Random Stuff

It has been pretty hectic around here this past week. But most weeks are hectic at the Beard house. Here are some highlights of the past week:

Last Friday was our last day of tutorial and my last day to teach 7th grade science and high school typing. I had 24 students this year. My science students were fantastic and they all scored above 95 for the year!

Friday night Ethan and Micah enjoyed Spring Fling at the Charlie Daniels Park. It was a nice evening and the perfect way to celebrate school ending. Richard and I enjoyed dinner together and lots of overdue conversation.

Saturday we enjoyed being home all day in spite of the household cold going around here. Ethan and his friend Josh helped my boss move a friend from Chatanooga to Lebanon. They were very tired after an 18 hour day. They were TWO MEN AND A TRUCK for the day and earned some extra cash.

Richard and Micah were able to fix the electric dog fence for the umpteenth (is that really a word?) this weekend. Our dog has been terrorizing the neighbors and their yards and gardens for a couple of weeks. So it was a relief to finally have Ginger back inside the electric boundary.

Has anyone seen our grey cat Snickers? She's been gone over a week now and my hopes of her returning deminish with each passing day.

Sunday was a fantastic day. Our family is facing some special challenges and the sermon, Sunday school, and Lifegroup gave us much needed encouragement and hope.

Monday I got to attend a real cadaver at Lipscomb University with Ethan. He took Anatomy at HCS this year. His teacher was able to schedule a cadaver to end the year. I have officially seen every internal part of the human body with the exception of the foot and the hip. It was truly an amazing experience. I don't understand how scientists could ever propose that we all came from a single cell floating in the sea.

Yesterday when I returned home and was looking forward to catching up on all that I am behind on, the phone rang. I will post more later about the end result of this phone call. But it resulted in a chance of a lifetime for me, and a very tiring past 24 hours. I had fun but I am exhausted.

Tonight Ethan has 3 of his friends here. I think one must be moving in because he brought the enormous suitcase with him. After an evening of basketball and pizza, they are now all upstairs watching American Idol.

Speaking of American Idol, what is the deal with the themes this year? Neil Diamond??? You've got to be kidding me!

Yikes, when will the gas prices stop rising? Fox News reported both Shell Oil and Amoco posted record profits this past quarter. Oh really!

We also moved out Hope's bed she borrowed from the Hall's. Right now she has nothing in her room but the clothes in her closet. She can't wait for me to repaint her room and is thinking her very tired mom should be able to begin here at 9pm, finish, and set up her twin bed in record time.

There is soo much to do, so I best get off here an back onto the fast track.

Goin' Green

Many of you who know much about me, already know I'm an organic foods freak. I try to buy as much organic as the budget allows. We don't drink much milk, so I buy 1-1 1/2 gallons a week. I also buy organic fruits, veggies, canned products, OJ, and Laura's Beef. Kroger carries a brand of chicken, which isn't organic, but the birds were never fed growth hormones or given antibiotics.

I also buy mostly "green" cleaning products. I don't clean as much as I should, so they last quite a while around here. Our allergy Dr receommended we switch to organic based cleansers, plus it's better for the enviroment to use them.

The last step we need to take around here is to start recycling our trash items. I have questions since this is new territory for me.

Do you recycle?

If so, what items does your family recycle?

Does your trash pickup service provide curb containers for recycling?

Does the recycling center accept tin cans?

I know you can recycle your water bottles and 2 liter bottles, but what about plastic juice jugs, sour cream containers, cool whip containers, and the like??

I know you can recycle aluminum cans but what about other aluminum products like used foil, and those disposable aluminum pans?

Newspapers and magazines or just newspaper?

What used printer paper?

How hard or easy is it for your family to organize your trash? What type of recepticles to you store these products in until you take it to the dump?

Any other tips on going green??

Proverbs of an Old Tree, by Alton Bybee

Yes I am an old tree now,
I'm about 90 feet from top to ground.
I've stood in this same spot for almost 100 years,
There has been a lot of laughter and sometimes tears.
There have been little children swinging on my limbs,
Like Mary, Tommy, Nancy, and little Jim.
All the trees around me used to be green,
'Till a bulldozier pushed them down, all except me.
I guess the old farmer wanted to keep me for a monument,
For all the shade I'd given to cool the sweat.
I'm getting bald and don't grow leaves anymore,
And my old limbs are jagged and kinda sore.
My branches used to be full of robins in spring,
Now an old buzzard rests on my top, but he can't sing.
Well, I hear there's tornado warnings out tonight,
So if we don't meet again, I have lived a good life.

Happy Arbor Day 2008

Photograph by Melissa Carlson

Cat Nap

It got quiet around the house after lunch today. I went to look for Hope because we needed to finish up school. It is a warm sunny day here - perfect weather. I found her on the back porch, asleep, with her cat Toby which she adores.

She literally had a CAT NAP!

My New Car!

My van has nearly 160,000 miles on it. It is a Honda so hopefully it will last a little longer. I need a newer vehicle. I want to drive something besides a mini-van. I've been driving a mini-van for 11 years now and I am ready for a change. But vehicles are expensive. Used vehicles are expensive. I coulda traded vehicles by now. I coulda paid cash for another vehicle by now, but instead we purchased these:

Ethan had braces for nearly 3 years. Micah wore braces for over two years. Hope will need braces in 2 phases and began the first set in January. This pic was taken during the few weeks both Micah and Hope had braces at the same time.

Oh, and by the way, the orthodontist is the one who got the new car!

30 Days to Live

Our new preacher man Kevin Owen is finally in Lebanon! He officially became the new full time minister at College Hills on April 6th. This Sunday, he began a sermon series called "Thirty Days to Live." He challenged everyone with this question. "If you were told you had only 30 days to live, what would you do differently?" He also empasized the need to live our lives with the end in mind. I think Kevin will be a tremendous blessing to College Hills and to our community. I think he is a person who lives his life with the end in mind. Kevin is not much older than Richard and me. He has 3 sons ranging from age 4 to age 13. Tragically, his wife passed away less than 3 years ago after a 6 month battle with ovarian cancer. He mentioned in his sermon that he found some notes she had taken at a seminar. The speaker had posed, seemingly prophetically, the same question as a "6 months to live" one. Kevin's wife wrote that if she only had six months to live, she sure wouldn't work more, or accumulate more, but rather she would throw all her time and energy into impacting her children. She would want them to never doubt her love for them, and know the true and living God. According to Kevin, she died 6 months after taking those notes.

In our life groups on Sunday night, this question was asked of everyone present. I am curious to know what, if anything, you would do differently if you were told you had only 30 days to live?

A Chip Off the Ol' Bowling Ball

Here is the winning team from this year's HCA bowling league. This is Ethan's 3rd year to bowl for HCA. The name of is team is BAD for Beard, Archer, and Deakins who make up the team.

These guys are like the 3 muskateers. Archer and Deakins are Ethan's best friends. They have been together at HCA since 8th grade. The fine young lady in the middle was actually pictured in Ethan's Kindergarten yearbook and all 3 have been homeschooled from day1.

Most of you probably don't know this but my parents were passionate bowlers. For years, I had to tag along with them to different chuch leagues. For several years they traveled from Lebanon to Hendersonville every Monday night to bowl with the Madison Church of Christ folks. Later on a new bowling alley was built here in Lebanon and they were part of another church league. Ethan, I am glad someone in the family can carry on the Bybee Bowling tradition.

Random Health Facts, from Mercola.com

I thought these were interesting and worth sharing:

) Motorists who talk on cell phones are more impaired than drunk drivers with blood-alcohol levels exceeding .08.
2) Banging your head against a wall burns 150 calories an hour.
3) In some parts of the world, they protect their babies from disease by bathing them in beer.
4) The word ‘gymnasium’ comes from the Greek word gymnazein, which means ‘to exercise naked.’
5) There are more than 1,000 chemicals in a cup of coffee; of these, only 26 have been tested, and half caused cancer in rats.
6) The average American eats at McDonald’s more than 1,800 times in their life.
7) There are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people in the world.
8) According to U.S. FDA standards, 1 cup of orange juice is allowed to contain 10 fruit fly eggs, but only 2 maggots.
9) You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
10) It is possible to go blind from smoking too heavily.
11) Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.
12) You are about 1 centimeter taller in the morning than in the evening.
13) During your lifetime, you’ll eat about 60,000 pounds of food -- that’s the weight of about 6 elephants.

You work for WHO? What does Q.E.D. Mean?

In 2002 I went to work part-time for a small medical physics company. I had never even heard of the term "medical physics" before my interview. Two nuclear medical physicists had formed a company in 2000 and they were needing someone to manage the business portion of their company. It has worked out very well, at least for me. And I am so very thankful to have the flexibility of a part-time job that I love. Often, I can't believe I get paid to do this job.

Most people don't know I work part-time since we home school. Here's how the conversation typically goes once people find out I have a "real" job:

"I didn't know you work"

"Yes, I have a part-time job"

"Where do you work?"

"Q.E.D. Medical Physics"

"I've never heard of that before. Where is it?"

"The office is in the Selby building across from Ruby Tuesday, but the work my bosses do takes place in hospitals across the southeast"

"Oh, well, what is medical physics anyway?"

"OK, if you had a brain tumor, and your oncologist decided you needed radiation treatment, a medical physicist would be involved in the planning and/or administering the treatment plan for you. They also write the computer software which operate the machinery. They often set up new cancer treatment centers as needed, and finally they must calibrate the radiation equipment every year to insure quality treatment."

"What did you say the name of your work is?"

"Q.E.D. Medical Physics"

"What does Q.E.D. stand for?"

Here is a tidbit of trivia about the term QED - for what it's worth to ya! Q.E.D. is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "quod erat demonstrandum" (literally, "that which was to be demonstrated"). The phrase is written in its abbreviated form at the end of a mathematical proof or philosophical argument, to signify that the last statement deduced was the one to be demonstrated, so the proof is complete.

In the European renaissance, mathematical books were typically written in Latin, and phrases such as "quod erat demonstrandum" were often used to conclude proofs. Since medical physics involves a heavy amount of geometry and mathematical computations, the company was named Q.E.D. Pretty cool huh! And we all thought Latin is a dead language.

A General Lack of R E S P E C T

Although these words are not my own, I thought they were worth posting:

By Jeremiah Tatum -Pulaski Street Church of Christ

March 30, 2008 marked the opening day in Major League Baseball here in the states. As is customary, our president threw out the first pitch. This time it was a special inaugural pitch, the first pitch to be tossed from the mound of the Washington Nationals’ new baseball stadium.

Unfortunately, the whole scene became a mockery; George W. Bush was booed by thousands of fans. What should have been a celebration of America’s greatest pastime instead was a political statement. It was a general lack of respect for the highest office in our land. I don’t want to mince anywords here. The fact that the president was booed really bothers me.

I know we are in a very unpopular war right now. I know a lot of people blame George Bush. I don’t want to be over there either. I want all ofour service men and women to come home just as much as you do. I know the economy is in straits. I know gas prices are at all-time highs. I would like to see some changes, too. But you don’t boo the president. You don’t disrespect the office of the president.

What is happening these days in the political realm is a microcosm of themoral slide and ignorance of our population as a whole. The apostle Peter once wrote, “…the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries” (2 Peter 2:9-20).

I think it is interesting that Peter describes those who conduct themselves with a fleshly mind as those who “despise authority,” who are“self-willed,” and who “are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” I believe the point is that there are a good number of people in our land who don’t want to be governed at all. The only master they desire is the one in the mirror. They make no sacrifices for the country, but they want all the freedom. They are never satisfied, and they always cry for change.

Whether you agree with the president or not is not the thrust of this article. It is about allegiance to a cause, respect for authority, and couth. American is only going to stay great if Americans will demand that they themselves be great. The same is true for the church. Do you respect your elders, even when you don’t agree with them? Do you honor the Bible,even when there are some things with which you struggle? Do you obey the elders, even when you know their faults?

If we cannot respect authority, we cannot be ruled. If we cannot be ruled, we cannot have Jesus Christ.

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.” ~ Titus 3:1

Dysfunctional Hallmark Cards

I love these....'cuz I have a strange sense of humor I guess:

1. I always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love. And nowthat you've come into my life... (Inside card) - I've changed my mind.

2. I must admit, you brought religion into my life... (Inside card) - I never believed in Hell until I met you.

3. As the days go by, I think how lucky I am... (Inside card) - That you're not here to ruin it for me.

4. Congratulations on your promotion. Before you go... (Inside card) - Will you take the knife from my back? You'll probably need it again.

5. Someday I hope to marry... (Inside card) - Someone other than you.

6. Happy Birthday! You look great for your age... (Inside card) - Almost lifelike!

7. When we were together, you said you'd die for me... (Inside card) - Now we've broken up, I think it's time to keep your promise.

8. We've been friends for a very long time... (Inside card) - What do you say we stop?

9. I'm so miserable without you... (Inside card) - It's almost like you're still here...

10. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy... (Inside card) - Did you ever find out who the father is?

11. You are such a good friend. If we were on a sinking ship and there was only one life jacket... (Inside card) - I'd miss you terribly and think of you often.

12. Your friends and I wanted to do something special for your birthday... (Inside card) - So we're having you put to sleep.

13. Happy Birthday, Uncle Dad! (Available only in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas)

14. Looking back over the years we've been together, I can't help but wonder... (Inside card) - What was I thinking?

15. Congratulations on your wedding day! (Inside card) - Too bad no one likes your husband.

Have You Heard Our News?

If you visit this blog frequently, then you know about my little episode a couple of weeks ago involving an ER visit and a two night stay at Baptist Hospital. What you may not know is shocking news we received during our stay. The nurses kept drawing blood from me throughout my stay. I thought that if they kept that up long enough, I wouldn't have any blood left to pump! There are all sorts of test they run on you when you go to the ER with any heart related complaints. They check to see if your body is making enzymes related to heart attack. There are other enzymes made when the heart is out of rhythm (with a diuretic effect). They keep a close check on how thick or thin the blood is because of all the blood thinners given to prevent a stroke (greatest risk of AFIB). They also x-ray the heart and lungs, perform EKG's, monitor blood pressure, and heart rate. Electrolytes are measured and deficient ones are administered by IV or by mouth. This time I got Potassium. I have also had a Potassium and Magnesium IV cocktail as well. My thyroid levels were also checked and some were abnormal, others were normal. Well imagine our shock when a preganacy test revealed POSITIVE results! We were SHOCKED! Richard shut down the factory 7 years ago! Well, if I didn't have enough trouble with my heart before this news, I'm can't imagine what lies ahead. An ultrasound revealed not one but TWO heartbeats!!! Looks like we are going to give birth to TWINS in our 40's!!!! What ever shall we do?????


What do you think about our news???

APRIL FOOL!!!!