Sunday, March 30, 2008

Smash and Grab

While my children and I were in church this morning some thieves came into the church parking lot, broke out the window in my car and took all my electronic equipment. Along with plenty of other items. Four or five other cars got hit at the same time. We didn't hear a thing. It wasn't until we came outside that we saw the glass everywhere. I was (and am) sick to my stomach over the whole thing. This happened in broad daylight, next to a well traveled road, while people are inside worshiping. The forensics officer who came with the crime lab to get finger prints and lists of items stolen said it was a smash and grab. Whatever they could pawn they took. If you ask me, it takes a real piece of work to steal from others. The officer said people often do this sort of thing to get quick cash...usually for drugs. In the big scheme of things they did just steal "things", and no one was hurt. That is what matters the most. It doesn't take away from the frustration of dealing with fixing the broken car, and dealing with insurance. It's not fair....but then again life isn't always fair, is it? Lots of bad things happen to good people. I know the Lord will take care of us. We'll be fine, even if it is a nuisance to deal with. I have a feeling that the people that did this are a lot worse off then I am. The pain they caused from the material things they stole is nothing compared to what's lacking in their hearts.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Scaring the Postman

My oldest son takes medicine and I had to go get it from the post office this morning (our insurance allows us to get it through the mail). I was looking quite attractive. (giggle,giggle) No makeup at all. Hair pulled up in a clip. Jogging pants and a sweatshirt. To my credit I did wash my face and brush my teeth:) I was looking at myself in the rear view mirror of the car on the way over to the P.O. Don't worry I am a careful driver, I didn't stare at myself for very long.... I just spent a few seconds observing that I look totally different without makeup on or my hair curled. Really, it's amazing. Kind of like those before and after pictures where the one looking at the picture says, "Is that the same woman?" HaHa. Luckily, I'm confident enough in my own skin to be able to laugh at myself. Hey, I still have a nice smile, even without lip gloss on!!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Samson the Shedder

I've mentioned before that we have a cat named Samson. Samson is a long, long, (did I mention long?) haired cat. He is a cat that sheds. It drives me nuts. I'm constantly getting the lint brush after him. I have even gone so far as to get one of my used dryer sheets to wipe him down. (Hey, he does have that lovely lavender scent after I get through with him.) He is a very laid back cat, which in the big scheme of things is good. He pretty much lives in a crazy house so he's used to anything we throw at him. (not literally) So here is the deal with Samson and me this week. A belt broke in my spiffy G5 Kirby vacuum cleaner. I LOVE my vacuum cleaner and I LOVE to vacuum. Just between you and me I probably need some therapy for that.....Anyway, the belt broke so I have not been able to vacuum. Not only was this traumatic for me, the fur got out of control. Tonight I could stand it no longer. I took the plastic pet brush to get Samson's fur out of my rug. I pulled up so much fur it looked like a dead rat laying there on the floor. (Get the picture?) Ewww.....I called the kids in to look at it. They laughed their heads off. I could have knit a sweater from the stuff. Gross. I want my vacuum back!!!

Speaking of knitting a sweater out of pet fur.....you want to hear something gross? This is the honest truth. I saw a story on TV the other night (probably FOX). This couple loved their two dogs very much and the dogs got old and passed away. The man and woman had the dogs fur spun into yarn and she made his and hers sweaters out of it! Can you believe it?! There was a picture of them wearing the sweaters. Yuck. I'm sorry but they looked like dog fur. I just think that would be yucky. I mean wouldn't that be the equivalent of us making sweaters out of our hair? Ick.

Okay. That was my thought for the day. Sad, I know. That's the best I could do:)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Do Me A Favor?

I've been blogging for a little over a year and have really enjoyed it. The writer in me is having a ton of fun. So here is the deal....My husband fixed me up with a blog map so that I could see the places that people are logging on at to read my blog. It is so cool! I have readers all over the United States, Canada, Poland, and Australia. I'd really love to have my readers make comments just to say hi and tell me how they came across my blog and the state or country they are from. Thanks!

Okay. I Confess...

Alright, I confess...I'm having a stay in my pajamas type of day. I know I need to get dressed eventually but for right now I'm pretty comfortable. I've been REALLY busy the first two days of the work week, and I will be REALLY busy the last two days of the work week so I am taking advantage of the down time and am having a relaxing day today. Wearing my pajamas around the house is part of that:) I was looking at my Classmates.com site and had an enjoyable time catching up with former classmates. It is interesting to read and find out what ones former classmates have been up to over the past 20 plus years. Whew! For me to even say 20 plus years is a little shocking. I graduated from high school in 1986. Good grief, where in the world did the time go? My kids think I'm ancient. I said, "No I'm not! I'm still cool.", to which my son replied, "see, cool isn't even the word anymore! That just proves you are old." I was defeated....and by an almost 13 year old. Boy that stinks. This is the same child that,when at age 6, he saw some of my "old" records thought they were the "most biggest" CD's he'd ever seen! I had to explain that it was a record (not a CD) and that mommy used to listen to these on a record player. It was a humbling experience. I felt like a museum curator.....having to explain about ancient artifacts. Hmmmppffff!!!! Old or not, I loved the 80's. The Class of '86 Rules!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Give Me A Break

Don't you hate it when twig people (movie stars, models) say something like, " oh yeah. I used to be fat when I was growing up." Puh-leeze they used to weigh 100 lbs instead of 95! Arrggghh! I was flipping channels the other day and a former model was on talking about how she gained weight since she quit modeling. She looked normal if you ask me (and I realize you didn't but that doesn't stop me:). What is the deal with that? Don't you just wanna smack people like that? Those of us that wish to lose some weight look at these women and think, "Give me a break lady! 115 lbs on a 5'9" frame is not fat! My goodness you look like a stick figure." The whole thing frustrates me to no end and makes me want to give up and go eat a scoop of chocolate peanut butter ice cream!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Baptism of A Famous Muslim

Hmmm......What to think of the converted Muslim man who was baptized by the Pope on Easter? Now, this man says his and his wife's lives are being threatened. Hmm.......again. Muslims upset that he converted and upset that he felt the need to be baptized in such a public way. I don't know his reasoning for requesting such a public baptism, but nonetheless that was his decision to make. He had to know that it would not be taken well within the Muslim community. They are highly offended by this action. I just wonder what will happen, if anything, because of his conversion? In many of the more militant Islamic countries of this world, conversion would mean sure death. It got me to thinking about so many brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world that live under daily persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. I like to believe my faith is so strong that I would rather die then forsake my Lord. Scary. Who knows? Maybe some day it will come to that. In the meantime we, as Christians, need to remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who face life and death challenges every day---and do so because of what we celebrated yesterday. A God that lives! They know the Truth. Everyone comes to a time in their own life where they must ask them self the life altering question---What do I really believe about Jesus? I either think He was a lunatic, a liar, or truly is Lord. After all, Christ, claimed to be the Son of God. He said, " I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life". He didn't say he was ONE of the ways. He IS the way. He claimed, No one comes to the Father but by ME. So the question to ask yourself is this: What do I believe? Do I think he was crazy and talking out of his head about nonsense? Therefore He is a lunatic? Do I think he was a liar and was trying to deceive people? OR do I believe Him and take Him at His word and call Him Lord? Think about it. Seriously, think about it. Your answer will change everything.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Because He Lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow....because he lives all fear is gone...because I know who holds the future, my life is worth the living just because He lives. Christmas is special because it is Jesus, the Son of God, coming to Earth as a baby. Easter is amazing because it is the death and three days later the resurrection of this same Jesus. He lives. Death could not stop Him, it could not keep Him, and it certainly did not conquer Him. With His death He paid a debt I alone could never repay. He sacrificed himself so that I might live. God's plan for salvation is simple yet is one that many do not understand and because they don't understand it they choose to either ignore it, condemn it, or believe that is a" nice story" for some people but not for them. But the truth is God loves each of us so much that He sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Because Christ lives we can live too.

Happy Easter to all my family and friends!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Building Forts

As a child I was outside a lot. I remember riding my bike down our country road, hitting bumps and trying to make my bike go airborne. I remember trekking through the woods with my sister and neighborhood friend, Missy. We made "a fort" in the woods over behind the clothesline in our backyard. I remember asking mom for "a roof" for my fort on the front porch. She gave me an old bed spread to use and I played out there for a long while. I went for walks. (not to mention the half mile hike to and from the bus stop each day:) In the summer we would swim in the two fresh water ponds that Missy's grandparents owned. We swam with snapping turtles, fish, clams, and water snakes. I had enough silt in the bottom of my bathing suit after swimming it would clog the tub drain!! But boy did we have fun! I think it was the winter of '79, I would have been in 5th grade. It snowed and snowed and snowed. Then it drifted. We were out of school and wow, could we make some forts. I remember digging and digging making tunnels in the drifts. Snow fort!

Do kids still play like this? I had such a good time being outside and using my imagination. Now it seems like kids of the present generation like to play in a "virtual" world... instead of the one they've got. They'd spend hours in front of the TV playing games if we let them. Now, it is true, times have changed. I really don't want my kids to go too far down the road because I'm scared of the nuts that are out there that might hurt my children. There isn't the same kind of freedom to roam around as there used to be. It's a shame really, because I think they are missing out, and yet they don't even realize it. Sure they are more technologically advanced then any other generation before them. They know their way around a computer keyboard, can text with lightening speed, and know all the latest gaming news. But are children as creative as they used to be? I don't know....I'm just wondering. Now, their virtual worlds are created for them, instead of having to "make" their play world on their own. I just think they are missing out on something valuable.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Lord Willing and The Creek Don't Rise!

I'm sure everyone has seen the flooding all over the midwest. They say that it's going to get worse before it gets better. This morning I watched a story about some people in their truck (with a long horse trailer behind them) that were stuck in the middle of rising water. Evidently, the road had been dry at 3 am but by the time they had packed their stuff to leave the water had gotten high...they thought they could make it across since they had a big truck, but alas even big trucks can stall out. Have you ever been stuck in a flooded area? It's pretty scary, especially if the water is moving fast.

Here is Tennessee we have flash flooding. In the Spring schools have actually had to close due to flooding. In the early 90's I was on my way to a friends house on a major highway through town when BLAM! I was in deep water before I knew it! There was a small compact car caught in the middle of the street. The water had rushed into the car and the two ladies had to get out and walk (knee deep) to higher ground. I hugged the concrete median in my Toyota Corolla and prayed that my car wouldn't stall. I was scared to death. Once you are in the middle of something like that you can't really turn around, and you're scared to go ahead, but just sitting there you will for sure get water in your car...so on I went. I made it, but was a nervous wreck for the rest of the trip. Unknown water can definitely be a scary thing.

Really if you think about it water is a mysterious thing...water in its steam or boiling form can burn us or be used for power, in its frozen form we can have dangerous driving conditions or use it to cool our tea, in a vapor form it can give moisture to dry air but too much and it causes mildew, rain is necessary for our crops to thrive, but an abundance of rain can cause severe, damaging flooding. We have to drink enough water or we will die. A large part of our body is made up of water, as is most of our Earth. Water truly is an amazing thing.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Thermal Fusion

Now, from this title you might think that I'm going to discuss some scientific something or other. The thermal fusion I'm talking about does cause heat, but someone probably won't find it in the latest science journals. I'm talking about Arbonne's popular thermal fusion facial masque. (Sorry, for bursting your bubble...those of you that are science buffs and might have been expecting something a bit more in depth.)

I had the masque on last night. Quite an attractive look for me. Of course the white granular paste on my face pretty much covered everything but my mouth and eyes. Don't allow your mind to dwell on that picture for too terribly long. I left it on for a little while...while it dried I read a book. I have to say that when I rinsed my face my skin was soft and smooth. I had that healthy, rosy glow about me. I love this masque. (as much as I can love an inanimate object:) After my beauty ritual I made my way out to the kitchen. My daughter was sitting at the table. Our conversation went something like this:

"Mom, your face is red." "Yes, I know." "What did you do to yourself?" " I applied a facial masque. The redness will go away in a few minutes. It's normal." "You sure?" "Yes. Positive." "Okayyyy, if you say so." She stares at my face for a little while, giving me the once over, not sure if I'm telling her the truth or not. I went about my business, rosy glow and all, and after a few minutes I felt compelled to go back and show Breanna that my face was back to normal. (as normal as it gets anyway)

The other day I was using the Awakening Scrub while in the bath tub. It is another one of my favorite products from Arbonne. It smooths and moisturizes the skin and smells wonderful. The only drawback is that when rinsing off it leaves some residue in the tub. The next person in the shower has to be careful not to slip and break their neck. I did warn my younger son to be careful. He just shook his head.

The other day I was looking at my husband's hands. They were looking winter worn and dry. I being the loving wife (and Arbonne consultant) told him he needed to go put some of the hand lotion on those hands of his. Hey, what can I say? I'm all about "Arbonnizing" my family.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Reptilian Ruckus

Okay, don't ask me where my thoughts wander...that is a weird and scary place...I don't even know why things come into my mind, so how can I explain them to you? I saw a snake on TV the other day. (I was flipping around, it was probably the animal channel or something.) It got me to thinking about my childhood. (just stick with me on this, there really is a connection.) When I was 5 my family moved down the road to property that was wooded. We lived about a 1/2 mile down a gravel, "country" road. Our house sat in an area that had been cleared in the woods. Very nice. Very pretty. Very quiet. VERY SNAKE-Y! You see, our slithery neighbors did not like that we had moved into their territory---they were very polite, but definitely let us know that they were not moving out anytime soon!

My memories are still vivid over the first several years of our living there.....

----A nest of baby snakes in a pile of leaves next to the driveway where mom parked her car.

---My sister, neighbor girl and I were out playing behind our playhouse when we saw what appeared to be a baby snake. Now we were young, but not stupid. I went into the house (me being the oldest and of course the more mature of the group). Mom was on the phone with her friend Norma. "Mom, we found a snake." (now keep in mind that there is no love loss between my mother and snakes.) She told Norma she had to go. Even though she was probably scared, she got the shovel and made some confetti out of that snake. I don't even think he received a proper burial. Oh, well. He was a trespasser.

----Another time my grandparents were visiting and sitting in lawn chairs out in the front yard. My dad was sitting on the porch stoop with his back towards the house. He kept swatting at his arm thinking it was a mosquito or a fly that kept bothering him. (one of those nuisances one has to deal with when living in the woods) Well, finally he turned around and came face to face with a 5 foot long snake who had a need to flick his tongue on my dad's arm. Dad popped up off that stoop like a rocket on the 4th of July. Got his gun and took care of the intruder. Poor guy, he didn't get a proper burial either.

----One day my sister and I were leaving with our mom to go somewhere. Mom walked outside first and turned around to say something to my sister and me as we were coming out the door. She yelled, "Stop!" "Don't come out. Close the door." I looked at her like, "what's going on?" Yep, you guessed it. Another reptilian buddy out sunning himself on our concrete porch...right under the door to our house. I don't remember what happened next. My sis and I probably locked the front door and went around to the back door. I don't think mom did anything that time, because that snake was NOT a baby snake and it was more then she probably wanted to deal with.

----Dad many times "took care of business" with our snake population. I remember mom telling her young daughters, "the snakes should go tell the rest of their family to stay away if they know what's good for them!" Eventually, they did and we didn't have as many problems, but boy were those first years filled with snakes!!!

(P.S) If I have alarmed or offended any snake lovers out there, I apologize. I'm sure that snakes can be good. They eat rodents, that kind of thing. BUT we didn't have any desire to live with them up close and personal. Geesh. Did they not know anything about personal space?

Monday, March 17, 2008

More on the whole Obama thing

Number one I'm getting sick of hearing about Obama's pastor, former pastor, spiritual adviser or whatever he is. People can say what they want about that man doing good works in Chicago blah,blah,blah...Great. He did some good things, but I'm not convinced that this man is a man of integrity or character. Barrack Obama is all the time talking about how words are important. I will hand it to him, that he is an excellent orator. He can get the masses of people all stirred up with emotion. His words are all about change. (change of what and how things will change is still yet to be determined.) I do just have one more thing to say and then I guess I'll let it go. How can Obama say that he went to a church for 20 YEARS and didn't know what kind of man his pastor is? He was married by this man, his children were baptized by this man, he attended services where this man preached. Obama so much liked one of his sermons that he used it in one of his books. Yet, he didn't know that the pastor felt the way he did? He didn't know this when he put pastor Wright on his spiritual advisory committee? I mean what is the deal with that? Now he wants to repudiate what this guy has to say. I think that the issue has become to hot for Barrack to handle...he doesn't want to get burned so he NOW doesn't agree with pastor Wright. I mean I think it is probably politically savy of him to distance himself from a man who has such hateful words for our country. I believe there is a lot to say about the company that a man keeps. Who he surrounds himself with tells us volumes.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

I know I can...I know I can...

Many of you know I'm currently a consultant for Arbonne International. It is my second career, my first one being an elementary special education teacher. In my teens I knew that I wanted to work with people that have specific challenges. I did that for 17 years and like to believe that I made a positive difference in the lives of many, many children and their parents. Now I'm a home schooling mom of my own three. (they each have their own specific challenges too--just not quite as obvious, haha.) Along with my job of being a wife and mom, I've now chosen to take on the challenge of being an independent consultant for one of the most exciting network marketing companies out there today. I'm really excited about it. I was talking with my sister in law (also a consultant) earlier today and she told me that she read that there are 1.3 million consultants, but only 2500 that made it to the top so far (VP status). So I was thinking about that statistic....what is it that makes some people succeed beyond their wildest dreams while others fall to the way side only to say in years to come "oh, I used to do that." Everyone has dreams. I think a lot of people put their dreams in a drawer, they visit those dreams occasionally and think how great it would be if they could have that dream become a reality. Then life happens. They get tired. The dreams begin to fade. They choose to give up. What is it that the top consultants have? What makes them different? They have the same ups and downs as everyone else. They get told no. People don't show for presentations. They want to give up.....but they don't. I think that is it. I think the top consultants wanted their dreams so badly that they wouldn't allow anything to stand in their way. They didn't give up AND they didn't quit. They didn't allow themselves to even entertain that thought. That's a good lesson for life, isn't it? About not giving up. Life throws you a punch, pick yourself back up and keep moving. Be resilient. After all, dreams are made to be lived, not kept in drawers. Go dust yours off. You're not a quitter.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Obama's Pastor

I'm watching FOX news this morning. They are discussing the inflammatory sermons (?) from the man that is pastor of Obama's (former?) church. I cannot believe that the Lord condones the hateful speech that comes out of this man's mouth. Color has very little to do with it...Just because this man is black and leads a black congregation does not give him the right to speak hate, or crudeness. (I'm referring to his crude comment about Bill Clinton "riding dirty". I believe Bill Clinton was wrong but the pulpit is certainly not the place to discuss that!) To proclaim, "God, damn this country!" Now, how is that edifying to the congregation? I think someone who stands in a pulpit and proclaims to be a speaker of God's word will be held accountable for the things that he speaks.....if not by people, then eventually by the Lord himself. Jesus Christ was mocked, jeered at, and despised by his own people, yet he never sinned. He lived a blameless life. It is my personal belief that Jesus was not a fair skinned blue eyed man when he walked this earth. He was a middle eastern, Jewish man. I'm sure he had darker skin and hair. If he was here today I'm sure he would probably have people to treat him poorly because of his appearance and nationality, but I do not believe he would have ever spoken hateful words to them. He would have spoken from a loving heart for people who did not even deserve His love. This whole thing is a reminder to me of how desperately we all need the Lord...whether we are a controversial pastor, a teacher, a business man or a stay at home mom.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Paying Bad Teachers To Quit

So have you all heard about the group, The Center of Union Facts, that is willing to pay the 10 worst teachers $10,000 each to quit? Of course, the teachers unions are against that. (What's new?) As a former teacher I have to tell the truth. I know for a fact that there ARE bad teachers out there. I had to deal with some of them. One in particular would be late to work continually...not 5 or 10 minutes....like an hour or two. No kidding. The principal called her and she said she overslept and was currently going through the bank drive through and would be at school in a few minutes. Can you believe it? This same teacher fell asleep during a reading group and was actually SNORING! I could go on and on but you get the picture. Documentation was even kept on this teacher, but because she had tenure it was impossible to fire her! She just got shuffled around from school to school in the system when the current staff got tired of her. To beat it all she was a SPECIAL ED co-worker. The kids she had in her care weren't able to learn IN SPITE of her. She did them a terrible disservice. For those of us that were hard working teachers it was extremely frustrating to watch her sit on her duff, and collect a paycheck for sub par work. So I am for getting rid of the worst teachers out there. I for one will be interested to find out who these people are. I hope they sign a contract, take the $10,000 and leave the teaching profession forever. As far as I am concerned good riddance to bad rubbish. Teaching is an honorable field---our kids deserve the best, it's about time they got it. Anything to help that along is a good thing.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Sniffling and Snuffling

We all have colds. The boys have it worse then the rest of us. They have yucky coughs AND stuffed up heads. There is a lot of hacking and gagging going on at our house. We also are going through truckloads of tissue. Listening to someone blow a full nose is gross, but surprisingly enough I've gotten used to it. I can even eat my breakfast while Kendrick blows. I suppose that is a mom thing....after awhile nothing phases me. We gave the boys medicine last night to help with the symptoms--so they could breathe last night. (Well, maybe I should rephrase that and say breathe BETTER....after all they CAN breathe, abeit more loudly then usual.) Also Scott and I have informed them that they need lots of rest. Yesterday we had our dentist appts. and I visited/delivered Arbonne samples. I also made several phone calls. I don't have to be out as much today. I think it will be a school/laundry/clean house/take care of the sick kind of day. I don't have to get dressed up. This means I get to wear my cool, new PJ bottoms. They are pink, red, and white polka dotted lounge pants. (Think 1970's wild prints.) Hey, at least if I'm doing loads of laundry I can be comfortable if not fashionable. Excuse me please, I think I need a tissue.....

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Which Dawn Do You Like Best?

Cruzin' Dawn: Me and My Girls Cruisin' In The Benz

Driving Convertible Mercedes

Sleek, Sporty Dawn: Who is that blonde in the Mercedes?

Trying Out the Sporty Model
Sedate Sedan Dawn: Mercedes Soccer Mom

Family Sedan Model

I'm baaaccckkkk......

Wow. I haven't blogged in a while. Today's blog is dedicated to Jessica Brock who asked when I was going to blog again? She wanted to know what was going on with me----what makes that so funny is that I spent the past week and a half at HER house. She KNEW what was going on, but she just missed my blog. haha.

I spent the past week and a half visiting family members in the Lone Star State. The family had a lot of fun spending time together. Even though there were a lot of us packed into one house we didn't kill each other AND we managed to have a great time too! Thanks goes out to Jessica and her family for putting up with the Gibson crew. East Texas saw severe rain, heat, sunny days, cool gray days, and even some snow/sleet. All this weather in just one week. Reminds me of East Tennessee!!! It's like the weather can't decide what it wants to do. (on a side note---my mom sent me an article about the 20.3 inches of snow that Columbus, Ohio received. Columbus is about an hour southeast of where we will be moving. Hmmm....I guess we can be expecting some snow next year?)

I spent some of my time doing Arbonne presentations while in Texas. I had a good time. It was both productive and fun. The piece de resistance' (did I spell that correctly? Is that a french expression?) was Arbonne's Mercedes Test Drive weekend. When I obtain the Regional VP title I get a white Mercedes. That is a pretty good deal, huh? Anyway, Jessica, Brittany and I went for a little spin in a sporty convertible Mercedes. That was fun, though I must admit at first I was nervous about driving a car that wasn't mine in an area that I was unfamiliar with. It was worth it though....we had a blast. Scott also took pictures of me sitting in a bunch of different Mercedes. Sporty Dawn. Sleek Dawn. Family Sedan Dawn. Tough SUV Dawn. I'm including a few pic's for your enjoyment.