A Siren for Ryan

I have a monumental announcement to make...drumroll please.

I, Katharine, am specifically mentioned in the Holy Bible.  

Don't believe me?  Turn to Amos 5:21-22.

I hate, I despise your feasts!

I can't stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

Even if you offer Me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.

I experienced divine intervention as I read this passage and realized that somehow, someway, the book of Amos was in fact written in my kitchen.  

Speaking of burns and physical harm, we got a lovely letter from Providence Hospital this week...  the bill from Ryan's ER trip.

That visit costs us HUNDREDS of dollars and 75 cents (for the pack of candy I bought from the vending machine- the only positive part of the experience).

I CANNOT BELIEVE the cost we incurred as a result of that four hour adventure- 3 1/2 hours of which were spent in an uncomfortable waiting room.

We didn't even call the ambulance; I carried him there!  Don't we get some sort of discount for doing carry out instead of delivery???

If you want that "to go" it'll cost you...

Hospitals are pretty smart in guaranteeing themselves future business.  The guy who came in for nausea a few weeks ago will be right back with a heart attack upon receiving his bill.  

That's one way to ensure repeat customers patients.

We concluded that unless one of us has a ligament hanging off we will not be darkening the doorway of an emergency room ever again.

But unexpected costs are part of life, which brings various pleasures and disappointments...

like the other day when I thought I felt a roll of Smarties in my pocket that turned out to be chapstick.

Chapstick: not nearly as fun or tasty to eat.

I was so bummed.

In other news, thank goodness football season is finally over.  Ryan always wants the TV with the cable box that houses all my precious, recorded shows.

Here are my thoughts on football:

On days during football season I usually get random ideas- one of Ryan's biggest fears.

No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get our cabinets totally clean.  My solution?  Repainting them.  Once I got started I began seeing chipped paint and dirt everywhere I turned.  This led to me throughly nit picking the house like a building inspector, covering every imperfection I could find.

I crept around the house with a look of sheer lunacy.  It was like this but with a paintbrush in hand:

I repainted trim, doors, cabinets, molding, etc.  At least it kept me entertained and quiet for a few hours.

Example before:

After: plus new knobs!

Other recent events include celebrating my father-in-law's 56th Birthday.  

News flash.  I usually add my own flair to cards.

Ryan and his father have a lot in common, including an unwritten rule to leave them alone when they're working on a project.

After all, if it's done by a male Moody, it's done the right way every time.  No questions asked.

What's with this freezing weather? It's been SO cold lately that the other night I decided to make homemade vegetable soup and cornbread.  I'm thankful that it's nearly impossible to burn soup.  This meal actually turned out great.

January 2013 marked a milestone for my parents- my Dad retired from preaching.  Since I can remember people of all walks of life have stopped me in stores, at school, in restaurants- you name it- to tell me how incredible and knowledgable my Dad is in front of a classroom or behind a pulpit.  Thank you to everyone who has encouraged and loved him (and our family) throughout the years.

Here I am with some Shine Like the Son fans.  I love these kids.

Heavenly soul food!  This Pleasant Hill meal had southern charm written all over it.

I also love Italian charm.  We had a fabulous visit with Nanny & Papa last week.  The chili dinner was delicious!

The other night Ryan pleaded with me over the television channel.

"Katharine, please no E! tonight.  I'll watch anything except one of those Kardashian shows."

I obliged, and turned to HGTV...

Khloe Kardashian was on the show remodeling her and Lamar's home theater.

HILARIOUS.

The Kardashians can afford anything, including omnipresence.

This past Saturday Jamie talked me into going to a junior league sale at the fairgrounds.  I didn't know what to expect and after an initial glance was sure there was nothing I'd want in there.

That was until I found the section containing Christmas decorations.

"Not all of those are mine, Ryan.  I had to hold some in the box for Jamie."   Hahaha.  A likely story.

Next year we'll need to bring a grocery cart.  Carrying around non needed decorations was quite the workout.

My Dad has always said that I could go into a tool store and walk out with something.

These napkins were certainly made for me.

The aftermath.  Although blurry, there is something artsy about this photo.  I like it!

While I spend time shopping for Santa decor and autobiographical napkins, Ryan is Mr. Frugal.  His most recent characteristic entails making sure the trash bag is completely full before taking it out.  Really???  I'd love to know how much money is saved by filling the top 10% of a trash bag.  Mind you that my father does this, too.

So I pose a question- which do you prefer: saving $5.00 a year by filling up trash bags to maximum capacity, or the health hazard resulting from the contents of said bags?

I'll let you be the judge.

If you looked at my calendar for the next few months you'd think I was the president- ha.  But in all seriousness, 2013 is going to be an awesome but incredibly BUSY year.   My days and weekends are booking quickly.  

Here's to a fabulous February and striving to live like Him and serve Him in all that I do.