Keeeeep walking? (said in the French peas voice)

Hello to the reader in France.

Dh and I have been really blessed in finding churches. We loved the one he/we went to in Massachusetts. The pastor there did our premarital counseling. It really felt like our family. Then dh got restationed to Hawaii.

In Hawaii, we looked for a while and really enjoyed the Hilo Missionary Church, but wondered where the young people were. We liked it, and I joined a womens Bible study there, dh played basketball with some of the men. Then we found Elevate, HMC's church plant, and it all clicked! Dh loved the pastor and became friends with him. I loved the women of the church and became friends with them. I still listen to their sermons online.

Here, we have not found a church yet that we can agree on. We're in the middle of the stinking "Bible belt" and can't find one that seems like "home". There are churches on every block, but how do you choose one to go to? Once you do choose to visit a church/several churches, it's hard to figure out how to "judge" the church. How was the pastor's message? Did you connect? Did worship connect you with God? What was the overall "vibe" you got from it? Is it close/easy to get to? What time do they have services? Do they have programs/small groups to connect with other people?

It's strange trying to pick one. All of the churches we've been to have seemed like they're Biblically sound and trying to follow God. But where do you draw the line? What's non-negotiable? Knowing very few people in this area, we often make decisions about churches not knowing anyone there.

We really would like to find a church, and settle in/put down roots (for the rest of the year and a half or so we're here), but it's getting frustrating looking for a church. Do we keep searching for a "perfect church" or do we just choose one at random? What criteria do you use to choose a church? Does anyone have any advice?

Ugly?

I was tucking in the 4-year-olds for their naps the other afternoon, and J (a boy) sat up and asked me, "Miss Julie, why are you wearing those ugly cowboy boots again?"

I could have responded several ways:
a) They're not ugly. They're Uggs. Yes, they make my feet look huge, but they're fashionable.
b) Again? Yes, I've worn them for the past week. Who are you? The fashion police?
c) They're comfortable, J. Go to sleep.

I chose c.

If anyone isn't committed to life in the US, I'd consider moving to New Zealand, if I were you. Such a great country, it is, with more sheep than people. Plus they produce some crazy things like the movie The Price of Milk (which I own if you ever feel the need to watch) and Burt Munro (the real-life character who inspired the movie The World's Fastest Indian).

Also, these people apparently have too much time on their hands (ignore the title):


Daft Punk-2 Hot Girls Dancing - Watch more free videos

Miscellaneous Ramblings.

Story 1
I met yesterday with a friend from back north. Funny, because I didn't know her until we moved here. But anyway, we met and were discussing things about living in the south. One of the things that made me laugh the most is the way people can say whatever bad thing they want to about someone else or something else, and then if they add "God bless 'em" to the end of the statement, it's all ok. Examples:

"He has the ugliest nose, God bless him"

"She is a little brat, God bless her."

It's kind of crazy.

Story 2
I've been taking time off from working out due to a bad cold that has lingered. I think I'll go back soon because one of my three year olds came up to me today while we were sitting in the movie room and said, "Miss Julie, are you pregnant? Do you have a baby in your tummy?" Thank heaven her mom is pregnant and so they're just used to pregnant talk. I still will work on my pouch though!! No more slacking off for me!

Story 3
Kind of funny - just don't take it seriously.
This could be a grown-up version of my current life...

Fun around the world... improve your vocabulary and geography!

This game is really fun - How well do you know your world?

I can't pass level 7. Perhaps I'll have to study an atlas first...


Also, free rice is cool too - people get food, you get a better vocabulary. Totally win-win.

Is this cheating?

I've been playing with various recipes lately, I get a lot of ideas from the What's Cooking? discussion board on thenest.com (yes, I do realize that qualifies me as a dork). But anyway, I end up feeling remorse when I find a new recipe that I like that is in the same category as a "family recipe".

For example, my Mom made the same chocolate chip cookies for me throughout high school, bringing buckets of them (literally) to our cross-country meets. I feel great allegiance and loyalty to these cookies. Yet, I cheated on them. I tried the BBFCCC's and liked them. I felt the same way when I abandoned my grandmother's banana bread recipe for another allrecipes.com version. Like I had broken trust or been disloyal.

Anyway, if you need a new chocolate chip cookie recipe, and are willing to deal with the two-fold guilt of abandoning your ancestors and consuming calories after the new year, here is a great recipe.

I usually make a full batch of them, bake up a cookie sheet full, and then put the rest of the dough into a freezer bag and make small batches as I want. It's great to have on hand when DH invites people over 3 nights in a week... I'll tell that story later.

Best Big Fat Choc. Chip Cookies

(BBFCCCs)

from allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. (I usually put them in the fridge and wait at least an hour before baking. I find it works a lot better!) Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Today's Hawaiian word is:
I mua - to progress, go forward
"ee moo-ah"

Holo i mua - Move forward.

Do what you are...

So, I've been trying to figure out what job would be good for me. Not just one that would make money, but one that would be fulfilling and help out with a little cash. Based on my Myers-Briggs results, this is what various people recommend.

List from PersonalityType.com
# Psychologist
# Human resources professional
# Physical therapist
# Researcher
# Translator/interpreter
# Legal mediator
# Employee development specialist
# Religious worker
# College professor: humanities
# Massage therapist
# Social worker
# Librarian
# Fashion designer
# Holistic health practitioner
# Editor/art director (web site)

Other list from this link

Actor

Artist

Architect

Church Worker

College Professor: Humanities/Art

Counselor

Editor

Educational Consultant

Employment Development Specialist

English Teacher

Fine Arts Teacher

Human Resources Development Specialist

Journalist

Librarian

Minister/Priest

Missionary

Musician

Psychiatry

Psychologist

Religious Educator

Researcher

Social Scientist

Social Worker

Speech Pathologist

Writer: poet/Novelist

So, I think that my choice to get an Educational Ministries degree and a Latin American Studies degree works. I have degrees, but no job. How do I transition from one to another?

Academy days

Dh went to the CG academy. And lived through it. He also loves basketball.

This video of freshmen (4/c) makes him happy.