Switchfoot, The Band!

I've always loved this band and have seen them in concert many times at this huge festival called Creationfest that is during the summer. So the other day I was watching this show and they mentioned they were airing Switchfoot's new video so my ears perked up. Honestly I had no idea they had a new album and enjoyed their interview and video. The picture above is taken from their tour WEBSITE and if you want to learn more about the band, check out this LINK.
All their albums are good but I also like and have "Beautiful Letdown." After seeing the new video I really like it, so here it is for your viewing:

Chow for now,

S.

Lovely Lunches & Seeing Nelly Furtado!

Okay so it's been a bit since I posted but life gets a little busy sometimes.




The last two weeks I've had delightful treats. Last week I went to see one of my friends who I sell at the market with. C. and I went up and visited their beautiful home they had built from scratch. It was like so picturesque with nature all around us and we had a scrumptious lunch (okay I didn't take these photos, but you get the idea).



Then I visited with another friend of mine who lives in a Barbie Doll house by the ocean. It was great to chat and have delicious food. Her place was quaint and cozy nestled into green foliage and blooming buds outside her window.

So I got to see Nelly Furtado in person on one of her world tour stops and hear her screaming fans. It was fun but I wished I had my taken my camera with me. I thought about going up to one of the younger girls and asking for their video footage but I refrained. You can read about her hometown stop (where they dedicated a day especially for her) HERE that started off the tour.

Au Revoir mes amis,

(Picture taken by my friend Linda)

:) S.

God's Garden!

Hello,

This story was passed on to me and I thought it was beautiful.

God's Garden:

Why do I always have to be the one that starts to do laundry and there's no detergent? I guess it was time for me to do my "Dollar Store" run, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags and Clorox. So off I go.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies, and headed for the checkout counter only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man that appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here." It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged, and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"
"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.
"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Hal."
"Hal like Halloween?" he asked.
"Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny? "
"How old am I now Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.
"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses in God's garden, however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a "Blue Rose" and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God. She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?" Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a "daffodil or maybe even a dandelion," but I sure love living in God's garden.

Pastor Hal Steenson
This real life story took place July 12, 2006.

I wish I could think of something that amazing to say to someone. The impact of Pastor Hal's words really spoke to me and I think in some ways we are all Blue Roses.

S. says Blessings to all :)

You've Got To See This Movie!!!

Photos taken from www.amazinggracemovie.com

Yesterday I saw the movie "Amazing Grace" at a private viewing and it was amazing. It will change your life after watching it and really strengthen your beliefs (whatever they may be). You will be moved, strengthened, renewed, and stretched. I cried at one point and so did the two people with me. The movie is all about William Wilberforce who helped abolish the slave trade that ended in 1883. If you enjoy history at all you will get a lot out of this movie. It will air in theatres on March 23rd and has already aired in the States.

The reason I'm talking about it here is that I want as many people as possible to support this movie and it's message. The acting is superb and I have to say it is the best movie I've seen to date. To see the main trailer as well as many more clips from the movie go to this site: www.amazinggracemovie.com

To learn more about Willam Wilberforce read below (taken from www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wilberforce_william.shtml:

William Wilberforce (1759 - 1833) William Wilberforce © Wilberforce was a deeply religious English member of parliament and social reformer who was very influential in the abolition of the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in the British empire. William Wilberforce was born on 24 August 1759 in Hull, the son of a wealthy merchant. He studied at Cambridge University where he began a lasting friendship with the future prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. In 1780, Wilberforce became member of parliament for Hull, later representing Yorkshire. His dissolute lifestyle changed completely when he became an evangelical Christian, and in 1784 joined a leading group known as the Clapham Sect. His Christian faith prompted him to become interested in social reform, particularly the improvement of factory conditions in Britain. The abolitionist Thomas Clarkson had an enormous influence on Wilberforce. He and others were campaigning for an end to the trade in which British ships were carrying black slaves from Africa, in terrible conditions, to the West Indies as goods to be bought and sold. Wilberforce was persuaded to lobby for the abolition of the slave trade and for 18 years he regularly introduced anti-slavery motions in parliament. The campaign was supported by many members of the Clapham Sect and other abolitionists who raised public awareness of their cause with pamphlets, books, rallies and petitions. In 1807, the slave trade was finally abolished, but this did not free those who were already slaves. It was not until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British empire. Wilberforce's other efforts to 'renew society' included the organisation of the Society for the Suppression of Vice in 1802. He worked with the reformer, Hannah More, in the Association for the Better Observance of Sunday. Its goal was to provide all children with regular education in reading, personal hygiene and religion. He was closely involved with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was also instrumental in encouraging Christian missionaries to go to India. Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825 and died on 29 July 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves in the British empire passed through the House of Commons. He was buried near his friend Pitt in Westminster Abbey. Until next time, S.

Feta Pizza Hurray!

So finally after the rain leakage back on January 1st we finished our room downstairs. C. and I had to prime each wall and I had to fill in all the grooves on the panelling individually while C. came behind me with the roller, then we painted all the walls doing the same process, the ceiling was then done and then the floor. On top of that I painted the TV unit (which was an ugly brown) white which took a couple of days. Last Thursday it was all done and we spent all day moving stuff back into the room that was all over the house.

To celebrate we had ginger scones in the room with tea and then the next day C. made a pizza for dinner with
turkey bacon, feta cheese, spinach,
sun dried tomatoes, onions and
tomato sauce, a whole wheat and
white crust with italian herbs. I think this might be the best one yet. I took a close up shot to show it's
goodness. Now that the room is all done I never want to leave it. It's cozy and compact and
everything has a place.

The only thing we need in the room is a carpet and a shelf near the computer desk and some more storage boxes, but it's liveable. When it is all done I will post pictures. My mom made me a curtain to cover the bookcase which matches the ones that hang over the closet. We changed the layout of the room completely and I wish I had taken a before photo of the room with the nasty dark yellow carpet but you get the idea.

Until I blog again,

S.

Gossip Blog and another Link

Gossip photo found at: www.thezreview.co.uk/

Just to let you know I fixed the Hilary Duff video link (thanks Linda for letting me know) so it now works fine. Also I have a Gossip blog. I love finding out new Hollywood gossip so I thought why not start a gossip blog. You can find all the juicy details HERE or by clicking on the link Gossip Lips under My Other Blogs. The blog address was supposed to be: www.gossiplips.blogspot.com which I thought was a brilliant name but guess what someone else has it even though their blog hasn't been updated since 2005 so bizlips was the next best thing. I'll try to update it as often as I can.

Also I loved the Honda UK ad and all the facts I included with the post that I've also added that to the link file as well under Must See Honda UK ad. You can also find it HERE.

Okay that's all for now,

S.

Something Light, Hilary Duff's New Video!

Paint, paint and more paint; C and I haver been painting our downstairs room for the last week and a half and are tired and cranky. First we had to clear out the room as much as we could, then all the rest of the rug had to be ripped out and the carpet boards pulled up as well. Then we painted the walls white, then the ceiling white and bought a concrete paint to seal the floor white. The walls took way longer than we imagined they would because it is this chipboard type of wall and all the cracks have to be painted separately. The ceiling wasn't too bad. For the floor we bought an oil based paint as we didn't realize you could get one in a latex. So we ran out of that yesterday and had to get another can. To top it all off I painted the TV/Entertainment unit which was this ugly chipboard brown. Now it is a nice white as well. Will post pictures when it is all done.

I've always found Hilary Duff's music very catchy and I saw her latest video the other day. Her new album doesn't come out until April 3rd. Check out her WEBSITE for more info. She has also gone brunette which seems to be the new rage in Hollywood ie. Cameron Diaz, Jessica Simpson. I think she looks better as a blonde and so does Cameron Diaz. Her new video is (well the one I saw) is called "With Love" and you can see it here or:



here: (originally I had the another video right in my blog from you tube but it got pulled from the site so it case it gets pulled go to the here link in bold)

What drives me nuts in the end of course. Maybe there is more to come?

Toodles,

S. is out