The Parthenon

Some pictures of the full-scale, replica Parthenon:

 

Don't forget to look up!

Those Greeks knew how to make a building that showed strength and power!

Ordinary Days, Under active thyroid and God's Grace

Well, the bearing is in the baler (still don't know what a bearing is or does), and I've been to Point Park on Look Out Mountain, walked through Fat Man squeeze at Rock City, saw seven different states from one location, went to a real rodeo that had real cowboys with belt buckles the size of Connecticut (as apposed to the 'want'a be' cowboys at the county fair), marveled at the architecture of the full size replica Parthenon, attended a wonderful vocal concert which my uncle sang, walked around in a train station converted into hotel, visited Lincoln's birthplace and boy-hood home, played music with Aunt Rita at church, made a rhubarb pie, made butter, visited my cousins, started reading Kisses from Katie (wonderful book!), and took the Myers Briggs personality test (I'm an ISFJ).

Point Park, TN

Point Park, TN

Dad and his new friend at Rock City

So glad there wasn't an earthquake when we walked through here! 

As the month of May tick tocks by, I am getting ready to return to the south for the summer to volunteer at a Christian camp.  In addition to making sure I have enough clothes to make it through one week at a time, I've also been trying to get my thyroid levels up in the middle half of "normal" range, and my adrenal glands to not get stressed out over stress.
My thyroid has been under active for seven years and I've been to seven different doctor's who've put me on different supplements and prescriptions and was told "This will make you feel like a new person; you'll have energy, you'll loose weight, you won't be tired, and you won't have cold hands."  If all those pills had worked, I wouldn't be sitting here writing about trying to get my thyroid back to normal.
As excited as I have been about the opportunity to work at camp, I've wanted to loose 15-20 pounds, be fit and toned, and have energy to run around with the campers. I wanted to be as healthy as I could in order to serve the Lord this summer.  But the Lord must have other plans, because I can't shed the extra fluff, nor can I get a good and peaceful night's sleep (due to adrenal fatigue which is caused by stress).
Over the last few days I've come to the place where I'm tired of trying to get healthy, I just want to live life and be used of God.  I will continue to take my T-3 supplements, watch the amount of sugar I eat, and work out and be thankful that the Lord can use me the way I am. However, I am ready to back away from what I want (and have prayed for).  The Lord has opened my eyes and heart to realize that I don't have to be completely healthy to be used of Him.  "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV 
I may never loose a dress size or two, sleep like a log, or be able to handle stress without my body going into fight or flight, but I will marvel in the fact that I have a Savior who loves me enough to help me through the ups and downs of camp life (and ordinary days) by making his power perfect in my weakness.  After all, He's the One who made me this way, so He has to have a plan for me and I praise Him for that!

Point Park on Look Out Mountain

My Ordinary Life

It appears that I'm slacking a little bit in updating on here.  I would apologize, however, I don't lead a 'New York city' life and to be quite frank, I don't feel like anything has taken place that is blog worthy to write about.  I lead an ordinary life in the county.  I cook, clean, wash dishes, work out, bake, spend time with my Lord, put cows back where they're suppose to be, sing along with The Maccabeats, email my sister, play the piano and/or violin, study more on interior decorating, and finish out the day by reading a book or watching an episode of Bonanza or Andy Griffith.  Throw in a concert, research on essential oils and the effect they have on thyroid and adrenal glands, a birthday party for a three year old and a 90 year old, and that's what my month has been like.

Good friends (Abigail and me) after the concert.

I imagine by the time I get around to doing another update, I will have been to the deep south to see Look Out mountain and Chickamauga National cemetery, played music with my aunt at her church, attended my uncle's vocal concert, sewed an old feed sack into a skirt, visited my cousins, and helped dad put a new bearing in a big round baler (anyone know what a bearing is? Right - neither do I).

Natasha, a few days away from turning three years old.

Natasha (3) and great-grandma (90)

27 Questions (and Answers)

 I found these questions on a blog and thought I'd share them with you and let you get to know me a little bit.  Enjoy!

1. What color are your socks right now?  
Not wearing any socks. 
2. What are you listening to right now? 
The Man from Snowy River soundtrack.
3. What was the last thing you ate?
 A Mocha Scone.
4. Can you drive a stick shift? 
Maybe . . .  I know the gist of how to drive one, but didn't get much practice because the drive shaft on the truck broke.
5. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
A nurse. 


6. How old are you today? 
Older then I was yesterday, but younger then I'll be tomorrow.
7.  Nick name?
 Don't have one, but wish I did.  Dad picked out my name when I was born; mom wanted to name me Annie. They settled on Tiffany and mom thought she call me Annie because it's sort of the end of Tiffany.  But the nick name never took off.
8. What's your favorite sport to watch on TV?
 I'm not a fan of hardly any sport, but if I have to pick, I'd watch football.  (That doesn't mean I understand what's happening, though.)
9. What is your favorite drink?
Water.  Grandma use to call me her 'bread and water' girl. 
 10. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Nope.  And I don't plan to any time soon. 
 11. Favorite food?
Oh dear.  I have to pick a favorite?  I really like breakfast foods, such as omelets.  I also love casseroles.  And Chinese.  Oh - meatloaf and hamloaf, I like those.  Don't forget Mexican.  Breads! How could I forget that I love breads?
 12. What is the last movie you watched?
Bonanza.

 13. Favorite day of the year?
Don't have one.   
14. How do you vent anger?
Taking a walk, or crying.
 15. What was your favorite toy as a child?
 Janel and I played with paper dolls a. lot.  But there was many a day when I could be found setting up a little village with my little cars, trucks and tractors in my room.  Complete with cardboard roads.
 16. What is your favorite season?
Don't really have a favorite. 
 17. Cherries or blueberries?
Either, as long as they're in a pie, cobbler, etc. 
 18. Living situation? 
 With mom and dad.
 19. When was the last time you cried?
Um . . . last week . . . ? Can't really remember.

 20. What is on the floor of your closet right now?
Two pairs of shoes.
 21. What did you do last night?
Talked with mom and dad, then watched Bonanza.  
 22. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese.
 23. Favorite dog breed?
Jack Russel, and Corgis.
 24. Favorite day of the week?
Don't have one.
 25. How many states have you lived in?
One. 
 26. Diamonds or pearls?
Not a fan of either, but I'd take a diamond (yellow please) over pearls.  
 27. What is your favorite flower? 
Don't have a favorite.

 

Too Bright!

Janel wanted to get some nice pictures of Natasha (my niece) for Valentine's Day.  The sun was shining and it was a nice day, so out they went to get pictures. Natasha discovered how bright the snow can become when the sun is shining. 

 The outcome is a bit humorous:

"It's too bright!"

 Every time I look at these pictures I wonder if that's how the Israelites responded to Moses when he returned from talking with God on the mountain.  

"I can't open my eyes!"

 "Moses is back!" 

 "Well it's about time; he's been up there for hours!"  

"Good, I was getting tired of trying to keep his food warm."

"Whoa!  What happened to his face?!"

"What took place up there?"

"His face - it's too bright!"

"I can't open my eyes!"

"Moses, cover your face before we all get headaches! Please!"

"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.  When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.

When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.  But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD."   Exodus 34: 29-30, 33-35  NIV

Questions from John 18

This morning I was reading John 18.  Verse 20 and 21 are verses that always challenge me.

"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? [Here comes the part that makes me look into my own life:] Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." John 18:20-21 NIV

I've heard what the Lord said by way of reading the Bible.  

Question: Do I know/remember what He said?

I continued reading and came to verses 33-34 of the same chapter:

"Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" [Get ready, here comes the good part:]"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" John 18:33-34

Lots of people know who Jesus is, and have come up with all sorts of stories about Him. But here's the thing:

Question: Is it my idea I came up with, or did I get that idea from reading the Bible?

When you get to verse 38, you find that Pilate has a valid question:

"What is truth?" Pilate asked."

That posed a question in my mind:
Question: I know what I believe, but why do I believe it?  Is it because others told me about it (it was their own idea? Read verse 34).  Or do I believe what I believe because I read the Bible and know what Jesus said (read verse 21)? 

Just a few thoughts I wanted to share with you all as I reflect on the Easter weekend and what my Lord and Savior went through because of His unconditional love for me.

May you all have a blessed and joyful Easter as we celebrate an empty tomb and a risen Lord!

Some events that may have happened over the past few weeks, may or may not be limited to the following:

 ~ Attending orchestra practice on Thursday evenings

~ Visited my sister for her birthday

~ Helped a calf learn to walk  . . . in the basement

~ Tried on stiletto shoes (the most unuseful shoe that was ever created )
~ Looked at numerous floor plans of houses  

~ Attended a Mary Kay Party

~ Attended a girls retreat as a counselor

~ Played music with my aunt at her church

~ Learned how to play the card game Kent (or Kemp)

 ~ Went hiking and saw some beautiful waterfalls

~ Enjoyed spending time with my aunt and uncle

~ Made an apple and pecan pie

~ Watched Braveheart

~ Went hiking again and engaged in conversation regarding how living in the south can change one's view's of the Civil War

~ Marveled at what I learned during some one - on - one time with the Lord

~ Was informed that mom sprained her ankle while doing chores

~ Made new friends   

~ Watched Kate and Leopold (A new favorite movie!)

~ Started reading The Works of Josephus

~ Enjoyed the creation of the Lord

Blessings until next time!