Beware of the Toxic Drywall

Are you thinking about building or buying a new home? If so this issue is something you should not ignore. I’ve been looking occasionally at homes here and there but I’m really nervous to buy one after hearing about defective American and Chinese drywall. If you have never heard of either I urge you to find out more information before going on your house hunt at The Chinese Drywall Lawyer website. Not noticeable at first some of the side effects caused by this toxic drywall are bloody noses, vomiting, coughing, internal pains, and headaches. Not to mention it is thought it could cause lifelong health issues. I’m starting to hear more and more about families who are having to deal with this massive issue. However this toxic drywall is still not well known in the public eye. Thus my reason for wanting to bring more attention to it and my fellow house hunters.

The southern part of the United States, places such as Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia are among the hardest hit by this toxic matter. But it is known to be all over the U.S. reaching as far as California and New York. I recently found the video above by George and Brenda Brincku who are dealing with such an issue in Fort Myers, Florida. For the 8 months they have been trying to pull together the pieces of this mysterious toxin in their home and have been forced to move because of it. To read more about the Brincku family you can view the testimony they sent to the U.S. Senate. I can’t believe what they have been going through and my heart goes out to them. Please watch the video they made, I think it has great tips for checking to see if your home or a home you looking to purchase has defective drywall.

We all need to educate ourselves on defective drywall because I would hate to see any others people go through this huge ordeal. The Brincku’s also have had a story done on CBS. I hope by spreading the word about the Brincku Family I could help put a stop to these drywall companies for making this toxic drywall and restore the people’s lives they heartlessly destroyed.

Lastly, if you or someone you know has defective American or Chinese drywall I found out you can contact Brenda Brincku on Twitter or on Facebook. I know she would love to talk to you and get you connected to the right people that could help you deal with your situation. I hope knowing about this issue will help you make a wise choice when you go to purchase or build your next home. Good luck!

Shovel… What’s That?

After the snow storm was over, I was totally snowed in… 12 inches of fresh white fluff! To bad there isn’t any mountains in Circle City… I would have loved to hit the slopes in this kind of weather. After they plowed our parking lot, the nice plow guy put a load of snow behind my car! Not having four-wheel drive I determined that it would be impossible to get out. Since I’m from Florida the thought of owning a shovel has never really crossed my mind living in apartments. I knew I needed to find one because I would be rolling out in the snow for hours trying to dig out my car with my hands. It hardly ever snows like this in Indiana and this was something I was not prepared for. Thus I pulled out my trusty cell phone and made a couple phone calls to see if I could find someone to bring me a shovel.

Without hesitation Mr. Fitness, a guy I’ve been becoming friends with from the gym came to my rescue! He told me it would be no problem and he would show up after work. As time passed I wondered if he was really going to come because I hadn’t heard from him and it was starting to get late. When he finally called me he said I hope I dug out the right car! Confused, I said…”What ?!?!” He laughed and said something along the lines of, “yep, I didn’t want you to have to do it.”

I couldn’t believe he just dug out my car by himself without telling me he was at my apartment doing it. That was super nice of him and I appreciated it a ton. Haha which brings me to the reason I think he did it…. He asked if I wanted to hang out this weekend with him and some of his friends. I told him I would have to think about it… so there is a chance I might be hanging out with them on Saturday night. We will see what happens, I haven’t made up my mind about it yet. 

Another year…

After being down in Florida for 11 days I’m back in Circle City now. I apologize for my lack of blogging while I was gone. But it was so good to be home with my family and get to spend time with them. I think what I will miss the most is not being able to say, “I love you” face to face. Saying it over the phone to family is one thing but there is something truly special about being able to say it in person. For years it was something I know I took it for granted. But being home this past Christmas holiday I realized that is what I miss the most about not living there. It makes my eyes water just thinking about it. I was sad to leave everyone last night and I know my parents would have rather me just stay. However, I wasn’t saying goodbye… just I’ll see you later. So in reality it will be good to get life back to normal and have a routine again. Eating Christmas cookies is not part of my normal diet.

Other than that my Christmas holiday was wonderful! So on a different topic are you ready for the New Year ?!?! I’m know I am all geared up for 2009 and can’t wait see what it brings. Granted I know this coming year will bring a lot of struggles, but I’m optimistic. I have a feeling God is going to do some amazing things. Christmas Eve my parent’s pastor Orlando read this verse Isaiah 43:2, “ When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” What an incredible verse isn’t it? It is a great reminder that He will never leave us, no matter what we go through in our lives.

There is a saying I live by that I would like to share with you… Sola Fide. Which in Latin means, “by faith alone”. I came across the saying Sola Fide about a two years ago, it was during my senior year of college. Since then, Sola Fide has become something I strive everyday to live by. Whenever I feel like I can’t make it or things aren’t turning out the way I planned, I just remember by faith alone. God is beyond faithful to us, so why can’t we be that for Him? Letting go of the wheel and trusting God with my life has been one of the hardest things for me to do. Believe me it wasn’t easy, there were so many times I just wanted to sit back in the driver’s seat. But it isn’t about what I want for my life, it is about what He has planned for me. This road I’m traveling has had its fair share of trails but the experience has been amazing. Even though I feel I have grown a ton these past two years, I know I still have much to learn. I wouldn’t have been where I am today without God’s steadfast faithfulness.

Looking back on all that I’ve learned in 2008 and thinking about my 2009 New Year’s resolution… I found myself repeating a simple phrase, “Let go and let God”. I feel like God is tugging at my heart more than ever right now, and He is wanting me to let His love be the reason I wake up, live life and even breathe. So you can say it is more or less a lifetime resolution, but I know it will be a rewarding one to live by.

Well, I better go… but I hope you have a wonderful New Year’s tonight and my prayer for you is that you will experience His faithfulness and steadfast love this year.

“For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” – Psalm 57:10

23 Days

The last 23 days things between Mr. Seattle and I have been awesome! He is so sweet and caring towards me, which I’ve really appreciated. Wanting to do something special for him before I left for Florida… I sent him a Christmas package with cookies, puppy chow and hot chocolate mix. He still won’t stop raving about the cookies which makes me really happy I sent them. I just wanted to send him something fun for Christmas. I thought Christmas snacks would be a good choice, since it was the first thing I’ve ever sent him. Plus I didn’t want to seem too serious and I felt this would make it more casual.

Besides that things have been going really well and two night ago he did asked me one of the cutest things I’ve ever been asked by a guy. Even though we are hundreds of miles apart he was thoughtful enough to ask if I wanted to watch The Holiday with him… loving the movie of course I said yes! So we cued the movie up to the same place and watched it together in a sense. It might sound a little corny but it was actually a lot of fun. While watching the movie we made comments back and forth over gchat. I mean what guy does that? I thought that was so sweet he wanted to actually sit down and do something like that with me.

Needless to say, I’ve been a little smitten with Mr. Seattle and I have really enjoyed the time we have spent getting to know each other. It has been such a nice change of pace for once. I think the next thing on my list to do is to get a web camera. Mr. Seattle has mentioned a couple times that he has done Skype before and how great it is to see the person while you’re talking. And now that gmail has a video chat, it seems like more people are using it. I think tonight I might venture out to the stores to see if I can find one. Having a web camera being so far apart, might make getting to know each other a lot easier. I would love to be able to see him smile, hear him laugh and get to know his expressions on a face to face basis. We both agreed I had to get one so we could try it.

I’m so content right now and I wouldn’t want it any other way at the moment. I’m blessed beyond measure and happy that I’ve been able to share the past 23 days with someone like Mr. Seattle. No matter what this whole experience has been refreshing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

One day…

This past Thursday, I flew down to Florida to be home with the family for Christmas. If you were wondering why I’ve been a little MIA the past couple days, that is the reason. It has been great being back home, I’ve missed everyone so much! But it has also been really hard coming back this year. This town… has so much history for me with my first boyfriend. Just driving around, memories of him start to surface. In one way these memories are nothing more then just that, memories. It is sad I’ve tried to suppress them, it is like trying to let a piece of my childhood go. However in the end I know how my life would have ended up if I had married him. I would have made due, but I would have been unhappy. Knowing that fact alone has made it easier over time to let my ex fade away.

I very hopeful and I know “one day” I will have that happiness I long for. When there isn’t one waking moment I can’t go without thinking about him, where he makes me laugh so hard I’m about to pee my pants and when I wouldn’t want to love anyone else but him. I know he is out there… I’m just waiting for him to come find me. When he does it will be perfect and he will be everything I had hoped for and more. But until that moment, I’m trying so hard to be patient.

Mr. Seattle and I have been talking quite a bit. I believe we have at least text or called almost every day since we had our second date. I’m really appreciating the friendship we are starting to build and I hope that no matter what we will never lose that. Again, I have no idea where things are headed but I’m not trying to let myself worry about it. If it is going to work out it will and if not… well it just wasn’t meant to be. I just know Mr. Seattle has made me so happy lately, I feel like I’m a kid again. I get excited when he calls, I can’t wait to hear about his day and he makes me laugh so much… I really don’t want it to end.

Contemplating what my life could be like one day I’m left a little more confused then I was before. It is never easy trying to figure these things out so I’m left to letting it just play out. It has been humbling to know that sometimes our lives are to big for us to plan out ourselves and that God has been writing long before our existence. I guess you can’t really appreciate a good book for the story if you read the ending first, right? So right now that is where I’m at… trying to be patient, waiting for the “right guy” to come along and not reading the ending of my story before it happens. One day… it will all work out and it will be everything I’ve hoped for.