Things I learned over Christmas

1. I'm old.

2 .Don't give children presents in come in boxes bigger than the child.

3. Be sure to supervise aforementioned child, especially if child is excited.

4. Don't play Apples to Apples with a bunch of cousins that are 10 years younger than you.  You will answer a lot of: what's this, who's this, and can you simply questions.

5. Don't plug too many crock-pots into one outlet.

6. Aforementioned action will result in a fuse being blown sending the entire basement into darkness.

7. If aforementioned fuse blows it is a good idea to have a flashlight.

8. Since most people don't carry flashlights around with them it is helpful to be in a room with 30 people. 20 of which have cell phones.

9. Singing "Silent Night" with 30 people while holding up aforementioned cellphones is fun.

10. Cousins grow up too quickly...

11. It takes 3 cousins to figure out how to get the DVD player to work when there are 3 remotes.

Questionarre I was talking to Debi and Lydia about

1. Put Your Itunes on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it makes you look.
4. Tag Your friends! (or not.)
(I found 2 of these quizzes so I put a quiz together with questions from both. I know som e ofthe questions are goofy, but it's just for laughs...)

1. How are you feeling today?
Suppe - Poet & Peasant - Overture - Janos Sandor - Hungarian State Opera Orchestra 

2. Will you get far in life?
Silver Arrow - Robin Hood Soundtrack

3. How do your friends see you?
She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain/What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor/Yellow Rose Of Texas/It's A Long Way To Tipperary/ Glory Glory Hallelujah/ Oh Susanna (medley) - Andre Rieu Orchestra


4. Will you get married?
Will Of The People - Amazing Grace Soundtrack

5. What is your best friend’s theme song?
Auld Lang Syne - Chris Bathgate

6. What is the story of your life?
Just In Time - Bobby Darin

7. What was/is high school like?
10,000 Miles - Mary Chapin Carpenter

8. How can you get ahead in life?
Live - Nicole Nordeman

9. What is the best thing about your friends?
Violin Concerto in E Minor  Movement 2 - Felix Mendoelssohn

10. What is in store for this weekend?
Pirates of Penzance Finale - Simon Gallaher (boy am I going to be tired by Monday morning....)

11. To describe your grandparents?
Parliament - Amazing Grace Soundtrack


12. How is your life going?
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

13. What song will they play at your funeral?
Marian's Punishment - Robin Hood Soundtrack

14. How does the world see you?
When I Look At You(reprise) - Scarlet Pimpernel

15. Will you have a happy life?
Act 3 Prelude - Richard Wagner

16. What do your friends really think of you?
The Sheriff's Plan - Robin Hood Soundtrack

17. How can I make myself happy?
He Hideth My Soul - Kathryn Carpenter

18. What should you do with your life?
Overture - Scarlet Pimpernel (I should become the Scarlet Pimpernel, COOL!!!)


19. Will you ever have children?
It Is Well With My Soul - Kathryn Carpenter 


20. What does your mum think of you?
Completely - Ana Laura

21. What is your deep dark secret?
How Beautiful - Twila Paris

22. What’s your personality like?
He's My Brother - Robin Hood Soundtrack

23. Which song will be played at your wedding?
Courting - David Arnold (Amazing Grace Soundtrack)

24. If someone says "Is this okay?" U say

What Ought We To Do? - Pirates of Penzance

25. How would you describe yourself?
No More - David Arnold (Amazing Grace Soundtrack)




26. How do you feel today?
A Dance Around Memory Lane - Oren Lavie (Prince Caspian Soundtrack)


27.What is your life's purpose?
Stay Frederic Stay - Simon Gallaher (Pirates of Penzance)


28. What do your friends think of you?

Amazing Grace - Kathryn Carpenter

29. What do your parents think of you?
I've Got the World On a String - Michael Buble


30. What do you often think about?
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need - Anne Martindale-Williams


31. What is your life story?
Blaze Away - Andre Rieu Orchestra


32. What do you want to be when you grow up?
No Way Out - Robin Hood Soundtrack


33. What will you dance to at your wedding?
Butterfly Kisses - Jeff Carson


34. What will they play at your funeral?
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Kathryn Carpenter


35. What is your biggest fear?
Where's the Girl? - Scarlet Pimpernel


36. What is your biggest secret?
Marian's Theme - Robin Hood Soundtrack - (Apparently I am Maid Marian and I should be the Scarlet Pimpernel.... interesting....)

39.What do you think of your friends?

All Houses Have Secrets - Northanger Abbey Soundtrack

Why do I live in Wisconsin again??

Today the high was 44. It is currently 10. But with the wind chill, it feels like -10. They are predicting it to get as low as 1 overnight with a wind chill of -21 and only up to 9 with a wind chill of -7 by tomorrow night. On the bright side, a lot of snow melted, on the not bright side. The ground is frozen solid and there are puddles of ice everywhere....

This one is for David

Overcoming Discouragement Part 3

I thought for the final article instead of doing small segments on a few different things I would just list out things that helped me.

Let's start with:
Don't lose the paper with the notes for your article on it.  Yep, I  lost my notes.... so... I'm going to leave you with 2 things I remember off the top of my head.

1) Don't keep it all to yourself.  If you are struggling, talk to someone about, encouraging yourself is not always the answer.  Don't hold it in!  Talk to someone, it does wonders!

2) Know and remind yourself that people care about you.  This was actually a pre-overcoming one that I realized.  A few days after I really had victory over the discouragement, we went to my grandparents house.  I had posted part 1of Overcoming  Discouragement on my regular blog as well as IDD.  And my grandparents had read it.  My grandpa was of course worried about me.  But then, he started talking to my sisters and I and just encouraging us to keep doing what we are doing, and walking with God, etc.  I tell you what.  I love grandpa so much, he encouraged so much in those 30-some minutes.  When we left, I felt so loved, appreciate, taken care.  I was so... hyped is the best word I can come up with.  Know that someone loves you.  It makes a world of difference in your life.  I love going to my parents house, cause you see, the second I walk in the door at least 2 people say "hi", 2 little children from all corners of the house shout "Katie's here!" and throw themselves at my legs and I get a kiss, hug and an "I love you" from mom.  They care about me, think about me, love me, care what is happening in my life.  And you know what, for what it's worth.  Not only does God love and care about you, but we care you.  My fellow Bloggers and myself care about you.  Each and every single person who reads the blog.  That's why we are here.  If we didn't care, we wouldn't be writing.

I found this today and thought it was adorable.  So, I thought I would share.

Words on a Page - Meme

I've been tagged by Emma and Joanna at A Banner of Crimson

Here are the rules...  

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the next three sentences
5. Tag five people.

The top book on the closest stack of books is Vienna Prelude by Brock and Bodie Thoene.  I highly suggest their books.

6. For a long time, Murphy stood alone on the wet cement and stared off where he had last seen the aircraft bucking and rocking on the air currents. 

7.  He expected to see the bright burst of an explosion as the conclusion for his news dispatch.
8.  Instead, a more distant bolt of lightning arched toward the ground, and for an instant, Murphy thought he spotted the tiny aircraft as it but a wake through the tempest.

End of the chapter, that worked out well...


I tag:
1) Rebecca at flowershopgirl
2) Lydia at A Walk in the Rain
3) Joe at SouthPaw in the House
4) Moriah at My Wacky Blog
5) consider yourself tagger :)

afore mentioned song

I have no idea what happened to the song that was supposed to be in the last post. Here it is again.

Overcoming Discouragement Part 2

The very first lesson I learned about overcoming discouragement happened on Sunday morning during praise and worship.  I can't remember what we were singing, but I was feeling down and couldn't bring myself up to a place where I could truly glorify God and praise Him.  Then we started singing a song, and I feel something in me leap.  And a little bit of light shown into my darkness.  And I got excited, I reached out to God and he poured strength into me to give me the ability to truly praise him in song.  I distinctly remember standing up front with the musicians and playing my violin and this joy just filled my soul and I could only think about God and his love and mercy, and everything that He had done for me.  I was happy I wasn't discouraged and all I could think about was praising God.  For days afterward if I at any point felt discouragement creeping in I would just start to sing, or hum, or if I was at work or somewhere like that, just think the song.  The discouragement will flee.  Why, well... because when you are praising God and your thoughts and totally turned on Him, there is no opportunity for the devil to get his foot in the door.  This is what I wrote during that time.

God never wants us to be down trodden.

It's amazing to me how you can go for a day, or days, or a week or even weeks on end feeling down trodden and searching for answers.  Pleading with God for somethig; and anwswer, encouragement, whatever it is that you need.  And then you get to a place where you start praising the Lord, giving Him the glory and honor, and just telling Him that you love Him.  And in that moment of time all your cares go away.  You suddenly no longer care about the problems, the searching, the pleading for an answer.  Suddenly, you no longer care.  It flees your mind and all you care about it God.

This song has really been an encouragement to me during my recent struggle.  It reminds me to press on and thank God all the time even when things aren't going the way we want or wish they would.  To thank for Him life, food on the table, friends and family.  You get the idea.

Another Question, a green question

Why do think encourage you to "bring your own bags! Save the environment!"  And then hand you a receipt a mile long??

What's wrong with that picture?

Yes, I'm in a random, wierd mood... sorry....

2 random things one of which I need you to answer for me :)

#1 - There is a guy who comes through Drive Thru at DQ about 3 times a month.  When we greet him he always responds by saying "Stand By".  And every time I smile and try not to laugh.  It completely tickles my funny bone!  I want to answer, DQ flight 14847 standing by!  I don't, but I want too :)  On the bright side of it.  No matter what kind of day I'm having it never fails to make me smile :-)

#2  The one I want you to answer.

Joe started telling me this morning about a CCM song he wanted me to listen too.  I said o.k. and then somehow we got talking about how I don't really like CCM.  To me it's mostly all on one plane and there isn't much depth to it.  Not ALL CCM, just most of it.   Then he decided to tell me that he thinks classical music is only pretty music and there isn't much depth to it.  I just stared at him.  He didn't just say that to me!  Yes, he did and he meant it.  So I asked him:
"What about Handel's Messiah?" 
"Well,... that's different Mozart wrote music with depth to it."
"Joe, Mozart didn't write Messiah, Handel did, and you know that!"
"Oh, right Handle."
"No Joe, Handle." 
"Anyway, Mozart wrote Operas.  Messiah is like that." 
"Messiah is not an opera!"
"But it has words!!....   Oh, and I like Minuet in G."
"Messiah is NOT an opera.  Minuet in G, huh, o.k. who wrote that?"
"ummm.. .Mozart?"
"No, try again."
"Ummm..........."
"Bach. Is Mozart the only composer you know!"
"No! I know Mozart, and Handle, and Bach."
"Classical music has lots of depth to it!  What about Beethoven's 5th Symphony!  Or Dvorak's New World Symphony!! Everything Bach wrote has LOTS of depth to it!!!  You don't know what you are talking about!  And I think you are just egging me on so we are done with this conversation!"
"I'm not egging you on Katie! I'm serious. I don't think classical music has depth to it!  It makes for good sountracks!"
At this I told him he would understand more when he got older and that classical music does have depth and is real music!
Classical music not have depth! Pshw!

But then I started thinking... does classical music not make sense to people because it doesn't have words??? So, here is the question, and I would REALLY appreciate any answers.  Do you think classical music is merely pretty?  Do you think is has depth?  Do you know really enjoy/understand it because it doesn't have words?
O.k. guess I meant questions... anyway... answer away!

TEA BASKET GIVEAWAY!!!

 

 Click picture to be redirected to giveaway

Wanna win a quilt??

No, I didn't make it... haven't had much time for that reecently...

Click below!

Memory Verses per a 2 year old

Sarah Beth was over this evening for a while.  After I while I decided I would try and teach her a memory verse.  She has so many things memorized, things like songs on songs on songs (which is good), books, people's first and middle names, what town and state she lives, stuff like that.  Then she has other things memorized, the Indiana Jones Theme, the names of Major League Baseball players.... So, I decided why not try a Bible verse!  She could memorize Bible Verses.  So, I started with an easy one, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  That didn't go over to well, to many big words, it started coming out as In the beginning, umm... earth!" I figured "Jesus Wept" wouldn't make much sense so we did "Rejoice Always" instead.  That went over fine. So we went on to something a little harder, "Little Children keep yourselves from idols, Amen."  She caught on to that one right away, she go the "Little Children" part and the "Amen" part.  The middle part went like this:
"Little Children... umm.... buy candy!"
"No, try again."
"Little Children... umm... keep your tomatoes, Amen!"  Followed by a huge smile cause she was SURE she had it right.  She still says tomatoes, but sometimes she says idols... we'll just have to keep working on it.

Overcoming Discouragement Part 1

The last few weeks have probably been the most roller coaster-y weeks of my life.  You see, the devil decided that I should take a long walk down Discouragement  Lane.  The only thing is, God didn't want me down there and frankly I wasn't to happy about it either.  So, I've been up and down, in and out of discouragment quite a bit lately.  Now, you are probably wondering why on earth I'm telling you all this.  Well... I'm telling you this because through those weeks God gave me some wonderful tools to overcoming discouragement.  I'd learn the lesson, use the tool and be happy for a few days, successfully using the new tool I'd received.  Then a few days later the devil would figure a way around my new found happiness and I'd head down Discouragement Lane again.  After repeating this a few times I began asking God why?  "Why are letting me go through this?  Why didn't the first tool work for good?"  God felt so far away and I kept asking why? "Why were you so close some may times recently only for me to turn around and wonder where you went?  I know you didn't leave me, but why am I going through this.  Where are you this time, I need the next tool, I'm trying to learn what you have for me, but I'm lost I need your help!!!" For a while, I didn't have an answer, then one day a quote popped into my head, and I didn't understand it.  It just kept coming over and over thinking "It was then that I carried you."  My finite mind didn't understand that that was my answer.  God was telling me that he was there, in fact he wasn't far from me at all.  He had scooped me up in His strong arms and was safely and securing carrying me back to happy territory :-)

So, hopefully over the next few weeks I will be imparting those tools to you.  God gave me the opportunity to learn and have the experience of using the tools, and hopefully they will be an encouragement and tool for you to use as well.  Not that you should be discouraged, but just in case, I'll give you a few tips to help you along the way.

So until next week I'll leave you with the last thing God gave me.

"It was then that I carried you."

and all I could do was grab ahold of that and say "O.k. Lord I'm trusting that you are carrying me."

Lover's Waltz

*sigh*  This is gorgeous! I'm buying this music ASAP!  Now I just have to find someone to play it with me....

Whatever you do

Don't buy these.

There are terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Terribly addicting that is......

Did you know?

The Bâtiment des Forces Motrices (Swiss Opera House) is situated in the middle of the River Rhône. Constructed in the 19th Century, it was originally meant to be a water pumping and hydroelectric station. One can still spot two turbines in the lobby of the establishment.

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

2 (8oz) packages Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup White Sugar
1/2 t. Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
1 (9inch) Prepared Graham Cracker Crust (I didn't have a graham cracker crust so I used a regular crust and it worked o.k. I think a graham cracker crust would be better)
1/2 cup Pumpking Puree
1/2 t. Ground Cinnamon
1 pinch Ground Cloves
1 pinch Ground Nutmeg
1/2 cup Whipped Topping

Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.

Blend in eggs one at a time.

Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended.

Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set.

(I doubled the recipe. It only makes one pie.)

Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours to overnight.  Cover with whipped topping before serving.