giddy with glee

My inner nerd is going to be unleashed in this post.


And its all because of this...





I dig this new show. Being the music lover that I am, I was all in a tizzy when the pilot aired following the American Idol Finale. Mr. Baseball may have tried to communicate with me in the hour I was watching, but I don't remember. I completely ignored him (sorry babe!).

It makes me sad my high school didn't have a glee club. I totally would have been a part of it.

Just watch the clip and tell me you didn't like it. Go ahead. I dare you.

And if you love 80's music, you better watch it. You won't regret it.

phriday photo: look-a-like

Upon first glance of this picture there's only one thing that comes to mind besides the fact that this is the cutest child on the face of the earth...

Its quite possible he belongs in this line-up...





Clearly he's destined for fame...or at least a starring role in Vegas imitating actors.

dear santa,

You are totally real. I still believe in you, even though I am 31 and now have a child of my own.

And I was ROBBED, I tell you - years of innocence, awe and wonder, violently flushed down the toilet I was delicately perched upon.

Its all her fault, Santa - the all-knowing older sister who executed her most sinister undercover operation to date. Her powers of deduction were unparallelled - how mom and dad used the same wrapping paper you did, and how you and dad had the same handwriting.

The evidence mounted and she felt compelled to report her findings to me, an unassuming five year old. Not only that, but she could not wait for me to exit the bathroom before she spewed forth the "truth" of your non-existence.

I will tell you Santa, I was more than shattered.

I mean, what kind of a world is a world with no Santa? And I ask you, who finds out there "is no Santa" whilst seated upon the porcelain throne?

If you ceased to exist, that would render null and void all of my most favorite Christmas programs...

* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
* Frosty the Snowman
* Christmas Vacation
* Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
* The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

...and I'm just not having that, no siree.

Despite what some grown-ups might say, I know you are real. And I know Mrs. Santa is real - I spoke with her on the phone one Christmas Eve many years ago.

I realize there's not much time left before Christmas and you're bound to be busy, so I'll get right to the point. Here's my wish-list for this year:

* Addison Road CD
* Running Shoes
* Wii
* New Baby (I realize you aren't really the one who should help me out with this, so can you pass on a good word to the stork for me? Thanks!)
* Bras/underwear (it is WELL past time for some new unmentionables)
* clothes (I won't disclose what size because you already know that)
* Pocket-Sized Bible
* Newsies DVD - so I can watch Christian Bale dance around and sing his cute little heart out. He was at least 18 when that was filmed right?)
* Tae-Bo DVD's or new Firm workout program


Thanks Santa. I know you focus on getting presents to children for Christmas, but I'd really appreciate it if you could make a special stop for me. I'll leave you a little money with the cookies, milk, and carrots to offset your traveling expenses. With the current price of sleigh travel, no doubt you could use it.

See you next week!

Caroline

P.S. Please bring a Milkbone with you so Lijah doesn't bark and wake the redhead up when you arrive.

q: what takes an hour, is very hot, tastes better than it looks, and leaves you wanting more?

Hey, get your mind out of the gutter...


a: a trip to get these bad boys...

being chosen

As humans, one of our basic desires is to be wanted - to be chosen. We may have encountered rejection early on in our lives by a mother or a father. Maybe our friends or a significant other turned their backs on us at the time when we needed them most, or maybe we just weren't picked to be on the "cool people's" dodgeball team in 5th grade. Whatever the situation, each of us has experienced rejection in our lives.

I have been attending a Thursday morning bible study for almost a year and a half and have received such a blessing being a part of it. We have done several studies during my time there, including two by Beth Moore, and two by Priscilla Shirer. Both ladies are amazing Bible teachers and have a gift for illuminating the Scriptures in ways that normal people like me can understand.

The study we're going through right now is called Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed:A Study of David and has opened my eyes to a certain truth about myself.


God chose me.


This may seem strange or even elementary to some, but this is something that while I might have known it in my head, is finally beginning to break through to my heart.

I have been chosen [handpicked, singled out] to accomplish His purposes in this generation.

Of course I'm not the only one. Anyone who believes and trusts their life with the truth that God tore Himself away from heaven to come and be with us (in the flesh as Jesus Christ) has been chosen by God.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you." (John 15:16)

To get into a debate about predestination vs. free will is not my intent here so please don't misunderstand. I'm simply sharing something that God is showing me.

Priscilla states that, "Being chosen simply designates the glorious fact that God chooses us, so our confidence rests not in our faithfulness but in His.

Not only have we been chosen, but we are established [to bring something into being with the consequence that its existence is a certainty] - meaning that God sets things securely in order and prepares them for the specified purpose.

I have discovered that God wants to use me to begin a MOPS program in my city.

I tried to send several Newsflashes to God that I really wasn't the right person to do this for this reason or that reason, but He keeps being persistent and is using this Bible Study to show me that yes, I am the one He wants to use.

Direct quote from the study: "He didn't select us to lead the study, mother the children, marry the man, lead the meeting, run the office, evangelize the tribe, or start the ministry (Holla!) because he knew we were already capable. Rather, He picked us up, dusted off our incapability, replaced it with His ability, and secured our success when we chose to rest and trust in Him to work supernaturally in us."

So, I feel completely inadequate for this task, but I am determined to press on. Sure, I'll make lots of mistakes along the way, but I am more than excited to see the impact this ministry will have in our community.

After all, I've been chosen by God and established for this task at hand - to bring Him glory.

I know that this post has a more serious tone than some of the others, and I am grateful, if in fact you are still reading. So, in the spirit of all things Caroline, I had to throw in some humor, cause that's how I roll.

I have to be honest and tell you that when I first opened the study and read "You have been chosen", my first thought wasn't, "Wow, that's amazing spiritual truth that is now penetrating my heart to the core!" I thought of this...

and for this year's costume...

Rooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrr!

Aren't I the cutest not-scary lion you've ever seen?

Actually, the redhead would've been the cutest not-scary lion you've ever seen,
but he refused to wear the costume.

So for now, this will have to suffice.

Happy Halloween!