All I ever wanted - a Buzzy Tree for Christmas!

This is my Buzzy Christmas tree that Courto gave me for Christmas. I'm pretty much tinkled pink about it. What is now a luscious mound of  rich brown soil started out as a bantam, crusty dirt pellet. After adding some water to my Success Soil pellet I got to watch it evolve into successful, luscious soil you see here. It kind of looked like diarrhea as it was evolving but it was exciting none the less. I'm not sure how big this thing is supposed to get but my instructions are telling me I need to transplant it once it gets 3" tall. Assuming I give this tree the TLC it needs, I will have to show you what it looks like once it reaches full maturity. And I'll probably throw in some update reports and progress snaps. 

I bought a "Quotationary" with some of my gift money and was pleasantly surprised to find a healthy supply of quotes on trees. Here's a Greek saying for you to ponder: "A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under whose shade they will never sit."

Geek Alerts to the Rescue!

I was beginning to wonder what happened to my supporters because it had been awhile since anyone left a comment, and then I realized that you guys had left comments and I was neglecting to publish them! Sorry about that, I just switched my commenting settings. 

As many of you know I had ear surgery  yesterday morning. I didn't do too much besides sleep, take a few steps, feel like I was going to pass out, admire my new fashion head gear, drink a delicious milkshake Mom made for me and browse through my new favorite website: geekalerts.com. Here are a few pictures of some of my favorite items. It was hard to pick which ones I liked best because there are so many great things on Geek Alerts. I highly recommend a visit for there for each and every one of you. top right: Kim Clock, bottom left: Pirate USB hub, bottom middle: sweet Casio watches, bottom right: Retro TV alarm clock. 

Thatssnot funny!

Rosie, I want to start off by dedicating this post to you. 

   

I called you tonight on my way home from babysitting hoping you would answer and ask me how I was doing. But since you didn't, I would like to help you imagine doing so right now. You: "Greetings, Nicole! How are you this fine evening?" Me: "Yes! I was hoping you would ask me! I am doing well, except for this runny nose that is driving the snot out of me!"

A Joke From Jack

Mom inspired me in her comment on the word "crackerjack" in my previous post to share with all of you a Crackerjacks joke. This particular series is a souvenir from my recent summer in Colorado as a camp counselor. One week we had all diabetic kids and we got snacks all throughout the day which was wonderful! Then at the end of the week we got to raid all of the food that the American Diabetes Association left behind which was also wonderful! I scrounged up a decent amount of Crackerjack bags and thoroughly enjoyed my entertaining surprises within them. I hope you do as well. 

Top-drawer, Adroit Crackerjacks

I really shouldn't be using my time to publish a post right now but I decided to make it a reward for figuring out the topic of one of my final projects so I'm going to do it anyway. 

I thought I would share a few of my new favorite words with you. As I was searching thesaurus.com (which happens to be one of my favorite sites and also the place that helped me come up with my name) I came across these words: crackerjack, adroit and top drawer. Here are your definitions: 

crackerjack -noun 1. a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence.

adroit -adjective 1. expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body. 2. cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious; an adroit debater. 

top drawer -noun 1. a person or thing that shows marked ability or excellence.

A Word From Daisy

Thank you, Daisy sour cream for such thought provoking quotes!

Salmagundi And A Pun

Here is a 17th century recipe of salmagundi from The Good Huswives Treasure:

"Cut cold roast chicken or other meats into slices. Mix with minced tarragon and an onion. Mix al together with capers, olives, samphire, broombuds, mushrooms, oysters, lemon, orange, raisins, almonds, blue figs, Virginia potatoes, peas and red and white currants. Garnish with sliced oranges and lemons. Cover with oil and vinegar, beaten together."

One of these days I plan to make this concoction and put a picture of it up for your viewing pleasure. And if you get an itching to try some, you can come on over and we'll make it together! I'm still trying to figure out what broombuds are so if anyone knows, please share your wealth of knowledge with me!

And now a little pun to liven up your day:

You might describe a cow that has just given birth to an offspring as de-calf-inated!

"Dreams Are Tawdry"

I have always loved to read. When I was younger some of my favorite books were The Salem Years, The Trailblazer Series, The American Girl books and the Dear America Series. Now I like to collect oddball books at antique and thrift stores and lately I have taken a great interest in reading Christian biographies. 

A month or so ago I finished Shadow of The Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot. This book is absolutely amazing! Many of you already know some of the changes that have taken place in my life because of reading this book. However you may not have the quotes I referenced! If you already know what I've changed and you already have the quotes, I'm sorry, you can just stop reading now and go do something more enjoyable with your life. But for those of you who don't know and are wishing I would get on with it, here is a little tale of how my life changed...

Once upon a time I was taking a trip out to Iowa and as I was riding along in the back seat I pulled out a folder entitled "What to do with my life..." as well as my journal, Bible study, Bible and copy of Shadow of The Almighty. I had a piece of paper in my folder that had a schedule of my most desired life plan for Spring 2009-Spring 2010. Next semester I wanted to live in Florida with Mark and Rosie while doing my internship. In the summer I thought it would be great to go to the Middle East for a couple months while attending Jerusalem University College. Upon arriving back in the States at the end of the summer I would prepare to go to Focus on the Family Institute for the fall semester. Then finally I would come back to Indiana and finish up my degree at Ivy Tech. As I was looking at these plans, I really began to be convicted about them. The conviction did not hit so much on my plans as it did on the core of who I felt I was becoming. 

As many of you know, two years ago I spent a semester in Italy and while there got to go to England, Scotland and Ireland as well. Two summers ago, I spent a month in Malawi, Africa. I've also traveled a lot in the U.S. and this summer I spent about three months working at a camp in Colorado. I have thoroughly enjoyed my travels and the cultures I've been able to experience. While good has come from these travels, I found that I was beginning to have an unhealthy craving for them. I began surrendering these dreams and desires up to God in prayer. 

After time in prayer, Bible study and journaling, I opened Shadow of The Almighty. The title of the chapter I was on was "Dreams are Tawdry". I could not believe how fitting it was for my current situation! Here is the quote that gave the chapter its title; "Dreams are tawdry when compared with the leading of God, and not worthy of the aura of wonder we usually surround them with. God only doeth wonders. He does nothing else. His hand can work nothing less. Praise to the Guiding God of Israel, and that Great Shepherd of the wayward sheep. When He directs a path, no way can seem bleak, no instance dull." Jim Elliot

This chapter has helped me re-surrender my dreams and plans into God's hands and I have no desire to try and reclaim them! I am learning that life truly is more exciting and adventurous when I let go of my plans and let God do the planning. I'm merely the created being, who am I to think that I can dream and plan better than my Creator?

My First Post!

Let's see here, what to write... I have been chomping at the bit to get this blog started and now that I have it, I don't know what to write. Darn. I suppose I could start off explaining why I have even created this blog.

The thought of having a blog has run in and out of my mind a couple of times in the last couple of years, thanks to Nealy suggesting it and thereby starting the chase. When she mentioned it, I thought it sounded interesting but wondered what the heck I would write about. Something that just recently got the blog idea running at a frantic pace in my mind was a point that was made in my Bible study on the life of Moses.

In Exodus 18: 7-12 Moses shared with Jethro, his father-in-law all the things that God had done for the Israelites in leading them out of Egypt. Moses' testimony quite likely led Jethro to a saving knowledge and belief in God. We talked about how important it is as Christians to give testimony not only to how God brought us into a relationship with Him but also to what He is doing in our lives now that we are in a relationship with Him.

If I am truly in a relationship with this great God of the Universe, I'd better have some stories to tell about the adventures I have with Him. I thought a blog would be a great way to share these stories with those I care about but don't get to see or talk to very often.

As you can see, the major inspiration behind this blog is to share what God is doing in my life. My testimonies will take up a great deal of the subject matter but I'm still leaving room to share the useless random oddities of life that give me so much enjoyment.

I think Courtney will especially appreciate my blog because she will be able to tune me out or just shut me off without me grousing at her when she gets tired of my ramblings. You're welcome in advance, Courtney!

Now that you have a brief history of why this blog was created, get zipped up for some excitement!