Irrational Fear and a Hole

Since I didn't grow up in a Christian household, I wasn't aware of this particular verse as a child:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Therefore, when we went to the home of some friends of my parents, I didn't ever want to go into their kitchen. For under the table, against the wall was a hole in the floor. A little, round hole with a diameter of no more than an inch. Glen always told me that was a woolly-booger hole. And I was young enough to believe him. I didn't know what a woolly-booger was, but I was certainly afraid of it.

Fortunately, we usually visited in the living room of their home. On those rare occasions we were in the kitchen, I sat with my feet and legs curled up underneath me in the chair. There was no way my feet were going to dangle down there near that woolly-booger hole!

In an ironic twist, we ended up buying that house from those friends. Now the woolly-booger hole was in MY OWN KITCHEN! I did my best to stay away from the hole and suppose I finally got over my irrational fear. At least mostly. Then one glorious day, my dad installed new linoleum in our kitchen. Whew! My fear of that hole was covered up by new green vinyl.

Turns out that the hole existed because a gas line went through it many, many years earlier for a stove that was situated against that wall. Really nothing all that scary about it after all. But isn't that what often happens with fear? It turns out to be nothing. Yet we curl up and hunker down, afraid of what might come out and bite our toes.

Now when I find myself afraid of something, I retrieve that hidden-in-my-heart verse and allow God's word to wash me in truth and peace.

Besides, I know there's no such thing as woolly-boogers.


p.s. - I was over at Photobucket to find a picture for this when I noticed the Fearless book by Max Lucado. If you have any type of fears at all, I highly recommend this book.

Wordless Wednesday - Snow Angel

For more wordlessness, go here, here, or here.

Who is That?

My 365 Project is being posted at my photo blog, but I just couldn't pass up this opportunity. Because it's a very rare thing to behold. And given the time it takes for this to happen, you may not see it again.




I haven't had straight hair since 6th grade. That was a very, very long time ago.

For the record, it took probably 45-50 minutes for a professional stylist to achieve this look. If I attempted it? Probably an hour and a half. Either that, or I'd bail and put it up in a clip.

Doctor's Advice

Since it's that time of year when many people resolve to lose weight and be healthier, I thought I'd add my contribution.


A Doctor's Advice

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it...don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.


Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one , etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!


Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.


For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

New Year Thoughts

I had hoped to post a wrap-up, summary of 2009 yesterday, but the day just got away from me. Instead, I thought I might post some profound New Year's thoughts today. With an hour and fourteen minutes left, this day almost got away from me, too.

Besides days that get away, there are far too many thoughts in my head related to last year and this year and what I want to do and what I didn't do and what I did. It's a jumbled mess up there in my head, I tell ya'! I'd like to say I'll be brief, but I'd likely have to come back and delete that. Or risk being called a liar.



2009 - probably one of my favorite years. Hubby starting his business has just been such an incredible adventure. Seeing God's provision in our lives has been such a wonderful blessing. Watching our boys grow up is just amazing. Family and friends are such a joy in our lives.

2010 - As ever, I long to live simpler and lighter. Less stuff & more focus.

One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I want to love God and people more. I want to bear fruit that glorifies Him.

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ~John 15:8

I want to spend more time with my camera. Learning how to use all the manual controls. Shooting photos that were what I saw when I looked through the lens.

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. ~Ansel Adams

I want to share those photos and preserve the memories for my children through consistent scrapbooking. Not just once or twice a year, but ongoing.

Scrapbooking isn't about scraps of paper and photos. Scrapbooking is about scraps of life - yours and those special to you. ~Rebecca Sower

I enjoy writing and want to improve. Whether it's for others to read or merely my own journaling doesn't really matter. I just haven't written much in quite awhile and find that I miss it.

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~William Wordsworth

I want to be a more consistent and encouraging homeschool mom. I need to push the boys when they don't want to be pushed. At the same time, I want to give them freedom to pursue their passions, and spur them on in them, as they grow into godly young men.

And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. ~Hebrews 12:1

I am very excited to see what God has in store this year. I pray that I stop and listen to His direction and His thoughts before racing off with my own and that I would live with a heart of loving obedience.

I wish you all a very blessed and fruitful 2010!