A pizza pan, some wire, some magnets and a thin scarf ...

Put them all together and what do you get?A magnetic note-board. :) It's great for leaving notes to others or "to do" notes for yourself (which is why I made it because my "note to self" notes always get stuffed somewhere I forget about them).

And yes, my wall is currently "under construction", which is why the studs are showing. :) It will be put back together in a short while.

What I saw when I got home the other day ...

Colors

Yes, I know these fabrics don't really go together because you're not suppose to mix patterns or whatever but I like them together just the same. The green fabric is my favorite apron and the jean is just a jacket I put on over my shirt and apron.

I--I--I can do this, I'm big I--I ... Ahhhh!!!!!! It moved!!

I took my evening shower. I was all clean. It was a wonderful feeling. And, to top it off, I was going to sleep in my own bed again (two nights in a row! Wahoo!). I had been sleeping on the couch, well, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday night. I did so due to mold in the basement and the tearing apart of the walls and the ceiling. So since my room is in the basement my parents wanted me upstairs, away from the mold ... I don't know why. ;) But anyway. So I was excited about sleeping in my bed again. I was walking down the stairs, my arms full of my clothes (I was now P.J. clad), I had my glasses on, instead of contacts, and I was barefoot. I was happily walking down the stairs, looking down at the stairs to make sure I didn't fall and out of the corner of my eye I could see something on the stairs, from under my glasses (which means it was blurry). I instantly froze. I knew what that shape was even if I couldn't see it very clearly.

It was a big, ugly, black spider. The kind that crunches when you squish them. The kind that move really fast. The kind that look really scary. The kind that are just ... yuck!

Now, I'm just going to come out and say this ... because you'll probably figure it out anyway ... so here'goes ... I HATE SPIDERS!!! Especially the ones that are big, black and crunchy. I don't mind Daddy Long legs. I can kill those things. And actually, I can kill the little black crunchy spiders too, but this one, with legs and all was around the size of a quarter!! Icky!!!

So there I am, two or three stairs from the basement trapped on the stairs by big, icky spidy. He was just ... well, I don't know if it was a he or she, but all spiders are just "he"'s to me so ... there he was, just calmly sitting ... er ... being there, on the stairs, completely unaware of how scared I was of him.

I took a few big breaths to calm my quickly beating heart (I always get a little start when I unexpectedly come upon a spider) and decided I could make it the last few steps down without suffering too much harm. So, I made a break for it. I don't know when the last time it was when I went down the last few stairs so fast.

Wheew!!! Safe at the bottom of the stairs I quickly made it to my room and deposited my clothes on my bed. I was a little skittish because of the thought of the spider. I knew I needed to kill him before he killed me (yes, I know he probably wouldn't have done anything to me, but in the moment it sounded like a completely possible thing).

Walking into my room I was aware of the fact that my feet were still bare. The thought that I could unknowingly step on any amount of icky crunchy spiders with my BARE FEET made me shudder. I quickly scanned the floor for my faithful clogs. Unable to find them I looked for different foot ware. Seeing my slippers on the floor I thought of putting them on, but it occurred to me that I have not worn them for a very long time and that there could be something living in them! Not wanting to find out what might be happily abiding in my slippers I headed for my closet, and then the "shoe rack". Without hesitation I grabbed what I knew would make me feel much "safer" then bare feet. What did I grab, you ask? My favorite brown high heels, of course, just like anyone of you would have done. *rolls eyes* What was I thinking?!

Yessiree, with my brown heels, over-sized Dr. Pepper sleeping pants, brown Curious George shirt, and a pink polka-dot robe armed with a red and black broom that I found I was every spider's worst nightmare! Or ... maybe I was EVERY ONE'S worst nightmare.

So, bravely I walked over to the stairs, click-clicking on the floor as I went (heels are such wonderful sneak-up-on-people-and-spider shoes). I made it to the stairs, but made sure to keep my distance until I was ready to attack. Why get too close before you have to?

My eyes went to the place I last saw the spider, and to my great horror it wasn't there! My eyes widened, but soon I found him, just the next step down. I didn't think of it at the time, but I see clearly now, he was chasing me down the stairs, and was going to eat me, of course.

I calmed myself again and prepared myself to "attack". I readied the broom, telling myself all I had to do was smack him really fast and really hard and it would all be over. But then a thought came to mind. What if I missed? What if it was a jumping spider and it would jump on me if I missed? I could just imagine myself being slowly and painfully devoured by small, black spidy.

Great! Now I was totally ready to kill him ... not! I told myself to calm down. I was practically 100 times bigger then he was. But, I reminded myself, he could move much faster then I. I shook my head, removing all scary thoughts from my head. I took aim and shuddered.

"I can't do this" my mind said over and over, to which it responded "Yes, you can. You're so much bigger than he is." As I stood there, thoughts rolling over and over in my mind I knew what I had to do. I did what any other sensible person would do.

"Dad!" I called, hoping he would come quickly before spidy decided to move on. Nothing happened, no footsteps, no sound, no aid ... nothing. "Dad!" a little louder this time. Yes! Success, I could hear him coming. Then a thought struck me. "When dad comes down the stairs he's going to scare the spider and it's going to jump at me and eat me." I tightened my grip on my "weapon" ... trusty red and black broom.

There I stood, waiting at the bottom of the stairs, but thankfully not for too long. Soon, dad was nearly down the stairs. I pointed to the spider. "It's really big and scary, Dad. Can you kill it?" I tried to give him a nice smile, hoping he wouldn't actually voice the thought that I knew was in his mind ... because it was in mine too. I'm how old and I can't even kill a spider? *Sighs* Somethings just can't be done peeps.

So, Daddy to the rescue. He walked down the rest of the basement steps, seemingly un-bothered by the threatening spider, grabbed a rag, and went back to kill the spider.

I was so scared it was going to come after me that I actually turned away to make sure I couldn't see it ... also so I wouldn't have to see it get squished and hear the crunch. My father straightened, spider dead on the rag. Wahoo for brave Fathers!!!

So, why do I tell you all this nonsense? Because it made me laugh, the fact that I'm so scared of spiders. But also because I had convinced myself that night, in just a few short seconds, that my brown high heels would be a great defense against little spidy on the stairs. Although, now that I think about it, I don't really know how I would have run away if I was actually being chased by the spider in my heels? *Shrugs* I guess we'll never know.

Verses about my Jesus

I hope you all have/had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! I was reading the account of my Savior's death and resurrection and some verses stood out at me. We all know the story ... Jesus is arrested, He is wrongly accused, He is given to Pilate who declares Him innocent but wanting to please the crowd he scourges Him and releases Him to be crucified and Jesus dies a painful, agonizing death in separation from His Father! But as I was reading the different accounts from the different books, as I said, some verses really awed me.

When Jesus is being arrested ...

Matthew 26:50b-54~ ... Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in is place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" ( A Roman Legion was 6,000 soldiers ... making 12 legions more than 72,000 angels! Oh, the power of our Lord and God!)

John 18:4-6~ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. (At the very words of Jesus proclaiming who He was, they fell to the ground!)


When Jesus is lead before Caiaphas the high priest ...

Matthew 26:63b-64~ "...Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" 64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (The right hand of the Power!! That, people, is my God ... the Power ... and my Jesus is at the right hand of the Power, interceding for me!)

When Jesus is on the cross and when He dies ...

Matthew 27:46~ And the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (God forsook Jesus for me. They were separated, God turned His back on His Son because of my sins that I may know Him as my Lord and Savior!)

Matthew 27:50~ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (He did it willingly.)

Matthew 27:51-54~ Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep [died] were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Behold the Power (at which Jesus sits at the right hand) the veil is torn, giving us as Gentiles (and the Jews) complete access to the Holy of Holies, to God Himself. The earth quaked and rocks split! The graves were open and the dead walked, and appeared to many! I say again, behold the Power!)

Mark 15:33~ Now when the sixth hour had come, [Noon, by Jewish reckoning] there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.]. (My God controls light and darkness! And the grief of Jesus death was so great God chose to darken the skies for three hours in the middle of the day!)

Luke 23:44-47~ Now it was about the sixth hour, [Noon] and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.]. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" (Need I say anything for this? The Power, the willingness of Jesus ... this was a righteous Man indeed!)

The tomb ...

Matthew 28:1-8~ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angle of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightening, his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. (I let these words speak for themselves)

Luke 24:1-7~ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

Where Jesus is now ...

Mark 16:19~ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

That is my God and Lord ... remember Him, not just this happy resurrection day, but always!

We have such a friendly stove ...

Hello stove ... :)

Hello World

As I was in the kitchen this morning making dinner, doing dishes, cleaning counters and other kitchen-ly things, my father walked in and informed me that I should take a picture of the Crocus that was blooming outside. According to him it was saying "Hello world". So I decided to see for myself. Although I didn't hear any "Hello world"'s it was beautiful to see. :)

And all the flowers say, "Hello World."

Sleepless Night

This has become the song of my heart! May it encourage you and comfort you as much as it has me! (Scroll down to play the movie and listen to it as you read the words.)

Another sleepless night
I'm turning in my bed
Long before the red sun rises

In these early hours
I'm falling again
Into the river of my worries

When the river runs away
I find a shelter in your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

Hear my anxious prayer
The beating of my heart
The pulse and the measure of my unbelief
Speak your words to me
Before I come apart
Help me believe in what I cannot see
Before the river runs away
I will call upon your name

Jesus, only light on the shore
Only hope in the storm
Jesus, let me fly to your side
There I would hide, Jesus

~Sleepless Night by Fernando Ortega