And We're Off!

I talked to Katherine around 8am PST and they were just leaving the Duluth area. I got a text shortly after that from Mary (who got a case of food poisoning last night) that she was on her way. And at 1:30 I will be heading to the airport to begin my leg of the journey. We are all looking forward to celebrating 18 years of Katherine!! We plan to visit the Winter Carnival (http://www.winter-carnival.com/) and go swimming at the hotel and enjoy each other's company. Katherine's group are touring Carleton College today before Mary and I arrive. I am praying that these winter storms won't impede our travel - I do NOT want to have my return flight messed up!! Earl is going to occupy his time with a photo shoot today for the new album (tentatively titled "Let the Light In"). They are shooting in LA today and then he is flying to Philadelphia in about a week to record the album. Their producer is coming out at the end of next week for a few days to help with arranging and song placement. The guys have been practicing and actually rehearsing (something they NEVER do!) so this will all hopefully go very smoothly. And, yes, tax season has officially begun. I have put in over 40 hours in four days - so today is just icing on the cake! This week was a bit more hectic and frantic because our office manager who usually does all the processing of returns and forms was in a car accident over last weekend and had to take a few days off to recouperate. Most of the processing fell on my shoulders, so it may mellow out a little bit next week, but I am scheduled to be doing field work at a client's Tuesday through Thursday next week and I have a feeling that will put me back with my other tasks. *sigh* I am missing the Super Bowl this weekend - BUMMER! I will be cheering for Arizona and Kurt Warner (we like to root for the old guys!). I'll be sure to post pictures once I am settled back in at home - so be on the lookout!

Celebrating the Inauguration of the 44th President

I actually got this from a friend on Facebook - but it expresses my heart today better than I could - so why not?! :o) by Candice Watters (Focus on the Family) Why?Because we live in the greatest country on earth. For all the bombs lobbed against us, figuratively and literally, we will witness again the transfer of power from one ruling ideology to another, all without a single shot being fired. Our system of government makes this possible, a system that derives its authority from the people. As long as our leaders swear allegiance to our Constitution, and are true to their oath, we value liberty and freedom enough to support our leaders, even when we interpret that Constitution differently.Because we live in a country whose government is built on a Declaration that says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Now, 233 years since Thomas Jefferson penned those words, and 148 years since President Lincoln went to war to prove them true, we will be inaugurating the first black president. I believe Presidents Jefferson and Lincoln would rejoice over such progress. Because I believe President Obama is God's man for the job at this time. Scripture says, God "sets up kings and deposes them" (Daniel 2:20-22)The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. (Proverbs 21:1-3)Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7) And so we will pray that our new president will ask of us only what is rightly due Him. And that he will heed the warning of Psalm 2:Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fearand rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." And we will rest in the sovereignty of our heavenly King. The King over all kings. The one of whom the Psalmist said, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases." Grant us O Lord Your favor. May this incoming "king's" heart be directed toward righteousness. And some more good thoughts by Peggy Noonan (The Wall Street Journal): "What is required for full enjoyment of an inauguration, from opening prayers to speeches to marching bands is, in the great 19th-century phrase, the willing suspension of disbelief. If you don't put your skepticism aside, you will not fully absorb and experience the drama. You must allow it to be real for you. Those two young people on the stage did not really take poison and die, but Romeo and fair Juliet did, and that is the reason the audience, which knows the actors still live, says, with genuine feeling, "Oh, no!"To believe, suspend disbelief. We have been through this before, the flags and fine speeches, the brass donkey paperweight, the glass elephant, the rise and fall of administrations, the coming and going of figures great and small. It's good to put that aside for a few days, to remove yourself from politics, partisanship and faction, to suspend your disbelief, to be grateful that the signs and symbols endure, as does the republic, and raise a toast: "To the president of the United States."

Girl Time

Tonight Earl went to play up in the mountains at a winter camp so I invited a few girls over from church and we had a Cuban meal and then went to the hot tub and pool.  We had chicken & onions, brown rice and black beans.  It was delicious and it was fun to show some of my Miami "heritage" to these friends.  We had a nice time hanging out and sharing stories from our high school years and spent some time just goofing off for the camera.

Tomorrow, Shachah is playing at another winter camp - this time for our church's high school group and other Calvary Chapel youth groups - and we will be driving up into the snow frosted mountain.  We have had a full weekend between NAMM, Shachah gigs and last night was the DSAOC Educator Reception.  For the past ten years, the DSAOC has accepted and honored nominees for educators who make an extra effort in the lives of individuals with Ds. This was a really neat event to be a part of.  These educators are outstanding individuals who go the extra mile to make sure all their pupils become best they can be and achieve their fullest potential.  I did not have my camera, otherwise I would post some pictures, but I was in charge of taking pictures for the DSAOC, so as soon as I get them I'll be sure to post some! :o)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and taking it easy! 

Recent Reads

I wanted to share a few recent reads I got, but first, an update on my teeth.  The oral surgeon said I can put it off until after tax season - which is great!  I really couldn't imagine taking a few days off to recuperate.  This will also give me time to get a prescription for the DDAVP so I don't end up rushing around trying to get it done.  

I went to the library a couple weeks ago and got some books.  I was craving a book for the weekend and once I was there I picked up a few.  The first two were from Sue Grafton - I haven't read them yet, but they are quick easy reads.  The other one is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  This was a fantastic book.  It's a historical fiction piece set in the early 1960s.  I really enjoyed reading it.  The other one that I am currently in the middle of is Putin's Labyrinth: Spies, Murder, and the Dark Heart of the New Russia by Steve Levine.  Levine was a journalist stationed in Russia and the surrounding countries who witnessed very disturbing similarities to the old rule that was in Russia during communism.  I haven't gotten very far, but it is an interesting read.  

I am thinking I will be posting at night as opposed to the morning, so I will give you guys a heads up to what's coming our way.  Tomorrow is another dentist appointment (this time a cleaning) and Earl is going to NAMM which is a four-day expo for music merchants.  This is the largest trade show in the world and it's in our backyard at the Anaheim Convention Center.  Musicians and merchants spend all four days walking through the convention center and drooling over the gear on display.  I have a feeling his day will be more enjoyable than mine.  Right now we are watching American Idol and laughing and enjoying it immensely :o)

Have a good night y'all!

Wisdom...

I noticed a couple of weeks before we went to Canada for Christmas that there seemed to be a little hole in my mouth. When we got back into town, I went to the dentist and had xrays taken and my wisdom tooth is trying to push through but is stuck and I have to get it taken out or there will always be a hole (which doesn't sound like a good thing to me). So, today during lunch I am meeting with the oral surgeon to discuss the plan of action. I only have two wisdom teeth and they are both on the right side of my mouth. The left ones never grew in. And this means that I am going to have to track down some DDAVP for my blood disease. Hopefully this will be quick, cheap and painless - but I have a feeling it will be none of those! AND thanks to everyone who commented and made me feel welcome in the blogosphere :o)

Starting Off

Here's to great beginnings! I have been *hounded* by certain family members and friends to start our own blog. I have a feeling it will be mainly mine, but from time to time I may write different things in Earl's name - thoughts he's had, etc. I am not sure how frequently I will be updating this, especially in the next few months, but I'll do my best :) For now, I will list two goals Earl and I have for 2009. First of all, we want to continue with our healthy eating. Some friends of our started doing the Ultra Metabolism "diet" last year and we started. It is nice to eat such good, tasty, wholesome foods. Our goal isn't to lose weight, but to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We are being pretty consistent in going to the gym as well. This will be a bit harder for me going through tax season, but hopefully I will keep with it since I have so much more energy when I'm doing it. Secondly, we are desiring to be better stewards and so we have started getting rid of time wasters in our lives and being more diligent in our savings. Alright, so that's post number one! We'll see what comes next!