Pray for Kate

photo: promisetangemanblog.com

Kate McRae is the little blonde seated next to her mom. Doctors just recently discovered she has a brain tumor. Her parents are praying for a miracle of healing and asking others to pray along with them.

This story hit close to my heart. When my son was young, his best buddy, Shawn, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. I felt it was important to join in to help spread the word about little Kate if it means even just one more person praying.

Please listen to this short video of her parents explaning the situation...



There have been changes since this video. To follow an accurate journal of events, please read here: caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal

photo: promisetangemanblog.com

Time for Fireworks!

Happy 4th of July!

By Your Side

This is the longest I've gone without posting since I went on vacation last. I've written about 6 different drafts throughout the week, but just couldn't get myself to publish them. I've been sad and a little depressed lately and decided they were just too much of a downer so I deleted them. I'm sad often, partly because of a unique, complicated situation in my life, but also some of it is probably hormonal, or lack thereof. Most of the time I try not to show it since that can get old real fast.

Sometimes I wish I had an anonymous blog so I could really pour my heart out and write just exactly what was on my mind. You know... vent and blow off steam, whine, cry and get angry about my heartbreak, unfairness, and pain. Lol! Gee, I'll bet you're so happy you stopped by today.

It's interesting how I can have so many things in my life to be thankful for, and I know that I'm incredibly blessed, but the things that cause pain become so intensified that they overshadow everything else. In my current Bible lesson it talks about thanking God for even the unpleasant situations in our lives. I don't remember ever doing that, probably because it's just not normal. But this morning I decided to give it a try. He knows the things that are causing my heart to break, and I believe He will answer my prayers eventually. The word I'm disliking the most right now is "longsuffering".

This song brings me comfort today...

The Fair... again!

Last night I decided to use my free fair ticket and go see Switchfoot in concert. It was my first time seeing them live, and it was a fun show. Jon came down into the crowd quite a bit while singing. It would have been exciting to have been down front and center waving my ShamWow in the air amongst the rowdy bunch. But as you can see from the pictures, I was up on the 3rd level surrounded by more of a reserved crowd, but still doing some head bobbin', body swaying, and an occasional, "whoo hoo"! At least I wasn't in the nosebleed section.



Just in case you're interested in hearing a little of what it was like, I found a couple short videos taken by others that were there last night:

and the encore...

The Superstars

Last night I watched the new show called, The Superstars. Did you see it? Just in case you didn't, I'll explain...

It's an athletic competition with teams made up of 8 celebrities and 8 professional athletes. They compete in many different sporting events and each week the losing team is eliminated. I was on the edge of my seat, excitedly cheering on my favorites, and just imagining what it would be like to participate in all those sporting events. So much fun!

This takes place on Paradise Island in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Resort. Wow, it looks absolutely gorgeous there! Now I know where I'd like to take my next vacation. Well, it doesn't hurt to dream, right?

One of the athletes that I was most surprised and disappointed in was tennis pro, Jennifer Capriati. Hopefully she'll do better next week.

There are many interesting people to watch, but I'd have to say right now my favorite team is Alpine skier, Bode Miller, and his partner, Paige Hemmis, one of the carpenters on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Speaking of Paige... I recently found out she has a website and sells her Tuff Chix brand of work boots, landscaper gloves, and pink tool belts. She also wrote a book called, The Tuff Chix Guide to Easy Home Improvement. I'm so impressed that this young girly-girl can do such amazing carpentry, things that I'm way too intimidated to try. Her book sounds interesting and I wonder if it would help me be brave about tackling home improvement projects?

Here's a short clip of Paige at The Atlantis:

Bugs vs. Pesticides

In my attempt to try and eat as healthy as possible, I like the idea of eating organic. Honestly though, I often forget to shop exclusively organic. And how can I cut grocery costs when organic is sometimes 3 times the price of non?

When I do remember to purchase organic produce, things like the following happen:

There was a gigantic worm covered within it's webby cocoon sleeping peacefully, and hidden deep inside the organic broccoflower that I brought home one day. Visions of that will be forever etched upon my memory. Needless to say, I did not consume any part of that worm infested broccoflower.

Just recently, while washing organic Romaine lettuce leaves, I spied a creepy little inch worm scooting along the sink. Guess who lost her appetite for salad that evening? The next night I decided I'd better wash the lettuce extra good. Well it wasn't good enough. While I lifted my fork full of salad towards my lips, there, staring me in the face was an unidentified black bug with wings. What the heck! Guess who didn't eat salad again?

So for now, I'm going back to my possibly foolish, non-organic ways. Well, at least with certain foods that bugs can hide in. I think I'll take my chance at consuming some pesticides instead of bugs.

Summertime

Clear blue skies, warm sunshine, bare feet, sand squishing between toes, ocean waves crashing on shore, misty sea breeze, salty air, seashells, swim suits, boogie boards, surfboards, coconut surf wax, fluffy beach towels, colorful umbrellas, Coppertone sunblock, floppy hats, seagulls, pelicans, dolphins,

swimming pools, chlorine, water noodles, floats, rafts, lounge chairs, flip flops, barbecues, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, seedless watermelon, juicy strawberries, fuzzy peaches, ice cream, iced coffees, sweet tea, lemonade,

4th of July parades, fireworks, smoky crackling bonfires, outdoor church baptisms, the county fair, baseball games, hot dogs, cold beer, cracker jacks, concerts in the park, picnics, camping, vacations...

Ahhhh, can you tell I'm smiling?

What says summer to you?