Well, that was a little bit scary!
Last night, for the first time since I was two years old and ate a whole bottle of St. Joseph Baby Aspirin (I loved that orange flavor!), and had to get my stomach pumped (and yes, I do still remember that - how could I forget?), I went... (no, wait - there's the time when I was five and I was climbing onto the TV to reach something, and yes, my mom had told me not to do that, but I wasn't content to wait for her help, and the TV fell on my foot and broke all the bones) to the emergency room for my own malady and not someone else's.
It happened like this: Yesterday afternoon I went to the ENT for a check up, and while there, he used a local anesthetic in my nose so he could do something rather indelicate that I'd prefer not to discuss in this venue. That was about 4 pm. Later that evening, I took another dose of my antibiotic, plus a shot of the steroid spray the doctor had given me, and went to be early, about 8 pm, because I wasn't feeling well, but I couldn't sleep so I got back up around 10.
My ears and my throat were feeling so itchy. As the evening progressed, the itchiness did, too, until about 11 I couldn't stop coughing, and my whole neck and upper chest felt itchy too, so took a very large dose of liquid Benedryl, and told Mike I felt like it might be an allergic reaction to something. At that point, my throat closed up and I couldn't talk anymore!
I could still breathe okay, or we'd have gone straight to the emergency room.
If we still lived in the good old days, when all military bases had a fully-functioning hospital on base, we'd have gone straight to the emergency room.
But these are not the good old days, these are the New and Improved Days, where you can't go to a civilian emergency room without authorization from the military health care HMO (Did I ever mention that HMOs are the invention of the devil? Well, they are!), so Mike began the process of getting permission to take me.
First he called the HMO emergency number and waited and waited while it rang, then waited and waited on hold, and finally got a real live human being to talk to, and explained the situation. Then he hung up and waited while the HMO person called a doctor and explained it all to him to so he could call us back and tell us to do what we already knew we needed to do. After several minutes the doctor called, and Mike explained the whole sitation to him, in great detail, and the doctor said the Magic Words: "Take her to the emergency room."
So after half an hour of jumping through New and Improved Hoops (I'm sure that this is why that word, "Nih!" is so scary!), we set off for the emergency room of the hospital on the other side of town. Not the one closer to us where I had my surgery, oh no, that hospital, for some reason (New and Improved, I'm sure) is not on the emergency room list.
By the time we got there, the Benedryl had taken effect and the symptoms had quit progressing, but I was getting so sleepy that I couldn't do the emergency room paperwork you have to do before the nurse will take a look at you. So Mike did all the paperwork, and then the nurse talked to me, and I whispered hoarsely to the nurse, and then they put me in a room where I took a nap while I waited for the doctor to come.
Skipping over several dull details, the doctor gave me some steroid tablets to reduce the swelling in my throat, and told me not to take any more medicine until I had told the ENT what had happened.
Mike called the ENT's office for me this morning and talked to the nurse (the doc is in surgery all day on Tuesday), and she said I should quit taking the antibiotic.
So, I don't really know what happened. Was it a reaction to something I'd taken? Or to some combination of the things I was taking? Or something completely unrelated? I suppose I'll need to talk to the doctor again tomorrow when he's in his office. In the meantime, I'm going back to bed.
This recovery is taking a lot longer than I'd expected. I'm not used to being sick.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
The nose knows
In my high school anatomy and physiology class, the teacher told us that the sense of smell was so important to taste that if a person were blindfolded and held his nose, he wouldn't be able to taste the difference between a raw potato, an onion, and an apple. She never demonstrated this for us, so I remained skeptical - it just seems like you'd be able to feel the starchiness of the potato and the crumbly apple texture and the way onions come apart in layers, doesn't it?
Well, I'm not volunteering for the experiment, but let me tell you, without a sense of smell most food is just texture and temperature. During my stay in the recovery room, the nurse (did I ever mention that recovery room nurses are the sweetest people on earth? - well they are!) brought me a cup of chicken noodle soup.
It tasted like warm water with slimy chunks in it.
After one bite of the chunks, I decided I'd just drink the warm water part and leave the chunky part in the cup.
When I got home that afternoon, I had a cup of coffee. Now I'm sure you have seen the diagram of the different taste bud areas on the human tongue: sweet here, sour here, salt here, and bitter here. I could never remember where each region was, but that cup of coffee taught me forever exactly where the bitter region is - it's on the back of the tongue, the whole back of the tongue from one edge to the other. It's a really large area!
On the morning after my surgery, my mom brought me breakfast in bed - scrambled eggs, sausages and toast. Mmm, yummy! I made it all into a sandwich, looking forward to eating one of my favorite things for breakfast, and took the first bite, and discovered for the first time that if you can't smell, toast is merely dry, scrambled eggs are damp and bland, and sausage is salty.
I only managed two or three bites before I set it aside.
When my mom came back to get the plate, she said , "Aren't you hungry?"
"I just don't have any appetite," I said.
"Well, that's good," said my mom, a reply which made me realize afresh that my dear mother, bless her heart, is one of those mysterious individuals who inexplicably values the measurement of one's waist more than the enjoyment of one's food. She must not be a Hobbit.
Then, on Saturday night I was making gravy for supper and I realized I had no idea whether it was any good. I hardly ever use recipes when I cook; I just taste the food and if it's not right I add this or that until it is right. And tonight I made bubble and squeak, one of our favorites, but I could only tolerate a few bites of it. I have, however, permanently learned that the salt taste buds are along the edges of the tongue, near the front.
Mexican food is still pretty tasty, even if the main flavor is "hot." Also Starbuck's Frapuccinos are very tasty, since they are a perfect blend of bitter and sweet with plenty of ice chips and whipped cream to make a nice sensation on the tongue.
The doctor said that I could expect to have my sense of smell back within six weeks of the surgery. While I'm waiting, I'm learning to praise God for the amazingly complicated way he made such a simple pleasure as taste.
And praying I don't gain too much weight from all the frapuccinos! ;-)
In my high school anatomy and physiology class, the teacher told us that the sense of smell was so important to taste that if a person were blindfolded and held his nose, he wouldn't be able to taste the difference between a raw potato, an onion, and an apple. She never demonstrated this for us, so I remained skeptical - it just seems like you'd be able to feel the starchiness of the potato and the crumbly apple texture and the way onions come apart in layers, doesn't it?
Well, I'm not volunteering for the experiment, but let me tell you, without a sense of smell most food is just texture and temperature. During my stay in the recovery room, the nurse (did I ever mention that recovery room nurses are the sweetest people on earth? - well they are!) brought me a cup of chicken noodle soup.
It tasted like warm water with slimy chunks in it.
After one bite of the chunks, I decided I'd just drink the warm water part and leave the chunky part in the cup.
When I got home that afternoon, I had a cup of coffee. Now I'm sure you have seen the diagram of the different taste bud areas on the human tongue: sweet here, sour here, salt here, and bitter here. I could never remember where each region was, but that cup of coffee taught me forever exactly where the bitter region is - it's on the back of the tongue, the whole back of the tongue from one edge to the other. It's a really large area!
On the morning after my surgery, my mom brought me breakfast in bed - scrambled eggs, sausages and toast. Mmm, yummy! I made it all into a sandwich, looking forward to eating one of my favorite things for breakfast, and took the first bite, and discovered for the first time that if you can't smell, toast is merely dry, scrambled eggs are damp and bland, and sausage is salty.
I only managed two or three bites before I set it aside.
When my mom came back to get the plate, she said , "Aren't you hungry?"
"I just don't have any appetite," I said.
"Well, that's good," said my mom, a reply which made me realize afresh that my dear mother, bless her heart, is one of those mysterious individuals who inexplicably values the measurement of one's waist more than the enjoyment of one's food. She must not be a Hobbit.
Then, on Saturday night I was making gravy for supper and I realized I had no idea whether it was any good. I hardly ever use recipes when I cook; I just taste the food and if it's not right I add this or that until it is right. And tonight I made bubble and squeak, one of our favorites, but I could only tolerate a few bites of it. I have, however, permanently learned that the salt taste buds are along the edges of the tongue, near the front.
Mexican food is still pretty tasty, even if the main flavor is "hot." Also Starbuck's Frapuccinos are very tasty, since they are a perfect blend of bitter and sweet with plenty of ice chips and whipped cream to make a nice sensation on the tongue.
The doctor said that I could expect to have my sense of smell back within six weeks of the surgery. While I'm waiting, I'm learning to praise God for the amazingly complicated way he made such a simple pleasure as taste.
And praying I don't gain too much weight from all the frapuccinos! ;-)
Help?
Since Blogger has comments now, and I sometimes comment at young peoples' blogs, and Blogger always uses my "posted by..." name, meaning, unlike Sensus Plenior or Haloscan, I can't change my "posted by" name to Mrs. Cumbee when it's more appropriate than Kelly, I want to permanantly change it, which I used to know how to do, but since Blogger has changed the way it works *ahem* I can't figure out how to do it!
**Never mind! I think I figured it out!
Since Blogger has comments now, and I sometimes comment at young peoples' blogs, and Blogger always uses my "posted by..." name, meaning, unlike Sensus Plenior or Haloscan, I can't change my "posted by" name to Mrs. Cumbee when it's more appropriate than Kelly, I want to permanantly change it, which I used to know how to do, but since Blogger has changed the way it works *ahem* I can't figure out how to do it!
**Never mind! I think I figured it out!
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Photo update
I never found my uploading-pictures-from-my-camera cable, so yesterday Mike bought a card reader thingie (it was on sale, plus there's a rebate, so it was practically free!), and so I'm finally able to post some pics that someone has been bugging me about for two months now!
This is the blueberry garden we're creating in the front yard.
The original idea was to create a privacy screen - the double windows on the left of the house belong to my bedroom, and I wanted to be able to look out of my windows and see something besides the neighbor's house across the street, so last spring we bought a truckload of dirt, added lots of compost and peat moss to it, and planted about a dozen blueberries. When we first built the hill, we used el cheapo paving bricks from the home improvement store as a retaining wall, which was not at all how I wanted it to look. Then about three months ago, Mike asked a friend of ours with a farm outside of town, if they had any rock they'd like to get rid of, and our farmer friend gladly told us to take as much rock as we wanted. This picture was taken a couple of months ago at the start of the "replacing the brick" project. We're eventually going to take down that white fence and build a low rock wall in its place.
As you can see, the blueberry hill is slightly overgrown with grass - keeping it cut back is a constant chore, but I want the grass to stay there until I figure out what to use for a groundcover. In the foreground you can see the peach tree, which is producing all of seven peaches in its first year in our garden, surrounded by what's left of the daffodils and muscari. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture when the bulbs were blooming - it was so pretty! That little twig you can barely see to the left of the peach tree is the only blueberry we planted last year that survived, and this year is gave us a couple dozen very plump and sweetly tart berries. We planted two more blueberries in the late winter this year, so our "blueberry garden" has all of three scrawny blueberry bushes on it. To the right is the plum tree we planted this spring that is now heavily laden with fruit.
A view of our beautiful pecan tree. That's my dear hubby standing by his mini-van getting ready to go back to work after his lunch break.
View from the house side of the garden of #2 Daughter sitting beside the white climbing rose, which, according to Sora, is in the "creep" year. Those lambs ears in front of her were just three tiny little plants last spring - I think they are the most successful things I've planted so far!
Daughters #2 and #3 posing by the peach tree.
Remember the trellis we built out of leftovers so we could screen this ugly compost area? This pic was taken in late April when the gourds first sprouted...
...this picture was taken this afternoon. Much prettier, isn't it?
Trying to get seven kids to pose for a photo is not the easiest thing in the world. This was about two Sundays ago, and as you can see, Baby Princess was a little bit hot and cranky, so we never got a good shot. #1 Daughter is wearing the skirt she made for Easter; #2 Daughter made her own jumper; I made the gingham jumper and white petticoat #3 Daughter is wearing (and the matching petticoat on #2D, which you can't really see), and the gingham dress on Baby Princess. The boys are wearing coordinating shirts from the local stuff mart. Sorry guys! Maybe next year I'll get around to making Easter clothes for you, too!
This is the blueberry garden we're creating in the front yard.
The original idea was to create a privacy screen - the double windows on the left of the house belong to my bedroom, and I wanted to be able to look out of my windows and see something besides the neighbor's house across the street, so last spring we bought a truckload of dirt, added lots of compost and peat moss to it, and planted about a dozen blueberries. When we first built the hill, we used el cheapo paving bricks from the home improvement store as a retaining wall, which was not at all how I wanted it to look. Then about three months ago, Mike asked a friend of ours with a farm outside of town, if they had any rock they'd like to get rid of, and our farmer friend gladly told us to take as much rock as we wanted. This picture was taken a couple of months ago at the start of the "replacing the brick" project. We're eventually going to take down that white fence and build a low rock wall in its place.
As you can see, the blueberry hill is slightly overgrown with grass - keeping it cut back is a constant chore, but I want the grass to stay there until I figure out what to use for a groundcover. In the foreground you can see the peach tree, which is producing all of seven peaches in its first year in our garden, surrounded by what's left of the daffodils and muscari. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture when the bulbs were blooming - it was so pretty! That little twig you can barely see to the left of the peach tree is the only blueberry we planted last year that survived, and this year is gave us a couple dozen very plump and sweetly tart berries. We planted two more blueberries in the late winter this year, so our "blueberry garden" has all of three scrawny blueberry bushes on it. To the right is the plum tree we planted this spring that is now heavily laden with fruit.
A view of our beautiful pecan tree. That's my dear hubby standing by his mini-van getting ready to go back to work after his lunch break.
View from the house side of the garden of #2 Daughter sitting beside the white climbing rose, which, according to Sora, is in the "creep" year. Those lambs ears in front of her were just three tiny little plants last spring - I think they are the most successful things I've planted so far!
Daughters #2 and #3 posing by the peach tree.
Remember the trellis we built out of leftovers so we could screen this ugly compost area? This pic was taken in late April when the gourds first sprouted...
...this picture was taken this afternoon. Much prettier, isn't it?
Trying to get seven kids to pose for a photo is not the easiest thing in the world. This was about two Sundays ago, and as you can see, Baby Princess was a little bit hot and cranky, so we never got a good shot. #1 Daughter is wearing the skirt she made for Easter; #2 Daughter made her own jumper; I made the gingham jumper and white petticoat #3 Daughter is wearing (and the matching petticoat on #2D, which you can't really see), and the gingham dress on Baby Princess. The boys are wearing coordinating shirts from the local stuff mart. Sorry guys! Maybe next year I'll get around to making Easter clothes for you, too!
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Offline for a few days
My mom is coming down today so she can stay with the kids and look after things because tomorrow I'm going to have surgery on my nose! I have a deviated septum and a couple of other problems that make breathing extremely difficult, and when I went to the doctor a couple of months ago for a bad spell of allergies, he sent me down to the ENT to have my nose fixed.
I don't know whether anyone else is like this, but I'm a little freaked out at the idea of being unconscous for an hour and a half while strangers are doing things to my face! (Can you say, "Kelly is a control freak"?) It's really not a difficult surgery and the recovery is expected to be fairly easy, but still...
Anyway, I most likely won't be online while my mom is here, but if you think about praying for me tomorrow morning (the surgery's supposed to start at 9:30 central time), I'd sure appreciate it!
My mom is coming down today so she can stay with the kids and look after things because tomorrow I'm going to have surgery on my nose! I have a deviated septum and a couple of other problems that make breathing extremely difficult, and when I went to the doctor a couple of months ago for a bad spell of allergies, he sent me down to the ENT to have my nose fixed.
I don't know whether anyone else is like this, but I'm a little freaked out at the idea of being unconscous for an hour and a half while strangers are doing things to my face! (Can you say, "Kelly is a control freak"?) It's really not a difficult surgery and the recovery is expected to be fairly easy, but still...
Anyway, I most likely won't be online while my mom is here, but if you think about praying for me tomorrow morning (the surgery's supposed to start at 9:30 central time), I'd sure appreciate it!
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalm 32:11
Take a look at what church was all about this morning. I can only say that I was moved to tears, and was so very thankful to have been in this particular church on this particular Sunday. God is so good.
Take a look at what church was all about this morning. I can only say that I was moved to tears, and was so very thankful to have been in this particular church on this particular Sunday. God is so good.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18
An example that I need to keep in mind:
An example that I need to keep in mind:
...please join us in thanking our heavenly Father for His grace not only in dealing with this hardship, but in sending it.
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Balance?
What's so funny about that quiz result from last night, is that if I change one answer, the one I'm most ambiguous on, I get this result:
what kitchen utensil are YOU?
You are a fridge! You can keep your cool, even when faced with a heated situation. You enjoy being the center of attention, and people come to you for advice or when they want something. People also like to stick things to the front of your body.
I guess that explains why taking the quiz at Carmon's blog this morning, yielded this result:
You're a Cappicinno!
What Kind of Coffee are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Balance? Maybe it looks like that on the outside, but on the inside it feels like constant warfare. (Did you know that I have both Scottish and English blood in me? Maybe that's where the warfare comes from. :-p) I must say, I think I know how it feels to be the circus guy who rides a unicycle on the tightrope.
This is why it absolutley drives me nuts when people act like the reason I have a large family and homeschool is because I must be some kind of saint, so patient and gentle and loving. I always want to slap their silly faces and tell them, "No! It's because I believe that it's right and good, and you could do it too, if you felt as strongly about it as I do!"
Of course, being an Un-Official Prairie Muffin, that's not what I do.
I generally smile sweetly and say something disarming. What I almost always fail to do, is to give the glory to God, thanking him for his mercy in blessing my imperfect efforts at living to his glory.
This lack of thankfulness to God and all his blessings is the biggest sin I struggle with, but here's something I noticed lately. Unthankfulness doesn't feel like ingratitude. It feels like not having life go as well as I deserve.
All through my childhood and adolescence I was always looking to the future for my happiness - When I grow up I will _________, and then I'll be happy. I did not recognize that everything, every person, every circumstance in my life was from the hand of a sovereign and good God, and that I should give thanks in everything.
This habit of mind has stuck with me and I've struggled with it for twenty years. For more than half my life this has been my besetting sin, but like I said before, since it doesn't feel like unthankfulness, it took me a long time to recognize it. Ingratitude manifests itself in all sorts of ugly ways: discontent, depression, self-pity, anger, unfaithfulness, covetousness...
Of course, the warfare in my blood is from sin, and far too often it's not from me struggling to submit myself to God, but from the various sins vying for control - which one will win out the next time someone tells me what a wonderful mother I must be? Depression, because I'm nowhere near as good a wife and mother as I dreamed I would be, causing me to react snarkily? Or vanity and pride causing me to pretend everything's just fine and taking the glory for myself?
This is why it is so very important to learn to give thanks to God in everything - the good and the bad - knowing that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
This is also why it is so important for parents to teach their children to be thankful - O God, please don't let my children grow up to be as ungrateful as I am!
At various times in my life I've kept a thanksgiving journal, writing down at least three things each morning for which I'm thankful. This discipline goes a long way in combatting my besetting sins, and I think I need to pull my journal out and put it to use again, but first I must continue to repent of my sin.
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
This is real balance.
What's so funny about that quiz result from last night, is that if I change one answer, the one I'm most ambiguous on, I get this result:
what kitchen utensil are YOU?
You are a fridge! You can keep your cool, even when faced with a heated situation. You enjoy being the center of attention, and people come to you for advice or when they want something. People also like to stick things to the front of your body.
I guess that explains why taking the quiz at Carmon's blog this morning, yielded this result:
You're a Cappicinno!
What Kind of Coffee are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Balance? Maybe it looks like that on the outside, but on the inside it feels like constant warfare. (Did you know that I have both Scottish and English blood in me? Maybe that's where the warfare comes from. :-p) I must say, I think I know how it feels to be the circus guy who rides a unicycle on the tightrope.
This is why it absolutley drives me nuts when people act like the reason I have a large family and homeschool is because I must be some kind of saint, so patient and gentle and loving. I always want to slap their silly faces and tell them, "No! It's because I believe that it's right and good, and you could do it too, if you felt as strongly about it as I do!"
Of course, being an Un-Official Prairie Muffin, that's not what I do.
I generally smile sweetly and say something disarming. What I almost always fail to do, is to give the glory to God, thanking him for his mercy in blessing my imperfect efforts at living to his glory.
This lack of thankfulness to God and all his blessings is the biggest sin I struggle with, but here's something I noticed lately. Unthankfulness doesn't feel like ingratitude. It feels like not having life go as well as I deserve.
All through my childhood and adolescence I was always looking to the future for my happiness - When I grow up I will _________, and then I'll be happy. I did not recognize that everything, every person, every circumstance in my life was from the hand of a sovereign and good God, and that I should give thanks in everything.
This habit of mind has stuck with me and I've struggled with it for twenty years. For more than half my life this has been my besetting sin, but like I said before, since it doesn't feel like unthankfulness, it took me a long time to recognize it. Ingratitude manifests itself in all sorts of ugly ways: discontent, depression, self-pity, anger, unfaithfulness, covetousness...
Of course, the warfare in my blood is from sin, and far too often it's not from me struggling to submit myself to God, but from the various sins vying for control - which one will win out the next time someone tells me what a wonderful mother I must be? Depression, because I'm nowhere near as good a wife and mother as I dreamed I would be, causing me to react snarkily? Or vanity and pride causing me to pretend everything's just fine and taking the glory for myself?
This is why it is so very important to learn to give thanks to God in everything - the good and the bad - knowing that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
This is also why it is so important for parents to teach their children to be thankful - O God, please don't let my children grow up to be as ungrateful as I am!
At various times in my life I've kept a thanksgiving journal, writing down at least three things each morning for which I'm thankful. This discipline goes a long way in combatting my besetting sins, and I think I need to pull my journal out and put it to use again, but first I must continue to repent of my sin.
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
This is real balance.
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
Gee, I don't know...
What do y'all think?
what kitchen utensil are YOU?
You are a toaster! You enjoy holding heated conversations but have a hard time not letting your anger get the best of you. Be careful with your short temper. You also enjoy making toast. Just remember to stay away from metal objects.
(Found at Samantha's blog.)
What do y'all think?
what kitchen utensil are YOU?
You are a toaster! You enjoy holding heated conversations but have a hard time not letting your anger get the best of you. Be careful with your short temper. You also enjoy making toast. Just remember to stay away from metal objects.
(Found at Samantha's blog.)
Frog Went a Courtin
Because I'm in a funky mood today, and because I read a couple of articles on singing and folk music, I thought I'd post the song the kids and I have been singing the most the past few days. Dr. Koyzis says that folk songs come in their own dialect, so it's not surprising that I couldn't find anything online that was exactly the way I learned the song, but here's a recording of a woman singing roughly the same melody we use, though her words are a bit different.
When we sing "Frog Went a Courtin" I usually sing the verses and the kids sing the refrain, but sometimes we just take turns, or whoever feels like leading off the verses will do so for awhile. The song is awfully long, but the repetetiveness of it makes it easy for the little ones to learn quickly, and it's fun to sing while folding laundry or doing other chores.
Frog went a courtin and he did ride
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Sword and buckler by his side
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He rode right to Miss Mousie's door
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Found Miss Mousie sweepin the floor
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He took Miss Mousie on his knee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
And said, "Miss Mousie won't you marry me?"
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
"Without my Uncle Rat's consent,"
Rinktum body minchy cambo
"I could not marry the President."
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides.
Rinktum body minchy cambo
To think his niece would be a bride
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Who will make the wedding gown?
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Old Miss Rat from Pumpkin town
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Where will the wedding supper be?
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Way down yonder in the hollow tree
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
What will the wedding supper be?
Rinktum body minchy cambo
A fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
First to come was a bumblebee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He set his fiddle on his knee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was doodle bug
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Carrying a water jug
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was a little white moth
Rinktum body minchy cambo
She laid out the tablecloth
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was an itty bitty flea
Rinktum body minchy cambo
To dance a jig for the bumblebee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was a big old cow
Rinktum body minchy cambo
She wanted to dance but she didn't know how
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was a big black snake
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He ate up all the wedding cake
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Last to come was an old gray cat
Rinktum body minchy cambo
She swallowed up the mouse and ate up the rat
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Mr. Frog went hopping over the brook
Rinktum body minchy cambo
A duck came along and swallowed him up
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Now is the end of him and her
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Guess there won't be no tadpoles covered with fur!
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Little piece of cornbread lyin on the shelf
Rinktum body minchy cambo
If you want any more you can sing it yourself!
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Because I'm in a funky mood today, and because I read a couple of articles on singing and folk music, I thought I'd post the song the kids and I have been singing the most the past few days. Dr. Koyzis says that folk songs come in their own dialect, so it's not surprising that I couldn't find anything online that was exactly the way I learned the song, but here's a recording of a woman singing roughly the same melody we use, though her words are a bit different.
When we sing "Frog Went a Courtin" I usually sing the verses and the kids sing the refrain, but sometimes we just take turns, or whoever feels like leading off the verses will do so for awhile. The song is awfully long, but the repetetiveness of it makes it easy for the little ones to learn quickly, and it's fun to sing while folding laundry or doing other chores.
Frog went a courtin and he did ride
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Sword and buckler by his side
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He rode right to Miss Mousie's door
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Found Miss Mousie sweepin the floor
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He took Miss Mousie on his knee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
And said, "Miss Mousie won't you marry me?"
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
"Without my Uncle Rat's consent,"
Rinktum body minchy cambo
"I could not marry the President."
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides.
Rinktum body minchy cambo
To think his niece would be a bride
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Who will make the wedding gown?
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Old Miss Rat from Pumpkin town
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Where will the wedding supper be?
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Way down yonder in the hollow tree
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
What will the wedding supper be?
Rinktum body minchy cambo
A fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
First to come was a bumblebee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He set his fiddle on his knee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was doodle bug
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Carrying a water jug
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was a little white moth
Rinktum body minchy cambo
She laid out the tablecloth
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was an itty bitty flea
Rinktum body minchy cambo
To dance a jig for the bumblebee
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was a big old cow
Rinktum body minchy cambo
She wanted to dance but she didn't know how
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Next to come was a big black snake
Rinktum body minchy cambo
He ate up all the wedding cake
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Last to come was an old gray cat
Rinktum body minchy cambo
She swallowed up the mouse and ate up the rat
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Mr. Frog went hopping over the brook
Rinktum body minchy cambo
A duck came along and swallowed him up
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Now is the end of him and her
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Guess there won't be no tadpoles covered with fur!
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Little piece of cornbread lyin on the shelf
Rinktum body minchy cambo
If you want any more you can sing it yourself!
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Kimaneero down to Cairo
Kimaneero Cairo
Shaddle-addle-adda-babba
Ladda-babba-linktum
Rinktum body minchy cambo
Saturday, June 5, 2004
A loving husband and great man has passed away
Ronald Wilson Reagan, February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004
Ronald Wilson Reagan, February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004
The love Ronald Reagan held for his wife was plain to see. He brightened in her presence, slumped when she was away for long. "I miss her if she even steps out of the room," Reagan wrote in a tribute on their 40th wedding anniversary.
Read more
Trinity Sunday
I love this hymn, especially during the Easter/Ascension/Pentecost season, so I think it's a perfect fit for Trinity, to crown this season when we especially celebrate everything God has done for us in Christ for our salvation.
O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
It fills the heart with ecstasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!
He sent no angel to our race
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame
Himself, and to this lost world came.
For us baptized, for us He bore
His holy fast and hungered sore,
For us temptation sharp He knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.
For us He prayed; for us He taught;
For us His daily works He wrought;
By words and signs and actions thus
Still seeking not Himself, but us.
For us to wicked men betrayed,
Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death,
For us gave up His dying breath.
For us He rose from death again;
For us He went on high to reign;
For us He sent His Spirit here,
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
To Him Whose boundless love has won
Salvation for us through His Son,
To God the Father, glory be
Both now and through eternity.
Words: Unknown author, 15th Century; translated from Latin to English by Benjamin Webb, 1854
Music: “Deo Gracias,” The Agincourt Song, 1415
I love this hymn, especially during the Easter/Ascension/Pentecost season, so I think it's a perfect fit for Trinity, to crown this season when we especially celebrate everything God has done for us in Christ for our salvation.
O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
It fills the heart with ecstasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!
He sent no angel to our race
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame
Himself, and to this lost world came.
For us baptized, for us He bore
His holy fast and hungered sore,
For us temptation sharp He knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.
For us He prayed; for us He taught;
For us His daily works He wrought;
By words and signs and actions thus
Still seeking not Himself, but us.
For us to wicked men betrayed,
Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death,
For us gave up His dying breath.
For us He rose from death again;
For us He went on high to reign;
For us He sent His Spirit here,
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
To Him Whose boundless love has won
Salvation for us through His Son,
To God the Father, glory be
Both now and through eternity.
Words: Unknown author, 15th Century; translated from Latin to English by Benjamin Webb, 1854
Music: “Deo Gracias,” The Agincourt Song, 1415
Friday Five a day late
...but, hey, I just saw it over at Donna's blog and it looks like fun! First, to quote Donna, "Time for a little silly fun. The Friday five site has closed so I searched around and found one I liked. I do not know what the kabalarians site is all about...just ignore the philosophy and see if your name describes you. Mine was eerily right on."
The Name Game
1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed?
My last name changed 16 years ago when I got married.
2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?
I wouldn't. After so many years with it, I finally got used to it, which is to say, when I was younger I hated being called Kelly so I planned on making everyone call me Diane (my middle name) when I went to college. Also, I planned on using "Diana Kelly" as a stage name (Ha! Betcha didn't know that about me, didja?), or "Kelly McConnell" (my mom's maiden name) as a pen name. As it worked out, I'm happy being Mrs. Joseph Michael Cumbee, so I'm not making any changes.
3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)
Oh, this is a funny one. My parents couldn't agree on a name when I was born, so I came home from the hospital as "Girl Pyle" and at some point my dad got his college alumni newsletter in the mail, which contained a birth announcement - another alumnus had just had a baby girl and named her "Kelly Diane," and my parents said, "That sounds good," and changed my birth certificate to reflect that.
4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?I think I've used all the names I love for my children's names. The only one I haven't used yet is Margaret Hope, and if God ever gives us another girl, that will be her name. When I was expecting baby #5, I thought if I had twin girls I'd name them Lilian and Elisabeth and call them Lily and Libby. Isn't that cute? I also love Phinehas, but DH hates it, so it will never get used.
5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn't it?
"You find it difficult to systematize your efforts and to fulfil your obligations and plans as you are not inclined to apply yourself consistently to a job to reach your goals. Although you appear positive, you inwardly lack self-confidence and will-power." Oooh, ouch!
...but, hey, I just saw it over at Donna's blog and it looks like fun! First, to quote Donna, "Time for a little silly fun. The Friday five site has closed so I searched around and found one I liked. I do not know what the kabalarians site is all about...just ignore the philosophy and see if your name describes you. Mine was eerily right on."
The Name Game
1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed?
My last name changed 16 years ago when I got married.
2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?
I wouldn't. After so many years with it, I finally got used to it, which is to say, when I was younger I hated being called Kelly so I planned on making everyone call me Diane (my middle name) when I went to college. Also, I planned on using "Diana Kelly" as a stage name (Ha! Betcha didn't know that about me, didja?), or "Kelly McConnell" (my mom's maiden name) as a pen name. As it worked out, I'm happy being Mrs. Joseph Michael Cumbee, so I'm not making any changes.
3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)
Oh, this is a funny one. My parents couldn't agree on a name when I was born, so I came home from the hospital as "Girl Pyle" and at some point my dad got his college alumni newsletter in the mail, which contained a birth announcement - another alumnus had just had a baby girl and named her "Kelly Diane," and my parents said, "That sounds good," and changed my birth certificate to reflect that.
4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?I think I've used all the names I love for my children's names. The only one I haven't used yet is Margaret Hope, and if God ever gives us another girl, that will be her name. When I was expecting baby #5, I thought if I had twin girls I'd name them Lilian and Elisabeth and call them Lily and Libby. Isn't that cute? I also love Phinehas, but DH hates it, so it will never get used.
5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn't it?
"You find it difficult to systematize your efforts and to fulfil your obligations and plans as you are not inclined to apply yourself consistently to a job to reach your goals. Although you appear positive, you inwardly lack self-confidence and will-power." Oooh, ouch!
Friday, June 4, 2004
My blog has been hijacked!!
Believe me, I am not advertising for whatever it is that's being advertised in those links in the post entitled "Aromatherapy." I don't know if it's a virus, spyware on my computer, or something Blogger is doing.
**Well, it's gone now, whatever it was. They didn't look like my links anyway. This is really strange...
Believe me, I am not advertising for whatever it is that's being advertised in those links in the post entitled "Aromatherapy." I don't know if it's a virus, spyware on my computer, or something Blogger is doing.
**Well, it's gone now, whatever it was. They didn't look like my links anyway. This is really strange...
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
What's up with the Cultural Relevance gurus?
For some reason some of them seem to think that all Christians have to go about cultural dominion in just the same way that they have chosen. A few of them even get a little freaked out that some of us don't exercise Christian Liberty ("All rise!") to the same extent that they do.
If they think that they are fighting on the front lines of the culture war, surely they realize that someone has to abide by the stuff. At the very least they ought to consider us as co-beligerants, and it would behoove them not to be making random potshots in our direction, simply to remind us that we're not indestructible. I can assure you that we are receiving enough shells from the enemy that we don't need more of them coming in from our brothers.
For some reason some of them seem to think that all Christians have to go about cultural dominion in just the same way that they have chosen. A few of them even get a little freaked out that some of us don't exercise Christian Liberty ("All rise!") to the same extent that they do.
If they think that they are fighting on the front lines of the culture war, surely they realize that someone has to abide by the stuff. At the very least they ought to consider us as co-beligerants, and it would behoove them not to be making random potshots in our direction, simply to remind us that we're not indestructible. I can assure you that we are receiving enough shells from the enemy that we don't need more of them coming in from our brothers.
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
105° is just too darn hot
(That's 41°C for my Canadian friends.)
Since I'm too hot to think of anything else, here are a few things I've learned about keeping cool:
Iced tea is necessary for life in the South.
A hairstyle that's long enought to be worn pinned up is actually cooler than a shorter style, since it stays off the back of the neck.
Wearing bike shorts under a dress is more comfortable than going bare-legged, and is much cooler than pantyhose.
Never leave the house without plenty of drinking water.
Turn off all the lights in the house - not only do they add to the heat, they look hot.
A fan to keep the air moving is a must.
We just installed an exhaust fan over the stove in the kitchen and it's amazing how much cooler it is in there!
The best supper on a hot evening is a chef's salad with plenty of veggies, cold cuts, cheeses, and hard boiled eggs. Or ice cream. ;-)
Cooking on the grill is another option. When Mike grills something, he usually cooks enough to last two or three days.
Speaking of supper - during the winter months we usually eat around 6pm, but since 4-6pm is the hottest part of the day here, in the summer I usually give the kids a snack around 4 and we eat supper after 7.
Bring clothes in from the clothesline before 2pm. Otherwise it's too hot to go out and they don't get brought in until after supper!
Everyone tends to be cranky when it's this hot, so I work extra hard at being cheerful, and try to encourage my kids to do so as well.
The Ladies Against Feminism site has an article by a woman living in Australia, called Hot Weather Homemaking, with lots of other interesting tips.
**Update**
The Queen of Popsickles has posted some absolutely divinely inspired ideas for keeping cool. Go read 'em right now!
(That's 41°C for my Canadian friends.)
Since I'm too hot to think of anything else, here are a few things I've learned about keeping cool:
Iced tea is necessary for life in the South.
A hairstyle that's long enought to be worn pinned up is actually cooler than a shorter style, since it stays off the back of the neck.
Wearing bike shorts under a dress is more comfortable than going bare-legged, and is much cooler than pantyhose.
Never leave the house without plenty of drinking water.
Turn off all the lights in the house - not only do they add to the heat, they look hot.
A fan to keep the air moving is a must.
We just installed an exhaust fan over the stove in the kitchen and it's amazing how much cooler it is in there!
The best supper on a hot evening is a chef's salad with plenty of veggies, cold cuts, cheeses, and hard boiled eggs. Or ice cream. ;-)
Cooking on the grill is another option. When Mike grills something, he usually cooks enough to last two or three days.
Speaking of supper - during the winter months we usually eat around 6pm, but since 4-6pm is the hottest part of the day here, in the summer I usually give the kids a snack around 4 and we eat supper after 7.
Bring clothes in from the clothesline before 2pm. Otherwise it's too hot to go out and they don't get brought in until after supper!
Everyone tends to be cranky when it's this hot, so I work extra hard at being cheerful, and try to encourage my kids to do so as well.
The Ladies Against Feminism site has an article by a woman living in Australia, called Hot Weather Homemaking, with lots of other interesting tips.
**Update**
The Queen of Popsickles has posted some absolutely divinely inspired ideas for keeping cool. Go read 'em right now!
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