQae5mAShHkPBaODjOa_wOG4To/s1600-h/lion.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339983251695646786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 1px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 1px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhLunGuwrhRXZ33rt5HBszpOO45N1Kh3xW2yqWrp9-u9FFFJ7YXemg9sel954ps2Y6hKQpsRNB6OoI9f52skPtbEigkDkNmy_NQ21RzcttK_yWRcLiOPQae5mAShHkPBaODjOa_wOG4To/s320/lion.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Scientists announced today that they have discovered a cure for apathy. However, they claim no one has shown the slightest interest in it. <a href="http://www.quoteland.com/tellafriend/index.asp?QUOTE_ID=3377"></a>-<a href="http://www.quoteland.com/author.asp?AUTHOR_ID=1271">George Carlin</a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>...<em>is it me, or does he have an extra foot?...</em></div></div>Julie Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07725706798011232122noreply@blogger.com1