notinKansasanymore

Well, I was wrong about something which I said on this thread yesterday; that's what I get for diving into new information, without checking for a secondary source. As it turns out, I am not descended from Shubal Stearns the Baptist minister, but from his baby sister, Martha. In my family, there were: Shubal (came in 1630) Charles (came as a small child in 1630) Shubal (first generation born here) Shubal Martha (who married Daniel Marshall, another mover and shaker in the Great Awakening) But in the Shubal-the-Baptist's family, there were actually three Shubals in a row: Shubal Charles Shubal Shubal Shubal (had no children, but started the Southern Baptists.) So, I'm not exactly descended from the sing-songy, hypnotic-preacher guy, after all. Learning this was almost like taking a genealogical Tums. Like my father-in-law says, we don't get an eraser when we learn our family histories. Nevertheless, I'm kind of relieved. This is not a very interesting post, and I apologize for that. But I said something which turned out not to be true, and wanted to set the record straight. Next time, I'll tell a joke, or something. "Live just, and fear not."

Paris and Nicole have done a reality show, where they live on a farm for (however long; I didn't watch it) and pretend to be farmers. Basically, they just show off their ignorance of anything except Gucci and caviar. Wow, TooGrayNow! Two nominations is exceedingly cool. They don't hand those things out like party favors. I've heard that almost nobody ever gets two, because none of those able to nominate want to burn a nomination on a kid who's already getting nominated by someone else. "Live just, and fear not."

I found out something interesting yesterday morning, while messing around with geneaology. My 7th-great grandfather was a gentleman named Shuabal Stearns; this much I knew. I learned that he is the man who started the Southern Baptist denomination, and pioneered the sing-songy, hypnotic style of preaching characteristic of many Southern preachers today. Not so sure how I feel about that. It does seem, however, that if I spent my youth making religion the center of my life, that it was pretty much hereditary. Life is sooooo weird. "Live just, and fear not."

Exie: I understand. Mwahs right back at you, sisterfriend! Have a pleasant evening. "Live just, and fear not."

Yes, I agree; when the BSC expires, I don't really look for it to be renewed. Hey, on another subject, I just got word that my uncle, my Dad's brother, is in the hospital, and likely about to pass away. Since Daddy only died less than 3 months ago, their sister is really having trouble with this. (There were just the three of them, growing up together.) She is a wonderful Christian lady, the salt of the earth. Could you please pray for my Uncle Dan, in the hospital with pneumonia, and for his children, who are about our age, and for my Aunt Imogene, his sister? I'm going now to put this on the lift list, but wanted you guys to know first. Thanks very, very much. You're my favorites, you know. "Live just, and fear not."

We got into the Sugar Bowl! Thanks be to the BCS. Ssssaaaay, how's everybody doing this morning? Happy Monday? "Live just, and fear not."

AAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH! There's sadness in Norman today. We were stunned, shocked, and bemused. They whooped us up one side and down the other. "Outplayed us in every aspect of the game," said Teddy Lehman, one of the largest and sweetest young men that you'd ever care to meet. What does this do to White's potential Heisman? I DON"T KNOW, AND I CAN'T STAND THIS! I've got someone I'd like to lift . . . I just can't pick 'em all UP! Oooooooooooh. They're sooooo sweet, and this is sooooooo hard! "Live just, and fear not."

If any of you folks would like a Christmas card, private topic me with your address. Pumpkin pie in the oven. Lots of papers to grade. Finals week is looming. Freedom is near. Pray for the Sooners; I just love those guys. "Live just, and fear not."

Gee, I missed you sickos. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ "Live just, and fear not."

Hi, Everybody!!! What wild horses have kept me away from your boosoooms? Oh, the pain, the travail, the 20-lb. turkey! Sorry. I've had loads of work to do, as well as pneumonia. My little girl had the flu for a week and a half, and I had a houseful for Thanksgiving. I am much worried with things which are not those things of the word, and I have missed the fellowhip of you fellows. Next week is Dead Week, when I don't really expect anyone to die, but I've been wrong about that before. After that is Finals, and then . . . Freeeeeeee-eeeee-dom . . . How I long for the day when I can say (I have) Freeeeeeee-eeeee-dom . . . When final grade reports come my way, (SLAP!) Oh, thanks. Guess I got distracted there, for a sec. Three things happened this past weekend which are kind of nice, and kind of sca-a-ry, at the same time. A) our fifteen-year-old went on her first "alone with a boy in a car" date. B) our seventeen-year-old (nearly eighteen, okay) got his first car. c) Mike Stoops signed with Arizona, to be their head football coach! Sure, life goes on, but these things are frighteningly wonderful, and wonderfully FRIGHTENING! Only Arizona can have Mikey, because that's my better half's alma mater, and they deserve a great coach. Rockarino, I hope that he does for 'Zona what his brother "Bobby" has done for us. I hear that he's stealing his little brother, Mark, from somewhere in Florida, to be one of his assistants. Let me tell you, two Stoops brothers is a very, very good combination for a football program. These guys aren't just trying to be head coaches. They are trying to re-make American college football. Earlier this semester, a couple of OU players (Mark Clayton and somebody else, who was just as brave, but whose name I can't recall at the moment) came upon a wreck, in which five family members were trapped in a burning SUV. They got all of them out, risking their own lives. These kids are pretty much all like that. Can't wait to see them play in the Big 12 Championship, and hopefully, in the Sugar Bowl. Hey, I missed you folks. Sorry to be gone for so long. Everybody who STILL has leftover turkey in the fridge, raise your hand. If your hand isn't raised, you needed a BIGGER TURKEY! Love, niKa "Live just, and fear not."

Yes, I actually did. I reminded them how much courage it must take for Baylor's athletes and supporters to travel to such a dismal "away" game. I'm confident that the OU community will be courteous and respectful. That said, it may be a massacre. :)--> "Live just, and fear not."

Is everybody praying for the Baylor University Football Team? It takes a lot of courage to do what they're about to do. "Live just, and fear not."

Turn at the second star to the left, and go straight on 'til morning. When you hear a tiny, tinkling bell, clap your hands. "Live just, and fear not."

Happy Veteran's Day, to all you wonderful folks who have served our country in the military. I appreciate you. "Live just, and fear not."

Fellowshipper, Will the two of you live here, or there? :)--> "Live just, and fear not."

It's my opinion (I'm not a professional, either) that you were just as much a victim of the Way as they were. The fact that you were an earlier victim, and witnessed to them, doesn't make you evil. You don't hold it against whoever loved you enough to "witness" to you, do you? Heck, we were all just babies when we got suckered into that thing. If they are really your friends, they're going to understand that, and still love you. How many nights did you sit up with them, hold their hands, and love them into changing their lives for God? That's something nobody forgets. The woman who got me into the Word is still in the Way, and the few times I have tried to contact her, she's been downright standoffish, bordering on rude. I still don't hold that against her, because I know that she did the best that she knew, at the time, for me. I'd say "go," but only your heart and gut can tell you what you should do. Good luck, sweetie-pie! "Live just, and fear not."

I spoke with Nancy about three (or so) years ago; she was indeed still on staff. She was a staffer long before she went into residence with the 9th Corps. She's still the same sweet Nancy. I'm no expert, but who's to say that she wouldn't probably enjoy hearing from folks that she loves? Even though she was obviously sad about my choice to have left TWI (and stayed out for several years, at that point), she was still very courteous. "Be just, and fear not."

Weeeeeell, he might give you a little smackeroonie if you asked very sweetly, but in general, I think not. Heeee-heeeee. ((((((Rocky)))))) C'mon over here, Rocky. *smooch* "Be just, and fear not."

Hey, hello everyone! I'm still here, I think. Bit of a harder week than most, pray, okay? Fellowkisser, sooooo glad to hear the news of your engagement. Congratulations, my friend. Much happiness speeding your way. "Be just, and fear not."

Stayed up half the night making gold, diaphanous butterfly wings. But man, was my little five-year-old a fantastic butterfly! "Be just, and fear not."

It's good that we got our party in last night! This morning, Autumn has struck in full force, and it's pretty cold out there. The outdoor cats are hunched down in the mudroom, the kids are snuggled with popcorn and blankets and Blue's Clues, and the leaves are falling through the outside air like huge orange snowflakes. Hot chocolate, anyone? "Be just, and fear not."

If we're headin' out to the patio, we'll need some lawn chairs, some iced tea, and the 9th Corps band to hep us cuttarug. Who knows the words to "Johnny B. Goode?" "Be just, and fear not."

Hello, Pirate. Let's hear it for snow-covered gasgrills, in Phoenix, in October. Went to the pumpkin patch today. Hayride, haymaze, cornmaze, pumpkin lesson, the works. Me and 65 of my closest 6- and 7-year-old friends, and some of their Moms, and their teachers. My favorite job at Corps Week was breaking about a billion eggs for scrambled eggs. They'd scramble them on a big grill, working so quickly that the eggs didn't run off of the edges. I got to do the scrambling for a couple of batches; it was coooool. I know, I know . . . way too easily amused. "Be just, and fear not."

Well, I just tried to post a picture of a weird chair; I don't know what I'm doing. Hi, everybody. "Be just, and fear not."

(as in Adolph's in New Knoxville, not that guy from Germany). "Be just, and fear not."