I'm happy being an Apple

I get daily emails "from the universe"

I especially liked the one I recieved this morning

It made me smile so I thought I'd share with you too...

I love watching when you walk into a room, (insert YOUR name here).


How faces light up.

People "inexplicably" feeling better about themselves.

Angels singing Hallelujah.

The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?

I'm the tree,

The Universe

photo credit these are my favorite apples btw...Pink ladies! yum

Santa IS real!

Okay first...a shameless plug for a friend I went to High School with
Okay a friend? Not sure...we knew each other and were in choir together for a year or so
but he DOES make an awesome Santa, and the Santa Is Real project is awesome!

But for me...this year Santa IS real!

I have a Secret Santa...

Santa sent me this

New with tags...still had that new thermos smell

I GASPED when I open the box and literally quivered a bit as I held it in my hands for the first time.

This is a big deal because...

this is the EXACT same lunch box I had when I was 7 and I've loved Holly Hobbie ever since...

If you've been a faithful bloglurker (or just decide to go through my history), you'll see I've been carrying metal lunch boxes as my purse for a couple of years now...so this is truly the Pièce de résistance!

I need to figure out some tin accessories for my wallet and check book, etc *coz I'm a bit of a snob and my stuff has to match* but this is TOTES my new favorite purse and it doesn't really matter anymore that I don't know where it came from...

It's cool to know that I've made enough of an impression out there on someone that they think highly enough of me to make me smile.

Today...I came into work knowing there was a little "surprise" for me from one of my colleagues. She mentioned she saw it and thought of me and left a gift bag on the cubbies in the office

and in the bag was THIS!

Now mind you...I just saw this in CVS about a month ago with my daughter...quick tie in to the lunch box purse thing...my second ever lunch box purse was a Wizard of Oz metal lunch box complete with all the accessories...

Bm REALLY wanted me to have it...because I also have all of these...

and I've been thinking of ways to conform my mud room to display them...

So again, this morning, I GASPED

I mean...there's NO way she could've known

and I'm SO grateful

and truth be told...

feel a bit like a schmuck that she cared enough to get me such a cool gift

How do you define 'Friend'

I mean...Santa up there...he's my friend

Secret Santa is obviously a friend

and Pez lady...well she's a friend too

although before today I don't know that I would've used that word for any of them

is it because i reserve the word 'Friend'

I hold it in such high regard that NO ONE...or VERY FEW are worthy of the word?

Really?

Maybe that's why I think I have so few of them

Maybe I need to loosen up a bit and realize that my friends are everywhere

Nice little weekend...

We finally ALL made it home from our camping trip by 9pm on New Year's Eve.
It was a long, strange, blessed trip...I'm sure it will be a post later but for now I'm simply basking in the simplicity of this nice little weekend.

The hub and I hit the 'chores' early on Saturday morning stopping at a 'side of the road' orange orchard.

Fill a bag for $3...honor system
They weren't pretty, shiny or clean
but BOY are they tasty

I juiced a dozen of them today and put the juice in an old fashioned glass milk jar

Then a jar of pear/apple juice...a fridge door oozing with fresh yumminess :)

I scrubbed our bathroom with Baking Soda, Lemon Juice and vinegar...and elbow grease and an old toothbrush...
felt a bit like Cinderelly

...but it's clean, and toxin free

We bought the fix'ns for black eyed peas, corn bread and fried chicken...yes we're a few days late but whatev. We'll be trying these recipes gluten-free for dinner tonight.

Ah yes, and while I was juicing the falafel was setting
I haven't had it since our trip to Sedona and before that, geesh it was eons
but today...very yummy
I have a container of extra patties that I'll enjoy with soup for lunch this week
Yes...a nice little weekend

We watched movies (I highly recommend Julie and Julia...very fun), snuggled with puppies, had good church this morning...all in all I think a perfect little segue from vacation to work.

Hope you had a nice little weekend too.

Quels rêves mai venu

So I've decided I would like to learn more about my camera...it regularly comes out for our annual camping trip, and for the kids' sporting/special events...but otherwise it lives in its case.

There's a local shop that does classes, and once finances allow, I'll take one of those a month...that shouldn't be long because classes start at Twenty Bucks!

But for now...I'm perusing the book...yes the book that came with the camera.

I think I'll shoot for at least one new picture from one new thing I've learned each month.
I can DO that
I might be more adventurous some months, weeks, or heck even days
but if I get 12 pics up this year from 12 different settings, well then I'm ahead of last year.

I think too, I'll be listening to more things in French again
I did this before
on a regular basis actually
and loved it
I stopped because new people were in the car besides myself and Bm and they didn't get it and then never picked it back up again
so now it's 'again' and I'm picking it up :)

The never ending saga that is my hair... ('poo free once more!)

I don't know why I ever stopped this.
Oh my dear BS/ACV hair care routine how I have missed you!

Well...I know what made stray, I colored my hair to 'get back' to my natural hair color (yes THAT turned into a fiasco) and I was suckered in by a sulfate free shampoo...
It just made my hair ucky...but I bought it, so I had to use it
Well...NO MORE! The last of it touched my head last week and yesterday I went back to my beloved Baking Soda wash and Apple Cider Vinegar rinse...oh how I miss the feeling of CLEAN hair

Yes, I'll probably have to go through some of the transitionary pains again...
But I know the results are more to my liking...not to mention my budget.

so just an update...
I'm not cutting (no more than a trim for which I'm seriously over due) until 10/31/10...that's when I will revisit the idea of cutting...
I'm not coloring anymore, so yes, even though the bulk is black and my roots are growing out dark brown, I'm dealing with it
And no more shampoo or conditioner
I find I don't use very much product in it when I go 'poo free...so I'll reassess the need for those once the 2 bottles of product I have are gone.


photo credit

Our Annual Camping Trip

Next week we'll be here!

We're camping this year at the Florida Caverns.




We leave Christmas morning after our traditional Christmas breakfast of Green Eggs and Ham and head out for the week!

We cannot wait!
This year has been rough and a week of roughin' it is just what we need! Our buds T&S loaned us their pop-up so set up and tear down day will be MUCH easier than years past...not to mention sleeping!

So today...the hub and I are gettin it all in gear (the gear that is...)
We'll have smoked cornish hens for Christmas dinner
Chili with Sun Chips is a camping MUST (last year we forgot to pack the utensils and we had to eat our chili with our Sun Chips...voila! new family tradition)
Of course there will be hot dogs, s'mores and hot chocolate
late night trips to the bathroom with our flashlights fastened to our foreheads
and THIS year...Middleson and I are getting our time-lapse shot of the stars!

photo credit

a Message from Kris Moose

Meh

I've done the dishes
swept the floor
brought the kids (and the project) to school
and then...nothing

mind you, the floor was a BIG accomplishment because it was NASTY...especially in bare feet
but now...
just sitting in the lazy chair with the snoop dog
diddling around with my blog layouts
waiting for my 3pm appointment

I've sat here long enough that I've decided it's really okay to be sitting here
I've also decided to clip snoop-dog's nails before I leave for my appointment
so there's another accomplishment

Cake Garden Completion!

Let them use CAKE

Monday Bm has her "Ancient Wonders of the World" project presentation.
She has to create a 3D representation of one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.
She chose the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The medium of choice, suggested by Papi and agreed upon by all...CAKE!

This weekend is the BIG Bake off...and we gathered up most of our supplies this morning.

We've decided to use Brownie mix instead of cake mix because it isn't as crumbly when it comes out of the pan.

We have blue sparkly squeeze frosting for the 'river' and waterfalls. Oreo Fun Stix for the tree trunks and we scored green Christmas tree-shaped marshamallows that actually really look like palm fronds.

The hub and Bm are headed to Michaels to pick up a couple of  'frosting flowers' and the assembly begins tomorrow night...AFTER a day of romping around Universal Studios, maybe we'll actually get to ride Rip Roarin Rockit!

Of course, pictures of this cake sensation will be posted asap.

Hello World

Good morning world
I will not be doing things your way today
I will be doing them MY way thank you very much

Yes, If I were the superhero the world tells me I should be...this would be my costume

But not today

Today I am just Babetta

sane mind, healthy body and overflowing with self worth

because

I AM SIGNIFICANT! (a la calvin and hobbes!)

It's Only Money

It was bound to happen sooner or later.
We've been a single income family for 6.5 out of 12 months this year so it was only a matter of time before money became an issue

i don't know whether i honestly "worry" about it or the Devil is just in the details because yesterday the "issue" reared it's potentially-ugly head and part of me wanted to get ugly

the smart part of me took over quickly
focused my energy on positive vibrations rather than the ugly ones
okay so that worked for the facts
but the feelings were still there

so i stated them...matter of factly

fast forward to evening conversation over financial facts
and it was just that
facts
no issues
no baggage
no emotially charged allegations
coz in the end...it's only money

And there was evening, and there was morning - the next day

The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created Babetta.

2 Now I was obstinate and empty, darkness was over the surface of my heart, and the Spirit of God was hovering over my life.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. I could see, for the first time, something other than my lack of self worth and self defeating behaviors. 5 God called the light "hope," and the darkness he called "discouragement." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.


6 And God said, "Let there be an understanding of the self to separate flesh from spirit." 7 So God opened my mind and helped me see my self.  And it was so. 8 God called me "beautiful," but I didn't quite believe it. And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.


9 And God said, "Let the shifting sands under your feet turn to a solid foundation." And it was so. 10 God called the shifting sand "life," and the solid foundation he called "faith." And God saw that it was good.



11 Then God said, "Let that faith take root:  producing seed-bearing thoughts and and actions in Babetta that bear fruit with thoughts and actions that are like Mine." And it was so. 12 The faith took root: bearing thoughts and actions that are in line with God.  And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

Note from the Universe

so I posted my 'stumble' post and then I check my email...
this was today's note from the universe

It's got nothing to do with being a perfect, goody-goody, selfless, sacrificing, spiritual saint, Babetta. Blah! That whole characterization was meant for a different audience at a different time, and they really had issues.


It's got everything to do with being yourself, trusting the magic, following your heart, dreaming big, and having fun.

Hosanna in the highest,
The Universe

I guess maybe I'm on to something here :)

What If I Stumble

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today


Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.

That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable
(What If I Stumble ~ DC TALK)
 
This post Summer does not like Christians, reminded me of a DC Talk song I love so very much
It convicts me each time and reminds me why I'm really here
I've often toyed with changing my "belief" statement to "follower of the Way" rather than Christian
so sad that a religious label can have such a negative connotation...but they all can in someone's eyes.
 
I am not the image you would find in a contemporary dictionary under the heading "Christian" leader
I'm female
I'm tattooed
I'm pierced (although I don't wear many of them anymore)
I believe in equality for everyone regardless of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, belief system, etc
 
I think one of the most poignant represenations of the negative connotation of Christianity was displayed in Borat (oh yeah, add that to my list...I saw, and enjoyed the movie Borat...I think it's a dead on represenation of American society.)...they took him in to 'save' him  but once he offended them...they kicked him to the curb.
Yes it was extreme...it was a movie folks, but the point was definitely made.
 
I believe in God
I go to church
I call myself a Christian
and I follow HIS way...hopefully we are on the verge of a tipping point and the Summer's of the world will start to see us more often
And even more so...hopefully when we 'followers' are the masses, we don't change what we believe in exchange for haugtiness or status
Keep me humble
lest I stumble

I Heart Goodwill

Check out this awesome bedspread I found!

wait for it...wait for it...

$4.26

A new Spiritual Paradigm

Jesus began his ministry introducing a new spiritual paradigm ... 

This is a line from a book I'm re-reading - Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss

It got me to thinking

It's so very true

Jesus came and turned ministry on it's ear and told those practicing at the time they were doing it wrong...what good is it to follow the letter of the law if you miss the intent?

He 'called out' the Pharisees and the Sadducee and told them there was more to their beliefs than just the laws...what good is it to follow the letter of the law if you miss the intent?

He encouraged compassion and love and inclusion

He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes

He and his band of disciples were probably a rather motley crew...traveling from place to place on foot or by boat

ne'er stopping for a haircut or a daily shower and always living off a hand out or the generosity of those he visited...it wasn't until well into his ministry that he fed the 5,000.

He challenged their thinking...in return some of his followers left, some of them betrayed him...but some of them continued to follow.

Then...he challenged them more

just as he was preparing to leave them...he told them to spread the news, share the Gospel...with everyone

even the (gasp) Gentiles

What would that look like today

The last thing any self respecting Jew in Jesus' day would do is associate with Gentiles

eat with them, share with them...NO

They were different, they were dirty,  they were disrespectful in a nutshell...they were hated

Who would that be today?

Jesus began his ministry introducing a new spiritual paradigm  every bit as important as that initiated by Abraham 2000 years earlier.

If Jesus began his ministry today, introducing a new spiritual paradigm...just as he shifted the thinking of the laws of the old testament...how would he present his Way today?

The last thing any self-respecting Christian would do today is associate with...

Who does that look like for you?

Black? Hispanic? White? Gay? Lesbian? Transgender? Male? Female? Muslim? Buddhist? Atheist? Agnostic?

Aryan? 

If scholars interpret so many of Jesus' words to have such breadth and depth of meaning...why not the use of the word Gentiles when speaking with the Jews

What if he was saying...share the word and include everyone...even those you don't think are deserving...because I want everyone ...everyone is worthy...everyone is good.

I needed this again today...a reminder

While working on my next message series...I was going through some old posts and stumbled across this...
I am Divine (link)
I like it, I think I need to print it or create it in a physical medium so I can look on it daily

Homosexuality

This article is a great read! Approach it with an open mind and ask the important questions...then share!

Follow this link for the full article -> What the Bible does, and doesn't say about homosexuality

Alignment

"When you are in alignment with who-you-really-are, you cannot help but uplift those with whom you come into contact. Your value to those around you hinges upon only one thing: your personal alignment with Source. And the only thing you have to give to another is an example of that alignment—which they may observe, then desire, and then work to achieve—but you cannot give it to them. Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention."


Words that ring so true for me today, from several perspectives...
I cannot bring them with me and I cannot give my alignment to another
Sigh
that is hard
I can only hope that it rubs off


and their alignment doesn't rub off on me
Sigh
that one is harder


Some days it is hard just to keep my own alignment; my Spirit led heart and mind remind my frustrated flesh to stay in line
My flesh just wants to scream a crooked scream


It is probably also as good to remember

"When you are in dis-alignment with who-you-really-are, you cannot help but deflate those with whom you come into contact. Your value to those around you hinges upon only one thing: your personal alignment with Source. And the only thing you have to give to another is an example of that alignment—which they may observe, then desire, and then work to achieve—but you cannot give it to them. Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention."

I CHOOSE TODAY TO NOT BE DEFLATED
MY BODY WILL KICK AND SCREAM
MY THOUGHTS WILL TRY TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE
BUT MY SPIRIT GENTLY REMINDS ME THAT I AM IN ALIGNMENT IN A CROOKED WORLD
AND A CROOKED TREE ONLY BECOMES STRAIGHT WHEN IT WEATHERS THE STORM AND FOLLOWS THE SUN