Dance With Me

Testing...1...2

2008-09-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Woo Hoo! I get my car back tomorrow and I can't be more excited. It's funny how, when you go out to buy a car, you think, "Now I don't really need all those silly extras they want to add to jack up the price of the car, do I?" But then you somehow end up driving that very car off the lot when it's all said and done. Yep, that would be me.

Okay, so why is my "bells n' whistles" car gone you ask? It's part of an emissions test that VW is doing on cars that have been used by the average driver (I fooled them). They take my car, give me a loaner full of gas, then when my cars returned, it will have a full tank of gas, a new bath and a $250 check sitting in it for me!

I thought this was a great way to get some extra cash, being as I am unemployed and all. So the loaner came, and you'd think it would be a top of the line model so I'd want to run out to my nearest dealership & trade my car in for the latest & greatest bells and whistles. But ah, this is where VW missed the boat (I should probably let them know...maybe I could benefit from such news). Anyhow, it's a bottom of the line model of my car, and it has taught me that I do indeed use all those things I thought I didn't have a need for when I purchased the car. (Oh, and did I mention it reeks of cigarettes?)

So in all due honesty, this 2 week test was okay for the perks, but I can't wait to get in MY car, sit on my leather seats, dock my IPod, turn up my quality sound system, roll back my sunroof and turn my butt warmers on (I wonder if I can run the AC while they're on...I'll let you know).

He Did It!

2008-07-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

After countless nights of filling out 10 page applications and tireless hours on the roads driving to city after city to tell them why he would love to live in their town and serve their community, Stephen has finally landed his dream of becoming a Firefighter. And you know what? I wouldn't trade one hour of the time it took. The process has sent us both into tale spins of insanity at times, forcing us to postpone flights, cancel events, call in sick to work...need I go on? But without such dedication, I wonder if the prize at the end would have been nearly as exciting? Doubtful.
So today (a bit late...he actually graduated his academy, yes another one, on June 27th) I announce to you that Stephen is an official Firefighter for the City of Downey. I don't expect things to get easier any time soon (he's a Rookie for the next 18 months...and we all know what that means), but it sure is nice to celebrate his achievement.
The pictures are from Stephen's graduation from the Downey Fire Academy (or "Tower" as they call it). In the second picture, Stephen is the middle guy. And yes, there is a car flipped over in the foreground, which they used when demonstrating their skills with the "jaws of life" tools. My all time favorite moment though, had to be when they took each of the guys academy tee shirts, laid them across a gas line and lit them on fire. Hallelujah...those stinky disgusting stained shirts are history and it's time to put on the official Firefighter uniform!!!

Sorry Charlie! Tuna Statue Filleted.

2008-06-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

In honor of the most hilarious story of the week, I bring you my...

Tuna Casserole Recipe!!!
(a.k.a. heart-attack in a bowl)

Cooked Large Egg Noodles
A Large Can of Tuna
A Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
A Tub of Sour Cream
A Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
(or milk or half & half...basically any dairy product...but the fatter the better)
Salt & Pepper
A TON of Cheddar Cheese
A TON of Jack CheeseHalf a Bag of the Greasiest Potatoe Chips You Can Find (Lays Rock)

Combine the noodles, tuna, mush soup, sour cream, whipping cream, salt and pepper in a giant casserole dish. Pile both cheeses (is that a word?) on top. Then smash up the potatoe chips and pile those on top of the cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for approx. 30 minutes, but if you forget about it and it ends up in the oven forever, no worries. It's fine. And the best part...it also makes great leftovers (though if you're planning to bring it to the office, I'm warning you now, it's not a pleasant smell!)

Enjoy!

Spell "Alyssa"...Um, how 'bout YOU spell it

2008-05-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

So many have asked how my niece is doing, so I figured I'd let you all know. She's nuts, completely nuts! She's 5 now, or at least that's what she'll have you believing (3 1/2 if you go by her actual birthday). Her demands are simple...a short sugar-free vanilla soy steamer from S'bucks and Noggin in the morning, followed by a constant flow of food every half hour after that. The child can put it down! If you ask her where she got her body, she'll tell you, "I got it from my momma...I got it from my momma!" Oh, and she has mastered the art of convincing anyone, and I mean anyone, to give her whatever she wants. Anyone except me, which is hilarious because if I'm around, she's always looking out the corner of her eye towards me to make sure I'm not watching her finagle a cupcake outta some poor unsuspecting new friends hands. All in all, she's nuts!

What have I done?

2008-05-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

I know, lots of dog posts lately. Sorry, but it's consuming my life and so we all have to deal with it together...now heal, er, I mean walk with me.

Kirk has officially made our home his and let me tell you it is a LOT of work. I know, you're all thinking, "What in the world did you get a new dog for? You already have two." Well, the deal was, when Stephen got hired on to the Fire Department, we would get a home protection dog for me. Welcome Kirk. And that verse about asking and receiving...I got what I asked for and then some. Kirk insists on circling me wherever I go and is quite possesive of me. Poor Stephen has to call before he comes home so I can hold Kirk back from mauling him. The goofball of a dog doesn't realize his own strength.

We got Kirk from Orange County German Shepherd Rescue, but he originates from a breeder who breeds top of the line "working dogs." His prior owner purchased him, but then realized they couldn't handle the training it takes to make him a really good dog. Enter me...I start training with Kirk tonight. Wish me luck!

We were APPROVED!!!

2008-05-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Meet Kirk, our newest dog. We don't actually have him in our backyard yet, but he should join us in the next day or two. I'm so antsy to get him home, but the agency he comes from does a thorough inspection and background on the potential owners prior to releasing the dog. I think it's a great approach, but now that we've been approved, we have to work out who's available and when to go get him (he's 2 hours away and there are 3 parties involved). Argghh...I want my dog already!!!

Hmmmmm....

2008-05-14T23:07:00.000-07:00

.....it's late and I'm forced to stay up till the washer is done so I can throw the all important outfit that is so desperatly needed at 5:00am in the dryer....

...what better time to polish off the tiramisu?

Did you fart?

2008-05-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Why in the world do I bother to ask this question? I live with three boys (two of which are four-legged and furry). You'd think I'd know the answer by now, which always comes in the form of an attempt at comedy. The smell alone is the answer.

But on a serious note, I need help. I know there is something you can give dogs to alleviate said issue, but I can't remember what it is. If I call my vet, he will tell me to bring the dogs in, as "this could be a sign of bigger issues within their digestive track." Interpretation: A $200 vet visit (yes, that's WITH pet insurance) to tell me I need to brush their teeth more often, clean their ears better, one or the other has skin issues and we should comb this $20 bottle of magic potion through their coat daily, they are either overfed or underfed (can we ever get that one right?) and, oh, by the way...about the stomach issue. I think they just have gas.

Well thank you very much Mr. Veterinarian, you've been a great help.

And on a lighter note...

2008-05-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

…the new banner pic is of Churchill Downs during Derby week. Isn’t it glamorous?

I’ll post more pics of our trip to Kentucky soon (as in, when I get motivated to plug that cord I can never find into the computer and download the 9 million pictures, sort through them and crop and enhance them so they look halfway decent.)

All You Need Is Love...Love Is All You Need

2008-05-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

In response to this…

My ex-boyfriend once told me that Mother Theresa was not in Heaven. I disagreed with him, but given how I translated the Bible, he was correct. You see, Mother Theresa believed that because she was baptized, she would go to Heaven. I believed that you must publicly announce that Jesus is your Lord. Did Mother Theresa publicly announce that Jesus was her Lord? Of course she did. And I was baptized. But neither was done in order to earn our way to Heaven. Both actions were done in obedience to the Lord after already having earned our respective “tickets through the gates”.

Why do I point this out? Because I have learned through much studying that my way is not the only way. If I know all the answers to Christianity and self-appoint myself as such, then aren’t I playing God, rather than simply doing as God has asked of me? This point was brought to my attention in the book “A New Earth.” The author uses quotes from different doctrine, including the Bible, and never once says anything negative about any of the respective religions. He simply explains how to apply this sense of “being” to your particular religion in order to fully grasp what God wants for you. In order to allow for peoples faults and love them in spite of them. Isn’t this the main point Jesus tries to drive home over and over and over in the Bible, to put ourselves aside and simply love?

Just recently there was uproar in our church over infidelity and people were quick to forget that we are instructed to be Christ-like, which is, to mirror Jesus, and instead chose sides and forgot to love the perpetrator. This book gave me the tools to remember what I believe and who I truly am in order to allow for faults and love both sides. Did the book offend me because there was Hindu and Buddhist doctrine in it? No. What it did was teach me that I am not God and I am not in control of the situation. I must simply “be in the moment” and do as God has asked of me, which is to love.

I read a book a while back that opened my eyes to the fact that it sometimes takes tools from other religions to reach a closer relationship to who I believe is God. The book was called “Eat Pray Love.” In it, the woman goes off to India to study in an Ashram. She learns the Hindu art of meditation, which in turn allows her to simply “be.” During her time at the Ashram she is forced to be silent for a large part of each day. She is a very social being and silent meditation proves difficult for her. When she finally learns to simply “be,” she has the most awe-inspiring moment with God.

In our Christian religion, we are told to pray. This should be easy enough, but being the busy 21st century beings we are, our phones start ringing, our Blackberries flash that red light that begs for a response, the alarm screams at us to pick up the kids. We, for the most part, do not know how to stay still. The Hindu religion teaches the art of staying still. It’s called meditation and it could really be beneficial for us Christians to learn.

So do I shun the Hindus because they are not Christians, or do I learn from them and love them, though I may not agree with who they worship as god? Doesn’t Jesus want me to love them in spite of what I may see as their faults, as they were created in His image? That is what Mother Theresa did. She lived for many years in India and loved every single one of the people there, regardless of their religion. I will strive to not play God and just simply “be in the moment” and love.

And as for Oprah, as a self-professed Christian, wouldn’t she be considered a good model for Christianity in her sincerity towards all beings? And if, by chance she should slip up, do we allow for her faults, or do we hang her out to dry? I believe we should do as Jesus instructs us to and love her too.

It's Not My Fault!

2008-04-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

So I was running errands today (because that's my new job title) and I was sent to the city of Commerce. I whined because, though I didn't know exactly where it was, I knew it had to be one of those really ugly cities that's hideousness could only be increased by the 100 degree weather. But could I really say no to the guy that's filling up my gas tank and giving me an allowance every week? So off I went.

And low and behold, my errand took me directly across the street from the Citadel Outlets. The very place I see when flying down the I5, but forget all about two minutes after I pass. I was practically there, so I might as well check it out, right? Now I know I'm currently unemployed and should stay far away from such places, but it doesn't hurt to look, right? And if I happen upon a fun yellow silk sundress that was originally $148 and is marked down to $36, do you really think I should pass it up? I didn't think so. And after all, I was SENT to Commerce...I didn't WANT to go.

You've Gotta Pay to Play

2008-04-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

And boy did I...OUCH! This serves as a warning to all you "adults" who still act like children. When playing on inflatable slides, mazes, or whatever new form of bounce-house extravaganza they come up with, be sure to cover all limbs with clothing. We "adults" are just too heavy to slide our bare skin down vinyl at record-breaking speeds.

Is today Saturday?

2008-04-12T10:32:00.001-07:00

I think so. But then I guess it really doesn't matter when you're laid off. Every day is SATURDAY!!!

At some point I do need to find out if today truly is Saturday though, as I have a bounce-house birthday party to attend on Sunday. Bring out the tube socks...adults are aloud to play!

I wish I were a kid again.

2008-03-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Seriously? That's what someone said today.

For dinner tonight, I took a bowl of leftover spaghetti, strung string cheese all over the top and threw it in the microwave. While I waited, I ate a poptart. Afterwards, I made myself some hot cocoa with LOTS of whipped cream. For dessert I grabbed some blueberries, took a swig outta the milk carton and grabbed a handful of thin mints out of the freezer.

I can't ever recall a time, as a child, I would have been allowed to eat such things for dinner. I think I'm fine with adulthood.

I Can't Handle the Truth!

2008-02-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

I’ve been teased...er, I mean asked whether I’ll be posting a blog since I just returned from India for the second time and, being creatures of habit, it appears this is an expectation from my audience. To tell you the truth, I’m really not in the mood just yet. India messed with my head in a whole new way and has forced me to question quite a lot. So far, the answers are nowhere to be found, but I promise you when they do appear, I will share.

Until then, I will follow in the footsteps of a friend and leave you with light-hearted quotes and lessons from India…enjoy.

Quotes…
…Can I wear my Lungi on the plane?
…You WANT your coffee!
…Ees Okaay
…Who has the red ball?
…Jon, dude, I need 50 Rupees.
…Knock…Knock…Knock
…Let’s go on a trip….first we’ll go through Boston, then to Miami
…Please come
…Jon, can I borrow 100 Rupees?
…Tug…Tug…Tug
…TEEEAM!!!
…Can I bring a Nicaraguan?
…Thump…Thump…Thump
…Hey Jon, you got 80 Rupees?
…I’m keepin’ it solid
…Can you get out of it?
…HELLO!
…Seriously, I’m living in this when we get home.
…You used the bucket for what?!?

Light-Hearted Lessons…
…Moo Moos rock!!!
…Bridgete has magic hands.
...Stopping to smell the flowers is not always a good idea.
…Everyone poops (hopefully).
…Valerie will always win at Yahtzee.
…You can survive on hard-boiled eggs and bananas alone.
…Lizards are your friend.
...Advil Cold and Sinus cures everything.

I Slipped...

2007-03-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

...but India was there to catch my fall!

It was our first day of ministry work in India. We were loaded onto a bus, which was to become a normal daily routine. We never knew quite how long our rides would be, but it never mattered much. The company, the view and the time to catch up on journaling always made the ride seem less than 5 minutes. I'm certain I could have rode around on the bus for two weeks and been content. The bus was where I did a lot of my thinking. It is where I came to a realization that I am not poor.

Prior to India, I threw the statement, "I'm poor" around frivolously. Any time I did not have the money to buy the latest fun thing, I'd think, "I wish I wasn't so dang poor." India taught me a lesson long overdue. A lesson that my soul had been yearning for.

India taught me that I am not poor.

I learned that there is a huge part of India where people do not have walls to protect them from the outside world. When they lay their heads down to sleep at night, it is the dirt ground that will comfort them. There is no running water for these people. The streams that flow through their villages provide the water they drink. This is the same body of water they bathe in, do their laundry in, pee in, and allow their oxen to cool off in. I never quite figured out how or what they ate, but I have a feeling it wasn't good. There were a few occasions that we handed out various foods to villages, and the desperation for a simple hard boiled egg or banana was enough to tell me exactly what the situation might have been.

Seeing the level of poverty in these villages was unfathomable. It's something that I can never explain entirely...it is something that until you see, you can never fully believe. It was the toughest thing I've ever had to deal with, but the best thing to happen to me. It taught me how truly blessed I am. It taught me how rich I am.

Just yesterday I was talking with a coworker. We had just finished marking prices down on merchandise and I told her that I wanted to get some of the newly priced merchandise, but I was poor.

India caught me...I had to correct myself. I am not poor.

Before I Forget

2007-02-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

There will be a full recap of our trip to India this Sunday, March 4th, at all three Revolution Church services. The services are at 9 am, 11 am, and 6 pm. The entire service will be dedicated to stories, pictures, songs and video from our trip. I would love for you all to come and see a bit of what I've experienced.

Hope to see you,

Jenn

I Finally Stopped

2007-02-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

I came to a realization this morning while in the shower.

You see, I just got home the night before from a trip to India, and today was to be my day of reflection. I awoke early, as my internal clock has been flopped by the time difference. I began the day by hopping online to check my emails. Two weeks apart from the inbox can really cause a pile-up! Then I needed to get the latest updates on my friends, so I searched through MySpace to see what was new and exciting with everyone. I needed a break from the computer and had no clue what was going on in America, since the only news I've seen in a while is "The Hindu Times," so I flipped on "Fox 11 Morning News." While watching that, I decided to start thumbing through the pile of catalogues and magazines the postmaster had dropped off. As you see, my day of reflection had already been littered with anything but thoughts of India.

Then I took a shower. It was one of those long, hot, fingers wrinkle to look like prunes type of showers. Why the need to tell you this? Because it's in those times when you are forced to stop and think. Having had many years experience shampooing and washing, it promised never to get in the way of allowing one's mind to wander, to dream, to think about life. I broke down.

India came to visit me.

I recalled each set of eyes I had looked into, each cheek I pressed to mine, each frail body I held tight. Many on my team went to India with objectives. Mine was simple, maybe too simple for the main objective of the trip, but something I felt strongly about from the second I signed up. I went to physically touch the people who were labeled "untouchables" by their country. Though I did not speak their language, I wanted to let them know I thought differently of them. It is quite rare for the untouchables to ever be visited, yet they are still trained as humans to extend a hand to shake, should someone approach them. I was not satisfied with a hand shake, and especially disturbed when their hand was extended, but their eyes were bowed to the ground. The shame they felt was what I wanted to lift. I rarely shook a hand, as I did not want to be yet another humanitarian visitor, coming through their village to see the extent of the poverty and yielding to germs or diseases by following up on handshakes with anti-bac solution. I had to look into their eyes. I had to hold on tight to them, whether it be gripping their shoulders, giving them a hug, pressing their face to mine while praying for them, or if an extended hand was the only option due to the crowds and time, I made sure to shake with both hands and extend my eyes as far into their souls as I could. I wanted them to feel loved. I needed them to know they were loved. Love was what I had to offer India.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 cor 13:13

I am expecting many more visits from India in the days to follow and look forward to sharing them with you!

Love,

Jenn Glenn