Red Envelope Campaign

I leave the radio going quietly at night, so that when I wake up at 3am, I can listen to the truckers' show. Somewhere in the night, I heard them talk about this Red Envelope Project that sounded easy to do. So, I googled it and found: http://redenvelopecampaign.com/ And links to a couple of different sites talking about it.

I did not have any red envelopes on hand, but I love to color. And using a red permanent marker, I made up a few. Then, I figured out how to make the labels on the computer. Label for the White House address, and a label for what goes on the back of the empty envelope. So easy. I could not resist---I added a line unique to each one about how this child might have grown up to inspire students. Or, this child might have grown up to inspire teachers. Or, this child might have grown up to discover a cure for cancer. I sent out seven homemade ones, then about twenty with the printed labels after I bought a small packet of red envelopes. Kinkos had a nice selection of envelopes. I took my packet up to the desk, and handed them my cash. This is it? Yup. I did not come for copies or nuthin'. Just red envelopes.

Some of the commenters said it is a waste. That the envelopes will just end up in the black hole that is the White House. Strange choice of words, if you ask me. But, I like what another commenter said: that maybe someone working in the mail room or warehouse will see them and wonder. The sites warn to be sure and put your return address, or it won't be delivered. And some said they were sending some to their representatives, and newsrooms, too. Good idea.

To all the babies...that never had a chance to learn how to color with crayons, or see a sunset, or play in the back yard... And to all the babies stuck in daycare... or in the care of questionable people---like the ones I saw at the post office today. This young couple had one of their own who was a wild child. He was all over the place, touching everything. yelling. He had no concept of waiting in line or coming when called. And then there was the child of another race that was with them, obviously being babysat by this couple and their wild child. He was compliant. Quiet. Obedient. Entertained. So cute. But what where his parents thinking sticking him with this wild child?? With her knee, the mom tried to confine her child while at the counter transacting the post office business she needed to do only here. With her knee pressing the child into the counter. Wow. Wonder why he yelled out. Dad/boyfriend was totally useless, or maybe he knew that to hold wild child only resulted in major yelling by wild child who knows that yelling gets you temporary freedom. Does the mom ever use her knee on the child she babysits?? Poor little guy.

So, our president just up and fires the president of GM. What exactly did he do?? What crime? The board of directors were caught off guard. Was this just a big power play? Who is next? What the HELL is the president of the United States doing firing a company president?! Do we live in a communist country? I wish companies and businesses and anyone tempted to partake in government money or bailouts would take note. The "bailout" is not free. It comes with chains. Doesn't the president of the United States have enough to do?? Who is ruling and who is the servant?

Some Days Maybe It is best to go back to bed...

I trotted off to the post office to mail a very big package of dishrags I knitted to my friend in Ennis. I thought I would save time, and lip by printing my own label at their nifty machine. But, after labeling and stuffing it into the package bin, it stuck, so I had to hunt down an employee and apologize. Then, while loading a whole bag of safflower seed into the birdfeeder, I thought I could just turn it a little and put the bird poop spot on the outside, and spilled the whole thing on the ground. At least it is not the seed the squirrels like. Then I got home to find the FedEX note on the door---yes, I missed receiving Bob's new laptop. Great.

Maybe I'd better go back to bed and start over.

But, the sheets are clean on the bed. Bob will be so surprised. And I found some more blue themed things for our 31st anniversary---blue almond m&ms for Bob. Aren't I romantic? Now he can sit in his blue t-shirt and eat blue colored chocolate almond M&Ms while playing on his new laptop on our anniversary.

And I found Ben-Ben some new t-shirts with cute sayings on them that are not too negative nor snarky. And a four dollar soccer ball for Benito next door. Benito gave me a red long stemmed rose on Saturday. I wonder where he gets them. He also gave me two flowers from my yard, and half of a bluebonnet.

Now I need to go scoop up fallen seed. Maybe if I spread it on the window sill we can get a better look at the doves. They have such neat feathers.

Playing with light bulbs

We changed our recessed Christmas bulbs from green to blue. So now at night, we have a blue house instead of a green house (like next door). Green was okay for St. Patrick's Day. But, the blue is subtle. Blue plate special. Getting ready for our anniversary. I even have blue t-shirts for Bob and I to wear on Wednesday. The big 31.

I think for the months of June and July we will try a red, white and blue theme.

(Monday morning) Walking Bob to the car this morning, Bob said that the house is the same pretty blue as the sky this morning. There is a deep almost purple at the far end (east) and then as the blue bulbs light the bigger spaces by the garage door, it is a lighter robin's egg blue. almost green. real purty, in my opinion. And it is not as bright as a night light from inside the house, which Bob explained was the energy/voltage as the amber or red bulbs. Looks cool.

Blue reminds me of Israel, too.

What are your idols??

Idols and Idolatry is a concept that is hard to admit. Easier to see in others.

But, as Pastor Mark Driscoll points out: we are made to worship...something or someone. And we worship idols and only Jesus can help us break those idols and worship God as He designed us to worship.

I like how Pastor Driscoll asks probing questions to help me get to what my idols are. We have been listening through the First Corinthians series. This is lesson number 22, but in lesson 21, he also pointed out something that jumped out at me: how we as Christians need to be guarding truth, but beware of becoming the pit bull that just bites and is good for nothing else. I have been guilty of this.

Defining Masculinity

Is Satan real?

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7188411

In case you missed the debate at Mars Hill Church that Nightline did. This link should work. Copy and paste. In the shorter versions, they cut out the gospel. I hope you can hear the whole thing so that you can see what they cut. Why is ABC news so afraid to talk about how Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the entire world? Jesus came to rescue us from the slave market of sin. And He is God. And He wants to spend eternity with us.

Thank you, Lord Jesus that you gave Pastor Mark Driscoll and opportunity to talk about You. Thank you, Our Father, for sending Your Son to rescue us. Thank You for getting Your Good News out and letting everyone have an opportunity before You come back and set all things right. And thank you for sending God the Holy Spirit into our lives to help us understand the Truth, to know and glorify Your Son, and to resist sin and temptation. We can't do it on our own. Thank You for making Your Love possible and giving Your perfect Love to us. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Friday, March 27

An Army uniform hangs in our closet. And a car with a Fort Sill sticker is in the drive. But, our Army son has flown to Phoenix. James' fiancee' is maid of honor at her niece's wedding.

I drove him to the airport this morning. The traffic was light at 5am. Patchy fog created the need for windshield wipers---but I could not for the life of me figure out how to turn on the rear wipers. James looked it up for me. I just don't drive the car enough in all kinds of weather.

A huge storm sits upon Colorado. Snow in Amarillo, too. Our last winter gasp?? A few more night s of using the furnace, then back into the seventies next week. This is not just a spring storm---Denver is experiencing temps in the teens. Burrr...

And now, a word about my new monitor.

Bob's laptop (#2) was agonizingly slow, and so when he ordered a new one, he warned me that a new huge monitor was coming, too. I did not NEED a new monitor. I did not ASK for a new monitor. Bob says he got a good deal. But, for what purpose? He said he could hook the new laptop into it. And of course, he just wanted to check it out and make sure it was working...

It is big. And I like big letters for my old lady eyes. And it shows movies better. And documentaries. So we re-arranged the shelving and computer desk for a more pleasing entertainment center. It was a good opportunity to attack the dust build up. Computers, monitors, and all their connecting wires attract dust like magnets. And only when things are pulled out, and sorted out, can you give everything a good scrub. I lost count of the trips to the sink to rinse out the washrag and apply more soap. Maybe in ten or twenty years there will not be the need for so many wires, and hence, dusting will be easier. Bob worked until late getting everything hooked back up. And then I showed him the cute sheep with LED lights. Have y'all seen it? It is a hoot. Go to: http://i.gizmodo.com/5172963/sheep+powered-led-display-lights-up-welsh-hillside

And if you want to see how they did it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7961889.stm