A Scribbler & A Shutterbug

I’m off to the bank to finalize the loan and then the post office to mail our return and payment to the IRS.  Then I have to take some fabric to a drapery workroom to have something made for a client.  After that, I’ll be doing something else, even though I’m not quite sure what it is.  There’s so much to do!  Just have to wade through my list.

I’m making the effort to write something here every day, even if it’s just a little blip about what I’m doing.  To get back in the habit.  Hopefully, as the days go by, I’ll have the inspiration to write something more creative.  🙂

If nothing else, it’s a return to the journal-keeping of my younger days.  A nice record of our life.

We will be heading out the door in about an hour to go to the County Fair.  Each year, on Wednesday of Fair Week, our homeschool group helps serve lunch to the “Special Needs Kids” from around the county.  Buses bring the kids to the fairgrounds where they are entertained during the mid-day hours.  They are given tours of the fairgrounds, get to watch some of the rodeo events, and enjoy hot dogs, chips, and soda while being entertained by clowns making balloon animals.  It’s really sweet and this will be our fifth year to serve lunch.  Afterwards, we’ll walk the exhibits, see if we won any ribbons and enjoy a fried oreo with a Coke.  Yum!

Now if the weather will just cooperate! ….

Just checked it.  Blasted weather.  High of 91, with a heat index of 105.  So not fair…………..

I’m going to just lay it out there … I’ve really be struggling with my relationship with God.  Because of a lot of garbage in my life concerning my mother and my husband’s father, I’ve been giving into bitterness and resentment.  Yes, yes … I know.  It never hurts the other person, it only hurts you.  And heavens, how it has hurt me.  My soul feels cold as ice and it’s very difficult for me to get too terribly excited about anything of a spiritual nature.  I feel like these people are sucking the life out of me and my immediate family due to their demands, and the truth is I am letting them do it by giving into the bitterness and resentment.  As they say, the first step to solving any problem is recognizing that it’s there … and so I hope that this is the first baby step toward getting myself back on track with God, trusting Him to see us through these difficult relationships, regardless of what may happen around me.

As we enter a season of thanksgiving, I want to start with this:  so far my immediate family of three has remained healthy, in spite of the frequent news we hear of friends and family coming down with various flu-like bugs.  There have been several young people in our homeschooling circle that have had stomach ailments of some sort or another – two young ladies were diagnosed with hiatal hernias, another young man is having intestinal issues of such intensity that he has lost about 30 lbs. since school started.  A series of test results at the renowned Texas Children’s Hospital still have doctors scratching their heads on that one.  A positive diagnosis of one case of swine flu, and so it goes.

And so, while I may struggle with my walk, I’m taking a step of faith in saying “thank you, Lord, for keeping me, my husband, and our daughter healthy in the midst of such illness”. 

went to the bank with the extra stuff and discovered that it was a “stipulated” approval … meaning it’s approved, but not quite?  Anyway, our banker told us that she is not worried about us getting the loan – apparently our bank (Wells Fargo) has always been VERY picky about loan approvals (one of the reasons it is still fairly stable compared with the other banks that have gone down the tubes during the recent financial tribulations) and now they are pickier than they’ve ever been.  She said that if we weren’t going to get the loan, it would have said “denied” as soon as she hit the “submit” button.  So … hopefully she knows what she’s talking about and we will be able to pick up the check tomorrow.

Just watched “The International” with my husband.  An action flick with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts … it was pretty good.  There was one line in it that rang SO TRUE with me, especially in light of everything that’s happened in the last 48 hours.  The gist of the story line has to do with an international bank getting involved in selling missile guidance systems … originally Watts’ character says, “So the entity that controls the conflict, has the power.”  And the individual she is speaking with says, “No, the entity that controls the DEBT has the power.”

As Proverbs 22:7 (NIV) states:  “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

Because of the poor decisions I’ve made in my business, I do not have the freedom to just close the doors and do something different.  Being the servant of those I owe, I must continue to work to fulfill the obligations that I have created.  It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but a medicine I cannot avoid any longer.

Not too excited about having another bill to pay, but we did get approved for the loan to pay the 2008 taxes.  Now I’m off to the bank with a few pieces of documentation they want for the file.  It’s my understanding they’ll cut a check today and I can mail the return before the Thursday deadline.  I will be relieved to have it done, but still feel a bit low about the whole thing. 

Now to come up with some additional blind sales and maybe some other moneymaking ideas to generate income to pay that and the rest of our debts off faster.

trying to decide what I want to do.  I really want to start writing again, but I really want to start with a fresh slate.  Can’t decide if I want to create a new Xanga or use Blogger … I don’t know.

I’ve been pondering ways to make money writing, as well.  And even in that, I’m a bit undecided.  You see, I like to write … as in articles, stories, etc.  A little rusty, but not completely convinced that my inkwell’s run dry just yet.

And then I also like to write … as in calligraphy … I do a very nice italic script.  I just wonder if there are folks out there that would pay to have invitations addressed, etc., when everyone is so addicted to doing everything via computer.  Hmmmm … the computer is a lovely tool, but fact is, a nicely handwritten envelope and invitation do carry a certain delight, don’t they?

And then there’s my photography.  Wonder if anyone would be interested in purchasing prints of my photos … maybe through Etsy?

Can you tell that I’m tired of selling blinds and really need to nurture the creative part of my soul?

The big honking tax bill we just got hit with might have something to do with it, too.  Going to the bank tomorrow to see about borrowing $5,000.   Sigh …………………………………

Issued by The National Weather Service
Houston/Galveston, TX
4:43 am CDT, Sat., Jun. 27, 2009

… HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY…

THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY.

ABUNDANT SUNSHINE WILL RESULT IN HOT AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES TODAY AND SUNDAY. ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURES WILL PEAK BETWEEN 98 AND 104 DEGREES INLAND… LOWER 90S ALONG THE COAST. HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE FORECAST TO PEAK BETWEEN 104 AND 108 DEGREES BOTH THIS AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

THE DAILY MAXIMUM HEAT INDEX MUST BE FORECAST TO REMAIN BELOW 105 DEGREES IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE THE ADVISORY WILL BE CANCELLED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE… AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF WATER AN HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS TO AVOID DEHYDRATION. ALCOHOLIC AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES CAN INCREASE THE RATE OF WATER LOSS IN YOUR BODY… INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT EXHAUSTION OR STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT… LIGHT-COLORED… LOOSE- FITTING CLOTHING. WEAR A HAT TO SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN… AND USE A SUNSCREEN TO REDUCE POSSIBLE SUNBURN.

&&

More Information

… HEAT ADVISORY FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH SUNDAY…

.A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AS HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 104 TO 108 DEGREES ARE FORECAST BOTH THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

Ten things you need to know about the structure of the CRC:

• It is a treaty which creates binding rules of law.  It is no mere statement of altruism.^1.
• Its effect would be binding on American families, courts, and policy-makers.^2.
• Children of other nations would not be impacted or helped in any direct way by our ratification.^3.
• The CRC would automatically override almost all American laws on children and families because of the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause in Article VI.^4.
• The CRC has some elements that are self-executing, while others would require implementing legislation.  Federal courts would have the power to determine which provisions were self-executing.^5.
• The courts would have the power to directly enforce the provisions that are self-executing.^6.
• Congress would have the power to directly legislate on all subjects necessary to comply with the treaty.  This would constitute the most massive shift of power from the states to the federal government in American history.^7.
• A committee of 18 experts from other nations, sitting in Geneva, has the authority to issue official interpretations of the treaty which are entitled to binding weight in American courts and legislatures.  This effectively transfers ultimate authority for all policies in this area to this foreign committee.^8.
• Under international law, the treaty overrides even our Constitution.^9.
• Reservations, declarations, or understandings intended to modify our duty to comply with this treaty will be void if they are determined to be inconsistent with the object and purpose of the treaty.^10.

Ten things you need to know about the substance of the CRC:

• Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.^11.
• A murderer aged 17 years and 11 months and 29 days at the time of his crime could no longer be sentenced to life in prison.^12.
• Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.^13.
• The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent’s decision.^14.
• A child’s “right to be heard” would allow him (or her) to seek governmental review of every parental decision with which the child disagreed.^15.
• According to existing interpretation, it would be illegal for a nation to spend more on national defense than it does on children’s welfare.^16.
• Children would acquire a legally enforceable right to leisure.^17.
• Christian schools that refuse to teach “alternative worldviews” and teach that Christianity is the only true religion “fly in the face of article 29” of the treaty.^18.
• Allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.^19.
• Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions,  without parental knowledge or consent.^20.