Oh yes, ANOTHER post (a bit late) on my Easter... This one is not for weak stomachs because it has a weak stomach in it...
While I was in the process of making my Easter Breakfast on Saturday morning I was making a mess. I had a brand new container of Dry Mustard so I had to break the seal and open the container. Well, it popped open and was VERY full... it spilled some of the mustard powder on the ground.
Now, if I was my mother, I would have stopped everything, picked up the mustard with a towel or sweep in the middle of my food creation, but because I am not my mother, and I am myself, I just left it until I was done with the food preparation to clean up my whole mess. Well, of course, my puppy comes over to the kitchen and starts licking up the powder on the floor. I warned Pixar that he would not like this mustard stuff. He didn't get it at first; started licking the stuff up. Eventually, he did find he didn't enjoy the taste and went out of the kitchen. I just laughed, cuz I knew that he would not like it.
He was acting a bit funny, sniffing around and the like, but I watched him for a minute and it didn't look like he was going to do something.
So I forgot about it.
Then about 10 minutes later, Steve, my roommate-being at the table- exclaims Pixar threw up. Oh, boy DID HE EVER! I never knew a small dog like that could throw up THAT much in one sitting. WOW!
So, I learned my lesson. Don't let your dog lick up Dry Mustard, cuz they will throw up EVERYTHING they have in their system!
April 28, 2011
April 26, 2011
Smiles
I was reminded last night as I was driving home of a song that popped up on my playlist that just made me smile from Ear to Ear.
This song was not meant to be a funny song, but a song that glorifies God, and I feel bad that I was laughing so hard, but you would laugh too if you had the same experience that I had with this song in the past. To tell the whole story we have to go back quite a few years.
When I was a Senior in High School and then also a Freshman in College, I was attending Youth For Christ's Campus Life in Redmond. I was attending as a attender and then in College, as a (somewhat) leader/helper. After the meetings, I would take a few friends home, usually it was dark out during the school year. On many occasions, I would have a full car in my little Ford Focus, so the back seat had two people and then of course someone up front. Well, one night I was taking three friends home, Anthony and Charlotte, in the back, and then someone else up front.
What was great was we were listening to some music on my stereo and the song, I want to know you came on. Anth knew this song, but not the rest of the guests. I was singing along (as usual) and everyone else was quiet. Then at an inopportune time, Anth pipes up and starts singing too, then Char just goes crazy.
You may wonder why she went crazy and why it was an inopportune time. Well, the answer is the same- because Anth started singing at "I want to touch you..." Charlotte was a bit scared at that -being in a dark backseat with someone she didn't know too well.
And THAT will always be on my memory when that song is being played- especially when I am driving in the car and that song is being played.Thanks for the Memories, guys.
This song was not meant to be a funny song, but a song that glorifies God, and I feel bad that I was laughing so hard, but you would laugh too if you had the same experience that I had with this song in the past. To tell the whole story we have to go back quite a few years.
When I was a Senior in High School and then also a Freshman in College, I was attending Youth For Christ's Campus Life in Redmond. I was attending as a attender and then in College, as a (somewhat) leader/helper. After the meetings, I would take a few friends home, usually it was dark out during the school year. On many occasions, I would have a full car in my little Ford Focus, so the back seat had two people and then of course someone up front. Well, one night I was taking three friends home, Anthony and Charlotte, in the back, and then someone else up front.
What was great was we were listening to some music on my stereo and the song, I want to know you came on. Anth knew this song, but not the rest of the guests. I was singing along (as usual) and everyone else was quiet. Then at an inopportune time, Anth pipes up and starts singing too, then Char just goes crazy.
You may wonder why she went crazy and why it was an inopportune time. Well, the answer is the same- because Anth started singing at "I want to touch you..." Charlotte was a bit scared at that -being in a dark backseat with someone she didn't know too well.
And THAT will always be on my memory when that song is being played- especially when I am driving in the car and that song is being played.Thanks for the Memories, guys.
April 22, 2011
I B Positive
Oh the joys of being a child, right? Lately I have been offering incentives as a Sub. to kids who are doing what is right. Stickers. These stickers came to me free from different mailers and such so it was a free incentive. I was amazed by the affect it had on 1st graders today. The students were coming in from PE and loud. They were somewhat hyper from having an easy PE day outside in the beautiful weather. They came in and were to sit at their seats and quietly work on a workbook for handwriting. Most were being extra loud but a few were doing their work without talking.
I decided to bust out my Disney stickers and assortment of other stickers for those students to choose from. I offered a sticker to a few that were working nice and quietly and sure enough a particually loud student perks up and says "Hey, they get a sticker, that's no fair!" He was wronged in a major way. I did not say anything and just continued to give stickers to a few more students working hard on their work. One of the students who had already gotten a sticker pipes up and says, "He's giving stickers to people who are working hard, (she looks at me) right?" She got the jist of it. After that, the sound in the room dropped by 1/2 db. I started walking around to more and more students giving them stickers. Eventually, I got to all the students and the atmosphere in the class was so much quieter. It didn't last the rest of the day, to say the least, but I was just floored at how effective that Positive Reinforcement was.
I am certainly a teacher who likes using Positive Reinforcement rather than any other types. I would much rather praise a child for doing right, than curse a child for doing poorly. Or giving bad stuff for bad behavior or taking away bad stuff for good behavior.
Yay, for stickers (although, not sure it works all that great for children above 4th or 5th grade) Then the reinforcement is "Stupid") hehe.
I decided to bust out my Disney stickers and assortment of other stickers for those students to choose from. I offered a sticker to a few that were working nice and quietly and sure enough a particually loud student perks up and says "Hey, they get a sticker, that's no fair!" He was wronged in a major way. I did not say anything and just continued to give stickers to a few more students working hard on their work. One of the students who had already gotten a sticker pipes up and says, "He's giving stickers to people who are working hard, (she looks at me) right?" She got the jist of it. After that, the sound in the room dropped by 1/2 db. I started walking around to more and more students giving them stickers. Eventually, I got to all the students and the atmosphere in the class was so much quieter. It didn't last the rest of the day, to say the least, but I was just floored at how effective that Positive Reinforcement was.
I am certainly a teacher who likes using Positive Reinforcement rather than any other types. I would much rather praise a child for doing right, than curse a child for doing poorly. Or giving bad stuff for bad behavior or taking away bad stuff for good behavior.
Yay, for stickers (although, not sure it works all that great for children above 4th or 5th grade) Then the reinforcement is "Stupid") hehe.
Unexplored High School
Ok, now for the REAL Reason for the postings about Easter- The actual Easter Service. Way back when, our church would rent out the High School Auditorium to have one big service rather than multiple services or overpacking the house. We did this a number of times at Redmond FBC. It was quite a bit of work, but so worth it and a lot of fun.
What I remember most about these times was illegal stuff though. One time, breaking into the school. Another, sneaking to restricted areas with friends.
So, as a young kid, I always wanted to go to the Music rehearsals and go with dad early on Easter Sunday, but do parents really expect me to just SIT? in a seat the whole time and a huge HS that I could explore instead? Well, I did not just sit for the whole rehearsal and early times. Instead, I went around the area looking for open rooms to explore. Sure enough, some were open. One room that I was especially happy to see open was the sound/light room at RHS that is upstairs in the Aud. It was quite fun to sneak into and watch everything from the highest point. Once I found this, of course I always wanted to go back each year and watch Easter Service from there. Some years it was Open, some closed. (But I found a way around closed)
Another special find that I found at the HS was a side room that was mostly storage, but also had a catwalk. I was SO going up there. So, I would like a cat, walk up the ladder to the top and found all sorts of fun places to run around. One of these walks ran close to the top audio/light room, so the years that it was locked, I would find a way in using the Catwalk. I know, illegal, opps. It was sure fun though.
And of course, I had to show Ryan, and Joe, and Robyn too.
Another Easter, we were waiting to unpack all of our church stuff but the problem was that our Janitor was not there yet to open the doors. It was kinda boring and a bit cold and so I decided I would just go and check on each outside door. I went all the way around the school. I found an open door and then I had to find my way to the door we were waiting at... It was dark and hard to find my place around a huge HS that I have not been to. I finally found it and we got all our stuff partially in at least. When the guy came to open the door and found us in there he asked me to show him the door that was open so he could lock it.
Fun Easter memories.
What I remember most about these times was illegal stuff though. One time, breaking into the school. Another, sneaking to restricted areas with friends.
So, as a young kid, I always wanted to go to the Music rehearsals and go with dad early on Easter Sunday, but do parents really expect me to just SIT? in a seat the whole time and a huge HS that I could explore instead? Well, I did not just sit for the whole rehearsal and early times. Instead, I went around the area looking for open rooms to explore. Sure enough, some were open. One room that I was especially happy to see open was the sound/light room at RHS that is upstairs in the Aud. It was quite fun to sneak into and watch everything from the highest point. Once I found this, of course I always wanted to go back each year and watch Easter Service from there. Some years it was Open, some closed. (But I found a way around closed)
Another special find that I found at the HS was a side room that was mostly storage, but also had a catwalk. I was SO going up there. So, I would like a cat, walk up the ladder to the top and found all sorts of fun places to run around. One of these walks ran close to the top audio/light room, so the years that it was locked, I would find a way in using the Catwalk. I know, illegal, opps. It was sure fun though.
And of course, I had to show Ryan, and Joe, and Robyn too.
Another Easter, we were waiting to unpack all of our church stuff but the problem was that our Janitor was not there yet to open the doors. It was kinda boring and a bit cold and so I decided I would just go and check on each outside door. I went all the way around the school. I found an open door and then I had to find my way to the door we were waiting at... It was dark and hard to find my place around a huge HS that I have not been to. I finally found it and we got all our stuff partially in at least. When the guy came to open the door and found us in there he asked me to show him the door that was open so he could lock it.
Fun Easter memories.
April 21, 2011
Easter Breakfast
Much like our Christmas Morning Tradition, the family had Easter Morning Traditions as well. One of the main traditions being getting Easter baskets with goodies and the major tradition was Easter Breakfast. It is this Egg Casserole thing and it is wonderful. Unlike former Christmas Morning Breakfast, I actually have always liked Easter Breakfast. I cannot remember when mom started making this Breakfast yumminess, but she kept it going for years. It is the type of breakfast that you make the night before and refridge until the morning to reheat because it takes a while. (and Easter Morning is always busy for a family involved in making it a great service.)
I actually came along another version of Easter Breakfast when I was doing my Undergrad schooling at EOU. I was helping with Campus Life and they had a breakfast devo type of thing every Wed. morning. I went when I was able to. Cally, the ED, asked different sponsors to bring in Breakfasts and rotate, ect. One couple always brought in some casserole type dishes and one of them was almost exactly like my mother's Easter Breakfast recipe.
This Easter Breakfast tradition has lasted through our childhood and when talking with my sister last night, she was mentioning how their Easter Schedule was quite busy and they had a breakfast thing at their church early in the morning, so I said she should make Easter Breakfast on Saturday. She thought that was a good idea, so the tradition lives on. I too am planning to make Easter Breakfast, anyone who wants to drive to Redmond for some yummy Easter Breakfast, can join me, I will have a whole pan, but you gotta be here early, I am planning to head out to an Early Easter Sunrise Service and then I will have to be at Church at around 7:30, so its gonna be an early Breakfast. (Please, just give me a call though, so I know you are coming)
Or perhaps, you just wanna make your own Easter Breakfast:
I actually came along another version of Easter Breakfast when I was doing my Undergrad schooling at EOU. I was helping with Campus Life and they had a breakfast devo type of thing every Wed. morning. I went when I was able to. Cally, the ED, asked different sponsors to bring in Breakfasts and rotate, ect. One couple always brought in some casserole type dishes and one of them was almost exactly like my mother's Easter Breakfast recipe.
This Easter Breakfast tradition has lasted through our childhood and when talking with my sister last night, she was mentioning how their Easter Schedule was quite busy and they had a breakfast thing at their church early in the morning, so I said she should make Easter Breakfast on Saturday. She thought that was a good idea, so the tradition lives on. I too am planning to make Easter Breakfast, anyone who wants to drive to Redmond for some yummy Easter Breakfast, can join me, I will have a whole pan, but you gotta be here early, I am planning to head out to an Early Easter Sunrise Service and then I will have to be at Church at around 7:30, so its gonna be an early Breakfast. (Please, just give me a call though, so I know you are coming)
Or perhaps, you just wanna make your own Easter Breakfast:
Directions:
Cube bread into very small pieces and place in greased 9X13 baking dish. Brown and drain the sausage, spoon over bread evenly. Beat together eggs, milk, mustard, and salt. Pour over mixture in dish. Add grated cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 for 35-40 Minutes. Let stand 10 Minutes before serving.
April 20, 2011
Easter Outfits
How many of you have dressed up for Easter? Just when you were younger? Still today? It was quite a tradition in my family to Dress up for Easter. That meant we got new fancy outfits, usually in pastels for the girls and uncomfortable shoes for me. Every other Sunday of the year, it was nice, but not special clothes for service, but when Easter comes around, boy, you go all out and get a new outfit to wear. Now, don't get me wrong, I like getting new things, but I have never ever been a huge fan of fancy clothes, and still am not today. I could not be Barney, wearing suits all day everyday, even suitjamas (yeah, I just watched HIMYM again and recently came to that episode).
The sisters, being twins, always got matching dresses that they would wear, whereas I would get a little tie, and new shirt and dress pants. (and the shoes). To be honest though, I have still carried that into my adulthood- the dress-up-in-the-Sunday-Best-for-Easter thing.
It makes me wonder though, when regular church-goers dress up special for Easter, does that make the unchurched (or as Pastor Randy calls em- CEOs- Christmas/Easter/Only) feel out of place or stuffy? Does it make them feel like they don't fit in because they are not in a 3 piece suit? Would it be better to just wear when I usually wear to Church- anywhere from a tee and jeans to a polo and khakis (no real dress code at New Hope). It makes you wonder.
 |
| Not anyone I know, just totally an Easter Outfit Family- matching and all that |
It makes me wonder though, when regular church-goers dress up special for Easter, does that make the unchurched (or as Pastor Randy calls em- CEOs- Christmas/Easter/Only) feel out of place or stuffy? Does it make them feel like they don't fit in because they are not in a 3 piece suit? Would it be better to just wear when I usually wear to Church- anywhere from a tee and jeans to a polo and khakis (no real dress code at New Hope). It makes you wonder.
April 19, 2011
Cold, Early, Easter Sunrise Service
This last Christmas time, I did 50 days of Christmas. I plan to do that for Easter, but certainly NOT 50 days worth. I have a few posting ideas. Today is about Early Easter Morning.
Ever since I can remember, I would get up extremely early on Easter morning and head out to stand in the cold for what felt like a very long time, (but in actuality was only about 45min. or so) with many old people. What I am talking about is an Easter Sunrise Service.
Dad being the Pastor that he was, and a part of the Redmond Ministerial Association, was always involved in the community wide Easter Sunrise Service. This Easter Service was always outside, usually at the Juniper Golf Course, and was a small service to remember what kind of morning it could have been like when Jesus was Resurrected from Death and the Grave. We would always go (my dad bringing my sisters and I) and it would be a super fun time. We got to sing hymns that we didn't sing in other church services and always saw the same people go to that service.
Up from the grave he arose, (He Arose) with a mighty triumph o'r his foes (He Arose), He arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with his saints to reign, He Arose (He Arose), He Arose (He Arose), Hallelujah, Christ Arose.
After some years, probably late elementary/early MS, my sisters wanted to sleep in, but I never did. This was tradition to go to this Early Sunrise Easter Service and sing the Traditional songs and be cold. What is Easter without being cold early in the morning? Not much of an Easter for me. Even now, I still enjoy a Sunrise Service and hope I have time to go this year, either to Redmond's or if there is one in Bend. Last year, I was probing those around me who had lived in the area if there was a Community Sunrise Service but never found of where one might be in Salem.
Then, after the Sunrise Service, we would head home and get ready, put on special Easter outfits, have Easter Breakfast, and head to the High School to get ready for the Service, but all that is to come in the next few posts.
It is a great memory from childhood.
Ever since I can remember, I would get up extremely early on Easter morning and head out to stand in the cold for what felt like a very long time, (but in actuality was only about 45min. or so) with many old people. What I am talking about is an Easter Sunrise Service.
Dad being the Pastor that he was, and a part of the Redmond Ministerial Association, was always involved in the community wide Easter Sunrise Service. This Easter Service was always outside, usually at the Juniper Golf Course, and was a small service to remember what kind of morning it could have been like when Jesus was Resurrected from Death and the Grave. We would always go (my dad bringing my sisters and I) and it would be a super fun time. We got to sing hymns that we didn't sing in other church services and always saw the same people go to that service.
Up from the grave he arose, (He Arose) with a mighty triumph o'r his foes (He Arose), He arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with his saints to reign, He Arose (He Arose), He Arose (He Arose), Hallelujah, Christ Arose.
After some years, probably late elementary/early MS, my sisters wanted to sleep in, but I never did. This was tradition to go to this Early Sunrise Easter Service and sing the Traditional songs and be cold. What is Easter without being cold early in the morning? Not much of an Easter for me. Even now, I still enjoy a Sunrise Service and hope I have time to go this year, either to Redmond's or if there is one in Bend. Last year, I was probing those around me who had lived in the area if there was a Community Sunrise Service but never found of where one might be in Salem.
Then, after the Sunrise Service, we would head home and get ready, put on special Easter outfits, have Easter Breakfast, and head to the High School to get ready for the Service, but all that is to come in the next few posts.
It is a great memory from childhood.
April 11, 2011
Different kinds of Kisses- the Sloppy one's the best.
Im not a huge fan of change. Sure, change can be good, and sometimes is even needed, but change of routine is not the most fun.
This post is not about big changes, such as moving from a plase you have lived for years upon years, or having a baby, or anything icebergish at all (You like the Icebergish word? yeah, me too). This post is about little changes, song words to be more specific.
I love Weird Al and his song word changes- they're, to quote my father, a "Good Spoof" What I am talking about here is changing Worship song lyrics.
How He Loves is a great song in original format by JohnMark McMillan (to be honest, never knew that until I was doing my research for this post) and I first heard it from Jared Anderson a few months ago and fell in Love with the song. I love the descriptions of God's Love and How He Loves us. It is amazing- take a look yourself on Google or YouTube or come find me when I have my laptop near me (really, when do I not, right?) and I can play you the song.
Anyway, so I was happy to sing this song at church yesterday, but saddened to find out that one word in the lyrics was changed. I was very upset, you see. I love that picture that was taken out by that changed phrase. At first, I thought it was my church worship leaders who did this, but then realized (again, while researching for this post) that David Crowder's remake of the song changed the phrase.
The phrase I am talking about occurs in the second verse. It originally says:
So, Heaven meets earth like a Sloppy Wet Kiss, and my heart turns violently inside of my chest...
Then the alternative lyrics are:
And heaven meets earth like an Unforeseen kiss, and my heart turns....
So, there ya have it. Which do you think is better, giving off a great word picture? The first one right?
I have another story about changed worship lyrics:
When I was in Upper Elem/Jr. High a song that was popular to sing in worship was I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.
In that song, some lyrics were changed because it was talking about Dancing. Being a BAPTIST church, we couldn't have a song about dancing. Dancing is of the Devil, right?
Well, instead of Oh, I feel like Dancing... it was changed to Oh, I feel like Im Loved.
Well, there ya have it. Changing song lyrics is not a good idea.
Use the original lyrics dude (that is unless it the change is Theology-based, and then perhaps just find a new song if it doesn't fit into your theology.)
This post is not about big changes, such as moving from a plase you have lived for years upon years, or having a baby, or anything icebergish at all (You like the Icebergish word? yeah, me too). This post is about little changes, song words to be more specific.
I love Weird Al and his song word changes- they're, to quote my father, a "Good Spoof" What I am talking about here is changing Worship song lyrics.
How He Loves is a great song in original format by JohnMark McMillan (to be honest, never knew that until I was doing my research for this post) and I first heard it from Jared Anderson a few months ago and fell in Love with the song. I love the descriptions of God's Love and How He Loves us. It is amazing- take a look yourself on Google or YouTube or come find me when I have my laptop near me (really, when do I not, right?) and I can play you the song.
Anyway, so I was happy to sing this song at church yesterday, but saddened to find out that one word in the lyrics was changed. I was very upset, you see. I love that picture that was taken out by that changed phrase. At first, I thought it was my church worship leaders who did this, but then realized (again, while researching for this post) that David Crowder's remake of the song changed the phrase.
The phrase I am talking about occurs in the second verse. It originally says:
So, Heaven meets earth like a Sloppy Wet Kiss, and my heart turns violently inside of my chest...
Then the alternative lyrics are:
And heaven meets earth like an Unforeseen kiss, and my heart turns....
So, there ya have it. Which do you think is better, giving off a great word picture? The first one right?
I have another story about changed worship lyrics:
When I was in Upper Elem/Jr. High a song that was popular to sing in worship was I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.
In that song, some lyrics were changed because it was talking about Dancing. Being a BAPTIST church, we couldn't have a song about dancing. Dancing is of the Devil, right?
Well, instead of Oh, I feel like Dancing... it was changed to Oh, I feel like Im Loved.
Well, there ya have it. Changing song lyrics is not a good idea.
Use the original lyrics dude (that is unless it the change is Theology-based, and then perhaps just find a new song if it doesn't fit into your theology.)
April 9, 2011
Can You Guess the Movie?
On March 19, I discussed the Powerful Pixar Puppy and how he affects talkin' with the Ladies. Well, today I saw one of the ladies that I had seen as a precursor to that post and she remembered me (well, Pixar). She remembered Pixar by name even. It was fun to see her again, this mysterious lady of whom I know from the dog park, but don't even know her name. How sad. Well, if I see her again, I am going to have to say hi and remember her dog's name and actually GET her name. It takes me time, you know how it is.
Just thinking about our casual encounters (not in the same vein as the Craigslist ones, just to be clear) gets me thinking about a movie. Can you guess which one? I bet you can't... Nope, not Must Love Dogs (although that one is a great one). The movie I was reminded of was The Holiday.
I got to thinking, as I was walking back from our second time meeting at the dog park, that it would be crazy if a relationship started from these meetings at the dog park. It is quite weird to think about this, because I have only had short surface-y conversations with her, (and as I said, I don't know her name even), and I don't know at all what she likes, and what her values are. I don't know if she attends a local church or is even a Christian (which is a big deal for me). I don't know anything about her.
Getting to the point. The reason I thought about The Holiday is because of Arthur, the elderly screenwriter. He talked about a "Meet Cute". I thought about if a relationship would start from this Dog Park, it would be quite a MEET CUTE.
Only God knows who will be my better half and I will leave it at that.
Just thinking about our casual encounters (not in the same vein as the Craigslist ones, just to be clear) gets me thinking about a movie. Can you guess which one? I bet you can't... Nope, not Must Love Dogs (although that one is a great one). The movie I was reminded of was The Holiday.
I got to thinking, as I was walking back from our second time meeting at the dog park, that it would be crazy if a relationship started from these meetings at the dog park. It is quite weird to think about this, because I have only had short surface-y conversations with her, (and as I said, I don't know her name even), and I don't know at all what she likes, and what her values are. I don't know if she attends a local church or is even a Christian (which is a big deal for me). I don't know anything about her.
Getting to the point. The reason I thought about The Holiday is because of Arthur, the elderly screenwriter. He talked about a "Meet Cute". I thought about if a relationship would start from this Dog Park, it would be quite a MEET CUTE.
Only God knows who will be my better half and I will leave it at that.
April 6, 2011
Hold it Against Me! (Nope, this has nothing to do with the PickUp Line)
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE TECHNOLOGY and Gadgets, but with everything that they can do with connecting with people far away, it seems at times they take away the connection with people close to us. I hope that I never get that involved in my medium that I neglect a loved one like that. Who knows, perhaps I already have. I know that I whip out my laptop at the first moment that I get bored (if I have it close, which I often do) but I would hope that no one has caught me whipping out a device at the table over a conversation with someone I am eating with.
That being said, I don't have a problem with a quick check. It is nice to keep in contact with people and so on. I am not saying to ignore EVERY single email, and phone call, and text, (but really if you do, will you die?), but what I am saying is using your whole meal time on the device... That is tacky.
Anyone who reads this DOES have permission to use these words of mine against me to keep me in check when I should be spending time with close connections rather than surfing the web. This does not apply to all times, but times of real/deep conversations and situations where using a device it disrespectful.
April 5, 2011
Pixar's 6Mo. Bday Ode
I just HAD to do a post for my pup today. Pixar is celebrating his 6mo. of living today. He is also celebrating his practically 5mo. of living with me! So, in light of that, I am going to have to do walkthrough with y'all: (Brace yourself for many pictures of Pix)
The First Day I got him- Nov. 8, 2010
Pixar's New Bed- December (2mo.)
Pixar in December:
Pixar chillin with Becky
January 2011
Pixar meeting a new friend- Pearl
Pixar after his first Bath
Pixar - March 31
Pixar- April 5, 2011- 6 Month BDay
So, here's to you, my dog companion, my "Man's Best Friend", my copilot, my responsibility, my youthfulness, my toddler, my excited-to-see-me-every-time-I-come-back, my company, my under-my-feet-when-you-shouldn't-be, my chewer-of-blankets, my player, my yard-messer-uper, my tennis ball fetcher, my big boy, my pet.
You are growing so fast and we are both learning so much.
Thanks for being there with me these past 5 months.
I look forward to years ahead with you.
April 3, 2011
When I'm tired and lose my way, when I'm feeling so ashamed...
A song that has been near and dear to my heart recently has been "I Will Worship You" by Aaron Gillespie.
You may or may not know that Aaron is (was?) the lead singer for the screamo band- Underoath and also the frontman for The Almost.
Who knows why he needs three different bands to have, but I really apreiciate it because I am not into Underoath. I love the other two though- very different styles of songs.
Before you take a listen to the song that is so near and dear to my heart read the lyrics:
When I'm losing
When I'm broken
When I'm sinking like a stone
And it feels like I'm alone
I will worship You
When I'm so scared
Life is unfair
When I'm tired and lose my way
When I'm feeling so ashamed
I will worship You
You are the anchor to my soul
Draw me to You and don't let go.
Only Your love can make me whole
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
When I'm dancing
When I'm hopeful
When I'm feeling mercy’s hand
And I'm living life again
I will worship You.
When chains are broken
When healing's coming
When Your forgiveness floods my heart
This is my brand new start
I will worship You.
You are the anchor to my soul
Draw me to You and don't let go.
Only Your love can make me whole
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
Hallelujah (repeat)
Our God reigns!
You are the anchor to my soul
Draw me to You and don't let go.
Only Your love can make me whole
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
When I'm broken
When I'm sinking like a stone
And it feels like I'm alone
I will worship You
When I'm so scared
Life is unfair
When I'm tired and lose my way
When I'm feeling so ashamed
I will worship You
You are the anchor to my soul
Draw me to You and don't let go.
Only Your love can make me whole
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
When I'm dancing
When I'm hopeful
When I'm feeling mercy’s hand
And I'm living life again
I will worship You.
When chains are broken
When healing's coming
When Your forgiveness floods my heart
This is my brand new start
I will worship You.
You are the anchor to my soul
Draw me to You and don't let go.
Only Your love can make me whole
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
Hallelujah (repeat)
Our God reigns!
You are the anchor to my soul
Draw me to You and don't let go.
Only Your love can make me whole
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
Jesus, I worship You.
Powerful, am I right? In my place where I am at right now, I really connect with these lyrics. It has the likes of Blessed By Your Name. Talking of being down and out but still saying I will worship you is powerful. Most of the time, I get caught up in learning the music to a song so I can sing it, but don't think as much about the lyrics until I slow myself down and think, what are the actual lyrics to the song and taking them to heart.
As I was looking for these lyrics, I came to his website looking for lyrics "from the horse's mouth" as they say, and came across his tour dates. Sadly, THIS MORNING he is in Vancouver, WA leading worship. If I would have known that I certainly would have taken the trip up there since I have a place to stay. Right when I read that I looked at the clock to see if it was still feasible. Not so much. I would probably be able to get there in time, but I have commitments at my church. Oh well. That is the way it goes. I hope to see him live sometime in my life. He is a fairly new artist in terms of his own album and so hopefully he will come to Oregon or WA again.
I encourage you to take a look at his other songs on his Album. There are some great songs there.
April 2, 2011
Changing Tires and TREADing Water.
This morning I jokingly said that this Changing tires out was going to take all day. Actually, IT DID!
Wow, what a pain.
So, since monday is the last day to legally have your studs on, I mentioned to my sister, Kelli, that she should bring her car into town and I would take her tires (already at home) and put on the highway tires. She agreed and headed this way at around 9:45 this morning. While she was doing that, I was getting my new tires from Les Schwab that were mounted on my spare set of wheels. I dropped them off the night before.
I proceeded to get them home and work on my own tires to get the new ones on there. UNlucky for me, I could not budge some of the lugnuts. I put these tires on my vehicle, I should be able to get them off right? Well, apparently not. So, I was trying with all my might.
Back on Kelli's end, she was about halfway to my house when her back tire separated. So she was on the side of the road trying to figure out how to get her car all the way home. I got a call and went to go change the tires there, by the Deschutes Market overpass. We changed the bad one out and decided it would be best to drive her car back to my house instead of trying to change all the tires out on the side of the highway.
During this whole ordeal, a walker from Bend to Redmond passed by asking if we needed help. He also asked for a ride to Redmond. "I am just a (Boy) who caint say no" (reference anyone) and in that respect, I had to say Yes, to giving him a ride. So, after I got the new tire on Kelli's car, we proceeded to head to my house and of course I was going to drop the guy off as well. Kelli gets going on the Highway and she is smoking like mad. At first, I thought it was her exhaust giving WAY too much fumes, but looking closer found it was her tire (the one we just replaced). So, I called her (illegal) and I told her to pull over.
We got out and took a look to find that her tire was rubbing against a metal mud-flap type of thing. I pulled off the tire once again and tried to bang out the metal part so that it didn't rub. We fixed that and once again, proceeded to head home. I dropped the dude off at Big Als (Albertsons) and got home.
So, that was taken care of. Now to getting the tires changed.
Kelli's car tire lugs were on there so tight that I could not get em off. I tried all sorts of things, nothing worked. A call to Dad suggested that I get a socket set that fit nice and tight put a pipe through the rachet and use the extra leaverage. I didn't have everything I needed, so I went to Lowes. Got home and it worked great for the back tires, but the front ones were on SO SO tight because Shwabys (Les Schwab) put them on from a recent change. I yanked so hard that I broke my Socket extender. Not a problem because I just took it off and used the regular end. Started leveraging again and broke the rachett itself. WOW, they were torqued tight. I was very frustrated by this point. Steve, my roommate, was nice enough to help out. He drove to his parents and borrowed a few things- a pipe like I had, but one that fit, and a few other things. He got back and was able to move those lugs enough to loosen em.
So, finally after hours of working, we got it taken care of. By this time, Kelli's car was finished, and it was around 12:30 or 1.
We took a lunch break at Cibelli's- good pizza.
Then I got home and started to work on my car. Here is where MORE "Fun" happens. With the help of Steve's tool, I was able to get the tires off just fine and I put the new ones on. This all took about 15-20 minutes. As kids love to say- Easy Cheezy Lemon Squeezy (Don't ask me why,... I have heard the saying at many different elementary schools) You might think that I was done right? Oh would you be so ever WRONG! I sure was. I took a break after all that morning of working on the tires. Then I decided I better clean up my tools, and clean my car out and put it in the garage. I put the tools away. I cleaned my car out so it would not look like a disaster area inside( read- as in Kelli's car interior) and TRIED to put my car in the garage. It would not budge. Oh, Boy, here we go.
I tried lots of things, but it was like the car was permanently having its break on. We (Steve and I) tried all sorts of things, thinking it was the E brake, the transmission fluid, the brake fluid, but I knew it had to be something to do with the wheels. After another Call to Dad for advice, I put on one of the snow tire wheels that worked just this morning. It didn't seem to help. It still was not going anywhere.
Finally, I gave up and put a call in to Shwabys. There was not much help there. I called AAA to get the car and transport it to Shwabys. The guy came in record time (Yahoo AAA- totally worth the money for roadside assistance) and he was worried he was not able to get to the car- parked in the driveway. With his help we tried some more stuff and he told me to take the other front wheel off of the new tires, so I did and we found out that Shwabs must have switched the wheels by accident, because the did not fit anymore. (This was around 3:30PM) So, he was so great for helping us decyfer what was going on and what needed to be fixed. So, I had my two snow tires on in front and the new tires in back (with wheels that were not mine) and I traveled back to Shwabys to fix the issue.
I got there and waited while they checked on different things, looking for something that might have been switched, looking for other wheel bases that could be used. Finally, I was asked to pull the car around and get it up on their devices to work on. I just stood outside and watched as they tried wheel after wheel looking for a right fit. There must have been 15 different wheel tries to see if it would fit. After about an hour of being at Shwabys, they found a wheel base that would work and got them fitted and put on. By this time it was 5PM.
I had no idea this morning that it would literally (almost literally) take all day to put the tires on two cars. WOW. Long post for a long, long day. I hope I don't have to go through that again anytime soon.
Wow, what a pain.
So, since monday is the last day to legally have your studs on, I mentioned to my sister, Kelli, that she should bring her car into town and I would take her tires (already at home) and put on the highway tires. She agreed and headed this way at around 9:45 this morning. While she was doing that, I was getting my new tires from Les Schwab that were mounted on my spare set of wheels. I dropped them off the night before.
I proceeded to get them home and work on my own tires to get the new ones on there. UNlucky for me, I could not budge some of the lugnuts. I put these tires on my vehicle, I should be able to get them off right? Well, apparently not. So, I was trying with all my might.
Back on Kelli's end, she was about halfway to my house when her back tire separated. So she was on the side of the road trying to figure out how to get her car all the way home. I got a call and went to go change the tires there, by the Deschutes Market overpass. We changed the bad one out and decided it would be best to drive her car back to my house instead of trying to change all the tires out on the side of the highway.
During this whole ordeal, a walker from Bend to Redmond passed by asking if we needed help. He also asked for a ride to Redmond. "I am just a (Boy) who caint say no" (reference anyone) and in that respect, I had to say Yes, to giving him a ride. So, after I got the new tire on Kelli's car, we proceeded to head to my house and of course I was going to drop the guy off as well. Kelli gets going on the Highway and she is smoking like mad. At first, I thought it was her exhaust giving WAY too much fumes, but looking closer found it was her tire (the one we just replaced). So, I called her (illegal) and I told her to pull over.
We got out and took a look to find that her tire was rubbing against a metal mud-flap type of thing. I pulled off the tire once again and tried to bang out the metal part so that it didn't rub. We fixed that and once again, proceeded to head home. I dropped the dude off at Big Als (Albertsons) and got home.
So, that was taken care of. Now to getting the tires changed.
Kelli's car tire lugs were on there so tight that I could not get em off. I tried all sorts of things, nothing worked. A call to Dad suggested that I get a socket set that fit nice and tight put a pipe through the rachet and use the extra leaverage. I didn't have everything I needed, so I went to Lowes. Got home and it worked great for the back tires, but the front ones were on SO SO tight because Shwabys (Les Schwab) put them on from a recent change. I yanked so hard that I broke my Socket extender. Not a problem because I just took it off and used the regular end. Started leveraging again and broke the rachett itself. WOW, they were torqued tight. I was very frustrated by this point. Steve, my roommate, was nice enough to help out. He drove to his parents and borrowed a few things- a pipe like I had, but one that fit, and a few other things. He got back and was able to move those lugs enough to loosen em.
So, finally after hours of working, we got it taken care of. By this time, Kelli's car was finished, and it was around 12:30 or 1.
We took a lunch break at Cibelli's- good pizza.
Then I got home and started to work on my car. Here is where MORE "Fun" happens. With the help of Steve's tool, I was able to get the tires off just fine and I put the new ones on. This all took about 15-20 minutes. As kids love to say- Easy Cheezy Lemon Squeezy (Don't ask me why,... I have heard the saying at many different elementary schools) You might think that I was done right? Oh would you be so ever WRONG! I sure was. I took a break after all that morning of working on the tires. Then I decided I better clean up my tools, and clean my car out and put it in the garage. I put the tools away. I cleaned my car out so it would not look like a disaster area inside( read- as in Kelli's car interior) and TRIED to put my car in the garage. It would not budge. Oh, Boy, here we go.
I tried lots of things, but it was like the car was permanently having its break on. We (Steve and I) tried all sorts of things, thinking it was the E brake, the transmission fluid, the brake fluid, but I knew it had to be something to do with the wheels. After another Call to Dad for advice, I put on one of the snow tire wheels that worked just this morning. It didn't seem to help. It still was not going anywhere.
Finally, I gave up and put a call in to Shwabys. There was not much help there. I called AAA to get the car and transport it to Shwabys. The guy came in record time (Yahoo AAA- totally worth the money for roadside assistance) and he was worried he was not able to get to the car- parked in the driveway. With his help we tried some more stuff and he told me to take the other front wheel off of the new tires, so I did and we found out that Shwabs must have switched the wheels by accident, because the did not fit anymore. (This was around 3:30PM) So, he was so great for helping us decyfer what was going on and what needed to be fixed. So, I had my two snow tires on in front and the new tires in back (with wheels that were not mine) and I traveled back to Shwabys to fix the issue.
I got there and waited while they checked on different things, looking for something that might have been switched, looking for other wheel bases that could be used. Finally, I was asked to pull the car around and get it up on their devices to work on. I just stood outside and watched as they tried wheel after wheel looking for a right fit. There must have been 15 different wheel tries to see if it would fit. After about an hour of being at Shwabys, they found a wheel base that would work and got them fitted and put on. By this time it was 5PM.
I had no idea this morning that it would literally (almost literally) take all day to put the tires on two cars. WOW. Long post for a long, long day. I hope I don't have to go through that again anytime soon.
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