Summer Reading

One thing I love about summer is the opportunity to read. My idea of a vacation is sitting by the water somewhere with a book, and I've been able to do that quite a bit this summer. Here are three I've just finished: Rebel-in-Chief by Fred Barnes, 1776 by David McCullough, and Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.


I highly recommend all three. They are easily readable and illuminating.

However, it did take a few pages to get into 1776. The author picks up after the Battle of Bunker Hill and assumes the reader has a thorough knowledge of it and the events immediately following it. So you enter the story in the middle, as it were, and it takes a little bit to figure out what's going on. But once I got through that part, I couldn't put it down.

Rebel-in-Chief takes a decidedly different viewpoint of President Bush than the one that has been portrayed in the media.

Freakonomics combines an economists love of numbers and his own natural curiosity to answer such questions as, "What do teachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?" and "If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their moms?" Really great read.

Locks of Love

I am so proud of Chandler! Today, she decided to get a major haircut and donate 10" of hair to Locks of Love. Personally, I think she looks even better in the after photos, and someone will be very lucky to get the use of her beautiful, thick hair.


Before.............................her donated braid...................after!

The "D" word - day 2

Maxed out food. Still starving.

The "D" word

I know I said after Father's day that I was starting my diet. Well, I lied. Everyone lies about starting a diet, but this time I mean it! No, seriously, I mean it.

In fact, I already started. I'm doing Weight Watchers for the millionth time. Like any diet, it works if you actually do it, and I'm actually doing it. So far today, I'm at my max food limit and I am STARVING!!! But I'm committed to this.

I've got to do something. I have 17 pairs of jeans in my closet that don't fit. One of them is a size 2! I was horrified when Chandler started fitting some of my "skinny clothes," not because she was big enough to wear them, but because I used to be that small!!! Not that long ago! So I made a pact with my mom. We are going to keep each other accountable. Every night we have to email each other our food journal. That way every bite is counted.

I'll keep my blog updated. Maybe this will spur me on as well.

Here is a before picture. Can't wait for the after!

Sunday Nights @ Revolution

I've had a FANTASTIC opportunity to work with Dave on graphic communications for Revolution. I really love doing this kind of work and Dave is really helping me to get better by giving me such a wide variety of projects to be part of.

The latest one, which is seen on his blog, is the poster for Sunday Nights. We did have another version that did not end up going to print, but we both agreed it would be very successful!

My dirty little secret

Apparently it's not a secret anymore... it's this... this blog. When I started it, no one knew because I didn't tell anyone. It was my journal, my diary, my confidante. But the word got out somehow and it seems I have readers!

Unfortunately, since I didn't think anyone would ever see it, I rambled a little more than I should have. I guess I prefer to spill my guts to the keyboard rather than to people, but in this case, it was worse than just letting loose on a person. I let loose on who knows who since it appears there are a couple of links to this blog. I don't know who has read it and who've I've offended.

So far, I count two.

Tonight we did an inventory of our spiritual gifts. My top 4 were as follows:
1. Knowledge
2. Craftsmanship
3. Teaching
4. Leadership

The careful reader (and I am now assuming I have some) will notice that Mercy and Wisdom did not make the list. Mercy wasn't even close, unless you count 21 out of 23 close. So combine that with my pernicious habit of only thinking of myself and you've got a recipe for hurting other people.

I won't name names, but... I'm sorry. I had no right to disparage anyone in public. Even if I thought it was private, it clearly wasn't and I should have realized that. I managed to hurt the best friend I have ever or will ever have.

How awful is that!

I am blessed to have a friend who would give her life for me or my family. She has been loyal beyond measure and I can honestly say I do not know why she values me so much. I don't deserve it. She is so giving and caring. She is always thinking of me and I am in awe of the fact that she has given me a second chance (third, fourth, fifth... who's counting?).

So, if you're reading this, let me know. If I haven't offended you yet, let me know that too. I'm sure it's a short list! Hurting people's feelings should have been in my top 4 spiritual gifts, but strictly speaking, I don't think putting your foot in your mouth qualifies.

So I'll continue to write and some of you will continue to read. Leave a comment once in a while so I don't forget you are out there.

Mexico

Where do I start... it was the best of times, it was the worst of times... how cliche'd is that???

O.K. My first sentence right off the bat if asked how it was, is, "It wasn't as bad as I expected." Anyone who knows me, knows I am not much of an outdoor girl. I'm the Bed and Breakfast type. So the no-shower-for-5 days, sleeping (or not) with a bunch of giggling girls, and hole-in-the-ground-for-a-toilet thing had me a little worried. Panic attack worried. Wake up in the middle of the night worried.

I was having memories of my own camps when I was a kid and I hated having to get up at 5 something if you wanted a shower. I hated camp food. I hated that no one actually slept.

This camp was different. The shower thing didn't bother me like I thought it would. I actually didn't want to take a shower because I knew I would just get filthy again. (Although I did end up taking one, once... another story) We were very blessed to have the use of Robert's bathroom in his trailer, and I cannot praise him enough for hand emptying the sewage tanks!!! The girls were great about going to sleep and I was usually the first one awake... around 8:00 if you can believe that. And the food... AMAZING. Lyndsay did a fantastic job planning and cooking our meals. No problem there. In fact, I'm afraid to get on the scale.

Huge hugs and love and high-fives to the parent volunteers and to Shauntelle. NO WAY it could have been pulled off without them.


Hailey popping her head out of the "Taj Mahal"
Our campsite
Dylan and Darrenn in front of La Buffador as it blows
Hailey, Chandler and Briana shopping in La Buffador