Summer Time

Summer is great, except for the lack of entertaining TV shows. Why do they decide to put all the horrible shows on during the summer. I want to meet the person who thought that was a good idea... For example, "The Gates", it is about vampires living with humans in this protected community, aka Twilight (for TV). That is what I gather from the millions of previews that I saw for it while I watched the NBA finals. Yep. Boring, and over-done. Does anyone else feel my pain. I think we should protest this monstrosity... ok, not really, but it did feel good to get a little dramatic.

Is anyone watching So You Think You Can Dance (award for the longest title goes to...)? I do love this show. It is way better than American Idol.

On another note, I am reading the Lovely Bones, but can't read it before I go to bed because it is scary. I switched from Peace Like a River, which my roommate loves, but I just got lost in all the detailed descriptions and found myself re-reading too much and then would forget what was going on and then would have to re-read again and the cycle would just keep going. I think I was on the first 30 pages for 6 months. A clear sign for me to stop, so anyways, I switched. Maybe some day I will read Peace Like a River.

Well, that was my ramblings for tonight. Aren't you so glad that you just read this. Smile, you just did something good for yourself today.

Forever

I know... I'm sorry.

Well this past week the Byham family went on a trek through the magical world of Disney. The heat and humidity could not keep us away, although, it came very close. Let me tell you people out there, Orlando in the summer time is HOTT!

The first day was spent at Magic Kingdom where we all were able to be a kid again. Look how huge those tea cups are... See how kiddish we look in them!

We all rode on this giant ferry across a man made lake that it took them 3 years to fill with water. Disney had really made his very own world.


But the heat did eventually get to us and we just had to jump in our very own pool!

It was such a great week and we packed in as much as we could, but it really did go by way too fast! I would recommend though if you are going to go to the D-world do it late in the fall or early spring. It was just WAY too hot.

I'm off to do something now.

Cabin in the Mountains

This past weekend I got to celebrate a friends birthday with a lot of other people that I had never met. We went to Evergreen (which is gorgeous), and stayed in a cabin up there. We ate a lot, we laughed even more, and tried to get a little sleep. It was a lot of fun to get to know the girls that went and I was so blessed that they made me feel so welcomed, as I was pretty much the new girl.

I realized as I was up there that this has been a year now that I have been in Colorado. So I decided to make a list of all the things that I am so thankful for in this past year.

• I have met so many amazing people out here.
  
• I have been able to get involved in a great church!
  
• I was able to be here for my family as my Dad when through his heart attack.
• I live with two amazing women and am so thankful to have them as friends.
  
• I was able to travel to Southeast Asia and see Suzy.
• I have grown in my trust of others and God.
• My Arkansas friends coming to visit me... maybe again soon (Bunch and Megs, hint, hint)

God's Will

I found God's will for my life and yours...

Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess 5:16-18

Could it be that simple?




* Photo: www.thepioneerwoman.com

Psalm 86

This is my prayer today.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

¹ Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

² Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.

³ Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.

⁴ Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

⁶ Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.

⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.

⁹ All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.

¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

¹² I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.

¹³ For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

¹⁴ The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.

¹⁵ But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.

¹⁷ Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Some highlights that stick out to me are:

• David cried to the Lord all day long! How often I forget as my day goes on.
• He is forgiving and good and abounding in love! As Beth Moore says, "Our hearts are not healthy until they have been satisfied by the only completely healthy love that exists: the love of God Himself."
• All the nations will bring glory to His name!
• What would it be like to have an undivided heart!? God would definitely not have to fight so hard for us...
• I am so thankful that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and {again} abounding in love and faithfulness!
  

Pot for Pain

Did you know that the city of Denver now has some 250 Medical Marijuana dispensary storefronts and Boulder has more than 100.

I just finished reading this article on CNBC about Medical Marijuana - you can click the link to read the whole thing or I have some fascinating snippets below... - my comments are italicized

"The state [CO] already has issued more than 66,000 cards that allow holders to purchase medicinal pot legally. A recent surge in applications has produced a six-month turnaround time for processing them. Since a temporary card is issued at the time of application, experts estimate more than 100,000 Coloradans now buy medicinal marijuana legally."

"Then in October 2009, the Obama Administration told federal authorities not to arrest or prosecute medical marijuana users and suppliers who aren't violating local laws. - phew, so glad that Obama is focusing on the important matters of our nation!

"The policy decisions bolstered a business model used by most existing dispensaries--based on serving 400 or more patients--and spawned many more, and offered a measure of certainty to investors who helped bankroll the growth in retail outlets." - finally I can invest in drugs and not have to watch my back... just what I was looking for!

"Since, then public officials have been scrambling to control a movement that has grown into a largely unregulated industry sector that is maturing, with retail storefronts, prominent advertising and large-scale operations." -REALLY?, this is a surprise!

“Very few are turned down,” Dr. Starritt (of Green Ribbon Clinic hehe) said. “Most have already read Amendment 20 to see what qualifies. Mostly I see if they meet those qualifications. She’s turned down people with temporary conditions, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.- wow, I sure hope so! "I’m not sure it helps everybody,” Starritt said. “But I’m not adverse to recommending it if I think it will help the patient and their condition. Starritt says many of the people she sees complain of back pain. -I have a history of back problems that my insurance won't cover me for any more... I could totally get medicinal marijuana... whose in!

About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my lower back. I was in severe pain for over a year before I actually went and did anything about it. I lost all feeling down my right leg. My back would lock into place if I stood up too quickly.

During this time I never took pain meds (besides Ibuprofen). I was in intense physical therapy and then began to learn how to minimize my pain on an everyday basis and adjust my lifestyle. I practiced yoga instead of running, I stood differently, I learned to sit differently. I know there are people out there with way more serious issues than mine was that are dealing with it in a healthy way!

This whole thing is crazy, but hey if you want to get pot and can prove that you have had a pain somewhere in the last sometime just come on over to Colorado. Don't worry if you are concerned with smoking it, you can also get it in all kinds of food (but beware... your hips could increase in size).

Flashback

Last night we had a sleepover for the high school girls and boy did it take me back! At one point we asked what game they wanted to play and some one shouted out MASH! I just about died, I was laughing so hard. So being the great role models we were we dove in and played MASH. For those of you that don't know or are too proud to admit that you played this as a kid, My future life was determined on that piece of paper...

Here is what it said
1. I am going to live in a shack (In IOWA... YUCK to both!)
2. Have 6 kids (gross, ouch, scary)
3. I forgot who I was going to marry... sorry (All I remember is Jim from the Office was crossed out and it broke my heart!)
4. Be an interior designer... hmm
5. Have a black wedding dress (how sad)

Needless to say this was just not a very good future. MASH did not come through for me last night. Good thing you can just rip it up and do it again if you aren't happy with your future, as one of the girls pointed out that she had done it about 50 times!

Then we talked about Justin Beiber (the only reason why I know who he is, is because he was on SNL with TINA FEY) and how a bunch of them were in love with him... I compared him to Hanson and they asked, "who?"... AHHH HHHAHHAHA. It was a very entertaining night.