Call it what it is: a monkey...or is it an ape?

Not only do I get this song stuck in my head virtually every time I go to the zoo, it is quite educational!

If it doesn't have a tail, it is an ape. If it has a tail, it is a monkey.

Until Larry the cucumber starts applying this concept to everything: comets, cows, etc.

Which I think we all do sometimes. We try to explain others' situations by using our own experiences and knowledge. It doesn't always work.

I do this all the time with my garden. I look at other people's gardens and think, why aren't I getting the same results? I have a monkey, they have a monkey... shouldn't we both have the same thing?

No. Different soils, different gopher and vole problems, different experience levels, etc. will make a huge difference. Which is comforting to know. Your experiences will always be unique to you.

This is a cute video!

What the Canada Fire teaches us about our lives. This fire fact will shock you!

Unless you've been living under a rock somewhere, I'm sure you've heard about the burning fires in Canada.

Massive, massive fires that just keep spreading. Many of them out of control.

But, did you know that fires that look put out can survive underground during the winter?

I know, I know. Crazy, right? Fires are supposed to be put out by all that cold, wet, snow. Right?

According to this article, the fires can last underground through the entire winter. Like burning coals, feasting on peat in the ground. And then next season, up springs the wild fires you thought you got rid of last season.

What a mess!

So many things in our lives are like this wild fire. A habit, an addiction, a specific fight, sadness, a memory, etc. etc. etc. You think you've gotten rid of it, you have a nice, comfy winter and then boom! it strikes again. That same old wild fire that just keeps on coming back.

You know, the firefighters do a couple of things to stop this from happening. They 1) watch for those fires to come back and then do their best to put them out. and 2) if they know where the underground hot spots are, they can basically take a back hoe and rake water into the ground to put out the spot.

For more info, check out this article: http://www.kpax.com/story/31947814/when-wildfires-hide-underground-then-rage-again

"Tomorrow is a new day."

Call it what it is - a bucket of Lard.

It really is just a bucket of lard.

Is this sad news? Maybe. It might have been cooler if it was a bucket of ice cream or something.

But instead it is a bucket of pig fat.

MMMMMMMM......

But, don't  be too disappointed. It is good to be honest about these things and call it what it is. Because now you know what to do with it.

It's like when you hear someone say, "I always knew something was wrong in my marriage, I just didn't know what. And then when I found out my spouse had an addiction, I was devastated. But now I at least know what we are dealing with, which means we know what kind of help we need and we can hopefully figure it out."

It's like you've been eating lard all these years, thinking it was ice cream and wondering why the taste was so wrong.

It doesn't work like that.

Lard will never be ice cream. But, with hard work and a little bit of help, it can become stronger... I mean, it can become a flaky pie crust or yummy fried chicken.

But it will never become stronger... I mean a flaky pie crust or yummy fried chicken...if you keep calling it ice cream.

So, yes. You have a bucket of lard. But at least now you know, and can look forward to a hopefully yummy dinner.

For lard inspiration, visit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/cooking-with-lard-baking_n_5212804.html

Have you seen the 2016 Dirty Dozen List?

Have you seen the yearly Dirty Dozen List put out by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation?

The idea is that these dozen companies/organizations are the 12 leading facilitators of sexual exploitation.

HBO, Sexpresso Cafe (shocker that this made the list, right?), and the DOJ are a few of those on the 2016 list.

Follow this LINK and see for yourself. Also, scroll down and see some of the victories from the past Dirty Dozen Lists and NCOSE work!

You have to choose.

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." 

-C. S. Lewis 

Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/cslewis131286.html?src=t_change

You have to choose greatness, you have to choose the good. It won't just happen.

The first step is admitting it.

Wow. I saw this license plate frame the other day and just had to take a picture.

I don't know where to start...

Like that I am 98% sure that the driver of this car is a woman.

Like that this is the worst possible frame to have on your car if you get pulled over.

Like that no one should admit liking a teenage vampire romance THIS much.

But I suppose the first step is always admitting that you have a problem. So, good for them.

Now is the next step taking a refresher drivers ed class or joining a book club...

In case of fire, use the stairs?

When there is a fire, you aren't supposed to take the elevator.

You are supposed to take the stairs, and keep moving.

They even put up signs that say this very thing!!!!

Dare I suggest that it is the same thing for our trials?

Do we need to give healing, growth, and goals their due diligence? Take the time and focus needed to get it right? Of course keep moving, but doing it with purpose?

This is just my opinion, but...

Of course there are times we need to move fast, even in times of trial.  Just make sure you are holding on to the rail, either way. :) 

My personal rail is made up of prayer, scripture study, family, and hope.

What do you think? Are you a stairs or elevator kind of person?

And what is your rail made up of?