To die.

I would just like to express how I feel right now. My legs feel like jello, you know the cherry flavored stuff that moves like a belly dancer when you poke it. Yep, that about sums it up. Oh, and pain. The pain. I'm working on drinking water as it should help. I'm also thinking that this whole working out plan is slightly over rated. Why have I come to such a conclusion? Let me take you back an hour....

I thought that this Zumba/toning class was a good idea, and I suppose in theory it is. I mean, when the world infastrusture collapses I would like to be able to haul water, and stuff. You know survival of the fittest came from somewhere! However, on our third cycle of squats with shoulder presses, a 5lb weight in each hand I was not so sure. Let just say that with all the combos of squats that we did I think I bent my knees and stuck my hinny out at least 200 times. Oh, and that doesn't include the 75 crunches, and the side raises that we did. Oh heaven help me I may die.

Normal Zumba is cardio, with some muscle building included straight into the moves. It's just fun!! I am normally a little sore mainly in my core. Well, that was nothing compared to this class. I guess that it's good for me, and I guess that I want to build muscle, but sheesh I sure wish I could get there laying on a raft sipping a pina colada.

The End.

Evanescence Song

Such a sad song, but her voice is gorgeous - I like a lot of her stuff. I think it's a great song about grief, enjoy!

It's a Great Day to be Alive!

I normally work Fridays, but today they called an wanted to know if I would like to stay home and be "on call". Heck yes! I mean I probably should work, but I'll work tomorrow, and when Fall hits we won't get called off anymore because we'll start getting busier. Take advantage of it when you get it is my motto.

Can I also just say that I have discovered some artists this week that I love? First is Natasha Bedingfield - I recognize some of her songs but didn't know her name - I really like a lot of her stuff. Second is Evanescence. Oh my, she could be the sound track for the Underworld movies. Yes, I love that movie series. I have weird taste I know. I don't really do horror movies at all, but give me some movie like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Underworld, The Matrix, Jurassic Park haha I'm all over them. There is something deliciously suspenseful and scary about them without being ax murderer scary. I also think I like the unusual story lines. They aren't your everyday movies. Okay, I'm done here...I must stop.

My Latest Art Project

Yeah! Look at my art project, isn't it cute? Jess 1 actually gave me everything I needed for the onsomble, but I had to put it together. I absolutely adore the picture. For some reason it just (ready for some cheese) speaks to me. There you go.

It's hanging in my bathroom, and has my earrings on it. A useful piece of art, now that is my kind of decorating!!

Music - ah - not Monday...what'eva

To tithe or not to tithe - that is the question.

Have you ever really done a word search on tithing?

No?

Hmm, I hadn't either.

I had been taught growing up that God wanted us to tithe, he would bless you if you did, you needed to have a good attitude about it, and you tithed 10% of your income to your God which really meant your home church offering plate. I mean basic right? I think through the years that has pretty much been the standard tithe teaching.

Well, you see I've never tithed for much of my independent life for two main reasons. First, it's taken me a long time to get use to being payed every other week, and never the exact same amount - talk about annoying. Secondly, being a nurse I've worked a lot of weekends, and in the past several years I've also moved a lot so my commitment level in any church post college has been about zero. You can jump on my back and say how God is going to dry up my well like I lived in the desert, and he might, but I guess that's for me to find out.

Sunday I was put on call for work, so I didn't have to go in, and I was thinking that I would really like to start tithing. Now I know this is a long story, but I've been working through a lot of stuff relating to God and religion, and I decided that I wanted to know what the Bible had to say about tithing. Everything it had to say. I mean when should you tithe? Where should you tithe?  What should you tithe? Whom should receive your tithe? Why should you tithe?

I pulled out my Zonderman's (massive) Concordance, and flipped to the "t's". What I found surprised me.

First off.

Most of the references to tithing are in the Old Testament. There are no New Testament references that indicate the method, that is entirely found in the OT. The NT references mainly deal with the Pharisees using tithing wrongly, once again NT really hits on our heart attitude.

What I found so surprising was the little I really knew about the history of the tithe. The tithe was a provision that the Lord made for the tribe of Levi who's only occupation was to be in the care of the temple and ministry of the Lord. They received no other inheritance such as the other tribes did, the tithe was their inheritance. Out of that tithe the priests tithed 10% to the high priest.

Even more interesting was that in Deuteronomy (I believe- it's late I'll look it up again tomorrow) it talks about how every year the Lord would declare where you were to bring your tithe (it could be anywhere in the land), with every 3rd year being a time where your tithe was put in a store house for the Levities. The Lord states the the purpose of tithing was to give you the "fear" of the Lord. Interesting!! And that He had the Israelites use their tithe when they reached the place for the offering to have a celebration. They consumed their tithe as a sign of acknowledgement to the Lord - crazy!! He then reminds the people about the poor, helpless, widowed, orphans, and Levities. It's an interesting section and one of the most in depth about how tithing really looked "in the real world".

If you take the OT sections on tithing then look at the NT through that lens it makes an interesting picture. Nowhere is there a picture of our modern day tithing.

Now I'm not saying we shouldn't tithe. Jesus didn't abolish that, however it is all about the heart attitude, and not tied to putting a check in the plate every week. What about a tithe of having a widow over for dinner and using your tithe money to bless her? Or how about using your tithe to sponsor a child? I'm also not saying that we shouldn't support the pastors who serve us, but maybe there is more.

I guess it just goes to show what a little word study can do for you! It saddens my heart though to think of how many years I have had a totally wrong idea about tithing. How often have you heard teaching from the pulpit that says maybe we have it wrong? Ah, never. Maybe this tithe thing isn't just about supporting the American "church". I don't have all the answers, but it has spurred me on to seek more, and I thought perhaps it might encourage you to do some digging on your own.

Good bye fair locks

This was my hair.

It was heavy. It was hot. It took about 10 minutes to wash.

This is my hair now.

Isn't it CUTE!!! I love it! My friend cut it, and it feels amazing. I may end up going shorter before the summer is out, but this is a great way to start. What are friends for ;-)

The hair you ask? Where is it now?

It's biodegrading. I'm ah...going green...or decreasing my carbon something or other.

Finally catching up!

I did not take my computer with me on my vacation up to Pennsylvania, hence the shocking lack of posts, and I apologize. I'm here now though, and fully prepared with pictures, and updates!!

It takes me about 14 hours to drive up the Parental Guardian's house, and I left July 5th. I returned home on the 14th exhausted, and immediately went into my work weekend. Lets just say there was a lot of diarrhea, and that I'm glad to have been put on call for today. Okay, okay, back to my trip.

First, there was yard saleing. WOT is a beast! I really won't be able to do justice to her. There is ranting, fevered races to the next sale in the hope of beating out competing salers, and bartering. She is transformed into a different women entirely, the world beware! I prepared us cups of ice coffee, because our first sale was at 7am. Yum!

Mmm, and can I just interject here that Northern Summers are the best ever. Morning lows of 50, with afternoon highs in the 70s-80s. Low humidity. Beauty. I don't know why anyone lives where I do, if they knew better they'd run North. Just saying. Now back to your regularly scheduled programing!

THEN, as if you can have more fun in one week; I went up to New York for a Civil War Reenactment. Let us pause here, and reflect.........Okay, it was so fun! I even got to see my annual Secret Mumford Crush. Odd I know, I have no idea who he is. Haha, and no I will not answer questions about him. There is nothing to tell it is solely long distance and single sided. Enjoy! (mmm note, I didn't take these pictures, one of my friends and a girl who reenacts too took all of them - isn't she amazing!)

Three days of bliss. Hot, sweaty, bloody bliss. I always appreciate my running water after a weekend of hauling 5-10gal buckets of the wet stuff.

When I got home Monday WOT was on her way to pick up my cousin who was coming for the week too. We had a blast! He has grown up so much, and we had such fun sharing stories, and getting to know each other better. It's funny how sometimes we overlook the most amazing people sitting in our lives - I was thrilled to have him visit at the same time as me!

See that plane way out there?? We had a bet that I couldn't hit it with a golf ball. I told him that he'd regret that bet....

And he did...

We also went to our favorite goat farm where they make their own cheeses. Oh, they're amazing! The owner always lets us go pet the goats. These ones are yearlings she said, they aren't producing milk.

OH - AND THEN THERE WERE BEANS.

Lots of beans.

(we didn't mean to match...actually I hadn't realized we both wore white until I uploaded this picture)

Torque even helped by pulling out bean ends from the trash and chewing then spitting them out all over the floor!

We made Dilly-Beans!!

There was Fruit Slush - an ageless summer favorite - so delish!!!!

Oh, and then there was the car show! I love this picture, SFL is actually smiling! Then again who wouldn't smile when looking at a giant retired military transport vehicle. I'm just saying. Gives one butterflies.

I think I've over done my picture posting limit for the afternoon. However I will post more if you faithful readers would like. I hope you're all enjoying the summer just as much as I!!