Currently Reading Secret Lives Of The First Ladies: What Your Teachers Never Told You About The Women of The White House By Cormac O'Brien see related

I'm a history buff. So when I saw an add for the book "Secret Lives of the First Ladies" I was intrigued to say the least. I saw the add in Glamour magazine while I was in a doctor's office today. Like I said...I was intrigued, so intrigued that I went to the local Barnes and bought it.

Here are some interesting, not to mention disturbing, facts of some of the many first ladies:

Mary Todd Lincoln: In an attempt to communicate with the dead, Mary hosted numerous seances at the White House.


Julia Dent Grant: After being whacked by an oar as a child, Julia never saw straight again. She could barely cross a room without bumping into furniture.

Edith Bolling Wilson: As First Lady during the First World War, Edith insisted on doing her part-and then some. While most Americans worried about whether their sons and husbands would come home in one piece, Mrs. Wilson took it upon herself to fret over the soldiers' chastity. She penned an open letter to the women of Europe, pleading with them to prevent American doughboys from giving in to the temptations that came with "the unnatural life of the camp." We can only assume the soldiers themselves wished that their first lady hadn't been so concerned.

Florence Kling Harding: Florence and Warren Harding's wedding began at 8:00 p.m. on July 8, 1891, and ended precisely a half-hour later. The finals moments of the ceremony were hastened so as to conclude exactly at that time. Why? Florence had a superstition that no momentous event should end in the midst of the minute hand's journey from six to twelve.

Grace Coolidge: The first time Grace Goodhue laid eyes on Calvin Coolidge, it was through a bathroom window-and her future husband was naked except for his underwear and hat. "I am rather proud of the fact that after nearly a quarter of a century of marriage, my husband feels free to make his decisions and act upon them without consulting me or giving me advance information concerning them."

Eleanor Roosevelt: She wasn't interested in elaborate menus or fancy foods. While first lady, she once served hot dogs to the King and Queen of England.

Bess Truman: Her attachement to Independence, Missouri, was always a strong one. She even preferred the laundromats back home. Upon moving to Washington after Harry's election to the United States Senate, she was so unimpressed with capital cleaning establishments that ashe insisted on having her laundry delivered by long-distance mail to Kansas City for washing.

Mamie Eisenhower: She never missed an episode of As the World Turns. Her staff scheduled appointments before and after (but never during) the program.


Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy: She had to confront her husband's infidelity on numerous occations-like the time she discovered another woman's underwear in their bed.


Betty Ford: To look at her when she was a child, no one would have believed that Betty would grow up to be a lithe dancer. She tended to run more than a little on the chubby side, a condition at least partially fueled by her habit of visiting local restaurants to ask for food from diners. The situation got bad enough that Betty's mother took to hanging a sign on her dauther's back that read, "Please do not feed this child."  While she was first lady, one of her daily routines involved a gold statue of a woman whose grasp once held a document that had been lost. Believing that the figure should have something to hold onto, she took to placing one of her cigarettes in the statue's hand-and insisted on surreptitously replacing it whenever the servants had it removed.
President Ford's loss in the 1976 campaign hit Betty quite hard, not least becuase she had gone through such extraordinary efforts on his behalf herself.  In Wisconsin, for instance, she spread her husband's message to workers and truckers on a CB radio. Her handle: "First Mama."

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Hillary has long been a favorite target of the right wing.  But she wasn't always a Democrat-in fact, it wasn't until her college days that she began leaning to the left. Back in high school, she was an ardent supporter of severe right-wing Repulican Barry Goldwater.

Laura Bush: There's an old story told by member's of the Bush clan that goes something like this: At their first meeting, Laura Welch was asked by the imperious Bush matriarch Dorothy Walker Bush what she did. "I read, I smoke, I admire," is what Laura is repotrted to have replied. Though Laura denies having said exactly that, it was the sort of response that, according to her in-lawes, endeared her to all and sundry-especially the smoking part. In fact, Laura Bush smoked cigarettes regularly until the early 1990s.

So there ya go....women to look up to, eh? If I would have to choose to be like any of them, I'd choose Betty Ford, she seems too ignorant and insane to realize how psycho she really was.

Currently Listening Simply Nothing By Shawn McDonald Have You Ever see related

What is worship? Is it an individual experience? Is it experienced only through community? Is it both? Can you have an individual worship experience surrounded by hundreds of people? In the office? In a classroom? In a cabin with 10 screaming girls?

A lot of times in community worship I get distracted. Whether it be other people, or myself with my own thoughts I get oober off track. I've been trying to cultivate individual worship. I'm trying to figure what it is so that I can block out all the distractions in community worship. Pretending that nobody else is around.......just me and God. I don't want to be a person who looks like they're worshipping on the outside, and are thinking of their schedule on the inside ya know? I want to mean the words that I'm singing. I never used to have a problem with this until a couple weeks ago, when it started to feel like I was going through the motions. Putting on a worshippers facade for my campers, and co-workers. It's getting a little better, but it's still the most awkward feeling to have during worship.

........I want to come back the Heart of Worship.........

Currently Watching The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition) By Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson see related

It’s been awhile…let’s pretend that we’re having coffee somewhere and we’re talking one on one. Because I’ve wanted to do that with everyone for a long time, but I’m at camp….yeah, I know, the last place you’d picture me. So, here is the beginning of our “one on one.” I’ve had a lot of firsts. Some things that you want to experience and some that you don’t. I love Covenant Harbor…a ton. It’s exactly where God wants me, and I only want what God wants for my life. Here is some generalizations categorized month by month.

May: Beginning of staff training. The best two weeks of hanging out I’ve had in a long time. Met and got to know such godly men and women. Learned that I put limitations on myself….God never put them on me. I can do anything through Him who gives me strength! Also learned that you grow where you are planted.  I have been planted in many different places, Rockford, Chicago, Lake Geneva, etc. I’m learning the art of adjustment.

June: Beginning of my actual job. One word: stressamazing. Ok…two words. Stressful….but amazing. I had 5 campers come to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior this month. Got to know people a lot better, and on a more personable level as well. Learned how to trust again.  Was counting down the days until my week off in July. Was able to get the opportunity to speak in the nighttime chapel service, and sing a couple of times as well. I am very thankful for both. Even though I’m learning and growing a lot, I’ve been very uncomfortable at camp. Working with people that I never thought I’d be working with, and having stressful working conditions pertaining to people in high places….could I BE more vague! The first Sunday at Harbor, we went to Anchor Covenant Church, and I was given a huge passion from God to go Africa. Now that’s what I’ve been thinking about a lot the past 2-3 days. I want to go do missions there so so bad. It’s insane!

July: Left on the 2^nd of July to go back home. July 3^rd was my family birthday party, and it was really really nice to see friends and family. 4^th of July was fun, saw random people. My birthday was a lot of fun. Went to Chi-town a couple days later and went to that Body Worlds exhibit in the Museum of Science and Industry. It was amazing!! Creepy, eerie, unsettling, but awe-inspiring. July 8^th, wasn’t that great of a day. Got into my first car accident ever.  And I’m still feeling the repercussions of it in my neck and back. I’ve been going through chiropractic therapy for the past couple weeks, and its helping a lot. And about 10 days ago I got my first bee sting ever, and yes….found out I’m mildly allergic. They doped me up on as much Benadryl as I could take and I was out like a light. Then….8 days later, my arm swelled up around the site of the sting and itched like nothing has ever itched before. Worse than chicken pox!! Now I’m on a steroid for the swelling, and another medication for just the itching! July has been such a roller coaster of emotions.  With relationships, sickness, a car accident, family issues, school issues, camp issues, just life I guess. A lot has come into question. And a lot has been answered, and then unanswered again. It’s been weird, but good….I guess. A growing experience…that’s for sure. God’s telling me to sit back and relax….but that’s a problem….because I can’t. I wish I didn’t plan so much. I wish I wasn't such a goal-oriented/future seeking person. I want to know everything, which leaves no mystery. But I think I’m scared of that mystery, because I’ve been hurt so much that I always think all experiences end up being bad. So I'm scared to try new things, but I don’t act like it. Sorry….tangent. Maybe I’ll leave this subject for our next coffee date. J

PLEASE WRITE TO ME!

Kara Greenland

c/o Covenant Harbor

Pier 30

Lake Geneva, WI 53147

I miss all of you a ton! And I can’t wait for school to start back up again, and for things to feel somewhat normal again. Have a great few weeks before classes, and rest as much as possible! LOVE YOU!!

Kara Nikki G

Currently Playing Let My Words Be Few By Phillips Craig and Dean You Are My King see related

CAMP IS TODAY!! I LEAVE IN LIKE 15 MINUTES!! IT IS GOING TO BE A BLAST!!

Just want to let all of you know, anyone who reads this....I love you so so much, and if it wasn't for a lot of you these past couple weeks I don't know what I would have done. You all mean so much to me!!

Things to think about over this summer:
GOD IS SO GOOD
GOD IS LOVE
God cares ABOUT everything....even the little things.
He cares about whether you got the venti over the tall at starbucks, He cares about whether you clipped your toenails yet or not. If its important to you...its important to God. Because you are HIS. HE LOVES YOU!! He wants nothing but the best for your life.
Another thing....YOU ARE SO FREAKIN' BEAUTIFUL! Each and every one of you are GORGEOUS!  God made you the way you are for a reason. I've had to come to terms with this, but its SO SO SO SO SO SO SO true!! Both God and I know that all of you are going to have amazing summers full of His love, grace, mercy, forgivness, and blessings. LET Him pour out his love on you. LET Him guide your path so that it is in perfect alignment with HIS perfect will.
Dear God,
Wow....you are so amazing!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! You have given me so much these past few weeks, more than anyone could have ever asked for. A job, an amazing friend, a reconciled relationship, a new found relationship with a pastor, a best friend in my mom, an understanding of my father, self-esteem, a GOD-GIVEN counselor, amazing friends from NP, new found friendships with church girls, and most of all you've shown me that you DO have it all under control, and that I don't have to plan. Again, THANK YOU! Thank you for family, all of them. I pray for Taylor and Nicholas, Elizabeth and Heidi, Rachel and Bekah. I LOVE THEM ALL! I pray for Rachel's pregnancy, and also for Caleb. AMEN!!!

GOD LOVES YOU ALL! AND SO DO I!
with MUCH MUCH <3 in Christ,

Kara