Saturday, December 26, 2009

Myst Findings: Day 1

Findings for Myst: Day 1

 On wall, found in the chamber by the dock:

Topographical Extrusion Test ...................40
Water Turbulent Pond........................67
Marker Switch Program.......................47

Atrius left a note to Catherine to enter the number of Marker Switches on Island into the imager to retrieve message:

1 by wheel on top of hill
1 by the base of the hill
1 by the circular temple that has the star viewer in it

Christmas, Due Date, 40 Weeks

Merry Christmas, all! Today marked the official day we celebrate Jesus's birth as well as the due date for Madeline Grace Caldwell, our little baby soon-to-be. Yes, I say "soon-to-be" because she hasn't come yet! It is officially 12:33am and Christmas has come and gone- wow, how the time flies and...no baby yet! We have our inducement date set for Monday, Dec. 28th if she decides not to show up by then, and the family is on pins and needles.. which is such a wonderful support system for us. We have had such great caring family and friends the whole way through. We have almost finished her nursery, it is pretty much ready for her, we just have finishing touch-ups of wall bordering and buying the dresser, but that is due to my own anal tendencies. Eric regrettably has to go back to work tomorrow, but at least he will be off Sunday and Monday for baby Maddie's arrival.

We received so many gifts today, and I think Maddie got more! Which is wonderful, because I think I just enjoy opening presents, period. God has really blessed us..so many family sickness and death has surrounded us presently for this year, but He has gave life through death and sickness..and answered many prayers.

Until Maddie's birth, I think my next blogs will be my notes of my "findings" for the Myst computer games I got as a gift for Christmas...I love finding new hobbies to keep me busy!

Until then... away I go.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

32 Weeks and Counting..

Today was Halloween and all the world admist in the flurry of costumes and make-believe, I worked away in the office and prepared a trip to mom's to drop off Maddie's 4-D pics we took this past Monday. It was amazing the quality and detail as we saw for the first time our sweet baby's facial features. Amazing. My baby shower is only a week away, and I can't believe I have less than two months left! Where does the time go?
Before you know it the other Christmas I will be getting is a pink wrapped up bundle of little Caldwell!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Why I do NOT Celebrate Halloween

Why I Choose Not to Celebrate Halloween:

Just as controversial as abortion or homosexuality, Halloween is often debated whether a "harmless holiday" or an "evil celebration". Whether you believe in one or the other, this is the history of Halloween. Before you watch, take mind that the reason I post this is to educate others and let them make their own decisions, because I cannot change the lifestyle of others except to inform them. My choice is because I do not agree with Celtic traditions of divination which is defined as

1 : the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers
2 : unusual insight : intuitive perception
it is also defined as any consultation with the dead or spirits.

I do not include this in my lifestyle due to what the bible says on Deut. 18:10-11:

Let no one be found among you who ... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, | or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

There are also stems of religious roots in Halloween, Catholicism- which made up a holiday of All Saints Day to honor dead saints to try and overcome the Celtic tradition of celebrating the traditions of "scaring the dead" and the veil between our world and the Spirit's world becoming thin. Both of these traditions I consider wrong due to celebration and honoring the dead. We do not glorify the dead, but rejoice in life, for we know we have an eternal life soon to come.

We often take the scripture out of context about tatooing in the bible. He tells us in Leviticus 19:26-31 "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.”

He is not saying to NOT tattoo but NOT TO FOR THE DEAD.

The practice of making deep gashes on the face and arms and legs, in time of bereavement, was universal among the heathen, and it was deemed a becoming mark of respect for the dead, as well as a sort of propitiatory offering to the deities who presided over death and the grave. The Jews learned this custom in Egypt, and though weaned from it, relapsed in a later and degenerate age into this old superstition (Is 15:2; Je 16:6; 41:5). “nor print any marks upon you” (v:28 )—by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It it probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden.

I am not here to judge anyone, but to tell me that me NOT celebrating Halloween due to God's standard is also being judgemental, so again, enjoy being educated.

Video of History of Halloween


Saturday, August 15, 2009

Time Count Down

As time passes, I realize how much your body changes each week during pregnancy. This week has been a very significant one for me and our little soon-coming bundle of joy, Madeline Grace Caldwell.

I have noticed the immediate increase of activity going on (I think she must be doing backflips!) and when her most active times are.

As the time counts down, not only am I awaiting her arrival but this week's upcoming vacation to Gulf Shores (pics to come!) and the finishing touches for my friend, Crystal's baby shower of Gavin Alexander.

I found myself in a predicament of how to label the foods to bring the jungle-monkey theme together and found myself redesigning some tent cards for each of the food items.

https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=bafe4977-aec9-47a0-b42f-bdd84a55e61d
https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=b13942e9-9377-42df-a61d-20a68055f6be


I decided in order for most of the cards to be noticeable, I would probably put them on floral picks. If anyone would like a blank template on this for future reference, let me know!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Planning a baby shower while expecting a baby

I don't know how we ended up doing it, but it certainly wasn't planned. My friend Crystal and her husband found out they were expecting a baby in October and found out around February, and then kept advising me now I needed a baby :) Of course, we had planned to have one in a couple of years, but never did I imagine my own body would be taking her words of knowledge.

So, we are expecting on Christmas, a little girl, Madeline Grace Caldwell, and Crystal is expecting a little boy in October, Gavin Pierce Alexander! As if that was not ironic enough, I volunteered to do her baby shower and find myself getting way to excited about it. We decided to follow the monkey theme set out in her nursery with the brown and green colors, so I looked up some crafty ideas from the web and found myself working on a diaper cake and making my own cupcake stand.

I am rather pleased with the results:

Diaper Cake for Crystal's Monkey Shower

Monkey Cupcake Stand


If anyone ever wants to get really good instructions on how to make their own cupcake stand, I recommend going to this site, it has wonderful step-by-step details:

http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/my-cupcake-in-where2go-a-danish-magazine

Because the web doesn't really show a lot of popularity with monkey-themed baby showers in general, I picked and chose different concepts from different sites.

I will be putting monkey cupcakes on the stand and chocolate covered bananas as favors :


I bought some brown table cloths at Party City (great place with unique colors) and light green plates and utensils.

I will also be hanging up a really cute clothesline with baby items such as baby booties, onesies, and bibs pinned to them and have the guests bring in their own baby pictures to pin on the line so that we can do a guessing game of who belongs to the baby picture.

I found some really neat table toppers at Oriental trading with monkeys on tropical trees, which I will be using this concept throughout the room of hanging stuffed monkeys, palm trees (fake) and some bananas hanging from racks on the table.

If anyone would like to use color, (I am still debating on this) they have the runtz banana candy you can order in bulk to put in jars.

I will be setting up a table for the guests to be putting their own advice tips in a really large baby bottle I found at Hobby Lobby which the mother can open when opening presents and reading for later.

Some games we will be playing (since she doesn't want too cheesy of games) is guess the baby food flavor (unlabled jars that everyone can smell and look at to guess) as well as guess the mother's belly size by comparing whoevers piece of string being the closest to the length of the mother's belly.

My friend also came with a really great idea for everyone at the party to decorate a onesie and the mother gets to keep it as a gift for later.

Anyway, I am still in the process of putting this together since the shower is in September.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions, let me know!




Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Realizing What You've Got

After deliberating and looking at my life, (and viewing a few lifestyles from the t.v. show, Trading Spouses) I realize that marriage and your life is what you make of it.

As the old cliché goes, 'The grass is always greener on the other side' and I truly believe that is about as to the point as can be.

We always look with longing at something in our lives and wonder if we missed out, but the fact is that we never really know what truly goes on at that other side until we are in those shoes, and sometimes, our bridges have had to been burned to get there.

I am truly appreciative and blessed to have such a wonderful, supporting husband who loves me, and although there are things about him that are flawed and disappoint me, I know that I can't compare him to a romanticized t.v. show or a love-story. Love is what you make it and you have to realize what you have.

After watching the Trading Spouses and watching this woman who left her marriage of many years to chase after a childish younger man who cares nothing about her children or responsibilities, I know that your marriage is like your relationship with Christ, and as my pastor would often say "You can have as much of Christ as you want", and in marital terms, "You can have much of a happy, loving marriage as you want".

We try so hard to cast our problems on someone else, we fail to take up our own reactions and responsibilities to everything.


Now, there are situations that are out of our control, and for those, they must all be handled differently, but by the grace of God we can all look with hope and know that our lives are in greater hands, and everything will work out for the best.

Thank you God.

Welcome





Welc
ome to my babble blog! Here you will find: the random musings of a full-time stay-at-home mom and wife/part-time leasing specialist for three apartment communities, all-the-time crafter, whole-hearted worshipper, in-progress follower of Jesus Christ, and spontaneous hyper individual.

Because there are just so many facets of me..





Saturday, December 26, 2009

Myst Findings: Day 1

Findings for Myst: Day 1

 On wall, found in the chamber by the dock:

Topographical Extrusion Test ...................40
Water Turbulent Pond........................67
Marker Switch Program.......................47

Atrius left a note to Catherine to enter the number of Marker Switches on Island into the imager to retrieve message:

1 by wheel on top of hill
1 by the base of the hill
1 by the circular temple that has the star viewer in it

Christmas, Due Date, 40 Weeks

Merry Christmas, all! Today marked the official day we celebrate Jesus's birth as well as the due date for Madeline Grace Caldwell, our little baby soon-to-be. Yes, I say "soon-to-be" because she hasn't come yet! It is officially 12:33am and Christmas has come and gone- wow, how the time flies and...no baby yet! We have our inducement date set for Monday, Dec. 28th if she decides not to show up by then, and the family is on pins and needles.. which is such a wonderful support system for us. We have had such great caring family and friends the whole way through. We have almost finished her nursery, it is pretty much ready for her, we just have finishing touch-ups of wall bordering and buying the dresser, but that is due to my own anal tendencies. Eric regrettably has to go back to work tomorrow, but at least he will be off Sunday and Monday for baby Maddie's arrival.

We received so many gifts today, and I think Maddie got more! Which is wonderful, because I think I just enjoy opening presents, period. God has really blessed us..so many family sickness and death has surrounded us presently for this year, but He has gave life through death and sickness..and answered many prayers.

Until Maddie's birth, I think my next blogs will be my notes of my "findings" for the Myst computer games I got as a gift for Christmas...I love finding new hobbies to keep me busy!

Until then... away I go.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

32 Weeks and Counting..

Today was Halloween and all the world admist in the flurry of costumes and make-believe, I worked away in the office and prepared a trip to mom's to drop off Maddie's 4-D pics we took this past Monday. It was amazing the quality and detail as we saw for the first time our sweet baby's facial features. Amazing. My baby shower is only a week away, and I can't believe I have less than two months left! Where does the time go?
Before you know it the other Christmas I will be getting is a pink wrapped up bundle of little Caldwell!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Why I do NOT Celebrate Halloween

Why I Choose Not to Celebrate Halloween:

Just as controversial as abortion or homosexuality, Halloween is often debated whether a "harmless holiday" or an "evil celebration". Whether you believe in one or the other, this is the history of Halloween. Before you watch, take mind that the reason I post this is to educate others and let them make their own decisions, because I cannot change the lifestyle of others except to inform them. My choice is because I do not agree with Celtic traditions of divination which is defined as

1 : the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers
2 : unusual insight : intuitive perception
it is also defined as any consultation with the dead or spirits.

I do not include this in my lifestyle due to what the bible says on Deut. 18:10-11:

Let no one be found among you who ... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, | or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

There are also stems of religious roots in Halloween, Catholicism- which made up a holiday of All Saints Day to honor dead saints to try and overcome the Celtic tradition of celebrating the traditions of "scaring the dead" and the veil between our world and the Spirit's world becoming thin. Both of these traditions I consider wrong due to celebration and honoring the dead. We do not glorify the dead, but rejoice in life, for we know we have an eternal life soon to come.

We often take the scripture out of context about tatooing in the bible. He tells us in Leviticus 19:26-31 "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.”

He is not saying to NOT tattoo but NOT TO FOR THE DEAD.

The practice of making deep gashes on the face and arms and legs, in time of bereavement, was universal among the heathen, and it was deemed a becoming mark of respect for the dead, as well as a sort of propitiatory offering to the deities who presided over death and the grave. The Jews learned this custom in Egypt, and though weaned from it, relapsed in a later and degenerate age into this old superstition (Is 15:2; Je 16:6; 41:5). “nor print any marks upon you” (v:28 )—by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It it probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden.

I am not here to judge anyone, but to tell me that me NOT celebrating Halloween due to God's standard is also being judgemental, so again, enjoy being educated.

Video of History of Halloween


Saturday, August 15, 2009

Time Count Down

As time passes, I realize how much your body changes each week during pregnancy. This week has been a very significant one for me and our little soon-coming bundle of joy, Madeline Grace Caldwell.

I have noticed the immediate increase of activity going on (I think she must be doing backflips!) and when her most active times are.

As the time counts down, not only am I awaiting her arrival but this week's upcoming vacation to Gulf Shores (pics to come!) and the finishing touches for my friend, Crystal's baby shower of Gavin Alexander.

I found myself in a predicament of how to label the foods to bring the jungle-monkey theme together and found myself redesigning some tent cards for each of the food items.

https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=bafe4977-aec9-47a0-b42f-bdd84a55e61d
https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=b13942e9-9377-42df-a61d-20a68055f6be


I decided in order for most of the cards to be noticeable, I would probably put them on floral picks. If anyone would like a blank template on this for future reference, let me know!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Planning a baby shower while expecting a baby

I don't know how we ended up doing it, but it certainly wasn't planned. My friend Crystal and her husband found out they were expecting a baby in October and found out around February, and then kept advising me now I needed a baby :) Of course, we had planned to have one in a couple of years, but never did I imagine my own body would be taking her words of knowledge.

So, we are expecting on Christmas, a little girl, Madeline Grace Caldwell, and Crystal is expecting a little boy in October, Gavin Pierce Alexander! As if that was not ironic enough, I volunteered to do her baby shower and find myself getting way to excited about it. We decided to follow the monkey theme set out in her nursery with the brown and green colors, so I looked up some crafty ideas from the web and found myself working on a diaper cake and making my own cupcake stand.

I am rather pleased with the results:

Diaper Cake for Crystal's Monkey Shower

Monkey Cupcake Stand


If anyone ever wants to get really good instructions on how to make their own cupcake stand, I recommend going to this site, it has wonderful step-by-step details:

http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/my-cupcake-in-where2go-a-danish-magazine

Because the web doesn't really show a lot of popularity with monkey-themed baby showers in general, I picked and chose different concepts from different sites.

I will be putting monkey cupcakes on the stand and chocolate covered bananas as favors :


I bought some brown table cloths at Party City (great place with unique colors) and light green plates and utensils.

I will also be hanging up a really cute clothesline with baby items such as baby booties, onesies, and bibs pinned to them and have the guests bring in their own baby pictures to pin on the line so that we can do a guessing game of who belongs to the baby picture.

I found some really neat table toppers at Oriental trading with monkeys on tropical trees, which I will be using this concept throughout the room of hanging stuffed monkeys, palm trees (fake) and some bananas hanging from racks on the table.

If anyone would like to use color, (I am still debating on this) they have the runtz banana candy you can order in bulk to put in jars.

I will be setting up a table for the guests to be putting their own advice tips in a really large baby bottle I found at Hobby Lobby which the mother can open when opening presents and reading for later.

Some games we will be playing (since she doesn't want too cheesy of games) is guess the baby food flavor (unlabled jars that everyone can smell and look at to guess) as well as guess the mother's belly size by comparing whoevers piece of string being the closest to the length of the mother's belly.

My friend also came with a really great idea for everyone at the party to decorate a onesie and the mother gets to keep it as a gift for later.

Anyway, I am still in the process of putting this together since the shower is in September.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions, let me know!




Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Realizing What You've Got

After deliberating and looking at my life, (and viewing a few lifestyles from the t.v. show, Trading Spouses) I realize that marriage and your life is what you make of it.

As the old cliché goes, 'The grass is always greener on the other side' and I truly believe that is about as to the point as can be.

We always look with longing at something in our lives and wonder if we missed out, but the fact is that we never really know what truly goes on at that other side until we are in those shoes, and sometimes, our bridges have had to been burned to get there.

I am truly appreciative and blessed to have such a wonderful, supporting husband who loves me, and although there are things about him that are flawed and disappoint me, I know that I can't compare him to a romanticized t.v. show or a love-story. Love is what you make it and you have to realize what you have.

After watching the Trading Spouses and watching this woman who left her marriage of many years to chase after a childish younger man who cares nothing about her children or responsibilities, I know that your marriage is like your relationship with Christ, and as my pastor would often say "You can have as much of Christ as you want", and in marital terms, "You can have much of a happy, loving marriage as you want".

We try so hard to cast our problems on someone else, we fail to take up our own reactions and responsibilities to everything.


Now, there are situations that are out of our control, and for those, they must all be handled differently, but by the grace of God we can all look with hope and know that our lives are in greater hands, and everything will work out for the best.

Thank you God.