Benny, Joel, & Oprah...oh my!

I just finished watching a 10 minute video of Benny Hinn, the evangelist, on youtube and I am SO thrilled! The heading says "Benny Hinn confronts Joel Olsteen and Oprah" - well, you had me at Olsteen, but I'd pay money to see someone confront Oprah on her misguided beliefs. Believe a lie if you want, but don't recruit, for heaven's sake!

In the video, he tells about seeing a certain tv evangelist (I'm assuming Olsteen because of the title) going on Larry King Live. King asks the evangelist if Jesus is the only way to God and the tv preacher says, "Well, that's up to God." Um, yes, genius, it is and fortunately He already made that decision and then wrote an entire book about it (a.k.a, The Holy Bible)!

What made me so excited is that Hinn actually calls Olsteen a COWARD! He never mentions his name, at least not in the clip I saw, but he keeps referring to him as a coward, even saying maybe he has a devil! I love this so much, not because I never hear this type of preaching...I mean, have you heard my dad lately??? No, this is the kind of truth I hear on a regular basis. But, up until today, I had my concerns that there were any preachers on tv bold enough to call a spade a spade.

Then, he takes on OPRAH. I don't, but it seems lately that a large part of the world considers her a step below God. Or, in some cases, probably equal to God. I admit, I used to really like her. She was blunt, she didn't care what people thought, she was funny. Then, I saw her on tv say that Jesus Christ was just ONE of the ways to God (It's on youtube as well). Wonder if she'll regret that one on the Day of Judgement?!

But he was all over her case too, said she needed *help*. PREACH IT!!!

So, today I have a healthy respect for Benny Hinn. I don't know anything else about his life, and he may turn out to be a pedafile or homosexual tomorrow, but today I heard him preaching truth, offending truth, and I am proud to call him a brother!

If you have the time, watch this video. It's only 10 minutes long, but it will make you want to pump your fist in the air and yell, "I am not ashamed! Jesus is THE way!"

http://www.youtube.com/user/ChurchNews#p/a/u/1/n-ej7n7Nhns

PS, I do not actually believe he will turn out to be either of these. That's just my disclaimer that we probably don't see eye to eye on everything and no doubt he has things in his life, just like we all do, that he needs mercy & grace for.

Chaaan-ges!

Okay, yes, it has been a loooong time since my last post - I'm sorry! I got a little attached to Facebook (and my house), so I let this slide. Honestly, I wasn't sure I even have anything else worth saying...or worth having you read. But if you still want to know what's going on, I'll try to keep telling you.

Things are going very well at the Krupinski house. So good, in fact, I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't exaggerate the annoying, mundane things so as not to tick off those around me. No one likes a REALLY happy person, right?

Anyway, okay, so here's what's new in my world, for those not in the know already.

I got cable! I also found out there is even more garbage on tv now than two years ago, the last time I paid for this junk. Curiously, there are more religious channels on the basic package than I remember. Even curiouser (is it a word!?), I found some interesting stuff on there. More on that later.

I now teach adult Sunday School sometimes. Actually, I think it's been about 7 weeks straight now. I can't think about that for too long or I start sweating. As for how that's going, you'll have to ask someone from the audience. Chad seems to like it, but he also has to sleep next to me and hasn't mastered the one eye open trick yet ;)

Ben's hair has finally grown out and he now sports the beach bum look I love on him. Sorry, Mom! People keep commenting on his natural highlights, so I'll try to get a picture of that soon. He's so very cute. Especially when he's asleep ;)

Also, I finally got fed up just a second ago with getting him a drink every 20 minutes, gave him a cup, and sent him to the bathroom sink. I'm wondering why I haven't done this sooner! (Have a feeling my bathroom floor no longer needs mopped, so two birds/one stone!)

Did I mention I'm deliriously happy and content with my life? It's scary, actually. If I know anything of life, it's that it never stays this peaceful for long. I'm trying to enjoy it and not worry it away. God is in control of my future.

I just asked Chad if he felt this way. So blessed that you wonder how it can last and what will happen to destroy it. No complaints. He said, "I have complaints, so don't worry about it." LOL.

Like, if you asked me to, yes, I could name some things I want. More money on Chad's paycheck, a job that doesn't destroy his ankles, less allergies for Ethan & Micah, Katie to have a really great friend...yeah, I have those. A lawn mower, a safety net for the trampoline...okay, I found a few wants, lol. But lately I've noticed I don't feel any of that. It doesn't weigh me down. I just feel....blessed.

I think there were times I felt like this in the past: I remember feeling so content in Japan, and in D.C. I missed my family, I wished for a good friend like my sisters, but I still felt like I was where I was supposed to be.

So, maybe that's it. I know I am in God's will for my life. How can I be so sure? Cause this is not what I had planned but I got here by following God. Hmmmm. I'll have to think about that.

Chad is now obsessing about how his life is so not perfect and why. I tried to explain again what I mean.

Me: "Sure, I don't have everything I want, but I don't lack anything I need." (Deep, right? I'm gonna write that one down!)

Chad: "Well, I need a four wheeler and Katie needs a dog. So we have needs!"

@@. That's my sarcastic eyeroll.

Anyway, Chad also says I should shut up now so my friends won't hate me. I have missed talking on here, God knows I need to get it all out somewhere! I'll try to do that here from now on. So, you can stop with the subtle hints on FB, You Who Shall Not Be Named!!!

If a picture says a thousand words...

I'll let the pics do the talkin':

I loved sitting in the den at night & just relaxing.

I didn't even get out ALL of my decorations LOL - I have about 10 huge boxes!

A better view

Front door - matched the blue icicle lights hanging from the roof.

Do you know how many times I came home to find: oH oH oH?!

I'm a dork, I know...

I got to redo this door 3 times, thanks to Ben & Micah LOL:

View from the kitchen window:

Can't see it all, but it says :BELIEVE in the magic of Christmas

And one of my favorite pass times...

You just would not believe how fun and relaxing a fireplace is! Katie & I are becoming master fire builders!

So there you have it - my first Christmas in our new home!

Ta Da!!!!

Yes, it's been 19 days since I wrote a blog. I do this mainly for me and I got to where I did not want to write down one more time just how frustrated I was about not having a house.

But today I have good news :D

We have an appointment tomorrow, at 4pm, to close on our home.

I'm doing cartwheels on the inside!!!!

At this point, after hearing we'd close on a certain day and then having that yanked away from us, twice, I'm cautiously optimistic. I'll update as soon as I can. That may be a while, as I plan on immediately leaving the title company, driving straight to storage, packing up our first load, and moving it into my new home.

Okay, I'm prolly a little beyond cautiously optimistic now. Oh, well!

Life & Death

"Like apples of gold on pictures of silver."

I drove over Graveyard Hill (a nickname) the other day and found it covered in fog, with beautiful fall leaves all over the place. I had Ben with me so we pulled in and I started snapping pictures like a fiend. I turned my back for 5 seconds and guess what my little boy was doing: marking his territory. Yep, desecrating a grave stone. Boys and dogs @@.

Anyway, I can't decide which one I like best. You decide!

A girl moment...

Okay, I'm going to do a total girl thing and ask:

To bangs or not to bangs? I like the shorter cut, mostly. It has grown on me and is SO easy to take care of now. But I think I need some longish bangs. And maybe at a gradual slant on the sides. Need to hide that lake of a forehead (thanks, Dad!)

Whatcha think?

Also, straight vs. curly?

Straight...

or curly
Leave comments & suggestions, please!

For Friend Sissy...

And all others who are waiting on pins & needles with me: still no phone call!

As for my appointment with Brian last Thursday, it went really well, considering we had to switch to a FHA loan at the end of the process, which he said was basically like starting over and added another week or more till we close.

He was very helpful, though, and explained every single thing in great detail, including how I can set up my own ammorization (sp?) schedule in Excel. And told me I could call him later if I forget how. He was SO nice and smart and articulate...something I forgot existed after dealing with Bobby the Baffoon for 3 weeks. Obviously still working on that patience thing.

But, we got everything switched, most of the work had already been done for the VA loan, which had stricter requirements, which means it should have been a breeze to do a FHA. It's not been a breeze, in my opinion. Apparently Brian's processor is still calling my realtor and asking basic questions that should have been covered by now, so I'm assuming we won't be closing this week.

But, that's okay. Chad has a day off next Wednesday, so that would be the ideal day to close, so he doesn't lose a point for missing work. They like to throw big guilt parties for missing work...even if you are sick as a dog or buying a house.

So, I'm still here. Waiting. Praying. Hoping.

When we get really stressed or bummed, we take a little drive out to the property and stand on the deck and plan the back yard. I regret the day I locked the laundry room door...now I can't go in and plan my furniture and bubble baths! But I was afraid I'd walk in to find some bum in my tub and have to hurt some homeless person. This way, I avoid jail time.

And that's my update. As soon as I find something out, I'll be sure to post asap!