Just talking...

Well, most of you figured out that the 31rst was off to a bad start in my neck of the woods. It did get better. I left the house about 4pm to help out with a fall festival at my church. Arrived in time to sweep out some extra water and hang up a train sign.

When that was done I accidently got myself a babysitting job. After about 20minutes of following a two year old around we went back to her Grandmother and I took over the job of opening hotdog buns and placing them on little paper holders. This was actually enjoyable because I got to see all the people ~at least all the hotdog eating people. I had a partner in crime and we had a good time joking around. Then I got replaced by the volunteers who had signed up for the second shift. This was rather sad, because then I had nothing to do.

It was about that time that I heard a cry for help. Someone had been stuck in the fishing booth longer than nature wanted to allow so I took over her job for a while. Feeding the lines candy as they slung themselves over the wooden barrier. It was rather dangerous as we had some very gung ho fisherpeople.

Once my job in the fishing booth was done I replaced an older couple at the basketball toss. There I stayed for most of the night. Things started coming to an end and I was told not to hand out anymore tickets but I was asked to stay there and keep an eye on the temperature of the players. This I did for what seemed like an unreasonable amount of time. I finally walked up to my instruction giver and told her that I needed to go and asked if she wanted me to bring her the basketball. She had forgotten that I was still over there.

I was talking with Mr. Charlie while the guys started putting away picnic tables.He asked if I wanted to help him move one so I did. We moved three...they seemed a bit heavy. The main problem with moving them is that I am sooo stinking short I couldn't get any height on them. Me thinks I shall leave all the heavy picnic table moving to the guys in the future.

In need of a cave

The phone seems to be ringing off the hook. I am about to go crazy. Granted there are a few people that I'd really love to get a phone call from but running up and down the stairs with calls for Pop has started getting on my nerves.

The storm outside is angry. It is pouring forth fury, and to tell you the truth it looks to be the perfect thing to spoil holloween. I agree with the storm. My temperment is in step with it's plans. I too despise the day.
Rain? I, hope it rains a lot. ~I'm not very sympathetic to the cause and I really would love for there to be a decent tv show on tonight but I don't feel like watching witches, ghosts and creepy things.

Stepping on some toes.

To my tall friends,
Hey, I see your wearing flat shoes...trying to blend in with the ground??? *snickers* Oh, wait...that really isn't funny, is it?

Think it is cute to comment on a short person's heel size? Does it make you feel better about your height? It isn't really funny and it can be down right annoying. I have more people comment on the heels of my shoes these days. The funny thing is they all think they are original and suprisingly enough they laugh at their own jokes - like they are funny.

I think Mrs. Manners and I would not be in the wrong to inform you that comments on shoe height really aren't the way to win friends and influence people. Not offended but someone needs to speak up on the matter! After all, I don't want my friends to be a bunch of heels.

Lazy days

Today was perfect. The sky was blue, the sun was warm and the water was beautiful. A friend and I took the dog and the canoe out for a lazy day on the river. Fishing poles and splashing. Great stuff!

Sneaky waiters...

My Grandmother and my Great Uncle had a birthday celebration yesterday. We all went out to eat at a local mexican food restruant. While we were there Grandmom opened a present. Then our observant waiter tried to get me in trouble. He walked up and asked me whose birthday it was and I assumed that someone else had discussed the matter so I opened my big mouth and made a few gestures in the direction of my Uncle and Grandmom. Imagine the surprise on their faces when he came out singing happy birthday with all of the waiters and waitresses.

They brought out two giant sombreros and dessert. This all would have been fine but when they asked him who told he pointed to me. *gulps* ~So wrong of him, he lead me to believe he knew. What a sneaky guy. Anyway, the whole thing was pretty funny!

Hey Everyone,
I challenge you to a quizz! (my score said this)
You are a Minister. (Haha, no I'm not just a preacher's kid!)
Technically, you got them ALL RIGHT!!! I applaude you!
I furnished some very hard questions there! Congratulations! Your
mastery of the Bible is quite impressive - you are truly Bible-versed!
God Bless! (Ok, I took it and those were my results now lets see how well you guys do.)

How Bible-versed are you?
brought to you by umm...whoever he was!

Haircut

Ok, here is the deal.

Sarah is getting a haircut. The style, cut and length are undecided but I will be getting one at some point in the near future.

If you have a certain look in mind that you've been wishing I would try or someone you know would try, think that you are an expert on women's hair, are appalled at the thought of chopping off even one inch of my hair or have anything at all to say on the matter...This is the time to tell me because if you wait much longer you will miss this window of opportunity. Suggestions, links to pictures of haircuts, word of warning. Place them here or e-mail them to me.

Speak now or keep the mouth in the off position later! All suggestions will be considered, some more seriously than others. I reserve the right pick the final cut and you are in no way allowed to be offended if I don't choose the one you think might be the best. This is America though so go ahead and voice your ideas!

Oh, and so far Neal says shorter...how much shorter? Well, the only other suggestion was a buzz cut. Umm...no. Not doing that Chad so you had better try again. Any really good suggestions?

Violins and great big grins

I pulled out my violin this afternoon when I should have been heading out the door to paint. Amy was over and we had dueling violins. She played my battery operated look alike and laughed as I squeaked out a tune on the larger version. The little stink taunted me about my playing. I ended up showing her how to hold the real thing and we decided that we are going to learn how to play it sometime soon.

I must have said "If" because soon we were quoting lines from Cinderalla and having a ball. I love kids... really love them. I went away wondering why I didn't just get married so I could have some kids. Ok, well, that was a confession you won't hear much. Gotta be up really late to catch something like that coming out of my mouth.

Lesson in driving....

Well folks,
I had my first driving lesson standard style! Neal decided that he would let me drive his poor little truck. He showed me the pedals, and explained the idea behind the clutch. Then we moved the seat all the way forward and away we went...well, some of the time. Other times I just had to start the car over again.

You should have seen my teacher. He had his knees against the dashboard but suprisingly enough even with all the ruckus he remained rather calm. Actually, to tell you the truth, he'd make a good driver's ed teacher. He didn't laugh at me just with me. He also didn't add stress the situation which was really great of him.

I'm still not a pro though, so if anyone wants to let me borrow a standard for a while just let me know. I'd rather wreck one you own than one I own...
....Wait, I don't own one. Yeah, maybe that is the reason I need to use yours! I'd like to take up drag racing when I get a little better so keep that in mind!

Cousins

Today my two youngest cousins came charging up the stairway. They looked around for Grandmom and Pop but then realized that I was the only one at home. They decided to watch TV in the office so I put my keyboard away for a while and stretched out on the floor to watch the cartoon with them. All of a sudden the little rugrat who had been sitting on the couch plopped down on top of me and continued watching the his show. His bony little elbows kept digging deep into my rib cage but the look of contentment on his face that was well worth the pain.

I should have known something was up...not long after he changed locations a commercial came on, all of a sudden I found myself in the middle of an all out tickle war. The little guy just started tickling me and then he called his sister over for back up. There I was, two giggly cousins against me. Luckily they are small and haven't learned how to tickle hard yet. We were giggling and squirming until the show came on and then...magically things went back to normal. Amy caught her breath and Tyler watched and waited for his next chance to catch me off guard. Next commercial and the war was on....until the front door opened. You've never seen little kids sit up straighter or sit more quietly. It was as if we had been caught red handed in the cookie jar! I was smothering laughter because I haven't been in trouble for a long time.

Lets talk baseball..

Haha, for those of you who know me this might appear to be rather comical. Sarah talking baseball??? As Chad would say, "What in the world???"

The truth is, I rarely pay attention to baseball at all. I might ask who is playing/winning the world series on a yearly basis but that is about it. Lance and my pastor give me the weekly updates on how the Astros are doing and aside from that I haven't paid attention to the sport as a whole.

However, someone wants to know how I feel about the Astros and if I side with them as they take the shot at the MLB. What can I say? Of course I side with them, who else would I side with? I'm a Texan and I'm proud of our boys.

Well,

Hey all,
I feel like I should write something.

*coughs*


After my last post (see application below) I almost feel like crawling under the table or something but hey...I find it amusing. Seriously! I can't help but be amused...it is funny to see how people respond.

*sidenote*
I hear my Uncle has been lurking around here...haha, scary! ~ Man, it is fun to post my thoughts here until I think that my relatives might actually be getting to know me. Who'd a thunk it? I do try to write things as they are...sometimes that is good but it doesn't always work that way. Here is the deal, if your related to me and you read this blog...Well, what's seen in computer land stays in computer land...got it? Oh, and if you tell Grandmom I popped those bags of air she has been saving I'll have a bone to pick with you. Yes, you Uncle Rod.

Back to my ramblings:

Well, people want to know what I have been doing lately. I keep telling them that I paint. They look at me like there is more to life then painting...is there? I guess I'll make a stab at telling you what I've been doing.

I was in my old stomping grounds last weekend. I went to the Rodeo with Amy Saturday night. I finally rode the mechanical bull after three years of thinking it over. All I can say is, "Better late than never!!!" It was a blast! I'd do it again in a heart beat! Amy was there so if you want to know how I rode better ask her...I am not able to say. I do know that I got really dizzy...by the time I got off that thing I couldn't walk straight. ;)

We checked out the livestock while searching for J.M. and ran into Aaron D. who was planning on being in the calf scramble. Had to watch that! Aaron caught his calf in the scramble. He was super quick, first kid to get a calf. It was good stuff!

Made a few new friends at the consert. Amy likes being way up front near the people so I got to look guys like Cooter Graw, Roger Craiger and Blue Edmunson or some such persons in the eye. ~Devin if you ever read this, your eyes are beautiful! The guys sang up a storm and a good time was had by all. Oh, and I got two signatures on my free coozie. Blue E. and Devin something... can't read the last name but when they become famous I'll be putting my coozie on e-bay so keep an eye out for it!

Went to Dad's church that Sunday. It was nice seeing everyone again! Took a nice long nap Sunday afternoon. Then met up with Amy, Nick, John, Tab, and Ryan for some late night fellowship at Sonic after evening services.

Monday: I picked up some sticks, did some raking, visited with Amy, collected some pecans, had lunch with Chad, went to see some the Mrs. Rachel and her crew and then hung out at Dairy Mart with Jeremy, Susan, Corey and a few others.

Tuesday: I hung out at the house cleaned the rodeo dirt off of my truck and talked on the phone for hours. Marvin came by so I helped him look up some information on the computer. That might have been the day I hung out with Dad dripping oil on his drill bit while he drilled holes. It is all a blur really.

Wednesday: I hung out with Mom and then headed home. It was hard for me to leave. My brother was inviting me to watch a movie with him, and my sister and mother were making sad faces at me as if to say, "Don't leave." I finally told them not to make it harder than it already was so then my sister put on a huge silly grin and started saying, "farewell!" and shoooing me out the door. She is a nut and I miss her.
I stopped by the local hangout to get a coke for the road and had to hug all the locals goodbye. They wanted to know when I was coming back but I couldn't say for sure so it stunk to not know. Then, to clench the deal, as I pulled out of town I passed a good friend who called me up on the cell phone and wanted to know if I was going to my Dad's church that night. He was. I said, "no." and sadly headed down the road to new places and other faces.

*sighs* I was almost feeling sorry for myself but then...

As I drove into town Wed. night I picked up a guy walking down the street. Don't freak out yet he was perfectly harmless. Just to make sure that my Mom's heart keeps beating I had better just admit it was Jordan. For those of you who don't know him he is a fellow home schooler who I have known since he was in diapers. He lives near me and I knew it'd be ok. We got to talking and decided to head to a Bible study the next town over on Thursday night. Yeah, I skipped church to go to a Bible study. hehe...one of those things you have to do everyonce in a while!

Friday: I hung out at the bowling alley for a few hours and helped draw faces on bowling pins. Then I went to a friend's house. We were watching a cooking show and just goofing around. Haha, how is that for entertainment?

This Saturday afternoon I got ready for a nice stroll in the park when a phone call changed my plans for the evening. Off to a Bible study with my friend. Got in late but still took time for some catch up sessions on yahoo messenger. All is well and I am getting back into the groove of things in my "other town."

Now it is Sunday. Went to church this morning and am thinking a nice long nap would be the perfect way to spend my afternoon. The park still needs a visit though so who knows which will win out?

So yeah...what do I do besides paint? Not much...just whatever comes up!

Ok, if you read all that you deserve a prize! *hug* :)

Application to Date me (Part 1)

I was searching for a photo in my e-mail account when I came across the beginning of a project I started playing with sometime last year. Several things went into my decision to write this but the main reason was just for fun. I suppose I also wanted to scare away most of the casual offers. Hand a guy something like this before you will even consider dating him and you probably won't have to deal with him again...or it'll take him at least 6 months to figure out how to answer the questions!

I never actually handed this baby out but I figure I'll put it here for entertainment value.
Will I consider dating someone who fills it out?...of course, if he fits my qualifications.
The thing about this application is that there are some questions that don't have a right or wrong answer and some that do. Honesty is always the best route so if you do take the trouble of filling it out be truthful. Sure if you want to use this for yourself feel free to print it out.
..Haha, seriously you can really succeed in scaring people off by doing strange things like that so don't blame me if the guy/girl you hand this to goes running off in the other direction! (*evil grin* That is the purpose right?)

Date: ___/ ____/ 20__

Full Name:
Tag:
Address:
E-mail:
Website/weblog?
Phone Number: (___)___-_____
Cell: _____-______ Pager:____-_____
Age:____ D.O.B.: ___/___/__GPA: ___. _
Curfew: __: __am
Normal rising time: ___am
Time you prefer to retire at night: ______
Race:__________ Height:_____'____" Weight: ____lbs
Eye Color:___________
Do you consider yoursef athletic?_yes _no _somewhat
Hair Color (natural / current): _________ / ___________
Do you have any Piercings: ______
Locations:_________________________
Any tattoos?________
Where & What? _______________________________
Are you planning on getting any tattoos/piercings in the future?
___Yes
___Thinking about it/undecided/couldn't say for sure
___No, Never

Do you currently own a vehicle?____
Model: _______________________
Year: _____
Color: _____
Number of Speakers: _______
Size: ______________________
Type of deck used: ____________
Trucks:_________________

When questioned by others would you defend:
__ Chevy
__ Dodge
__ Ford
__ Other/______________________
__Undecided

What would you say your clothing tastes run toward:
(Check as many as apply)
__Western
__business casual
__Skater
__Dressy
__Mom buys my clothes sowhatever she picks out
__Casual
__Hippie
__Gothic
__50s
__Other
__Preppy
__Don't care
__Classic
__Punk
Favorite clothing brand: __________________
Shoe Co.: ______________

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? ____
If so, explain? __________________________
_____________________________________
How do you feel about the following habits?

Drinking acoholic beverages? _______________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Smoking? ____________________________
Do you dip? ___________________________
Cussing?_____________________________
Use of illegal drugs?______________________
___________________________________
If you participate or plan to participate in any
of the above activities please list here.
___________________________________
What is your goal in life?___________________
___________________________________
Do you dance? ______ Explain:_____________
___________________________________

Do you play/participate in any sports _____
Which sports?___________________________
I:
__Play to kill
__ Play to win
__Play for fun but like to win
__Playfor enjoyment
___Depends on the group I am playing in.

Do you watch sports? _____

Which ones?_______________________
Do you race cars?____

In 50 words or less answer the following questions:
(Unless you would like to write a book on the subject
...in which case go ahead!)

1) Why do you want to date me? __________________________________
__________________________________
2) What is your idea of a date? __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Do you plan on dating as:
__ friends
__ casually
__with the intent of a serious relationship that
would end ideally end in marriage?

Anything you want to clarify on the above choice? ________________________________
________________________________

What standards do you set for yourself within a dating relationship?
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Are you willing to abide by the standards and rules that I set up for those dating me?
__ Yes, absolutely
__ Yes, but I might try to change those.
__ No, not really
__ Like what are you talking about here?

Ever been married? _yes _no
Ever been engaged?_____ How many times?____
Have any children? _____________________________
Any situations that you should tell someone you are wanting to date? __________________________________________
How do you feel about having a live in girlfriend?__________
__________________________________________
Ever had any? _yes _no _currently (Allow me to clarify that I am not able or willing to be that kind of girlfriend so if your leaning that way count me out. I'm just trying to see where you stand on the issue.)

Ok, well, that was a start at something....Not all the questions are important. Some of the issues hardly matter while others are very important. I don't really know why I put this whole thing together...or why I posted it...guess I'm just bored.

Not really taking applications currently but hey, if you think your the man for the job go ahead and apply. Be sure to include a personal testimony of how the Lord is working in your life, what your relationship with Christ means to you, how you know that you are saved and also a description of the job you are applying for and how you can fill the position.

I found a great list of questions written by someone's dad that we also might discuss before you get an answer. *grins* Send application to texasgal1983@gmail.com

Having A Heart of Hospitality

A study on Luke 10:38-42

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.”
Luke 10:38

What does it mean to receive someone into your house?

Look up these words:
Hospitality
Receive

Having a heart of hospitality should be an important part of the grace and skill that we build into our daily lives. It is important to be prepared for those who stumble into our lives in need of lodging, a meal, someone to share with, or simply an afternoon of good Christian fellowship.
While we may not always have all the supplies that we need on hand to prepare a gourmet dinner we can prepare our hearts and homes for service in small ways each day.
When I think of the importance of hospitality, a family in the Bible comes to mind. Martha, Mary and Lazarus, who where good friends of our Lord Jesus Christ. They seem to have been prepared for visitors and we see in scripture that Jesus visited this family many times.
During one of our Lord’s visit with Martha and Mary we learn important truths about having a heart of hospitality.

(Luke 10 vs. 38) “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.”
The Lord was able to drop in on Martha because she had a heart of hospitality. She most likely slaved away keeping the house in good order for her family and making sure things ran smoothly in the event that a friend should stop by.

Martha was organized. She had a plan of action. We should be prepared for life and the company it brings us. We can start by working each day to bring our hearts, and house into order. Martha was a woman of action who knew that an important step to hospitality is having a plan, and completing tasks in order to meet her goals however we see in the next few verses that having a plan of action doesn‘t always mean that our hearts are prepared to be of service to our Lord.

(Luke 10 vs. 39) “And she had a sister called Mary, which sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.
Mary understood that although having a clean house is important personal attention and a good environment is needed, fellowship with the Lord is also an important part of hospitality. She left her duties and came to sit by Jesus and to learn and fellowship with him. Putting Christ first in her life.

Through Mary’s reaction to Christ’s visit we see that step one to having a heart for hospitality is preparing the heart for service through personal time with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Put Christ first in your life.

Start out your day having fellowship with the Lord.

Seek the Lord’s will for your time, and life through daily prayer.

While Mary sought fellowship with the Lord, Martha slaved away. Her heart was burdened and fretful because she longed for fellowship but was stuck with the chores.

(Luke 10 vs. 40) “But Martha was cumbered about much serving. and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?”


The things Martha was doing were important but in her haste to be and do right she had forgotten that putting Christ first is the most important thing we can do.
Christ reminds her of this. “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful.”
We can probably all identify with Martha as we have all had times when we struggled to finish the lunch preparations, school assignments or clean the house and check for clutter with deadlines pressing dangerously near. We have all been bothered to no end at times when someone (normally brothers or sisters) are supposed to be helping us but seem to find all sorts of other things to occupy their time. In our frustration we often snap at those who are closest to us. Losing the joy that comes from fellowship and bringing our attitudes away from a heart for hospitality.
Jesus pities Martha in this verse and reminds her that although those things (the things she is doing) are important only one thing is needed. (a relationship with himself.) Reminding her, that a relationship with him cannot be taken away and is the most important part of the heart of fellowship.

(Luke 10 vs. 41and 42) “And Jesus said answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful : and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
In order to create a heart of fellowship we now understand that seeking the Lord is most important. Start your day by setting aside time to fellowship with him. Once your heart and soul are in fellowship with him you will automatically be able to show his love to others around you in a more visible way.

Getting to know me (Part 1)

I recently took a survey that was designed to tell people a little bit about myself. I decided to change the format and then post the information so that you can get to know me a little better.

My friends call me Sarah. "I wasn't born in Texas I got here as soon as I could.” The Lord gave me hazy blue eyes and hair that is basically blonde but borders on light brown. ~I really don’t know what color I should call it. I reached 5ft tall! Yes, this is something to shout about considering that it is a few inches taller than my wonderful Mother.

I’ve been told I’m sinister. Wait, don’t leave. -That has something to do with the Latin word for left handed. :)

I have a mixed blood pumping through my veins. The main parts of it is a bit of German, a little French, and some Irish. It is a bad mix, I get sunburned like a true fair skinned German, don’t at all have the sexy French accent and can’t dance so I don’t know where the Irish went. Wait, maybe I can’t dance because I’m Baptist and haven’t tried it much? Well, moving on...

Shoes seem to be the next topic on the agenda. I’m not wearing any shoes at all right now. It is my usual custom to take my shoes off when I sit down to play with my computer. During the summer I love to wear shoes which will slip on and off my feet with ease. However, my boots win out in the winter and when I have a pair of boots I wear them until the bitter end. Which is pretty much why you might not have seen me wearing any lately.

My biggest weakness is that I have a hard time saying no when people want me to help them with projects. This might be because one of my greatest fears is not being able to please the people I love. I’m a perfectionist by nature and that can be a great thing but if I can’t do it right then I tend to not want to do it at all, so sometimes I need a bit of a shove in the direction I am supposed to be heading.

This year I’d like to finish paying off my truck. I always have plenty of ways to spend my cash but my family has been planning to go on a choir tour of Italy. I’d dearly like to go along for the ride but when it comes down to it I’ll probably be watching the mail for post cards.

I love using instant messenger and sometimes bug my friends with an over used “hehe.” It may be one of the silliest ways of expressing laughter but LOL was my major flaw last year so I had to come up with a different term. I guess I’m just grateful to have so many wonderful friends who make me laugh when I am typing!

My first thoughts when waking in the morning are probably, “Bah, go away morning.” The reason for this is that my bedtime tends to be when my eyes start drooping from lack of sleep. A time frame for my bedtime would be about 1:30-3:00am.

I have a hard time picking one feature that I would describe as "my best." When people ask me this question in real life I usually tell them my feet. I like my feet a lot but I don’t really think they are my best feature, they are just a safe, fun, feature. I just like to see the reactions on people’s faces. If they aren’t shocked then I know what they think about me!

I loved being part of the local 4-H groups as a young person. I remember being rather sad when I said goodbye to friends, competitions, and learning through such a great program. My favorite projects in 4-H had to be the camping trips we took as part of the field and stream group. I also loved being part of the photography projects and learning to sew. The project I hated most was probably cooking for the food and nutrition group or the public speaking competitions. I always enjoyed getting ready for them but the actual interview or speaking time was torture! Probably because the perfectionist side of me couldn’t get it right and I hate being judged or scored.

My favorite soft drink is Coca Cola Classic. I rarely drink a soda that is any other flavor. Pop is good stuff and I highly recommend it. I’d rather drink Coke or water to any other liquid. I don’t drink coffee or cappuccino basically I just don't like the way they taste!.

I’m a southerner but I avoid tea. If it is offered I’d rather drink lipton tea. I jokingly call Nestea “Nasty.“ ~No matter what kind of tea I’m drinking I like it better with ice being sweetened with pure white unadulterated sugar.

McDonalds wins over Burger king but that isn‘t a complete victory. I‘d normally just rather skip a meal than eat at either place. Sonic wins as my overall favorite spot to go for a cheeseburger in a hurry.

I don’t date much. I‘d rather just hang out with guys as friends because leading people on isn‘t very nice and I’m fairly certain that I haven‘t come across Mr. Right or if I have he hasn't figured it out yet! Sometimes I‘ll go out on a random date with a guy for fun but I really don‘t know how I feel about casual dating on the whole. I didn’t date at all until I got out of high school.

Have I been in Love? I've tripped before that is certain. I had to pick myself back up and it took a while for the wounds to heal but life did go on, so it is hard to answer that. Is love something from which you can recover???

Random statement: I like vanilla better than chocolate!

Quote me if you like!

A college education alone is not the thing that makes you successful. Do not allow it to define you, for it does not make you who you will become. Education is a means to unlock a door. It can be a useful tool but only when you are going through the right door. I don't believe it is the only choice. If you do not have a degree to unlock the door you are not out of options. You may be of a mind to sit down and give up, or you can always choose a new door if you like. I, for one, have never been afraid of picking locks. Force is also an option. How bad do you want to go through a door? If not having a key will stop you, your resolve has been lost before you started.

Heck, I'd say the key to being successful is not unlocking doors but choosing which doors to unlock.

Confession

Umm...I have a confession to make.

*guilty grin*

Well, it is like this folks. The house I'm staying in is a helter schelter wall to wall mess. That is the honest truth. I am really just a visitor but I live here so I try to tidy things up as I walk by or putting away the few items whose homes I am can figure out. Lately, a new and almost sinister temptation is upon me.

Allow me to explain.

My grandmother collects several types of products. She regularly gets shipments of beauti control, mela stinka, (I mean melaleuca) and Creative Memories. These things all bring her joy. The problem is that even packing material is reuseable and nothing that is reusable is thrown away around here. I noticed over the past few days a horribly large amount of air filled plastic bags sitting around waiting to be used for mailing or packing should that ever occur.

Then it happened, I picked one up and popped it. I threw it away. Then another, then another, then another...I'm addicted. I'm hoping she won't notice perhaps I won't die since new orders are expected in so she will soon have more packing materils... I feel terribly guilty. The worst of it? I'm somewhat addicted to seeing small spots appear in places filled with junk. I may need prayer...not sure if I can handle my random desires to throw away even useful things.

To tell you the truth I'm having a hard time coping with it all. I don't want to be a bother and have them wish me living somewhere else. I don't want to live with mountains of stuff either. Why are earthly posessions so alluring? hmm...well, I'm going to go see if there is anything else I can throw out. Later people!

This week has been awesome.

When my family evacuated along with almost the entire Texas coast we left our home behind in what seemed to be the path of distruction. It was with strained and slightly unsettled feelings that I hugged my family goodbye and headed out. I left a day earlier than the rest hauling camping gear and other things that we thought might come in handy should the house be blown away or damaged.

Two cats and a dog huddled in various states of distress within the confines of my baby truck. The cats were panicked not having ever been in a cage at all...ever... they mewed loudly and protested with full voices at the injustice which had seemingly been thrust upon them in what was the fairest of weather. It did appear to be the most inconvienient time in thier short lives. The dog happily gazed about from his perch in the front seat. It was easy to notice that he was eager to see where the next road would lead.

All was loaded and the last of the things in my room had been placed as advantagiously as possible inside the house. Darkness was almost upon me when I left for the hills. That was the start of what turned out to be a very nice week. I arrived at my Grandparents and started helping them get organized for the others who would be joining us shortly. Washing sheets, making beds and doing the small things that add up in the long run. I'd like to say that this was all done and that the company arrived in a picture perfect world but in reality that is far from the case.

My Dad's parents, my family, and our friends all joined Grandmom, Pop and I for what turned out to be one of those crazy weekends one can only dream about and never thinks to imagine. People scattered all over the floors at night, fellowship until the wee hours of the morning, and a list of other activities to fill the day. It seemed like a family reunion. Everyone got along pretty well and even the 7 dogs and 6 cats seemed to do well together though a few of the cats stayed in cages and one is missing still. To make the end of this crazy but somewhat wonderful weekend everyone was able to travel home to find homes and yards intact. There it is folks the update on Hurricane Rita for which many of you have been asking.

Goodnight to all and I am not checking this for spelling errors so please forgive me...it is 4am and I am going to bed! ~Sarah

3 minute miracle

Have you had your three minute miracle today?

My hair has been extra hard to manage lately. The length plays a minor role in that problem but I also find that it has been slightly damaged lately. One theory on the extra damage is that my hair is taking the stress of abnormal amounts of paint which I continually seem to be stripping, chipping and otherwise removing from my hair. All in all, lots of breakage and damage going on....haha...if your actually reading this I know you are bored!

Back to the story! Ok, so the damage is done but I am trying to keep it looking as nice as possible. I mentioned my troubles to my Grandmother this morning and she offered me a three minute miracle. Conditioner which is supposed to do a lot of repair work in a three minute time slot. I decided that I had nothing to loose so I added this product to my daily washing routine.

Three minutes later hair is falling out in clumps. I almost put it all in a box to save for locks of love, or just to save in case I end up needing a wig...I mean, I'm talking run my hands through my hair and come away with handfuls each and every time.

I'm a little worried at this point. I'm not sure how many miracles I can handle these days but it occurs to me that lots of guys out there must have seen beeen seeing miracles in action. Hopefully that is a blessed thought to some of you with not so much hair on top. Just think you have witnessed a miracle!!

Anyway, I think I'm done with generic miracles. I'd like to keep my what is left of my hair! Luckily, I do believe it was only going through a phase. Don't worry, so far I don't need a wig!

Haha...a lethal weapon...whatever that means!

Sarah, you're a Lethal Weapon!

You're open-minded, enthusiastic, and popular. Chances are you might even break the rules sometimes. You're motivated and serious, and you always jump at the chance to take on a new project. Innovation and abstract thinking are your strengths.You get cabin fever if you're cooped up too long. Sometimes you'd rather just work on an independent project so you can concentrate without having to deal with people. And you secretly question your self-worth.And that's just scratching the surface!

http://web.tickle.com/

Hurricanes and other things...

Keeping my fingers crossed...

Thanks for all the concern about the hurricane. According to the sources it seems to be hitting close to a town called Freeport which is just down the road from me...the forecast predicts thunderstorms here on Fri. and Sat. but they haven't given us any actual hurricane warnings yet...I'm still watching closely and something feels wrong with this one.
...I told my grandmother the last time we were watching a hurricane come toward us that it wouldn't come our direction so we didn't need to worry. That one hit LA but my gut feeling is to leave for the one coming in now...I may be heading out of town in my baby truck pretty soon. Finding the line between being paranoid and acting in a wise manner isn't always the easiest thing. Especially when I am meeting people everyday who just lost all of their earthly treasures due to Katrina.

Packing up...

We may be packing up. The plants in nearby towns are shutting down and they never shut down so that is a good indication that sticking around may not be the best plan. I'll be spending the day canceling things for my mother and thinking about what I should take...the hurricane probably won't hit us directly but our house floods when we get a lot of water heading our way so.........yeah.
I'll let you all know what happens if anything happens.

I'm about to head back to Seguin. (this evening or tomorrow morning unless they need me to stay until closer to the hurricane moving in.) I'd like to stick around here for a little longer but the hurricane is approaching this direction so it is a bit of a motivation to keep going. The hotels and such are booked solid all along the evacuation route.

I'm glad to have a place to go...this weekend could end up being really crazy because if my parents evacuate we will be taking my Grandmother who is on a feeding tube and completely helpless with us...I hope she will be able to make the trip. Also, Grandpa is not really able to travel much either but we'll be dragging him along. Grins, plus one of the caretakers that works for us and her son and his two house dogs. It could be fun. Actually, if I look at it like an adventure I'm sure it will be fun...hehe...just not the cleaning up part. If your in the area may God grant you safety and blessings. Let me know where you end up. texasgal1983@gmail.com if you don't feel like registering to comment!

Love you all and will probably update Sat. to let you know what is happening with the storm if a computer is available. Don't worry about it too much because my God can supply all my needs and says to not fear.

Verses to ponder...

Proverbs 17:8
"A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it: wherever it turns, it prospers."

Proverbs 18:16
"A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men."

God, may I treasure the gifts that you have given me as precious jewels. May I use them to bring glory to you even among great men. Thank you for the talents you have given me and for the friend who took the time to remind me of these things today.

Colossians 3:1
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Col. 3:17
"And whatsoever ye do do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Col. 3:23
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

2 Cor. 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things become new.

God, write these words in my heart that I might do all for your glory. Lord, help me with not seeking the approval of man, give me a heart that desires to please you only. Free me from the spirit of fear, yes, from the very fear. It is this damaging spirit that keeps me from fully walking in the joy you have laid out before me. I regocnize this and ask that you would remove it from my life. ~Amen

Pictures

Some pictures of me taken sometime this month.

Gotta love my sis she did a great job on the photo shoot!


Haha, I look kinda dorky in a few of these but what is life for but to laugh about?

Prince Charming?

I know frogs are technically the ones who get the good parts in the movies but this fellow has my vote! He hopped away before I could give him the hidden prince test. Guess I scared him.

God makes some strange stuff...

Hey y'all,

God makes some really beautiful and yet crazy things. Here is a pic of the bug I saved from drowning in my dog's drinking water today.

~Yeah, I caught it and carried it around in a bottle for a while, showed it to my Grandpa and asked a few people if they knew anything about it!


You can't see it very well in the pic but the beetle has a little black horn on top of it's head. It is a really pretty little fellow.

Arrested

I answered the phone.

"Sarah"

"Hey Dad"

"Is your mom there?"

"She is sleeping."

"Well, tell her that I am being arrested?"

"What???"

"My bond is going to be set at a thousand dollars."

"Whoa...Dad, hold up. What is going on? Why are you being arrested?"

"Oh, for the march of dimes."

*sigh of relief*


For some reason the above conversation did not make me want to help support the march of dimes. I was down right mad at first...should have seen me. In a couple of years I am sure this will be funny but today I have been on the edge of emotional agony, yes, painting does that to me on certain days. (Days when I have no flow and make more of a mess than I had when I started).. and it was a rather stressing phone call. In fact...though the actual arrest hasn't been made yet I am tempted to let him sweat it out for a while. It really isn't nice to play tricks like that on me.

Mug shot!

Here is a mug shot of my best friend!

Politically speaking...

I took a test that is designed to pinpoint your political stance.
The results were a little suprising but probably somewhat accurate.

I scored like this:
Social Moderate (56% permissive)
Economic Conservative (66% permissive)
The test said "You are best described as a:
Centrist, and that I exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness. loc: (24, 62)modscore: (40, 34)

However, when you look at the chart. My spot is nearer to 1/2 Centrist, 1/4 capitalist, and 1/4 libertarian.

*Note to those who wonder about the libertarian part. It is my tendency in principal to allow freedom of personal choice in as many areas as possible but I hold to the values of doing all one has agreed to do, and not enchroaching upon the life or property of others. I cling to the idealistic hope that people will take it upon themselves to make wise choices instead of having that forced upon them by a form of government. I understand in practice though the value of having established policy and leadership.

Ok, now you need to take this test and let me know how you did! Please disreguard the "cupid" part I just liked the test!
http://www.okcupid.com/politics

Texas talk!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/washpost/20050911/ts_washpost/
in_rural_texas__blessings_and_culture_shock

Reflections in the rain....

The rain is pouring down on earth. It is drenching all it touches with a sad but determined fury. I've been outside within it's cold reach all morning. Sitting beneath the thin protection of a rusty tin roof. I paint at what seems to be a never ending project. Though no human companion dares to watch me at my work I am not alone. My faithful dog sighs as he sits nearby. I look up at him and he gently wags his old blue tail. I smile and wonder if I should move the plate of blue paint which is sitting next to him.

He has been a good dog. A wonderful companion the past 11 years. His deep brown eyes look up at me but an inquiry reveals that the funny antics of a carefree pup have long since ceased. Instead, I see a somehow saddened gaze. It speaks of wisdom and experience. The eyes are dimmed with age but loyalty has given them a new beauty. He lowers his head back to the ground.

The raindrops continue to fall, giving the air a heavy sense of woe. It cries, "look here, see the future as it is comes. Appreciate the present for all of this will pass away." I pat my old dog on the head and take a moment to tell him what I'm thinking...how I'll miss him when he is gone, what he has meant to me over the years and then I turn my thoughts to the Lord. Tears welling up, I thank God for giving me such a faithful friend.

I take a trip inside the house but as I wade through the water which drowns our soil it causes mud to rise. The pressure is placed on it's unstable surface and muds ugly head lifts itself from the water to glare at me. My mind turns it's thought then to humanity. I am haunted by the faces of those I know, those who are sinking deep within the mire of sin. I realize they are sinking but there is something worse. They are not warned and with no real grasp of the dangers at hand how will they have a way of escape. I shudder, is there a way to show them freedom from this grasp of sin?

Can I warn them? Will they listen? I cannot say. I gaze into my reflection in the rain. Do I reflect my maker, can they see him through the dirt and mud. The sin stains smeared into my life? Do they see his loving hand upon me? Friends, I weep for I am found wanting. If this reflection is of me, how can they see?

God grant me purity that others may see you through reflection. Wash me, cleanse me, use me. May I not be the mudd that mars your glory but the clear rain that brings life to those who would have it.

A fix...

Well, y'all I'm in a fix. I just took a quizz that says I'm only 35% redneck. I'm so confused I don't even know what to think anymore...It ain't my fault that all our washing machines work. I do park my truck all over the yard. I don't drink but I love my country music. Heck, my dad pulls a trailer with his car. ~ even the old cadillac had a hitch on it, that should make up for the working washing machines right?? *sighs* Well, if I'm not a total redneck then I reckon some of me is something else...

Some of this: Classy? Country girl? Sweet? Charming? Talented?

Heck, I aint a yankee and I'm not sure what else is out there...Blue collar? Stiff? Swell? Anyone know how to figure out what my other 65% is?

With Tears...

We still remember you... *video made by Phill Collins

Quote of the Day

"Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well." ~Dr. Johnson

I guess the drag racing bug bit me this year. Here are some pictures from a recent trip to the tracks. I won't be going often because it costs a fortune to get in. It was a beautiful day for the race even if the hot Texas sun did beat down with all it's wrath giving me the worst sunburn in personal history.
During the afternoon I tried to avoid more sun by borrowing a Green bay packers hat from a friend. It was big and flopped around on my head all day. I felt rather funny in it, but my face was hot so I kept it on. I also added a long sleeve shirt. I hated to wear it because of heat but the red glow of my skin was rather painful to the eyes of others.
Evening at the track was my favorite time. The sun had settled down to a glow and racing spirits were high. I enjoyed the company of racers, but my favorite glimpse of racing life was being involved with the families that participated on a regular basis. They showed no end of cheer and hospitality. I was invited to eat them, and they treated me just like an extra member of the family!

*Heck, perhaps I'll get in on a drag race or two one of these days. Anyone teach me how to drive a standard? Varooom!!!

Me and my truck!

It occurs to me that some of you may never have seen what I look like so I will remedy that by posting this picture of me and my truck. It was taken sometime this month so it is a very accurate likeness.

A book mark...

I was given a book mark by a friend who lives in Viet Nam. It is really beautiful. Handpainted on scented "Po mu" wood, it pictures a little man riding some type of water buffalo in green fields near a modest little hut. It is a very simple drawing but really charming.

A glimpse in the past!

My parents started home schooling me when I was very young. I enjoyed this very much but at one point in life I begged for the opportunity to attend a public school. That was the summer before I started 5th grade, my best friend's Mom was teaching the 5th graders and I was constantly being told by well meaning people in the community that I would be warped for life and that I needed socialization. I didn't want to be "warped" so I talked about going to public school quite a bit that summer.

My parents finally decided to let me try it out. You can imagine my utter shock at waking up the day school started and having them say, “How would you like to go to public school today?” I was confused, it had never been an option before and then they just dumped it in my lap. I didn’t know if I should go but I wanted to give it a try, so I scrambled around to find something to wear, made a jelly sandwich (We didn‘t have any peanut butter but I wasn‘t going to eat cafeteria food.) and was on my way.
Hehe, this was actually a highlight in my life. I was famous and popular as the girl who had home schooled and enjoyed the favor of the cutest guy in class.

I now look back fondly on the week I took my “field trip” to public school. I attended for three whole days. It was a blast, I made a few new friends and prayed over my lunch even though some of the other kids were scared that they might get in trouble for praying.

It boiled down to a choice. I looked around, decided that I knew most of the kids before I attended the school, realized that people who worried about socialization didn‘t have a clue about what I did with my life, and thought really hard about the benefits of going to public school.
Let's see....
1. Going to school for hours and then taking homework with me when I left.
2. Getting up at an ungodly hour to catch the school bus.
3. Missing the great outdoors, playing with my brother and sister and my other home schooled friends.
3. Having Mrs. Bigsby as my math teacher.
4. Carrying all of my school books everywhere.
5. Riding the dumb bus home with all the freaky kids that threw pencils and the little kids that were really annoying, and the big kids that glared at you like they might attack.
I said ok, this is all very nice but not as nice as home schooling, and then I begged my parents to teach me at home. From that point out I was the most greatful of homeschooling students!

Number 7 in point standings!

National Championship Points
Driver: Steven Hall


Class/Registration: STK/4782
Hometown: Sweeney, TX
Points Sum Type Event Code And Location Date
83 83 HD 14-Houston, TX 03/13/2005
61 144 NA HT1-Houston, TX 04/10/2005
30 174 NA BL1-Belle Rose, LA 04/24/2005
51 225 HD 24-Ennis, TX 05/01/2005
40 265 HD 34-Gilliam, TX 05/22/2005
84 349 HD 44-Memphis, TN 06/04/2005
70 419 HD 54-Rusk, TX 06/12/2005
73 492 NA MT1-Memphis, TN 08/21/2005
492 Events Attended/Counted: 8/8
Points listed in green background are included in the total.
Points listed in red numbers are not eligible.
Type: HD=Home Div, NA=National Event, OD=Out of Div

Crabs

Well, among the latest in a day of doing nothing in particular, I have decided to go crab hunting in my fish tank. Caught two of the bigger creatures and have at least two more yet to fish out. They are getting overly large for our 50 gallon tank and are capable of catching fish very well now. Thus an end has been made to one of my black and white striped damsel fish. We feed them well, but they have gotten a taste for the live stuff now. I suppose I shall have to take a trip to the beach to dump them as I really hate to kill them outright. Bah, 16 crabs caught in the tank this month...you'd think we raise them.

Labor Day

Gloriously labor free, though I am tempted to paint. My Dad is in the kitchen preparing steaks for a family cook out, and I am for the most part rather bored. My old friends have all travelled back to college towns so none are left to cheer me. The locals are a rather rough crowd so I don't hang out with them much especially on holiday when they will be celebrating with smoke and drink. Gas is becoming something of a dream. Thought of, wished for, and dreamed of but even with a full tank seldom used. My gas guzzling old truck only dreams of racking up some highway miles and my poor dog rather begs for a truck ride whenever I go outside.

Well, Here is the end

(Rusty Hall's car pictured on right!)

Friday-Results for Elimination Round 1


This is what i'm talking about! Way to smoke em Steven!

CLERMONT, Ind. - Class winners in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:
Num Class Driver, Home Town, Car Type
4782 C/SA Steven Hall, Sweeney TX, '67 Mustang


Saturday-Results for Elimination Round 1

CLERMONT, Ind. - Round 1 winners and next round pairs in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:
Num Class Driver, Home Town, Car Type
7159 I/FIA Bill Nelson, Tucson AZ, '02 Firebird
4782 C/SA Steven Hall, Sweeney TX, '67 Mustang

1129 D/SA Victor Guilmino, Martinsburg WV, '71 Mustang
4783 A/SA Rusty Hall, Sweeney TX, '68 Mustang

Saturday-Results for Elimination Round 2

CLERMONT, Ind. - Round 2 winners and next round pairs in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:
Num Class Driver
4783 A/SA R Hall
1443 C/FIA W Caliendo

Sunday-Results for Elimination Round 3

CLERMONT, Ind. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Stock Eliminator at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 51st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals:
W/L Driver Class Dial RT ET Speed
(W) Wendy Caliendo C/FIA 11.00 0.023 11.017 0.017
(L) Rusty Hall A/SA 10.40 0.069 10.442 0.042
Wendy Caliendo's MOV: 0.0717 seconds (approximately 13 feet).

Bah, What an ending. Sorry about that R, but there will be another race.

Painting

Today I spent a good bit of the day painting a sign for Manna fields farm. My projects for them are almost finished. I am really tired and I was bitten by hundreds of mosquitoes. The basic idea for the sign can be seen at the top of the page at http://www.mannafieldsfarm.com. If you feel like hanging out in a corn maze all day you should really go check it out!

The Facts

Bring gasoline panic under control

By Michael Morris
The Facts

Published September 2, 2005

Right under the “Out of Gas” signs being placed outside gas stations across the country the last two days could be another one to explain why — “Out of Fear.”

Rumors that stations will run out of fuel have had people lining up dozens deep in Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia and elsewhere. Some stations ran out of gas because of limited supplies and distribution problems because of damage to pipelines along the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina.

(Such a brilliant article!~ Just put this in here so that we can look back on it one day and laugh.I wonder why Mr. Morris didn't report the small riots breaking out at the local gas station. Guess he didn't hear about them??)

The facts

AG’s office: Buc-ee’s gas issues ‘resolved’

By Michael Smith
The Facts

Published September 3, 2005

A Texas Attorney General’s Office spokesman said Friday the agency did not plan to levy fines or take any other action after more than two dozen complaints it received Thursday alleging Buc-ee’s was withholding fuel to make a larger profit.

Spokesman Tom Kelley said investigators visited three Buc-ee’s stores in Brazoria County on Thursday. The investigation was carried out under a Deceptive Trade Practices Act provision, aimed at preventing businesses from taking advantage of consumers during declared emergencies.

Ya never know...

The dog was barking when Dad opened the door to see what was wrong.
I looked out the window and could tell that the old boy was after something so I picked up a coke bottle to chunk at him because whatever it was had placed itself between us and the dog so we couldn't get to the dog to restrain him.

Help was on the way, but desperate raccoons take desperate measures. He weighed his options then plunged inside our house. I was pretty close to the door where he entered so I started getting out of the way as fast as I could but he saw me. He was a little agitated so he decided to attack. I had nothing to do but throw my coke bottle at him. This changed his plans and he ran into my room.

First he climbed my guitar, he was about to reach the top of my dresser and my two expensive porcelain dolls when his unsteady perch crashed to the floor. No biggie -he dashed across my bed to reach the fake tree nearby. Once there he climbed the branches, then hopped on the partitioning stand that I made using saplings and suede. This wasn't designed to hold raccoons so it toppled against the small piano that my brother is storing in my room. This was a really bad thing since the piano was storing a few folded blankets and also is right next to the open breaker box with wires hanging everywhere which is capable of shocking a half mad raccoon.

Having shut my bedroom door ,I ran outside to tie up the dog and then opened my bedroom window from the outside.

In the meantime Dad got a broom and was making some attempts at convincing the creature to leave his post by the breaker box. In the end, the raccoon is gone and the mess will be cleaned up as soon as I do some laundry. Oh, and yes, somewhere in all this I picked up a camera and snapped a shot. The available camera wasn’t the best but hopefully we will have proof of the incident. *deep sigh* What a night!

A study on Proverbs

Proverbs 31:14

"She is like the merchant's ships; she bringeth her food from afar."

The Proverbs 31 woman is a diligent worker. She is willing to spend long hours finding the best for her family. She doesn't settle for only the things that can be gotten easily. She goes the "extra mile."

Do you? Are you willing to spend a greater amount of time and energy in order to insure the best for your family?

How I was saved

The Lord Jesus Christ became my Savour on New Years' Day, 1888. The time was
7:24pm. The invitation was playing in our small Baptist church just as it
did on every other Sunday but on this night there was something different;
something more than just the ordinary. That something was Jesus Christ
knocking on the door of my heart. I knew that the Lord was asking to be my
Lord, he was assuring me that his blood would cover the stains in my heart.
Yet I did not go forward. I was afraid. Afraid of what my friends might
say,afraid that I would get in trouble for leaving my seat, afraid of what
people might think.
The Lord worked with my heart through the rest of the church service, and I
began to overcome my fear of people and wonder if I would ever be able to
ask about how to give Jesus my life. As soon as the last prayer was said at
church I ran to where my mother was playing at the piano and told her that I
wanted Jesus to take over my life. She led me to the pastor who showed me
verses in the Bible about Christ and the price he paid in order to keep
people from being seperated from him.
You see God is perfect. He created the heavens and the earth and all that is
in them. He created us in a wonderful way giving us the capabilities to
think and reason. He allows us to meet with him and know his plans but as I
said before he is perfect.

This perfection, seperates us from him, because he will not look at sin.

The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.
We are not able to associate with God because of this sin. The problem with
sin is that it leads to death.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Christ knew that we would all sin, and that this sin would seperate us from
him and end in death. He made a provision for this."But God commendeth his
love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8.
He knew that all would die but he did not want them to be eternally
seperated from himself so he he gave us his son who shed his blood inorder
to cover our sins. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not parish but
have everlasting life."
He says in John 1:12 "But as many as recieved him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved."
We can only be saved through his cleansing power, that is to say his amazing
grace. "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves
it is a gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians
2:8-9

We see then that to become a Christian you must first admit that you are a
sinner. We learn from The Bible in Romans 3:23 that everyone has sinned.
This sin keeps us from being with God because he cannot look at sin. We know
from Ephesians 2:8-9 that you cannot earn your way to heaven so this sin
also means that we would die , go to hell, and be eternally seperated from
God.
John 3:16-17 tells us that God loves us and wants us to live in heaven when
we die. In order to save us someone without sin had to die in our place to
pay for our sins. There was no one who could do that here on earth so the
Lord sent his only son to die in our place. We see that in Romans 5:8. This
was the only way that our sins could be forgiven and removed.
Finally, you must pray. You need to tell God that you are a sinner and that
you believe his Son Jesus died on the cross for your sins. You must ask him
to forgive you and to come into your life. Tell him that you want him to be
in charge of your life. If you do this you will become a child of God as he
promised in John 1:12.

Do You Love the Lord...

The Bible is full of all sorts of interesting verse dealing with a everything from creation, war, rules, love, peace, wisdom, and knowledge.

As I sat down to write you this evening I was reminded of a verse in the Bible that talks about what it means to love Christ.

You see, I think that most of us would say that we loved Christ if someone were to ask us but is that really true?

If it is, have you told the Lord lately? He is waiting to hear from you. He has even told us how to act if we do love him.

He tells us in the Bible that if we love him we will keep his commandments. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3

I think it is interesting to note the last part of that verse. Why was that piece out in there? I believe that it works as both a statement and as a springboard for us to examine our lives. Do you find God's commandments hard to follow? Are his commandments grievous to you?

The Bible talks about a rich young ruler who thought that Jesus' command to sell all that he had was way to hard. He left without the knowledge of what it is to serve Christ.

My question for you is do you LOVE Christ? What has he commanded you to do for him? Will you do it or will you leave without the knowledge of what it is to serve Christ?

Ways to tell the Lord you love him...

Ways to tell the Lord you love him.
(Notes from a session given by Christiana Reed)

Just as it is important to express love to the people in your life that are
important to you, it is important to express your love to the the one who
created you.

Here are some suggestions on expressing your love for the Saviour.

1. When we love someone we are constantly seeing or hearing things that
remind us of them.

Find ways to remind yourself of Jesus Christ throughout the day.

- would he like to see me wear this?

- Do you think he would do this?

- He said in his letters (the Bible) that ___________.

* Tell him what is going on in your life while it is happening.

* Talk the details over with him, tell him everything!

* Include him in your conversations with others.

* Turn to him when you need comfort.

* Picture what he would do if he were here.

* Tell him that you are committed to him.

2. Treasure what he tells you. When we love someone we are constantly
quoting things they say.

* Rise early inorder to meet with him.

* Ask him for guidance before each task.

* Learn to be silent and listen to his voice.

* Keep a journal that tells of your times with him.
- include special verses that he gives you.
- things that he is teaching you. Etc.

3. We all take special pleasure in recieving gifts. The Lord has given us
many of these treasures. Delight yourself in the things he has given you.

* Recall the special places that he has met you.

* The special times you have spent together.

* Tell others what he has done for you.

* Keep a box of remembrance.

4. Choose things that please Him. When we love someone we are constantly
finding out about their likes and dislikes.

* Dress the way he would want you to dress.

* Give him your time and your schedule.
-write him in if you have to...you would do that for your Parents, Boss,
Girl/Boyfriend, best friend etc.

* Develop skills that will benifit his kingdom and the plans he has for your
life.

* Set aside a period of time or years to serve him.
-You should serve him your entire life but it is sometimes helpful to commit
a certain amount of time to him alone.

5. Use creative ways to express your love for Him. Everyone enjoys knowing
that you spent time thinking about what would please them.

* Write letters and notes to him.

* Write songs or poems for him.

* Trust him with the secrets of your heart.

* Be excited about the things that he enjoys!

(Come on fess up, how many times have you studied some weird subject like
the weather, sports, or fishing lures in order to talk with someone your
interested in? *grins* Yep, that's what I thought!)

6. Love others! Show people that you care for them. The Lord says that
whatever you do others you do to him.

* Direct the attention of children to Christ. Tell them who he is, and what
he has done for them.

* Assure others that Jesus loves them.

* Teach others the principles of the Bible and reinforce these lessons when
you have the chance.

* Make loving Jesus the top priority of your life!

Speech on moving His resolutions...

"My Hold of the colonies is in the close affection which grows from common names, from kindred blood, from similar privileges, and equal protection. These are the ties which, though light as air, are as strong as the links of iron. Let the colonies always keep the idea of thier civil rights associated with your government; they will cling and grapple to you, and no force under heaven will be of power to tear them from their allegiance. but let it be once understood that your government may be one thing and their priviliges another; that these two things may exist without any mutual relations; the cement is gone; the cohesion is loosened; and everything hastens to decay and dissolution."
~ An Exerpt from The Honounerable Edmunde Burke's 'Speech on moving His resolutions for Conciliation With America'

If King George III had listened to this man can you imagine how different America would have been today, would it indeed have been America?

Thoughts on the home...

Remember that a home can be contained in any house for the structure is not the home but those found inside. Some of the best loved houses are made out of the most unlikely structures. I have found happiness in living in places most people would not consider fit for habitation. Life is what you make of it..."Enjoy each day, you will only live it once!"
~Sarah

Quote of the day...

"He that would thrive, must ask his wife."
~English proverb

God's anointed

God’s anointed

I was reading in 1 Samuel 16:14-23 today.
In the passage King Saul was being troubled by an evil spirit. It was suggested to him that a man be found to play music for him.

The young man that was supplied to do the job was recommended for these reasons.....
1. He was skilled and could play his instrument well
2. He was valiant
3. He was a man of war
4. He was comely
5. The Lord was with him
6. He was young and he served the King with love

These are things that were written about a man after God’s own heart. Strive for His excellence in these things. Be ready to serve when needed! Be valiant for the cause of Christ. Serve the Lord with love.

Point to Ponder...

Tradition is what you make it.

Music

A few weeks ago I talked about the music that soothed King Saul's soul. In that passage King Saul was being troubled by an evil spirit. It was suggested to him that a man be found to play music for him. (1 Samuel 16:14-23 )

Here we see another instance in scripture where music is used to usher in the presence of the Lord God.

Elisha was being asked to prophesy and he spoke these words:

"But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him." (2 Kings 3:15)

Wow! Music is a powerful tool!!!
Does the music you listen to usher the Spirit of God into your presence. Does it honor and worship Him? Does it bring you closer to Him or does it drive you farther from His presence?

Do you play an instrument with skill? Can you play in such a way that the hand of the Lord would come upon your listeners and work in their lives? Music is an awesome tool in the hand of Christians. Guard against using it in an improper way.

Two long rang goals:

I was recently asked the question, "What are 2 of your long-range goals?" It took me a while to think about my answers but in the end I decided that these things were the most important to me.

1. To love the Lord with all my heart, strength mind and soul and to walk in His ways daily.

2. To serve the Lord through active ministry. (Ministry areas that specifically touch my heart are working as a house parent for private orphan homes and being part of a traveling evangelistic team.)

Where am I?

If you don't see me on-line much for the next few days it is because I will be watching a three year old for a while. I have yet to meet the little fellow so I am not sure what will happen. I've prepared myself with books, videos and coloring projects but I am afraid my house really isn't set up in a kid friendly manner. We have no toys, no tiny chairs, not many interesting things to do for one so small. He will be here about 21hrs this weekend so if you get the chance you might pray that I will have some creative ideas, and perhaps that we might have some rain free time to play outside.

Well, I am off...perhaps I should go out and get a big box. :)

Friendship compared to Iron

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friends.” ~Proverbs 27:17
Some Characteristics of Iron Iron ~A silvery-white Lustrous metallic element Malleable occurring abundantlyDuctile in combined forms, notablyMagnetic in hematite, limonite, Magnetizable magnetite, and taconite, and used alloyed in a wide range of important structural materials.

A Glance at the Making of Iron

Iron ore is mined from the ground. This ore is then brokendown to separate the worthless particles of sand and rock from the ore. Washing the iron ore removes tailing (waste) leaving the concentrate. (good ore) When the ore is washed it is ready for the other ingredients to be added. Coke and limestone are added to the iron and cooked in a furnace while being blasted with hot air. The outside of the furnace is then cooled by water.

A true friend is somebody who can make us do what we can. ~Lavator

The Characteristics of Friendship and Iron Compared.

Friendship and Iron are lustrous. They have a glow that draws one to them. They both gleam and radiate.

Iron and friendship are malleable. They must both be shaped and formed in order to be useful. They are shaped through pressures and are easily influenced and changed.

Iron and friendship are ductile. That means they can be drawn out into a wire or hammered thin. They are readily shaped. A friend is someone who will be persuaded and influenced by the things you say and do with them. They are tractable.

Friendship and Iron both have magnetic qualities. A magnet attracts iron and certain other materials by virtue of a surrounding field of force produced by the motion and alignment of electrons and atoms. Friends are drawn to each other through common interests, locations, activities, and situations.

Friendship and Iron are both magnetizable. They are both a substance that can be magnetized.

Friendship attracts and influences different forces according to the strength of the magnetization.

Thoughts to Ponder

Iron and Friendship are both used everyday.
We take often take iron and friendship for granted.
Friendship is magnetic. ~It draws people together.

Good luck to the Hall Bros.

Good luck guys! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Event Entry List for Mac Tools U.S. Nationals!
~Stock eliminator
4782 C/SA
Steven Hall SweeneyTX '67 Mustang Ford 390 TAYLOR HOME TOUCH/HALL BROS

4783 A/SA
Rusty Hall Sweeney TX '68 Mustang Ford 428HALL BROS/PJ'S TIRE&LUBE

I know you guys have what it takes, may the winds be with you and may you take the races for Texas. Go boys go!

It occurs to me...

On some days it occurs to me that pehaps I should update this place...but then what would I write about?

Life today was normal at best. I read a book, picked up sticks in the yard, visited with a few of the locals and spent my day playing around on the computer. Not a lot on the whole but enough to keep me active.

If anything I am in a rather bored mood.

Thoughts on Government

"Give us more laws for we will follow."

It would seem that America’s battle cry these days could be summed up using this general cry “Give us more laws for we will follow, tax us for we will give, and by all means use more force to make everyone comply.” It is a nightmarish vision. Can we be so stupid as to believe happiness will ensue??

Simple laws are added and forced upon us at an alarming rate. It comes to the point where people beg to live in the bondage. Can the convenience of being told exactly where, how, and what time they can get rid of the garbage really be worth the cost of freedom which one is forced to pay? Why for the convenience of not having a messy neighbor are people so willing to give up the rights of decision making which allow life to be enjoyable?

To simply state my political standpoint I am inclined to see a small, weak form of government to be more of an ideal goal. It would seem that with each new investment of power in government we turn over more freedoms thus the corruption increases and the bondage deepens.

I believe that higher law is of greater validity than civil law. Right and wrong are not matters of opinion which can be bended and molded to fit the whims of society. The founding fathers were wise to base their patterns of liberty on higher law using patterns from the old common laws.
I would say that in my general use of the word law I would define it as is a morally binding rule of conduct. To be a good law it must be based on these two basic ideas. Fulfilling all you have agreed to do and not encroaching on the rights of others.

Government as a whole actually would seem to be at odds with those those laws. Since a government is set up as a institution which claims the privilege of violating both of these ideas. It is continuously encroaching on the rights of law abiding citizens and it does not hold up it’s end of the bargain. I see government as the bully who sets himself up on the playground. He tells people the way his games are to be played but breaks his own rules whenever he can do so to his own advantage.

A state of government is inevitable for there will always be a bully on the playground who is capable of strong arming his victims into submission. I must concede then that the key to keeping a good government would seem to be keeping it in check, allowing it to have only a small influence so that the power it invests over the whole of it’s realm is relatively harmless. Much like an alliance on the playground to insure that the bully isn’t able to harm those he seemingly controls.

To quote Thomas Paine, “Government even in it’s best state, is but a necessary evil.”

Salt

I have been staying with my parents this month. I'm really enjoying being at home. There is a certain sense of stability in it. Many things can be counted on and one fact in particular. - My parents and siblings will retire much earlier than I. This tends to exile me to my room in the evenings. Thus it happened that I was reading on the topic of salt from an old textbook of mine this week.
This may seem an odd topic but I have actually enjoyed it. Salt is something of a novel substance to me. Salt is made by a blend of sodium and chlorine. It's chemical symbol being NaC1. Sodium is an alkali metal with unstable properties. It is capable of bursting into flame when exposed to water. Chlorine is a lethal gas. Yet the combination of these chemicals creates sodium chloride or a solid substance called salt.
I was thinking of Matthew 5:13a which says "Ye are the salt of the earth;"
We are the salt of the earth. Unstable alone but stabilized by Christ. A christian may not always serve the Lord but rather choose to operate without Christ. This would make him unstable like sodium. Able at times to ignite into flame when exposed to the right substances but not always getting the same effect. That, or perhaps lethal at times like chlorine. Affecting others by his lack of zeal for the things of Christ or with his overbearing spirit, giving them a lethal dose of empathy toward the things of Christ.
Sodium and Chlorine alone do not have the same effect as salt but when those chemicals combine they become something that preserves, gives life, and is of service to man. A Christian when bonded with Christ in a proper relationship is salt. Salt that works at preserving nations, standing for purity, promoting cleanliness, enhancing the lives of those around us, and softening others toward the things of Christ, above all perhaps creating the thirst for a relationship with Christ in others.

Eternal Security

Eternal Security
What are my beliefs on eternal security?

I believe that when a person becomes a Christian he is given eternal security. This security is received through salvation as a gift from God.

I am secure in my salvation for these reasons:

1. I have heard His voice and know Him. He has given me the gift of eternal life.

John 10:27-30 “My Sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

2. After hearing the Word of truth and trusting in the gospel of salvation, I believe I was sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Lord takes pleasure in giving us this gift.

Ephesians 1:7, 9, 10, 13 (7)“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;” (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.”(10) “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:”(13) “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise.”

3. My works will be judged, but I shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 3:15“If any man’s works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet as by fire.”

4. Jesus blotted out the handwriting against me.

Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

5. God keeps his promises.

Hebrews 1:16-20 “(16) For men verily swear by the greater oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.(17) Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by oath:(18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entered into that within the veil;(20) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

6. Christ said it was finished when He died.

John 19:30b “He said it is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost”

7. I have become a new creature in Christ.

2nd Corinthians 5:17-21 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself be Jesus Christ, and hath given us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

8. I am persuaded that nothing can separate me from the love of God.

Romans 8:37-39“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(All Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.)

Plan of Salvation

A sinner is a person who has done something that will keep him from being in fellowship with God because God cannot look upon sin. Being a sinner also comes with a death penalty because the wages or payment that we owe for sin is death.

Romans 6:23 “For the Wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Bible tells us that we have all sinned. No man can measure up to the standards of God’s holiness. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 5:8

Our sin separates us from a loving God who wants us to live with Him in heaven when we die. In order to be rid of this sin someone who hadn’t sinned had to die to make the payment for our sin. We couldn’t earn our way to Heaven because we had already sinned, “But God Commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

We cannot save ourselves but God loves us, and he gave us the gift of grace to keep us from being separated from him “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is a gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

He sent Jesus his son to die in our place. The Bible says that if we believe that God’s Son Jesus died in our place and if we are willing to accept His gift of salvation we will be saved “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9-10 God will save anyone who will take Him at His word and give them the power to become his children. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12

The Trinity

(Some thoughts on the Trinity I found in a journal of mine.)

1) God the Father is the author
~The originator of all that exists, It was in His mind, first, that all took shape.

2) God the Son, our Saviour, is God the artisan. ~The Artist, the Creator of all that had been originally formulated in His Father's mind.

2) God the Holy Spirit is God the agent who presents these facts to both my mind and my spiritual understanding so that they may become real to me as an individual.

Wal-mart blues

Trucks are beautiful creations standing tall and proud above the standard croud. I can't tell you how happy I was to finally drive one claiming it as my own.

Well, so much for that theory. Right now I drive an old clunker with a bad case of "I don't want to." Mostly it doesn't want to be a smooth ride, it doesn't want to play music loudly, it doesn't want to stop on a dime and it doesn't want to smell good.

Lately it doesn't want it's lights to work. I swear it keeps ripping them out when I am not looking. I have had several guys help me fix them in the last month. We get them all working and blinking. Putting everything in order and then a few days later I find wires and other items dragging or swinging in the air happily out of place.

The worst of it just started recently my truck waits patiently until I am out of town and then she decides to give me trouble. It is planned, I swear, but I sure can't prove it. She waits until I park and then sits patiently while I do whatever it is that I am doing. Then, when I get back in she refuses to cooperate. She flat out decides not to start. I'll give her a little extra gas and sometimes the bribe will work however sometimes she just closes up and refuses to go until she gets flooded. She is a pain.

Last Friday night we went to Wal-Mart and she again refused to do my bidding. Even with new oil, enough antifreeze and airfreshener in her interior she just wouldn't budge. I had brought a friend with me who I had promised to deliver at a reasonable hour so this frustrated me to no end. Having exhausted my bribing power I finally called for reenforcements. One Grandpa, my friend's father, and one of my friend's brothers came to the rescue. They studied her for a second and asked me to try to start her up so I turned the key and she came to life. Stupid truck. I swear she wants to make me look like a fool.

What a night. All this and then to reward the very badly behaved creature I have to give her some high octane gas that costs more than the clothes on my back. What is this world coming too? Where can I get a truck with a good disposition? I'm looking for the kind that stands tall and proud above the standard crowd.

Wizard of OZ

Lindsey is doing a great job for Brazosport college in the summer production of "The Wizard of Oz." She inspires me nightly as she portrays the character of Dorathy to her fans. I can only go away thinking that there are indeed blue skies somewhere over the rainbow even when they can only be dimly viewed through teary eyes reminding me that there really is "no place like home." When it all comes down to it...I'm glad "We aren't in Kansas anymore." Watch out though for the Lions, and Tigers and Bears. Oh my

Just a note...

Hey all,

Not much happening here today. I got up and puttered around the house until people gave me projects to complete. I spent a few hours doing the bidding of those around me. After a while I decided that I needed to run away so I went to Wal-mart and looked at everything. Well, everything pertaining to trucks, dogs, sewing and painting. (In my life that comes close to everything.) I finally settled on buying some paint and a few new brushes. I seem to have a need to paint. I wanted to be on vacation this week but I feel like painting for fun.

We had a Creative Memories workshop at our house and at first I tried to avoid the whole mess but after a few of my friends started arriving things started looking up.

We snuck to Sonic about halfway through the event and got some cookie dough sonic blasts. Pretty good even though they forgot to mix the vanilla syrup stuff in my first one. I told them about it and they redid it for me but I was not tooooo impressed with the extra syrup they put on top of my new one. If I would have been in just a little bit of a different mood I would have made them wish they hadn't met me. As things stand I can still show my face at Sonic though in reality I don't really care to do so because they haven't impressed me much. Long live Dairy Mart and good service.

Hey there!

Hey all! Good news. I just got back from my friend Sara's wedding and things seemed to go of without a hitch...wait...they did get hitched but that was meant to happen. The wedding was sweet and simply decorated but very beautiful.

The groomsmen were nice...especially the drunk ones. They even offered to pose in the natural for my mural painting business. Wonder if they would have been so helpful when they were sober?? I had a good time. My groomsman even came out of his way to sit by his "flower girl" while we were waiting to get shot...er have our pictures taken. : )