Be Still and Know...Then and Now

I'm all over the place this moring, so hang on!!!!!!! I think my minor technical difficulties have allowed me the much needed time to recover from the shame and humiliation I faced at my crushing defeat in the recent Ugly Mug Contest.   However life goes on and I must put this staggering tragedy behind me and move on to a new day. But before I take the high ground and accept my defeat with dignity I will say that for future contests I feel we must insist upon a revamping of the rules. Specifically and most importantly one must indeed have proof of ownership of said ugly mug at the time of the contest. With such valuable (Starbucks & Chocolate, the two main food groups) and worthy prizes on the line the possibilities for misinterpretation are simply too great. Now that that’s off my chest I gracefully accept my defeat and hold my head high with the knowledge that it is better to have entered an ugly mug content and lost than to have never entered a contest at all……   Moving ...

I am having some laptop issues, a broken power " dooomaflaaatchie " or " doohickie " in the back that has to get replaced.  I will be back as soon as it is fixed (on a frustrating note I can't get the repair guy at Micro Center to return my calls, he obviously does not fully comprehend the seriousness of my " dooomaflaaatchie " issue) ....until then I will try to post occasionally if  can pry my DD away from the desk top.  I mean really the status of my blog is so much more important than the new videos posted by her friends on facebook .  Mom's rule!  Move over DD, I got to check my blog! Blessings Robin

In an effort to be systematic in laying out the best possible case for my winning the Ugliest Mug Contest I have several factors that, once you read, I feel certian will persuade you that I do have the ugliest mug. 1. I’m Hormonal and I think I deserve to win! (please pay careful attention to the fact that I have my sweater zipped all the way up to spare you all the truly frightening images of my neck, this compassionate gesture on my part should also be considered as you are casting your votes as well!) 2. My mug has a moose on it! 3. I’m Hormonal and I need this validation to feel like a worthy human being. 4. My mug also speaks a foreign language. I am not sure what it is saying as I do not speak Swedish but it proudly proclaims something of which I can not understand! 5. My mug has these lovely moose tracks down the handle of the mug. 6. My mug not only has one Moose on it, it has an entire moose family. Here is Dad on the one side And Mom and Baby moose on the other side. 7. My ...

Finished another prayer shawl! Continued a family tradition started by my grandmother. my DD and I made apple butter My sweet thoughtful husband brought me home an unexpected kitchen surprise. I have always wanted one of these. He is so sweet, he picked it up on a recent business trip. I feel like a professional chef in my kitchen with my knives at the ready. No more dull blades for me...YEA!!!! and last but miraculously not least...it's still blooming folks.  I think my Christmas cactus is some mutant alien strain of horticultural bizarreness.  It may never stop blooming!! My week in review! Blessings Robin

Over the last few days as I have browsed and read the many wonderful blogs I visit from time to time a phrase popped out at me not once but twice .   One fell Swoop, what does it really mean. Where did it originate? Isn’t the internet great, within in a few moments I had my answer. Here is what I found out.   http://www.wisegeek.com/where-did-the-phrase-one-fell-swoop-come-from.htm   People have been using the phrase “at one   fell   swoop” in English since the 1600s, and like many idioms, many people are entirely unaware of its origins. This phrase is generally used to mean “all at once,” in a very rapid and final sense, although one could be forgiven for wondering what falling and swooping have to do with something happening suddenly and perhaps violently. Unlike many idioms, which seem to have appeared in the English language with no apparent origins, we actually do know where “one   fell   swoop comes from.” To understand the origins of this phrase, we are going to n...

There are times when it is easy to be witty and share about a lost coffee scoop , then there are moment when life is so real and so clear and God’s plan for how things are supposed to work is so very apparent . Even when things don’t seem to go the way I think they should God has an amazing way in showing me that even in sadness and heartbreak there is great hope. I think Sunday mornings are my favorite day of the week. The expectation of coming together in the house of the Lord, the anticipation of a shared experience, the deep soul thirsty feeling that gets satiated with the lifting up of hands and the bending of a knee. Having the word of God opened up and delivered in a unique way. A song that touches a tender place with in my heart. In worship this morning, as it happens quite often these days I am moved to tears as the music washes over me. Part of my emotional response is simply a filling up of how amazing my God truly is and the other part is a deep desire to see my prayers fu...

I initially thought when I started this blog it was just on a whim. A friend of mine at church had a blog and for reasons unknown to me at the time I simply wanted one.  It sounded like fun.  The desire that God has placed upon my heart to express myself through the written word is very strong at times, overwhelming even. In any event there are moments when I just know, when a piece of scripture comes to me and it unfolds for me in a special way. When this happens I need to prop the old laptop upon my knee and get to typing.  However lately my focus, or lack there of has shifted a bit.  I read so many wonderful blogs all of which are either interesting, witty, hilarious, deeply spiritual, enlightening or thought provoking. This intern spurs in me a desire to approach my blog with the same fervor and commitment.  The only problem with my desire to be witty, profound, deeply spiritual or thought provoking was hindered by one very simple thing.  I could not find my coffee scoop.  ...

I’m taking a breath… Re-grouping… Shaking my head and breathing some more and laughing at myself to keep from bursting into tears.  You ever have one of those days when you foolishly think you are on the right track.  This past fall I began a new weekly bible study, it is a rather in-depth comparative study of the Gospels. Now I have to also confess that I am having some difficulties with this study as I am simply not that analytical.  I know that there are individuals out there who truly do care why the precise verbiage is different in Marks account as apposed to the account in Matthew. I however have found it a bit mind numbing at times. I also know that God’s word never returns empty so I persist knowing that I will receive what God intends for me to receive during this study. I am trying to remain diligent and open to this new way of delving into the God’s word.   Trying being the operative word here!  Confession time…over the holidays I had allowed myself to be less than...

There are many (many) things in life that make me shake my head in utter confusion. Some of these things I have the ability to simply let go off with the understanding that in the grand scheme of things there are aspects of life that I am never gong to understand, nor do I want to understand them.  Then there are other things that make absolute no sense to me at all.  Things that make me nuts…..  Several years ago I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux. At the time I was written a prescription for a name brand medication by my physician which after some time eventually made life bearable again.   No more sleepless nights being kept awake by a painful burning sensation which nothing would eliminate. No more running in fear from the mere sight of just about anything on a plate. Life was good again! Each month I would call in my prescription and it was faithfully filled by my pharmacists for years and years. Each month I would drive to the drug store and pick up my medication in one nice ...

Come on, come on, ask me!!!!! I am sitting in my living room drinking my morning coffee looking at my freshly shampooed carpet. Now you may ask why is this noteworthy or exceptional? Under ordinary circumstances quiet possibly not remarkable in any way, however as of last night my house has now been teleported to an alternate universe. You may wonder how and why my home has now made an address change to an alternate universe. Here’s how!  My son, who is now living on his own (if that is what you want to call it) came to my home last night and vacuumed my living room and then shampooed my carpet. Let’s let this sink in a bit. I have this dark and scary vision in my head, not to mention a very real and unpleasant memory of the odor assaulting my nostrils as I would ascend the stairs to his room. Upon reaching the top of the stairs I would have to kick a path through the debris which covered his bedroom floor.  Images of the town dump, seagulls darting in and out over the la...

I have to admit that I did not think this cactus would ever bloom, now I am beginning to think that it will never stop. Blessings Robin Are ya'll bout tired of looking at my cactus! (that's a loaded question......)

Ya'll look!  Each day brings more blooms and more ohhh's and ahhhh's All I have to say is Go God! Blessings Robin

Ya'll this blows me away!! What a wonderful morning surprise!  More to come I'm sure!

I am not a plant person. In fact I now have the grand total of two house plants that I have been able to keep alive for several years, this statement in itself is proof of a real miracle that they are in fact still alive.  A dear friend gave me a Christmas cactus last year. I have managed to keep it alive and was shocked the other day to see small red buds forming at the ends of the plant. Excitement does not begin to describe how I feel each day as I have chronicled the progression of the growth. I will admit to my growing anticipation and just a bit of amazement as I watched the tiny red buds get a bit bigger every day. Friday, December 21th, 2008 Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 Thursday, January 1st, 2009 Wednesday January 2nd, 2009 Monday, January 5th, 2009 Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 Thursday, January 8th, 2009 At last it bloomed! I am so excited!!!!! Blessings Robin

Zippo... Zilch... Nada.... Nutin... A Big Fat Zero.... Laa Tee Daa..... Hmmmmmmmm.... Yup... still got nothing.... So what do you do when you got nothing?

I'm a bit of a word junkie. I love finding  out where expressions come from and their origins. As I was working on yesterday post I began to wonder about the expression " dyed in the wool "  Here is what I found: The expression " dyed in the wool " refers to a state of steadfastness, especially with respect to one's  political ,  religious  or social beliefs. The expression comes from the fact that  fabric  can be  dyed  in a number of ways. The  woven  fabric may be dyed after it is complete, or the threads may be dyed before they are woven. When a color is "dyed in the wool," the wool itself is dyed before being spun into  threads , so the colour is least likely to fade or change. Dyed in the wool first appeared in the 16 th century as a metaphorical expression. Blessings Robin

I have a confession people, of the many flaws in my character, one of the more nasty and hard to break is that I am a dyed in the wool “All My Children” addict.  It began years ago when I was in High School so in my formative years the foundation for years of dependency was well established.  Over the Christmas holidays my DH had from Christmas Eve through yesterday off. Today was his first day back after the New Year.  Throughout his time at home he would from time to time catch a few moments of my daily fix.  “I thought he was dead!” says my DH.  I shake my head in shame and gently repeat to him the rules.  I say in my most loving tone "Now Honey you know that there are two different definitions of dead. There is real life dead and Soap Opera Dead.”  Now over the course of our 26 years of marriage I have explained this concept to him countless times, yet he fails to grasp the shear genius of the distinction.  I patiently explain the concept to him yet again.  “No...

Ya’ll, I am so doing the happy dance. It’s is my all time favorite thing, getting a huge bargain .  Given the fact that I absolutely hate to shop, I take great pleasure in making the system work for me.  Last year I got a huge deal on a beautiful pre -light Christmas tree and several (lot and lots of them, I mean seriously I had a brand new (and much bigger) tree, so it needed more oraments to fill it out) boxes of ornaments.  This year I am overjoyed to show you the newest addition to my Christmas décor .  I got two sparkly green and gold Christmas trees (originally priced $49.99 a piece) to go on either side of my fireplace...... A large nativity statuette (originally $79.99) to go with my growing collection of nativity scenes.  I got a new red wreath (originally priced $69.99) for over my fireplace. I am planning to add a bow and maybe a few springs of greenery (the holly garland was purchased to use on this wreath) to fill this out a bit.  Two small snow men (original price $24...