Fun Names

My sister Haley posted this and it looked hilarious so I had to do it. :-D

1. Your name:

Megan

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letter of real name plus izzle)

Megizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)

Purple Cat

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (your middle name and the street you live
on)

Brianni Woodchurch

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2
letters of your first)

Creme (what the heck!!)

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME:( your second fav color and fav drink)

Pink Dr Pepper

7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name,3rd letter of your
last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms
maiden name, 3rd letter of your dads middle name, first letter of your
sibilings name(s), and last letter of your moms
middle name)

Eebrwhsmljjerjn (props to anyone who can pronounce that)

8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (parents middle
names)

Kristen Howard

9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your
pets)

Black Angel

The Christmas "Spirit"

As I was driving along this morning running some errands, listening to the Christmas music in my car, and huddled in my coat with the heater on full blast it suddenly felt like Christmas. I instantly began thinking of all my friends who I've heard say recently "I just don't feel like decorating yet because I'm not in the Christmas spirit". Some indicated it was not time for Christmas yet while others just didn't "feel" it. I began musing on this and the thought crossed my mind--what is the Christmas "spirit" anyway?

When you think about Christmas and "feeling" what immediately comes to your mind? Mine thinks of the nativity, family, friends, yummy foods, and a general contentment and happiness. I suddenly realized why people might not be feeling in the mood. If you are missing some of these things can it be harder to feel in the "mood"? Why do we need these things to be in the mood? I think it's because the Christmas spirit depends on the attitude of your heart, and a CHOICE. Sure those things are going to make it EASIER to feel in the mood but they are not NECESSARY.

This is not to attack any of my friends who don't feel like Christmas right now but I decided that personally for me, if I sit around moping and pouting, and dwelling on my current situation I certainly wouldn't feel like Christmas. I have to make the choice to think about this time of year and what it means to me as a Christian. Does this mean that I'm "happy" and suddenly all is right in my world? Heck no! My situation is unfortunately still the same and probably won't change a bit through the holidays. I can however make a choice to dwell on the meaning of Christmas, what God has done for me, and have the joy of the Lord anyway. Just like sometimes we have to choose to be grateful at Thanksgiving, and choose to dwell on the good things we have and what God HAS blessed us with and NOT the things that are going wrong in our lives.

So I guess my challenge to you is this--if you are being a "Scrooge", scowling at everyone who tries to wish you a Merry Christmas and refusing to acknowledge the time of year just think about the real reason for the season. News flash! It's not about YOU anyway. :-) It's the time of year we celebrate Jesus' birthday, so think to yourself how you'd feel if it was your birthday and everyone walked around with their head to the ground whining "I don't feel like it's your birthday, I don't want to celebrate it right now". Attitudes are infectious and easily spread. If you choose to have the right attitude it will help others around you to do the same. If you choose to be depressed that same depression will dampen everyone around you. I'm not saying you have to pretend that your trials don't exist. It's about your RESPONSE to the trials.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil 4:8

MERRY CHRISTMAS ;-)

Starbucks' Gingersnap Latte

Note to friends and enemies--when ordering the Gingersnap Latte at Starbucks you should seriously consider requesting they leave off the ginger chunks. Seriously. I don't know who fell asleep at the wheel and thought "ohhh chunks of ginger in coffee is great!" and decided to not WARN people that this was going to be in there. Oh my GOSH. I really thought I was going to be sick the first time. And the second time. A little Googling came up with the answer to the mysterious waxy chunks floating in the bottom. Gross.

Dr. Zaino

If any of my friends in the Houston area are interested in a free Pappadeaux dinner in exchange for listening to a 15 minute talk on chiropractic care let me know. No strings attached (I know because I did it). They obviously hope that quite a few of the people who come will indeed schedule an appointment but I was with three people who didn't schedule and they didn't bat an eye or push them. If you want convincing to schedule an appointment I can help you with that too. :-)

URL change

Just to let everyone know I bought the domain name so now you can just go to www.singingonlybyhisgrace.com! :)

cameras

With the biggest sales of the season approaching I thought I'd see if I could get some hints and tips from my many camera savvy friends (haha pun Savanna!!). I've been thinking I'd like to get a small camera to throw in my purse for snapping pics with friends and such. I'd like something very portable (read small and light) but my complaints about point and shoots in the past have been that the shutter speed ends up too slow and pictures end up blurry, the point and shoot I currently have being a Sony Cybershot from like five or six years ago I guess. I know just enough about cameras to know I don't know anything (I went to IPS in 2004 and I think I made Bs and Cs haha). :-) I don't want anything super fancy but I do want it to be a decent camera that won't make me end up with blurry photos. In my daily work I see lots of reviews for cameras and such but so far haven't noticed one particular camera getting a lot of excellent marks. If you have suggestions for a camera model/brand that is really reliable in this department post them and I will keep watch. Black Friday sales are coming up soon. :-)

The following is a real conversation that took place in the other room just now between two unnamed siblings.

Sibling #1: "Obama is our new president? What happened to the old one?"
Sibling #2: "I don't know. I think maybe he died or something."
Older wiser Sibling: "No he didn't we elect new presidents every four years."
Sibling #1: "We have to wait four years for a new president??"

:-D