Catching Up

A few facts about my (at times) seemingly insignificant life:

What I'm reading:

• Going Rogue, by Sarah Palin
• Psalm 30
• Baptist Chatecisms

Projects:

• Getting my basement in order, and a guest bedroom set up for when company comes.
• Helping organize a wedding, to be held on April 24th, for Ashlee and Daniel (engagement pics coming soon).
• Painting my bedroom. I got a new comforter set last night, and I'll go buy the paint shortly. I might even take before and after pictures, just for YOU! ;)
• Writing a book. I've actually started the writing process. Meaning, words are on paper screen. Writing time will be sporatic until April 25th, but I plan to hit it harder than ever after that.

I actually have more projects going, but those are the ones that take precedence. If the Lord so leads, pray for me. I'm not exactly pro at knowing how to juggle what and when. And of course, these are all projects that I've added to my daily routine of homeschooling and a volunteer job as secretary that sometimes takes a lot of my time. I love everything I do (except cleaning toilets). But organizing when to do what is not really my forte. Perhaps I need a secretary of my own. ;-)

I am reminded of a quote by Mark Twain that says:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

So I pray that I keep my focus on the tasks that are really, truly important. And at the same time, explore, dream, and discover.

It's a balancing act that this off balance ballerina could use some help at.

~Brenda

I Heart Faces - Texture!

I'm joining in the fun over at I heart faces this week. Fun = competition, ya' know. :) This week, the theme is texture. I'm obviously no professional photographer. But I love this picture of my mom-in-law. We were at a quilt show together, and this was taken right before we found out she has brain cancer. She's cute, huh? :)

(Click to enlarge)

Fort Pulaski

I officially loathe Blogger upload. These are not going to be in the order I would like, but we'll deal with it. :)

These are pics of Fort Pulaski. I do have lots of other pics from the trip, but I thought I'd just cover a "few" today. I think I took about 250 pictures, so this really is just a few!

I had never heard of Fort Pulaski before, but when I researched Civil War sites in Savannah, Georgia, this is what I came up with. I was not sorry I went!! It's an awesome, well preserved, Civil and Revolutionary War site. I could be obsessed with Civil War anything, so when I found out this was located in Savannah (and we were planning a trip there), I was elated.

While I could have spent all day there, we only had a couple of hours. If I ever go back to Savannah, I'm going to take a full day to tour.

Anyway, I'll explain along the way as you scroll through the pics. Enjoy!!

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We're on top of the fort here. The seemingly out of place board was interesting to me, and when asked what it was for, we were told that the soldiers used it all along the outside for extra protection. Makes perfect sense. :)






A bit of damage from the enemy ....

This is overlooking the fort. It was an incredibly gorgeous day. Clear skies, as you can see, and about 65 degrees. A slight change from our negative temps!

This is the door after we entered via the drawbridge. I felt like I was entering a castle!

Bringin' out the big guns!!! There were a lot of these placed all along the outside (top) of the fort. These guys were well armed ... or so it seemed to me. What do I know about warfare?

The only two surviving soldiers. Heehee. Just kidding.

This is a cannon inside the fort (they had a lot of those too!), aimed right at the drawbridge. Would you want to be an unwelcome guest there???

Ashlee and Daniel. The real purpose of the trip was to move her down there. She'll be living there until the wedding, on April 24th.

Daniel, me, and Andrew on the drawbridge.

View while standing on the drawbridge. Like I said ... gorgeous day!

Outside the fort.

A bit of history. Click to enlarge.

And then we visited Narnia, where Prince Caspian swept me off my feet ....

Ok, ok ... this is just one of the entrances. But you have to admit, it's rather Narnia-ish.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Fort Pulaski. It's just a big, beautiful church that I snapped a picture of on my way to Fort Pulaski.

The sword of surrender!!! Way. Cool.

Awesome quote.

Ashlee and Daniel outside the fort.

Bedee, bedee ... that's all folks!!! Well, for now anyway. There's more! Lots more!! But that's all I have time for today.

Hope you enjoyed your tour of Fort Pulaski. And if you're ever in Savannah, do go! You won't be sorry. It's more than incredible to see where actual battles took place, to step on the same ground that Civil War soldiers once did, to see their living quarters, their place of worship, and their medical facilities.

The two hours I toured seemed like about a half hour. Time flies when you're havin' fun!!!

Mo' later,

~Brenda

Sneak Peek!

Here's a few pics from my trip to Georgia. I'm just going to give you a little teaser, until I get home (tomorrow!!). Wouldn't want to give all my news away in one post ya' know. ;)

I'll give ya' a hundred bucks if you can tell me where I've been. ;)

And yes, I had my fingers crossed when I said that.

See ya' soon!!!

~Brenda

Bon Voyage!!

Hello my Lovely Lurkers!!

Just wanted to say a farewell, as I am leaving the state for a week. Oh don't worry. Lady Laptop and I will still be joined at the hip. I'll be posting pics and all sorts of things this week, so all y'all stay tuned.

Meanwhile, head on over to this blog if you want to read a poem that I wrote. I didn't win the sought after prize of yet another book, but I did get an honorable mention for my short little witty thing I called a poem. ;)

Wish me luck, my friends. I've not been on an airplane since early 2,000. Celiac disease, gastroparesis, and 911 might make this a pretty interesting trip! ;)

Mo' later!

~Brenda

Time. And A Bottle.

Shaun's parents came over for lunch after church last Sunday. Jeanine was asking me how I was doing, and if I needed any help before my upcoming trip this Thursday (which is now tomorrow, holy cow!).

I said, "I'm doing okay. But if you have any time in a bottle, I'd appreciate a loan."

She said, "Did you say time in a bottle, or time and a bottle?"

:-))

She knows when I'm stressed and have too much on my plate, bless her heart. Nice of her to lighten my load by way of a little humor, if only for a few minutes.

I have to admit that it is sometimes tempting to turn to something in a bottle. And I'm not talkin' about time. No, I'm speaking of something a little more heavy duty. A little more comforting than time would be.

Post-surgery comforting, if you know what I mean.

But I know that's the wrong source to rely on. See, when my schedule gets busy (too busy!), I tend to crowd out God and my time with Him, rather than hover closer.

Why do I do that!!?? **beating myself over the head

Because I'm human, and frail, and but dust.

But still!! You would think I would learn my lesson. It hasn't been that long since the last upheaval of my schedule. And I learned this lesson last time. Stay close to God during times of stress. Stay close to God during times of stress. Stay. Close. To. God. During. Times. Of. Stress.

Am I really that frail and prone to wander?

Apparently ... I am.

So I hereby turn away from my own reliance. My own strength. My own ability to do anything without the help of my Savior.

I don't need time in a bottle. Or time and a bottle.

I need focus.

Now, please. Whatever your challenge is today, don't turn to time. Don't turn to a bottle. Turn to the Lord. Therein lies your true help, your true comfort, and your true peace.

In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which they dwell at ease.

The psalmist prays for constant communion with God in holy ordinances. All God's children desire to dwell in their Father's house. Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, to tarry but for a night; or to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever; but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father. Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity? Surely then we ought to make it the business of our time.

This he had at heart more than any thing. Whatever the Christian is as to this life, he considers the favour and service of God as the one thing needful. This he desires, prays for and seeks after, and in it he rejoices. (Ps 27:7-14)

~Matthew Henry Commentary, emphasis mine

Book Review: Rediscovering God In America

If you love U.S. History, God, and America, get this book!

One of my goals in life is to tour Washington D.C., but until then, this book served as a sneak peek of what I will find when I finally make the trip. Beautiful photography by Newt Gingrich's wife, Callista, is all throughout the book, giving the reader a second best tour of many of the main historical monuments and memorials. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington Cemetery, Callista's photography is eye candy worthy to behold.

The book's main theme is to remind us of our rich, Christian heritage. Through Callista's photography, and Newt's vast knowledge of the sites, we are given a history lesson of how God, Providence, and Christianity are common themes throughout the rising and upkeep of our nation. If you have any doubt as to whether our country was shaped by the belief that we are a nation under God, read this book. You'll discover that there's no denying that our forefather's (and many recent presidents) believed that religion is an essential component to our nation's survival, as is seen on the permanent etchings throughout the sites of our nation's capitol.

This book will renew your love for our nation, and your resolve to preserve our precious freedoms.

~Brenda

You can learn more about and purchase Rediscovering God In America, by Newt and Callista Gingrich by clicking here.