Third time is a charm

Let's see if this entry will actually be published to my blog this time.

Testing, testing, one, two, three.......Oh, who cares really?

I started the first draft of my first book. Something I have wanted to do for a long time. I am a huge procrastinator, so who really knows if it will ever get finished, but the fact that I started it really has made me feel better. I have taken the first step, so that is something to feel good about.

I learned to ski today, something else to feel good about.

I overcame my fear of heights while on the ski lift. I am on a role!

I have been praying for the suffering. I am just one small voice, but I know He hears me. He listens to us all.

I finished my book for January today. I know, it isn't January yet. It was just such an easy read and I really wanted to keep finding out what was to happen next. I will probably read it again before the meeting in February. I wonder if I will be the only one there? More pasta for me!!

email me for book club info. smatheny1@earthlink.net

Love to all

Whoops!

Sorry but I have to make a change in the book for the month due to cercumstances beyond my control.

Book for January is:

Light On Snow by Anita Shreve

The meeting place and time is the same. Sorry for the mess up.

Hope and blessings for you all.

Happy Birthday

His birthday is right around the corner. What an exciting day! How will you celebrate it?

Book for January is :

Natural Philosophy by Ben Harris

Meeting place is Macaroni Grill on Rainbow and Lake Mead at 1pm.

If you want to, then call me or grab me at the next gathering and we will exchange numbers. I would love to meet with you and hang out together.

Happy Birthday celebrations to all of you!

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but inside it's so delightful.............

But I'm going out anyway. It is time to shop for Shad. Yes, I waited until the last minute. Only because I wanted to make sure I got the perfect gift, although I still am not sure what that is yet.

Things here have been pretty much the same. I am working, teaching, cleaning, shopping, sleeping, eating, exercising, baking, driving, etc....

No rest for the wicked. God has been doing some awesome work in me over the last month. He is so cool like that.

I am working on starting a book club. We would meet once a month, each taking a turn to pick a book, and then picking the meeting spot which could be anywhere. If you might be interested, let me know. I will be announcing the first book next month on Jan 1st and will also let you know where we will meet in February to talk about the book. Hope to hear from you soon.

Yes, I am married to the computer guy and I can't figure out how to put pictures on my blog. I am sure it is just so easy, but I didn't do something right, so now I am frustrated.

I made soap today. The kids and I looked up the history of soap and we read about it, then we read about the chemistry of soap, and then we made some. It's been fun. I'm giving some of mine away to my mom in her Christmas basket I am putting together. Next, it will be candles.

Last Friday we made a ginger bread house and then ate it the next day. That was cool. Why do we only do this kind of stuff once a year? Why not all of the time? I want to celebrate Jesus every day.

Sex talk tonight at house church. See ya there?

Run!!!!

So we went to Khols for shopping on the day after Thanksgiving and when I walked in, looked at all of the drones standing in lines that wrapped themselves around the store in every direction, I just turned and walked out. Not worth it in this life time. Who needs presents for Christmas anyway besides Jesus? It's His birthday, not ours.

When it comes down to it, all I want for Christmas is my family to be together and to get a glimpse of Him if only for a second in their lives. But then, life is not about what I want, it is about what He wants. As it should be.

I am about to attempt to figure out how to put pictures on this damn blog. Here it goes...

Life, you just have to laugh at it.

I am feeling a bit dizzy this morning. Must be all of the turkey and fixin's.

I get my spot cut out in a couple of weeks. I am so very happy about that one. For those who know the true story, you will know what I mean. I guess it could be melanoma. There is cancer in my family history. All of the relatives I grew up around with the exception of my mom's mom died of cancer. I smoked as a teen and in my early 20's. Wouldn't it just be a kick in the ass?

Nothing to do now but pray that these doctors know what they are talking about.

So my dilemma for this morning is this:

Do I go out and shop on the craziest shopping day of the year? And if I do, is it wrong to buy something for myself?

Oh screw it, I'm getting my shoes on.

The truck is fixed, the dreams go on.

I have to see the doctor today for this black spot I have on my skin. Weird huh? I also have my chest cold again. Not as bad this time, but it's back. AND IT SUCKS!!!!

So please pray for that if you would.

By the way, no movie. It conflicts with girls night out. Sorry, maybe next month.

We left late for church, driving the truck as we had just fixed it this weekend. As we drive in the fast lane on the freeway, we notice the ABS light is flashing. Do we have brakes? Then the lights inside go out and the head lights go out. With out blinkers, we cut off a few people to get over and pull off the road. Yes, we have brakes! But what is up with the truck? No power, no nothing. It is just dead.

I call my father-in-law to ask for advice on what he thinks it might be. He tells me to look up into the sky and see if there are any round saucer looking things flying around. Ha, hahahaha.

We eventually got it running again, but we missed another gathering. I was bumped, Shad was bumped and the kids were happy. Going home, I wondered how the people we haven't seen in a while are doing. I wondered what the message was and what songs were sung.

On another note, I had a dream that Shad and I and a bunch of other people were looking through this really old house that was falling apart, and once inside, I realized that the roof was going to collapse. I started yelling for everyone to get out and they all just stood there confused. I started grabbing the children, and pushing them out and just as we got to the porch, the roof collapsed and landed on me. In front of me there was a small hole where I could see the light of day and I could still breath. I thanked God, and eventually got out to find that everyone was alright. So what do you make of that?

Taco Soup

1 lb. Lean ground beef or turkey ( or if you are a vegi, skip it)
1 large onion
1-15oz. can kidney beans
2 cans fat free vegi refried beans
1-16oz. can corn( or frozen corn)
1-16oz. can chopped tomatoes (or fresh)
1-15oz. can tomatoes sauce
1 1/2 cup water
1-4 1/2 oz. can of green chilis
1pkg taco seasoning
1pkg ranch dressing mix

Brown meat with chopped onion while warming up all other ingredients in a pot. (Do not drain cans, just pour it all in!) put browned meat in and simmer for 15 min.

Yummy, quick and easy!

What a trip!

We just get back from a really great trip to Zion. The weather was perfect, the trees were turning colors, the air was fresh. I'm glad that we went a day early. We were able to take our time and enjoy the moments. I am also glad to be back with a day to relax before the week starts over. There is just nothing like the comfort of your own bed.

Help me help others!!!

I am collecting blankets and coats for the homeless. If you have any new or used blankets or jackets, please let me know, or if you are interested in helping me out, email me at smatheny1@earthlink.net.

Thanks!

Laringitis Rocks!!!!!

I can't talk very well. My voice is gone for the most part. I just loooove when it happens too. Happens every year or so.

Greg Cambell's blog makes so much sense to me. I totally understood it. My question is though, doesn't that mean that people can worship in a conformed unit if they feel they need to? Or perhaps we need the conformity to help us get to the non-conformity of it all. Whoa! Very heavy, but oh so true. Like sand though an hourglass, so are the days of our lives. Sorry, I've watched a lot of stupid comedies in my life time.Still do obviously.

King's Fair was cold, had a lot of room, super long lines, fun games, good food, funny people, a holy cow, police on horseback, well, just a lot of everything. A fun night and worth the laringitis.

Now the delima, do we go buy candy for Sunday night, or do we turn off the lights and skip it? Or perhaps we hand out carrot sticks and peanut butter. Decisions, decisions.

Chips and Salsa

Have you ever craved chips and salsa? I just can't seem to get enough of them lately. There is just something about the crunchy chip mixed with that slightly sweet, spicy, chunky salsa. Yummy! Maybe I could go on the Chips and Salsa diet.

Speaking of diet, I have been working out and am starting to see some difference. Of course, if I don't stop eating all of these chips and salsa things could get bad.

Thanks Carder family for the super fun time at your house. You all rock!

Movie night, November 20th at 7pm
Movie will be "Starship Troopers"(not very kid friendly)
Popcorn will be provided.
Bring a snack to share if you like.
7717 Sublimity Ave
396-5941

Okay, so here it is.

Well, I really don't have anything to say, but just thought that was a cool way to start a blog.

The kids are going to a friends house to look through a telescope. Maybe they will learn something, or it will start a new unit study of sorts on stars or something. Or maybe they shouldn't go over to the kids house who's father shot a dog in the head. Hmmm, what to do.

More stuff

God has a way of finding you when you aren't even aware that you are lost.

Okay, so I was going to try to write something but was interrupted by screams and yells and a bang in the neighborhood. I guess someone owns a pig, and the neighbor's dog got out and attacked it, and the neighbor on the other side of the house with the pig came out and shot the dog. Small kids live at the two houses with pets and from what I can tell saw it all happen. A very sad and strange moment of chaos. Okay, so part of me thinks it is almost funny too. Sorry, that is the demented side of me I guess.

On to other news. I had a good time meeting some new ladies at ladies night out. It was fun, and I hope to make it on the list for next time. The sad part, I think I was the oldest person there. I don't think that has ever happened to me before. Well, one time at this concert I took my niece to, I wasn't the oldest, but felt I was.

Hope to see some or all of you at the Carder Ranch for a good ol' time of knee slappin fun!

Memories

Time sure does fly. I was looking over some of the emails from India. What a blessing to have been there. I only wish I knew what to do next. I miss the people there. I miss the children's laughter and smiles. I miss Grandma Pushpa and Mahoney. I miss the sounds as well. Horns honking and animals wondering the streets. Such a blessing.

Dude, I'm tired!!

My team lost, but that is okay. I am used to it from last year. However, my experience at the game was saddened when just a couple of feet down from us a gang of about five started arguing with a guy and then the whole thing erupted into a fight of five against one. They beat the shit out of this poor guy, and he was carted off on a streacher, unconscious. Three of the five were arrested, and the other two and some of their friends were booted out.

Shad and I don't ever try to tell people that they shouldn't drink, or that beer is evil, but this sort of thing makes us feel as though there should be limits as to what is sold to people at events like this. There are people out there who just act like total ass holes when they drink because they probably have that little alcohol gene that says " I'm allergic to the stuff and freak out when I drink. " and these people who don't care to listen to it are the ones out there endangering the lives of so many because they don't know how to stop at just one or two.

In my opinion the people benefiting from the profits of sale are the evil ones because they know what their product is doing to people, and they are all just so money hungry that they could care less that this poor guy might be dead or barely alive. It is like people are just not feeling anymore. They have found a nice numb place, be it anger or beer or money or whatever, but they are numb and can care less about anything else but themselves and getting that thing that numbs them from the feeling world.( God in my opinion)

On our way out, more drunk guys were being arrested for fighting because one guy was a Raiders fan, the other a Chargers fan. Who gives a shit!!!!!???? This kind of thing hurts more than the person getting hit. The people who see it are affected as well. I am glad that we didn't bring the girls to this game. Then again, maybe the sight of stupid drunks acting a fool and getting arrested would help teach them a lesson. How anyone could be attracted to such bull shit is beyond me.

Needless to say, it will be a long time before we go to another game like that, and God forbid we should wear the wrong color, or vote for the other team or sit next to the stupid ass drunk guy who can't seem to accept that he has a problem with alcohol and turns into a drunken Super Ass because we have the wrong color on or vote for the other team.

Shad suggested they should do a stamp system or something so that people only get a limited number of drinks. They would never do it though because they would lose too much money. How sad but true. Enough said, you know how I feel.

The drive to California was so fast. It seemed like we just breezed in and out which was cool. My father had gotten us great seats and we were able to go to a private party where they had alumni of the Charger teams from the 60's, 70's and 80's. I have pictures that I will try to post. I might have to get some help first.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Road Trip!!!

Going to see my Jags in San Diego. A one day trip there and back. It has been a long time since we have done a road trip like this, and we will be tired I am sure, but it will be fun to get away alone, even if for only a day. Good old dad came through with tickets for my birthday. Once in a great while, he suprises me.

I watched the Debate and was thrilled to listen to Kerry make an ass of himself. (I can care less what you think as this is my opinion. ) I also went to see Shark Tale and it sucked as well. Not a kid friendly movie at all. Way too much adult humor for a kid flick amoung other things.


We will be missing you all at Apex. Sorry Joe, I have been brain washed by Shad and must go see my team beat the Chargers. ( And won't I be sad if I have to watch them lose. Yes, it could happen.)

Stuff

I feel as though God is telling me to create something, or to be creative. So, I have decided to take up painting again. No, I am not going to go paint my livingroom again. I am talking about oil painting. I tried it out a couple of years ago, liked it a lot, and then other things got in the way. I would also like to take another pottery class. Pottery is my first love I think. I am not sure if this is exactly what He means, but it is a start.

I have been reading a book called "Benjamin Franklin" by Walter Isaacson and I am totally in awe of just how much the one man accomplished in his life. He was ordinary, yet extraordinary. Check it out. It is a bit wordy, but so interesting.

We are going to the Renaissance Fair today. Shad wants to buy a sword, and I just want to re-pierce my nose. It is going to be a fun day only Shad has to work. :( Darn, no sword!