Tana's Blogspot

A review: I Quit!

2010-10-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Stop Pretending Everything is Fine and Change your Life- so reads the subtitle of Geri Scazzero's book "I Quit!" Mrs. Scazzero discusses eight topics that the reader should examine, pray about, and then quit appropriately. Using examples from her life and the lives of others, Mrs. Scazzero shows clearly how these behaviors and attitudes effect every area of our life negatively. Then, using scripture and biblical principles, she advises the reader to quit. Quit being afraid of what others think. Quit lying- to others, ourselves, and God. Quit dying to the wrong things. Quit denying anger, sadness, and fear. Quit blaming (and take positive action instead). Quit overfunctioning. Quit faulty thinking. Quit living someone else's life. The sound advice doesn't stop there. Mrs. Scazzero also delves deeply into what behaviors should take the place of these things. In all, the book is a guide to taking the first steps to emotional and spiritual health and freedom.

I like that "I Quit!" acknowledges repeatedly that grace, peace, and freedom come from Christ alone. This is not a "save yourself by your own work" book. Rather, the book addresses the things that we do and think that keep us from being able to accept peace, grace, and freedom personally, in our relationships with our spouse or children, and in our churches. It's far more practical than, "let go and let God," which I also appreciate very much. I did not get the impression of religion or condemnation at all in any part of the book, but I definitely felt convicted and encouraged more than once.

Finally, I'd like to address the actual writing of the book. One can have great things to say, but if they are not said well, the message can quickly be lost in boredom and confusion. This is not the case at all with Geri Scazzero's "I Quit!" "I Quit!" is easy to read and follow, one section leads logically and compellingly into the next, and Mrs. Scazzero strikes an excellent balance between anecdote and practical application. I never felt the pace of the book was lagging or rushing. At the beginning, Mrs. Scazzero suggests that readers might want to skip ahead to chapters that applied to their current situation, but to please return to the earlier chapters so as not to miss anything valuable. I can see where this would work without taking anything away from the book, but I also really enjoyed reading it straight through. "I quit!" was affirming, encouraging, and a pleasure to read.

Argh- and expect a review very soon

2010-10-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

The UPS delivered my advanced reader copy- but I wasn't home. So they left a note saying they would try again. I never heard from them. I finally tracked down the book. they delivered it to my apartment complex office and didn't let me know. Argh! I'm excited, though, and on my way to pick it up. Expect more soon!

Excited

2010-09-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

I've been absent for a while...not much that I felt was worth saying & most of my pictures end up on facebook. However, I'm excited! I sent a request via Zondervan's blog for an advanced reader copy. If they send me one, I get to read and review a new book here!

Better Safe Than Sorry...or not!

2010-02-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

I had this conversation on facebook. Someone posted a warning to do this urgent thing or there would be dire consequences. It seemed suspect to me. Snopes.com confirmed it as a hoax. An OLD hoax that keeps getting recycled. I posted the snopes link and the comment, "it's a hoax." The responses that other people posted were effectively, "I did it anyway because even though it's a hoax it's better to be safe than sorry." ARGH! Wait, did you miss that? AAARRRGGGHHH! It's a hoax! It's always been a hoax! Maybe someday it won't be a hoax, but doing that thing NOW won't protect you THEN. It will have expired! You're thinking, "Tana's going off the deep end. Why is this such an issue?" It is an issue, my friends, because it is the attitude of herd animals. All the cows are running THAT way, so I'm going to run THAT way and when we all run off of the cliff, at least I won't go splat alone. I wanted to scream, "Don't do it! It's really a virus disguised as a hoax disguised as a public service! If you do it your transmission will fail within a week, your grandma will get hives, and your cell phone ring tones will all be changed to M.C. Hammer's 'Can't Touch This!'" That's ridiculous, you say? You don't even have to verify that on snopes because it is silly. It's so over the top, it wouldn't even qualify as a hoax. However, the REAL hoax? The one that doesn't do anything but waste a few minutes of your time and your phone usage? Well, better safe than sorry, so I think I'll go ahead and do it. I'll be available for shearing in the spring.

Decisions, Decisions

2010-01-20T16:23:00.000-08:00

It's been a crazy year for Bryan and I. Yes, all twenty days of it. The company for which he works is expanding rapidly. This is really good for us. After four years of working hard, helping with things that weren't his job, and waiting, promotion appears imminent. You do reap what you sow, but some harvests take longer than others. Before Christmas, we agreed that he should "roll out" for four weeks to help open a new office. We're in the sixth week of that four. The imminent promotion seems like a carrot on a stick, some days- right in front of him, but no matter how fast he moves, he can't get a grip on it. In the mean time, there isn't enough work here. So he has the option of taking the same promotion in a different district here, coming home to do not enough work while he waits for the district he wants, or continuing to roll out until his district is available. The roll out option may well take most of the year. It's a hard choice for us. We want him home. We want the original district because we think he'd be happier there. We want out of debt, and the roll out money could get us there, or almost. I miss my husband, but a (nearly) debt-free horizon includes things like a house, a retirement fund, a college fund... He misses me and the boy, but the provider-voice in his head pushes him to stay away. Tonight, he tells me they may send him to a different office to train new technicians so the current office manager can roll out to still another city. For three or four weeks. With no visit home between cities. I'm looking at pet-friendly hotels.

He surprised me this past weekend with a visit home. We haven't been together since Christmas day. We talked about our possible choices a lot. For now, he's going to keep on rolling out. We'll wait for the better district. We'll be thankful for enough work and higher pay during such a hard economic time. We'll work hard on a long-distance love- we made it work before we were married, with Jesus' grace, we can do it now.

It's been a crazy year, and while financial blessings and promotions may be imminent, normality isn't anywhere to be seen.

Confidence

2010-01-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

from Merriam-Webster
Main Entry: 1con·fi·dence
Pronunciation: \ˈkän-fə-dən(t)s, -ˌden(t)s\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century

1 a : a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances b : faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way
2 : the quality or state of being certain : certitude
3 a : a relation of trust or intimacy b : reliance on another's discretion c : support especially in a legislative body
4 : a communication made in confidence : secret
synonyms confidence, assurance, self-possession, aplomb mean a state of mind or a manner marked by easy coolness and freedom from uncertainty, diffidence, or embarrassment. confidence stresses faith in oneself and one's powers without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance . assurance carries a stronger implication of certainty and may suggest arrogance or lack of objectivity in assessing one's own powers . self-possession implies an ease or coolness under stress that reflects perfect self-control and command of one's powers . aplomb implies a manifest self-possession in trying or challenging situations .

My husband has been away for five weeks. When we agreed that he should travel for a while, we did it with confidence- our marriage could withstand distance (it has), he would be okay without me to cook and wash his clothes (he has), I could adequately manage our home and son and pets by myself (I have, but I really miss him). It's a pretty big thing to agree to one third of your immediate family to live separately for a time. We're managing, though, and I'm confident that with God's continuing grace we will be fine, and have a delightful reunion in about a week.

I wrote that to give you an example of my confidence. I am not a timid or uncertain person. Why then, did I spend at least twenty anxious minutes composing a very short email this week? Why did I wish it back after I had hit the send button? I'm not going to go into details, but it was a weird thing to send. Thankfully, it was not treated as a weird thing to receive. I got a gracious and friendly response. The oddness was apparently all in my head (or my friend is too nice to call me out).

Another area where I am uncertain and lack aplomb is ministry. The last few years, God has been using various people and situations to show me the gifts He has entrusted to me. I can't figure out what to do with them! It's frustrating. I'm sure (He had to tell me at least ten or twenty times) of this gifting. I can see the value of it. I believe a prophesy that was given to me that the horizon of my promised land as about to broaden significantly. Now if I could just figure out what, if anything, I'm supposed to be doing to help. I'm grateful for any prayers you have to spare for me in this area. I know we all have a LOT to take to the throne right now!

So, I didn't....

2010-01-05T19:02:00.001-08:00

So, I didn't post soon. I didn't post at all. I thought about killing my blog because I don't write in it. I didn't do that, either. I guess that's apathy. I want to post just a few thoughts, though.

Tara's adorable new baby makes me look at my son and think, "Were you ever that small?" He does not, however, make me want another one. Unless God surprises us again, I think I'm done with that.

Another friend whose very young son just went to meet Jesus in person's loss makes me want to hold onto my boy and never let go. I can't even fathom the grief (but I can come close enough to be terrified). Her faith through the trials that her family has faced dazzles me. I know I can't cling to my own son, so I'm thankful the he's young enough that he doesn't think it strange when I hug him a little more often or say, "I love you," a hundred thousand times a day.

I wonder, could I let go and say goodbye for now with the grace this mother displays?

posting soonish

2009-06-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

I have new pictures to post. I have new stories to tell. But. My air conditioner does not work. The heat and humidity are sucking the life out of all of us, and making certain tempers VERY short. Also. This is day 2 of a humdinger of a migraine. It is a wonder that I can make my fingers cooperate to type this much accurately. I hope it's accurate anyway. God bless generic excedrin migraine. And God bless you, my friends. I will post coherently soonish.

Things that make you go, "hmmm."

2009-05-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

I'm borrowing this post from my friend over at Living in Fairyland. I did check at snopes, just like she did. I think it's reasonable to note that snopes did have a few qualifiers about energy use and such. However, the researchers at snopes do agree that for the most part the following information is accurate.

Tale of Two Houses

House #1
A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2400 per month. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern 'snow belt' area. It's in the South.

House #2
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every 'green' feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground.

The water (usually 67 degrees F) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.

~~~~~
HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville , Tennessee ;
It is the abode of the 'Environmentalist' Al Gore.

HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford , Texas ;
It is the residence of the Ex-President of the United States , George W. Bush.

An 'inconvenient truth.'

I sure hope this gets passed to everyone!
And, yes ... I DID check Snopes prior to forwarding it.

You can verify it at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp

Working it out in my head

2009-05-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked six years of marriage. Usually, we do not get along on our anniversary. I don't know why. This year, we got along just fine. Unfortunately, while we were at church, our apartment was broken into, the television removed, and several video games stolen. I need to make it clear that while I am upset about the stuff (it was our stuff), it isn't that big a deal. It's just stuff and it is insured. My pets were unharmed. That is a big deal. God is very good to us. In case you're wondering why my dog doesn't prevent events like this, it isn't his fault. I lock him in his kennel when I leave the apartment. Then he doesn't eat my stuff. Then he isn't in as much danger of being hurt or running away if someone breaks in. Moving on.

So we came home to a broken (but closed, and so my cat did not leave) door. A missing TV. The knowledge that someone had been inside the apartment and violated our space. I called the police. I cried. Not over the stuff, but over the paralyzing fear that hit me when the cat didn't come to my call and I was too afraid to walk through the apartment looking even though reason made it perfectly clear that no one was there but me. I called the insurance company. Bryan began cataloging his games to make a list of the missing. Bryan called his mother. We couldn't meet her to have her take Sean so we could go out for our anniversary. The broken lock had us securely bound to our home. She came to us, fetched lunch, helped Bryan set up a spare TV, bought new cables for it since all of the cables had been damaged when the TV was ripped away from them. She is a rock, thank God. Maintenance came and repaired the door, installed a new lock. We could go. We sent Sean with his Lala. We stayed home. Neither one of us had much appetite, and I saw no point in paying extra for food we wouldn't enjoy. Maybe we'll try it again another night. Maintenance also gave me a gerry bar. It's a 2x4 cut and notched to jam up under the door knob to keep intruders out while I am home. On the slippery linoleum, it doesnt do much, but it will give me a second to grab Bryan's rapier from the high shelf by the door while I send Sean to his room with the dog. I learned this about myself: if the need arises, I will not hesitate to stab someone to defend my son and our home. I'll feel really bad about it later, but I will still stand in the door, cell phone in one hand dialing 911, sword in the other, waiting for an opportunity.

Today I had to go get Sean. Leaving was hard. What if...I refused to finish the thought. I was not made to live in fear. I am keeping my mind steadfast with every ounce of determination I can muster. I will be kept in perfect peace. I had to pick Sean up, shop for food, go to the apartment office to request politely that I be given a different, higher, less isolated apartment with no transfer fee. The manager is out for training for three days. I was assured that my requrest will probably be granted upon her return, because it is reasonable. And because the police officer suggested that I move because now the thieves have seen our electronic wealth. They will probably be back. I will call again later in the week. It's a slow week, so I won't be going out much. I can stay home, near the rapier and the door.

I stayed in the office for too long, chatting with the receptionist. Fear had crept in while I was grocery shopping. In between prayers praising God for his faithfulness, thanking Him for the Good that will come out of this, asking for His favor as I handle police reports, insurance claims, and moving, fear had slipped back into my head. So I chatted with the receptionist to avoid going home. Nothing in my life experience has prepared me to be afraid of coming home.

So I came home. The groceries had to put away. The pets need me. I live here. I marched up to the building, arms full of food, praying my confidence out loud. I am not afraid. I have not been given a spirit of timidity. And I stopped to examine the door anyway. It appeared untouched, so I turned the knob and pushed. Still locked. So I unlocked the door, and while I spoke fearlessness, my hand shook. I put the food on the table, walked through the apartment. All clear. Back to the car for the rest, and Sean had to go with me. I don't know what I think will happen while my back is turned for two minutes. I don't want to know. We took the dog out. I called Bryan to let him know I'm home and safe, even though I still don't feel safe.

I'm working it out in my head. Jesus will work it out in my heart. He is sovereign, and will keep me in perfect peace because my thoughts are steadfast. With His hand on me, I will overcome the fear that I know does not belong to me. I just wanted to write it all down, so I'll have a clear testimony of my deliverance. And because now that I've said it, now that I've identified it in words, it's easier to keep moving past it. It is fear, and it doesn't belong to me. Better, I do NOT belong to it. I belong to the King of Everything. God is for me, who can stand against me?

A random pic, and some picnic pics

2009-04-22T12:41:00.001-07:00

Can you say Picnic Pictures five time fast? I can (said a book-reading parrot name Louie)!

Here's one taken before the festival on Saturday.

On Friday, we went to Newnan, hunted down an elusive park, and had a lovely picnic with my sister Hope and her kids. I only took a few shots (phone battery was going to die).
Here's one of Hope and Jonathon.

Another of Jonathon (he was easiest to take pictures of. He was sitting still).

And one of Simon.

Next time I'll try to get some of Elizabeth and Sean, too. This time they were just TOO busy!

Renaissance Festival

2009-04-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

We love the Renaissance Festival. We love it so much that this year we are going twice! This past Saturday was opening day, buy one, get one free tickets. So we went with our friends Peter & Kristen and their daughters. First, we had to decide where to go at what time. Here's Sean, hanging on to the map.

Both girls wanted their pictures taken as the Mona Lisa, so Sean had to do it, too. Here he is, peeking out.

Sean's favorite thing at the faire this year was the pirates, so it is appropriate that in this picture, he is a pirate and Kaylin is a fairy (Kaylin and Alyssa had fun dancing 'round the maypole with the fairies).

Here's a close-up of Sean, in case you were wanting to see his beautiful brown eyes, awesomely short hair, and the birthmark that gets really red when he's playing hard or getting mad (not to mention his very toothy smile).

Sean has this need to mimic Kaylin in all things. So when she pretended to be cargo under the stroller, well...

And last, but not least, I don't remember what he was trying to hand me. I think it may have been grass. Pulled out of the ground. Maybe rocks. Either way, I ♥ this kid.

I'll try to take more pictures when we go again in June...very possibly in full Renn Faire garb!

Another nifty giveaway

2009-04-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

Go to Baroness Bijoutery if you have any interest in winning a really pretty necklace! Mother's day IS coming! Also, If you're looking for something for Mom's day along the bejewelled and unique lines, I encourage you to visit her Etsy Shop.

You can also find "Altered Art and Vintage Treasures" at Everything Nana, which is operated and stocked by a friend of mine from Tennessee.

Stay tuned for pics from our first trip to this year's Renaissance Festival!

Bloggy Giveaway

2009-04-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post for a look at FlightFancy. It's a nifty blog, and she's giving away a beee-you-ti-ful necklace from her Etsy shop!

The Jesus Song

2009-03-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, Sean and I left the house for Wednesday morning Bible Study. I turned on the radio and we listened to a couple of songs on the Fish. Then Sean announces, "Mommy, I have a Jesus song." So I turned off the radio and invited him to sing it (I was amazed. Usually he only talks to or about Jesus if I bring it up and prompt him). So he sang it, and I told him that it was an excellent song and that Jesus loves it when Sean sings to Him. He's been singing it since, sometimes randomly, sometimes on request. He's also added it to his bedtime prayer (which formerly consisted of "I love you Jesus and goodnight."), so that now he sings the song and then says the aforementioned prayer. I asked him to sing it for me into the microphone this morning so I could share it here and so that I could keep it. As precious as it is now, I imagine that when he's a man and living his own life, I will hold it even more dear. Without further ado, Sean's Jesus Song.

(the lyrics are: Jesus, I love you. You're my best friend.)

Caboodle Ranch

2009-03-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

When I saw the headline about the man with hundreds of cats, I groaned inwardly. Hoarding stories make my stomach turn over. However, upon reading and researching further, I realized that this guy isn't hoarding. So if you're interested in finding more about this amazing rescue, click the picture above!

Can you hear it?

2009-03-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

Created by Train Horns

I heard it! It was awful. But the cool thing is British high school students who use it for a ring tone to text in class. Teachers can't here it, but the kids can!

Bloggy giveaway

2009-02-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

Marsha at Living in Fairyland is having a giveaway! Check out her etsy shop and post a comment to her blog telling her what your favorite thing in her shop is. Tada! You're entered! The prize is

One beautifully crafted pink geisha domino pendant necklace
A choice of Jasmine Sunshine or Clean caramel pecan soap
Any greeting card from her etsy shop.

favorite lol ever

2009-02-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

so i posted the synchronized puppies. i captioned them. i'm still proud. i also thought i should post my favorite lol ever. here it is. bryan and i even named our rock band group after it.

more animals

a couple of pics

2009-02-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

in case you were wondering how the boy is doing...

My boy helping me carry groceries

Sean and his latest build-a-bear friend...Sean the Frog

Killing the Bad Guys

2009-02-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

Just the title of this post is likely to bump up my rating on that thing that tells you if your blog is G, PG, or whatever. And yet...killing bad guys is a fairly major component in my conversations these days. I'm not raising a violent boy, but the kid is a born warrior, and his play reflects that.

At night we have these sweet conversations about Jesus, about family and friends, about love. We also talk a little about fear. My mighty warrior-child is afraid of the dark (some bloggers give their children nicknames and then abbreviate them. I thought, Warrior-child. WC. Water closet. Never mind). Bad guys lurk in the dark. So one recent conversation goes like this:
Sean: You'll sleep in your bed?
Me: Yes, in a little while.
Sean: And MY sleep in your bed, too.
Me: No, you need to stay in your bed.
Sean: But my be scared.
Me: I'll leave your fish light on (the fish light is a dim lamp that has tropical fish swimming around it).
Sean: My still be scared.
Me: There's no reason to be scared. Jesus watches us all the time and takes good care of us while we sleep.
Sean: And God?
Me: God, too.
Sean: Jesus and God have guns, kill bad guys?
Me: Nope, Jesus and God don't need guns, and anyway, there are no bad guys in your room.
Sean, thoughtfully: Them not have guns, them have swords?
Me, thinking of Revelation: Actually, yea, I guess they do.
Sean: Them kill bad guys with them swords. My okay.
Me: Whatever works, buddy.

i has a lol!

2009-02-10T05:23:00.000-08:00

I am SO excited, folks! I'm a big fan of lolcats and loldogs. For the longest time, I've occasionally submitted a caption, hoping someone else would think I was as funny as I think I am. No deal. I was starting to doubt my own powers of amusement. But! I should not have been afraid! Today, I was looking and giggling and THIS is what I saw!

see more puppies
picture: dunno source, via our loldog builder. lol caption: stillgrace

I made it!!!!! Woohoo!!!! Yea, I know it's a small thing, but it makes me happy!

a chart

2009-02-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

Since I was so amused by the charts that Tara and Karen posted...

more music charts

A Headline, A Rant

2009-02-02T05:35:00.000-08:00

This morning I saw this headline: Good News for Foreclosure Victims. Foreclosure victims I tell you! Argh! The only people affected by foreclosure that I think of as victims are the renters whose landlords failed to pay the bills, causing the renters to be unfairly evicted. The article did address those people, too. Freddie Mac has decided that to avoid unsightly vacancies and properties falling into disrepair, the bank will graciously allow the house to be rented to the foreclosed-upon owner. In the even that the house was already occupied by renters, Freddie will rent the house to them instead of evicting them. For the renters, who likely can't afford to start a new lease elsewhere, this is great news! For the owners-turned-renters, this is also good news. Sort of. Sure, I think it's great that they aren't going to be kicked to the curb and their pets abandoned to the local shelter or worse. I do have a couple of questions. First, if they weren't paying the mortgage, what makes Freddie think they'll pay the rent? Is he going to drop the monthly rate? If he IS going to drop the monthly rate, then what motivates a struggling homeowner to keep struggling. Why not give up the loan and the house and pay the decreased rent? Same house, same standard of living, price break. Yes! The decision to borrow too much is first rewarded with the loan itself, and then with a possible drop in rent. Second, what makes these people victims? They chose to take the loan. They chose to buy a house that was beyond their means. I know there are exceptions. There are people who could afford the monthly payments but disaster struck and times got hard. In my opinion, they aren't victims either. They could have waited to buy a house until they could pay cash or at least had enough savings to cover them in the event of an emergency. Why is Freddie continuing to reward people for their irresponsible choices?!

Fight FOCA

2009-01-26T10:22:00.000-08:00

FOCA. Freedom of Choice Act. Laws that allow teenagers to have abortion with no parental involvement or consent. Even partial birth abortion. Laws that will allow botched abortions- babies born alive and possibly even viable- to be set aside to die alone and uncared for. Most Americans wouldn't let their dogs die like that. Laws that will take away the moral choice of doctors and nurses who are opposed to abortion. All facilities with the ability to perform abortions will be under a legal mandate to provide them. The choice will be to abort or close down. President Obama supports this act and has promised to sign it into law.
To sign a petition against it and read more, go to http://www.fightfoca.com/.

more pics

2008-12-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

A few more...

Back in October (yes, slacker!), we went to Burt's Pumpkin Farm and Amicalola Falls. Sean loved the falls and all of the leaves.

He also loved that we got to have the fun pumpkin day with Kaylin and Alyssa.

Here's a trip in early December to the Aquarium.

Also, Granny went to the Aquarium with us. Sean loved having his great-grandma along!

And here's one Sean loves. A blast from his (limited) past. Here's Comma and Sean when Sean was less than a year old and we still lived in LaGrange.

a couple of recent pics

2008-12-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm a slacker. I have good reasons. Maybe I'll eventually even share them. Don't hold your breath. :)
In spite of that, I do have some pics for you (if you still drop by). I tell you, folks (I hope folks plural), this kid just keeps getting cuter, funnier, more everything.

First, a gorgeous beluga from the Georgia Aquarium. We love the aquarium, we love this whale and his friends.

Sean and his Lala at the tree farm this year.

Just a close-up of my scruffy boy...

I may have posted this before, but I love it. Sean is drinking the rain.

Thought for today

2008-11-30T16:23:00.000-08:00

When I write out a check and put it in the offering plate, I used to think, "I'm trusting you with my finances, God." Today I finally realized that what I'm really doing is saying, "God, I trust you to be able to take care of YOUR finances." It isn't mine and and never was...what a relief!

Oh, yea, and Happy Thanksgiving, too.

2008-11-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

For the last several weeks one of my sisters was living with us. It was a consequence for unwise and rebellious behavior. No phone except to talk to family. No internet. But you know what? A life of punishment doesn't fit my world view. I upheld the phone and internet rules because I respect my parents (and agree with those consequences). I also treated my sister like an honored guest. I was careful not to judge or lecture. I tried to make sure she wasn't too bored being stuck here. I went out of my way to make sure she had what she wanted to eat. I could have made it hell, but I didn't. My excellent husband was with me 100%. And...
I AM ANGRY.
At her.
Yea, I know my previous post was all about not being angry at my sibs. However, THAT post was about being angry at Satan for the lies he's spreading in my family. This post is about being angry at her for choosing to do something that was blatantly wrong in complete disregard of being treated like a human and a guest instead of a prisoner. It feels right, this anger. It doesn't feel good. In fact, when I dwell on it, my head starts to hurt. But it feels right. I'm thinking it's because it's okay to be angry, but it isn't okay to use that anger to fuel resentment and bitterness. So instead of pondering how angry I am, I've been focusing on doing what I need to do to make things right. More than one innocent person has been wronged, my sister has shown that she has no desire to be trustworthy, and it's going to take her a long time to pay back what she stole (not to mention that now she really is a prisoner at home). I guess when it comes down to it, I feel more sad than anything else. I love her and hate to see her wreck her own life (even as I'm angry with her for causing harm to my friends by stealing from them).

In the meantime, a different sister has come to visit me voluntarily. I didn't think she would, although I was hoping against all reason when I invited her. Then she surprised us all, said yes, packed a bag, and came with me! Woohoo! I hope she stays past the weekend, but if she goes home tomorrow, I'll still be glad to have broken through at least one barrier one time. It gives me a sort of balancing stone against the disappointment from my last visitor. God is good, all the time.

Oh, yea...Happy late Thanksgiving, too.

reposting from my myspace

2008-11-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

Title:
’Cuz you have to rant somewhere
Current mood: blessed
Category: Life

What to say, what to say? I opened this window intending to pour out a lot of rage and maybe some fury.

You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 (ISV)

Instead, I find myself repeating the Fruit of the Spirit lyrics from the Doughnut Man.

Do you know the fruits of the Spirit?
If you do then orange you glad?
Yes you feel berry happy
'Cause these fruits will never go bad...

Oh, love takes care of others.
Joy means that God makes me glad.
Peace be still and quiet.
Patience waits- and is not sad!
Kindness and goodness are nice to others.
Faithfulness has faith and hope.
Gentleness knows how to listen.
Self-control knows how to say no.

The rage and fury are still here, I'm just realizing that they were pointed in the wrong direction.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for speaking to me and stopping me before the words even made it onto the screen. You deleted them from my head so that I would not be tempted to post them. You save me from the regrets that always follow unrighteous anger.

Here's why I'm really so angry. Satan, my enemy and the enemy of my family, has been telling nasty lies as usual. Worse! There are people that I love who believe him! Worse still (for me)! I almost got caught up them, too!

Jesus, why does this happen over and over? Guard us, I pray. Deliver us from evil.

What are the lies? He tells my younger siblings, "Your parents don't really love you." He says, "They're only interested in what's good for them." He lies, "You can only depend on yourself, your friends, and the brothers and sisters close to your own age." He lies to the adults in my family, too. He deceives us with, "There's no hope. They'll never change. You are a failure. Why do you pour out your energy and time and love when they won't ever appreciate it?" He lies to us all by saying, "It's too hard to fix it. You're all alone and you can't fix it by yourself. It's too hard. Just give up, and in a few years it will all be past. Then you can go on with your own life."

His lies are endless. He twists the truth around and makes it ugly. He divides, and he conquers.

Yes, I'm angry. I am not, however, angry with the family God blessed me with. We are guilty of being foolish and weak, but we are not guilty of the spite and hatred that has been planted in our heads by our enemy. We are only guilty of those things if we let those lies stand.

I am not angry at the siblings who believe that our mother's discipline is for her benefit. I have hope that someday they will value the good things she teaches.

I am not angry with the sister who says it is "bullshit" that she is loved by her adult siblings and parents. I am FURIOUS with Satan for contriving to blind her to our love for her.

I am not angry with the sister who disrupts our entire family with her rage and uses gossip and falsehood to stir up unrest in our siblings. I am contending and praying for her freedom.

I could go on and on and on. I could write it all out. I think, though, that I've made my point clear.

Thank you, amazing Father, for gently guiding me in Your way. Thank you for removing the fury I felt at my family and redirecting it properly. I claim freedom and truth for my family in your Son's name. I'm believing for Your miracle of release and protection.

If you're related to me and do actually read this...I love you, I love you, I love you. My ears and heart and home are open to you. We are not alone so long as we take shelter in our Father's house. We are not alone if we will stand together as family. It isn't too late, too hard, or too time consuming to build our family into something holy and beautiful. We have His blessing and support. I'm holding onto hope that we'll eventually have each others' blessing and support, too.

Love takes care of others- you would not be a part of this family if we did not love you.

Joy means that God makes me glad- in all of the turmoil, sometimes I forget, but nothing is comparable to the joy our whole family shared when you became a part of it.

Peace be still and quiet- there's been no peace lately. Can't we take that back from our enemy?

Patience waits and is not sad- sometimes it's hard not to be sad when I think of the mess our family is, but (as I tell Sean) I can wait with a good attitude!

Kindness and goodness are nice to others- I'm starting with me. I will be kind and good, enabled by Christ's grace. I will be nice even when I want to shake you until your teeth rattle.

Faithfulness has faith and hope- I believe that God can and is saving our family from our evil enemy Satan and from ourselves.

Gentleness knows how to listen- I know I'm not known for my gentleness or compassion, but I promise that if you talk to me, I will listen respectfully and keep your trust as the treasure it is.

Self-control knows how to say no- When I am angry. When I want to hurt you for the hurts you cause the people I love (including yourself). When my rage threatens to spill out into words or phone calls. I will pray and figure out exactly why I'm feeling the way I do before I type or say a word. I will listen quickly, anger slowly, and speak slowly. Your heart is more valuable than my desire to vent or rant.

To my family: I love you. I love you. I love you.

Hallelujahs Radio

2008-11-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

I love Pandora. No, not the the mythical girl with the box full of nasties (and hope!). While I do like her story, I'm talking about Pandora.com.

It's internet radio at it's very best. You sign up (it's free and legal!), then click "create a station." Upon prompting, you enter a song or an artist. Pandora hunts, finds music similar to your choice and plays song after song in that style (you can tell it never play a song again if you hate it's choice, or play more like this if you think it did well). Then it names your station after your initial choice. You can rename it. I named my first station "My Radio," gifted, yes? It's a fun conglomerate of all of my favorite christian bands. Today, though I made a station without considering what it would be called. I think I'll leave it. I was looking for music similar to Chris Rice's song Hallelujahs because Jess mentioned it one of her past blogs, and it reminded me that I love Chris Rice songs. Pandora obligingly made the station. It hasn't played that song yet, but I'm hoping we'll get to it. In the meantime, this is awesome music to have playing through the apartment. I looked back at it to approve a Chris Tomlin song and saw the name of my new station- Hallelujahs Radio. I think it's fabulous.

My blog rating

2008-11-04T10:38:00.001-08:00

Created by OnePlusYou - Free Dating Sites

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

* breast (1x)

just a note...

2008-11-03T05:53:00.000-08:00

Yep, I'm a poor excuse for a blogger. I have pictures piling up waiting to be posted with little stories. I'll get to it soon, I promise.

Meanwhile, I've been reading Jessica Hopper's blog Mourning into Dancing. Jess has some pretty awesome things to say, it's worth the read. I'm still in September of '07, reading towards the present.

Recent Pics

2008-09-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

Some recent pics of Sean:

Shooting bad guys at Wal-Mart:

Wrangling a wild Zebra toy at church:

Trying on his Grandpa's sunglasses:

A bunny at Dave & Buster's:

Making a wish:

My little gamer:

He even thinks in his sleep:

He Tells Me...

2008-09-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

I recently had a very sweet few moments with Sean, and a good friend said I should write it down to remember. So I'm writing it here to share with you (all two of you).

Every night I lay down with Sean while he falls asleep. It's a luxury of being an only child that we both enjoy, and we have some very precious conversations while he settles in. The most important part of our bed time ritual is this:
Me: I love you.
Sean: My yuv you, too, Mommy.
Me: And Daddy loves you.
Sean: My yuv my daddy.
Me: I know you do. Do you know who loves you most of all? More than anyone in the
whole world?
(His answers vary here sometimes, and we play a fun game where he says someone loves him and I agree that the person- LaLa, Grammy, Poppa, me- does love him very much, but not the most in the whole world. Then I ask again.)
Sean: Jee-uh yuv me most.
Me: That's absolutely right. Jesus loves you SO much.
(And then we pray together, or I pray, since he usually refuses to talk to Jesus, regardless of the love involved.)

A few nights back, I asked him a new question at the end of our chat about love. Here's how the conversation went.

Me: Jesus loves you SO much. Do you know that Jesus can talk to you?
Sean: Yeah.
Me: Does Jesus talk to you? (after all, if Sean knows He can, maybe He has.)
Sean: Yeah. (he's so forthcoming!)
Me: What does Jesus say to you?
Sean: He tells me.
Me: What does he tell you?
Sean: He tells me he yuv me.

And then he gave me a sweet smile, a sleepy hug, and drifted off to whatever dreams fill his head when he's taking a break from being a 90-miles-minute little boy. I tucked him in and said a prayer of thanks- that Jesus talks to Sean even though Sean doesn't talk to Him in my hearing. It's such a simple and sweet thing, but I wonder, what else would Jesus tell a busy three-year-old boy? What else could be any more important to Sean, or me?

Speaking of Music

2008-08-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Karen, over at the Pancake Chronicles, recently posted about a marvelous song her daughter composed. Sean hadn't (as yet) done this. Yesterday...he did. On the way to church, he was watching the rain on the window of the van. Here is my best translation of his lyrics:

Rainwater is on my car.
Raindrops go up.
Go away rainwater-
Yay!

Just one click...

2008-08-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

For a few seconds every day, I use my mouse-clicking skills to help those less fortunate than myself.
If I feel like boosting my vocabulary, I can play at Freerice.com.

Even if I only have a few seconds to spare, I visit here:

The site actually combines several help-with-a-click sites, so without any trouble at all, I can feed animals, children, support literacy and world peace, also support breast cancer research and help save the rainforest. It's a good way to start the day.

It should come as no shock to you that I'm a sucker for animals. I love my dog, but if my husband hadn't wanted a purebred, I'd currently have some mutt from the local animal shelter. I also love my cat, and have since the first meow from my doorstep in LaGrange. She may not be the smartest cat on earth, but she's one of the sweetest and prettiest. It was definitely a good save. I'm not going to hop on a soapbox about animal cruelty right now, but I could. It's something I feel deeply about. On that note, I'm offering you one more link. It's a one-time thing, not a daily click, but you can help with your e-signature.

A couple of recent pics

2008-08-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

These aren't fabulous pictures. I took them with my phone in the dim of the back of our church. They are, however, very sweet pictures in my opinion.

Here's Sean gathered with his friends at church:

Here's Sean with one of the flags they set out for the kids to play/worship/dance with during the praise part of the service. You can't tell, but a minute before that he was singing and waving his flag. It is so precious that he's actually starting to participate in worship.

PS

2008-07-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

By the way, the best part of Club Live is that you don't spend hours earning points and enter for a chance to win a prize. You do the puzzles, spend the time, and order the prizes. Then you wait. Microsoft ships slowly.

Club Live

2008-07-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Do you love word games like word searches, crossword puzzles, word unscramblers, etc?

Do you have a hotmail account?

Would you like to get some nifty free stuff without paying for it?

Do you have some spare time?

Club Live is the place for you.

I'm currently puzzling (grinding, slogging, trudging) my way to a Kitchenaid Artisan mixer. In the past, I've earned video games and a Xbox 360 wireless controller. Microsoft isn't giving away lame prizes (well, they are, but only to the impatient people who don't save their points up). Sure, it takes time. TANSTAAFL people. Personally, I'd rather give my time for a new kitchen gadget than never get one (face it, keeping my van moving is more important to me than having an awesome mixer).
It also sharpens your brain, heightens your vocabulary, and did I mention the prizes? Free stuff!

Please note: I don't get ANYTHING if you follow the link and play and win stuff. I do really like that wireless controller, though, so I wanted my friends to have the same opportunity to win stuff.

Please also note: Play hard, sometimes they change the prize lineup. I didn't need a Roomba anyway. The mixer is better.

Welcome to the world, baby girl

2008-07-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

My new niece:

This week's pics

2008-07-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

I saw this on a car at Wal-mart:

sean finally decides to wear last year's halloween costume:

my beautiful comma cat:

sean's new fish lamp...thanks grammy!

magnus, my sweet dog:

sean and i were dozing together, when he randomly asked for a picture. here's what turned out (arm's length, small camera phone, etc):

Belle of the Blog: Rise Up with Fists!

2008-07-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

I thought this was worth linking to.

Belle of the Blog: Rise Up with Fists!

I just realized...

2008-07-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

I never posted my pics from the 4th! I only took a couple, but they were neat. Here they are:
Sean with Sparkler

Still Sparkling!

Sean playing with Kaylin and Alyssa

And this is from Early June, when I went to TN to see Caitlin. It's a picture of my Comma Cat who, like Karen and myself, rarely ever gets caught in front of the camera:

Update on Pics

2008-07-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

For now, see my t-mobile pics here: http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/graceisme/Pics%20formerly%20found%20at%20T-mobile/
even though they're all mixed up and uncaptioned. grr.
more later when i figure more out.

UPDATE: t-mobile isn't evil, merely slow. for now, the sharing function is defunct, but it will be back! until then, i'll try to organize my photobucket album, get some titles on those pics, and keep it faithfully updated.

My T-mobile pics

2008-07-09T14:58:00.001-07:00

Thanks, Kare! If I hadn't seen your comment asking where my journal on T-mobile had wandered off to, I wouldn't have known that it had changed! I didn't even know T-mobile had COMPLETELY changed the format for that service. When i went to try to figure it out, it really seemed like they had fed all of my old pics to some cybermonster as a snack. I completely wigged out. I think I would have cried. I found the pics. I'm okay now, and so are my pics. Unfortunately, the new site isn't nearly as friendly as the old site, and I can't figure out how to share the link without giving out my password. I'm working on it. Updates soon with a link to go see my pics, one way or another.

A Domestic Triumph

2008-06-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

No picture today...I just have to gloat SOMEWHERE. Yesterday, I repaired my dryer! I know this isn't a huge deal, as (I now know) dryer heating elements are a very simple part to replace. Still, it's a victory for me- no huge repair bill and I didn't have to replace my dryer.

In other news, Sean thinks he's Indiana Jones. We play the Lego Indiana Jones game on our PC, and Sean watches, hums the theme song, cheers when we win, etc. He also climbs onto the back of the patio swing, lets go of the top bar, crouches, and leaps to the bar, swinging back and forth on his hands. When I asked him why, he hummed the Indy theme song again. I asked, "You're being Indiana Jones?" He enthusiastically said yes. He is such a marvelous adventurer.

Like father, like...

2008-06-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Bryan's day off. I had some excellent Build-a-Bear coupons and a little boy who loves to go pick out and make (literally) a new friend. So, we made a plan. Step one - breakfast. Sean voted for "Pih-a-dee-yee" (Picadilly), so off we went. Step two - up to the Mall of Georgia, braving heat (the van's a/c just bit the dust again), crowds, and manic children to procure a very cute black labrador. Sean has graciously conceded to name it Onyx, but still calls it "Puppy." They're all "Puppy," "Kitty," "Panda," or whatever species they are. Step three - back down to Gwinnett to the dollar movie (now TWO dollars! Travesty!) to see Horton Hears a Who, which we enjoyed completely (Sean sat in his own chair, rapt). I heartily endorse it, unlike that abomination that the movie industry dared to call The Cat in the Hat. THAT was a travesty.

The plan went off with just one or two hitches. We had to cram in a bank visit for movie cash. The van's a/c said goodbye. While approaching the Mall of Georgia, I fell behind to throw away a cup. When I got into the blissfully cool mall, there were my guys. They were standing in the exact same pose leaning coolly against the wall. Bryan suggested a picture, so I whipped out my phone. Before I could say, "Smile and don't move." Sean had already rearranged himself into a new configuration. He wants to mimic and be like his dad...just not too much. I can't imagine where he gets this spirit of independence and singularity. It must be some freak recessive gene. Right. Anyway, it's still a good picture, so here are my guys.

Sean ♥s Alyssa

2008-06-03T05:25:00.000-07:00

My Sean boy is quite a social fellow. He loves to play with older kids and be tossed about and carried and such. He's also developing early friendships among his peers. His particular friends are Kaylin and Alyssa. I realize that this is a proximity-based friendship. We like to hang out with their parents, so Sean hangs out with them. Kaylin is turning four, Alyssa just turned two, so Sean is right in the middle. It seems like a happy place to be. Of the girls, he plays most with Kaylin, who is more dominant in getting his attention. Until just recently, when they were all together, Alyssa kind of did her own thing. And yet, Alyssa is Sean's favorite. For a while, he called the whole family Alyssa. Now it's just her, and no matter the occasion, if Alyssa will be there, she's the star in Sean's eyes. We're going to Monkey Joe's to bounce? We'll see Alyssa? Woohoo! We're going to see Alyssa! We're going to their house? Hooray, we're going to play with Alyssa! Church? I say, "We're going to church to worship God and learn more about Jesus. He loves us SO much." Sean says, "See Alyssa?" I say, "And Jesus." He says, "See Alyssa!"
Don't get me wrong, he's happy to see Kaylin and loves to play with her, too. I don't think any action on his part implies a slight to Kaylin, who is a marvelous little girl. For some reason I can't fathom, though, Sean focuses all of his enthusiasm on Alyssa when the kids aren't all together.
We went to play with the girls last week while their parents went to a revival meeting. I was excited for Sean. Alyssa finally played with him. I took a picture, because they are SO cute. Next time I'll have my camera ready when they hug goodbye, too. That's just beyond adorable.

Maria Chapman

2008-05-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

Please take a moment to pray for Stephen Curtis Chapman and his family. Yesterday their 5 year old daughter Maria was killed in a tragic driveway accident. You can visit StephenCurtisChapman.com to leave your thoughts and prayers.

I don't believe for a moment that deaths like Maria's are God's will for his children. Rather, they are a consequence of this fallen world. When we pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." I believe we're inviting God to bring his kingdom and his will to us NOW, not just as a final reward. In his kingdom, there is no death, no sorrow, no tragedy. That being said, even when our enemy exerts his influence on our world and brings about tragedy and death, God's grace is more than sufficient to comfort. The peace of Christ that passes all understanding is attainable and always available to encompass and assuage our grief. This is the grace and peace that I am praying for today for the Chapman family, especially their teenage son who was driving.

Please, pray with the millions of others who are grieving for and with the Chapmans, hug your children and savor every moment, and drive carefully.

Happy Anniversary

2008-05-20T05:22:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was our 5th anniversary. For a refreshing change, we had a good day and wrapped it up with a date alone. Sean's grandma (Lala, as he calls her) took us all out to lunch and then took Sean with her for the night. He's also the happy owner of two new Webkinz, a Persian cat and a cow.

Bryan and I had lunch with them, and then went on an unrewarding video game hunt. Following that, we went to Movie Tavern in Tucker. The concept of the place is really cool. It's a fairly inexpensive (for a theater) movie with real meals available instead of just snacks. Essentially, it's dinner and a movie. Sadly, the food was WAY overpriced (we didn't eat, still full from lunch), and after we paid a whopping $4.50 for a large coke, we found out there are no free refills (fortunately, we didn't really need a refill). The movie was hilarious. I didn't expect Ironman to be funny, but it was.

We headed home and had lunch leftovers for dinner. Sean had his first Mommy-crisis. He had whacked his head before we left the apartment for lunch, and had a pretty rough afternoon from it. Usually, he doesn't give me a second thought when he's with his grandparents, so this was a first. We chatted on the phone, and he was okay. He started the call creaking like a rusty hinge and ended it cheerfully talking about pinching Grandpa with his toes in the night. His Lala took him for a short drive to help him fall asleep, and they had a good night and a good, busy day on Sunday.

All in all, it was a really good anniversary. Five down, forty-five or more to go (assuming we don't die or live through the end of the world, first).

On an interesting note, I met my friend Mara on-line in 2005. As it turns out, she was married on May 17, 2003 as well. Happy 5th Anniversary to Mara and Michael, too!

2008-05-08T10:14:00.001-07:00

Here's Sean, showing that garbage is a man's job! I was hauling out the trash, and he insisted on helping. He carried his bag all the way to the van without complaint and without scraping it on the ground. I am so proud of him for his helpful spirit!

He isn't smiling, which is rare for him when the camera's out. He isn't really frowning, though. What you see is an intense expression of focus.

Dandelions

2008-05-01T08:33:00.001-07:00

So this is actually a picture from last month, but I like it so much, I have to post it here:

Sean loves dandelions.

New nephew

2008-05-01T08:12:00.001-07:00

Congrats to my sister Hope and her husband Rich on the birth of their third child. Jonathon David White is 7 lbs, 14 oz, 20 inches long. He and Hope are both doing well after a planned c-section.

Things Sean Says

2008-04-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

There's nothing that makes me laugh like my Sean-boy. A day or so ago, Bryan and were talking about our dog, Magnus.

Magnus is a coward. He's a sweetheart, but very submissive. In short, Magnus is a pansy who frequently runs from the cat instead of after her. Bryan asked Sean to say, "Magnus is a pansy." Sean's response? "No, Daddy! Magma (Magnus) doggie!" Yes, he is.
Then last night as I was putting Sean to bed, I said, as usual, "I love you, and Jesus loves you even more. He wants to live in your heart forever." Sean said, "Where?" He loves to ask where. He never asks who, what, why, or when. He asks where. I said, "In your heart." Sean sat up, looking stunned, "In it CAR?!" Then, since Mommy was obviously a loon for laughing at such a travesty, he reiterated, "Jees (Jesus) live in it car?" I caught my breath and touched his chest and said, "No, honey. Jesus lives in our hearts. H-h-heart." "Oh," he said, and I could hear the relief in his voice. Even a very little boy knows that a minivan is no fit home for Jesus.

A Day at The Zoo

2008-04-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Today Sean and I went to the Atlanta Zoo with our good friends from church. They have two little girls, ages almost 2 and almost 4, that Sean loves to play with. He calls the entire family "Lyssa." Only the youngest child is Alyssa, but this is a minor detail for Sean. After a rousing game of "Circus Clown" last night before bed, I kind of thought the zoo might seem tame. (In "Circus Clown" Sean dons a plastic bag that held circus souvenirs. I tore a head hole and arm holes in it and watch him closely. Once the bag is on, he runs madly about the room shouting, "CIRCUS CLOWN!" at the top of his lungs. This is hysterical to observe.) The zoo, however, proved to be a good time for all. We spent a good chunk of time on various playgrounds, admired the Asian otters extensively, and got to watch the male giant panda climb his platform and scratch his behind. We also got to see bored gorillas posing for photos, an alligator playing "dead log" really well, and two evergreen toads trying to hide under a leaf for some toady intimacy. I will refrain from making any bad jokes about horny toads.

Sean's favorite thing, though, was the tiger habitat. Sure, the elephant was crushing bamboo and eating it. Yes, the lion was roaring and making the earth tremble. Yes, the panda did give us a show. Nonetheless, in my little boy's eyes, nothing was better or more interesting than the tigers. They were sound asleep and barely moved a muscle while we stood there and watched them. Sean pointed them out excitedly to Kaylin, showed them to me, and nearly cried when we had to move on. With all of the excitement at the zoo, my precious boy just wanted to watch the tigers nap. I kind of see where he's coming from. Even sleeping, the big cats are so amazing and powerful. Right now, I'm watching him sleep. He's pretty amazing, too.

One more thing. Our friends have finally been granted their own names by his most imperious highness. As we were leaving, he saw their van parked a tier below ours, and called out, "A-bye, Kisten (Kristen)! A-bye Pe-er (Peter)!" By Sunday, they'll probably all be "Lyssa" again.

Starting Over

2008-04-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

So, I was reading the Pancake Chronicles today, and catching up on the daily lives of my friends the Butterworths. Karen is SO much more faithful about blogging than I am! So, I think I'll give up my original intent for this blog (I wasn't very good at it) and start putting pics and other amusing Sean stories and family news here.

Stayed tuned...the best is yet to come!

Flagrant Disregard

2007-11-10T09:29:00.001-08:00

This morning I decided to look up the lyrics to the song PBS uses in their spot. I googled the first few words and PBS together and voila! I was handily offered the opportunity to click on a link for a blog. You can now visit that blog as well. Just click the link for Flagrant Disregard here or over there ----> under "Blogs I Visit." This guy has very short, sweet, funny blogs about his kids and his daily life. I read the one about the song, and then started at the beginning. He started in March 2003. I don't regret a word.

Today I recommend that you take ten minutes and visit Flagrant Disregard.

The song, by the way, is this:

And, bonus, it’s on iTunes AND Wal-Mart. Just search for NRBQ.

Only You

Only you, no one else anymore
Only you
‘Cause I know you will remember us all
Because you have never been pretending
Only you

Only you know we’ve taken so long
Only you
And only you can create a new song
Only you, my only inspiration
Only you

I’ll always be as I am
And I’ll always give a helping hand
to who needs it
I’ll always do what I can

Only you look for good in us all
Only you
Because of you life is easier now
And to you my love is never ending
Only you

Only you

A Camelot Wedding, Some Perspective

2007-10-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, my older sister got re-married. Her first wedding was pretty and mostly traditional. Most of her family (while happy for her) didn't really understand why THIS wedding had to be elaborate to the point of being spectacular. She's done it once, he's done it once, why do we all have to do it again? I'm about as romantic as a wet leaf, so I was definitely wondering why. I wasn't asking why, because I made up my mind early on that I would not do or say anything to steal even an ounce of her enthusiasm and joy. Still, I was wondering.

So, Friday evening those of us involved in the wedding gathered on the field for rehearsal. The dancers stumbled through their routine, the horses (yes, horses) were not happy with all of the people and weren't on their best behavior, some people couldn't make it that early, and so on. We made it through one very rough run-through when one of the adults came to the field and announced that all must stop. Somehow, my three-year-old niece had vanished into thin air. One second she was playing on the floor with my dog under watchful eyes; the next second she was gone. No one could say how one toddler could disappear so thoroughly, but we went into full-scale search mode. A lost little girl in the Cherokee National Forest with a handy lake on the property is bad news. We searched cars, called out search-and-rescue, sent people to watch the lake and search the woods, and sent others in cars even though in eight minutes one child could NOT have gotten far. Then, someone found her. The poor baby had an "accident" and was hiding in her room in embarrassment compounded (likely) by 30+ people yelling her name. We looked in her room, but she was hidden well. Search-and-rescue got called off before they had time to mobilize. We shouted the good news in a chain throughout the property. We rang the big bell that usually calls campers to meals or worship. We did not finish the rehearsal. Even to my older sister, it just wasn't that important. The wedding would go as it went, but until then, it was out of the spotlight. We had dinner instead, and the relief in the air was palpable. During all the stress of the rest of the preparations - rotten strawberries, lost bobby pins, a broken car - we all had a clear reminder to relax and enjoy the day. We hadn't lost one little girl, nothing else was as big a deal is it might have otherwise seemed.

The wedding was gorgeous. The dancers weren't perfect, but it was prettily done. The horses weren't thrilled, but they didn't freak out and dump their happy riders into the lake. The whole scene was like a fairytale or a movie. The spotlight was back on the celebration. It was a good day.

I'm not wondering why anymore, either. Somewhere in the chaos, I realized that even though they'd both been through the ceremony (not like this!) before, this time was about starting anew. It was about launching happily ever after properly (properly for them). It wasn't about experiencing the wedding ceremony, it was about emphasizing the absolute importance of THIS wedding ceremony to them and their children.

Take ten minutes to appreciate what's precious and important. It'll be far less exhausting than taking a whole weekend of working and searching. ;)

Raining in Autumn

2007-10-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

This morning I took my son grocery shopping. It was almost raining when we got out of the van. I say almost because it was just this cool, gentle mist with a heavier droplet every now and then. It seems to me that rain doesn't feel quite like this in any other season. As I've mentioned before, this is my favorite time of year.
Apple cider, crunchy leaves, warm colors, and everything else that attends fall just makes me happier. Today I realized I could add rain to the list. Winter rain is misery, spring rain is refreshing as it washes winter away, summer rain is a relief (at least here in Georgia), but autumn rain is peace. Something about standing outside when the air has a nip to it not yet a reminder of winter's biting cold, lifting my face into the mist and letting that occasional droplet slide down my cheeks like a tear or rest on my lips like a kiss from heaven brings me indescribable peace. I hope there's something in your life that brings you the same gentle fulfillment.
Have a beautiful autumn.

thinking positive thoughts

2007-09-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a month, but I never claimed to be a steady blogger. I hope things are going smoothly for you as school starts, summer ends, and the weather (finally!) cools off a bit. This is my favorite time of year. Having fall as a favorite season labels me as "melancholy" according to something in humanities class ten(!) years ago. It's likely true. I do see some sadness in fall. Leaves are dying, wildlife is preparing for a long winter sleep, and the weather is often grim, at best. However, I see it differently. Fall is overflowing with fabulous colors, the weather isn't abusively hot anymore, a several-months'-long nap sounds like a lovely thing to me (lucky bears and other creatures), and I personally find a cool autumn mist soothing rather than dreary. Melancholy or not, this is still my favorite season.
I'm also currently involved in a Bible study with a small group of women at church. We're reading (not just our Bibles) Joyce Meter's "Battlefield of the Mind." We're eleven chapters in, and wow! This has been such an awakening experience for me. I've always been something of a skeptic and a bit of a pessimist. Starting this blog was one effort at making myself think clearly and without negativity. Now I'm all wrapped up in this book, and I'm seeing through Joyce's words and God's that positive thought is more powerful than I came close to guessing. In case you were wondering, I recommend the book. How could I have known when I started this random and sporadic blog that I was laying groundwork for this Bible study? I couldn't have, and that makes it even sweeter to me. It is one more evidence that I am being gently guided by a loving God.
I'm going to wrap this up. I have a lot going on in my head that I could share, and more still that I couldn't. I did promise short entries, though. So my suggestion for you, today, is this: Take ten minutes to watch the leaves tumble to the ground. As you drive to work or the store or wherever, keep an eye out for the random, amazing tree that is already turned. You might find living gold, or a tree so red it looks like it is on fire. Breathe deep and enjoy that particular fall flavor in the air. Enjoy the earth changing. Have a blessed day.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

2007-08-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

My son is a huge PBS fan. He loves Curious George, Dragon Tales, Arthur, Sesame Street, and Clifford. It amazes me, because some of these guys were my friends growing up, too. None so much as Clifford, though. I don't remember watching Clifford on TV. This doesn't mean anything. I don't remember preschool, either, but my mom has pictures. I remember Clifford books. Thankfully, my son likes those, too.
Here's why I like Clifford now (aside from the fact that he's still just an awesome dog). Clifford and his friends both human and canine are relevant. By that I mean that the issues they face are issues that kids of every generation face. Sharing, not sharing, lying, telling the truth, doing the right thing, being loyal to friends (or not). Clifford's show also addresses making mistakes and dealing with natural consequences- and staying friends in spite of whatever the mistake was. The kids and dogs aren't perfect and they aren't always kind, but they always work it out by the end of the show. A handicapped girl is encouraged, a toy is returned to its rightful owner, and the show ends with Emily Elizabeth reading a story to Clifford.
There's also Clifford's Big Idea- a short blurb expressing one good thing each day, emphasizing that doing these things make you (and the people around you) feel good. Clifford ideas are simple: Be fair. Share. Be kind. Be helpful. Tell the truth even when it's hard. There's more, but I think you get the idea.
My big idea for today is to take a leaf out of Clifford's book. See if the Big Red Dog is barking up the right tree. If you have kids, find Clifford at your local library or bookstore and read together. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

2007-07-26T13:44:00.001-07:00

Here you see a picture of the lake at Smoky Mountain Christian Camp in Coker Creek, TN. Why? Well, because it's beautiful, and we all need beauty in our lives. I took this right around 7am the last time I was at home. Yes, my family lives there. Lucky, huh?

At 7am, walking my dog in the cool mountain air, I can almost grasp the concept of a "peace that passes understanding." There's something about the lake, and the mist, and the sun, and laughing at my city-dwelling dog because he has to smell everything that soothes my soul. Some little distance behind where I stood to take the picture, my sister is getting married in a few months. In a soccer field. On horseback. Why? Because this is her refuge, and even the soccer field is pretty. Camp is where she met her husband-to-be, and it is where they want to cement their joy in each other with lifelong promises. For me, that's a lot like walking by the lake as the sun comes up. Seeing my sister this happy soothes my soul.

So my thought for today is this: Walk somewhere beautiful at your favorite time of day. Delight in the joy of someone you love. Get out of your daily grind, and laugh at the newness of being somewhere different. Go somewhere you love to be and watch the sun rise or set. Think about what soothes your soul, and do it. Even if you only do it for ten minutes. Even if you can only go as far as your backyard. Appreciate something beautiful.

Why Ten Minutes

2007-07-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

You might be asking, "Why Ten Minutes?" Two main reasons, and a lot of little ones. I'll share the main two as a sort of introduction.

Reason one: here in Georgia (and in other places, too) we say, "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes; it'll change." Frequently, it does. A sunny sky clouds over and a storm rolls in like a freight train. A cats-and-dogs, high wind, high volume storm slips away and leaves behind a rainbow and dazzling puddle prisms. Life's a lot like that, too, in my experience. If you don't like the way things are going, and you can't alter them by any act of your own, wait a while. Hang in there. Hold on tight to your umbrella, pull your poncho close, and in a little bit, the sky will clear.

Reason two: a wise woman told one of my sisters once that a lot of daily stress can be dealt with by taking a ten minute vacation. Your children and the rest of the world can't do much harm in ten minutes (well, maybe hers couldn't). Go to your room or some other quiet, private place. Close the door and spend ten minutes reading a book or imagining a warm sunny day on the beach, or creating in your mind the exhilaration of reaching the summit of the mountain and looking down to see more of the world than you thought possible. Pray. Nap. Empty your mind and just exist. Take ten minutes. Refresh your soul. The rest of your life will wait for ten minutes.

My posts here will rarely be very long or time-consuming (i won't say never, because that would be inviting reasons to write catastrophically long posts). In fact, I'll try to keep it to ten minutes' worth of material or less. I'll also try to keep it light. I'd like to give you, my reader, ten minutes to be amused and encouraged. You have your own issues; why would you want to read about mine? I hope you'll come back to see me again. Until then, give yourself a break- take ten minutes.