2003

(06/08/03)
A minor restructuring project happened this weekend while I was stuck home sick. What a wonderful plot! Something productive to do while you're home sick. Could it get any better?

There aren't really any new pages yet - but, if you're bored and looking for something to occupy your mind - check out the links site. There is so much of interest in there. The Miscellaneous section ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime (ah ha! found a reason to use that phrase!). And by all means, if you have found a site that you think is a hoot - that's always a reason to email me!

(06/12/03)
I've felt quite boring this week. But, I actually cooked a few meals at home and spent some quiet time in. And, I spent a lot of time playing stupid games at shockwave.com. Try Mango Boom - got a little obsessed with it.

I have also found a new addictive website. James Watkins is terrific! He's a humorist and wrote some awesome books entitled "The Why Files". His humor is a bit wild and crazy but there is a lot about it that reaches down deep and touches you!

Do you know that June 17th is the 300th birthday of John Wesley? How cool is that? You can check out a lot of information on the Wesley Family by going here.

(06/14/03)
My nephew is visiting me, so my house is filled with junk food, Magic - The Gathering Cards, Legos, movies and family.. I realized this week how much I was missing my family. I'm so thankful that they are close to me and I can spend time with these kids.

Just for fun - check out the kitty that will play with your mouse: Maukie

One of my favorite movies is The Matrix. The thought-altering plotline of the original movie was awesome (Keanu Reeves looked pretty good in it, too and the special effects were exciting). There have been terrible reviews over The Matrix: Reloaded. These tend to really annoy me. When will people allow a movie to be simply that - a movie - enjoyable, possibly thought-provoking, but not necessarily so. There is a really good article on passageway.org that talks about the spiritual connections of The Matrix movies. Fun to think about, but you know what? it's not imperative for the movie to be a success.

Just a rant for today...

(06/15/03)
It's Father's Day - and I forgot to send a card to my father.What a good daughter I am...not. But, I was able to spend some time witih my brother and his family.

Parents have a difficult time raising their kids in this day and age. These kids are exposed to so much. All we can do is spend time being involved in their lives and praying for them regularly. I love my nieces and nephews a lot - and whenever I can, I want to spend time with them. I also am thankful that God has put other kids in my life. They may not be my own, but I certainly treasure them like they are!

I love contraptions. Rube Goldberg created some of the funkiest things in the 20s. But, there's a new one - created by engineers at Honda. Check it out here!

(06/16/03)
Today wasn't such a great day. Since I'm a female, I'm pretty sure that my hormones decided to get the best of me. I don't like that. I tried to avoid going to Bible Study tonight because my stability seemed a little rocky, but I went anyway. And I'm so thankful I did. I'm participating in the Beth Moore study "Beloved Disciple". And that woman can teach! I come away feeling like I do understand why God has put me here on earth, even though right now it's not fully apparent. Did that make sense to you? Me either, but it feels right.

I told you before how much I enjoyed Jim Watkins. He has another fun article posted at Christianity Today. Cracked me up. The Real Reason Men Don't Ask Directions. And while I was there, "When God Seemed Silent" seemed to really strike to the heart of me today!

(06/17/03)
What a fun day today was! I got to see my cousin, Cathy - whom I haven't seen for nearly 10 years. We had a great lunch together. That's the wonderful thing about family. There are so many strong connections, that years can pass and yet when you are together, you know how much love there really is between you. These bonds are terrific.

Do you need some Bible Study in your life? Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) has created some really terrific studies. Check THIS out. These are online - all of the time. She's an amazing woman.

(06/18/03)
Today is the 20th Anniversary of Sally Ride heading into space. How wonderful! I love the fact that this country is so involved in space exploration. Spirit is heading for Mars and Opportunity takes off next week for Mars. Check out the Jet Propulsion Laboratories site for information about them. And for a couple of other exciting Space sites - check out the Hubble Telescope news site and Space.com.

If you have extra money burning in your pocket - and you're a geek - check out ThinkGeek.com. They have the most fun stuff in the world to spend your money on! All of it is for geeks and people who love their geeks. (Hint, I'm a geek! <grin>).

(06/20/03)
I was out with my best friends last night - and we had a ball! It's so awesome to have THIS MANY friends who are honest, caring, and fun!

Because I would hate to disappoint anyone, I am always on the lookout for fun stuff. Ok, it's for me as much as for you.

Hello, my name is Diane Muir, and I am a "Dew-A-Holic". I live to drink Diet Mountain Dew. I can drink it several days old (only in a bottle with a cap on - I don't need a lot of fizz, but I do need some), it doesn't need to be refrigerated, though I prefer that it is. I've quit drinking regular Mountain Dew simply because it has so many calories, and I can toss a can of that down within 5-7 minutes. Whoa...heaven! This site is simplistic, but fun: Drinking the Dew. And, of course, don't forget MountainDew.com.

You have to check out the Ultra Lounge! What a hoot. A bunch of great tunes, and mixed cocktail drinks to go with them. That place is smooth.

I grew up with a Lava Lamp. Believe it or not, my uptight father loved it. He still has our old 70s lamp going. You can build your own. Check this out.

(06/21/03)
Today is Saturday - and I love Saturdays. There is time for my mind to be creative and I might actually get some cleaning done in the house!

Max just gave me a site that you have to check out. You can buy your own dashboard buddy, Jesus. I don't know whether to howl with laughter, or simply roll my eyes.

Do you like movies as much as I do? If you go to Quicktime.com - you can see trailers of all of the movies that are out right now and those that are coming out in the near (and far) future.

I haven't yet figured out the full purpose of this site, but I am having fun working on it. Click on "Diane" and there are some of my thoughts.

(6/22/03)
I had a yearning today to see one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to - the Pacific Ocean. As I was doing a search on the web for pictures of that, I came across this young man's site (I think he's my age - leave me alone!) Jeff Krewson does black and white photography that reminds me of Max's stuff and some beautiful color stuff, too!

I didn't really understand the depth and beauty of photography until Max came into my life. He taught me how photographs are taken and images framed. He taught me how they were created in the darkroom. But, most of all he taught me how to stop an image in my mind and see the true beauty of the moment. We are working on getting his stuff up on the website, but until then check out some of his heroes: John Sexton (a student of Ansel Adams), Howard Bond, and Edward Weston,

I'm watching Star Wars on HBO today. A movie that has been a part of my life since it's inception. The world of Star Wars inspired me into creativity in many ways. You can go to Star Wars.com or The Force.Net to see what's up in that world. And by the way - I don't care if you hated any or all of the movies - the world of Star Wars is much more than 5 movies. Open up and enjoy!

(6/23/03)
My mother had an amazing command of the English language. I really didn't spend a lot of time looking words up in the dictionary. She was my dictionary. I could count on her to know any word that I could come up with. If you read any of her writings, you will enjoy her usage of the language. I remember that she and dad would set up arguments over words. They loved to debate the meaning and purpose for various words.

Well...she's gone now - and I'm on my own. I've noticed that my brother has an incredible vocabulary, he can use language to do wonderful things. Max knows definitions and is amazing with language. But, he isn't always around me. So, my internet option is Dictionary.com. Check it out - it's amazing.

So...are you tired of all of the crazy 'forwards' that you get - threatening you of impending doom if you don't do something, or you do something. Or of the ones that tell you that you will receive a gift from Microsoft by forwarding email to 10 friends? You can check all of them out at Truth Or Fiction.com. Just enter any word and you will get information on whether it's true or false!

(6/24/03)
It's time to begin. Our church (Faith Westwood) is going to be participating in the 40 Days of Purpose this fall. I'm excited. What a wonderful chance for us to participate as a complete unit in a learning experience that will change the face of the church and the heart of it's people. If you want to look at it from a personal aspect, check out Purpose Driven Life.com.

And, for one of my friends out there - this is one of the best M*A*S*H sites on the web. If you like this show as much as some of the MASH geeks out there, you'll love this site.

(6/25/03)
Each week I get an email message from Youth Specialties.com. Mike Yaconelli has been helping youth workers since I started doing that - back in the 70s. I started with his fun and games books and have enjoyed lots of his stuff. His email each week always has something fun in it - and this week, there's a cool online helicopter game. Go here! There was also a cool link for a quiz that tells you what Book of the Bible you are! I'm Psalms!

It's midway through my week - and I am exhausted. This has been a long, arduous week. But, tomorrow is the downhill side of it - and I always look forward to my weekend. Bring it on!

(6/26/03)
Tonight was an interesting evening for me. I bought Rich Mullins' CD/DVD combo set "Here In America" and watched/listened to one of his concerts. This is one artist that just brings me to tears - regularly. His music speaks to my soul. I guess I won't understand why God decided to draw him home so soon. Great for him, sad for the rest of us.

And, while I was doing that - decided to make the PC my main emailing computer. This is a BIG step for me. I have been on the Macintosh since 1985. I don't give up things I know that well easily. But, Max has been pushing me to do it - and I have. I get a little tired of learning things all of the time, but I guess that losing my mind to slow stupidity is not such a great option. So, I'll keep learning.

(6/28/03)
I'm sunburned. If you know me at all - you know that I'm the palest thing since, well...snow! But, today was Carol's annual American Parkinson Disease Association Benefit Tournament. And it was a great day! We raised over $1800 for them. I had fun hanging out in the sun, passing out prizes, burning my face. A great day, all around. Except for the fact that I was totally exhausted when I got home. The sun kicked my butt! I took a nap when I got home - and I'm all better!

I'm watching "Real Genius" on cable right now. I hate to admit it, but this movie came out in 1985 and it's still one of my favorite movies. Geeks RULE! It took forever for it to come out on DVD, but it finally did - and, though I bought the first copy for my brother (who loves the movie more than me!), I soon purchased my own.

(6/29/03)
More strange stuff from me...I get the Christian History e-newsletter. This week's main article stuck in my head. You can read it here. The African Anglican Church is beginning to flex it's corporate muscle and wrest power away from the Western Anglican Church. One of the strongest comments made by a Rwandan Bishop was "We don't like your First World way of speaking ambiguous words and not being straight on the issues." The African 'Communion' consists of 17 million of the 70 million Anglicans worldwide. (They are Episcopalians in America). How awesome that this new group of Christians are beginning to take their place in the planet's Christendom.

The other article from them this week was about JRR Tolkien. His Lord of the Ring's Trilogy touched a lot of people and really changed the way the world viewed fantasy writing. His creation of languages and characters, plus races of people certainly changed my life. In quiet ways, but it allowed me to see what kind of creativity I could bring up out of my soul.

(6/30/03)
Found out about the coolest thing! A mobile keyboard is in production. I guess the next wave of computers will be wearables. You can put gloves on that will have contacts on the fingertips to act like the keyboard. Check it out at Kitty Technology. Something about Keyboard Interactive Touch Typing. Now, this is something I WANT in a bad way. I think it's really cool that there are so many people inventing things that change the way we interact with the world.

And while I'm talking about cool inventions - check out the Inventor's Hall of Fame. I feel so fortunate to be in a world that has seen so many amazing things created and will continue to see more amazing stuff!

(07/01/03)
I tend to be highly emotional. I remember clearly the night my nephew Matthew was born. Jim called me at 10:00 that evening to tell me that he and Janet were heading to the hospital. He called me back after 2:00 am to tell me that Matthew had been born. And I cried. The worst thing for me? Jim was counting on the fact that I was going to cry. He knew that I would take care of that part of Mom's world for him - and I did. She cried at everything - and so do I.

I cry in church when a touching story is told. I cry at Hallmark commercials, touching Christmas coffee commercials. I cry a lot when I realize that someone's life has been touched by God. That pretty much rips my heart to shreds.

So, today I was reading an article in Charisma magazine about Pat Boone's grandson, Ryan Corbin who had a terrible accident. Before I was halfway through, I was doing all I could to not sob out loud (we had customers). It's an awesome story of miracles and God's hand at work.

The June issue of Charisma also had an article about Hugh Ross, an amazing scientist who is a Christian - and is able to blend his faith and his science. He can also talk to scientists on their level. He has incredible responses to questions about creation and God's words about the universe.

(07/02/03)
Chocolate - ahhhhh the perfection of a simple piece of chocolate. Such pure pleasure. I haven't had the chance to try all of the amazing chocolates in the world, but I'm certainly give it my best shot! When in San Francisco, I had to go to Ghiradelli Square - how amazing was that! I've been to Hershey, Pennsylvania, (click here for the huge list of Hershey's websites!)but they wouldn't let me tour the factory - worried about spies, I suppose. My mother's cousin printed the wrappers for Nestle's corporation, but, I never got a chance to visit there. But, I have since discovered Dove Chocolate. Life gets amazing when there is a good taste of chocolate. I've been overwhelmed by Godiva Chocolates (can't ever get enough of them).

And just in case you haven't got enough chocolate yet - Go to Virtual Chocolate! Wow! Don't forget about Russell Stover. There's an outlet store right around the corner from my shop - that's just wrong! Another favorite of mine is the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

(07/03/03)
Alright - it's time to just admit it - this is a blog. No-one can tell me exactly what 'blog' stands for, but I guess it's simple daily/weekly ramblings that all of us blogger tend to do - and we think it's so highly important that it's on the net for the world to read. ARGH!

Fun link of the day. This site has film stills that have the humans drawn out of the clothes. Invisibles! Guess the film! They're really difficult - and lots of fun.

Tomorrow morning we're heading up to Bell's Dell to spend time with the whole family. What fun! We've got fireworks and food and family and fun. So, I'm sure that by Sunday night there will be more pictures up on the website.

(07/06/03)
Well, what a weekend this has been! We had a wonderful time at Bell's Dell and even got to see Charles and Louise Weller and their son Dan - that was a little freaky! Dan looks just like his dad did when he was young.

Max and I got home last night at 11:30 and at 12:30 - the lights and everything went out. All of a sudden, I was hearing a massive windstorm happening. Later on, I looked out the back window and a large branch had landed on our power lines and pulled everything down. But, that wasn't the least of it. This morning we heard that 84 mile an hour winds had cut through central Omaha and nearly 55,000 people were without power. Then, to top it off, the temperature got up to nearly 100 degrees this afternoon. Max and I escaped the house, went to Borders, spent time at Insty-Prints and when we checked the house again, the air conditioner was working and we re-entered the house. There's still clean up to do, but at least I get to sleep in my home tonight and it's cool!

Tomorrow night, I should have pictures from the weekend - and even a few pictures from the storm.

(07/09/03)
Happy Birthday Carol! Another day of fun for her. This Saturday will be her annual "I'm Never Getting Old" party. 7-midnight at Papio Bowl. Everyone is invited to come play volleyball, eat food and have a blast!

Just finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I had to re-read all of the first books again so that I could start "The Order of the Phoenix". Awesome reading. How fun is this! And Scholastic has a great Harry Potter site - for kids and for those of us who love this stuff.

I have been working hard on the website - and completely forgot about updating this page. You can check out what I've been doing by going to Bell's Dell and seeing our pictures from the weekend. And, I've been scanning tons of Dad's old photos. He finally released one box of his pictures and other fun stuff to me. So, go to Frank's page and look at how YOUNG he used to be. (Scroll to the bottom and click on the links).

(07/10/03)
The week is almost over and I'm thrilled. I'll be glad when this one comes to an end.

If you watch the new Spike TV, you'll start seeing the Mike's Hard Lemonade Commercials. They're a little over the top - but, crack me up. After you type in your birthdate, click on Propaganda and check out the television commercials. Jenny is the one that sent me over the edge. And, if you're wondering why I'm watching Spike TV - it's because of Star Trek: The Next Generation. No matter how many times I watch those shows, I still love 'em!

The Youth Specialties newsletter sent me this fun link. [Get mesmerized! This awesome Japanese design site will trip you out. Since the instructions are in Japanese, try this: Once it loads, click your mouse; there are multiple designs that all react to the movement of your mouse; click your mouse anywhere in the screen to progress to the next one.]

(07/12/03)
It's Saturday - and once again...I LOVE SATURDAYS! Been out doing a few errands, but mostly reading. I just finished Leonard Sweet's "Jesus Drives Me Crazy". Awesome, encouraging book. However, I also went to Parables and bought yet, more books to read. The whole future of the church is a fascinating subject - and I keep finding more and more wonderful information about how exciting it is! Andrew Careaga has written several books and has a great website. Check this out.

Tonight is Carol's annual "I'm Never Getting Old Party". Over 100 people will show up at Papio Bowl to play volleyball and party. Me? No volleyball, but I love hanging out and chatting with my friends!

Last night was a wonderful evening out with some friends - dinner at "The Daily Grille" where Max got to try Kangaroo, Boar and Alligator meat. I was a little tamer with a strip steak, but it was fun - and then a little shopping to finish up the evening. Whee!!!

Now for the insanity of this page. I've been reading bunches of blogs - what fun! And what wild links I've found. The first one for today is an absolutely insane video of a couple of guys playing ping pong. Laughed out loud! And then Pavement Terror! What happens when a guy can make his delivery van create a backfire on command and then photographs people's reactions. It's a hoot!

(07/13/03)
It's been a busy day and it's been quite nice. I actually did get a nap in today. Yea! I directed a youth group in Spencer when I lived there in 1982-83. The kids could always tell when I hadn't gotten my Sunday afternoon nap. Luckily we always had a great time, no matter what.

Ok - here's a good one! Eric (whoever Eric is) has taken pictures of him presenting emotions that 'you' ask for - check it out - it's fun!

I'm finishing up my Beth Moore "Beloved Disciple" study for class tomorrow night and came across a quote of hers - that struck me (as I'm sure it does many people). I am so concerned about my role in the church and what I am doing for God right now. But, what is my motivation?

"Ambition may not be your issue, although I am convinced we can possess it without realizing it. Secretly and subconsciously wanting to make a name for ourselves - while rationalizing that God can share the glory, too - is frighteningly common in the body of Christ. We either glorify God or ourselves. Never both."

That kind of set me aside. What is my true motivation? And why am I not more willing to do whatever it is that is asked of me. Why do I need to choose the tasks that 'fit in' with my personality? Oh dear Lord - help me be aware of You working in my life!

(07/14/03)
I must be pooped tonight - I have nothing to say. And, how often does that happen? (shhhhh)

Beth Moore is such an outstanding Bible Teacher. We're studying John, The Beloved Disciple right now - and I come away from simply watching her on video, completely energized in my soul. It's almost as if I am getting a glimpse of what God wants me to understand about His Word.

This is why I love my Monday evenings. I spend it with some wonderful women and learn a lot!

(07/16/03)
Exhaustion has finally set in. Last night I had way too many things on my mind and I simply couldn't go to sleep. I was up until 3:30 or so - and finally just let it go. Whew! I went to a meeting about The 40 Days of Purpose for our church and was quite excited about the possibilities and potential. So, that was in my brain. I finally finished reading the new Harry Potter book and couldn't get THAT out of my mind. It was fairly wild.

Then, tonight, Lifeway.com's e-letter carried the article "Wanted: Exhausted People" and I realized that I fully qualified for that. I have been getting less and less sleep and I seem to need more and more of it.

So, tonight I lay claim to Jesus' words "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

(07/17/03)
LiteBrite has a site online - and you can create all of those beautiful images without batteries finally! Check this out.

That was another game that I wasn't allowed to own as a child because the expense would be too great. Whatever the reason, I didn't get one. I had just a few memories of things I desperately wanted but couldn't have. The Operation Game and the Easy-Bake Oven were the other two. But my husband is amazing. For Christmas last year, his gift to me was a brand new Easy-Bake oven. What a hoot! I think I do need to turn around and give this to a small child, but what a great gift to a woman who doesn't really need anything.

Oops - just found the best - the Easy Bake Oven Gourmet Cookbook! That's fabulous! All you can do with a 60 watt bulb.

(0718/03)
Another week is over and I have to admit that though it's been a good week, I'm glad for the weekend. The only thing that I don't like about hitting every Friday is that another week has passed through my life. You only get a limited amount of Fridays in your life and mine slip by faster and faster all the time!

Fun things on the net? Always. There's a purple polar bear in Argentina. Now that's something to look at. And here's a quick video of a man and his chocolate bar.

Tomorrow will be a great day. I have a brunch in the morning that Women of Faith is sponsoring. And then, the day will be mine. It's about time for me to learn how to program for forms on this website. So, another learning experience for me to confront and deal with.

(07/20/03)
This has been an awesome weekend - though I've spent WAY too much time on the internet. And, so has my husband. He has found There.com - though it's in Public Beta, he's meeting people, getting dogs, learning how to ride a boogie board (or something like that), and having a blast. Dork!

However, while I was traipsing around on the internet I found some really fun stuff - so, click on through! Did you know there were scholarships offered for making your Prom Dress out of Duct Tape? You have to check this out! And just in case you get really annoyed by those strange and odd hairs creeping out of men's noses? Well, you can make someone hurt - and pluck them - here!

God spoke to my heart through an article this afternoon - how many of us desperately need the love of our father? Well, God is ready to offer all of that love and this was just amazing.

(07/21/03)
Tonight's "Beloved Disciple" bible study was simply awesome. I had the worst day at Insty-Prints today and was completely exhausted. But, I have learned that if I just get myself over there, God blesses me and relaxes my body. Listening to Beth Moore teach is one of the most awesome things I can offer myself. She taught on Revelations 7 - and from the glory of the throne room to the rough hillside of Patmos, I find that I am grateful that I can call Jesus my Savior and Lord.

Sometimes you just have to giggle at what people choose to spend their time doing! Someone has taken hundreds of photographs of Lego characters presenting the scriptures. The Brick Testament is something you have to see to believe!

(07/22/03)
Is there anything more relaxing than having an animal wanting to simply love you? I can't believe the joy that it brings me to have my cats and dog greet me at the back door, jumping, barking, waiting for me to reach down and pet them. Some evenings I can actually feel my body relax and the blood pressure go down when I hold one of them in my arms. Much as I adore Bert (the dachshund), having a cat purr right up next to you is the best sound and feeling in the world.

So...what do you do with your thumbs? Well, a United Kingdom advertisement asks the same question - and answers it - in an insane asylum. This ad just makes me giggle!

(07/23/03)
Prayer works! Well, I know that is a duh, but sometimes God startles me completely. I am the chair of the communications team for 40 Days of Purpose this fall and one of my first responsibilities is to build the team. I'm terrible at this! I hate making phone calls - probably because I hate rejection so much. So, I prayed and prayed and prayed. And, tonight as I was making phone calls, people were more than willing to say yes. Thank you God!

It doesn't take much to make me weep - or at least get teary. Last night as I was driving home from grocery shopping, I looked off to the south and there was a rainbow, moments later there was another rainbow - and within a short time, a third rainbow! By that time I was crying - it was so beautiful. Today as I reading the news on CNN, there was a fabulous article about the Gutenberg Bible being digitized and available on the web. How awesome! It made me cry. To realize that this amazing historical document is available for everyone to peruse now.

(07/24/03)
Tonight was our monthly Ladies Night Out and though only five of us were there, we had fun. We did a mini-bachelorette for April - who is getting married next month! Wow, wow, wow! Just a few years ago, we loved her through a miserable divorce and now she's got a lot of joy and happiness in her life again. We had fun giving her 'special gifts'. Check out the pictures from tonight!

It's been a long week at work and I'm tired. But, you know what! Life gets better tomorrow - it's Friday and the week will be over. Thank heavens for Fridays. It makes it tolerable to get through the week!

(07/26/03)
It's Saturday evening and my weekend is slipping away. It always happens that way - every week. But, today was better than I hoped and I'm doing my best to find ways to relax. I even cooked supper this evening.

I'm trying to figure out exactly what 'postmodernism' is. My goodness, but all of the different authors and scholars all have different takes on it - from positive to negative. I guess that I prefer looking forward positively to the future and hoping that allowing postmodernism to truly become a force in the world will bring more people into the church and help them find their way to Jesus. Two of the major spokespeople for the movement are Leonard Sweet and Brian McLaren. I'm loving reading their books. It's opening my mind up to entirely new thoughts about ways to bring people to Christ.

And, in case you thought all I was doing was thinking deeply today - well, check this out and you can play with Etch A Sketch again.

(07/27/03)
While this article had some awesome insight into what a pastor deals with while preaching on Sunday morning, the article also spoke to my heart about tears on the outside and the Spirit moving on the inside. I tend to get weepy a lot when I feel the Spirit moving within me. What an awesome realization. He is able to speak to me and make it obvious to me through my tears!

As I was reading Leonard Sweet's "Soul Tsunami" this afternoon, my heart and soul were so excited and filled that I could barely contain the tears. God is moving in mighty and exciting ways and only by watching for it will we be able to be a part of it. I'm thrilled to be a part of this time in the history of the world. Though many things seem to be falling apart, God is still very much alive and active within our world.

And for something completely off the wall, check out the Industrious Clock. It's a little insane - but, quite accurate!

(07/28/03)
Another Monday - and I'm very tired. My goodness, but I don't get enough rest on the weekends. Actually weekends do wonders for my spiritual resources, but my physical resources tank completely! What an odd concept.

I love the internet. That should be obvious to anyone who knows me at all. But, the wonderfully fun things that are happening online expand exponentially every day.

How much do you love toast? Well, if you go to toaster.org, you can see a Cyber Museum of toasters. What a hoot!

And just because there is never enough information in the world - you can learn all about the calls of frogs by going to this highly educational site - it's actually pretty cool!

(08/02/03)
Wow - August is here. School will be starting. It's impossible for me to believe that time continues to move so quickly. But, it does and I guess it simply brings me that much closer to going home. But it is a little hard to accept the speed with which time passes!

Last night my brother had a LAN party at his house. No game playing for me - I just enjoyed hanging out with my family. You know - I have an amazing family and I'm so thankful for them. Matthew turns 14 this month. Wow! The scary thing for me is that I celebrated my 30th birthday by visiting him two weeks after he was born.

(08/04/03)
God is amazing, isn't he! I hear about so many small, but amazing miracles. Sometimes I get all wrapped up in my little world that I forget to see the amazing miracles that He performs in my life each day. I'm just so grateful that He has allowed me to be a part of His kingdom. I forget how fortunate I am and what a blessing it is to be called a child of God.

As you read through these pages, and if you don't know already - you'll discover that my husband is a geek. At least that's my pet name for him. Last week we were talking about Jeb Magruder's revelation that Nixon had known about the Watergate break-in before it happened. So, he went searching for Nixon's tapes and found them. He says it's best to read the transcript while you're listening to them - otherwise you get lost. Check it out here.

(08/12/03)
Uh oh - things got busy in my world and I went away. It's amazing how stress causes me to shut down my personal creativity. And so many things have happened in the last week. My friend, Michelle gave birth early Monday morning to a new baby girl, Ellie. My friend, Laura just received news that after months of chemo and radiation, her CT scan is CLEAR! Praise God!

My world is being wrapped up right now in our church's new campaign 40 Days of Purpose. How exciting! Just to hear the dreams and hopes that our people have - knowing that God can answer their prayers and meet our needs. It's not every day that a church plans to grow from 750 average attendance on a Sunday morning to over 2000. Wow! And we know that the only way it will happen is by God's active intervention.

Have you gotten outside to look at Mars? Now is the closest to earth it will ever be in our lifetime. Check this link out for more information - and get yourself outside in the evenings!

(08/18/03)
It's HOT! And we don't have it nearly as bad as people in France and Europe. I tell people that I refuse to complain about the cold in the winter because I complain all summer long. Now, the worst thing is - that my body temperature is beginning to adjust to being an old lady - and I'm HOT all the time. I keep the air conditioning going pretty steadily - and my poor husband is frozen most of the time. It's 99 degrees outside and poor Max is wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. Gotta love it!

So, how many fads do you remember from your young days? Yes, bell-bottoms and tall shoes are coming back into fashion - and most of us still talk about pet rocks. Check this page out. It's Crazy Fads throughout the years!

I've been reading and reading lately - there just isn't enough time to read and absorb all of the information that I want to have in my mind! I'm reading "Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church" by Dr. Ron Moseley. What a fun insight into Hebraic traditions. And I'm reading "The Beloved Disciple" by Beth Moore. And I'm reading a huge series of books on the book of Revelation as I'm trying to study and comprehend this book. That's a huge challenge in front of me - and one I'm continually excited about.

(08/20/03)
I love my husband. Though he drives me absolutely out of my mind, I am so thankful that he is in my world. God brought us together in 1994. And gave me an immeasurably amazing gift in this man. I'm a thankful woman.

Are you bored - not enough to do in your spare time? Check out Listerine's Pocket Pak page. You can play a form of the old game Space Invaders using the listerine pocket pak. Check it out here!

And what about Labyrinths! I used to love wandering through garden mazes. Especially at some of the old homes back east. Here are some of the classic designs. Click here!

(08/24/03)
My friend, April got married last night and nearly all of us turned out with our Orange Feathered Boas. What a hoot! The wedding was absolutely beautiful and we had a blast. A few of our husbands got to experience an evening with this group of crazy women and I can't tell you whether they enjoyed it or became more petrified of us together as a group. Check these pictures out.

Today was our pastor's twenty-fifth anniversary as an ordained minister. It's unbelievable to think about someone being in the ministry that long. It is not easy taking care of churches and the people that attend there. But Dr. Delp manages to maintain his integrity and calm through the storm and remind us regularly that he is a strong spiritual leader because of prayer and a strong faith in our Lord.

And another link for a friend from my church. James Michael is a terrific young musician and you can listen some of his music at mp3.com. Check him out! His CD is finally out - and I can't wait to have it in my hands!

(08/25/03)
I found another terrific author online. Jennifer Oliver is a hoot! She writes wonderful columns about her family and her life. They're quite inspirational - in fact, she has one in the book "Chicken Soup for the American Soul." Pretty cool.

Have you ever wondered where kids get the dance moves? Well, this site can tell you. It cracked me up! Urban Rave Dancers. Stick figures that can help you learn the latest, greatest moves.

Do you practice random acts of kindness? Does it cost too much? Today it cost me 3 pennies. But, what it gave to me was a sense of joy as the young man in front of me turned on a smile on a hot day for the first time since I had been watching him. His bill at the grocery store was $15.03 and the clerk was going to give him back $4.97. I had the pennies, he was really startled! And gave me a big smile. That one cost me next to nothing. Have you ever paid for a customer behind you in the McDonald's drive-through? How much can it cost? It cost me $3.00 to buy a couple of cokes for newlyweds in the car behind me once. I got out of there before they knew what had happened.

Do you practice random acts of kindness?

(08/27/03)
It's been a long hard day - and you know...there is nothing better than coming home. Even when the house is totally trashed and I should be cleaning rather than writing this. But, it is still home and my animals are happy to see me - and I'm happy to be here.

I picked up Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers DVD last night. Oh joy!!!! I watched it late last night while building web pages for my church and I've got it in again tonight. I'm addicted to this kind of film and can watch these over and over and over again. And I do! My poor husband is a little tired of my movies, I'm sure, but he's a good man and lets me enjoy myself.

(08/28/03)
Good heavens - another long day. Someone said yesterday that all of this insanity was due to the fact that Mars was so close to the earth - the closest in 60,000 years. Terrific. I've spent my entire life trying to disprove astrology and the fact that the planets have an impact on our lives. And now, I'm so frustrated with my world right now - that the only thing that makes sense to blame it on is Mars. (By the way - I really don't believe it - it's a joke)

wet behind the ears
necessity is the mother of invention
whatever lifts your skirt
bust in the teeth
no great shakes
needle in a haystack
needle in a haystack
keep your fingers crossed
how many ways can you skin a cat?
times are changing

These are cliches - and there is a website dedicated to cliches! Check this out!

Tomorrow is Friday - and I do believe that God blesses Fridays - He knows how desperate we are all for the end of a crazy week. So, I'm going to be thankful for tomorrow - starting NOW!

(08/29/03)
Ohhhh....it's Friday - and that is a joy that is sometimes incomprehensible. But, I'm grateful for this day in my week - a chance to regroup and rest. God knew what He was doing when He gave us a day of rest. And I appreciate Henry Ford for his 40 hour work week! I came home from work tonight completely exhausted and fell asleep for a couple of hours. It's amazing what a nap will do for my body and my brain. I'm in much better shape!

I love puzzles and illusions. Sometimes they take me a great, long time to figure out, but they still intrigue me. Check out this page of Grand Illusions. I've just spent a little time there and I had a blast! It's amazing how the eyes trick the mind into seeing things. This next page of Weird Illusions really messes with the eyes. Just when you think an image is moving, you find that it is truly static and your eyes are seeing things. Just place your pointer over a seemingly transient image - and you'll realize it doesn't move.

(09/03/03)
I have decided that there is no way I'm going to be able to read everything that I want to read and know everything that I want to know - at least while I'm here on this earth. But, the internet is absolutely making it easier for me to get information in my brain!

Esquire (the magazine) has all of their covers online. Check it out! They're really fun - and oh my - what a way to relieve a little piece of history.

And - have you ever wondered how heavy a cumulus cloud is (you know - the water in there)? Well...ABC did an article - and it's about the weight of 100 elephants! You know what? You can read about it also by clicking here!

Just one more thing before I leave you today. Some poor boring person has created a website with all of the monsters from film history - Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, etc. You can find out about their size, weapons and fight statistics. Go ahead - click HERE - you know you're curious!

(10/14/03)
I have spent a lot of time being creative on here - all the while knowing that very few people read this - and truly - only writing it for myself. The worst thing is - as soon as I get really busy - this is the last place I can expend my creativity. So...until further notice - enjoy the old stuff - and nothing new will be up. Granted, that could change at any given moment!

Our church is doing 40 Days of Purpose right now. That's been taking a lot of my creative energy. And, I am spending a lot of time working on their webpage. That takes a lot more than I could imagine! It's all very exciting. And I love doing it. But, it definitely takes time. I am also studying Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself and trying to do my personal study on the book of Revelation. Am I insane? I'm afraid so.

I have also added the Pray Timer to my life. Now - this is a huge help. It is organizing my prayer time into something that is awesome. If I promise someone that I will pray for them - this program reminds me to do so. So, that in my busy life - I am now being responsible in my prayer time. How terrific.

(11/03/03)
This past month has been a challenge for me. Maybe it would be truer said that it was challenging. But, God has been faithful and I'm on the other side of it. Now, what will November bring? I can only be assured that whaever it brings, I will need to rely on God to get me through it!

I spent yesterday and Friday at Women of Faith "The Great Adventure Tour". What an awesome weekend. To say that my life has been changed is reality, yet, I find myself in a constant state of change when I stay open to God. It was exciting and motivating, inspirational and peaceful (that was difficult with 16,000 women in one space). But, God spoke to me this weekend and it's time I listened.

And no, He didn't challenge me to make personality changes or lifestyle changes or any of the normal things people seem to hear when God speaks. He told me to listen to myself and to trust the fact that He has always been there and I haven't been pushing him away. That when I think I'm not good enough for Him to be close to me, that's when He is the closest.

I'm still in the middle of our "40 Days of Purpose" journey. It is always challenging to me to grow and continue to find God in the middle of all things.

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

(12/21/03)
Here it is - nearly Christmas and my world has been wildly busy. We finished the 40 Days of Purpose journey - and I hope that as many lives were as touched as mine was. What an awesome journey into realizing the importance that God plays in my life. AMEN!

My Greenwood Grandparents were the head of an amazing family. They gave birth to 8 children and from there, 23 grandchildren. A very painful last month has brought about the imminent death of the first of us grandchildren, Jane South Andrew. I am fortunate in that she has spent a lot of time in Omaha at Methodist Hospital and I have been able to share that time with her. Though my heart is breaking, I am excited that she is about to be in heaven with people who love her and with God!

I hope for everyone that Jesus can touch you as we approach the celebration of his birth. And that next year you find joy and peace!