Crazy Crickets

I am really losing my patience. For the past three weeks or so, we have continually been startled by finding crickets (although I am not at all convinced that it isn't the same cricket, over and over again) in various places around our home.

First, he was on the bathroom floor...then, on our bed (although I was a contributing factor to that, since that's where I dumped the pile of clean clothes in which the cricket had been hiding...still, disgusting)...then, in the hamper as I was removing dirty clothes (goodness, I do deal with clothes a lot around here)...the kitchen floor...under the coffee table...and, just now, by our shoes in the living room. Said cricket has now been captured and is now sitting underneath a cup, thinking about what he did. (Don't judge. I have a lot of time on my hands these days.)

Now, if it IS, in fact, the same cricket, the obvious solution, of course, would be to kill him. But, I don't like killing bugs in the house if they can be easily relocated to the outdoors. (With spiders being the exception. They step foot, er, feet in here, they're goners, plain and simple.) Plus, I do have a few fun childhood memories of my dad tying string to the rear legs of crickets so my sister and I could "walk" them around for a while. (You probably had to be there....)

I just wish I knew where they were coming from! I have examined the exterior wall of the apartment, and see no apparent point of entry. Hmm. It remains a mystery.

It's not as though the crickets are particularly threatening or present any real danger. And, it has provided a bit of entertainment as I watch Bobby capture them for release. (He's getting pretty good at it, I must say.) I am just getting really, really tired of the surprise and skipped heartbeat that comes from finding one unexpectedly.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a cricket to release. He's served his time.

One Year

One year ago today, I said "I do" and married my best friend. It's been an incredible year...but our incredibly busy weekend hasn't left much time to write the thoughtful, retrospective blog that I intended in commemoration of this occasion. That will just have to wait, I suppose, until we return from Mexico. We leave tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. for a few days in Playa del Carmen! It should be a relaxing, rejuvenating time to reflect and celebrate the past year and dream about things to come. If the year ahead is anything like our first, it will most certainly be full of laughter, and lots and lots of love.

Thanks for a wonderful year, handsome. I love you!

A Good Read

I have found myself with MUCH more free time lately (as a result of my current state of self-inflicted unemployment), and as such I have more time to do such things as reading. It would also stand to reason that I have more time to blog, too, so there's really no excuse for my recent blogging absence. ("It's too...hot...to write?") I used to LOVE reading, and although college sort of zapped all the fun out of it for a while, I'm happy to have rediscovered the joy of recreational reading.

I got a St. Louis County library card a couple weeks ago and chose two Christian fiction novels, largely at random...and I could not put them down! I read them both in 48 hours, and thoroughly enjoyed each one.

I particularly enjoyed reading "Washington's Lady" by Nancy Moser, and I highly recommend it. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this novel, because it was highly intriguing and its message has really stuck with me. The story is about Martha Washington, and "the loves and trials of the first First Lady of the United States". Although a work of fiction, the story is largely based on historical facts and even includes a section at the end where the author separates the fact and fiction she included in the story.

I have always enjoyed United States political history, and this book certainly contains lots of information regarding our country's beginnings. That the story is through the eyes of a "founding mother", so to speak, makes it all the more interesting. It is quite the love story between President and Mrs. Washington, and it certainly spoke to my feminine heart. The respect, enduring support and encouragement that Martha displays toward her husband is such a positive example, and their continual reliance and faith in God's providence is inspiring.

Below is an excerpt from the epilogue, which I felt summed up well what I loved about the book.

"I hope Martha's story will nudge you toward finding your roots and your purpose, reignite your gratitude to God for all His gifts and blessings, and open your eyes to His work in the world beyond your own front door."

--Nancy Moser--

For me, it did just that. And when reading a book can directly remind me of God's faithful involvement in my country and in my life, I certainly consider it to have been a good read.

"And then...I want you to go out and do something amazing and courageous. Under God."

--Nancy Moser--

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