Amanda's Adventures and New Product Reviews

I am procrastinating right now. But, really, I needed a break. I'm cleaning out the front closet. To be honest, I haven't touched one thing in that closet that entire calendar year. I think I should gut it and donate a bunch of stuff to Goodwill here soon. But that's a whole other project. I just need to get the closet door closed and keep the cats out of there. Life is thrilling sometimes, eh?

I am procrastinating right now. But, really, I needed a break. I'm cleaning out the front closet. To be honest, I haven't touched one thing in that closet that entire calendar year. I think I should gut it and donate a bunch of stuff to Goodwill here soon. But that's a whole other project. I just need to get the closet door closed and keep the cats out of there. Life is thrilling sometimes, eh?

This came in my e-mail from Beliefnet Daily Christian Wisdom To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This came in my e-mail from Beliefnet Daily Christian Wisdom To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

And what would be appropriate? Kitty bookends!

And what would be appropriate? Kitty bookends!

It’s been a really long time since I’ve made a blog entry. (Word is really outdated. It suggests that I misspelled blog wrong…do I mean Bog? No! I wish I didn’t have a program that was copyright 2001. A lot has changed since the beginning of the decade). Anyway, works sure has been different lately. Thank God! It was getting pretty tiring squeezing all of that work in and doing the same old same old. It’s been anything but normal since Dave & Carol were gone on their vacations. I’ve done a lot of little things that have helped others to work. I’ve also done a bunch of work towards finding someone to fill the staff writer position. Today, the ad appeared in the Holland Sentinel. There’s been a crush of applications. Some are way too qualified…some are way not qualified. I hope that we can find someone out of this. But I do feel honored to be handed this process. It’s a lot of work…but I’m up for it. The humidity isn’t helping the stiff joints. My elbows and bottom of the feet are re...

It’s been a really long time since I’ve made a blog entry. (Word is really outdated. It suggests that I misspelled blog wrong…do I mean Bog? No! I wish I didn’t have a program that was copyright 2001. A lot has changed since the beginning of the decade). Anyway, works sure has been different lately. Thank God! It was getting pretty tiring squeezing all of that work in and doing the same old same old. It’s been anything but normal since Dave & Carol were gone on their vacations. I’ve done a lot of little things that have helped others to work. I’ve also done a bunch of work towards finding someone to fill the staff writer position. Today, the ad appeared in the Holland Sentinel. There’s been a crush of applications. Some are way too qualified…some are way not qualified. I hope that we can find someone out of this. But I do feel honored to be handed this process. It’s a lot of work…but I’m up for it. The humidity isn’t helping the stiff joints. My elbows and bottom of the feet are re...

....Lost begins. Not that I'm counting.

....Lost begins. Not that I'm counting.

Life is fantastic at times. Sometimes you have an experience where the ordinary seems to be transformed and you transcend the ordinary every day. Last night, I met Kerry in Plainwell to see the Simpsons Movie (yes, it was almost better the second time). After that, we ended up at McDonald's. We tried to get ice cream, but we had no cash with us. So, over some coffee and a fruit and yogurt parfait, we had the most marvelous conversation. How encouraging and spiritually uplifting. I tell you...I've been really social this week and it's been tiring. Tonight...it's just me, some cats, and a book. I tried to start Thunderstruck by Erik Larson, but I just wasn't feeling it. I also get to cook my own meal. Exciting!

Life is fantastic at times. Sometimes you have an experience where the ordinary seems to be transformed and you transcend the ordinary every day. Last night, I met Kerry in Plainwell to see the Simpsons Movie (yes, it was almost better the second time). After that, we ended up at McDonald's. We tried to get ice cream, but we had no cash with us. So, over some coffee and a fruit and yogurt parfait, we had the most marvelous conversation. How encouraging and spiritually uplifting. I tell you...I've been really social this week and it's been tiring. Tonight...it's just me, some cats, and a book. I tried to start Thunderstruck by Erik Larson, but I just wasn't feeling it. I also get to cook my own meal. Exciting!

It’s as humid as the jungle here…we had some rain, but the air is so sticky that you can hardly move. So much for West Michigan’s temperate summers. It will probably snow in September given our pattern of extreme weather. It didn’t snow in December, it was 60 degrees on New Year’s, 40 and snowy on Easter, and 90 degrees in the middle of May. Go figure. Thankfully, my car is air conditioned and the apartment is shielded by the big oak trees. Lots of spiritual things have been running through my mind lately, but I have to tell you, I’m not feeling it today. I’m too busy dealing with cramps. I love being a woman. No, I really do, but this is annoying. I’ve been dealing with this all for 17 years and yeah, annoying would be the word. Deuteronomy continues to challenge and comfort all at the same time. God’s love and care is so evident. But there are some confusing things (about why he decided to wipe out other cultures and a whole mess of the Israelites). And God is trustworthy. Here’s som...

It’s as humid as the jungle here…we had some rain, but the air is so sticky that you can hardly move. So much for West Michigan’s temperate summers. It will probably snow in September given our pattern of extreme weather. It didn’t snow in December, it was 60 degrees on New Year’s, 40 and snowy on Easter, and 90 degrees in the middle of May. Go figure. Thankfully, my car is air conditioned and the apartment is shielded by the big oak trees. Lots of spiritual things have been running through my mind lately, but I have to tell you, I’m not feeling it today. I’m too busy dealing with cramps. I love being a woman. No, I really do, but this is annoying. I’ve been dealing with this all for 17 years and yeah, annoying would be the word. Deuteronomy continues to challenge and comfort all at the same time. God’s love and care is so evident. But there are some confusing things (about why he decided to wipe out other cultures and a whole mess of the Israelites). And God is trustworthy. Here’s som...

To put it mildly, things were not going well the last time I wrote the blog. But life is a series of ups and downs. There's been a lot of little things that have been an answer to prayers...and feeling stuck in the rut. The pool is open again! It was closed for six months of maintenance. I've swam two nights in a row...and it feels so good just to get in the water and work out. The construction project at Ivanrest & 44th seems to be wrapping up. It was like the wild west out there..driving with no lines. Now, there's white lines and no orange barrels! It's good to take the direct route home. And I have a new job. Same company, same pay...but hey, I have a new job! I am now the senior staff writer. At the company picnic today, Elly announced that I had been with the company for five years and that I had earned the new title. And everyone clapped!

To put it mildly, things were not going well the last time I wrote the blog. But life is a series of ups and downs. There's been a lot of little things that have been an answer to prayers...and feeling stuck in the rut. The pool is open again! It was closed for six months of maintenance. I've swam two nights in a row...and it feels so good just to get in the water and work out. The construction project at Ivanrest & 44th seems to be wrapping up. It was like the wild west out there..driving with no lines. Now, there's white lines and no orange barrels! It's good to take the direct route home. And I have a new job. Same company, same pay...but hey, I have a new job! I am now the senior staff writer. At the company picnic today, Elly announced that I had been with the company for five years and that I had earned the new title. And everyone clapped!