The Way we Learn . . .

Sorry I've been out of the loop . . . I've been up to *here* in real estate issues: trying to keep my house picked up for showings, trying to find a condo for my son, trying to de-clutter and watching hours of HGTV to see how the experts do it.

But enough of that. Had a thought I wanted to share.

When you study theology, a great deal of emphasis is given to one's personal theodicy--how one validates God's inherent goodness in the face of evil and suffering. I've had mine in place for a while now (I see life as a boot camp, and God allows us to go through trials in order to strengthen us for the work ahead), but I think I've just discovered a sort of scientific proof for it.

The other day I read about the results of a study. Researchers took two groups of students and gave them books to study. Then they took the books away from the first group, and tested them on the material. As you might expect, many of the students missed many of the answers.

The second group was allowed to use the books when they took the exam--I suppose it was like an open book test. Failure was not an option, because they could look up the answers they needed.

Then the researchers took the books away from BOTH groups and retested them. Which group did better?

Ah, you know the answer already: the group that had been allowed to fail. They learned from their mistakes, whereas the second group didn't.

This is how we learn, and I'm convinced it's why God allows us to fail (sometimes spectacularly) and to experience the pain of loss. Would David have valued mercy and forgiveness quite as much if he hadn't committed the sins of murder and adultery? Would Peter have been as brave and faithful if he hadn't denied the Lord three times?

Think about this the next time you fail . . . and know that you've learned something you'll not soon forget. And you might want to add this sliver of understanding to your own personal theodicy. :-)

~~Angie

Charley's Birthday

Today Charley Gansky turns six years old.

Happy Birthday, baby boy!

~~Mom

Time for a political message . . . in song

~~Angie

Dave Barry's Year in Review

A tip of the hat to Robin Lee Hatcher for this link--Dave Barry's Year in Review. I giggled all the way through this, and realized that it wouldn't be so funny . . . . if it weren't so true.

Hope your holidays were merry, and I hope you're gearing up for a busy and warm new year.

~~Angie

Merry Christmas!

A most blessed and joyous Christmas to you and yours!

Rejoice! The Lord came to live among us.

~~Angie

The Roosevelt Hotel

My brother- and sister-in-law, who have lived in the New Orleans area for years, came over the lake today and showed us some of the local sights. They took us to the Roosevelt Hotel, a lovely old hotel that is famous for the way they decorate their lobby. Whoa! It was magical!

We especially enjoyed the edible art arranged around the train set set up in a little lobby coffee shop. (The snow is divinity, the houses are gingerbread, and a lot of the decorations are chocolate! ) Such a pretty place for pictures!

~~Angie

National WW2 Museum

Yesterday hubby and I walked downtown to the National World War 2 museum, a truly wonderful exhibit. I only wish I was writing (or even had plans to write) something set in that era--the place is a treasure trove of facts and actual examples of things.

I have watched SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, of course, and the series BAND OF BROTHERS (truly wonderful, but not for the kiddies), so I identified with a lot of the men in those photographs. The country seemed so much more unified in those days . . . much like we were after 9/11/2001. I'm afraid that feeling has worn off today, and I'm afraid that it's going to take another attack before we stop squabbling with each other and join again in a common effort.

Anyway (didn't mean to digress), enjoy some of these photos. Have a great week!

~~Angie from New Orleans

Monday in New Orleans

Hubby and I were sitting around our little vacation apartment last night and we realized something--doing nothing is exhausting. We were both wiped out, and we'd done NOTHING all day!

So today we're going to go out and do something, even if our spoiled Florida flesh freezes to death. :-)

My cousin was looking through old photographs and sent me this one. See? I'm Floridian to the bone!

Have a great day!

~~Angie

Hello from New Orleans!

Photos: a high-rise building downtown that is STILL unoccupied/repaired five years after Katrina, one of the new homes going up in the Ninth Ward, the repaired (but not reinforced) levees, and my BIL and SIL in their Saints gear.



What fun to wake up on a birthday morning in New Orleans! I had cake and chai for breakfast. Can't think of anything better.

We did have a strange experience during the night. At 4:45 a.m., someone beat on our door. Hubby got up to look out the peephole and saw a man standing there with a blanket. Since we hadn't called for a blanket, we didn't open the door, but went back to bed. A minute later, the phone rang . . . and when we answered, no one answered us.

I thought maybe someone had asked for a blanket and housekeeping wrote down the wrong room, but now I'm wondering if it was a ruse to get into our room. After all, you could hide anything under a blanket. Don't understand the phone call, though. Very strange.

Yesterday, my brother- and sister-in-law met us for lunch and took us down to the ninth ward, the community most wiped out by the floods of Hurricane Katrina. (The hurricane didn't do the damage, the flood occurred the next day when the man-made levees broke). Brad Pitt and some of his friends have begun a "green" rebuilding program there, and the houses are really cool. Still an awful lot of overgrown concrete slabs, however, where homes used to stand, right beside the levees.

And then my BIL and SIL (in photo) went to the Saints game--the entire CITY was dressed in black and gold and revved up for the game, which the Saints lost. In the spirit of oNew Orleans, however, no one seemed upset. Hope springs eternal in this place. And did you know that polls show New Orleans to be home to the happiest people in the country? (And no, I don't think they were drunk when they took the poll).

I don't know what we'll do today--the possibilities are endless. Last night I dreamed that I had to buy a crown for some pressing reason, and then in my dream I thought: "If there's any place on earth where I could walk into a shop and find a crown, it's New Orleans." Tee hee. Who knows?

~~Angie

Vacation Time . . .

Today, Friday, hubby and I are taking off on a week's vacation. I think I may just curl up in a hotel room with my sore throat and sleep until it doesn't feel sore any more.

We won't be home until Christmas Day, then we'll gather whatever children are around and find someplace that's serving Christmas dinner.

In the mean time . . . New Orleans, here we come!

Not sure if I'll be blogging or not . . . maybe, because I will be taking my computer and camera with me. But if you don't hear from me, know that I'll be praying that you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

~~Angie

Dogs and Christmas trees

Call the kids, and watch this cute presentation together. Wish my dogs could do that! They seem more content to lie down and watch us do all the work!

~~Angie

Don't Bungee Jump Naked

I have never heard this woman in public (or in private), but she's becoming one of my favorite comediennes. This is hilarious!

~~Angie

Holiday Homes Tour: Hunt Haven

Welcome to our home at Christmas! I had a hard time tracking the family down, so I hope a few varied photos will do the trick.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! And now . . . Gayle Roper has a greeting for you!




Next link in the chain is Marlo Schalesky!

~~Angie

Holiday Homes Tour Begins TOMORROW!

The way it will work is simple: simply come back to this blog, watch the video, and then click the link to the next participating blog. If all works as planned, you'll be taken on a tour of several authors' homes and see several interesting and unique videos.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

~~Angie

Ouch. The Tonsil Saga

Having my tonsils out has been an interesting experience. First of all, the actual experience wasn't so bad--you get up early, you go to the surgery center, you meet some nice doctors and nurses, and you get to wear a cap. :-) You go to sleep, then you wake up and you're sent home with instructions to stay in bed for a couple of days.

Well, that's easier said than done when you feel perfectly fine. I was out of bed a lot more than I was in it, and because my hubby and I have decided to try and sell our house (long story), I spent a lot of time packing boxes. But I did take four naps--count 'em--and felt pretty good except for one bout of nausea about which I'd been warned (apparently one swallows a lot of indigestible materials during surgery and it's normal for the stomach to want to expel those things--which it did.)

Day two was pretty much the same, and I was enjoying my popsicles and slushies. But by dinner time I was beginning to grow tired of sweet things--and the chocolate slushy just about turned my stomach.

Day three--ouch. The throat is definitely painful, and I forced myself to try to eat some real food, so swallowing was painful indeed. Plus, on Thursday night I was crying over something or other (nothing unusual), and you know that tightening of the throat you feel when you cry? Ouch! Crying only made the pain worse, which made the crying worse, which was not fun.

Day four--I went out for a chicken sandwich and a milkshake, and had the random thought that I don't think I'll lose any weight at all with this tonsil thing. We had our first house showing, so now I'm trying to heal and figure out what to do with my dogs if someone wants to come see my house.

Day five . . . remains to be seen. In the mean time, I'm enjoying going to bed early and taking lots of easily-swallowed pain killers. Liquids, give me liquids. Those I can manage.

~~Angie

My friend Lyn's newest book!

Christmas is for Families…

And Felicity Gabriel intends to build a family right away! When she
inherits a mansion, she decides to turn it into a home for orphans.
But her first charges test her resolve. One child is a thief,
suspicious of her kindness. The other is the local judge's traumatized
daughter. Broken by war, Judge Tyrone Hawkins is devastated when his
little girl runs from him to Felicity. But Felicity's courage despite
the town's scorn for her orphanage and her caring way with his
daughter restore his lost faith. Now he wonders if they all can find
the family they seek…just in time for Christmas.

In spite of opposition from the rich and influential,
can Felicity Gabriel establish a home for children orphaned by the
Civil War and heal two wounded hearts?

Lyn Cote
Her Inheritance Forever, 8-18-09
http://strongwomenbravestories.blogspot.com

Christmas Light Display

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

I look at displays like this, then I look at my little string around the doors and roofline . . . and I'll keep my simple string, thank you. :-) This is lovely, but I think it'd drive me batty after a while. What about you?

~~Angie

Cutest kitten on the Internet

Now, wasn't that 17 seconds well-spent?

~~Angie

A new book by Gail Martin

Since my hubby and I spent a few days roaming around Monterey a couple of years ago, I'm happy to tell you about my friend Gail's latest book:

MONTEREY MEMORIES - Three novels by Gail Gaymer Martin set in the beautiful Monterey area in the central coast of California. The Barbour anthology includes the novels And Baby Makes Five, Garlic and Rosesand Butterfly Trees.

Walk the streets and countryside of Monterey, California, with three couples who are surprised by love in the midst of their busy lives. Chad helps Felisa when she goes into labor in his lettuce field. Juli meets Alan while volunteering at a soup kitchen. Ross takes an overdue vacation at Alissa’s bed-and-breakfast. Can busy people slow down enough to realize the love God has brought into their lives?

Reviews from AMAZON

Monterey Memories, an anthology, is a must buy. I truly love this book. In each of the three novels, set in the central coast of California, Gail writes of God's love with such ease and weaves His love throughout each story. We see how faith and growth in the Word affects every aspect of the characters lives. Everyday normal people with trials and decisions, which we too, can identify. From trust, or acceptance to forgiveness, each of the story's characters learn to lean on God through their faith. I'm adding this book to my gift list for friends and family. Who wouldn't want to find this warm, engrossing book in their stocking at Christmas? Or simply a gift to share. Reviewer: Carolyn J. Devaney

Gail's Bio:

Multi-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin is the author of forty-three novels with three million books in print. Her novels have received seven national awards and was presented the Favorite Heartsong Presents Author Award for 2008. She writes for Steeple Hill, Barbour Publishing, and is the author of Writing the Christian Romance from Writers Digest. www.gailmartin.com.

Purchase the novel is bookstores everywhere or click here:

~~Angie, still mending from the tonsillectomy . . .

Straight No Chaser--a capella music!

I love this group, and their music is a lot of fun. Enjoy the Christmas spirit!

HT to Nick H. for the link. :-)

If this is Tuesday, I'm having my tonsils out. Yes, really. So I'll be eating popsicles and Slushies for the next several days, and trying not to talk . . . :-/

~~Angie