New blog...

In case anyone still checks this blog I wanted to let you know that I have started a new one. Go to http://joeandolivia.blogspot.com/ for all the exciting happenings in my life. :-)

Election Day, November 4th, 2008

Just about everyone I know is really sick of seeing political ads...especially ones where one candidate disparages their opponent. There are some real horrible ones here in Kentucky, as I'm sure there are in every state. In this regard, November 4th cannot come fast enough for me. :-)

This past Sunday our pastor, Rick Long, did a great job talking about the upcoming election. This is hard to do for just about anyone, but to give ideas and opinions gracefully in a political city like Frankfort, KY takes guts. When I say he did a great job that is actually an understatement. I was moved by what he said. The majority of the sermon did not focus on the election or politics at all, but his statements about the presidential election really stuck with me. To paraphrase, Rick told us that no president, Republican or Democrat, ever changed anyones life...this is only done by Jesus Christ. It helped me to put the whole thing into perspective. I guess you must understand that Rick was a political science major and keeps up with most political issues facing the nation, our state, and the city of Frankfort, so I always respect his opinion. He also told us that he is a one issue voter. This makes a lot of sense to me since there is so much on each candidates platform it becomes difficult to keep up with it all. The issue he is concerned with is pro-life and that is the same for me.

I don't want to tell any of you (or rather the one person who will read this blog) how to vote. I just want to tell you that you should vote. Research your candidates and make an informed decision. Have a great week! :-)

My life this last week...

This cartoon illustrates perfectly my life this past week. I recently upgraded my phone from a Treo 650 to a Treo 755p. I love the new design (thinner and no antenna), the new weight (much lighter), and improved screen and camera. I also got it at a great price. However, I have not had normal reception since this past Sunday. At the moment my signal shows a triangle which means I am roaming. Funny...I have not gone anywhere this past week that I don't normally go. Most of my time has been spent at home! How did I suddenly go from having 5 bars to 1 bar and roaming? Sprint PCS tech support is working on this problem but who knows when it will be fixed. I have been super frustrated while watching my "shows" because I keep seeing Dan Hesse on his stupid commercials talking about all that cell phones can do nowadays AND how great Sprint PCS is as a provider. ARGH!!! While they have been okay, I would not say they have been great. I just happen to have some serious problems right now. Soooo...if anyone has been trying to call me during this past week I haven't been ignoring you...I've simply been unable to answer or call. VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!

On a different note, we had a great discussion this morning during table groups at The Point (essentially our version of Sunday School). We have been going through the book "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism" by Tim Keller which has stimulated conversations that sometimes blow my mind. :-) Today we tackled the issue of "how can a loving God send people to hell?" and our teaching text was Luke 16:19-31. It was probably my favorite discussion to date. The staff of The Point give us great notes from the book to help us in our discussion. I'm so incredibly blessed to be part of a church which glorifies God by not being afraid to talk about the Truth and who's leadership works to serve and be relevant to the people of Central Kentucky and beyond. Keep up the good work folks! :-)

Homeschool Project

This past spring Joseph wanted to plant some sunflowers. We went to the store, bought a packet of seeds, and headed home. Joseph was so happy to have the seeds...he headed straight outside to plant them. I didn't know he was planting them in the area at the front of house in our landscaping in between the bushes. He didn't make a huge mess so I encouraged him to water when he thought it was needed. As you can imagine, being 8 years old, it didn't take him long to lose interest in caring for his plant. After two months we saw one seedling. I knew that we were going to be moving so I didn't push the issue of him taking care of the plant further. On our last day at the old house Joseph became upset when he thought we were going to leave his sunflower plant. I told him he could dig it up (figuring he would completely destroy the roots) and we would take it to the new house. The plant not only survived being dug up and planted in a pot, but dug up again and planted in the landscaping at the new house! Joseph watched the plant, made sure his daddy didn't cut it down, and now we have a sunflower that is over 6 feet tall. We have taken pictures of it and Joseph is now researching sunflowers and their life cycle so that he can better understand what part he played in helping this plant to grow. I love homeschooling. :-)

WOW! 15 years

Tim and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary today. You got it! 15. Sadly, it's a long time by todays standards, but we always knew it would last. If you had asked me 15 years ago today where I would be in 15 years I never would have said, "Oh, you know. Married for 15 years, living in Shelbyville, KY, being a stay-at-home-mom for our adopted son, Joseph, and home schooling." No...15 years ago I would have said, "Um...do you mind...I don't have time for this. It's my wedding day!" LOL

Just a bit of information about our wedding day. It started off with me getting my hair done and it looking like something my grandmother would have done. I argued with my sister (when do we not do that, though), had a brunch with my brides maids, learned that the best man, Bob, was offering to drive Tim far away from the ceremony (you can imagine my feelings on that one). Had my make-up and nails done, got to the church only to learn that the air conditioning in the fellowship hall was not working (it was later fixed), started getting dressed, heard that Tim was in the building (yay!!). Finished getting ready, saw the flowers and was upset that they were not what I wanted but were since they were still pretty I just dealt with it. Heard the music start, realized I had butterflies (big time), began walking down the aisle only to have my dad stop so the stupid photographer could get some goofy picture (not daddy's fault at all...dumb photographer), saw Tim and started to cry...cried through the whole thing! Walked down the aisle as Mrs. Timothy Chase, wanted to go to the reception but only made it for 10 minutes, took WAY TOO MANY pictures, finally changed to go leave for the honeymoon, threw the bouquet (and it honestly EXPLODED in mid-air...no joke!), did the embarrassing "taking off of the garter" thing, got into a car that was decorated by our sick-in-the-head friends, and drove straight to the car wash before driving to our honeymoon suite at the Courtyard Marriott Chattanooga East. I shall spare the rest of it except to say that on our wedding night we watched "Dave" and ate Pizza Hut pizza. :-)

Seriously, though, Tim has been the best thing to happen to me. Since I have known him I have discovered talents I never knew I had, challenged myself to do things I never thought I would do, and achieved dreams I never thought possible. I have told him things that no one else will ever hear. We have laughed together, cried together, lifted one another up in dark times, and rejoiced for one another in bright times. I truly love this man and I praise God for creating him for me and me for him.

Lately I have been learning what it means to be Tim's "help meet". I had never even heard of this term until this past year. I'm currently going through a bible study with Kari titled "The Excellent Wife", by Kay Arthur, based on Proverbs 31. I was a little scared of this book, but I have found so much peace, strength, reassurance, freedom, and truth in this study. I highly recommend this study for every woman...married or not. You may not like what you hear at first, but God's Word does NOT fail. I cannot possibly say enough about how this study has changed me and helped me to be the wife that God designed me to be.

Nana-nana-boo-boo...you can't catch me! Oh, wait, yes you can!

I just watched USA Men's Swim Team member, Jason Lezak, come from behind to place first in the 4 X 100 m freestyle relay. It was AWESOME!!!! The race itself was great, but the circumstances surrounding it made it even better. On early Sunday morning in Beijing, a member of the French Men's Swim Team made some comments that we just uncalled for. In reference to the 4X100 freestyle relay, Alain Bernard said, "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for." Boy was he wrong! :-) I have seen some great races in my lifetime, but this was about the best. The French were favored for this event and so confident they would win. Even NBC Sports announcer and former Olympic gold medalist, Rowdy Gaines, could not see how the US team could possibly pull out a win. Lezak did a superb job of bringing home the gold for the US. What a special moment in Olympic history. I love the Olympic Games!!!!!!

What are you reading?

Everyone seems to have their favorite type of book...fiction, science fiction, biography, romance, self-help...whatever. For me, it's fiction. I don't really get into science fiction and I find the majority of biographies boring. Even self-help books leave me sleepy...which is sad because the good Lord knows I need any help I can get ;-). I have to say that my favorite type is Christian fiction. Some people don't really see the point in this type of book, but I have gone to scripture because of these books time and time again. Some I have read are retellings of stories in the Bible while others use scripture throughout. I finished two "retelling" books in the last month and I rank them at the top of my favorites list.



Kenny Kemp is an excellent writer who wrote "City on a Hill" and "The Welcoming Door". I have previously written about "The Welcoming Door" and how much I loved the book. "City on a Hill" is no different. Kemp has a great way of taking the parables of Jesus and retelling them from the perspective of Jeshua in the story. While a work of fiction, it bring these short parables to life for me and pushes me to turn to the scriptures and read them. This recent book was full of insights into what Jesus' family may have been like. His relationship with his mother and father are something that people throughout the ages have contemplated. Kemp's interpretation of the parables, in addition to his thoughts on Jesus' family life, are interesting. No, I do not see any of it as fact, but rather entertaining and thought provoking. If you are looking for a great book that will keep you coming back for more then this book for is you.




I was introduced to Francine Rivers' book "Redeeming Love" by Kari when I told her I was looking for a good read. She really came through for me. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I will say, however, that this book is more for the ladies. :-) Some men might be able to read this book and enjoy it, but I can't think of any in my life. ;-) Rivers wrote this book as a retelling of the story of Hosea and Gomer. When I first heard that I was intrigued, but worried at the same time. The minor prophets have not been my favorite books in the bible, so the idea of a 464 page book retelling one of them scared me a little. Boy was I wrong!!! This book changed me. It was a difficult read from an emotional perspective, but I still had a hard time putting it down. I finished it on Tuesday night and have since reread Hosea. I have a new respect for this book in the bible and a new love for the minor prophets. I plan to take the next few months and read these books with fresh eyes. Girls...go get this book!!! You will NOT regret it!