It's A Miracle! I'm Finished!

Finally! After 20+ years I have finally finished college! Many of you have heard the whining, moaning, groaning, and intense agony at times of my dreaded homework and class time. Of course, just as I was told, it was worth it and it really wasn't that painful....most of the time.

Luckily, all my family was able to come to my graduation last Saturday. I have a few pictures below just to prove it really happened. When my Mom emails pictures that she took, I may have a few more.

ME!!!

Hubby and Me!

Of course, the famous Bethanne (Waiting for the Shout) and Eddie (Eddie's Place) - better known as my sister and my Dad

The kids....Brandon, Anna and Zach

It can be done! If I had about $20,000 more dollars I would keep going! Sounds like a good excuse to take up a hobby! Who knows, maybe I will blog more than once a month now.

Hopefully I will talk to you again before Christmas! If not, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

You Gotta Be Kidding!

I decided to check out the blog analyzer that Bethanne mentioned in her blog. I'm not sure that I agreed with the analysis. The verdict is below:

ISTP - The Mechanics

The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts. The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

I totally agree with the independent and problem-solving type. Most of the rest is a far reach for me. However, I definitely have to draw the line at the "enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters". That is way off the mark! Ask anyone that knows me!

I have taken the complete personality test before in my Management classes. What I found in the testing is that I am actually an INFJ personality. Below are the characteristics of the INFJ personality:

INFJs are conscientious and value-driven. They seek meaning in relationships, ideas, and events, with an eye toward better understanding themselves and others. Using their intuitive skills, they develop a clear vision, which they then execute decisively to better the lives of others. Like their INTJ counterparts, INFJs regard problems as opportunities to design and implement creative solutions.
INFJs are quiet, private individuals who prefer to exercise their influence behind the scenes. Although very independent, INFJs are intensely interested in the well-being of others. INFJs prefer one-on-one relationships to large groups. Sensitive and complex, they are adept at understanding complicated issues and driven to resolve differences in a cooperative and creative manner.
Accounting for 1–3% of the population, INFJs have a rich, vivid inner life, which they may be reluctant to share with those around them. Nevertheless, they are congenial in their interactions with others. Generally well-liked by their peers, they may often be considered close friends and confidants by most other types. They are perceptive of the emotions of others and themselves easily hurt, though they may not reveal this except to their closest companions. Guarded in expressing their own feelings, especially to new people, they tend to establish close relationships slowly.
INFJs tend to be sensitive, quiet leaders with a great depth of personality. They are intricately and deeply woven, mysterious, and highly complex, sometimes puzzling even to themselves. They have an orderly view toward the world, but are internally arranged in a complex way that only they could understand. Abstract in communicating, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. With a natural affinity for art, INFJs tend to be creative and easily inspired.Yet they may also do well in the sciences, aided by their intuition.
In romantic relationships, INFJs tend to be modest but respond willingly to their partner's initiatives. Naturally reliable, they can have a hard time saying no to others, accumulating much too much work. They are kind and patient. Their preferred mode of communication is one on one, where they can examine the other person's problems for hours on end if need be, and they offer real solutions and good advice. They are generally economical and frugal, with minimalism their preferred way of living; however, when in a relationship with someone who is extravagant, they do not object but rather try their best to maintain the lifestyle of their partner. They are known for their love of humankind, community activism, sincere environmentalism, sense of decency, and integrity. They exude warm feelings. Violence, objects of violence, and the portrayal of violence weigh heavily on their consciousness. They are often the first to help those in need. They may seem naive, idealistic dreamers, or insincere; however, they are anything but.

My husband has already confirmed the accuracy of this evaluation. For those who know me, feel free to comment on how accurate you think this is. For those of you who don't know me, consider why it is that you don't know me? Do you not read my blog enough???? :)

Christmas Tree

OK. Contrary to popular belief, I do not put up my tree the week before Christmas and take it down in March. It was February and it only happened a couple of times. Normally I put my tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving but this year I was sick all through Thanksgiving and the weekend. I have now put up my Christmas tree! That is all the decorating that has occurred but it is a start. In response to my sister Bethanne's blog, I am going to attempt to post some pictures. Just as a disclaimer, I want to let you know that the pictures are kind of blurry. Our son dropped the digital camera this summer and broke it so I am relying completely on a cell phone camera. In addition we have had some snow today so it was very fitting to be putting up the Christmas tree. I have included some pictures of our pretty snow...it wasn't alot but I love it anyway!!!

First the snow pictures....

Now the tree....I have recently changed all my ornaments so I am still in the process of collecting new ornaments. All ornaments are Blue, Silver, White or Clear...with a Navy blue tree skirt (which you can't see in the picture)....this is also a real Christmas tree so the smell is awesome! Remember the part about the pictures are taken with a cell phone...sorry.

And now for some special ornaments......

Most of the ornaments are stars, balls, snowflakes, and icicles...did I mention how much I LOVE SNOW!

This pictures doesn't do her justice, but there is a very beautiful

fiberoptic angel on top of our tree....she really is pretty and looks good.

My nephews, the famous Lake and Kaden (Bethanne's boys) made

these ornaments for their favorite Aunt Lisa last year. One says

Jesus and the other says Peace.

Sorry again for the blurriness.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Check out my friend Sandy's blog....she has the coolest "Christmasy" giveaway!

Warning! Warning! This Blog May Get Graphic!

PREFACE: This is lengthy but please read it all. Please refer to this as a link in your own blog so that MANY people will read this with only a few days left before the election. The FACTS listed below are from various sources but alot of it comes specifically from something I read that was written by Huntley Brown who is a pianist for Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He is a Jamaican and his wife is from the island of Barbados.

I am going to be very controversial I am sure. I don't care. I am really frustrated with people walking around like the "Stepford Americans"! No matter what is proven to be factual about Obama, there are people who continue to support what may be the most liberal President we have ever had in office in the United States of America. Mix that with the very liberal Congress that is currently in office and we are in for a serious time. I must say that I agree with Joe Biden on one thing....we need to "gird our loins"!

I will give Obama credit for being a very charismatic speaker. He could probably sell ice cream to an Eskimo! (that was for Sarah Palin)

My greatest concern is that this is a racial election. There are many people who are voting for him because he is black. They are not voting for him because they agree with his policies, or because he is a good person or he would be a great leader. They are basing their vote on the sole fact that he is black. Many people will say that is not true but if they were being honest they would say that is their main reason for voting for him. I heard one person describe it as "processing their identity through their blackness". As Christians, we should be processing our identity through Christ and voting based on what the Bible teaches us as Christians. We should NEVER vote for anyone because of the color of their skin. When we get to heaven we won't be judged because of the color of our skin, we will be judged on whether or not we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Martin Luther King said don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. There are several things that should throw up red flags regarding the character of Obama. We don't know him personally so the only "character check" we can do is look at his voting record and the people that he surrounds himself and his family with in his life.

Well, the National Journal said: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (1/31/2008). He did this in only two years. Think what he could do in the next four years!
I read an article that said the following:
- There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100% rating
- There is a reason the homosexual community supports him
- There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas, the nation of Islam, etc. love him
- There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court
- There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill
- There is a reason he voted NO on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage
- There is a reason he voted NO on banning partial birth abortions
- There is a reason he voted NO on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito
These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion - the same practice Obama voted to continue.
I was going to describe this 5 step procedure of partial birth abortion but I decided to spare you the details. Trust me it is bad and if you really want to know it is easily found on the internet. Once you understand what actually happens in this procedure you should be upset that we even consider it in our country....that people have even wasted the time, paper, and energy to try to pass it.
- There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.
Do you find it strange that I have to go through an act of congress, give consent, sign papers, etc. to give my child an Ibuprofen while she is in school but that same child can have an abortion without my consent??? How much sense does this make?
- There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years. Obama says he has good judgment and wants us to believe that. Yet, he sat and listened to this man's Anti-American and Anti-Christian teachings for 20 years. Not only did he listen to it, but he took his wife and children and exposed them to it as well. Now, of course, he is condemning Wright's sermons. Why now after 20 years??? Obama credits Jeremiah Wright for leading him to the Lord and discipling him. A disciple by definition is "one who is in training". This means to teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you, believe what you believe, etc. What exactly did Jeremiah Wright teach him? Would you support a white President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a:
1. Commitment to the white community
2. Commitment to the white family
3. Adherence to the white work ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the white community
5. Pledge to allocate regularly a portion of personal resources for strengthening and supporting white institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all white leadership who embrace the white value system
7. Personal commitment to embrace the white value system
Just change the word from white to black and that is what is taught and practiced at the church that Obama attended for the past 20 years.
This is nothing short of racism. The church is not about race. Jesus did not die on the cross for one specific race. He died for the whole world...red, and yellow, black and white.
Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone who authored the book in 1970 "A Black Theology of Liberation". He wrote "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him." Cone is the man that Obama's mentor looks up to.

I don't think that God would tell one Christian to vote for McCain and another to vote for Obama. These are decisions that people are making on their own. It is possible that I am too am not listening to God by voting for McCain (which I did yesterday). One way to be sure is to compare what Obama says, believes, and votes for to what Jesus teaches in the scriptures. He definitely contradicts the scriptures so I don't think I am wrong about this one.

What if Jesus Christ was standing beside you in the voting booth. When he asked "who are you voting for?" Would you say, well Jesus, I am going to vote for Obama EVEN THOUGH I KNOW that he will continue and support the practice of partial birth abortions, I know that he will nominate liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you, I know that he will continue to support and push the homosexual agenda (even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this), but I know it is OK to look the other way because of the economic situation.

Who would Jesus vote for? Isn't that who we should choose?

Just some thoughts.....

I find myself "home alone" this afternoon....just me and the dogs. That is a pretty good thing except it makes me lazy. I have only had a desire this weekend to lay around and do nothing. And I must say I have excelled at it! I am working on perfecting it right now! Technically I am on a Fall Break and do not have a class coming up this week (so no homework!) and I am enjoying it. I am getting ready to start my very last class before I graduate in December. Yeah me! (I know..I know...it has taken something like 25 years but who is counting!) Anyway, this will be a doozy of a class from what I have read on the syllabus but I need it to graduate. So, the next 8 weeks are going to be rough but then I am finished.

I don't really have anything major to blog about so I will try some random thoughts.

Did you know that generic toilet paper will last FOREVER! It is totally against my religion to buy generic toilet paper but apparently it is not against my husbands. I thought I taught him better than that. Not only did he buy generic toilet paper but he bought the huge package. We have had the same package of toilet paper for 2 months.....I don't think we will ever use it all! I actually think it is multiplying.

Why do all boys/men want motorcycles? They are so dangerous. What is it?

I am so sick of hearing about the "campaign trail" and all the ridiculous stuff about the election. I wish it was over and the bad news given. At least then we could listen to actual news. Let's get back to the stealing, cheating, lying, killing, kidnapping, and all the other garbage, I mean information, that our news usually provides to us. It is actually very similar to the campaign news now that I think about it.

Along those same lines, the whole electoral college doesn't seem fair to me. Am I missing something?

For all you Myspace and Facebook fans out there, what in the world does "crunk" mean??? These websites allow you to put your mood on there and I see alot of people with "crunk" as their mood. I have no idea what that means and maybe I shouldn't be asking...I don't know...it could be bad I guess.

I use to really fuss at my kids about texting. I asked them "why do you text a whole conversation with someone when you can just call them?" I have a confession that I am now addicted to texting and have complete conversations with people by text. I'm not sure what the turning point was but I have definitely been sucked in! Try it!

I find exercise equipment is a great place to hang clothes.

I have a secret desire to be Samantha Brown. You know the lady on the Travel Channel that gets to check out all the great vacations, hotels, spas, etc. I want her job! How great is that! You always see her on cruise ships, private islands, luxury hotels. Seriously, where do you apply for jobs like that?

I think if I were Samantha Brown, one of the greatest things about the travel would be that you would never have to unpack. I don't mind packing but I cannot stand to unpack.

A couple of light bulb moments......

Pork Barrel spending - just figured out this week what that actually was. Who knew? I thought it was some kind of stock in pork. Who thought of that?

You know the wonderful song all Tennesseeans love...Rocky Top! There is a verse that says:
"Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top, Dirt's too rocky by far
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top, get their corn from a jar
My daughter (20 years old who shall remain nameless but does have a blog of her own.....)just learned today that the corn from a jar was not canned corn. Imagine her surprise when she found out!

Like mother like daughter!!!

That is about as random as I can be for now. Bonjour!

Halloween.....Not everyone agrees....

OK....this will probably be lengthy but important. Stay with me! I seriously love the fall season(except for the allergies) and I love the colors, the weather, mums, pumpkins and all the things that are typically associated with this time of year.....except the dreaded HALLOWEEN!

As promised, I am now going to share some of my thoughts on this pagan holiday named Halloween. Let me just begin by saying that for many years I have been chastised by friends and family regarding my distaste for Halloween. It is an ongoing joke in my workplace at this time of year. I would also like to say that I have not always had this opinion. I grew up "celebrating" Halloween by dressing up in various costumes, trick-or-treating, etc. and I actually enjoyed it. When my kids were little, we were all about dressing up and trick-or-treating to various neighborhoods, friends and family. The more candy the better! However, about 10 or 12years ago I was enlightened. I began by looking at the true meaning of Halloween and how it actually began. Many people, including myself, had never been told or researched what the actual meaning and purpose of Halloween is. When we really started reading about it and came to understand, we (my husband and I)decided our family would no longer participate in this pagan holiday.

Just a little background:

Halloween's origins actually go all the way back to the Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced SOW-ain). This was a time when they (the Celts and Druids)honored the end of summer and harvest time and prepared for a period of cold, darkness, and winter. The Celts believed that this marked the time in which the barrier between the living and the dead became thin. On October 31st (or thereabouts), the spirits would come back from the dead and create havoc, cause illnesses, damage the crops with frost and cause many other troubles.
Samhain was, and still is, considered to be a very mystical and magical time that was 'between' the seasons and the years. It was considered to be the time that the spirits of those who have passed on could walk among the living. The "veil" between the two worlds was and still is considered to be the thinnest at this time of year. Thus the perfect time for practicing witchcraft and divination and speaking with the dead.

Halloween today is usually performed by people practicing witchcraft who use this night for their rituals. Witches celebrate Halloween as the "Feast of Samhain" and it is a time for them to attempt to communicate with the dead through various forms of divination. In Deuteronomy 18, God says "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord..." I believe the Bible is very specific when it says that Christians should not be involved with occultic practice or divination.

Traditions of Halloween:

One of the traditions of Halloween, dressing up in costumes, began in England where the citizens, knowing it was a time for the spirits to come back from the dead, would dress up in masks and costumes to keep the spirits from recognizing them.

Another tradition that I am not very fond of is the Jack-O-Lantern. Not to imply that pumpkins themselves are bad. But...Occultists would try to scare away the spirits by carving scary faces into a pumpkin or some other vegetable. This horrible "face" would hopefully move the spirit on to another home or village and spare their home from destruction. Sometimes they would light a candle and place it within the pumpkin and use it as a lantern (hence the name Jack-o-Lantern). There is also a story about "Stingy Jack" that I won't go into.

Remember bobbing for apples?....In some witchcraft covens, the closing rituals include eating an apple or engaging in fertility rites. In the Bible (Genesis 3), eating a piece of fruit brought sin and death into the world. In witchcraft, eating an apple is symbolic of bringing life. (Of course, the opposite) The practice of bobbing for apples actually brings together two pagan traditions: divination and the fertility ritual.

It is my opinion that by participating in this pagan holiday, we are showing our approval and promoting witchcraft (and the witch), divination, haunted houses, and other occultic practices. These are very real things in our world today. There are many people who are practicing these rituals....it is not just an ancient religion but is a religion of today as well. I don't think many people understand that. As Christians, we are suppose to be different and not of this world. Halloween is a "worldly" holiday which glorifies the dark things of this world rather than the light of Jesus Christ.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God." (3 John 1:11)

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thess 5:21-22)

I understand that many people (including some Christians) do not share my same feelings about this. I do not judge those who choose to participate but I am very adamant in my discussions about this subject.....even to the point of being the "butt" of the joke...which is fine...there is always someone around that asks me "why" when the subject comes up and I am happy to tell them.