Googling My Way Through Life -Macrame Snowflake

I have a snowflake thing. At Christmas, I like to do an Elf  "the movie" garland in my dining area.

It has evolved over the years.  I also usually have snowflakes in my front windows.  I  thought this year I would try to make macrame snowflakes.

I gave it a shot. Not entirely satisfied with my results. Probably going to try to make another one. I had to watch the tutorial a couple times and this one pictured below was my second attempt.

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Google My Way Through Life - Butchart Gardens at Christmas

I usually do a lot of googling prior to traveling. Is it too early to start talking about Christmas plans?

My parents are coming at Christmas to visit. We have been talking about taking the ferry to Victoria to see Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights. I am the only one who has been to Butchart gardens and that was way back when I was a teenager way back in 1986. Photographic proof below.

Photo taken on 1986 trip

Photo taken on 1986 trip

Thrifty Northwest Mom had some Tips and Tricks for Butchart Gardens at Christmas

Because of my Geographical Location in the Pacific Northwest , we most likely take the ferry from Anacortes or Canada.

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Googling My Way Through Life - Adult Coloring (Halloween)

While watching TV the other night,   I wanted to do something but I didn't want to create a big mess to clean up. So I found myself googling adult Halloween coloring sheets.

The coloring above is called  - Quilting Spiders
Similar coloring page - zentangle spider web

I colored the web and added the writing in sharpie. Lastly, I went over it with the cheap pan water colors.  The writing says-
Oh, what a tangle web we weave when we practice to deceive

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The Transition Situation-Autism and Reaching 21

I don't think there is a Autism term or situation I haven't googled.  I have written a lot about my son and autism.  I have his permission to share this. This is simply my perspective and I realize the spectrum is wide.

My son graduated from his transition program this year.  For those not in the know, it is a program  where students after high school ages 18-21 are given a chance to gain employment skills or complete educational requirements with support.  My son met all the graduation requirements in 2016  but his diploma was held until his 21 birthday. This was a bitter pill for my son. A diploma meant to him that he achieved the success hoped. It was also further proof that he was disabled. However it was the best things that happened for him. It gave him a chance to practice necessary skills and for us that assist him to figure out what kind of supports he was was going to need as an adult with Autism.

There is a  hope that students will be more employable by completing the transition program. Some students have disabilities but not all.  Some are missing graduation requirements. Good Transition Programs expose young adults to the adult world with job shadows, internships, transportation training, and reinforcing activities of daily living.

My son's #1 goal was to work. As of February of this year, he was employed but the place he was working changed owners and as of July my son was out of a job. He completed one online college math course and this fall is taking a on campus college computer course. So he is back to job hunting.

There is no safety net of school is liberating but also scary as heck. All the supports are basically gone. They call this falling off the cliff. My son does receive some services - job coach and case management.  I am his caregiver and I am reimbursed for some of my time. My son pays me rent. These are all good things but now my son is constantly in my orbit. It can be suffocating at times. He signs for himself and I am not his guardian. So I am simply an adviser with little or no power to intervene on his behalf.  It is totally like being a back seat driver. Sometimes this is frustrating as my son gets easily frustrated by lots of questions or communicating with government agencies. I am still learning this dance with him.

Googling My Way Through Life - Repainting the Front Door

I just want my front doors to look better. I really like my front doors. They are meh at best. I have a few dents on the inside door. I would like to eventually replace completely but double doors are expensive. Up close the doors  have started to rust. We get a lot of rain in the Pacific Northwest so the doors get wet a lot. I have steel doors which are great to put magnets with plastic spiders on top.

up close

I would like to repaint the front of our doors black. I guess black or charcoal doors are good for resale - article here. This has led me to studying the doors in my neighborhood and so far I haven't seen a black one yet.

Should I repaint my doors black?

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Googling My Way Through Life - Beth Moore and Lighting up the Internet

Oh a controversy always has me googling. For many years, I have attended a bible study that has used Beth Moore bible studies for years.  Beth Moore is perhaps the most recognizable woman of faith. So when she was dismissed/attacked by John MacArthur, Evangelical Pastor. He basically said "Go Home", YouTube link here.The internet lit up.

Article about the controversy

The first of I heard on it was Jen Hatmaker another bible teacher, podcaster, fighter mentioned it.
Sarah Bessey, preacher,  wrote a passionate essay about it. (See her field notes)

I loved Beth Moore's tweet

I did not surrender to a calling of man when I was 18 years old. I surrendered to a calling of God. It never occurs to me for a second to not fulfill it. I will follow Jesus - and Jesus alone - all the way home. And I will see His beautiful face and proclaim, Worthy is the Lamb!

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) October 21, 2019

My personal take on all of this. John MacArthur came after the wrong person. I consider Beth Moore a biblical scholar. I would also consider her perhaps one of the more conservative bible study teachers in comparison to a Jen Hatmaker. Chances are if you are a woman in a main stream church you have done a Beth Moore Bible Study. I am pretty sure angered anyone who ever done a Beth Moore bible study.

John MacArthur comments make him sound afraid of Beth Moore and afraid of women. The church has a big enough tent to include everyone. The church should be inclusive. Jesus actively sought out the disenfranchised and those on the fringes. Being male doesn't qualify you alone to preach. I pretty sure Beth Moore doesn't consider herself a preacher but a teacher if you are hung up on that. However, I believe anyone could be called by God to deliver his message that includes anyone of any gender.

Beth Moore studies taught me to really study the bible in a thoughtful way and how to apply the bible to my life.  It saddens me that John Macarthur wants to discredit just Beth Moore but any woman that feels calls to preach or teach.

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Wordy Wednesday - Eyeball Humor

I just can't stop with the eyeball humor. See the rest of my eyeball decor.