Now I'm usually pretty oblivious to the world around me--it's true, I've got the embarrasing stories to prove it--but lately I've been in an intellectual mood. I normally just get the news from Letterman or SNL, but the past couple of days I've been listening to talk radio. Not just any talk radio--economics talk radio. Weird, huh?

I'm pretty sure I'm not the average listener. Callers often mention the $100,000 they put into a CD while I can't even find the CD I got in my stocking. Anyway, did you know that since the year 2000 the value of the dollar has gone down 40%? No wonder my grocery bills have almost doubled.

Inflation in the month of January alone was over 1%, meaning it's possible to have 12% inflation this year. Compare that to the interest your savings is currenlty earning. (I don't know what mine is, but the radio host said that 4% for investments is really good.)

All in all, this made me really glad that I spend money as soon as I get it. I won't have to hide receipts from my husband anymore. (Dan, if you're reading this, I'm just kidding.) But seriously, I just proved a point that will make women everywhere rejoice: Shopping saves you money!

Tomorrow I'll be switching radio stations and rocking out to Stephanie Smith again--on my way to the mall.

I had a dream last night that another couple wanted to adopt my youngest daughter Lauren. The really weird thing is that my daughter Caitlin had the same dream. She woke up crying because she couldn't hear Lauren on the bottom bunk and thought that she'd already been adopted.

I'm sure these dreams were caused by a comment Lauren made the other day. My husband asked, "Lauren, why are you so cute?" She responded, "Because I'm adopted!" She was clueless as to how perfect her timing was on that one, but we had to explain to her that she is not adopted.

I think we must have read Jamie Lee Curtis's book TELL ME AGAIN one too many times. Great book, though. And someday we want to adopt. But right now I've got my hands full with the kids I gave birth to--whether they believe it or not.

Today is my daughter's birthday. She got to be line leader and snack helper in preschool. That's a big deal. So, like a good mom, I bought beautiful pink cupcakes for her to share.

We got to school this morning and Lauren was more excited than she's ever been. I walk her to her class and present the beautiful treats. That's when the preschool teacher informed me of the "no cupcake policy." I'm serious.

Lauren was okay, but I felt bad enough for both of us. I was disappointed that they couldn't make an exception to the rule, and I was mad at myself for not knowing the rule. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to pick up another snack because I had to get to the gym to teach my class.

I called my husband and ranted about how much I hate preschool. I mean, they prioritize keeping the carpet clean from frosting over my daughter's 5th birthday. That's just messed up.

Dan did his thing and calmed me down. I considered passing out the cupcakes in the parking lot after preschool (and becoming a cupcake pusher), but I ended up taking the cupcakes to my step class instead.

The participants enjoyed them, though if ever there was a place to have a "no cupcake policy" it should be Gold's Gym. But hey, it's Valentine's Day. And I'm a nice teacher. I made an exception and gave my class a treat.

The earliest prayer I remember having answered was in 2nd grade when I dropped my Bible in the swimming pool. I went to a Christian school where we used our Bibles everyday, and I had to use my water damaged Bible with the colorful highlighter ink running through most of the pages. (Ben Beber offered to pay me $5 for my rainbow-colored Bible, but my mom wouldn't let me sell it.)

So I really wanted a new Bible--a Precious Moments Bible, to be exact. I prayed for one every day during prayer requests at school. Then one day my teacher called me up to her desk. She had found a Precious Moments Bible in the church lost and found, and after nobody claimed it, she asked the pastor if she could give it to me. The amazing this is this: The Bible was still in its box. It was brand new! I have the Bible to this day, and I have no doubt that it was a gift from God.

I have many more stories of answered prayer, but I think I'll just share a poem I wrote instead.

PROCLAIM

It's a still small voice.
It's intimacy and love.
It's quiet time alone
With my Father up above.

It's easy to forget.
I get distracted by my day.
So God lets me stumble—
Reminding me to pray.

In Jesus name, in Jesus name,
Victory I proclaim.
In Jesus name, in Jesus name,
Victory I proclaim.

Opening up to others.
Gathered two or three.
Laying hands or holding hands
In boldness we believe.

In Jesus name, in Jesus name,
Victory we proclaim.
In Jesus name, in Jesus name,
Victory we proclaim.

You are a mighty warrior.
Pick up your sword and fight.
In the power of Jesus name
Let out a battle cry.

In Jesus name, in Jesus name,
Victory you proclaim.
In Jesus name, in Jesus name,
Victory you proclaim.

This is the church my dad built.

This is the woman who ran away with my dad
After working at the church my dad built.

This is my new pastor, who is counseling me to forgive
The woman who ran away with my dad
After working at the church my dad built.

This is a client I’m personal training, to get her in shape for her wedding to
My new pastor, who is counseling me to forgive
The woman who ran away with my dad
After working at the church my dad built.

This is the mess I made when falling in love with the fiancée of
A client I’m personal training, to get her in shape for her wedding to
My new pastor, who is counseling me to forgive
The woman who ran away with my dad
After working at the church my dad built.

It will have pictures to go along with it. And the pictures will change. For example, the first line will have a picture of Bethany standing with her Dad in front of the church and the LIVING FAITH sign. The next time the same line comes up the picture will show only Bethany next to the sign, but she'll be holding up a posterboard that makes the sign look like it reads DYING FAITH--that kind of thing.

What do you think?