Is our health worth convenience?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295761,00.html

Forget about inhaling the fumes from ARTIFICIALLY FLAVORED butter microwave popcorn--that stuff is INGESTED. Why do we think artificial flavors are harmless--they are chemically based. Yet most of America blindly goes about buying food without reading the ingredients or considering the chemical, preservative, and dye content. I wonder how many chronic or terminal illnesses could be/can be avoided or even reversed if we did read and consider. And my mother laughed at me for using an air popper...

I Thought I Lived in the Country

I was excited to view the Perseid meteor shower last night since it was supposed to be the prime and peak viewing time. While I did see a couple streaks in the sky, one which seemed to be close to the tops of the trees, how disappointed I was once I got outside. Until last night I hadn't realized just how many of my neighbors have ruined our country nights by having STREET LIGHTS. And wouldn't you know the worse offenders were in the exact direction that I needed to face last night--toward the north. I expected some residual light from the city 10 miles up to the north. Why do people move to the country and drag their STREET LIGHTS along with them? Stay in the city if you want city surroundings. It's as bad as people moving from DC to Winchester for the country living. That's what they say, but they forget to count the cost--living in the country means you don't have all the comforts of city-home living like your favorite store/shop right around the corner. So they petition for those businesses to move into the area and, voila, metropolitan enlargement. ARGH As hot as it has been during the day, we even had a relatively cool night for star-watching. Motion lights on the corner of the house I can understant, but not the continual lighting from country street lights. What an oxymoron.

Two Down, Two to Go

Rather surprising that two weeks have passed since Chris left for training. I'm doing fine, except for missing him. Not the kind of crying-ones-heart-out missing, but just feeling like the rest of you is not there. Of course, I can't wait to see him. He's doing very well--getting into shape, something I hope he keeps up with once he gets back. We've both been too inactive, and it's showing.

Heard a song a little while ago that I haven't heard in a very long time, and I thought I would post it for encouragement to anyone who needs it.

Pick up your heart and Carry it to healing hands

There is no scar, no pain He won't understand

Those broken dreams you've carried this far

Need his touch to mend

Pick up your heart and Carry it to healing hands

What brought you here to this time, to the place

Where your own strength has found its end

And the load that you bear is too heavy to carry

Come bring it all to Him

For the souls that know surrender

He is gracious to hold us so tightly

Pick up your heart and Carry it to healing hands
There is no scar, no pain He won't understand
Those broken dreams you've carried this far
Need his touch to mend
Pick up your heart and Carry it to healing hands

Life Goes On

The grass is mowed, the dishes are washed, and almost of all of the laundry is done. After two days of not feeling like doing anything, I had had enough, and asked God to give me some life so I could get up and get going. He did, and I have. Grocery shopping was an odd feeling today, as most of what I normally look through and look at was unnecessary for just me. Not even a year, yet, and there are plenty of habits and routines already established. We think old married couples are in a rut. It really isn't a rut but a routine with which both parties are comfortable and doesn't need to be changed. A rut was what I was getting into--ever heard the saying that a rut is nothing more than a grave with both ends knocked out?

Parting is Such....Sorrow

Being able to say goodbye has never been a strength of mine. I don't suppose it is for anyone, at least when those to whom you are saying it are close to your heart. Tonight I am thankful for an all-seeing, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God who has both Chris and I engraven in his hand.

Only two jars, but...

The plants in my garden have, for the most part, been growing heartily. (The beets sort of didn't happen, and I replanted them this week.) Anyway, the only things I have really been able to pick are squash, cucumbers, and jalepenos, and the only things we've really done anything with are the first two. I planted the jalepenos for my dearly beloved, but he won't eat them unless he's in the mood to eat them. Sooooo I accumulated quite a few of them and decided today that I needed to do some canning. I haven't canned anything since I was living at home, and then that was only as a helper to mom. Well, I have two nice little pint jars of jalepenos now, and I'm feeling rather proud of myself :) What we'll use them for in the future I don't know, but we have them!

Chris's co-workers think I'm Betty Crocker or something out of the pioneer days because I cook dinner every night. He likes to take leftovers and make everyone drool from the aromas. It really isn't anything special--I am not chef material like my dear friend in IL, and I make my bread in a bread machine. We are such a busy, driven people that for someone to take the time to be in the kitchen like I do just astounds people. Besides trying to be a good steward of our money, I feel like I am serving my husband and God as God would have me serve. I enjoy the time in the evening when we sit down to dinner, and we rehearse our days (many times he has much more to say than I do). No matter what job I have had, I have tried to fulfill the duties to the best of my ability. I have finally attained the position for which I have always longed, and I am happy to fulfill those duties in the same manner. Chris never fails to compliment me, but how much better can you get than to have your husband think so much of you that he likes to compliment you to his co-workers!

Early Anniversary Trip

As posted before, Chris and I are facing a deployment for him in September. If this is the case, and God does not see fit to keep him home, we will spend our first anniversary many, many miles apart. Soooooo, we are preparing to take a two-week vacation to California to sight-see the west! I have been quite a few times, but he has never made it passed Oklahoma. Well, he has, but he totally skipped the west when he flew to Hawaii. Anyway.....camping is a joy of his, and I have wanted to go camping for some time, so we plan to tent the whole way. What a way to enjoy all of the national parks along the way! We are actually headed to CA for a church youth camp where we plan to help the administration--no, not as counsellors, but in most any other way we can (kitchen, grounds, security). We're both looking forward to it all, and since technology is what it is now, I hope to post pics all along the way: Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Hoover Dam, southern Utah, and whatever else we find. I'll be looking for a ghost town or two, and I think Chris will just be looking at it all :) I love the east coast and don't deny that I miss Virginia, but the west is in my blood (thanks to my mother). The mountains and the vastness and the ruggedness and even the barrenness has a beauty all it's own. Yes, I'm excited!!