I invited a friend to church this week. I have tried for some time to get her to come with me. I try not to nag her, because back when we were teenagers and she attended church every week (although when I would go with her because I had stayed the previous night at her house, it always seemed as if it was against her will) she never tried to “convert” me and she usually point that out to me when I invite her. So this last time when I invited her, I genuinely believed that it was a service that she would get something out of. She is Catholic, but she does not go to church. I know that her Dad tries to get her to come and I know what she says about that. I invite her anyway. I have known for a long time that she is angry at God. I understand that. I also know that it is okay to be angry at God. Just like everyone else that you get angry at, I feel that unless you confront them with what you are angry about you will never get over that anger.

So this week, I invited her again. In the past she has always said things like “I’ll think about it” or “I have to work” or “I really don’t feel well” or her husband “is going to be home and I have not seen him for a while” not exact quotes but things along those lines. Which even when it was a possibility I never received a “Yes” before so I tried not to hold much hope about it. OBVIOUSLY evangelism is not my thing.

This time was different. I invited and she said that she would have to check the work schedule for the weekend. The next day I spoke to her and she said YES! She came over that night and we had a great visit but I also feared that because she is angry at God, my enthusiasm would scare her off. I know that sounds weird but you would have to understand this friend of mine.

Before she came over, we had been talking on the phone and she asked me “What are you expecting from this? From me going to church with you?” and when she asked she said that I really should not have to think about it. Luckily I really didn’t. I told her that, everything in my life that I have enjoyed I have always tried to share with her. This was not different, especially now since this is such a big part of my life. It is the center of it. She asked if I was going to expect her to join me on a regular basis and I told her that I highly doubted she would because our schedules are so different but if it she got enough out it – it would not matter and she can come during any service she wanted with her children and husband. I also told her that I know how she feels about God right now and how she is angry with him and that maybe this will shed a new light and if nothing else, because she is still Catholic – maybe one day if someone asks her about it, she will know that this is different from the way she was taught and maybe direct them to us so that we can help them take their next step. Her reaction “Oh – you want to use me as a recruiter” she was laughing and said she was kidding and that she understood. Still, she said she would join me.

She came over, we had a great visit. She went home. I spoke to her the next afternoon at 1:30 and reminded her that church starts at 5:30. Something in her voice made me wonder, but she said she was coming and that she would probably have her oldest daughter with her. Which is great, she had been there before. I had great hope. My family and I arrived early in the hopes of being able to meet her when she walked in the door – it is a big church – so that she would not have to hunt us down. At 5:22 I called her house. Her oldest daughter picked up the phone, told me she was sleeping and was not feeling well. I simply asked her to tell her Mom I called and would talk to her later. I know she has been having some issues with her health lately, I do not doubt that she was not feeling well…however, I must say – I was crushed. I simply want to share with my friend what makes me the happiest I have ever been. I want her to be this happy. I wish I weren’t so affected by her not coming. Inviting people to church is so hard for me, so out of my comfort zone. How do you try again when it hurts so bad when your efforts seem to fail?

I added a “hit counter” to my post the other day. Curious to see if anyone was visiting since I have only had ONE COMMENT in the history of my blog. So I dare you people… are you brave enough to say hello and let me know you are visiting…share with me what you think of any particular post, tell me it’s great, it sucks, or even for those who visit and actually know me – inquire about “hey, where’s my props?”
(that kind of language just does not EVER sound or feel right from me does it?)

Well everyone…again, I double dog, no triple, make that QUADRUPLE dog dare ya – post a comment. Let me know you were here. (this could be a job for the CSI unit!)

I was going to title this post “Cat lovers know” but then I remembered that some vacuum commercial tagged that line already for the same thing.

Anyway, this morning I was sitting at the table in my furry robe and fuzzy slippers, both of which are animal print, drinking my orange cappuccino and reading from 1 Samuel (which really has nothing to do with this post, but I am setting a scene here). Paige and I had just finished breakfast and I realize that our cat Ash is actually playing with Paige or vice-versa. What struck me odd is that this particular cat…well she is weird and prefers to be the one to initiate contact. Anyway, I watched the two of them play on the kitchen floor for at least 10 minutes – Paige on her hands and knees sliding something past the cat and the cat pouncing and chasing the darn thing. The cat would even hide behind things in a hunting crouch in anticipation for this. What was it? Well, from the picture, cat lovers would know. For the rest of you, it was a MILK RING. Actually there were two of them. I am not quite sure who was getting more pleasure out of this, the cat or Paige…either way, it was great fun for both of them and the best thing…it was a milk ring.

This made me laugh so hard that I had to share it immediately.

Foreign Signs (meaning – signs found in foreign countries)

In a Tokyo Hotel: Is forbitten to steal hotel towels please. If you
are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis.

In another Japanese hotel room: Please to bathe inside the tub.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next day.
During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator: Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when
lit up.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator: To move the cabin, push button for
wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one
should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going
alphabetically by national order.

In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front
desk.

In a hotel in Athens: Visitors are expected to complain at the office
between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In a Yugoslavian hotel: The flattening of underwear with pleasure is
the job of the chambermaid.

In a Japanese hotel: You are invited to take advantage of the
chambermaid.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox
monastary: You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian
and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except
Thursday.

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers: Not to perambulate the
corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you nothing to hope
for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel: Salad a firm’s own make; limpid red
beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck
let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people’s fashion.

In a Hong Kong supermarket: For your convenience, we recommend
courageous, efficient self-service.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs.

In a Bangkok dry cleaner’s: Drop your trousers here for best results.

Outside a Paris dress shop: Dresses for street walking.

In a Rhodes tailor shop: Order your summers suit. Because is big rush
we will execute customers in strict rotation.

Similarly, from the Soviet Weekly: There will be a Moscow Exhibition
of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and sculptors. These were
executed over the past two years.

In an East African newspaper: A new swimming pool is rapidly taking
shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of their workers.

In a Vienna hotel: In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the hotel
porter.

A sign posted in Germany’s Black Forest: It is strictly forbidden on
our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for
instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are
married with each other for that purpose.

In a Zurich hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests
of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be
used for this purpose.

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist: Teeth extrcted by the
latest Methodists.

A translated sentence from a Russian chess book: A lot of water has
been passed under the bridge since this variation has been played.

In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the
afternoon having a good time.

In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency: Take one of our horse-driven city
tours — we guarantee no miscarriages.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to ride on
your own ass?

On the faucet in a Finnish washroom: To stop the drip, turn cock to
right.

In the window of a Swedish furrier: Fur coats made for ladies from
their own skin.

On the box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong: Guaranteed to work
throughout its useful life.

Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan: Stop: Drive Sideways.

In a Swiss mountain inn: Special today — no ice cream.

In a Bangkok temple: It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner
if dressed as a man.

In a Tokyo bar: Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts.

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take your bags and send them
in all directions.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room: If this is your first visit to the
USSR, you are welcome to it.

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: Ladies are requested not to have
children in the bar.

At a Budapest zoo: Please do not feed the animals. If you have any
suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

In the office of a Roman doctor: Specialist in women and other
diseases.

In an Acapulco hotel: The manager has personally passed all the water
served here.

In a Tokyo shop: Our nylons cost more than common, but you’ll find
they are best in the long run.

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air
conditioner: Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of warm in
your room, please control yourself.

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo: When passenger of foot
heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first,
but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
– English well talking.
– Here speeching American.

Disclaimer
The joke on this page was obtained from the FSF’s email archives of the GNU Project.
The Free Software Foundation claims no copyrights on this joke.

Wow, I ran into my pal Stephen at church on Saturday and he gave me crap for not posting on my blog. Though he liked my last post, he let me know that it was time for an update.

Well, I have NOTHING profound to share. Nothing that a MIXED audience would appreciate, and in reviewing my previous posts I found that some things were geared toward those who were part of or know my family and others were for the world in general. I began to think that I should try to post only those things that the world would like to know OR the things that get me fired up. But then I realized that my family gets me fired up and therefore…I haven’t posted. I can not decide.

However, in the grand scheme of things this blog was primarily a place for me to release the inner turmoil in my brain. Well, maybe “turmoil” is the wrong word but the crap that goes on all day long that keeps the gears rolling well into my sleep.

For instance, I must be very annoyed at the service I have received in public establishments lately. My sleep was interrupted last night by constant dreams of being treated poorly in stores, or restaurants, or in any social setting. My husband mentioned that I had been really restless all night long and when I woke up I felt FRUSTRATED and ANGRY and TIRED.

Honestly, I have been having REALLY wacky dreams lately, ask Corey, he even included me in his “random” post.

So I am thinking maybe I should make this a “Random” type post:

Breanna got a McJob…Her first try at getting a job and she got it…great for the self esteem I am sure

Paige has taken to wearing a pin striped hat and denim jacket lately

Dave is the world’s best spouse (and that includes me)

I haven’t talked to my mom in a few days and I should call her this evening (note to self)

I am past the half way point in my bridal consultant studies

I am consulting for a cousin of a friend (for free) as if it were a real gig in order to figure out time and hours spent so that I can work up a fee schedule. It has been fun so far. The wedding is in less than 6 months!

Pink finally released a new song! Stupid Girls is the title…the song is so true.

We, the GCC staff, got a sneak peek at the new technology in the auditorium…it is gonna be so COOL!

I realize that random can be a dangerous posting option…wow, I have nothing profound to say – however I have a plethora of random thoughts. I do believe I should stop now.

So, Stephen, buddy, pal this one is for you!

Here is the church….

….without a steeple

Open the door….

And see all the LEGO people!

This is a church made entirely out of Lego. NO, it is
not life size however the specs are pretty darn impressive:

How long to build it?
It was about a year and a half of planning, building and photographing.

How many pieces of LEGO to build it?
More than 75.000

How big is it? About 7 feet by 5 1/2 feet by 30 inches (2.2m x 1.7m x 0.76m)

How many lego people does it seat?
1.372 (Sounds like a MEGA church to me!)

How many windows?
3.976

It also features a balcony, a Narthex, stairs to the balcony, restrooms, coat rooms, several mosaics, a nave, a baptistery, an alter, a crucifix, a pulpit and an elaborate pipe organ.
What? No cafe? What’s up with that?

(To see more amazing pictures of the Lego church clickon the first picture above)

Yeah, I know, the new year started like 2 weeks ago – but c’mon, give a gal a break. It has been a crazy year already. The first week of the year rang in with a raging case of the stomach flu which started with Paige, landed me in the hospital for a day, and ended at Breanna. Dave did not get it so I am going to blame him as “the carrier”.

Week 2, back at work, making up for a lost week and lots of meetings/appointments scheduled for the week: bible studies, women’s retreat planning, ultrasound,I pawned off the magnet school open house on Dave otherwise there would not have been one day when I did not have a meeting or appointment! I take that back, Thursday was not really a meeting – we all went to New Community services at church so that does not count.

Breanna and I have just returned home from seeing the movie Fun With Dick and Jane. (I had no clue that it was a remake of a movie by the same name that was released back in 1977 starring George Segal and Jane Fonda. I may have to try to rent it just for the opportunity to see any comparisons.) Anyway, I was reading some reviews for this movie and some of them stated that it was “no fun”. So, I guess Breanna and I along with our friends the Teebo girls (name spelled wrong to protect the innocent) must be easily amused because we lauged our butts off through most of the movie. At one point I grabbed the seat in front of me and was bent over laughing! It would be a great movie for a first date… ya know, see what the other person laughs at. Also good for date night with the spousal unit or current significant other. I chose my teenage daughter to join me – we were half of a mother and daughter foursome and we all had a great time. As far as taking younger kids to see it, well the F-word was used a couple of times and there was “implied sex” twice and discussion of sex one other time. They are your kids, you decide.

Well, this officially ends my first blog for the year of 2006. Mom, are ya happy now? Luv ya!

MOST AWESOME MOVIE! Loved that part that began with the air-raid and ended with the Professor telling Lucy that she won’t find her way back through “there” again.

Biblical comparisons – this was pretty cool for me since I call myself a scripture infant.

• Forgiveness of sin: Aslan forgiving Edmund (I LOVED THAT PART!!!)
• Sacrifice and resurrection: can not remark more here without giving away the movie to those who have yet to see it
• The bible commonly interpreted differently by different people: mis-interpretation of the Ancient Word by the White Witch

Those were the real obvious ones to me, there were others but it would be too detailed for those who want to see for themselves.

Paige and I were very happy to have finished The Magicians Nephew just minutes before we headed out the door to go see this movie. It made us feel rather educated about how Narnia came to be and the story behind the story. Oh, and the Neevil – Paige was happy that we got to see the Neevil.

(Man, I hope this works!)

Here is that 2 minute video of Kira on her 2nd day of life!

Dave enjoying the gift that KELLY bought him.

(I will take some credit, I bought the new DVD player)

Friday December 23: Rise and shine – well Dave did – at 6 a.m. and wakes Breanna to send her off to school. He returns to wake up Paige and as we expected she acts like a hibernating bear. Really, what do they do the last day before break? She gets to stay home. We all sleep in some more. When we finally appear from our cave, we head South to shop for last minute gifts. (Thanks again Kelly, Dave loved the gift). Paige and I head one way, Dave another. When Paige and I are done she spots Dave to let him know that we are walking over to TGI Fridays and to meet us there for lunch. We enjoy lunch (sort of – I wanted a burger but I’m “not allowed” according to the medical professionals taking care of my jaw) and then head back to pick Breanna up from school who professes cruelty upon realizing that Paige was allowed to stay home. We gear up to head out to my sister Amy’s for more visiting – she calls to tell us to wait because she is not home. 4:30 she is home, we pack up the truck and head toward LaPorte. We enter and Breanna presents Scott (sister’s boyfriend) with the Ghetto Lightsabers that we made him from wrapping paper tubes – 2 minutes later they were destroyed in battle with his 6 year old daughter Kateri. We all take turns holding “the cuteness” (Breanna’s nickname for the new baby Kira), chaos follows as Scott riles up all of the kids that can walk – that would be 6 of the 7 that were there. Amy makes a comment about how the baby and I have the same number of chins – she thinks its funny to jab at me about my weight. Good times. Gifts exchange, all appear happy, we load up the truck and travel toward home during which we poke fun at the tacky inflatable Christmas lawn decorations and poorly planned light displays. I think we had dinner. Off to bed we go.

Saturday December 24: Rise and shine at 7:15 a.m. wake the kids and load them up in the truck, we all remain in our jammies except Dave (party pooper), and head to my Mom and Dad’s for breakfast. We arrive 5 minutes ahead of schedule and are jokingly told we have to leave and come back. Mom is in the kitchen starting breakfast, Breanna joins in, I leave …too many chefs ya know. Paige sets the table, I chat with Pops and then pour beverages. Breanna decides to make scrambled eggs on an electric griddle…you have to make your own mistakes…and the eggs run off the edge of it into the grooves. Mom finishes at the stove and Breanna tries her luck at making the eggs in a regular skillet…SUCCESS! A yummy breakfast of french toast with strawberries or blueberries, sausage, and eggs is served. Fabulous conversation, we all stuff ourselves. Mom and I clean up the mess and do the dishes – I wash, she dries since she knows where things go. We exchange gifts, and everyone is happy – Thanks Mom, Dad and Santa. Dave finally talks to his Dad and nails down a time for us to visit. We leave my parents house around noon and head home to reload. I decide it is a good time to visit Osco’s to pick up some cream for the rash on my face…only to learn that ANY shopping on Christmas eve is a bad idea. Arrive back home at 1:30 (ish) and away we head toward Dave’s parent’s house. Great visit, gifts are exchanged all are happy, especially Paige who received 2 out of the 3 items in the Princess Alexa collection that she has been longing for. We head downstairs to pretend that we are the ping-pong champions of the world…in reality we SUCK. Breanna’s Dad picks her up at 3:00 or so and is to return to our house around 9 p.m.. We visit some more, ping and pong some more. Leave around 6:00 and head toward the Landry household to see if our secret Santa recipients are home – no they are not. We change course and go to Dave’s sister Bobbi’s home. We visit, Paige receives the 3rd piece of the Princess Alexa collection and believes that life can not get any better. Paige continues to entertain her Aunt and is therefore invited to spend the night on Monday. Around 8:00 we contact the Landry’s (who are Bobbi’s daughter Jenny and her husband Dennis) so we head out to play Santa. We arrive, the baby is sleeping – darn it, and they wont wake him. So we give them their gifts. Paige receive a little girl type make up kit and proceeds to make Jenny look all glittery while Dave and Dennis talk sports. I realize that it is 9:30+ and tell Dave that we need to get home for Breanna. As we get in the truck Breanna calls from my parents house so we head back there to pick her up. She hops in the truck pretty upset because her Buscia keeps referring to her as a lost sheep because she does not attend a Catholic church and her relatives from Texas called her a Satan worshipper because of the way she dresses. Way to go J***ski family, way to make her want to visit more. For those of you who don’t know – Breanna loves to dress goth and likes heavy metal, anime and read about vampires and witches and such. There are no pentagrams drawn under her bed, no animal sacrifices in the basement, the symbols she writes with are CHINESE. She is WAY too happy to be a depressed, gothic Satan worshipper. Not to mention that she attends church with us every weekend and goes to the High School Ministry there whenever possible. So, obviously a bad end to an otherwise delightful day for us. She was very relieved to arrive home as were we all sometime after 10 p.m.. I know that we did dinner – Wendy’s right before they closed between Dave’s Parents house and his sister Bobbi’s. So, home we are. I go online and pull up the Santa Tracker and he was in Florida – Cape Canaveral area. Paige is not worried. I tell her she needs to get ready for bed, so milk and cookies are put out but no teeth have been brushed. I check NORAD for Santa again and he is in the Big Apple. Paige sees the proximity of New York and Indiana and decides she better start hauling her but to bed. Teeth are brushed, jammies on, parents kissed goodnight. I do my last minute thing and go to bed while Dave and Breanna stay up to “wait for Santa”.

Sunday December 25 THE BIG DAY: 5:00 a.m. I awake for NO APPARENT FREAKING REASON. So, I get a great surprise – StarGate is on at 5 a.m. on Sundays! YAY! So, I watch StarGate, then The Twilight Zone comes on and about 15 minutes later I spot a little blonde head poking out of the hallway. She comes in my room to let me know that Santa has indeed been there and crawls into bed with me. We watch Twilight Zone and something wakes up Dave and while he is out of the room for a minute we kill the TV and head out so as not to keep him up. I head for the kitchen to begin making the giant baked french toast and apple bake, and the egg casserole /baked omelet that I had planned only to find that during my trip to the store I FORGOT THE EGGS! Paige spots her stocking and lovingly cuddles the stuffed “dingo” that he left in it. I stress some more and Dave decides to stay awake and try to comfort me with assurances that instant pancakes will be fine for breakfast. I am still heartbroken but Hungry Jack pancakes and bacon it is. Breanna wakes up and we decide to dive into gifts before breakfast – growing up with my parents that would have been sacreligious if there had been a religion – but hey, I was starting my own traditions this year! So, gifts are opened and adored. I move on to the breakfast thing – the pancakes sucked. Everyone reamains in their jammies all day and we eat whatever we feel like – mainly pie. The day continues with Breanna retreating to her room to enjoy her individual gifts, Paige slowly and gradually opens each package and enjoys each gift in it’s own time. Dave naps, I nap. Later in the evening I ask Paige if she wants me to read a story to her – of course she does. So, I decide to read to her one of my Christmas gifts (I receive the first three of the Narnia chronicles in hardback! YAY!) so we begin reading The Magician’s Nephew. We read almost half the book before we called it a night.

Monday December 26th: We wake up and veg out some more. Paige and I read several more chapters of The Magician’s Nephew before we take her to her Aunt Bobbi’s house to stay the night. (Princess Alexa and a gaggle of stuffed animals and such joined her) Went to the visitation of my cousin who passed away. Need a pick me up so we headed to Blockbuster. Watched the movie The Wedding Date and fell in love with Dermot Mulroney all over again, and The 40 Year Old Virgin is FREAKING HILARIOUS! Went to bed at 1 a.m. because I was enjoying the deleted scenes and the gag reel.

Tuesday December 27th: Dave gets to stay home but I return to work. After work I grab Dave and Breanna and head over to pick up my father so that we can attend my cousin’s “wake”. Because I have missed so much work with my Dad’s surgery and my bronchitis and Mom’s hospital stay I decided it best to skip the funeral. Dave dropped Dad and I off but we arrive later than expected and it was almost over. So Dave drops off Breanna at a friend’s house, returns for us and we go back to my Pop’s house and visit with him for a couple hours. I learn that I really dont like Lofthouse Sugar cookies covered with frosting and sprinkles and am reminded why the medical professionals have advised against me eating that type of food. Hard foods make my face and jaw hurt. So, around 4 ish we travel to fetch Paige from her Aunt’s house and then we go pick Breanna up from her friends house. We come home eat dinner, except Paige who says she is not hungry. Go to bed after reading some more of The Magician’s Nephew…or did we. We do go to bed. 11 p.m. Paige comes in our room and is shaking Dave awake to tell him something. Moments later I hear him in the living room with her, and she is vomiting. So, I get up, they are in the bathroom and she is over the toilet getting sick. He is watching over her so I go and fetch the Pepto. She cleans up, rinses her mouth, takes Pepto, brushes her teeth and heads out to the couch. I hang with her a second to see if her belly hurts or if she needs anything. Dave sits up with her for awhile. Sometime later Dave returns to bed and then I hear a horrible noise and Dave pops up like a jack in the box. I dont do well with vomit so I let him be. By 5:30 he is beat, has only had 2 hours sleep – vomiting and bowel issues from Paige all night and so he has called in to work to let them know he will be late. He makes more money than me and tells me that I get to stay home and take her to the doctor, plus she is still awake so I go hang with her on the couch. She is hungry of course so I recall the diet they prescribed the last time she could not keep food down. The B.R.A.T. diet is bananas, rice, apples or toast. So, Paige would like an apple and some Sprite. I cut one up for her. Three pieces in she is done. Comes back to the couch and says that she thinks she is gonna puke. When she is positive she gives the signal and I spring up and throw open the bathroom door and lift the lid just in time for her to hurl in the proper place. She is cleaned up again. She lays down on the couch with cartoons and I lay back down to get more sleep and wait for the doctor’s office to open. She wakes me at 9:00, my face is killing me. I call the doctor. Her pediatrician is booked but another can see her at 11:40 – works for us. She is SO hungry and weak she starts counting the minutes until we leave. I talk her into showering/bathing and by 11:00 we are ready to go. So, while we wait for the good doctor we continue with The Magician’s Nephew. The doctor confirms that she has a virus. I will not share the treatment he prescribed here. It was pretty traumatic for Paige, but it was administered at 2:07 p.m. and the doctor said she had to wait an hour before she tried any food. By 2:40 she was sleeping and is still sleeping. It is currently 4:13. The doctor said that it is pretty contagious. So, here is to praying that the virus has been contained and that she can hold down some food and that I don’t catch the darn thing and miss even more work.

Isn’t she pathetic looking?