How do "wii" get a wii?

I feel like I am stalking the Electronics Dept. at Walmart. I must say I am getting to know the employees in that section really well. It's likely I am developing a reputation among them. Every time I go to Walmart, I go back to Electronics, looking pitiful and deprived, hoping they will be able to scrounge up a Wii in their infamous "backroom." (I don't think there really is a "backroom." They just tell people there is. Have you ever been to a store that has something you want in the "backroom?" Really! ) Walmart NEVER has any Wiis! NEVER!! At least not when I am in there. They might get 3-4 in a day, but the employees snatch them up before any customer can get their hands on one. Totally unfair! I think there should be some rule about that. Maybe if I don the blue "May I help you" vest with the happy face on the back, I just might have a chance. There's an idea!

Gregg has been on the search too, but he keeps returning home empty handed. He looks so defeated when he comes through the door, like a hunter who returns to the homestead without food for his family. The incredible demand for this item reminds me of the "Cabbage Patch Kids" insanity of the 80's....or more recently "Tickle Me Elmo." Why is the demand for this item so high, and the supply so low? "Inquiring minds want to know....Wii want to know."

Mascara Madness

OK....I know it may be trivial, but I am about to run out of mascara and I need help! And you know I don't need another episode at Macy's (see "Oops! I did it again" post on Nov. 25, 2007 in the archives for a refresher). I need something heavy duty....because my eyelashes are blond and they are very short. Plus, I haven't been pleased with any mascara I have tried lately. I know some of you are shy in the comment section of my blog. But I think this question is one that won't reveal too much. It's only mascara. Do you have one that you absolutely love? Leave it in the comment section. Come on....it's ok....I know you can do it. Just keep saying, "I think I can....I think I can."

From the "Friendship" Files

Since we have been talking a lot about friendships lately, I thought I would pass along this quote I ran across yesterday.

"People who feel like they have friends and family they can turn to generally feel less stressed when things get tough."

Sheldon Cohen, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.


I think this one says it better.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;
(and they can get it done faster)
if one falls down,
(and you know that is going to happen)
her friend can help her up.
(careful with those lower back muscles...lift from the knees)
But pity the woman who falls and has no one to help her up!
("Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!")
Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm.
(Blankets and hot chocolate work well, too.)
But how can one keep warm alone?
(This was written before "Cuddle duds" right? My grandma loves those things!)
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
("I pity the fool"-Laurence Tureaud aka "Mr. T")
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
("Two can be as bad as one...It's the loneliest number since the number one."-Three Dog Night....Guess they hadn't read their Ecclesiastes that day. Shame on them!)


Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Well said, Solomon. Well said.

No words.....just laughter!

Culturally irrelevant?

I am beginning to wonder if I am not "hip" anymore....which doesn't help my anxiety regarding approaching 40 next year. A couple of weeks ago the Grammy's were on. I didn't watch it. I heard that Tina Turner did a duet with Beyonce. I know who Tina Turner is, but what's Beyonce "got to do, got to do with it?" I don't know who Beyonce is. I couldn't tell you one song that she sings. I wouldn't recognize her if I passed her on the street. Am I becoming culturally irrelevant?

Last night, the Oscars were on. Again, I didn't watch it. I am not familiar with any of the movies that were up for Best Picture. The last movie I went to see was "Enchanted" with my girls and my step-mom Linda. I barely made it through the picture as I was coming down with the flu. The scenes with the pizza and the hot dogs nearly sent me running to the restroom. But the thought of getting sick in a movie theater restroom was too much for me. Oops! Digressing again!

Maybe it is ok to be culturally irrelevant. It seems God is ok with it, because He tells me to "be in the world, but not of the world." But I wonder who really watches this stuff, besides the people in the entertainment industry and the media, of course. Is there anyone outside the states of New York and California who care about the Grammy's and the Oscar's? Or is this the first sign of me "letting myself go" in my old age?

Winter in Ohio- You've gotta love it!

Today is our 3rd snow day in 2 weeks. We had last Friday and Monday off due to conferences and President's Day. So....in the last 10 days, we have had 5 days of school. I know teachers must have a "love-hate" relationship with our current rate of snow days. It is so nice to have a day off....but there is so much "repair" work that needs to take place, just to get back on track.

When I was growing up in Michigan, we had snow days, but not for the reasons Ohio has them. We had to have significant snow fall (not 1-2 inches), in order to be cancelled. But then again, we also had to walk 3 miles to school each way, trudging through the snow with no boots, mittens, or hats to keep us warm. Oh, wait a minute. I'm getting a little confused. My memories seem to be intermingling with someone else's. That is not my story....that's my grandpa's story.

A prayer time pep-up

I have been very disappointed in myself for about the last year when it comes to my prayer life.....i.e. my concentrated time with God each day. For the first time in 13 years of following hard after God, I have allowed the precious privilege of communicating with God to take a back seat.....like almost the "last seat in the back of the bus" kind. Personally, I think it has shown in me. I think the lack of making prayer a priority has led to more abundant negative thought patterns and an over-all cynical disposition within me.

What happened to me? Well, at first I internally blamed it on a specific situation in my life that caused me deep disappointment, discouragement, and disbelief. Not in God, but in a person. But as the months have passed, I have realized that it is completely unfair and completely unfounded to hang my lack of prayer on one major event in my life. It is both extreme and absurd.

When I finally became fed up with "talking the talk, but not walking the walk," I decided to revert back to a prayer vehicle that was extremely helpful to me about 8 years ago. It is Beth Moore's Whispers of Hope - an in depth (Beth Moore always = in depth) devotional/prayer journal that guides the process of your prayers and helps you to be more intentional in your conversations with God. If you are a journal-er by nature, you would really enjoy the format of the book. Coupled with Beth's spiritual deepness (I love this!) and scripture to read along with it, it has all the components of taking your prayer life to a new place. It is a little hard to find, because it is relatively "old" in the book world, but I found it on amazon, and was very grateful.

PS- I was able to put a label on my prayer problem. It is called "rebellion." Simply said, "It's a drawing back from God's Word and refusing His counsel. It is "continuing to seek answers elsewhere and not taking God's Word seriously." I have caused spiritual damage in my life that is going to take a lot of intentionality and more grace from God to recover from. Am I discouraged? No! I am looking forward to the journey. I am excited!