Ho-Hum

"I went on a diet, gave up drinking and peach eating, and in fourteen days, I lost two weeks." 

(can't remember the guy's name who said this)

So I'm feeling old... physically, decrepit. I know that in ten years, I will wish that I felt as "old" as I do now... hence my bewilderment when pondering the thought of "making it" to senior citizen status. "If I feel this bad now, how am I going to feel when I really am old?" Hmmm

Adam is feeling the same way. The other day he said "I'm aging like bologna." We realize that we need to make some lifestyle changes. This irritates us. We make jokes about people who "live healthy". There are people who lead extremely healthy lifestyles, and you can see it in their fresh faces... it's nice. Then there are those (the ones we make jokes about) that you can't see it in their faces... or their bodies for that matter, so they have to tell you about it... all day long.  "Hey if you need me, I'll be at the gym... workin' my abbs." "Wow! feelin' great today, did a colon cleanse last night.", and the like.

Adam and I do not want to turn into those people, although I highly doubt that we will being that we're the people who say things like "If you need me, I'll be having my third cup of coffee." And, "I feel like crap today, must've been that chocolate fest I had at midnight."

At the same time, these bodies are temples for the Living God... no pressure there. We have to find a balance.

I truly believe that it begins in the mind. Not in a groovy, Deepak Chopra kind of way, but in a "It's what God says over and over in His Word." kind of way.

In other words, fill your mind with healthy things, and your body will show it.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Wouldn't it be nice if we heard (and more importantly, that I was heard) saying things like "Man, I feel great today! Had a great quiet time with the Lord this morning... I can do anything today!" And, "If you need me, I'll be reading my Bible."  Anyone who's regularly practiced those things, will tell you that this is truly how you feel. What's most important is not so much that you feel this way, it's that the Lord says that you literally can do anything, in Him. When I live healthy in Him, I feel like a teenager... (minus the hormonal outbursts of wrath, insanity, and thinking that everyone is dumb but me...)

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight;

Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them. And health to all their body.

Proverbs 4:20-22 

Phrases that can be heard around the Phillips household.

From the "Adults":

1. "Don't walk around with a bucket on your head."
2. "Don't scale the door frames in the living room and dining room." (as opposed to those everywhere else in the house)
3. "Get the batteries from your sister."
4. "SIT in the chair."
5. "Do NOT talk about the bodily functions of the animal we are eating!"
6. "Yes, the animal you are eating is indeed dead."
7. "Poo-stink!"
8. "Enough about robots for today."
9. "Lift the seat!"
10. "Are you ready to go 'night 'night?"
11. "Yes, they definitely look sleepy."
12. "We need eggs, yogurt, milk and bread."
13. "How can you be covered in dirt after your bath?"

From the children:

1. "When I become president I won't need to sleep with my brothers 'cause I'll have secret service there with me."
2. "Great! Awesome! Familiar!" (They don't care what "familiar" really means, by the way)
3. "There's great news Mom! There's a cream that takes away your stretch marks!"
4. "Oomph!"
5. "Can we go to Kennywood?"
6. "How old will you be when I'm....?"
7. "Mine!"
8. "No, no, no, no, no,
9. "Can I have *This* for my birthday?
10. "How about Christmas?"
11. "I'm sorry, I can't stop."
12. "It wasn't me."
13.  "I love you Mom."

Some Pics and a video for your enjoyment.

We're doing a unit study on the Revolutionary War. Here's my Minutemen:

Here's 'Data feeding Santino

MEET CAPTAIN REX

So, I didn't feel as though I had enough to keep me busy... what with homeschooling, my pending autoimmune diagnoses, doctors appts, twins, 3 (THREE, not SEVEN) acres to take care of... gets boring you know? I thought "Hey! We need a PET to liven things up around here.... scatter some bird seed... and er...um... doo-doo on my head... stank, and screeching..."

In all seriousness, Sam has been begging for a pet for a long, long time. Adam and I have been praying about it, and I began to do some research. I found out that dogs are not recommended for wee ones. The best pets for little kids are (are you ready for this?) "Fancy Rats"... ugh! Guinea pigs (and the like) and birds. Adam does not want a pet at all. He does know that there's been a lot of research on how pets really help autistic children. This made him at least pray about it. Now the fact that we both had an extremely unfortunate incident with a parrot in a pet store (still don't know what happened to said parrot after Adam spiked him off of the floor... appeared to be OK, but we weren't sticking around for him to attack us again.), did not help the whole Bird Idea. Still, Adam has at least admitted that sun conures are smart, and that Captain Rex (Sam's name for the bird) is "very cool." Perhaps that's about all the love we'll get out of Adam.

And here's Captain Rex:

Pitiful huh?

He *should* look like this by the time we take him home:

One Minute Sermon

Amazing Indeed

Rhema Marvanne - 'Amazing Grace' REVISED 6/11 from Black Olive Media.com on Vimeo.

Sometimes Dad

Sometimes I beg for the pain to dull

Sometimes I forget, and wait for your call

Sometimes I ask Him why it hurts so bad

Sometimes I'm glowing from the memories I have

Sometimes I long for memories unmade

Sometimes the children show what you gave

Sometimes I work on the things you left behind

Sometimes I think your advice I'll find

Sometimes I ache for you and I just want to die

Sometimes I smile knowing I'll see you in the sky

When He comes in the clouds to take me home

And forever we'll worship Him alone

Together.

Sometimes...

R.I.P. Mr. Hopper

I'm sorry for the lack of posts. End of the school yr and "what not" has me crazed. Lots on my mind however, in the mean time (meaning until I have time to post what's on my mind), thought it fitting to post this. One of the best actors of his and my time, Dennis Hopper, just passed away. I found this video of him (very early on in his career) reciting one of my favorite poems,  Rudyard Kipling's "If". 

I'd like to post this in the wake of his sleep. It's equally as fitting, that we also remember this Memorial Day weekend, all those who served our country and are too, sleeping.... including Dad, who loved Hopper. Would've gotten a kick out of this video.

Peace and Blessings to you and yours, ~ Andrea

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.