Today is Easter. Today is the day that we celebrate the AWESOME gift of God - that, may I add, we do not deserve to receive. The picture is of the tomb that Jesus was thought to be in. It is a view looking out. Just think about all of those emotions that Mary Magdelene, John, and Peter had when they got to that tomb and found it empty... Wow!

Will we ever really realize what we were given? Will we ever really know what You endured for our sakes? How can we ever show our greatfulness? The answer - we will never be able to really, really be able to do any of these things enough. How could we? All that we can do is resolve in our hearts to live for Christ and die to the things of this world. All that we can do is to constantly pray for His grace to enter our lives so that we can live for Him. All that we can do is pray for grace in order to live by His commandments.

This Easter, I don't want to get lost in the Easter eggs, the bunnies, the turkey, the key lime pie... I don't want to celebrate the warm weather, the fact that next Easter will be spent with my little boy, or the time with family - I don't want to be happy about any of these things if it means that I will lose sight of what I am really celebrating this day. Rather, I want to celebrate the fact that Christ conquered death once and for all. I want to celebrate the fact that because of this, the Creator of the Universe - of all things - loved me enough that He humbled Himself to come down in the form of a baby. That He lived and breathed among humans. That He came to teach and bring His message of love and repentance. That He allowed His creations to mock Him, to spit in His face, to pluck out His beard, and to torture Him. That He was separated from His Father. And why? Why did He do this? He did this for me - and for you. I still can't understand. Why, Jesus? Why do You love me? I'm awful. I'm dust. I am nothing compared to You. But You love me more than I can ever understand or more than I can ever return.

I am left speechless. What do You say to the One who died to give you life? What can you do?

So, today, I just want to fall at His feet - and cover them with my tears. And remember that they still bear the nail scars - that He received in my place. And I want to celebrate. I want to everyone to be happy with me about my gift. I want to praise God for being a mighty, wonderful, awesome, magnificent, holy, all-powerful, redeeming, forgiving, just God.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.'
Matthew 28:5-7a

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he hs not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. "
John 3:14-18

Today, I praise God. And I thank Him for loving me. I thank Him for all of His abundant blessings - wow, take a look at my life so far...And I thank Him for those blessings that are coming in the future. Can you imagine the first Easter that I spend with my little boy after my son truly accepts Christ into his life? (Notice that I don't say if but WHEN! This will happen. I am claiming the promises of God. He asks us to only ask Him, and our request will be granted. I only must be faithful. I think that God is going to reveal Himself in a way that my little boy cannot ignore.)

I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today.
I know that He is risen, no matter what men say.
I feel His Hand of mercy, I hear His Voice of cheer
And every time I need Him, He's always near!

He lives, He lives! Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way!
He lives, He lives - salvation to impart.
And if you ask me how I know He lives,
He lives within my heart!!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warning: This One's Really Shallow

What a cute cocktail dress!(The black one) It's from BCBG. I love their line of clothing and shoes. And, it's pretty affordable, too. This is about as close to real, designer clothing as I will ever come.

This blog is devoted to fashion. And, yes, I am trying not to covet these items.

Sometimes, however....I just feel like looking and shopping well beyond my means. This is the mood that I found myself in today. And then I subsequently found myself on the Saks web site. At first it was just to look at shoes. (In case you don't know, my goal is to someday be able to proudly wear a pair of $600+ designer shoes and not feel guilty. I do not actually think that this goal is attainable for me.)

Those shoes with the red bow are Bruno Frisoni. Aren't they awesome? I love bows on shoes. And red bows on shoes...HOW CUTE!!!! The other pumps on the page are made my Prada.

The silver cocktail dress is made by Michael Kors, maybe...I have already forgotten. Sad, huh? Oh, well, that's what having a pregnancy brain will do for you...

I love cocktail dresses. I love cocktail dresses with a full skirt. They are much more flirty than longer formal dresses. They just make you feel flirty and beautiful and sophisticated. That is a completely different feeling from the way a long, more formal dress makes you feel. Long, straight formal gowns give the wearer a feeling of glamourous old school chic. They make you feel powerful and sophisticated. Long formal dresses with full skirts are made for dancing. They make you feel like a princess floating on air. They give a regal, feminine feeling to the wearer.

Can you tell that I like to dress up? And - just like Oprah - I like the nicer things in life. I know, I know...I will probably never wear an Oscar de la Renta ball gown complete with Marc Jacobs shoes and Tiffany's jewelry, but, hey, can't a girl dream? I mean, where am I ever going to have the need to wear that stuff, anyways? But, it would be fun...

Every girl wants to be a princess. Every girl wants to dress up and be the belle of the ball. I am finding that that doesn't go away the older you get - but your outlook on the matter just gets more realistic...

Yes, sometimes I am shallow...

Nothing interesting has been happening in the news lately...But that only leads me to reevaluate what I find interesting. I was really interested in the Mary Winkler case. I was really sad when I read the case about the little six-year-old boy whose mother died because a 911 worker did not believe his call. I am interested in the arrival of the "TomKitten" - yeah, I know, it's pathetic...Why do certain things seem more interesting than others?

It is gorgeous outside today. I can't say the word "gorgeous" without thinking of Gorgias by Plato. That is sad. I greatly dislike Nietsche. He was a weirdo who needed to have the crap beaten out of him. How could someone contract syphillus from "just playing the piano"?

Does Beyonce really say "zippy poppin' turkey stompin' check on me tonight..."?

Ooh, Boy, you look like you like what you see...

I read an article by a woman who gave birth to her baby while squatting on her stairs - on purpose. What - was she crazy? Am I the only person who thinks that is bizarre?

Why is it that I feel that my house is never clean. When I try to think of ways to clean it more - I can't think of any. I really, really love to clean - especially now. But, I think that it is an obsession. Maybe once I get the nursery done I will feel better about the house. Is that what has me going crazy - an unfinished nursery and only 2 months to go?

Sushi would be great today. I want those volcanoe rolls from Sushi Yoshi. Yum! They are sooooo good. I wonder...will Peanut like sushi?

I want to go swimming. My dad is waiting for the pollen to pass before he opens up the pool. I can't wait!!! I hope that he hurries! Do you think that I will have a tan when the baby gets here?
Why do I always cut my hair? I want it to be long again. I know why I used to cut it - I felt fat or I had a bad break-up or I had a bad hair-cut...Now what's the problem? No more layers...I think that is it. I get layers put in, and then I have them cut out. Not exactly a way to get long hair. Plus, I read that most pregnant women cut their hair when they notice that they do not have a waistline anymore. Will I ever have a waistline again? Somehow, I think I should just give up on washboard abs. I was sooo close to having them once. I lost a good bit of weight and spent 2 hours in the gym every day. Don't see that ever being a possibility again.

Can you believe that I saw an advertisement for Mondo Blahniks? What the devil are "Mondo" Blahniks? I do, however, know what Manolo Blahniks are...

I think that "however" is one of my favorite words. It must be. My rough draft on body image was littered with that word. I also like "awesome" and "cute." Awesome just conveighs an emotion of being greatly impressed or being really happy about something. Cute is just one of those vague, polite words that you use when nothing else comes to mind. Not always, but sometimes...Baby clothes are the one thing - and puppies - that really, really deserve the word "cute."

I WANT SUSHI!!!!! And something else - but I don't know what... WHAT do I want? SUSHI!!!!

Can I hear a big "HURRAY"?!!!!! I can now eat sushi - well, sort of. It can't be raw. But, still...

My baby weighs about 2 pounds. I have only a little over 2 months to go. WOW!!!!

I want to tan in the sun today.

I greatly dislike pregnant women who have cute little baby bumps and are still trim and cute...and don't have big swollen, bloated faces and feet and huge butts and thighs. It isn't fair...

My hair is out of control.

I have decided... In the delivery room, I want a plate of crunchy rolls and Grateful Dead and pink stilletos...

Did you hear about Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim? I dreamed that I went to jail to visit Lil' Kim. She should have never lied in court...

Speaking of dreams...Last night I had a nightmare. Hubby moved me away from South Carolina. Then, he moved me into this little dumpy place in the woods. I made him gut the inside and replace everything with brand new flooring, appliances... Then all of these country women came to help me move in. They did not know me. They only knew Hubby, so they would only listen to him. And they rearranged my kitchen after I had everything just as I wanted it. It looked very tacky. And they were cooking weird things in my kitchen and sitting on my brand new furniture - just talking away. They were not clean. They even decorated everything for Christmas - in October. I yelled at them. Then I had a nervous breakdown. It was weird. I tried to leave, but I had a flat tire. Then a raccoon or something was after me when I tried to get back into the house.

If I were Katie Holmes, I would beat Tom Cruise to a bloody pulp. He will not let her have pain medication or make any noise in the delivery room. He would not live long around me. He made her a special mouthpiece to bite into when she is having the baby. He bought her an iPod for the delivery room so that she would be quiet. I would kill him. He is stupid.

The mystic powers of the sun are drawing me to the out of doors. I am even going to try to make my way into Bella territory, which is very scary... What may be scarier, however - I am going to wear a bikini when I get there. Poor Bella.

I have found that the random thought thing is very satisfying. I think that I am a very random person. Therefore, more blogging of random thoughts...

I hate evaluating other people's work. Especially when I have to give them my evaluation of their work and talk to them about it for 30 minutes. Not cool. I feel as if I must either tell the truth (it sucks) or be polite and lie. I might be a little biased against it already...But the information is not even exactly correct. They made generalizations about three different decades based on I don't know what. That's the part that sort of has me scratching my head. Bad grammar - I don't care. Boring sentence structure - so what? Faulty info - I don't know... I just want to write my paper and get my grade. Isn't the professor supposed to be grading the papers?

My flowers are doing great - except for my snapdragons. I love snapdragons.

My home town is changing like crazy. I don't like it. It has been overrun with people who have an IQ score of 10 - or lower. They tear down old buildings and put up shiny, new, ugly junk stores - and bars. I hate that. I wish that the chicken farmers and cattle farmers in the area that are being turned out of their homes to make way for more stinking Yuppies would "accidentally" drop off loads of manure in front of new, ugly, disruptive development. And in the town council members' front yards. Hey, maybe I could organize the Southern mafia. Then we could shoot BB guns at their screen doors. I have heard of the mafia up North doing that to people that they don't want to hurt, but they don't like. Wouldn't that be great?

I greatly dislike Yuppies...There are more of them than you may realize...

I heard someone say the other day that they had a handbag to match their skirt. They thought that was great. Isn't that funny? Handbags are supposed to match your shoes.

I want to wear something that actually fits correctly again.

I like having a clean house. My house is very clean. I cleaned it - alot...My mother's house is even cleaner than mine. Every time I visit, I want to clean my house more...

Hubby is going to make me a keylime pie. I am not supposed to eat carbs. There are no carbs in key lime pie...

I hate it when people want to sell their family's land...

I HATE CONSTRUCTION!

I have connections to the mafia. Well, not really. But I know people who do. Or say that they do.
I hereby pledge to mop daily and to dust every other day. I will water my flowers every morning and wash clothes at least every other day. I will cook meals containing one meat, one starch, and at least 2 vegetables. I will make sure that my son eats five different fruits or vegetables daily. I will encourage my family to participate in heart-healthy exercise together. I will vacuum in high heels. I will prepare vegetables such as brussel sprouts and spinach - and my family will eat them. I will learn to magically take the pain out of scratches and bruises with a hug and a band-aid. I will learn to bring encouragement to the men in my life - both of them. All this I pledge to on my honor as a housewife and stay-at-home mom.

So, I went to see Chronicles of Narnia tonight. It was a really, really awesome movie. I was pleasantly surprised.

Did you know that giving your plants booze may just help them have more blooms? No, no thanks necessary. I'm always there to give out weird facts.

I can't really eat sugar now. I kind of don't want it... and still want it at the same time. Is that weird?

Only two and a half more months. WOW! That is so scary! And exciting!


I wrote my paper on body image - the rough draft. Now I have to evaluate one of my classmate's papers. It is on sex and the media. It has pictures - of naked women. I so do not need this. I abhor pornography in any sense of the word. I abhor women who clamor for equality and still treat their bodies as if they are objects meant only for man's lust and desire. I abhor people who feel no shame. I abhor the fact that a casual attitude of sex may be "okayed" by calling it art. I abhor writing an unbiased evaluation of a "professional" work written in an unprofessional manner.

I want a BIG blue bow on my mailbox - or front door - in July.

I am somebody's mama. Weird - and scary...

I get really talkative when I am tired. Hubby can attest to this. I like blogging because it saves my poor husband's ears.

Speaking of Hubby...I have to brag a little. My husband woke me up this morning by bringing up made-from-scratch whole wheat sweet potato pancakes complete with strawberries and whipped cream to me. I have never really had breakfast in bed before. And it looked so pretty on the plate. And it was delicious! I am such a lucky girl...

You know, I can't think of an any more wonderful way to spend life - than at the side of such a wonderful, Godly man. I am so in-love with him. We were walking today - holding hands and his child was kicking the inside of my belly. And it just kind of hit me...This is life - this is my life - this is my life with the man I love until I die. Marriage is one of the most beautiful gifts of God. Not always easy...but so wonderful. It's the chance to not be alone. The chance to have a fellow servant of Christ with whom you have a wonderful, amazing connection. Someone that you can just relax with. Someone who cares for you in a special, only-one-person kind of way. Someone who puts up with you talking their ears off at 1am. Someone that you have to hide your cell phone in order to keep yourself from inundating their mailbox with text messages throughout the day. Someone that you somehow like washing their dirty socks everyday. Someone to kiss goodnight - and goodmorning. Someone who you are learning to read their mind...and they are learning to read yours. Someone you never get tired of being around. Someone whose presence just exudes comfort and stability for you. Someone who waters your flowers every morning before he goes to school or work. Someone you find yourself loving more and more until you think that your heart must be going to burst. Someone who makes you soooo happy... and someone who, you know, you make happy - somehow. Someone to share life with. All that and so much more...Marriage is a wonderful thing.

I'm Back...

Why do the words "I'm back" always remind me of an old school Eminem song?

Guess what happened today? I had a doctor's appointment. I had to drink this yucky stuff 1 hour before I got some bloodwork done. I thought that my appointment was at 8:30, so I got out of my nice, warm bed and ran downstairs to chug that nasty crap. I went to leave the house to get to my appointment, when Hubby reminded me that my appointment was really at 9am. CRAP!!!!! I have to go back next Tuesday. And...I have to drink more of that nasty stuff that makes the baby kick exactly one hour before I go. (I don't know if it really makes the baby kick, but he sure was kicking this morning.)

We are finally moved in to our new house!!! I have a flower bed started!!! And I have wonderful neighbors!!!Yeah!!!

Hubby did what he was threatening to do. And my dad helped. Now I have a whole lot of boxes with random crap in it. Reminds me of the weeks right after Hubby and I got married and he moved into the duplex. Fun, right?

I actually got to class an hour early today. So, I am blogging in the computer lab. I have never done this before. I can't make up my mind if I like it.

I never want another breakfast biscuit from a fast-food place for the rest of my life. They are gag-o-matic. Yuck!

I think that I am going to make a mix-cd for the delivery room. What music should I put on it? I am thinking some Grateful Dead and maybe some Modest Mouse. A little Led Zepelin (did I spell that right?) and some Waylon Jennings would also be very nice. I want to call my son "Two" because he is a junior. Hubby won't let me.

I wish that I was a hippy. Hubby says that I am not because I like pink and I bathe regularly. I don't think that he knows what he is talking about. He still thinks that I am white.