Golddigger the Profit

Hoping you are all aware of the recent profanities that have blasted, not slipped, through the mouth of rapper/moron Kanye West's mouth, I would like to take a moment to encourage you to refrain from supporting the exaggerated ego that our society has created in him. I knew he fell into the realms of idiocy with his usurption of air time during the Celebrity Katrina Evening of Fundraising as he lamblasted our Commander in Chief on the live broadcast. It isn't as if something of that boldness has not happened before with our arrogant Hollywood elite. So as unpatriotic as I could be, I let it roll off of my shoulders and decided that the liberal media will ignore it and we will probably hear from this fella again (I choose not to call him a gentleman or a man for a reason).

His next truly publicized experimentation with the First Amendment was the plastering of his mug on the cover of one of our most popular magazines with a "crown of thorns" upon his head. If seeing such picture did not make you tremble, then I ask where your morals are hiding today. Who is he to even begin to suggest that the actions of which his mouth and mind have taken are near the dirt upon which Christ's blood and sweat dripped/poured upon? Who is he to think that ANYTHING that he has encountered in his child rearing or in his daily life can even begin to compare to the agony and excruciating pain that Jesus endured FOR HIM!? I tremble at the very sight of this picture because I know that my kind loving and merciful God is also a God of vengence, punishment, and justice.

Kanye West, you mocked God.

I don't think you can even begin to grasp the enormity of this situation! My trembling for you is because of the wrath that awaits you.

Oh dear people, it gets better/worse. Today Delinquent West took it upon himselt to draw even more attention to his absurd blasphemy. He stated in an interview that

"he should be included in the Bible. He feels sure he'd be "a griot" (West African storyteller) in a modern Bible.

He says, "I bring up historical subjects in a way that makes kids want to learn about them. I'm an inspirational speaker.

"I changed the sound of music more than one time... For all those reasons, I'd be a part of the Bible. I'm definitely in the history books already."

If you have not visited the Drudge Report, then do so. Just when I think I cannot be shocked by society anymore, another menace springs forth.

Peaceful Religion?

Over and over again we hear the Islamic people testify in the United States that the jihad is not something they support. It is a different mindset than that which is taught by their beloved Muslim text. I long to believe them because I too understand those which deviate from the truth of the teachings of Christ.

Yet again we see a enormous amount of people committed to tradition and ritual and not dedicated to the care and well being of your fellow man. I cannot begin to grasp this mob mentality even after being apart of mobs myself. What posesses you to get to a destination in such a way that you dare not look at the path on which you trod, lest you be held back? What comes over an individual that removes all sense of awareness of their surroundings to a point where they could walk/run over another human being because of their goal? How tragic! How amazing!

Hajj trampling

God calls us to focus totally upon Him as we strive towards the goal and attain the prize at the end of the race. However, He also calls us to run so that we demonstrate to others what we are running for. If we show each other our commitment to the prize may cost them their opportunity to receive the same prize, are we showing them the compassionate love of Christ? Run/Train so that you may not only point your brother in the proper direction, but that you may run/train along side them. When they cry out for help, HELP! Pick them up and get them back on their feet and run.

Moon Over Maryland

Why are there not more court cases like this in publication? If this was all are justice system had to fool with on a regular basis I think I would watch Court TV on a daily basis. Instead we have the unfortunate civilization that is full of domestic violence, thievery, vandalism, divorce, citations and such.

Check out this article on Fox News about a lawsuit over whether "mooning" was illegal and in fact, indecent exposure. I love the judges argument about women's clothing providing the basis for a similar argument as well. Let me think, what about all of the designer dresses at the awards shows in Hollywood - Lil Kim?

I couldn't help but argue for the very prank that wreaked havoc upon my childhood as I experienced it both in the giving and the taking. Don't even begin to expect the government to intefere in these affairs of my life. If mooning is illegal, than I will retaliate and protest that any woman wearing a skirt that does not allow them to sit without me seeing their business should be arrested. Any man who bends over to repair a water main and exposes his crack should be arrested. Any woman who wears a shirt that is too tight to contain their buldge should be arrested. Any man who wears jeans that are too tight (ladies, I ain't talkin' about the butt area) and exposes an outline of his package should be arrested.

Need I go on...please people, allow the court time to be used for settling matters that actually benefit our society. That goes for you too oh one who sues McDonald's because you forgot that COFFEE IS HOT!

5 Years

Today my husband and I celebrate 5 years of wedded bliss! What a great 5 years it has been! Have I told you how wonderful he is? The Lord chooses a path for each of us and I have been blessed that my path has been along side Jeremy Powell's!

Christmas Came

You have watched my countdown to the incredible holiday event and as we are all aware through the fatigue and bloating we may be feeling, Christmas did indeed come. My beautiful daughter received far more than we even imagined and we were elated to watch her enjoy it all. She will be knowledgable on shapes, colors, numbers, letters, animals, Swahili, you name it before her first birthday. We are truly blessed with family that cares so much for her well being and seeks to provided for her in even her most fragile state. This same family seeks to provide for Jeremy and I as well humbling us as we realize we are among the few in America that still have these types of relationships with their loved ones. As we look back over two whirlwind weeks in the Powell house, we realize that Christmas - the celebratory date - has come and gone. However, as Jeremy so eloquently put in on the 25th, Christmas did in fact come and praise God, it has not gone. Instead, those who truly believe in Our Lord and Savior are left knowing that because Christmas came, we can celebrate with our families. Because Christmas came, we can understand what the spririt of giving is. Because Christmas came, we develop a sense of appreciation and sacrifice. Because Christmas came, we begin to know true love and devotion. Because Christmas came, we have hope.

Has Christmas come to your home? Do you truly grasp all of these gifts?

Balderdash Blog

Where did the term "stomping ground" originate? Some terms we use came from literal meanings and some are just plain silliness. Can anyone tell me about this one? I think this will be a new random blog insert along with What the Crap episodes. Did people stomp on their home ground? Why did they stomp? What did stomping infer?

Voluminous Vomit Part 2

As you know, Emma has recovered from her battle with the Roto Virus. We did return to the hospital and stayed Sunday through Tuesday with Emma attached to an IV because of severe dehydration. All Mommies agree that it is a painful thing to watch, but Jeremy and I are both thankful that she experienced it because it brought her back to the healthy state we knew before. She is now climbing around and laughing and getting into things that she shouldn't. Life is grand...

...until Mommy and Daddy go on a date with friends Saturday night. We leave Emma with the kiddos of Alexanders and the Skippers as they are watched by the DeHarts & the Penningtons. Back story: I had been somewhat ill earlier in the day to the point where shopping for church in the Home Depot had become the most tedious thing I had to accomplish. I literally sat down on a box in the Home Depot to take a breather. If only Emma could walk, I think I could have managed better, but I was toting her around with my friend Kaci pushing the cart behind us with Jonathan in the cart. I went home and crashed and then felt fine. Fine to the point where I was doing craft projects around the house and playing with Emma.

We join our friends for the evening and have dinner at an Italian establishment in town. I probably ate 1/3 of my Lasagna along with salad and breadsticks. Then we journey to the theater to see the Chronicles of Narnia. I started fading again, but this time I didn't feel feverish - just nauseated. I did the seat squirm trying to find that position we all search for that will make the discomfort go away. Right when the movie begins - I spring into action.

I will try to give you the fun visual. I am running down the stairs as best as one can in stilleto heel boots and knocking people out of my way as they are still making their way into the ALREADY CROWDED theater. I cannot say excuse me or pardon me because speaking may awaken the beast. I probably did knock one woman against the wall, but I am sorry. You must understand the urgency.

I make it to a stall and YACK! Now all of you are thinking, great Jodi. Please know that my immediate thought is - "I am so sorry all of you poor patrons of the arts who are now having your evening ruined by hearing such an atrocious sound." I felt embarassed and mortified. However, after EVERY SINGLE BIT OF MY DINNER THAT EVENING LEFT THE BUILDING, I felt tremendously better. Don't you love that feeling? I always feel better after I do the technicolored yawn. Feels better outside instead of inside.

I have completed the exercise and realize that I now need to clean up my mess and myself. Much to my delight, I have chosen a stall with NO TOILET PAPER! Some sweet woman asked me if I needed a paper towel and I politely declined. How could I subject her to my sphere by even having her toss a paper towel in my direction? I go through the ordeal over and over again in my head and I think I looked at the dispenser 7 or 8 times hoping that toilet paper would just appear. Alas, it did not.

So I exit the stall and there stands this pre-teen who says all she can say, "sorry." I told her, "no, I'm sorry. Could I get you to do me a favor though and go tell someone from the theaters what has happened so they can clean it up?" She agrees to do so. I step into a stall down the way to get some toilet paper so I can clean up some of the mess myself. I step back out into the alley of stalls to see a lovely woman about to enter my crime scene. I shouted at her, "NO! Don't go in there!"

She looks at me politely, yet strangely and says, "OK". I told her I was cleaning it up. What do you say?

"Hey Lady, I just barfed!"
"Don't want you to have to see my leftovers"

I told her nothing and she, of course, thought I was odd. So I clean up the my shoes & the seat, but I left the floor mess. Now here is where it gets even better. I decide that I must protect all other patrons from seeing this gruesome display and I stood in front of the stall to keep people from going inside it. It isn't the 10th stall in the back of the bathroom. No, no. It is the 2nd stall immediately seen upon entering. As I wait, I see 3 people from church and 1 coworker who all are now joining with the rest of Fort Worth wanting to know why the crazy lady in the bathroom is so protective of that one toilet. I had to explain my story each time.

Like 15 minutes later some theater personel came and began the trecherous work of cleaning my mess. As I was waiting on them, I couldn't get the freaking automatic sinks to produce water so I was running up and down the sink counter wiggling my hands like a muppet. Finally one of the workers came and got one to work for me. I felt compelled to stay until it was clean and I apologized seventeen thousand times. Then I had to pee. That sends me into another stall. I am sure they thought, "well crap, is she going to do it again?" I came back out and began the muppet dance again. I finally leave the bathroom only to find my darling husband standing outside waiting on me as he had been doing so for the previous 20-30 minutes. I climb back up the stairs into the theater and sit and enjoy a great movie, but knowing the whole time I have just had another Powell moment we will all never forget.

Needless to say, I am anti-Italian for a little while.

Childhood Phobias

Do you have anything unusual that you are absolutely terrified of?

Heights, bugs, terrorists, crowds, snakes, public speaking, rollercoasters, airplanes, etc.

How about being afraid of something as a child that you have grown out of over the years or even just recently?

Some people are scared of dogs as children - understandable. They are big and slobbery and loud and sometimes they even bite. Some people are scared of clowns - semi-understandable. They are masked people with abnormally sized noses, mouths & hair. Plus there is the ever present abnormality in the Stephen King classic IT that adds to peoples fears.

I was afraid of men with facial hair. Not men in general, men with facial hair. It was so bad that I even avoided certain family members at gatherings because they either had a beard or mustache and they scared me. I knew who they were, but they freightened me horribly. The father of my best friend at church would even grow a beard every winter and I would avoid him for about 3-4 months. Obviously this is not an extreme fear of mine anymore, but it existed and unfortunately...

...I have passed it onto my daughter. We journeyed to the mall yesterday to have our picture taken with Santa. She cried worse than she did on Monday morning when they took her blood at the hospital. We took the picture anyway after two separate attempts to visit Santa. I wasn't that impressed with the Santa figure because he made ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT TO CONSOLE OR WELCOME MY DAUGHTER. He wouldn't offer her puffs or a bottle to lure her into his lap. He just stared at her - literally. Jeremy would move closer to him and she would grasp Jeremy's shirt even tighter. So partly, Santa is to blame, but mostly Emma's fear is inherited from her freako Mommy.

Merry Christmas all!

Voluminous Vomit

When traveling in Birmingham last week during Thanksgiving, I discovered that my child, though only roughly over 15 lbs., can produce an excessive amout of fluid projecting from her body. This adventurous little encounter can be related to the fact that she is more than likely allergic to soy. She was fine the rest of the trip and never ran a fever. However, her body DEEPLY rejected the soy along with everything else.

Unfortunately, we encountered this act yesterday afternoon and well into the evening as she yet again released every item that had been engulfed for the day. We monitored her for several hours thinking that she may have had bad milk or formula or food, but we reached a lathargic state with sporadic dry heaving and knew it might be more. After a couple of hours of trying to get her to keep down an OUNCE of Pedialyte, the doctor suggested we take her to the ER because of fear of dehydration.

So 7:00, off we go to the hospital. I hope you are already visualizing this next episode of "What the Crap?" Jeremy drops us off at the ER at Cooks Children's Hospital and I stop in my tracks when I walk in because the waiting room is already bursting. I knew it would be a long night. We register Emma and the perform the preliminary assessment within about 10 minutes. Gave me false hope! Darn them. Needless to say, we waited a little over 3 hours before going back to see a doctor. I knew we were still waiting when the child who was already in the waiting room with a bleeding bandage around his HEAD was still walking around WAITING! Hmmm.

We managed though. Emma only vomited 4-5 times while we were in the hospital and by then it was not voluminous anymore. She slept the rest of the time from exhaustion. Now, I must tell you that I am a BIG "People Watcher", so I spent quite a bit of time taking in the crowd and assessing their situations. From time to time, Jeremy joins in with me on this activity. After a couple of hours of this, we have decided that we must share with you all that the best evening entertainment is sitting in the waiting room and watching children run amuck.

Let me set the scene. It is crowded and parents are tired and they have more than one child with them and you reach a point that as long as they are not poking another child in the eye, whatever. In Cooks' waiting room, there is this giant faux aquarium. Along the bottom of the wall that the aquarium is housed is a panel of buttons. Each button activates a different stimulant in the aquarium. For instance, there is an eel that will come out from behind the reef if you press the eel button.

Because I do not want to steal his thunder, I must now direct you to Jeremy's site for the rest of the story. It will be the story describing "Justin" and "Little Jonathan Winters".

Emma is still running a fever so prayer for her would be appreciated. Mommy and Daddy are both still well, but very tired. She apparently had a very bad stomach bug and her precious spirit was so pitiful. She has slept a ton in the past 24 hours. Sleep is healing, but her little body needs nutrition as well.

Texaco

I am not referring to the gas station, but rather the blend of Texas and Mexico. We were discussing in class today the Mexican governmental perspective on the American immigrants in Texas during the 1820s. I always try to emphasize the Mexican standpoint because to their history and heritage, their argument for the fear of rebellion was extremely justifiable. Had they had enough organization and manpower, they might have kept the Texas Revolution from being victorious for the American/Texans - maybe.

What would life be like if the Great Migration had not pushed Americans West into Texas and Texas was still a part of Mexico?

Or what would life be like of Texas had never been accepted into the Union and was still struggling to be it's own state?

Deep-rooted Texans argue we should secede now from the US. Are they crazy? I think so, but some of you might not.

hmmmm...

Mornings

They start your day! How many of you are morning people? It really must be emphasized that you must be one or the other. You see, I am truly a morning person. I think I went through a stage in high school where I forced myself to sleep in because that is what you did if you were a teenager. However, in college, if I wasn't up until dawn working on a paper or hanging out with friends I was usually up at dawn. Sleeping in for me is 7:30. Now granted, I am not out of control with excitement when I roll out of the bed - except on CHRISTMAS MORNING OR MY BIRTHDAY!! Those are two exceptions where I am just beside myself. Every other day I have to have my morning shower with a good face splashing to get me going. After that though, I am raring to go. Now we must be aware there are varying degrees of both species - morning people and non-morning people. There are those wonderful people who awake at 4:30 with a smile on their face ready to love on everyone. I am a step down from there.

Then there are non-morning people and their varying degrees. Some are just grumpy and in need of their caffeine and then they are ok. Some are mean for a few hours so it is best to not deal with them. I have witnessed both. Non-morning people are night owls. I am not. I shut down around 9:30 or 10:00.

Night Owls do not understand Morniing People and vice versa. However, if both are kind to one another and accepting of each other, there is no tension. For example, if you are extreme morning person, do not get in Night Owl's face and sing songs at 8:00 or talk really fast about your day. On the same note, Night Owl's should not drag their Morning Person friend to an 11:00 movie = wasted $7.50.

What are you? Can you tolerate and respect the other? Think about it.

FIRST WORD

I am elated and ecstatic about the information I am about to reveal to you my friends. We have had so many amazing things happen with our child. She has progressed along the developmental stages so much more rapidly than I could have imagined, and quite frankly really wanted. It has been too fast flashing before me and then over. Since about 6 months of age, Emma has been uttering sylables that to you and me, make some coherant sense. For example, her technical first word was Mama, which she said over and over and over again. However, to this day, I don't really know if she has made that connection with who the heck Mama is. She has also uttered Dada and even Nana, but again she doesn't know what it is. We can get her to repeat them sometimes, but not all the time. Most of the time she speaks them of her own free will.

Last night Jeremy and I returned to our home from a lovely evening out. Unfortunately when we returned we were a smidge too loud as we recanted our evening with our dear friends the DeHarts who were kind enough to watch our child for the evening. As a result, it awakened our child. I laid back down with her to try to get her back to sleep and she was wide awake and ready to play. I kept telling her in a peaceful quiet tone that it was "time to go night-night."

Much to my amazement, I watched her play with forming her mouth and moving her tongue for a few minutes as she was trying to mimic me. SHE DID! Jeremy and I both got to hear her repeat after me "NIGHT - NIGHT." She said it 4 times.

That is by far my greatest Christmas gift! I struggle often with missing out on things as she progresses because I work. The Lord has truly been faithful to allow me to experience just about everything myself first (rolling over, crawling, pulling up, giggling, and now speaking). I am in Heaven! She is the best!

TWENTY-SEVEN

I have titled a post as such before, but this one is all the more exciting for me. Yesterday was the 27th of the month and Emma celebrated her 9 month birthday! How amazing and exciting.

Today marks the countdown to 27 days until Christmas! Another exciting time! We are decorated at the Powell household. How about you?

Favorite Episode

Those of you who know me, know that the title of my website is much like the title of my life. I feel that we are key players in the next sitcom that will be a decade-long hit on NBC. We far surpass Friends & Everybody Loves Raymond, yet we have similar aspects of each show reflecting in ours. As I sit and reflect upon what has happened to myself and to my family over the past years, I want to rejoice in the Lord's deliverance that has brought me to where I am today. I am definitely at a place where I can look back upon instances and laugh knowing that I made it through it and I will do it again when the stressors arise. If you know me, I would love to hear from you about your favorite episode of What the Crap? Let me give you some hints.

Rocks Don't Rock the Dog
Working for the Firm
Snugglin' Up Wi-Chu
Car Battery?
Stop! Stop! Stop!
Scout Looses her Marbles
Swing Dancing
Happy Anniversary! You just bought a Van!
Nerf Upside Yo Head
Scout Slides Into 2nd
Certification Blues
Sheremy
Wyoming's Great Divide
Who's Having a Baby?
What's that Smell?
Harry Carry Meets Scary Jerry
Farmer Hideout
Crew Weddings (multiple series)

You may create your own names, but please give synopsis of the episode as well!

42

...where there's kids' jingle belling
and everyone's telling you
be of good cheer


IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

I have so few days left to shop and yet I have not yet begun to start. I think the Angel Tree's are going up in the mall's this weekend. That makes me most excited of all. You should all get one. How amazing it is to know that you have the ability to make some child's life a little brighter by helping them have a Christmas to remember! You will allow them to go back to school in January and they too will have stories to tell about their new Lego set or their new Barbie or maybe even a new bike! I am giddy with enthusiasm. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I even started looking for Emma's stuff on Friday evening. Oh what fun we have in store for her! She will most likely be walking by then. She is pulling up and scooting around our living room. It was just 8 1/2 months ago that I birthed this child. Wowsers! She is my joy! I cannot wait to teach her the experience of giving as well! It is so filling. No wonder Christ is so full of love - He gives and gives and gives. As we receive, may we remember why we have the opportunity to even be on the receiving end.

Monopoly

I had my students write a brief essay on their favorite board game and why. The reason was because I describe the conquest of the new world by Europeans as a big monopoly game. Spain is that participant who must be the banker and must own particular properties or they will get angry and not play fair. France is the player who is just playing to be a part of the game. England is the strategist who eventually takes the lead. Ironically the majority of them chose monopoly as their favorite board game.

I love board games and play them with my family often. We all have our little quirks about each game - like my cousin Todd will not allow you to assemble your Trivia Pursuit pie pieces outside of the container. I always hold my cards in a certain suit order in a card game - I can't tell you how or you will know for our next game. :)

What is your favorite board game &/or what is your quirk? I love Pictionary, Trivia Pursuit, Outburst & Loaded Questions.

89:11-8

For those of you who actually frequent this site and are not native Texans - WHAT THE CRAP? It is November the 8th and the high today according to one of our fine meteorologists is 89! Sweet LORD! God loves this little jab at me. You see, growing up in Alabama, I truly whined to the Lord often about how Alabama missed out on White Christmas and true sledding. Sure we saw the Floridians decorating palm trees and the Arizonians decorating cacti, and I knew that was to make me to appreciate the precipitation that I did get. Yet, I wanted a bundle up snowshoe Christmas. I didn't know that there could be yet another place that had such strange and punishing weather. I now appreciate the 3-4 snowfalls a year that might have graced the foothills of the Appalachians. I appreciate the humidity that helped cool off the heat of the day and bring the Autumn evenings back to a chilled night time bliss. When I went out to run at 6:00 this morning it was 75.

Shopping for Junior

I was thinking this morning as I was driving to school about certain clothing styles and the ways in which certain groups of people wear their clothing. We passed several students in varying neighborhoods making their way to the schoolhouse and as you may of guessed, several of the male students were wearing the typical blue jean, white sneaker, and OVERSIZED sweatshirt. As a new mom, my thoughts began to go immediately to the first encounter with this outfit. Someone had to take this child shopping and allow them to choose these articles of clothing. That same someone had to either see the child walk out of a dressing room with it on or to see the tag that clearly stated XXL on it and say to themself, "Self, that seems to be a suitable size for my 63 lb son." Then my next thought went to the conversation that might occur between child and parent the following year.

Child: "Mom, my pants are getting a little tight. Do you think I might be able to get a new pair for school this year? I don't know if Kiki will be able to see my boxers in this pair anymore?"

Parent: "I was noticing that myself. You have worn that pair out. We better get to the store this weekend."

Is there not ever a point where the child might actually grow into the pants and/or sweatshirt considering the drastic oversize? Did you seriously buy that size for your wee child on purpose for fashion? Did you seriously justify spending $75 on a sweatshirt that could hold your entire family within its seams? I was holding out for buying things slightly bigger so they can be used more than one season. My mom did that with coats and sometimes even pants. Was that not the original intent when the parent bought the outfit so largely mis-sized? Help me here!

49

Days left until Christmas!!!!!! I have already started decorating the house. Yes, yes, I love Thanksgiving, but I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I even decorate the dog!!! There will be more to come from this, so if you are not fond of this holiday, you may choose to not frequent my page!

Holiday Bliss

Things that I love...the HOLIDAYS! Anytime we are given a reason in society to celebrate or deviate from the norm so that we may just truly smile and rejoice in the goodness of our fellow man - I get all giddy inside. You are probably thinking at this moment, not every holiday allows for that. The original intent of many holiday occasions is to do just that. Halloween - comes from all hallow's eve - the evening before All Saint's Day. Granted there have been some derrogatory deviations from what people intended this holiday to be for the past 50 years, but I still hold onto the fun. My vision is seeing children dress up in costume to escape their reality into some sort of fantasy - i.e. Yoda or a princess or even a ghoul - so that they may skip up and down the sidewalks to solicite candy from their fellow neigbors. Your benefit - to see children being able to relax and enjoy each other; to see children enjoying the comfort and safety of their community by being able to trust that their neighborhood is filled with loving adults who will provide them with goodies and not harmful material or harmful intentions; to receive the satisfaction of giving to others by watching their smiles and hearing their muffled thank yous from beneath their masks. It saddens me that people have twisted this event where children cannot go without parents door-to-door. It saddens me that we must worry about evil activities outside of the community. It saddens me that we don't communicate with our children enough to help them understand that they are in costume, therefore not reality. It saddens me that grown teenagers take advantage of the freebies and therefore I have little left for the children. I still had a grand time last night and I look forward to next year when I get to take Emma door-to-door! By the way, this year was the year of Tigger.