Anyway, the daughter is talking to a friend about what she wants for Christmas. They are reading a catalog of expensive gadgets and the one girl says to the other, "What are you gonna ask for?" She answered, "Money's kinda tight at home, so my mom and I usually make each other gifts. That's how I got into painting and writing songs in the first place." Her response was, "Wow...You just sucked all the joy out of the holiday for me." It is a reality check, isn't it? I believe we become creative when we're at our humblist (is that a word??!!). So just like another Kincade calendar quote says, "Every time you attempt to solve a problem, you're being creative."

I certainly believe the quote that creativity isn't optional for any human being. Once we forget about creativity, we've become spoiled and lose our connection to our inner self so to speak. We push it away with selfishness. Because it takes time to be creative, and we're so selfish with our time. Proof for me is the last time I blogged, it was last summer! That's too long. If I am going to stay connected with my inner self (which is being a writer) then I need to write!

What do you have in your inner self that you haven't practiced lately? Remember, all our time is free time. How we utilize our time to make the most of it is key. I never schedule time for creativity but I do think about how I can be creative in everything I do so it is a mindset. It's probably easy for me because I am a people pleaser. I love it when people tell me, "You're so creative!" because I can give the glory to God since after all, He created everything in the first place!

We are all called to "be" or "do" something. I think we all know what that is too. I challenge you to take some time this weekend to do some of what it is you were called to do. The laundry can wait! Is it photography? Go to the botanical gardens and take some pictures and put them on a slideshow as your screensaver and you'll smile every time you see them. It will remind you of your creativity, and hopefully God's beautiful creation too.

Are you an excellent thinker, therefore a great chessplayer? Dust off the old board and teach someone how to play the game. Hand down that wisdom to the next generation and you'll have made your mark on this world. Do it NOW, you'll feel better for it. It will make next Monday easier to tackle. Let me know how it goes for you!

At the same time, I started freelance writing for the local newspaper the Pflugerville Pflag and was assigned the Religion beat (yippee!). I've since written four stories that made the front page! But my favorite interview by far is with Dr. R.C. Sproul, Jr. for the third issue of the CHEACT newsletter. The interview was about his life of course, and his passion for homeschooling. If I can figure out how to add a link to that story, I'll add it on my home page somewhere. RC (who is the son of the famous Christian speaker by the same name) is battling cancer right now and needs our prayers. The prognosis is good, but the treatments are hard on a father of seven!

My other job this year is being the information officer for our local homeschool group. I get to play around with our website (we're a closed group, so no advertising needed, word of mouth works just fine!), and organize service projects for our 10 year old and up group. We've been volunteering at the Storehouse which is an awesome Christian organization (www.the-storehouse.org).

So that's about it! Since I'm writing so much, I haven't had time to work on my novel. As a matter of fact, right now I should be on ebay selling some stamp sets that I promised to help a friend out with! But this summer (especially since we're hosting a Brazilian exchange student) I haven't found much time for any work (aw, my dh would say, must be nice!!) but I'm up to date on my scrapbooking! But now that my daughter isn't leaving for college until the spring, I want to spend as much time as possible with her. Then it's just me and the boy! Please pray for Steph as she prepares her heart for Pensacola Christian College (a place that my pastor said he wouldn't even go to because they have so many strict rules!).

Speaking of my pastor, I'm interviewing him for a story since he just got back from Israel (he's on sabbatical). He saw the bombings and has some interesting stories to tell that I am going to submit to the newspaper. Alright, this post is long enough already! Ta ta until next time.

When Jesus returns

The Thomas Kincaid calendar for Easter said, “We can choose to trust that things will work out.” How true. It’s our choice. Easter has come and gone, and our hearts were either stirred by the possibility of His returning soon, or we were like the stubborn Israelites in the wilderness either ignoring it or just not seeing the hope before us.

If it’s the latter for you, maybe a picture painted from the Bible will be encouraging. Close your eyes and see before you a beautiful garden. The vibrant colors of God’s creation are breathtaking; like nothing we’ve ever seen before with our fallen eyes. Even the cosmos are aligned with perfection. The stars are twinkling with full power, and there is no need for the sun or the moon, because Jesus is the light of the world.

Work in the garden is all for the glory of God. Life is consumed with taking care of the animals, eating the right food, hand tilling the crag-free soil with gladness and joy in our hearts. There is no smog, no stressful commuting or labor, nor complaining. There isn’t any death. God walks and talks with His people and pours out his love on them for all eternity.

That is what it was like when Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden. God’s intended perfection for mankind. That is what He is going to restore at His return. That is why He sent His Son. Are you ready for His power and glory to be manifest in your life? Believe on these things and renew the hope in your heart in order to be prepared for His return.

Even so Lord, come quickly!

Today's message pictures a gently flowing stream with a little bit of rapids (just enough to show how our lives have bumps and curves, but it all gets smoothed out in the end) and colorful flowers on each side of it that says, "I believe a radiant, light-filled tomorrow should be normal to the expreience of living." I think it is poignant because he says "believe" instead of "wish". If only we could believe more and stop doubting what God can do for us! I love reading other blogs that tell about trials and at the end of the story give God the glory for sustaining them through it all. That is what our faith is all about! If we can't do that, then we lack it severely. So just pray and trust that He is the answer, the Light at the end of our tunnel, our Sustainer, Redeemer, Friend. You can count on Him!

So they took our information and gave us a free bag of dog food, dog bandana, dog food bowl, some samples of snack foods, some coupons, and sent us on our way. But when we went outside my car wouldn't start. I called my husband and he said it was the battery. He had to go buy a new one and put it in. Meanwhile, we waited in the pet store and got to watch the other auditions. A man came in and drank a whole gallon of water; some red headed twin boys that were double jointed did some neat tricks, and a 15 lb. rabbit (yes, I said rabbit!) wearing an army bandana, came in on a miniature army tank to stare at everybody! I wasn't sure what his trick was!

Other contestants weren't as memorable, a cat came in that was supposed to give high fives and shake your hand, but didn't do anything. A bird dog tore up a towel to shreds, and that was about it! I thought we were a shoe-in to get on the news spot! We watched with the whole family and told all our friends, but to no avail, the top news was about the hurricane and has been for days now of course. Our story is long forgotten! But if I get a call from the David Letterman Show, I'll let ya know!

When we arrived at the ball park we talked our friends into signing up for the Junior Olympics, which was my sons best friend Matthew and his dad Lohn. The dads weren't too excited because they asked them to finish the race from third to home as a sack race! I knew my dh could wrap it up, he's much quicker and in better shape than the other dad, but things didn't turn out the way we planned when race time came around after the 3rd inning.

First, we were surprised they called both boys names; surely they weren't the only ones that entered the contest! Erik and Matthew were so extatic to hear their names and see them on the jumbo tron! My husband Ken and Lohn however, weren't as happy! They took the boys down nevertheless.

Being kid's night at the ball park (they all got great free backpacks, what a blessing!), all the different mascots from around the city were there; the HEB buddy, Fang from the Ice Bats, etc... (a big yellow bird kept attacking my friend Xylena that came with us, they did the chicken dance together!).

So, apparantly all the dad's had to do was sign a release form, because two of the mascots (I forget who) did the sack racing for the last leg instead of the dads; much to my chagrin. My son didn't get a good start, so rounding second he was lagging behind but smiling big! Then the tag to the mascot didn't go well so thank goodness he already had the sack on ready to go. They didn't have far to go but Matthew's mascot won it by a nose (a big one too I might add!). Both the boys got great t-shirts and Matthew got a Nike watch for winning.

On top of that, plus all the home runs, broken bats, people catching foul balls right next to us, AND t-shirts that were flung near us, big yellow dancing birds; it made such a fun evening out at the ballpark, we recommend it to everyone before their summer is "officially" over!

We signed up for the choir, cub scouts, and have been taking piano lessons. My son is not excited about choir because he is shy, but he sings so loud in the car and he knows the words to every song on the radio (Klove) so I think he'll do fine. We're taking a free art lesson at church this weekend to see if we like the program called Young Rembrandts. If so, we'll sign up to take that class at the recreation center.

On Tuesdays we're headed for Calvary Chapel to attend their HS co-op. The kids are taking science I believe, plus a Crown Financial course! Us ladies will be using the Tyndale 1 year bible for our study. On Friday's we'll be at CBS (community bible study) for my son and I both to study the word.

Oh, we're still helping out at the nursing home. Every other Wednesday we'll attend park day, then when we don't, we'll still help out with Bingo in Georgetown. We're going to start up a game of our own on Thursdays and probably play pokeno. It's my grandmother's favorite!

Erik already started gymnastics and its a small class so far. He's getting some great instruction from the manager himself! I actually still have time to get to the gym to workout myself on Mon-Wed-Fri mornings. Erik has to take work in with him to the kids play room which he hates since they have video games. I let him play one game after he finishes each subject and he does great!

Well...we're off to the gym now, then it's clean house day! It's a busy weekend, two birthday parties; my step-daughter and a 60 year old friend which will be a fun gag gift party, then Saturday night we have our monthly domino game with three other couples from our church (I'm not winning this year! but my DH is doing well) and Sunday night it's another night out at the ballpark to see the Round Rock Express! Have a great weekend yourself! God bless, Cathy :-)