Lest you think I've given up on getting up early and doing the morning blog thing, I figured I'd try to at least post something today. Do you have any idea how long I sat at my laptop yesterday morning trying desperately to find something inspired to say? My pregnancy brain misses its morning coffee.
This morning isn't a whole lot better, but I thought I'd try just sitting and typing and seeing what comes as a way of attempting to break through the block. I was actually working on my menu plan for a while, and it seems I can't even come up with enough ideas for that either. I've got five nights over the next two weeks that I just can't seem to figure out what we should eat, or more accurately, what I might feel like making.
So here I sit, unable to come up with a good idea for a blog post, and still trying to figure out what we're going to eat for supper. Maybe another day will be more inspiring...
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Day Three
The lights are on at the construction site behind the house where the men continue to work on the long-awaited and past-deadline rec centre. There's a haze outside this morning that promises of one very hot March day and hints of summer rather than spring. The tea kettle rumbles and grumbles behind me, and I miss my coffee. Vanilla rooibos tea just isn't cutting it for me these mornings.
It's day three of getting up with the kids, and boy, I forgot how hard this is. It's my own fault for getting out of the habit, and I keep telling myself it would be easier if I had a steaming cup of coffee waiting for me, which I know probably isn't true, but it does give me something to look forward to once these months of pregnancy are over.
And "Click!" goes the kettle. My kettle doesn't whistle when it's done. It kind of annoys me. All I get is a "Click!" as it shuts off and pray that I actually hear it so I get up and pour the water while it's hot instead of having to reboil it when I finally remember that I was waiting for it.
So I'm going to continue on, and you'll get some disjointed blog posts, somewhat like this one, until my mental faculties return to their former non-pregnancy-hormone fogged state, and in a few months, I'll have the benefit of caffeine to assist me in providing added clarity through the fatigue. I can see a difference in my moods already; not that I can attribute that to my own strength. Lord, no, but He is faithful to provide grace for each day when we but turn to Him and ask. Praise Him for His faithfulness!
It's day three of getting up with the kids, and boy, I forgot how hard this is. It's my own fault for getting out of the habit, and I keep telling myself it would be easier if I had a steaming cup of coffee waiting for me, which I know probably isn't true, but it does give me something to look forward to once these months of pregnancy are over.
And "Click!" goes the kettle. My kettle doesn't whistle when it's done. It kind of annoys me. All I get is a "Click!" as it shuts off and pray that I actually hear it so I get up and pour the water while it's hot instead of having to reboil it when I finally remember that I was waiting for it.
So I'm going to continue on, and you'll get some disjointed blog posts, somewhat like this one, until my mental faculties return to their former non-pregnancy-hormone fogged state, and in a few months, I'll have the benefit of caffeine to assist me in providing added clarity through the fatigue. I can see a difference in my moods already; not that I can attribute that to my own strength. Lord, no, but He is faithful to provide grace for each day when we but turn to Him and ask. Praise Him for His faithfulness!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Back to a new thing?
Well, people, you'll never guess it: I actually got up with the kids this morning instead of sending them downstairs to watch TV while I go back up to sleep. I know. It's a miracle. It sucks, though. I'm stuck with tea instead of coffee, and it's just not the same.
I've been feeling more and more lately like this pregnancy has turned me into a miserable monster, and I'm getting sick of it. So in an effort to bring more of God back into my day, I'm going to try to get back into the habit of getting up with the kids and spending time reading all the inspirational and encouraging blogs that I used to back before I got walloped with ridiculous morning sickness. Thankfully, most to all of my nausea and vomiting has abated, and I'm actually starting to feel a modicum of inspiration to write again, so if I can keep this up, you might even get a few more blog posts out of the deal.
(Wow, look at all those big words! See, it's working already...)
I have to say, I was highly amused to log in to Blogger this morning and check my stats. I couldn't believe that I've actually managed to maintain a steady readership, even though my posting has been sporadic and infrequent. Get this: I've been pinned on Pinterest!! I know!! Crazy!! Apparently, some of the recipes I've posted have caught some attention, how cool is that!
Anyway, that's about all I have to say for now. I don't want to get too long and lengthy as I have much catching up to do on my blog reading after months of not doing much of it. I will say this: the kids have been totally confused this morning by my getting up early. They've gotten used to me going back to bed for about an hour after they get up, and now they're all like, "I guess you couldn't sleep, Mommy." "What are you doing awake, Mommy?" "What's going ON?" Poor things. I tried to remind Reuben that this is what I used to always do, and I think he gets it. We'll see if I can get back into making this the habit or not...
I've been feeling more and more lately like this pregnancy has turned me into a miserable monster, and I'm getting sick of it. So in an effort to bring more of God back into my day, I'm going to try to get back into the habit of getting up with the kids and spending time reading all the inspirational and encouraging blogs that I used to back before I got walloped with ridiculous morning sickness. Thankfully, most to all of my nausea and vomiting has abated, and I'm actually starting to feel a modicum of inspiration to write again, so if I can keep this up, you might even get a few more blog posts out of the deal.
(Wow, look at all those big words! See, it's working already...)
I have to say, I was highly amused to log in to Blogger this morning and check my stats. I couldn't believe that I've actually managed to maintain a steady readership, even though my posting has been sporadic and infrequent. Get this: I've been pinned on Pinterest!! I know!! Crazy!! Apparently, some of the recipes I've posted have caught some attention, how cool is that!
Anyway, that's about all I have to say for now. I don't want to get too long and lengthy as I have much catching up to do on my blog reading after months of not doing much of it. I will say this: the kids have been totally confused this morning by my getting up early. They've gotten used to me going back to bed for about an hour after they get up, and now they're all like, "I guess you couldn't sleep, Mommy." "What are you doing awake, Mommy?" "What's going ON?" Poor things. I tried to remind Reuben that this is what I used to always do, and I think he gets it. We'll see if I can get back into making this the habit or not...
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thoughts through the fog
I was sitting at the table this morning, eating my raisin bran and reading from my Christmas present "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It's one of those slow reads that work better when you take in a little bit at a time so you can spend a while turning it over in your brain and taking the words to heart. Hence the reason I haven't finished it yet, and it's been two months since Christmas.
Today's reading had a line in it that really struck me: "...and I know all our days are struggle and warfare (Job 14:14) and that the spirit-to-spirit combat I endlessly wage with Satan is this ferocious thrash for joy."
...this ferocious thrash for joy...
These words somehow managed to pierce through the pregnancy-induced fog that seems to surround the thinking part of my brain these days, and I almost couldn't believe how perfectly Ann has described this constant daily battle to see God's glory and grace in our fallen world. (Except that I know from reading her blog that she always seems to find the right way to put into words the way I feel about life.)
I find it particularly interesting to be reading about finding God's gifts even through the trials of life from Ann, while at the same time, the lesson I just worked on last night for our women's Bible study was talking about what we do when we can't explain what Jesus is doing. The study we're doing is Beth Moore's "Beloved Disciple", and it focuses on the disciple John. Last night's lesson looked at Jesus' crucifixion through his eyes, and she finished the chapter by asking if we would stay close to Jesus when He doesn't stop a tragedy, or if we will walk away from Him when it seems as if He is weak and defeated.
In earlier chapters, she talked about how God uses difficulties and assignments in our lives to teach us lessons, and that often, we don't learn all the lessons from those experiences until after we've gone through them and are able to look back on them and reflect.
Finding God's gifts and daily graces through the trials of life. God teaches us lessons through difficulties. Staying close to Jesus when things don't seem to make sense. All timely and essential reminders to me during this time in my life.
When I try to think about this pregnancy rationally, it feels like I'm being unfair to call it a "trial". It's not as if this is a time of extreme grief or sorrow or mental anguish (although the ridiculous amount of time it's taking me to put together a simple blog post might prove that last one is actually accurate). But I have to say it, I am not one of these women who just breezes through pregnancy and loves every minute of it. Those first 14 weeks of debilitating "morning" sickness and all-day nausea were a trial. I survived that first trimester only to have to face the reality of this steadily growing new life taking up all the space in my body that was previously reserved for my vital organs, which are now all being shoved up into my rib cage and making it difficult to both take a deep breath and eat a large meal in one sitting.
By golly, this counts as a trial for me.
But that's no excuse for me to just sit down and wallow in self-pity, which is why I am grateful for these reminders in Ann's book and in Beth's study. God's grace is here, in this daily "ferocious thrash for joy". It is in life's trials that we need to cling to Him even tighter. Little by little, day by day, He gives me the strength to keep going and persevere.
(And I'm really looking forward to the day when my hormones go back to normal, and I can drink coffee again, and I can put together a blog post in less than an hour... Yeesh...)
Today's reading had a line in it that really struck me: "...and I know all our days are struggle and warfare (Job 14:14) and that the spirit-to-spirit combat I endlessly wage with Satan is this ferocious thrash for joy."
...this ferocious thrash for joy...
These words somehow managed to pierce through the pregnancy-induced fog that seems to surround the thinking part of my brain these days, and I almost couldn't believe how perfectly Ann has described this constant daily battle to see God's glory and grace in our fallen world. (Except that I know from reading her blog that she always seems to find the right way to put into words the way I feel about life.)
I find it particularly interesting to be reading about finding God's gifts even through the trials of life from Ann, while at the same time, the lesson I just worked on last night for our women's Bible study was talking about what we do when we can't explain what Jesus is doing. The study we're doing is Beth Moore's "Beloved Disciple", and it focuses on the disciple John. Last night's lesson looked at Jesus' crucifixion through his eyes, and she finished the chapter by asking if we would stay close to Jesus when He doesn't stop a tragedy, or if we will walk away from Him when it seems as if He is weak and defeated.
In earlier chapters, she talked about how God uses difficulties and assignments in our lives to teach us lessons, and that often, we don't learn all the lessons from those experiences until after we've gone through them and are able to look back on them and reflect.
Finding God's gifts and daily graces through the trials of life. God teaches us lessons through difficulties. Staying close to Jesus when things don't seem to make sense. All timely and essential reminders to me during this time in my life.
When I try to think about this pregnancy rationally, it feels like I'm being unfair to call it a "trial". It's not as if this is a time of extreme grief or sorrow or mental anguish (although the ridiculous amount of time it's taking me to put together a simple blog post might prove that last one is actually accurate). But I have to say it, I am not one of these women who just breezes through pregnancy and loves every minute of it. Those first 14 weeks of debilitating "morning" sickness and all-day nausea were a trial. I survived that first trimester only to have to face the reality of this steadily growing new life taking up all the space in my body that was previously reserved for my vital organs, which are now all being shoved up into my rib cage and making it difficult to both take a deep breath and eat a large meal in one sitting.
By golly, this counts as a trial for me.
But that's no excuse for me to just sit down and wallow in self-pity, which is why I am grateful for these reminders in Ann's book and in Beth's study. God's grace is here, in this daily "ferocious thrash for joy". It is in life's trials that we need to cling to Him even tighter. Little by little, day by day, He gives me the strength to keep going and persevere.
(And I'm really looking forward to the day when my hormones go back to normal, and I can drink coffee again, and I can put together a blog post in less than an hour... Yeesh...)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Crock Pot Bread
Slow Cooker White Bread
Ingredients:
2 tsp granulated sugar
1 1/4 c. warm water
envelope active dry yeast (1 scant tbsp)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp salt
1 cup all purpose flour
Start by stirring the warm water and 2 tsp of sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with the yeast and let it sit for 10 minutes. After the 10 min, stir to dissolve the yeast.
Then add the 2 c. flour, 2 tbsp sugar, oil and salt. The directions said to "beat", so I used my hand mixer, and that seemed to work okay. Basically, beat on low to moisten, and then beat for 2 minutes on high. After that, work in the remaining 1 cup of flour.
You'll need to grease the bottom of your crock pot, preferably a 3 1/2 quart size one. I'm not sure what would happen if you tried to use a bigger one. Dump the dough into the crock pot. Layer 5 paper towels between the top of the crock pot and the lid. Note that this does not say between the dough and the lid. You don't want the paper towel on top of the dough, but resting on top of the pot. Now put a wooden match or other thin object between the paper towel and the lid to allow steam to vent. I used two round toothpicks stacked on each other, and it worked just fine.
Cook on high for 2 hours, but apparently you're not supposed to open the lid for the first 1 3/4 hours. I'd recommend checking it at the 1 3/4 hour mark as I think the full two hours was almost slightly too long. One side of my loaf ended up just a touch crispier than I like my bread. When it's done, loosen the sides with a knife and turn it out to cool on a rack. I also brushed the top of it with butter because I like the taste of it, and it helps to keep the crust soft.
The only drawback, and it's more an aesthetic thing than anything else, is that the top of the bread doesn't get browned. I'm actually discovering that I like this because I always find that homemade bread crust is really crunchy, but this way, it's not. Also, you'll end up with a round loaf, but that doesn't bother me.
Here's the final product:
The taste is good, like bread. The consistency has a slight cake-like quality to it, but not so much that you feel like you're eating cake instead of bread. I found it almost a bit sweet tasting, so I think next time I would use slightly less sugar and maybe a bit more salt. I'm pretty sure you can get store-bought bread that's just as sweet, if not sweeter, than this, so it's definitely not too sweet.
Overall, I was quite pleased with the outcome, and I'm looking forward to trying the whole wheat version, as well as maybe some of the other breads/cakes that are in this book. If any of you try it, I'd love to hear what you think!
Friday, January 06, 2012
I miss coffee...
Well, I figured it was high-time I posted at least a little something so that those faithful few who keep checking back here will know I haven't died from morning sickness. What follows will probably be some pretty random thoughts, mainly because pregnancy hormones have the unfortunate effect on me so as to pretty much completely destroy all creative and coherent thought. Hence the lack of posting.
Anyway...here goes...
As a major answer to many prayers, my morning sickness actually seems to be easing off. *knock on wood...a lot...* In response to this, I've backed off on my Diclectin, and I'm only taking it in the evenings before bed now. Maybe this is why my brain feels clear enough to post today. Hmm... I hadn't dared hope that I'd start feeling better before at least week 20 because that's how long it took with Kaylee, but here we are, week 15, and I think it's been almost a full week since I've had to make that mad dash for the toilet first thing in the morning.
I'm trying a new recipe for supper tonight. Further proof that my stomach is cooperating enough that I actually feel like eating something other than mashed potatoes. Huzzah. It's a turkey casserole, which we've never had before in this house, so we'll have to see how it turns out and what the response is from the peanut gallery. I don't have high hopes on the children liking it much. Oh, well. I tried.
Tim's run has undergone some slight changes so that he should be home every other weekend now. Numerous benefits from this, but the one I can think of now is that he'll actually get to come to church with us on occasion.
Well, there goes the timer for supper, so the randomness ends here. Oh, and the reason for the title? I really miss my morning coffee, but this pregnancy has totally changed all my tastes around, and the very thought of coffee is enough to make me feel slightly nauseated. *sigh*
Anyway...here goes...
As a major answer to many prayers, my morning sickness actually seems to be easing off. *knock on wood...a lot...* In response to this, I've backed off on my Diclectin, and I'm only taking it in the evenings before bed now. Maybe this is why my brain feels clear enough to post today. Hmm... I hadn't dared hope that I'd start feeling better before at least week 20 because that's how long it took with Kaylee, but here we are, week 15, and I think it's been almost a full week since I've had to make that mad dash for the toilet first thing in the morning.
I'm trying a new recipe for supper tonight. Further proof that my stomach is cooperating enough that I actually feel like eating something other than mashed potatoes. Huzzah. It's a turkey casserole, which we've never had before in this house, so we'll have to see how it turns out and what the response is from the peanut gallery. I don't have high hopes on the children liking it much. Oh, well. I tried.
Tim's run has undergone some slight changes so that he should be home every other weekend now. Numerous benefits from this, but the one I can think of now is that he'll actually get to come to church with us on occasion.
Well, there goes the timer for supper, so the randomness ends here. Oh, and the reason for the title? I really miss my morning coffee, but this pregnancy has totally changed all my tastes around, and the very thought of coffee is enough to make me feel slightly nauseated. *sigh*
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Long, long overdue
Well, my friends. I'm sorry for the extreme lack of posting. I realize it's been almost three weeks since my last post, and that is almost inexcusable. I say "almost" because I think I have a pretty good excuse.
I'm pregnant!
Yay!
How does that equal an excuse for not posting? Well, as some of you may already know, I am cursed to be one of those women who suffers from something called "morning sickness". Honestly, I'd like to take the idiot who called it "morning" sickness out back and shoot them because they had no idea what they were talking about. I think "pregnancy sickness" or "all-day-and-through-the-night sickness" might be more accurate.
I feel extremely nauseous all.the.time, not to mentioned exhausted from making body parts all day, and my lovely friend, Diclectin, my anti-nausea medication, only adds to my drowsiness. (For those who are unaware, particularly any American readers, Diclectin is a morning sickness medication that is available here in Canada. Unfortunately, it is not approved in the U.S.) Said combination of nausea and fatigue have made my desire for posting -- or doing anything other than laying on the couch-- non-existent. I am woefully behind on even reading any of the blogs I normally follow, sad but true.
I wish I could tell you that the situation will improve, and I'll magically start posting more frequently now that I've come clean regarding my reason for not posting. However, I don't know if that's going to be the case. Pregnancy hormones wreak havoc on my mental status, and I haven't been particularly struck with anything inspirational to say. The Diclectin has taken the edge off the nausea, but I'm not finding it as effective this time around. I spend most of my days trying to remember to keep eating to prevent the nausea from getting worse, but it is a constant battle, and one that I tire quickly of fighting. I hate being so obsessed with my stomach.
I wish I could tell you I've been a tower of strength, leaning on my Lord for all my daily needs and relying on Him to carry me through, but that wouldn't entirely be true. In all honestly, the past week or so, I've done a really good job of wallowing in self-pity and allowing myself to sink down into the mire of feeling miserable. It's easy to do when you feel crummy all the time, but no more forgivable. I'm trying to do better at this, and I would appreciate your prayers.
So there you have it. I will try not to take so long to post again. Maybe I can get in a better habit of posting at least once a week. It's not quite the frequency you're all used to from me, but until I start feeling a little better, you'll all just have to make do. Thank you for your understanding, dear faithful readers.
I'm pregnant!
Yay!
How does that equal an excuse for not posting? Well, as some of you may already know, I am cursed to be one of those women who suffers from something called "morning sickness". Honestly, I'd like to take the idiot who called it "morning" sickness out back and shoot them because they had no idea what they were talking about. I think "pregnancy sickness" or "all-day-and-through-the-night sickness" might be more accurate.
I feel extremely nauseous all.the.time, not to mentioned exhausted from making body parts all day, and my lovely friend, Diclectin, my anti-nausea medication, only adds to my drowsiness. (For those who are unaware, particularly any American readers, Diclectin is a morning sickness medication that is available here in Canada. Unfortunately, it is not approved in the U.S.) Said combination of nausea and fatigue have made my desire for posting -- or doing anything other than laying on the couch-- non-existent. I am woefully behind on even reading any of the blogs I normally follow, sad but true.
I wish I could tell you that the situation will improve, and I'll magically start posting more frequently now that I've come clean regarding my reason for not posting. However, I don't know if that's going to be the case. Pregnancy hormones wreak havoc on my mental status, and I haven't been particularly struck with anything inspirational to say. The Diclectin has taken the edge off the nausea, but I'm not finding it as effective this time around. I spend most of my days trying to remember to keep eating to prevent the nausea from getting worse, but it is a constant battle, and one that I tire quickly of fighting. I hate being so obsessed with my stomach.
I wish I could tell you I've been a tower of strength, leaning on my Lord for all my daily needs and relying on Him to carry me through, but that wouldn't entirely be true. In all honestly, the past week or so, I've done a really good job of wallowing in self-pity and allowing myself to sink down into the mire of feeling miserable. It's easy to do when you feel crummy all the time, but no more forgivable. I'm trying to do better at this, and I would appreciate your prayers.
So there you have it. I will try not to take so long to post again. Maybe I can get in a better habit of posting at least once a week. It's not quite the frequency you're all used to from me, but until I start feeling a little better, you'll all just have to make do. Thank you for your understanding, dear faithful readers.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Halloween is a Horrible Holiday
Yes, I'm going there. And I'm coming right out and saying it, too. I've begun to hate Halloween. I'm not sure what genius thought it would be a good idea to celebrate spookiness and create a day where being scared is supposed to be fun, but I think they ought to be taken out back and saddled with a whole passel-full of preschoolers who are terrified to walk past houses because they've been decorated with ghosts for Halloween.
I can't say I've ever really been one to enjoy being scared. Horror movies have never been my thing. I don't watch violent shows while Tim is gone because it makes me too creeped out at night. And as much as it drives me crazy that Reuben seems to have this pathological fear of the dark, deep down, part of me totally gets where he's coming from.
So forgive me if I don't get all excited about having a whole day out of the year devoted to scary things like witches, ghosts, and vampires.
Don't get me wrong. The whole concept of everyone handing out candy to any child who knocks on their door is actually an interesting study in generosity. As a kid, I loved going out and getting my annual haul of chips, chocolates, and random candies.
But I think the world is starting to overdo it a little. Houses are being decorated weeks in advance with cobwebs, ghosts, tombstones, skeletons, and other things designed to frighten. For the last week or so, every time I turn on the television for the kids, they are being bombarded with spooky shows, talk of costumes, and commercials advertising said spooky shows. And thank heavens I didn't take them to Canadian Tire with me last week because the displays they had up of all the decorations they have for sale were enough to make me hurry along and get to a safe department, like housewares.
Reuben keeps walking around yelling "Boo", trying to do anything he can to scare me. Kaylee covers her eyes and says "Scary" every time she sees a house with a ghost on it. (For the record, I did not teach her that.) Both of them have learned to avert their eyes when we pass certain neighborhoods because I've told them I don't want them looking at houses who, in my humble opinion, have just gone completely overboard and will likely give my kids nightmares if they stare too long and look too hard at the various decorations littering those lawns. (Go figure, one particular house is right beside a stoplight that without fail, we always have to stop for.)
I'm all for handing out candy to kids, but why are we trying to scare them in the process? Since when is it fun to create fear in little children? And why in the heck are we spending weeks out of the year preparing for this annoying at best holiday?
Curse commercialism, curse consumerism, and curse the boneheads who think it's a good idea to make scary fun.
Because it's not.
(Sorry, that got rant-ish at the end. Can you tell I'm sick of Halloween and SO ready for it to be over?)
I can't say I've ever really been one to enjoy being scared. Horror movies have never been my thing. I don't watch violent shows while Tim is gone because it makes me too creeped out at night. And as much as it drives me crazy that Reuben seems to have this pathological fear of the dark, deep down, part of me totally gets where he's coming from.
So forgive me if I don't get all excited about having a whole day out of the year devoted to scary things like witches, ghosts, and vampires.
Don't get me wrong. The whole concept of everyone handing out candy to any child who knocks on their door is actually an interesting study in generosity. As a kid, I loved going out and getting my annual haul of chips, chocolates, and random candies.
But I think the world is starting to overdo it a little. Houses are being decorated weeks in advance with cobwebs, ghosts, tombstones, skeletons, and other things designed to frighten. For the last week or so, every time I turn on the television for the kids, they are being bombarded with spooky shows, talk of costumes, and commercials advertising said spooky shows. And thank heavens I didn't take them to Canadian Tire with me last week because the displays they had up of all the decorations they have for sale were enough to make me hurry along and get to a safe department, like housewares.
Reuben keeps walking around yelling "Boo", trying to do anything he can to scare me. Kaylee covers her eyes and says "Scary" every time she sees a house with a ghost on it. (For the record, I did not teach her that.) Both of them have learned to avert their eyes when we pass certain neighborhoods because I've told them I don't want them looking at houses who, in my humble opinion, have just gone completely overboard and will likely give my kids nightmares if they stare too long and look too hard at the various decorations littering those lawns. (Go figure, one particular house is right beside a stoplight that without fail, we always have to stop for.)
I'm all for handing out candy to kids, but why are we trying to scare them in the process? Since when is it fun to create fear in little children? And why in the heck are we spending weeks out of the year preparing for this annoying at best holiday?
Curse commercialism, curse consumerism, and curse the boneheads who think it's a good idea to make scary fun.
Because it's not.
(Sorry, that got rant-ish at the end. Can you tell I'm sick of Halloween and SO ready for it to be over?)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
For Reflection
"1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96
Today, let us worship our God, the Creator of all. He alone is worthy of our praise.
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96
Today, let us worship our God, the Creator of all. He alone is worthy of our praise.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Ponderings on dumb drivers
Yesterday, I posed a rhetorical question: why do some drivers think they can ignore the rules of the road and traffic signs that have been posted for a reason?
I won't attempt to answer this question because it would probably need to involve some convoluted psychological drivel using big words that I wouldn't understand anyway because I took sociology, not psychology, so I wouldn't even know what I was talking about. And besides, the answer to the question isn't really the point. I'm just venting at certain drivers' idiocy.
Let me explain a bit further.
As some of you may be aware, they've been doing some sewer work in the major intersection near our home for about two months now. This construction has involved the closing of most of the lanes that make up this intersection so that there is only one two-way lane going through it in either direction. It has also meant that the left-turning lanes are closed, and the intersection is littered with no left-turn signs because as a major intersection with only one lane going through it, if one person decides to stop and wait for the intersection to clear so they can turn left, well, it creates traffic havoc for everyone waiting behind them.
It might also be worth noting that the construction information signs state that the work will be going on from September to October 31 and to "Expect delays."
I don't need to tell you that this has created some minor annoyances for us because generally, we have to turn left from the one main road onto the other main road in order to get to our house. We've had to take detours for the last two months, and it's getting a little old.
Anyway, back to my frustration at stupid drivers. You recall I mentioned the no-left turn signs? Well, it seems that there are a preponderance of drivers out there who think that they don't have to obey said traffic signs. You can't tell me they didn't see them because when I said the intersection was littered with them, I meant, the intersection is littered with these signs. They are ev.er.y.where.
And yet, without fail, nearly every single time I come through that intersection, I see at least one person turning left, either in the lane opposite me, directly in front of me, or some moron behind me. I have laid on the horn for at least two or three turning directly in front of me.
Just yesterday, while on the way home during a particularly busy time of day, (which means traffic gets backed up for over a kilometer just because of the sheer volume of vehicles), I was waiting first in line at the light. I noticed the driver behind me had his turn signal on, and I watched in disbelief as the light turned green, I proceeded through the intersection, and he/she sat and waited to turn left as everyone else behind him also waited. Needless to say, I was the only one to make it through that particular green, and I'm sure everyone behind that driver cursed.
But with all the insanity and annoyance at the stupid drivers who get away with their thoughtless misdemeanors, there is some justice in the world. I got a ridiculous amount of thrill and pleasure the other day as we waited once again in that line to get through the light. We weren't moving, and I could see that someone was waiting with their turn signal on to turn left. The light changed, the intersection cleared, and the driver proceeded with their. Right at that moment, as the car was in the process of going around the corner, the unmarked police car behind them proceeded to turn on his lights and pulled that person over to give them (I hope) a ticket with a hefty fine.
I laughed out loud and applauded that officer. It made my day to finally see a driver get busted for screwing up traffic. I wish all those annoying drivers would get tickets.
But that's not likely to happen, so I will content myself with honking my horn at them when I can and hoping beyond all hope that they finish with the construction by their October 31st deadline so our driving habits can go back to normal.
A city construction job finish on time? Is that even possible....? More rhetorical questions that I'm not even going to get into... Ever.
And I feel a little better after venting about this. Really people. Just obey the traffic signs. The world would be a whole lot happier, and the traffic wouldn't be any more screwed up than it already is.
I won't attempt to answer this question because it would probably need to involve some convoluted psychological drivel using big words that I wouldn't understand anyway because I took sociology, not psychology, so I wouldn't even know what I was talking about. And besides, the answer to the question isn't really the point. I'm just venting at certain drivers' idiocy.
Let me explain a bit further.
As some of you may be aware, they've been doing some sewer work in the major intersection near our home for about two months now. This construction has involved the closing of most of the lanes that make up this intersection so that there is only one two-way lane going through it in either direction. It has also meant that the left-turning lanes are closed, and the intersection is littered with no left-turn signs because as a major intersection with only one lane going through it, if one person decides to stop and wait for the intersection to clear so they can turn left, well, it creates traffic havoc for everyone waiting behind them.
It might also be worth noting that the construction information signs state that the work will be going on from September to October 31 and to "Expect delays."
I don't need to tell you that this has created some minor annoyances for us because generally, we have to turn left from the one main road onto the other main road in order to get to our house. We've had to take detours for the last two months, and it's getting a little old.
Anyway, back to my frustration at stupid drivers. You recall I mentioned the no-left turn signs? Well, it seems that there are a preponderance of drivers out there who think that they don't have to obey said traffic signs. You can't tell me they didn't see them because when I said the intersection was littered with them, I meant, the intersection is littered with these signs. They are ev.er.y.where.
And yet, without fail, nearly every single time I come through that intersection, I see at least one person turning left, either in the lane opposite me, directly in front of me, or some moron behind me. I have laid on the horn for at least two or three turning directly in front of me.
Just yesterday, while on the way home during a particularly busy time of day, (which means traffic gets backed up for over a kilometer just because of the sheer volume of vehicles), I was waiting first in line at the light. I noticed the driver behind me had his turn signal on, and I watched in disbelief as the light turned green, I proceeded through the intersection, and he/she sat and waited to turn left as everyone else behind him also waited. Needless to say, I was the only one to make it through that particular green, and I'm sure everyone behind that driver cursed.
But with all the insanity and annoyance at the stupid drivers who get away with their thoughtless misdemeanors, there is some justice in the world. I got a ridiculous amount of thrill and pleasure the other day as we waited once again in that line to get through the light. We weren't moving, and I could see that someone was waiting with their turn signal on to turn left. The light changed, the intersection cleared, and the driver proceeded with their. Right at that moment, as the car was in the process of going around the corner, the unmarked police car behind them proceeded to turn on his lights and pulled that person over to give them (I hope) a ticket with a hefty fine.
I laughed out loud and applauded that officer. It made my day to finally see a driver get busted for screwing up traffic. I wish all those annoying drivers would get tickets.
But that's not likely to happen, so I will content myself with honking my horn at them when I can and hoping beyond all hope that they finish with the construction by their October 31st deadline so our driving habits can go back to normal.
A city construction job finish on time? Is that even possible....? More rhetorical questions that I'm not even going to get into... Ever.
And I feel a little better after venting about this. Really people. Just obey the traffic signs. The world would be a whole lot happier, and the traffic wouldn't be any more screwed up than it already is.
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