Retraction

Thanks to the Leadership in the House of Representatives, I must publish a retraction from my August 3rd Post regarding the August Recess.

MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010:

On Monday, the House will meet at 7:00 p.m. in Pro Forma session.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2010:

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Yep, we're back in session this week. That's all.

Keep a Quiet Heart

Elisabeth Elliot is a Christian author and speaker who has had a fascinating life filled with all kinds of trials and experiences that many of us will never face. Below is an excerpt for her book Keep a Quiet Heart. Her wisdom is sound and concise. She puts a humorous spin on the way many of us end up feeling and acting sometimes. It can be from habit, when we don't even realize it or because we are going through a hard time. The important thing for Christians to remember though, is no matter what you are going through, it is nothing that Jesus has not felt himself. That said, here's a reminder that our actions and what we choose to focus on (our pain OR Christ's sovereignty in all situations) can have a big impact on the way everyday life plays out.

Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable:

1. Count your troubles, name them one by one--at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.

2. Worry every day about something. Don't let yourself get out of practice. It won't add a cubit to your stature but it might burn a few calories.

3. Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.

4. Devise clever but decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man's gotta live.

5. Make it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and wherethey're going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan to do it.

6. Stay away from absolutes. It's what's right for you that matter. Be your own person and don't allow yourself to get hung up on what other expect of you.

7. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people's. You have your life to live, they have theirs.

8. Don't fall into any compassion traps--the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people's troubles, you may neglect your own.

9. Don't let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what's really relevant--things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones--they're where it' at now.

Ahhh...August!

After a brief hiatus, I'm back!

July was busy...I had family and friends in town, went to my cottage on the Eastern Shore, and to Mississippi for Mary Jane and Greg's engagement party.

August is synonymous with slow on the Hill, a very welcome change after a busy summer. I am looking forward to working through some projects that have been stacked up and getting reorganized.

The heat still rages outside, so to battle the hot temperatures, our friends are going tubing in Harper's Ferry, WV this Saturday. This will be my third year to visit River Riders and experience a refreshing day of floating down the Shenandoah River.

Maybe I will make time to post some pictures from my summer adventures...starting with seeing Paul McCartney perform and meeting Faith Hill to Mississippi on the Mall to Screen on the Green to the Eastern Shore.

It's one of my August goals.

So stand by (hopefully) for a fun backlog.

What is the most fun thing you have done this summer?

Mississippi on the Mall

The 20th Annual Mississippi on the Mall is this Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm.

The event will take place in the shadow of the Washington Monument, near the corner of 14th and Constitution, NW. Catfish, hushpuppies, coleslaw, McAlister's sweet tea, beer, and music by the George McConnell Band.

Buy your ticket atwww.mississippisociety.com/events!

Cape Hatteras-OBX

It was high time to get o-u-t of the city and what better place to go to but the OUTER BANKS? My first experience in the Outer Banks was last summer and I absolutely loved it! My friend Katie has a house there and has been kind enough to let our DC crew crash there twice now.

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina was the #4 spot on America's Best Beaches this year and I can certainly vouch for its wonderfulness! The best part about the beaches at Hatteras is that you can drive your SUV straight onto the beach and park it. We have done this the past 2 summers with Laine's 4-Runner and have had much success (minus one incident this year...that's another story). We load up the troops and our gear and once we arrive at the spot of our choice we open the back hatch and car doors and blast music. It's the best.

Buck invested in a high quality eagle kite.

Samantha, Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte

This was Cooper's first beach trip! He had a life vest.

Another clutch addition to this year's trip was that Jordan bought a tent so that we had the options of sun or shade. My skin is still thanking Jordan.

The actual beaches and water are beautiful too--the sand is not exactly white, but it's tan, and the water was a deep blue green. We had great weather--a few clouds but nothing major and it burned off by noon.

I went on my first fishing trip. Six of us headed out early Saturday morning on the SEA DOG with Captain Chris Bock. We only did a half day trip, but we caught tons of fish (Spanish and Blue mackerel) and had a huge fish fry on Saturday night. It is believed that I reeled in the biggest fish--an honor that I am proud of! Our resident Marine, Grimes, caught the most fish. Be sure to ask him about his experience...

Reeling my fish in!

Nothing like raw fish for freshness...

Captain Chris making sashimi for us

Buck's shirt is off before 10am = bad sign

Katie, Ty and me

Buck, Ty, Kern

Hatteras is officially a tradition now since we have gone in 2009 and 2010. I hope to keep this tradition alive for years to come!