Facebook, in a few words

I love to read books. I love to flip through magazines. 4 months ago, you might find me doing these things at night between 9 and 10:30....until I took the plunge and set up a Facebook account.

What a big fat mistake.

Don't get me wrong....it has been too much fun finding some of my friends with whom I shared life over the past 25+ years (am I THAT old?). And since I am a lover of the photo Christmas card, I am so enjoying seeing the pictures of friends' families. But I have to say, a lot of other memories came crashing back again. I'm sure I was the ONLY one who had moments of insecurity while I added friends to my list. What's even more funny is time seems to be the great eraser AND equalizer. All is well in the world and we're all one big happy Facebook family. Social class lines are being crossed. It's like Can't By Me Love circa 2009.

The upside is Tray is thrilled I won't have to drag him to my 20 year reunion in 2 years. Why go? I have caught up with everyone on Facebook in just 4 short months. No diet or special outfit shopping required. Score!

My favorite observation, to date, regarding Facebook came from a friend in College Station. She said, "Being on Facebook is like reading the writing on the bathroom stall." If you have Facebook experience, you are nodding your head in agreement.

Do I recommend Facebook. Sure, why not? Just a word of caution...Set a limit, in advance, on how much time you're willing to waste on FB each day. And try NOT to add the Facebook application to your mobile device of choice.

I have NO idea why it is so addictive, but it just flat is. And then you'll be stuck with an 8" pile of magazines and unfolded laundry.

Consider yourself warned. Proceed with caution.

Here's Your Sign

Jeff Foxworthy once had a comedy routine that involved signs. He presented the concept that if we all wore signs around our necks that truly described us, much time would be saved getting to know people.

I'm quite sure the below video isn't what he exactly had in mind, but it reveals so much more. It shows how God has restored and changed people's lives through the process of His matchless love, incredible sacrifice and unending grace.

If you had to write out a sign today, revealing how God has changed your life, what would it say?

*This clip is about 8 minutes, but so worth it!

Open Letter

An Open Letter to All the Critters that Live Around My House:

First, let me apologize for all the recent construction. I know it is quite disturbing, emotionally, to watch your home be ravaged by large yellow smoke-emitting pieces of equipment. Change is often hard. There is plenty of forest and you will find that special new home you are seaching for. And don't you worry...you'll make new friends quickly. You're not the first to go through this difficult journey. Seek out the advice of others on how to best adapt.

Which brings me to my next point. You might feel finding a human's home to provide temporary residency is the ideal situation, but let me caution you...it never ends well. You might find your way in, but unfortunately, the exit isn't so easy. Trust me on this one....many have gone before you and entered in my MY walls, and one of your own is currently living out its last days. How do I know, you might ask? Because it smells like the biggest poopy diaper has been hidden in my house...in my wall. And frankly, it is quite embarrassing. A nice hollow log is a much better choice. I urge to consider this option.

You might also think you need to seek out protection in the way of varmit gangs. I also much discourage you from this option as the initiation is brutal. Why do you think all those young squirrels and opossum run across the street just as the cars are coming? Coincidence? I think not. And we all know The Vultures have the ultimate power.

I leave you with this. Stick together and enjoy all that The Reserve behind my house has to offer. Don't take the easy way out....take the time to seek out a perfect spot for you and your group and build your lair out of materials that will last. It worked for the 3rd of the Three Little Pigs. Learn from their planning and perseverance.

I am FOR you, not AGAINST you.
A Homeowner Who Cares

PS- Could you also encourage the Armadillos to dig their big fat trenches OUTSIDE of my fence? I'd be so grateful.

A Sticky Situation

Hanging pictures can be tricky sometimes. Especially if your blank spot that needs filling isn't a true wall that can accept nails easily.

Enter Industrial Velcro. Those two magical pieces will open up a whole new world of decorating.

I had a blank spot over my kitchen stovetop that was yearning to be filled with something to fill those lonely hours slaving over those burners (HA!). I fell in love with the above picture from Targe' and mounted it immediately.

Note to self...remove paper backing from picture before attaching velcro. I speak from experience here. Let's just say it involved a 2 am wakeup complete with loading a shotgun as defense against the intruder we thought was entering out home. Good times....good times.

I leaned the picture against the wall for several days after the incident before I had the courage (and permission from Senor Shotgun) to mount the velcro to the actual wood of the frame and try again. It will be forever mounted on that tile for the amount of velcro I applied.

Have a mentioned my husband is a saint? Muchas gracias, Senor Shotgun.

Re-gifting Robin

Here is a little Thursday fun.

I don't profess to be a math genius. Heck, I just got a debit card this year because of my lack of skill in the checkbook area. Did I mention my husband and I never banked together up until this year. Um...that is 13 years banking separately. But that is beside the point.

Visit Re-Gifting Robin and see if you can stump her. I sure couldn't.

And then head over to regiftable.com for some no-fail re-gifting ideas. Who's brave enough to admit they re-gift?

In Stores Now

In the Fall, I spoke of a movie called Fireproof that I felt would save marriages, if given the chance.

The movie was wildly successful in a limited release and now can be purchased in stores for around $20. Here is a song from the soundtrack with clips from the movie (YouTube wouldn't let me embed, so sorry). This song will stick with you all day.

It is said in the movie that marriages aren't fireproof; prevention is necessary so that when the fire comes, the marriage can survive without being destroyed. Often we think of 'fire' as major trials or temptations, but may I suggest something? Sometimes the 'fire' that comes to test our marriages is complacency. We get so busy living life that our spouse becomes more like a roommate than the love of our life. Being intentional is overlooked.

In the movie, Caleb's dad gives him a book called The Love Dare. He challenges him with this 40-day 'dare' before ended his marriage. The idea behind the book is too many marriages end when someone says "I've fallen out of love with you" or "I don't love you anymore." The Love Dare discusses how these statements reveal a lack of understanding about the fundamental nature of true love. What I love is each chapter offers a devotional fashioned after an aspect of 1 Corinthians 13 and then ends with a related dare. And as you would guess, this is one of my 20 books under my bedside table. Some gals at my church are ahead of me and are enjoying the challenge. Day One stars for me today. I'll keep you posted.

And finally, one last things...'Slow Fade' is also featured in Fireproof. Thank you, Casting Crowns, for choosing to write lyrics about the hard stuff. People's lives will be changed.

The Stain That Remains

Stains don't play favorites. Everyone is fair game. You are never too old to fall prey to their schemes.

Sports is a way of life around my house. All my education on stain removal was gained last Spring when our coach decided to add white pants to JT's uniform rotation. You see, these sparkling white pants were debuted at a field in League City that boasts a clay infield. Did I also mention it rained that weekend? Um, hmm. Those white pants have never been the same since. The clay turned them a delicate shade of peach, when washed. That's magical....

All was not lost. I was able to restore them to 95% status. How, you might ask? Watch and learn, ladies. Watch and learn.

My first step was to travel to my second home, Target, and visit the laundry aisle. Next step? Buy one of everything. $30 dollars later, this is what I had:

Zout

Shout

Clorox Ultimate Care Bleach

OxyClean

Clorox Bleach Pens

I must mention that I also have Resolve Carpet Cleaner, aerosol variety, in my arsenal. We'll get to that later.

As I have said before, often it is all about combinations. And I quickly learned, sometimes you can have a real-life science experiement right there in your laundry room. Kinda like using Drano crystals to reveal the sex of your baby during pregancy. Are you feeling me, Jenny? Dang that smoke smelled BAD!

The best combination I have found for removing ground in grass stains/dirt is Clorox Ultimate Care Bleach and OxyClean. The bleach is not a thin liquid, but more creamy and when mixed with the OxyClean granules, this creates a stain-fighting paste that can't be beat. Warning...it will cause a heat reaction but will not smoke. What a relief, right? This works best when left on the stain to really permeate the fabric.

For basic stains, spraying Zout or Shout work well, sometimes both. The key here is to again, let the stain-fighter penetrate the stain before throwing it in the wash. Often we toss the treated garment in too quickly and the stain-fighter is washed away.

The bleach pen comes in handy when you have a spot on clothing that is not totally white. There are two tips to choose from: one skinny and one with a small brush to scrub.

And finally, the Resolve Carpet Cleaner, aerosol variety, works amazing to get greasy stains out of light colored clothing. I thought a pair of khaki capris were ruined and the Resolve totally removed the stain.

At the end of the day, often multiple treatments are required. Just remember...don't dry the stained garment as this will set in the stain.

Any stain-fighting tips to share?