digital nose-job

I took an old photo I'd found and decided to try and see what I would look like if I had the nose that I used to always dream of. So, the 1st pic is the real nose. The second one is my "new" one. What do you think?
David said he didn't like the "new" nose. I don't see anything wrong with it, but nonetheless I'm glad he likes the old nose. The chances that I would actually get a nose-job is slim to none. I'm allergic to pain, scared of risks, and don't have $10,000 or so to spend.

this is for you skeptics out there

There are those out there that didn't believe me when I talked about how tiny our kitchen is. I don't talk about it that much because the rest of our apartment is quite spacious. However, what we gain in space in other rooms we definitely lose in this space. Yes, that is our washer/dryer on the left (top picture) and the only counterspace is on the right.


Now, in the picture below (from the other end of the kitchen) is Cora. Notice that it would be nearly impossible for she and I to walk side-by-side in our kitchen. So there, to all you naysayers. I may be in the habit of hyperbole, but in this case the truth is stranger than fiction.

destruction in her wake

Why is there trash all over the floor? Old styrofoam cups, old magazines, old lotion and grocery bags. Why is it scattered all over our upstairs landing and spilling over into our bedroom? Because Cora, the tireless fighter of cleanliness, has won the day.

truck for sale

I was just minding my business inside my home when I hear this huge crash with metal crunching. I look out my window to see a HUGE tree has fallen on our neighbor's truck. I immediately ran out to see what was going on. I thought to myself, "surely that was purposeful" but then thought, "if it were purposeful, wouldn't they avoid the truck?"

Well, the tree fell without any help. It randomly toppled over into the area that Cora (our dog) and I frequently walk. I'm thankful we weren't there--I don't know if I would have thought fast enough to get us out of the way.
I have never known trees to fall without the help of a tornado, hurricane, or at least storm. It's a beautiful day with no wind. Weird, weird, weird. Below is a picture of the root of the tree.

if this doesn't hit close to home

We all know or aspire to be this family. I thought this was a great way to make fun of our little subculture. I got the video from another blog (Thanks, Lydia).

what this blog is about

You know, when I started this blog it was going to really dwell on all things that bring hope in a world that will give either none or false hope. Our hope cannot, I mean really cannot, be placed on anything in the world. Not our friends, our spouses, ourselves. Not our income, our insurance, our car. Not our energy, our health, our stability. So what's left? Nothing. There is nothing here that will not fail us (sorry for the double negative). Often I find myself wanting to place my hope in something or someone tangible. And over and over I learn that people will fail eventually, plans will fail eventually because they are people and they are our plans. It isn't an easy lesson but a good one. I can either despair that there is nothing in the world that is entirely, and totally dependable or I can find the One who is. And to be honest, I don't always look for Jesus. Sometimes I get angry and yell out to him (mostly in my mind) that we should have more security and guarantees. He is much bigger than me and He can listen to my modern psalm and know that it is but a tantrum of a child who doesn't belong in this world. I am glad He can handle my anger, my cries, and sometimes my despair. I am glad He knows what we suffer on a personal level--afterall, he experienced so much more. He doesn't just put up with my tantrum as parents would but has compassion. Compassion that could melt the heart and could warm the fires of hope that threatened to be quenched. Praise the Lord that He loves me so. Praise the Lord that He conquered this world. Praise the Lord that He has promised not to leave me or forsake me.

playing hard to get

As a wonderful surprise for me, David told me that he is buying me a Nintendo DS lite. He already bought me a game (SuperMario for nintendo 64) and that is how he told me. I was excited. It seems like that is the best way to go as far game systems go because its light (as the name advertises) and doesn't take a lot of room. It seems perfect. Except for one thing, we can't find it anywhere. Before David told me he was buying it for me, he spent about 3 weeks looks for it with no avail. It is forever sold out and for some reason the Nintendo company only delivers a few at a time to all the stores. The only reason I can come up with for this is that Nintendo wants to keep this gadget a hot, in-demand, item. So, it might be a month or two before we actually get it.

more pictures of ski trip

pictures of ski trip

This is Main St. in Breckenridge. This was our first night there after a great meal with Julia and Jocie. We walked the streets and were amazed by the winter wonderland. Christmas lights were on and there were areas where new snow was untouched (so naturally I touched it--see next picture).

The next pictures are of our first day skiing. It was a great day except for the very end. I did green (easiest) slopes all day and was doing pretty well (so David and Julia said). David was encouraging me to try a blue (less easy-steeper slopes, higher altitude) slope and so I did. BAD IDEA! I was tired and the sun was going down so the mountain was pretty deserted and I had a couple of really jolting hard falls. So, naturally I start crying and can't stop and I just want to get off the mountain NOW. David went ahead and alerted the rescue snow mobile (not a bad way to get down a scary mountain). Since this experience was so traumatic to me I didn't go skiing the rest of the trip. Julia joined us for the morning (she was a snow boarder).

Skiing was, fortunately, a lot like rollerblading. So I have to thank Tony for getting me into that sport. It came in handy. I enjoyed the experience of seeing that much snow and wearing the gear but I don't think I could live in that kind of climate. It is quite cumbersome to wear all those layers. I'm more of a light packer so I am glad for the Louisiana heat.

great news and bad news...

the bad news is that my computer is sick (it has a virus) so I haven't been able to check it or be on facebook or anything else. It is currently "in the shop", as they say, with a friend (thanks Cal!) who is graciously working on it.

the great news is that David and I are officially debt free as of today. Hurray!! We are so thankful for the financial blessings we've received. What a good way to start out the new year.