April fools apology...

It is rare for me to copy and paste an entire blog post like this but this it toooooooooo funny.

I got this from the blog Stuff Christians Like. It is long but will make you laugh.


Apologizing after an April Fool's Day Prank - The Terror Level Color Coded Apology System
Pranks aren't by nature unique to Christianity. That I'm aware of, there's no recorded history of C.S. Lewis pantsing J.R.R. Tolkien. Pranks by themselves don't really fit the formula of this site, but apologizing after? Serving penance for a church-related prank that went horribly wrong or even horribly right? That's us through and through. But the truth is, you don't need this post today. You should file it away for Thursday, the day after April Fool's Day. If you're going to pull some shenanigans or tom foolery or perhaps even get in a donnybrook, this Wednesday is your day. Live it up.But after, when your youth minister or Senior Pastor or local reporter stumbles upon the prank you have perpetuated, when like Richard Marx* you realize "you should have known better" than to fit that many bees into so small a sleeping bag, you'll be glad this post so clearly laid out the categories of prank apologies based on the terror level color coded system the United States uses.

Category 1: Green - Low Risk Prank

Hey look at that, you stuck some forks in someone's yard, but you didn't break them off because that felt too mean and unChristlike. And you called a few people from church and hung up on them when they answered the phone. That's adorable. This barely requires an apology.

Apology Required: Facebook Status Change

Change your facebook status to something like, "Sorry about the prank. Hope nobody's feelings got hurt." Or "Kids will be kids."

Category 2: Blue - General Risk Prank

That's not going to grow back. I'm just saying, when you put that much on at once, and mix it with that other thing, wow, you're leaving a permanent impression. I mean it's not that big, but neighbors are going to see it for at least the next six months.

Apology Required: Email

You better send the victim an email. Nothing long, just a few lines about your deep regret for your actions and how your immaturity sometimes gets the better of you and at the end of the day you both love Jesus, so no hard feelings.

Category 3: Yellow – Significant Risk Prank

Prank Elders are kind of like elephants, they never forget and I'm pretty sure that guy isn't going to. Where do you even get those? They’re just so fast and jumpy. I'm assuming you know a guy that knows a guy, but is there any chance that guy knows a guy that can get them out of the elder's house? It's not going to be easy because they seem so motivated and reproductive but maybe we could smoke them out?

Apology Required: Phone Call

Forget the Internet, you've entered into real apology time now. Pick up the phone and be ready to outline what you did as well as the three things you learned from this tragic mistake of a prank you pulled. (If you can't think of three things, feel free to use one of my go to lines when I’ve bombed, "Turns out I'm dumb." I keep learning that lesson and it's always a nice way to round out a list.)

Category 4: Orange – High Risk Prank

Yeah, but you knew it was the Senior Pastor's house right? I've got to assume you did because even the youth minister was in on this one. On a positive note, at least we know the fire department can find his house. And their response time, wow! Very impressive. I told you that was highly flammable, but to hear the fire chief use the phrase "river of lava," wow. You're going to need to get a paper route to pay this one back or raise money online or hold a car wash at Chick-fil-A.

Apology Required: Face to Face

This goes beyond a simple phone call. You might need to hand write a note, call ahead to set up the official apology and then bring over some sort of casserole. This apology is going to be as complicated as the prank was. The general rule for a face to face apology is that you have to spend three minutes apologizing for every one minute you spent pulling off the prank. So if it took you 30 minutes to do the prank, expect 90 minutes of "sorry" in your future.

Category 5: Red – Severe Risk Prank

The community will heal. I mean we're a very resilient group of people. We've faced hardship before and this, that thing you did to all of us in one fell swoop, we'll get through that. And the cats will come back someday. They are a proud animal and probably left out of embarrassment more than anything else. They’ll come back. I know they will.

Apology Required: Speech to the Church Congregation

May God have mercy on your soul if you ever have to apologize to the whole congregation from the pulpit. I've never had to do this, but if you find yourself in this position, whatever you do, don't take questions from the crowd. Don't open the meeting up to Q&A. You are going to come out on the losing end of this one. And I'm not telling you to fake cry, but you might want to fake cry.

Hopefully this list will make April 2nd easier for all of us that decide to pull a prank on April 1st.What's the best prank you ever took part in?What’s the best prank someone pulled on you?

For a photography group...

This is one of the seed packets for our garden.
This is for my photography group assignment for this blog. I was supposed to take a picture of a detail...

Movie Review... Knowing.

I would give it a 4 out of 5 pop corns. The thing I don't like about it is it kinda mixes the bible and sci fi tooooooo closely. It will mislead some people. It does have some cussing, but no "gd" that is the one I just can't tolerate.
Here is the Christian review of it.
Here is the trailer.

And here is a link to an awesome subway wreck in the movie. It is an apocalyptic movie (the world ends) but the violence is realistic, but not stupid or unnecessary type.
Over all it was a very awesome experince... for those of you who read your bible and know it well.
It is actually a intresting look for people who believe in predestination... How some will fee if they are not "predestened" for Heaven... (No, I'm free will all the way.)

Fish anyone?

This commercial is addicting... I sing it all day... lol

Twinlet update

My sister emailed me yesterday with this scripture and an update, Proverbs 23:11.
"because the one who is responsible for them is strong. He will plead their case for you."

They are still ours for three more months. Keep praying.

Look Aaron, it's gonna storm... here comes a...

MICROBURSTS! My friend Aaron over at Iron Sharpens Iron told me he is a spiritual meteriologist, he can spot a Microburst coming... lol So here's one for ya.

Fly fly,FLY!

Christeonnah (12) is an amazing child; she loves animals of all types. I have dozens of pictures (usually posted on my blog) of her with all sorts of animals, from a huge beetle the size of a golf ball, to a tree frog, even a fish, and a craw fish. She is amazing. She also has this uncanny ability to tame any animal. She will have lizards simply sit on her finger while she walks them around. Today it was a fly. Yes you read correctly a fly. She picked it up, placed it on her finger and started walking around with it. How many of you can catch a fly, much less make it stay? Well she did. After walking around with it for a few minutes she came back and said "Mommy, it forgot its name!" Get it? It is a fly; it is supposed to fly away...

How often do we forget our name? We are children of the Most High God. He tells us in Luke 6:35

“Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God.”

After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. We need to worship Him and let Him handle our problems instead of worrying about them ourselves.

Lookie what I did!

I am so proud! I designed the background on my blog, and the one on my photo blog.

Yay God is Awesome to give me this talent! Go God!

Twinlet update

I took this picture at Shannon's earlier today. They are getting so big! Well, good news for us, as of this court date, due to some unfortunate temporary true colors shining through, the twins will stay with Shannon, until their next court date, which will at least be in 3 to 6 months. Keep praying!

I'm pregnant again!

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: "Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.
"So the doctor said: "Ok, and what do you want me to do?"
She said: "I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this."
The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: "I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too."
She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.
Then he continued: "You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms."
The lady was horrified and said: "No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!"
"I agree", the doctor replied. "But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution."
The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

I say amen Doctor, preach it. Thanks to Deanna over at Lifetime Intimate Portrait for letting me borrow this. (lol although I didn't ask, I know she won't care.)

Our Hope Endures

I believe God plans somethings, and I think he laid it on my heart to look up this video for Gee... Look closely Gee, there is a hidden "nod" to you in this video. Let me know if you can't find it.

For Gee

Here are the lyrics to an old Twila Paris song, Do I trust You.


I Choose, choose, choose to trust God for you my friend. I choose to.

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.
So many times I'm tempted to ask You why,
But I can never forget it for long.
Lord, what You do could not be wrong.
So I believe You, even when I must cry.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart,
You can read my mind,
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?

I know the answers, I've given them all.
But suddenly now, I feel so small.
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology,
But right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know.

Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart,
You can read my mind,
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?

I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die.
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain!
You were God before, and You'll never change.
I will trust You.
I will trust You.
I will trust You, Lord.
I will trust You.

I love my church!

This is my weekly reminder to pray for the twins, their court date is in two weeks. I know God loves them.

top row, left to right, Barbara, Peggy, and Sam, second row. l to r Madeline, Sue, Me, and Edie.
Have I mentioned lately that I love my church? Well I do! We have wonderful women's bible study on the second Tuesday night of the month... Here is our ladies. We are small, but mighty!
We are doing a bible study on friendship, and we have sooooooo much fun. No one there will ever forget my "bra-less Friday!"

Wow... sad

Did you hear about that pastor who was shot and killed yesterday?
Wow. He was only in his forty's. This story really affects me emotionally. Why? I am married to "the pastor" at our church. He is my best friend, love and companion... I would be the widow. I would be the single mom left with 5 kids. I don't like this idea.
The pastor is an "easy target." People will get mad at the church, and blame the pastor. Doesn't matter if he did it or not, he represents the church. There are even people in the church who should be for the pastor who attack him, say things like "He's not really anointed, he uses notes." Hello, the bible says to "study to show yourself approved." What is studying? It is learning. and preparing. I don't know about you, but I'd rather know the person talking to me is being led by God and knowledge of His word, and not because he ate too much pizza last night and thinks it is a spontaneous word from God. Don't get me wrong, God can change your message mid sermon, but it is better to be prepared and change than to be just walking on a sugar high. I am preaching to the choir on that part, when I speak it is very difficult for me to prepare and study, I guess I haven't done it enough to get into the discipline of it. However, I make myself study and prepare, because I take the privilege of getting to speak to God's people very seriously.
OK, second thing, a man dressed in all black walks down the isle of the church. Where are the deacons/security/ushers/any man... I am here to tell you, if any man even looked funny and started walking toward our pastor, in Cape Coral, Andy, and Joe would have em on the floor in a split second. Alright I understand it has become a great tool these days to use drama. However... Tell your ushers beforehand what is going on, like I said, drama or no drama, Andy and Joe would have em stopped and interrogated them before allowing them to get near their pastor.
Lastly, I am afraid this is just the beginning. Our kids aren't being taught to respect the house of God, so when they grow up, it is no big deal to kill someone, much less a pastor. Be careful, Elisha got upset at some young men about calling him bald, and called a couple of grizzly bears out of the woods to feast on them. (As he walked along the road, some boys came out of the city and mocked him. They said, "Go away, baldy! Go away!" Looking back, he saw them and cursed them in the LORD'S name. Two bears came out of the woods and tore 42 of these youths apart. 2 Kings 2:23-24)
I don't know about you but I teach my children not to mess with God's anointed, not even with their mouth. I don't teach them this because their dad is a pastor, I teach them this so they won't grow up one day and join what they thought was a church and it turns out to be a serial pastor killer.
Ok guess I'm done.
Oh yeah, Fresh Fixins is having a give away... Check it out.
Sorry so heavy, it was on my mind.
Eeeewww just saw an interesting statistic, the United Arab Emirates is growing by 25% annually... The population in America is plateauing... More and more people are waiting to have kids and only having one or two... If we don't raise Christians to serve God, who will? The Arabs? I don't think so...

Wow yall caught me in a heavy mood today... I feel much better now. Tell me what is on your mind.
Have a great week!