Heath Ledger's final role

Sadly, Heath Ledger's untimely death has hit me far harder than Jonathan Brandais, Kurt Cobain, and River Phoenix all rolled together. He was a amazing actor from his beginnings in 10 Things I Hate About You to his Oscar nominated role in Broke Back Mountain (yes, i actually watched this movie...strange but a good movie in it's own right!)

It is so sad to see what life brings and what life can also take away. Who knows how troubled his soul was, or if he was just the victim of prescription drugs that shouldn't mix. Still the fact remains that a young star in the prime of his life and career, with a beautiful 2 year daughter is dead.

My love of my favorite movie, 10 Things I Hate About You will still continue but it will be bittersweet with the knowledge that Heath will never be in another film.

My prayers for his family and his precious daughter Matilda will be just as strong. May this sweet little girl grow up with a loving family and priceless memories of a father who obviously loved her a great deal and hopefully one day she will know the comfort of the true all loving heavenly Father.

You Might Be a member of the Church of Christ ...

With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy of "Redneck" joke fame, you might be a member of the church of Christ …

• If you know exactly what song I'm talking about when I ask you to turn to number 728b.
• If you could recite all the books of the Bible before you could even read them.
• If you know the first and third verse of nearly every song.
• If you actually know what a "ready recollection" is and have been thoroughly "guide-guard-and-directed" all your life. (If you're really a member, you know that "guide-guard-and-directed" must be followed by "and-bring-us-back-at-the-next-appointed-time.")
• If you think "progressive" refers to those in the church who want a sound system and PowerPoint.
• If you can actually read shape notes.
• If you recognize any of these ministers by first name alone:
• If you think your chosen pew is "sacred" and no one else should sit in your spot.
• If you think the Bible questions on Jeopardy are way too easy.
• If you decide which Bible translation to use based on how Acts 2:38 reads.
• If you immediately reach for your wallet when you hear the phrase, "Now, separate and apart from the Lord's Supper …”
• If you know all the words to all the verses of Trust and Obey.
• If you've ever ridden a JOY bus. (And, of course, you know that JOY stands for "Jesus" first, "Others" second and "Yourself" last.)
• If, when you're happy and you know it, you clap your hands, stomp your feet and say "Amen!"
• If you've ever carried your Bible in an empty casserole dish.
• If you brought that casserole dish to the last fellowship meal, and the main ingredient in it was cream of mushroom soup.
• If you've ever heard a rambunctious young child yell "Pray for me! Pray for me!" as his mother whisked him down the aisle to the foyer.
• If you've ever wondered who Ebon Pinion was.
• If you think the term " church of Christ humor" is an oxymoron.
• If you've ever heard an announcement from the pulpit about a missing puppet.
• If you think the Chronicle is way too liberal.
• If you've ever prayed for those "who are sick of this congregation."
• If you've never been to a church that wasn't named after the street it was on.
• If you think the Chronicle is way too conservative.
• If you've been to a wedding or a funeral where "the invitation" was offered.
• If you've stood for 13 verses of Just As I Am with the last stanza sung softly.

I'm sure some of you can identify with some if not all of what is listed above....no matter where we are, or where we're headed it's always nice to remember where we came from. Please share your thoughts....I'd love to know what this list makes you think of!

Have a great day!!!! :)

Make it a GREAT '08!

I hate New Years. I always have and am pretty sure I always will. Let me explain: I am a Gemini, and by nature all Geminis are walking contradictions. I however am not only a walking contradiction, I am the inspiration behind the creation of the word "oxy-moron". I am a human ping-pong ball when it comes to decision making; yes, no, yes...no...oh, maybe! I am insanely ocd about some things and yet I could careless about other things (Dave Ramsey classes really exposed this flaw). New Year's has always stressed me out because not only am I an over-achiever, I am also a procrastinator. I have a classic type-A personality and yet I'm one of the most free-spirited people I know....New Year's is the biggest build up/let down of my year. I get so excited about my New Year's resolutions list and how I'm going to attack it come Jan. 1st and then by around the 15th-16th (absolutely no will-power) I have either stopped doing some if not all of my list. Of course my type-A personality can't stand this...and it would just be wrong to up and start my list again...I would need to wait for a big day to restart my desired resolutions...thus my free spirited procrastination personality takes over and says "eh...wait till next New Years to start your list". I'm sure you can see now why I'm absolutely exhausted by this never ending cycle of accomplishing NOTHING!!!! This year I decided to just through my list out there, out into the great wide internet world where anyone and everyone could read it and hold me accountable:

*Finances* (rice and beans/beans and rice)
*This year Jeff and I plan to pay off all of our debt...outside our home and the truck.
*This year I will work extremely hard on my candle business.
*I am not buying a single thing outside of groceries, diapers and gas. Sorry in advance but you'll see me in the same outfits over and over...

*Relationships*
*This year I want to grow some near and dear friendships.
*This past year I realized the more you do for people the more they expect you to do...I don't enjoy that. This year I am going to be very careful as to what I allow myself to do, and who I do things with.
*I am so excited about Deidra's wedding in the near future...I can't wait to welcome Randall into our family...ok, a 20 year friendship equals family in my book!

*Personal*
*All I can say is goodbye to the weight I been carrying around for the past 4.5 years. GONE! It will all be gone...I will be back to my pre-Gavin size and body by this time next year. (it's only like 45lbs really...how hard could that be....geez!)
*I really want to go back to being a vegetarian. Now that I've had all my children and stabilized my blood sugar I'd like like to stop eating animal meat as my source of protein. Jeff hates this idea so we'll see how far I get with this one.
*There will be a couple of surgeries/procedures this year...nothing big, you won't even notice, but I will!
*I'd love to get back on the catwalk this year but I'm really slating that for '09, although I wouldn't rule out prints. I'd like to send in Gavin's head shots...the boys got his momma's looks!
*The hair will return...I know I cut it short and it's cute and all, but I miss my hair. Tie me down if you hear me say I'm getting a haircut!

*Goals for the Future*
*Jeff and I are saving for a trip to Mexico this summer we are also saving for our 5 year anniversary next summer. We plan on going to Hawaii and possibly getting "remarried". Strange concept I know..."remarried" but hey, it would be cool to wear "the dress" again say we got married in Hawaii! yes, yes I'm sure you did the math Gavin will be 5 Aug 27th, 2008 and our 5th anniversary isn't until June 26th, 2009.....oops!


These are all pretty simple I know but I tried to stay away from the average "lose weight, hit the gym, spend more time with friends and family". Hopefully I can keep up with this list...if you see me buying, cutting or eating anything...please stop me!

~HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!~