Is it time for another great laugh ?

I think SO!

In honor of the belief that laughter is the best medicine (and considering that my sister's family is not feeling well and I know many others are ill too - like my daughter Catalina) ... here are a few clips from one of my favorite comedians, who also happens to be an expert ventriliquist ...

Jeff Dunham ... and Peanut

Jeff-fa-fa Dun-HAM dot COM

EARLY Jeff Dunham and Peanut (1992)

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Do you have a favorite Scripture ?

I have many!

But today in our 11-year old Sunday School class I was teaching about Jesus' life before his ministry.  Very little is written in the New Testament about this time, and I think that is by design.  It is my humble opinion that we do not need to know much, if anything at all, about the Savior's life before His baptism.  For baptism is the gateway that sets us on the pathway back to our Heavenly Father.  It is also the one time in our lives when we are truly made "clean" again.  I do not believe that Jesus needed to be baptized in order to be "clean" again (for it is written that He lived a life without sin).  BUT ... if we are truly to believe that after we are baptized that we are "clean" regardless of our past sins ... THEN ... wouldn't the same be true for Jesus if by some circumstance He had sinned as a child?

I digress (I do that alot now that I think about it!)  This blog could go on and on about my own speculations and personal beliefs about the early life of Jesus (basically anything before His mortal ministry).  Instead, I will simply share with you the passage of scripture that I enjoyed sharing with these 11-year old children in our class (5 total, two boys and three girls).

In the King James version of the Holy Bible, in the section known as the New Testament we find the Gospel according to St Luke.  In Chapter 2 verse 52 reads as follows:
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

Short and to the point, but very poignant and deserving of serious reflection, this single scripture has always meant alot to me when I think about our responsibility on this Earth.  Of course it is specifically referring to the time in Jesus' life between His teaching of the teachers in the Temple at Jerusalem and his baptism some time later.  But it is also a great charge to each of us regardless of our age or situation in life.  I find it especially useful as a way to direct the youth of this day and age on how to act as they are making choices and growing from children through the teenage years and into early adulthood.

Most important to me personally is that Jesus increased "in favour with God and man."  Which makes me believe that He understood the importance of balancing His mission on this Earth as part of Heavenly Father's plan, with that of his experience as a human being among His friends, family, neighbors, etc.  Are we truly complete if we do not seek "favour" in both disciplines?  Certainly favour with God is the most important, but without favour of man it seems unlikely that we are truly living the way He intended.

What do you think?

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Ever seen these DE-Motivational posters ?

Some time ago I came across these de-motivational postcards.  I cannot remember when or how I first saw them, but I was taken back so much that I had to get one for myself.

The one I saw was this one,

a copy of which is now posted at my desk:


Which made me laugh the most because one of my peers at work has almost the exact same postcard, except hers is intended to be motivational.  The contrast made me laugh even more because unless you read the saying below the big bold-lettered word, you'd never know it was a put-down instead of something inspirational.

So here are a few of my favorites.  I hope no one is offended, but if you are ... I'm sorry!  They still make me chuckle and you can just go ahead and think less of me for it.

And last but certainly not least ...

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Are You a Risk Taker ?

Among other inquiries, that was one asked of me by my mentor at work today.

And it got me thinking about a lot of different things.  So did the other questions she asked, which I really didn't have answers for when she asked them.
I just had never thought about things in that way but ...
 - isn't that what a Mentor is supposed to do for you?
 - Get you to look at things from a different perspective?

That meeting was easily the highlight of a very good day at work for me.

It is amazing how a simple question can start a ball rolling that looks like it will lead me down a very fun path.  I am looking forward to this coming year at work and the changes and challenges that await me.  2011 could just very well be my year!  :)

Oh, and in case you are wondering, I am a risk taker ... but they are calculated risks and that is a good thing (I think!)

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You don't REALLY want ice cream do you ?!



I say Ice, you say Cream ... ICE! ... CREAM!

 That was the question that I asked Brooklyn after we walked to the car in the bitter cold and freezing wind in the Vista Ridge High School parking lot.
She had just finished her final cheerleading experience (for 2nd grade at least) at the girl's JV basketball game and we were planning to celebrate with a special treat.


Her response to my question?
"Oh yeah Daddy!  I LOVE ice cream!"

At length we agreed on going to McDonald's, but only through the drive thru (we had Myra with us and I didn't want to take her out in the cold if I didn't have to).  Brooklyn rememberd that she liked "that ice cream in the cup" which means a hot fudge sundae.  I broke the piggy bank and got a large order of fries for her too, which she later shared with all her siblings when we got home.  That scene made me so proud of her because she was so kind and generous with HER special treat!

She suggested that I get a frosty from Wendy's for myself (I had given her the choice of either place) and then offered up that I could share it with her if I was too full.  Cute kid, but a little too sneaky for just 7 years old if you ask me.  I opted not to get the frosty, but she was still quite happy with the surprise fries!

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Am I Right or Am I Right or Am I Right ?!

Rise and shine campers!

And put your booties on because it's going to be cold out there today.

It's cold out there every day, what is this Miami Beach?

Not hardly.  But the big question on everybody's lips ...

Their chapped lips ...

Yes, their chapped lips is ... will Phil see his shadow today?

Punxatawney Phil!

That's right woodchuck chuckers it's ...

GROUNGHOG DAY !!!

Ahhh ... I do love that movie!  So many classic lines (like the title of this blog). So much hilariousness (like the scene in the car depicted on the right where Phil tells the groundhog "Don't drive angry!").  Some real tender moments (like the old man dying) and some tongue-in-cheek dialogue that can only really happen in this movie (such as toward the end when Rita asks Phil "What did you do today?!" and he replies with ...
"Same old, same old."

I've stated in a previous blog that we watch this movie every year on Groundhog Day if at all possible. We've had to push it back a day or two maybe once, but it is an annual event in this Case household.  This has been one of my favorite "Karen and Josh" traditions.  And tonight, we had the whole family watch it together for the first time.  It was great to see the kids laugh at different parts.
Their favorites included:
 - When Phil calls the groundhog an "over-sized squirrel" in one of his many rants.
 - When Phil smashes the clock over and over ... and OVER again!
 - When Larry says (after the car crash in the quarry) "He might be okay" and then after the car explodes in a huge fireball he follows up with "Well no, probably not now."
 - When the piano teacher pushes the student out the door for Phil's lesson.
And last but certainly not least ...
 - When Phil punches Ned Ryerson in the face and walks away smiling.

I am glad to know that there is hope for a whole new generation of Cases to get a laugh every year out of scenes like the one just after the picture shown at left: Phil shoving a whole piece of cake in his mouth and then asking incredulously, if not also almost impossible to understand, "WHAUAUT?!"  Sorry I can't seem to find google images of the face he makes (nor can I find a YouTube video of it, which is a travesty that I will have to fix once I figure out how to load videos, etc.)  Ya just have to find the movie and watch it yourself.  EPIC !!!

Ahhh memories that get turned into traditions ... awesome!

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What is this "Cold Day" all about ?

When I was growing up, some in Rigby, ID but mostly in Greeley, CO, we had SNOW DAYS.  I almost hesitated to pluralize that because I am thinking it was probably less than a dozen my whole scholastic career (up until college here in Colorado Springs that is!)

Today, my children did not have school because ...

it was too COLD !

Now I'll be the first to admit that sub-zero temperatures are no joke.  I understand the fear of frostbite, etc.  But really?!  No school because it's too cold?!  What about sunburns in May?!  Why not no school because it's too HOT?!  Kids can get dehydrated walking to school with a heavy backpack and no water bottle just as easily as they can catch frostbite or pneumonia in the winter, right?!

Okay ... maybe not.  But I still think my kids have no idea how "lucky" they are to get a free pass simply because of the temperature.  They get an inordinate amount of snow days already ... now we have to start adding the wind chill factor to the equation?!

You'd think with childhood obesity on the rise, most leaders would recognize that the kids are already well-insulated against the elements.  Throw a scarf around the neck and face (leaving some eye holes), toss some boots on and maybe two pairs of socks and gloves.  Toughen up little ones!

Oooh ... I just stepped out in the garage to put something in the car for work tomorrow ...
it's like super-cold.

No one should have to be out in this kind of weather.  Brrrr ... :)

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