A Place for Me

I have been catching up at work and doing pretty well so that's good. I've been missing out on the blog world though because I haven't been able to read up on everyone's blogs so I am totally out of the loop.

Anyway, we are going to the beach this weekend for the wedding I am a bridesmaid in. I having been tanning this week and have a pretty good tan going. That makes me good. But I haven't been to the gym in 3 weeks and I am terrified of gaining back the weight I lost so I've been trying to watch the calorie intake plus the quality of my food. I cheated yesterday and had a burger and fries! :shock: I haven't had a burger in a while. But I still look good (is that conceited?) and I am excited because I can finally fit into my bikini from 2 years ago. I can't wait for the beach! I just hope the weather is good beach weather. It's been raining some this week and it would be a real bummer if it rained on the day of the wedding because it's outdoors. We'll see.

I had the stones in my wedding rings (engagment and band) put into one band and I should be getting that back tomorrow. So I haven't been wearing a wedding ring. Been gettin' alot of looks too so I went out and bought a sterling silver band to wear until I get it back. Don't wanna get hit on then have to say, "Sorry, I'm married".

The girl that works with me that makes more than me but is less qualified and has her own office (not a cube!) almost got canned the other day because she makes so many mistakes. Three of the bosses had a meeting with her and basically told her she should transfer. She said no that she would prove to them she could do her job. If she hasn't proven that in the last 2 and a half years, what makes her think she can do it now? I wish she would just go. We need someone in here that can and will pull their weight. She also has an attitude problem and it drives everyone crazy.

I think that is all that's happened lately. Just wanted to update anyone that was interested :D

I'll report on the beach trip next week.

My stepsister Amanda had her baby this morning at 8:02. She ended up having a csection and should be able to go home Saturday.

The baby's name is Aubrey and she weighed 6 lbs 9 ozs and is 19 inches long with a head full of hair. I can't wait to see her!

My mom says she is going to call her Patty because she was born on St. Patricks day :)

The girl I used to carpool with is 19 weeks pregnant. She just recently quit her job to stay at home. Her husband is a nurse where I work. They had a townhome on our street and just sold it. They are currently looking for lots and they will be building a house soon.

This really bugs me for some reason. I am having a hard time being happy for her. I want to sell our home and build a house. I want Jonathan to make enough money so I can stay at home with Rayna.

She was in an accident at the end of the year and thankfully I wasn't with her. I had happened to drive myself that day to work. Well anyway, Jonathan said he thought he saw her the next day hoping into a VW Bug (new) and drive away. I thought this was funny because I knew she had been hurt in the accident and I knew she wouldn't be hoping around so soon, not to mention already have a brand new car. So I mentioned it to her and I said, "Jonathan is so retarded. He said he saw you today blah, blah, blah." Well, I didn't talk to her for about 3 months after that and when I finally did call her to catch up so said that when I mentioned what Jonathan had said it hurt her feelings because she felt like I was accusing her of lying. Oh geez, give me a break. She is so sensitive and cries at the drop of a hat. I should have known not to say anything to her. But anyway, I apologized and told her the only reason I said anything was because I thought it was hilarious that Jonathan would even think that she would be well enough to have a new car the day after the accident after her car was totalled and be running around like she was fine.

Anyway, it bugged me.

Alot of things are bugging me lately and I think it's because I am really stressed. *sigh*

Phew! I was nonstop all weekend! I had three functions to attend, plus cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping. Not to mention the clothes shopping I did. Oh man! I got my income tax refund and I went on a serious shopping spree. I probably spent close to $300 on new clothes. I got 8 shirts, 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of dress pants, 1 bra, and 1 dress. That's not too bad. Everything I bought was on sale. Most of the items were 30-50% off. I needed them, that is for sure.
No more saggy butt pants for me! :D

I asked one of my friends, Laura, if she liked my new jeans I was wearing and her reply was, "Yeah, you make me sick." I said, "Well, I've been working hard to lose weight." I hate it when people complain that they are fat but aren't doing anything about it. Hello! She's married, has two kids and only works part time. If I can find time, so can she. This is the same friend that will say to me, "OK, Trina, be honest. Do I look fat in these pants?" (or whatever she is wearing).

Oh and while I am on this subject let me vent about something else. I saw a friend of mine's dad last weekend and we were talking about losing weight and he mentioned he had lost 40lbs. I asked how and he said, "Oh, I'm just not eating." I said, "What kind of exercise are you doing?" "Nothing." Ok, this is a grown man that should know better than to starve yourself into losing weight. In the long run this is disasterous to your body, and not to mention your metabolism. I said, "I'm losing weight too, but I eat 5 small healthy meals a day to keep my metabolism fired up and I try to fit 3 cardio sessions in during the week. I can't afford to slow my metabolism down." He just looked at me and didn't say anything.
Sometimes I feel like I am being a know it all. But hey, I gotta spread the knowledge somehow!

Rayna is cutting her first tooth. It's on the top and it hasn't broke through the skin yet, but it's close. It looks like there might be another beside it coming soon too. I can't believe she is almost 11 months old and just now cutting her first tooth.

I should take a pic and post it on the photoblog. Getting her to cooperate is the challenge :)

I posted some more pics in the Photoblog. Check 'em out. :!: :D

"Hollywood Hypocrites" - Pastor Steve Gaines, Gardendale's First Baptist Church

Have you ever seen or heard the kind of blatant hypocrisy we are witnessing from Hollywood? Mel Gibson's blockbuster movie, The Passion of the Christ, has been viewed by multiplied millions of Americans and they love it! Yet the Hollywood hypocrites and other liberals continue to denounce it as "anti-Semitic" (i.e. anti-Jewish) and "too violent." Let's consider these two objections.

This movie does indeed depict a group of Jews in the First Century as playing a major role in the condemnation and crucifixion of Christ. Scripture teaches that the leaders of the Jewish Sanhedrin did in fact ask Pilate to have Jesus crucified. Jesus appeared before the Jewish high priest, Caiaphas (cf. Matthew 26:57) who asked Jesus if he was indeed "The Christ, the Son of God." When Jesus said, "Yes," it was Caiaphas who accused Jesus of blasphemy. When he asked the other members of the Sanhedrin what Jesus' fate should be, according to Scripture they cried, "He is deserving of death!" (cf. Matthew 26:63-66).

But does that event recorded in Scripture cause anyone to hate Jews today? Absolutely not! To say that the events depicted in The Passion will cause hate crimes today is illogical at best and intolerant at worst. If that line of reasoning held, then no one should see the movie, Schindler's List, or any other documentary about the Jewish Holocaust because those films might cause someone to hate modern-day Germans. Likewise, if such reasoning is followed, films concerning Pearl Harbor should be banned because someone might develop a hatred of today's citizens fo Japan. Similary, if a movie like The Passion promotes hate, than any documentary about the abuse of black slaves in America during the 1700s and 1800s should not be shown because they might cause someone to hate contemporary whites in the South. Give us a break! American citizens are smart enough to view depictions of historical events without transferring the blame to modern-day ethnic groups. We do not need those with a liberal bias stepping in to "protect us." People do not leave The Passion hating those who are Jewish. Instead, they leave it in awe of Jesus Christ!

Regarding the bloodshed in The Passion, since when did Hollywood become concerned about "violence"? They have no qualms in showing a horror film with every kind of perverted torture and bodily dismemberment. Nor do they hesitate to show a murder movie with graphic displays of guts and gore. Yet they have the audacity to say that the beating and crucifixion of Christ is too graphic for the public to bear. If a conservative Baptist pastor tried to deny a Hollywood producer the right to display graphic violence or immorality in a movie, he would be accused of violating that producer's right to freedom of speech. Doesn't Mel Gibson have the right to freedom of speech? Sorry, Hollywood: you can't have it both ways! In this case, it is the liberals who are guilty of bigotry and censorship!

Do not be fooled. What these people really hate is Jesus and His redemptive suffering on the cross. Liberals preach broadmindedness until someone presents a valid opinion that is diametrically opposed to theirs, then they refuse to extend tolerance and get downright nasty. Thus, in my opinion, they are hypocritical.

America is engaged in a bitter culture war. The stakes are high. The future of our nation is at stake. We are a nation that is morally divided. The word "division" simply means "two visions." The liberals have their "vision" for America, and it does not include Jesus. Those of us who love Him have a vision for this nation, and it does include our Savior. We should lovingly stand up for what we believe, and do so in a Christ like manner. We must ardently "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15)

Sadly, the people of America rarely receive unbiased news. Too often we are subjected to prejudiced commentary with a liberal slant. A small, yet powerful minority of people is destroying our country. Don't let them fool you. Read between the lines, get the facts, and let your voice be heard, especially this fall at the voting booths. Our nation was founded upon the truths of Jesus Christ. A movie about His atoning death will not harm anyone.

Steve Gaines, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Gardendale, Alabama

I am getting in gear to plan Rayna's first birthday party. I was thinking, most kids have a party theme like Elmo or Barney or whatever, but she hasn't gotten into favorites yet and she doesn't watch alot of kid shows either. However, she LOVES the theme song to M.A.S.H. and I have no idea why. I haven't actually witnessed this event because I don't ever watch the show, but my father-in-law does. On the days he keeps her and it comes on, he says she goes into a semi-trance and stops whatever she is doing to listen to the theme song and stares at the TV. He says sometimes she'll bounce along to the song. I told him next time to get her on video so I can see. Anyway, we were joking that we could do a M.A.S.H. theme birthday party. But no way, she's a girl and it will be a girly party. I am thinking no set theme, just pretty colored plates and cups and a nice cake.

It's just around the corner. I can't believe she's almost a year old!

I was reading one of my many parenting magazines and in it this lady had written in saying how she was so embarrassed by her c-section scar that she didn't want to even have sex. I was really shocked by this. I had a c-section (not planned!) and my scar is hardly noticeable. I forget I even have it sometimes. Mine is so low that it's far from being seen while wearing a bikini. Her doctor must have either butchered her during the operation or she is just really self concious.

I have other scars to from playing hard as a kid and from getting in fights with my brother. I look at Rayna's perfect skin and wonder where her future scars will be and when the first one will come.

It's funny how often I post a blog then I forget I was gonna talk about something else. LOL

I got my taxes done this past weekend and I was very pleasantly surprised at how much we are getting back. So Jonathan and I decided that we would put half in savings (after tithing 10%) and then split the other half to do whatever with. So now I am thinking of what all I can do with the money :) Of course I have a traffic ticket to pay :oops: and I need some more work clothes that fit, so I am sure I can find a way to spend it :D

Jonathan brought Rayna up here to see me today and all my co-workers (women of course) were oooing and ahhing and were just amazed that she is walking. They kept saying how beautiful she was and all that. It took her awhile, but she warmed up and let everyone hold her. By the time they left she was smiling and giggling which of course got more oos and ahhs. FYI, I posted her 9 month pic on my photoblog if you wanna check it out.

On another subject, I have been listening to my Song of Solomon tapes again on my drive to and from work. I find myself laughing out loud alot and I am sure if people saw me they would wonder if I had gone mad. One particular part he was talking about male and female sex drives. He said, "Men are like microwaves and women are like crockpots. In other words, men are ready to go in an instant but women need to be "heated up" over time. If women had the sex drive of men, nothing would ever get done. We'd be having sex all the time and we'd still be stuck in the stone age. But if men had the sex drive of women, we get tons of stuff done, but the human race would die out! God had to equal us out." I thought that was so funny because it is so true.

I wish I could share everything with you all that's on those tapes. They are priceless.

on The Passion of the Christ http://www.in-my-humble-opini...

This is wonderfully written and mirrors my experience from seeing the film.

Check out Trent's http://www.tblog.com/template... blog for a beautiful discription of the Love of Christ depicted in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

I got this in an email from my aunt.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being."