Questions from Val(erie)
1) A new guy shows up at church and shows an interest in you. Turns out he's Mr. Right. What are the top 10 criteria that he meets?
Well, it would be at Knox of course. I would have at least 4 attendants (Jules, Aigee, Mel and Ash), blue and white as my colors, red roses and white gardenias in my bouqet, long flowy dress, etc. But by then I'm probably not going to care just as long as it's me and him and the preacher right?3) A couple weeks after the honeymoon, you're suspicious. Another couple weeks and you're sure. You're pregnant! Not only that, the doctor says it's quadruplets! What do you name your two boys and two girls and why (Mr. Right leaves the decision to you)?
Boys are David Russell and Michael Robert after my dad (Robert Russell) and stepdad (David Michael). Girls are Phoebe (see Rom 16:1-2) Anne (mom's dad, sister and nephew) and Rebekah (again Bible) Kimble (dad's mom and me)4) The last several weeks of your pregnancy you're restricted to bedrest. Mr. Right is, of course, pampering you as much as humanly possible. He offers to bring you the sun or the moon or anything else your heart desires. Since you're already feeling a bit crowded, you opt for something smaller than celestial orbs and tell him you'd like to catch up on some videos and some books that you haven't had the chance to see/read yet. He offers to pick up five of each post-haste. What are they?
Movies:
Three months, home with four babies? I'll be ready for a night out.
"We're going to have an Indian" (as in from India) "governor in Louisiana, an Austrian governor in California, and a Texan President in the White House. This is gunna be great!"
KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space,
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old;
Established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
O measureless might! Ineffable love!
While angels delight to worship Thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.
Ok, I have to admit. I'm a fan of "wrasslin'" (aka "wrestling" for you Yankees) and last night's pay-per-view was the night to watch. Goldberg slaughtered Triple H for the World Heavy-weight Title. Tonight will be just as good as the Rock will finally make a return appearance on RAW. Let the Goldberg era begin.
Collect for today ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist; Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
My stepdad just called to tell me our beagle, Maggie, has a mass on her liver and that they were putting her to sleep. We've had her almost as long as my parents have been married. My little sis told me this morning that something was wrong the night before, and I remember hoping that whatever it was that she would be here at least till her 10-year bday and my parents 10-year anniversary in November (they're only a week apart). I miss her already.
Not only is he waiting on Hurricane Isabel, his grandfather died Sunday night, and I don't know if he'll be able to make it here for the funeral.
The Frothy Monkey, a popular coffeeshop here in town is really great. Where else in Ruston can you go to sip on a mocha made with Ghirardelli Chocolate and play chess for hours?
ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Jesus, we adore Thee,
Upon the cross, our King!
We bow our hearts before Thee,
Thy gracious Name we sing.
That Name hath brought salvation,
That Name in life our stay,
Our peace, our consolation,
When life shall fade away.
Yet doth the world disdain Thee,
Still passing by the cross;
Lord, may our hearts retain Thee;
All else we count but loss.
Ah, Lord, our sins arraigned Thee,
And nailed Thee to the tree;
Our pride, our Lord, disdained Thee;
Yet deign our Hope to be.
O glorious King, we bless Thee,
No longer pass Thee by;
O Jesus, we confess Thee
The Son enthroned on high.
Lord, grant to us remission;
Life through Thy death restore;
Yea, grant us fruition
Of life forevermore.
Questions from Kristen (and Mike too I guess)
1. If you had a million dollars, and had to spend it in a week, what would you do with it?
My mom; not because it seems to be the right answer but because she is the greatest. She's put up with all my crap through the years and still loves me no matter what I do or say, even when it's directed to her.3. If you had to move out of the South/Texas (a-hem!), where could you imagine yourself being comfortable?
Close seconds are some moms from my church, superwomen
4. What's the coolest thing about being an aunt?I really loved the Norfolk-Newport News-Hampton Road area in Virginia when I was there a couple of years ago for CWSC. Or at least somwhere where it's not 500 degrees in August.Siberia
I now have two very special young people that I get to watch grow up and love soooo much. Also a big plus is being able to give them back when they're being difficult.5. If you could never wear another t-shirt as long as you lived, what would your wardrobe look like?
This question is actually quite funny. Mostly through my probably junior and senior years at Tech, my friends ragged on me about wearing gray t-shirts. Since I've graduated and work for a professional company, I'm not at leisure to wear them as much. But, I digress. I would probably have a few more nicer things (dresses and such), still a lot of comfy stuff to make up for the no-tshirt thing, and more dressy-casual stuff.::If you woud like to participate too, here are your instructions:
1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed? It is the same.
2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be? I used to want to change my first and middle name but never really thought of anything better.
3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?) My mom told me that she like Jessica (but has called me Jessie since I was a baby), and my middle name is prounounced the same as my dad's mom's maiden name but spelled differently.
4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why? I'm not going to name my children something that sounds really silly, like Sparkle.
5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn't it? Part of it is true, part not.
The World Pauses to Remember Sept 11 Attacks
In Time of War and Tumults O ALMIGHTY God, the supreme Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Social Justice ALMIGHTY God, who hast created man in thine own image; Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Anniversary of Ones Departed ALMIGHTY God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servants, and we pray thee that, having opened to them the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive them more and more into thy joyful service; that they may win, with thee and thy servants everywhere, the eternal victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FBI Probes Man Who Shipped Self to Dallas
Lost Luggage Returns After 24-Year Absence
Barbie Deemed Threat to Saudi Morality
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
How sweet and aweful is this place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!
While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?
“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”
’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.
Pity the nations, O our God!
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.
We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.
1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most? Laundry
2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing? The dishes, sweep/mop, vacuum
3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed? When there's only 2 of you it's really only as needed, though I really need to do the dishes right now instead of blogging
4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules? No, not really.
5. What was the last thing you cleaned? I cleaned a bit on Labor Day. Dusting and stuff.
If you've eaten any of my cooking, you've probably had my great Mexican cassarole (recepie below) that has actually been requested a few times. But I think I've found it's equal. I LOVE Mexican food. Pretty much anything from a Mexican restaurant, I'll eat. This recepie said "enchiladas" but whatever you wanna call it, it's good.
Chicken (about 8 medium-sized tenerloins or 3 breasts)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tsp cumin
4 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
1 cup salsa (I used Pace)
Up to 1/2 white onion
Grated Mexican blend cheese or Montery Jack
4 burrito-sized flour tortillas
Drain and rinse beans and set aside.
Brown chicken and chop into bite-sized pieces or shred.
Chop and sautee onions (prefferably in the same pan as the chicken)
In a medium-large mixing bowl, mix everything but the cheese and tortillas
Spoon 1/4th of the mixture into a tortilla, fold in the ends and fold over and lay in a greased 9x13 pan. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Cover with foil and bake at 400 for about 20 mintues.
Should make 4 LARGE "enchiladas"
Jessie's Mexican Cassarole
2 lbs ground beef
16 oz box of Mild-Mexican Velveeta
1 can mushroom soup
1 can black beans
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 pkg of burrito sized tortillas
Grated cheese for the top
Preheat oven to 350.
Brown and drain ground beef.
Mix Velveeta, soup and tomatoes and cook like you're making the dip
Grease 9x13 pan and layer 2 tortillas to cover the bottom. Layer with 1/2 beef, 1/2 cheese dip stuff, and 1/2 beans.
2 more tortillas, rest of meat, cheese stuff and beans
For the top I usually cut 2 more tortillas into small squares and sprinkle on top, but if you don't have the time/patience just slap 'em on top.
Sprinkle grated cheese on top and bake for about 20 mintues.
Yummy!