Cat's Demo

For those of you who don't read my sister's blog, she posted her demo today. This isn't the final draft, but still sounds great! Head on over and let her know what you think.

Catherine's Demo

Without a Doubt, I'm Disturbed

My sister sent me this article today in response to a friend sending a campaign video about Senator Obama. This article is disturbing to say the least. Do you want this man as your president? I am beyond upset and prayerful that this man does not make his way into the position as leader of this country.

I realize now that I don't care if I step on toes, I believe what I believe to be absolute truth grounded on the Bible. Not on some belief or some religion. I believe what the Bible clearly says and obviously that is not what Obama believes.


Obama: Sermon on Mount Justifies Same-Sex Unions
By Terence P. Jeffrey
CNSNews.com Editor in Chief

March 03, 2008(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told a crowd at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, Sunday that he believes the Sermon on the Mount justifies his support for legal recognition of same-sex unions. He also told the crowd that his position in favor of legalized abortion does not make him "less Christian." "I don't think it [a same-sex union] should be called marriage, but I think that it is a legal right that they should have that is recognized by the state," said Obama. "If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans." ((Hear audio from WTAP-TV)) St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans condemns homosexual acts as unnatural and sinful. Obama's mention of the Sermon on the Mount in justifying legal recognition of same-sex unions may have been a reference to the Golden Rule: "Do to others what you would have them do to you." Or it may have been a reference to another famous line: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

"The Sermon, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, includes the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, an endorsement of scriptural moral commandments ("anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven"), and condemnations of murder, divorce and adultery. It also includes a warning: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."The passage from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, which Obama dismissed as "obscure," discusses people who knew God but turned against him.

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised," wrote St. Paul. "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."On the topic of abortion, Obama said his support for keeping it legal does not trespass on his Christian faith."I think that the bottom line is that in the end, I think women, in consultation with their pastors, and their doctors, and their family, are in a better position to make these decisions than some bureaucrat in Washington. That's my view,"

Obama said about abortion. "Again, I respect people who may disagree, but I certainly don't think it makes me less Christian. Okay."

"As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws," Obama said in the letter. "I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples--whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage."

In Ohio on Sunday, before mentioning the Sermon on the Mount, Obama insisted he was against "gay marriage" and did not mention his support for allowing same-sex couples to adopt children and have the same "family" status as heterosexual couples."I will tell you that I don't believe in gay marriage, but I do think that people who are gay and lesbian should be treated with dignity and respect and that the state should not discriminate against them," said Obama on Sunday. "So, I believe in civil unions that allow a same-sex couple to visit each other in a hospital or transfer property to each other. I don't think it should be called marriage, but I think that it is a legal right that they should have that is recognized by the state. If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans. That's my view."

Obama also has been more aggressive in framing his pro-abortion position previously than he was on Sunday. When he was in the Illinois Senate, for example, he repeatedly opposed a bill that would have defined as a "person" a baby who had survived an induced-labor abortion and was born alive.

Yet, in Ohio on Sunday, Obama depicted abortion as a tragedy to be avoided, while being kept legal. "On the issue of abortion, that is always a tragic and painful issue," he said. "I think it is always tragic, and we should prevent it as much as possible .... But I think that the bottom line is that in the end, I think women, in consultation with their pastors, and their doctors, and their family, are in a better position to make these decisions than some bureaucrat in Washington. That's my view. Again, I respect people who may disagree, but I certainly don't think it makes me less Christian. Okay."

Before discussing his views on same-sex unions and abortion, Obama told the crowd he was a "devout Christian." "In terms of my faith, there has been so much confusion that has been deliberately perpetrated through emails and so forth, so here are the simple facts," he said. "I am a Christian. I am a devout Christian. I have been a member of the same church for 20 years, pray to Jesus every night, and try to go to church as much as I can when they are not working me. Used to go quite often."These days, we haven't been at the home church--I haven't been home on Sunday--for several months now. So, my faith is important to me. It is not something that I try to push on other people. But it is something that helps to guide my life and my values."

Who gave us the right to determine life or death? Who gave us the right to change the plan of God? Marriage, conception, life, death... God controls these, yet America is taking it into their own hands and look where it has gotten us. We are setting ourselves and our children and our children's children up for disaster.

Picture This... California Sunset

En route home after work one day, several weeks ago, This is what I saw on the freeway. Not your normal picture of a "California Sunset" with coastal views and sandy beaches as shown on tourist ads. Even looking at it now I am in awe. Who created this painting in the sky? Did He have me in mind that day, knowing that it would make me view Him in a different way?

As I look at this I am reminded of how great God is. Everything created is unique. Each Sunset. Each Sunrise. Created by His hand. Beautiful.

In the Studio - D2E & Cat

My brother and his band are recording in the studio today and tomorrow. My sister is also recording for her CD, so excited for them both! Hopefully I'll be able to share some clips next week.

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Below is a rough draft demo that my brother did in the studio a couple months back. This is a song by another artist that he loves to sing... enjoy!

It looks like the playlist is having some issues... click here.

Summer Shoe Pledge

I came across this "Pledge" and laughed so hard, I had to share...



Summer Shoe Pledge

Please raise your big toes and repeat after me:

• As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood (whatever that is...), I pledge to follow the rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes.
  
• I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.


• I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.


• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.


• I will shave the hairs off my big toe.


• I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it the real good.
  
• If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.
  
• I will not live in corn denial, rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholls if my feet need him.


• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.


• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.


• I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

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I have a friend that has a serious foot phobia. Don't touch her with your feet, don't speak about the gross disgusting body part.. called the foot.

I found this picture while looking for a sandal photo. Let me warn you, it made my stomach roll. If you are someone that has issues with feet, don't look... just pass by. My family has really nice feet, not bony and cute, do people really have feet like this? (where's the pinky toe? lol)

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Picture This... Unusual Road Blockage

This is what My mother and saw as we were rushing down our street to get the bank this past weekend...

After sitting in the car and honking for 10 minutes or so, a guy comes out and looks confused. He pushes his "project" out of the street for us to pass... scratching his head. How did an old fixer of a car get into the middle of a street without it's owner knowing about it? Odd.

Down 2 Earth aka D2E

I am going to brag for a minute or two... My brother, Peter, is in an awesome band, Down to Earth. He's always loved music and tried to get a band started more than once. I remember in high school he had a band called the Puffs. All the guys wore Afro wigs, why? I have no idea but it was popular with the girls, I guess that's what they were aiming for.

Now he has the real deal. He sings very good, sometimes it boggles my mind. He is an outstanding song writer and musician. He has been playing the drums since he was four and the acoustic guitar since he was... 20 or somewhere around there. Never professionally trained yet he has won several drum contest.

On Friday night he was in charge of the music for a crusade that we have for our local churches in Los Angeles County and Orange County. I was scared to death for him, not knowing how it was going to turn out. Our first practice, I sang with the group, was a few days before the actual event. Hearing the music and singing you would think we sang together before, but this was the first time. God had his hand on us and the band and I knew that something great was going to come of it.

Friday night rolled around and service begin with the band singing and playing first then the singers joining in. We sang, Rescue by Desperation Band, Say So and I Know Who I Am by Israel and New Breed, Blessed Be Your Name by Newsboys, and Word of God Speak by Mercy Me.

God moved in that place and touched so many people and opened the door for the preaching by Rev. Lee Stoneking. It was so awesome. The spirit of unity that was in that place was so thick. It all goes hand in hand, the prayer before service opens the door for worship, worship opens the hearts for the word of God. It was a night when everything came together.

The band will be recording for their demo this weekend, I can't wait to share the sound of their playing and singing. Keep on the lookout for D2E!

Bloggers Block

Have you ever had Bloggers Block? The kind where you sit in front of a blank post and nothing comes to mind. Makes you think you need a life... or a more interesting one.

I'm the Daily B and I suffer from Bloggers Block.

I was surfing the search engines and came across this topic about Bloggers Block. Here is a list of potential topics to tackle.

Types of Blog Posts
• Instructional• Informational• Reviews • Lists • Interviews • Case Studies • Profiles • Link Posts • ‘Problem’ Posts • Contrasting two options• Rant • Inspirational • Research • Collation Posts • Prediction and Review Posts • Critique Posts • Debate • Hypothetical Posts • Memes and Projects

The reason I started blogging was to journal my thought process, I found it interesting. Even if no one else did. Ha!

I personally think I am one of the funniest people I know. I laugh at my own jokes and tend to think, "you are funny, hilarious... too bad no one knows it but you.". Since I found myself so interesting, why not see if anyone else did? That is my story behind this blog and guess what? I still find myself interesting and funny. When I see it typed out, my thoughts that is, it looks unappealing. It's only fun when the thought are running around in my head... Then and only then is it blog material.

Now I need to go get a life.

6 Word Memoir Meme and Then Some

I was tagged by Jenster who was tagged by Seaspray to do a Memoir Meme. I don't know how interesting my memoir will be, but we'll see.

I am going to break the rules and write six things each in the Likes and Dislikes category.

Likes: God, Corn, Computers, Kids, Books, Family

Dislikes: Hell, Peas, Cats, Rock (music), Phones, Baseball (major league)

Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4. Tag at least five more blogs with links.
5. Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

I tag Sony, Cat, Yolie (mom), Angela, and Eileen.

Don't feel like you have to do it... =)

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I open the headline news and this is what I see...

Major Earthquake is a Sure Bet (!!!)

And where is this earthquake going to hit? California. Of course. I remember when the Northridge earthquake happened, I was pretty young and it pretrified me. We were used to little quakes but this one was the "Big One".

I hate it when people say, "This is earthquake weather.". I wait for it to hit and when it doesn't, I am relieved until I hear it again, "This is earthquake weather.".

So, the Big One will happen within the next 30 years. Most likely in Southern Cal. Lovely. Maybe I'll plan a move in the next 15 years to Arizona until it's all done.

Read more here.

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I went to my Grandma's grave on Saturday. It was so hot in the hills. Over 100 degrees. I honestly didn't feel any connection with the memory of her there. No connection. But it was nice to go with my aunts and know that they found comfort there. I was overly concerned with the fact that my legs were about to catch on fire and making sure my umbrella was covering most of my body. It's too hot in LA to really enjoy. I'm so glad I live in the OC!

I Wanna... I Don't Wanna

I am reading a book that is really good, The Will of Wisteria, yet I can't seem to find the time to pick it up and read! Not for lack of time, but for lack of interest. I have Blue Heart Blessed, still boxed, at home... and it's calling my name. I can hear it and it's pulling me in... Should I give in and forget about the books that I did not pick but I am supposed to be reading? Should I do what I want to do and forget obligations? So far I am turning out to be a stinky judge.

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Tomorrow my Mom, Aunts, and I will be picnicking at my Grandma's grave. Weird? A little, I guess. I haven't been to her grave site since the funeral. Not sure how that will be since it's hard enough sometimes with just the memory of her. A grave is just a holding place for something left behind. Nothing more. Yet, somehow you feel closer to the person, knowing that what you knew, looks and touch wise, is there. This should be interesting, weird and a little difficult.

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My sister-in-law and I are on this strict "eating right" path. We've decided that we need some more energy, so we made up our minds this week to better our eating habits. So far this week has been empty, hungry bellys and whining. Lots of whining. "I want this" "I want a burger" "I want that" "I want cheese" "I want fries". We whine to each other all day. All day.

We were walking on our break yesterday afternoon and this was a conversation we had. Not a smart conversation, but a normal one for us.

Me: Ouch, my sheen hurts.

Her: Sheen? Don't you mean shen?

Me: Hahaha, did I say sheen? I mean't to say shin

Her: No, shen.

Me: No, shin. Do you hear yourself? You said shen when it's sheen. Wait, no, It's shin.

Her: I didn't say shen, you said sheen

Me: No, you said shen

Her: I did?

I've got a Dummy

Ack! Can you imagine my surprise when this came in the mail this week!

I take care of records for legal trials, such as car accidents, amusement park accidents, large company employment issues (most names you would recognize, but I'll refrain from giving them bad publicity, lol). Paper and photos. That's the extent of my load. Never have I seen this before. This face is sitting on my credenza, staring at me. Inviting me to try it on... did I just write that? Try it on? Who knows where that dummy has been! He looks like he's been around.

Anyway, I have a Dummy, at least for a short while. He has really good skin, no brain, and he never says a word. I can say whatever I want in front of him and he will never say a word. Ever. So easy going. Never leaves. I think He deserves a name... How about Bill? Then I can sing "Hey Bill". Or, Colin Firth. Yes! That's the name I'll give him. Collie for short.

My Dummy Collie.

Man, I wish all men were like this!

Picture This...My Favorite Vacation Place

My family vacations in Lake Tahoe during the summer. Lake Tahoe in the Summer is incredible! This is one of my all time favorite places. We were unable to make it last year due to my Grandmother passing away, but we are planning our trip early this year... I am counting the days! Here are some pictures that I took on our 2006 trip.

Beautiful Lake Tahoe
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Virgina City Boardwalk

My Wonderful Random Week

It's been a really great week... If Sunday was any idea of how the week was going to be, I was ready to stay in bed and cover my head until it was over. But, it has been wonderful! Very random, but great! The one thing that would have made it better... reading. That always lifts my spirits. But then again, maybe it was such a good week because I wasn't reading... who knows.

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This post is going to be a full of pictures today. I walked outside the Saturday before Easter and saw these poinsettias in full bloom... from Christmas! In my backyard! I don't know how it is anywhere else, but we don't see poinsettias around here until late November.

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Kids and Cell Phones

On Wednesday nights I work with the kids, ages 2 - 13 at my church. Every Wednesday we have to make an announcement, "Please turn off your cell phones.". Not just for the older kids, the little kids too! Here are two of our 11 year old boys texting away before class starts. Next thing you know the toddlers will have cell phones!

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Enchanted *sigh*
I had the itch to see Enchanted (click for trailer) after my Sister and Becky said that they saw this twice already. I have now seen it twice and wouldn't mind seeing it again. Such a great movie! I loved it! Family friendly, great music, funny, and sweet.

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Faith, Hope, and Love...
I came home late on Wednesday night, I go straight from work to the hotel where my church is temporarily at while we are in the process of buying our building, and there was a box waiting for me. I opened it, expecting Wives & Daughters DVDs that I purchased forever ago. This is what I found...



BOOKS! I had forgotten that I sent in an application to be a Judge for The Eighth Annual Faith, Hope and Love, RWA Chapter’inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest. I received four books, all signed by the authors! Best of all, I can keep them!

• Summer by Karen Kingsbury


• Black Ice by Linda Hall


• The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth
  
• The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling by Neta Jackson

I'm reading and judging these this month, I can't reveal my actual scores, but I will let you know about the ones that I really liked. I have never read any of these authors before, I know what you're thinking, Never read Karen Kingsbury? This will be my first one. I've been wanting to read her books for so long, I just didn't know where to start. Has anyone read Book 1, Sunrise? If you have, please let me know if I should read that one before Summer. Or fill me in so I'm not lost...

This is going to be very different for me, I don't usually read books like this, I tend to be drawn to the Christian Romance. We shall see...

Keep an eye open for a book giveaway this month... My bookcases are getting too full at this point.

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No Books for two weeks...
I can pick up a book and READ on Saturday! I thought that I would be able to read today, but I calculated wrong. When I wake up on Saturday morning, Deep In The Heart of Trouble and I have a date!

Picture This... Thomas Kinkade

My Mom collects Thomas Kinkade's. My Dad usually "surprises" her with a new one on Christmas. Thomas Kinkade had just come out with this one in November 2007, An Evening at Biltmore (click on the link for history). This mansion is beautiful and it was rumored that the inside of the mansion was designed ahead of its time, with a bowling alley! The minute I looked at this I could picture something like Pride & Prejudice or Emma. Breathtaking.

We had the opportunity to have an Expert Highlighter come in and add some highlights to the painting, shown above. My sister and I were able to add some touch ups as well, with the Expert leaning over our shoulders of course. Thomas Kinkade is known for how his paintings look when they're lit up. Depending on how you dim your lighting or brighten it, the painting takes on a whole new atmosphere and feeling.

The man and women walking toward the front were the owners of the Biltmore.