Christmas Break 2005

Well, we've been in Florida during this last week of 2005. We left Thursday, 12/22, after I spent the morning fighting my computer. We spent a lovely evening in Marietta, GA with my cousin, Becky and her partner, Trish. They have these three spastic but charming dogs: Mia, Gus and Lily and BOY did they love Noah! The four of them played for a while when we got there and then he slept with them!! We're looking forward to our return stop on the 1st.

We got to Ft. Myers and my folks' place on Friday, 12/23 at about 8:30 p.m or so. What a trip -- very long but made easier because Tim's folks got all three kids portable DVD players for Christmas. I was afraid they'd fight over who got to watch what movie but they were great.

Christmas was a quiet day - the kids had gotten their gifts in Kentucky. We went to "Bunch" beach on Monday and I got fried -- but only on my front. It faded, thankfully. Tuesday, we went to see the Edison and Ford estates here. The property is beautiful and Edison was a certified GENIUS! Tim and I both felt we could have stayed all day and still not have seen everything. There were literally dozens of types of palm trees ALONE!

Yesterday, we drove out to the manitee reserve and tried to see some of the illusive water puppies. We saw some nostrils and backs but nothing spectacular. Both days (Tuesday AND Wednesday) as soon as the kids got bored we left. Today (Thursday) we went to Ft. Myers Beach. Noah and Sara played for a long time on the beach and in the ICE cold water. We went to Chili's (aka Applebee's. . .ask the kids about this) for dinner.

We're heading to Clearwater to see Tim's brother, Tony, tomorrow and we'll spend tomorrow night and New Year's Eve with him. Sunday, the 1st, we head to Marietta and then home on Monday. Tim and I have to be back at work on Tuesday.

It's been such a wonderful visit and we've left lot's to do for our next visit. Uncle Ron and Aunt Peggy "snowbird" here, too. Aunt Peggy says it'll be pretty quiet when we leave. I'm so glad we came . . .and Noah told Tim today that this is the best Chritmas Break he's ever had! Of course, he's only in 3rd grade and I'm not sure how many Christmas Breaks he remembers, notwithstanding the actual number he's experienced.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Update

11/19/2005

Wow -- Time flies . . . even when you're not necessarily having "fun."

We did the Men's Walk and it was wonderful but Tim really pushed himself and we are now looking at surgery on November 28. God I love my mom - when I mentioned he was going to have the surgery and the havoc it will wreak on our schedules, she immediately asked if we'd need her to come down and stay a couple of days. She's SO awesome!

I hadn't talked to my brother in forever -- and he seemed glad to hear from us.

12/9/2005

Yikes! Has it been that long since I've written?

I guess so.

My daughter is 16 today. How is that possible? She's so beautiful and intelligent and mature. I'm so proud of her and yet. . . well, it's a cliche for a reason. . . it seems like just yesterday. . .

I've been sort of depressed today. Working up to today actually. I love my job and life is great -- God has provided so much for us. Tim had his surgery and his back is so much better! We had food from so many friends and rides for the kids and prayers lifted for us -- probably hourly. It was so wonderful and so humbling.

But time marches on and Mary's 16. And last night, Tim's Grandma Clingner died. We haven't told the kids because it's Mary's birthday.

I don't feel old or anything. In fact, I took Mary for a manicure today and the ladies doing our nails and one of the patrons couldn't believe it when I said I was the mom! They thought we were sisters! I love it when that happens! And Mary has her learner's permit. How will I survive her learning to drive?

The daughter of a friend just totaled her car -- it's a miracle she survived really.

I'm stream-of-conscious writing today...

So, I made it through my first Pledge Drive at KET. I even got on T.V. a couple of times! So did Noah and Sara! It was fun but exhausting and I have a mound of mess to plow through -- as if it wasn't bad enough when I first got there.

I'm not singing the Christmas music, again. I've been swamped with work. I miss it and it makes me sad to sit in the audience. I also sort of feel not needed. There are so many other people at church who can sing and it wasn't like anyone was sad I wasn't showing up. Oh well. . .I don't know what I expect but I'm just sad not to be participating. I sort of miss being at Versailles UMC because I felt like a vital part of the music ministry. It's the show-off in me, I'm sure and I probably shouldn't admit how much I miss feeling like I could just say "Hey, I'd like to sing this song" and be singing it a couple of weeks later; or know I'd probably have a solo in whatever program we were doing.

Okay, enough whining. It's Mary's BIRTHDAY!! She's having a party tonight -- 20-something of her closest friends. My mom and dad got a chocolate fondue fountain from my brother and his wife, Nicki, for Christmas and they are letting us borrow it for Mary and Sara's birthdays. Tonight is it's inauguration. Mary and I went shopping last night and bought pineapple, bananas, apples, oranges, oreos, peanut butter creme cookies, pretzel sticks and marshmallows to dip in the fountain. Tim bought fresh strawberries today and spent a fortune on them. We got her some jewelry and I got her some chocolate covered cherries this morning when I got wrapping paper for her gifts. I had Tim go out and get a toy car and we put a big red bow on it and he put it in the driveway. . . she made a face but I think she thought it was cute. I had a poster made with her picture and happy birthday on it. I'm going to have all her friends sign it tonight and then take it to the Narnia movie with us on Sunday for her youth group friends that aren't here tonight to sign and for her to see there. I'm excited about that because she can keep it.

Okay, time for me to get busy and help get ready.

Trying not to be sad about how fast the time goes by. . .

Life on Hold but not really

[I have edited this post, like, 5 times already but I keep thinking of other stuff I want to say. . .]
So, my last day at the website was Wednesday. I had to leave early to go to Dunbar (High School that my eldest child attends) for the "Reading Extravaganza." This event was the culmination of the sign up and reading of books by students at the high school and various adults from the community, many of them teachers at Dunbar but a few, like myself, just folks who like to read. The kids signed up at the beginning of the school year for the books available, read the books and then, Wednesday night, discussed them with a mediating adult.

I wanted to do "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." But that was taken already (but I'm the mediator for that discussion next semester!) so I picked a book I read almost 20 years ago by one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy-ish authors, Sheri S. Tepper: The Gate to Women's Country. It's a sort of dystopian story and makes you think about societies and why we are the way we are. None of the kids in my group "liked" it. But all the girls (there were suppsed to be 3 guys but only one brave young man showed up) said it "stretched" them and made them think -- which, in my opinion as a frustrated would-be teacher, is very cool.

So, for two days I've been off work. Shuttling kids to school, having lunch with my third grader (invalid husband in tow), paying bills I've been putting off, bullying the doctor's office into getting my husband into PT. . . and today will be busy too.

Tim starts PT today. He has a herniated disc -- discovered Monday evening in an MRI. We were going to have him go to a friend of ours from church for PT, but she's out of town this week and he is in a great deal of pain and needs to get started working on it. In two weeks he has to sit through three days of talks for Emmaus. . .

Mary's getting her hair cut. Yeah, yeah, it's beautiful, but it's a pain and she hates it being as long as it is. So she's gonna get it cut to around shoulder length. And we're going to start talking about straightening.

After I drop Mary to get her hair cut, I am going back to the website for a farewell party. They had already planned on having it -- in fact, Alex (graphics guy) took my picture Wednesday before I left so that I could be there in "spirit" even if I didn't make the actual party. I continue to feel superfluous.

Last night we had a phone "interview" with a guy from FamilyLife. Tim and I continue to feel we are being "Called" to assist in this ministry. We also believe, however, that, for the time being, we are called to volunteer as opposed to being in full time ministry (aka moving to Little Rock, AK). We are praying for some clear guidance.

My Aunt (great?) Marie died. A couple of weeks ago, she had her kids call my mom and dad and ask them if they'd ask me to sing at her funeral. She heard me sing at my grandma's funeral. She told them I sing like an angel. Wow. I'm humbled. However, the funeral will probably be Monday -- my first day at KET. So I'm gonna call my dad's counsin, Ginger, today and see if it's okay for me to sing during the visitation.

So, I'm not working but I'm not resting. . .

I'm waiting. . . but I'm not standing still.

My parents were in Florida two days ago, but Wilma has forced them (and their sweet neighbor, Anne) to evacuate to my cousin, Becky's, house in Atlanta. Is all of Florida heading north?

How much more tragedy and disaster can one world take?

Praying for healing. . .waiting for the turn of the page to the next chapter.

But while I wait I write things down so I can remember them. Tuesday night I came home after Noah was in bed (I was selling pumpkins at church -- youth fundraiser) but I laid down next to him and kissed him and just held him for a bit. The next morning, I said, "for your information, I did kiss you goodnight last night," and he said, "I know." I asked how he knew and he said he woke up in the morning and there was this smell, like me (mom). I asked if that was a good thing and he said yes. I have always equated a certain smell with my mom and it soothes me. I am now a mom with a "smell" that soothes. . . cool.

Note to Self

Well, it's been a week since my last post. I must be busy. I guess that's a good thing but I don't want to forget something funny that happened over the weekend.

Actually, I had my last official "flex Friday" last week. So, of course, I filled it with stuff to do. Like taking our animals to the vet. Turns out neither of them actually NEEDED to go! But they did need flea meds so it was kind of a good thing we went -- and, since I brought Beau back before he really needed to be there, they're gonna give me a "discount" on my next visit.

So anyway, before we realized he didn't need to be there, the vet asked me to bring a stool sample from Beau back to the office some time on Friday. I got some poop, put it in a bag marked "Beau Hamilton" and asked if anyone wanted to go with me (the kids were off school). Noah did. He wouldn't even touch the bag, but he did ask some questions about what was gonna happen to the feces we were transporting. He asked if it would be "dissected." I said I thought they'd probably have to cut it up as it had cat litter on the outside and they wanted to see if it had any bad microscopic things in it, parasites and such. Then he asked if we'd have to come back and get it... HAHAHAHAHAHA!! I laughed all weekend every time I thought about having to come back and get cat poop!

Anyway, he's almost 9, so his "cute sayings" days are almost over and I wanted to record this one.

Next Monday I start my new job at KET -- not sure how much I'll be writing for a while. But this is fun and I hope to keep writing, even if it's few and far between.

Oh yeah, please pray for our family if you think about it. Tim's at home as I type this with back problems -- his sciatic nerve on the right side has been bothering him for some time but it was so bad yesterday that he finally went to the doc for medicine. He never does that.

Also, Mary said on the way to school this morning that she was starting to feel sick and I've been sort of icky -- new job starting and all that, we don't have time to be sick!

Shout atcha latah!

Dedicated to my "Sisters"

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39

Who better to "quote" than the God of the Universe? I had this whole thing written. Kind of an argument for myself -- how I'm not really as self-centered as the casual reader of this blog who doesn't really "know" me would assume. Who cares? If you don't know me, then it doesn't really matter whether I'm self-centered or not. You'll come to your conclusions and we'll never meet and that'll be it. But if you've read this post today, you've not read only MY words. You've read scripture. I pray you have been lifted by it. It lifts me. Above my petty victories and above the suffering and sorrow of my "sisters." It reminds me of Who is really in control and Who has already won the most important battle.

Be thankful today for the blessings you have received because tomorrow, heck, in five minutes, it could be gone . . . but God will not be. Amen.

An Amazing Week

Okay, so I can talk about this now that it's official: I got a new job!

Starting October 24, I will be the Executive Assistant to the President of the Commonweath Fund for KET (Kentucky educational Television/PBS)!! It's the normal assistant/secretary stuff that I've done before but also some event planning and volunteer coordination thrown in for fun.

I am SO pumped about this!

I'm pretty sure I've got a touch of adult onset ADD because I need to be busy. And at this job, I WILL be.

It's been such a week. I guess I should start at the beginning.

Tim and I went to the Irresistible Differences conference on Friday night. It was nice. Nothing earth shattering. Stuff we'd heard before but you can never hear "too often."

Since the conference was in Lexington, we went home Friday night. Mistake. We had already planned for Tim to skip part of the conference on Saturday morning to go to Noah's soccer game.

Well, I woke up Saturday morning and realized that our house looked like a bomb had gone off. I started in about how we shouldn't go back to the conference. However, I'd already booked a hotel room for that night (date night) and we both realized we wouldn't have "date night" if we didn't finish out the conference. I also didn't want to hang out by myself as some of the time for the soccer game would spill over into the lunch hour of the conference, so, not only would I be alone -- I'd be lunch-date-less!

Well, I finally had an inspired thought and said, "I'll just skip out with you and go to the game." And that's what we did. We went back to the conference, skipped out for the game, went back to the conference and then had "date night." The hotel was marginal -- I do not recommend the Four Points Sheraton in Lexington, Kentucky -- but the company was exceptional!

Sunday was an amazing day at the conference. The sessions were informative and meaningful. We learned early on in the conference about a book entitled, "Sacred Marriage: What if God designed marriage to make us holy, more than to make us happy," by Gary Thomas. We wanted to buy it but it was already gone so we back-ordered it. Today I ordered a devotion to go with it.

At the end of Sunday's sessions, we had a time of covenant. There was actual text for it in the workbook. We had the option not to say the words. We had the option to say them but not really mean them or even listen to what we were saying. We did neither. We said them and MEANT them. For me, I meant the words of that Covenant more than the vows I made on our wedding day. I walked away truly changed.

So we went home. And Monday night, after a long Emmaus Board meeting, my friends Marty and Judy and I were at Samaritan hospital with our other friend (aka sister), Susan. I only took my car keys and phone into the ER with me. The phone was in my pocket . . . the last I knew.

I went home from the hospital with a headache but feeling I'd been where I was supposed to be.
Tuesday morning was my interview at KET. I went and, on my way there, was going to call home for some odd or end and couldn't find my phone in my purse. I figured it was just still in the pocket of my pants from the previous night. Well, I got through a delightful interview (seems oxymoronic, I know) and went home to wash my face (I don't usually wear much make-up) and change into khakis.

I looked for my phone.

Searched for my phone.

Turned the house UPSIDE DOWN for my phone.

And. . . I never cursed under my breath. I never blamed my husband. No one was there to hear me, but I didn't scream or throw a fit which, I hate to admit, was like the "old me."

I actually hesitate to write this all out because I know some people who will actually want to hold me accountable for my future behavior . . . but there it is.

All day I KNEW I had lost my phone. And I did not react. I felt calm. I was calm.

Wednesday I got new phones for me and Tim (we were both eligible to upgrade and I have hated his LG phone since he got it). I was late for GROW (Get Revived on Wednesday) at church. I was not frantic. I simply drove to church. Late as I was, I chatted with the people I saw in the lobby. Got up to my small group and basically told everything I've told you.

I have had groups of people praying for me about this job for several days. And I know my friends pray for me EVERY day. I am feeling it.

You will say I'm nuts -- but I'm a different person today and that's how I know. Prayer works.

So, last night (Thursday) I got the call. Michele, in San freakin' Diego! I wanted to call Tim and confer but he was on his way to soccer practice, music blaring, I'm sure. So, after a couple of attempts, I called Michele and accepted. Tim and I had already talked about it and agreed we wanted it. I'm pumped!

This morning, Tim went out to the store for a couple of things we needed and I was there with the kids.

This is usually bad.

Very bad.

I'm trying to get ready for work. I have added stress because I'm thinking about what I'm going to say to give my "two weeks' notice."

Suddenly I hear raised voices. The girls are in Noah's room.

"What's going on?" I ask.

Mary (her hands rifling through Noah's dresser) says she's looking for the shorts she bought that are actually boy shorts.

And I say, get this: "It's a little early, Noah just woke up and he's a bit groggy. Why not come out of there and give him five minutes? Just five minutes. . ."

First thing is, she DOES it!! Grumbling but she comes out of his room.

The next thing that happens is that Noah starts looking for the shorts and finds them! I call Mary back, give her the shorts and say, "see how nicely that worked out?"

No shouting, no sore throat from screaming, no stomping. It was a dream. And all about God. He is SO working on me! I'm blown away by this!

I know, you're laughing. "What an idiot!" you're thinking. She must have been awful! I don't think my friends would say so, but my family, who bore the brunt of all my broken dreams and disorganized frustration, would say I was. I could NOT change -- God did it. In the words of the old hymn, "He touched me."

He touched me, O, He touched me,
And O, the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened, and now I
know,
He touched me and made me whole.

It's so amazing. And Tim agrees with me. He has noticed I've changed. I know I'll lose my temper. It's happened already. But it's nothing to what it used to be.

I'm amazed. I'm blessed. I want people to know they can be too. God is good. All the time.

Random Thoughts

Life is so strange -- I guess that keeps it interesting.

I spent some time at the hospital with a friend last night. She has struggled for months alongside her husband whose health has deteriorated for various reasons, some of them as yet unknown. We prayed last night that God would simply send a good doctor and a pleasant nurse. This was something they had struggled with on a previous visit.

God answers prayers! The doctor who is treating Elson is the one his Cincinnati doctor wanted and the nurse who helped get him get settled in his room last night was into horses -- which is what Susan and Elson are ALL ABOUT! God is so into us and our needs. And he WILL meet them.

However, I believe we go through trials for reasons and some of them we'll never know.

And that's okay.

I have a great word of the day for you today: trichotillomania.

It means: an irresistible urge to pull out your own hair.

As a mother to three children I can relate to this. However, I have a friend who has it rougher than I and she keeps her hair and her temper. I'll just call her "J". She is my most holy, special friend. I admire her above any other person I know. Life continues to throw her curve balls and she continues to glorify God. She is amazing and I love her very much.

Thank you God, for our friends. What a gift they are; sustaining us and allowing us to be you with "skin on." I am blessed.

Please pray for Susan and "J" today.

Oh yeah, I am remiss if I do not also mention that my beautiful friend Martybob is, on this most auspicious day, 18 years old (with 32 years experience)! Love ya!

A Laugh to start the week. . .

If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything. -- Bill Lyon

I thought that was a hoot!

And then I got a "word of the day e-mail" (one of many):

Mizzle (MI-zl), v.
To mist or rain in very fine drops.

. . .And what's wrong with saying "drizzle?" We need more than one word? Oy -- no wonder English is so hard for ferinners to larn!

I'm in a great mood! Tim and I went to the Irresistible Differences conference over the weekend. It wasn't the best one ever -- there really wasn't anything BRAND new. However, as we have just been through several grueling months in our marriage and have been working very hard to keep it in tact. . . well, it was perfect timing on God's part.

We are very much devotees of the FamilyLife model for marriage and have used our workbooks from past Weekend to Remember conferences as outlines for our Christian Marriage talk for Chrysalis weekends.

We keep going back because repetition has become a key tool for us in marriage relationship. It doesn't hurt to hear things over and over -- maybe you'll internalize it!

The other materials from FamilyLife are great too -- particularly anything by Dennis and Barbara Rainey! We've decided to start a Homebuilders group in our home -- probably just every OTHER week to start out. I'm very excited about this. I hope it is the beginning of a ministry we want to enlarge with FamilyLife. We're not ready to move to Little Rock yet . . . . mainly because of the kids. . . but, we're hoping God calls us to work with them as a vocation.

Money

Whoever said "money is the root of all evil" was SO stinkin' right! Oh yeah, it's in the BIBLE!! Boy, that Paul, he was inspired . . . (wink, wink)

He actually said:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

I guess we have to get over the "love" -- it's the human element that ruins it. Kinda like guns don't kill people, people kill people. However, on that one, I think if there were fewer guns available . . .

I'm in a weird place. It's been sort of a stressful week. We're in the middle of trying to buy a car and that's cool but I'm worried about whether it's the right decision. We currently have a Ford Expedition which was an awesome deal when we bought it but now it's just sucking gas like it's oxygen and, well, we can't really afford to KEEP it. We've been sort of test driving a Volvo S80 for a couple days. It's wonderful and we love it but our kids are used to the Expedition... blah, blah, blah. And last night, Mary mentioned that they're having a class ring information meeting this week. . . oy! (Oh yeah, Monday or Tuesday was picture day at the High School . . .Mary's LAST picture day as she's a Junior. She's killin' me!)

Meanwhile, my friend, Susan, and her husband have been through a MAJOR crisis over the last several MONTHS. He's not well because he's experienced a series of strokes and they live out in the back country far from any kind of help (medical or otherwise). . . it's sobering and humbling to think about what she's been through. My other friend has family issues involving her son and I am so grateful we don't have to deal with that . . . God knows I'm not equipped. I feel helpless in the face of these situations and that sort of spills over into my own issues.

So today I'm reminding myself to be grateful. To remember when I feel disgruntled that I could be living out of a paper bag filled with stuff someone I don't know donated to the Red Cross. To remember when my kids complain about something they feel is unfair that the only way THEY will learn gratitude is from me -- am I showing it?

Life's not so bad and God is good, so I'm gonna be okay.

A long day

We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones. -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

So. . . it's been a really long day. I really hate my "new office" which is really just the vestibule to the storage closet and everyone just walks in without knocking or asking. I hate rudeness. A lot.

Why are people rude? Haven't they ever heard of the Golden Rule? Don't kids learn it anymore? Never mind kids. . . do adult people who make a lot of money just figure that other people should have to put up with their rudeness? That's just ridiculous.

So, my "fault" is that I"m not very patient. With anyone. Problem is I tend to take it out on the ones I love most. Namely my darling husband and children. Bless 'em. I can hardly haul off on anyone at work because they're so stinkin rude . . . I need my job too badly. So my family gets the brunt. I'm working on it. God help me.

My kids

Well. . . I learned tonight that I have been remiss. I have failed to mention my wonderful, darling offspring in any of my posts -- at least to any substantial extent. This has caused my eldest child no end of heartbreak and so I write to right the wrong. (hee hee)

Mary will be 16 in December -- I know, I don't look old enough to have a 16 year old. It's a gift.

And speaking of gifts. . . Mary wants to teach kids with "special skills." She was a counselor at a camp in Indiana this past summer and found her "call." (Yeah, that's kinda what got me thinkin' about what mine might be . . .)

That I could have been as focused at such an early age.

She and her sister, Sara (who will be 13 in January), both started Kindergarten at 4. We had them at a childcare in town that also had a certified Kindergarten. After they completed the pre-school program, we thought they might be bored if they did it again, so we moved them into the Kindergarten program. We went to church with the Principal of the local elementary school and, after we told him the Kindergarten was, indeed, certified by the state, he said we could start the girls early into first grade. So, Mary is 15 and a bit and a Junior in high school. At this rate, she won't be able to legally drink at any college parties. Oh darn. NOT!

Here's Sara by the pool on Labor Day weekend with my cousin's daughter. We dreamed about our kids playing together when we were kids . . . now it's coming true! Sara is sweetness personified. Unless you make her mad. . . then watch out! She's brilliant -- as are all my children, of course -- and she plays the cello and, along with her sister, sings like an angel. She's in 8th grade.

The middle school in our district teaches foreign languages. Mary took French (she's actually taking French 4 this year) and Sara is taking German.

Sara has known since she was 3 that she wanted to be a "mommy doctor." I taught her to say "obstetrician" back then and she's never looked back. If we could just convince her to work on her grades. . .

Noah will be 9 in November. He's in 3rd grade and he loves to play soccer. We'll probably send him to soccer camp this summer. He wants to play drums. Since we've experienced membership in chorus and orchestra, I figure band is the next logical step! Not sure what his "call" is yet -- right now he's just "mommy's little man."

Last, but certainly not least, my handsome, handy, lovable, recently-bearded man. . .

"If it's not one thing, it's another" or "Lemonade . . . that cool refreshing drink"

I am paraphrasing two of my favorite comics in today's heading: Gilda Radner doing Rosanne Rosannadanna and Eddie Murphy's Elvis.

Classic SNL alums both. Gilda used to sit in those silly glasses and describe either some gruesome event in the life of some distant relation or some minor frustration that had caused her apoplexy and then, "as her grandpa, Dan Rosannadanna used to say," she'd end with "if it's not one thing, it's another. .. " Don't get me started about how there are no "best of" videos of the wonderful WOMEN of SNL. . .

And what can I say about Eddie Murphy? He said Elvis could sing anything and get women. . .hence, "Lemonade, that cool refreshing drink."

Anywho, our washer is broken. We replaced the dryer last December -- after Tim made a gallant effort to keep it alive by using his handyman's Bible (not sure what the actual name is but that's what we call it). I know he had a terrible, sinking feeling of failure when the old one finally died after nearly 20 years. Well, the washer is trying to give up the ghost. The hot water is not working. We are not quitters, though, so Tim is buying a part today (after taking the thing apart over the weekend and cleaning it down to the last nut and bolt) that we hope will do the trick. If it doesn't, we start buying detergent that washes everything in cold water. . .

We're too busy trying to get our car situation in order.

We have an invisible lemon tree somewhere in our yard but, thanks to my darling, capable husband, we keep making lemonade -- good thing we like to drink it!

[Addendum: 7:23 p.m. -- HE FIXED IT!! Gotta love that man!]

Change

I am moving to another office today. I think that's the most accurate way to put it in one sentence. The Powers That Be have decided to do some remodeling and, for reasons known only to themselves, have decided that the sales staff needs to be at this end of the building. Although the encoding equipment HAS to stay in the room next to where I am currently sitting. Why they didn't just put the sales staff at the other end of the building, I don't know. However, the bright side is that this is supposed to be my office in the Grand Plan. So, hopefully, I'm here to stay.

We have a new guy -- marketing guy -- and his name is Don. Early riser this guy. I'm here at 7:30 a.m. every day to earn my flex day and he gets here BEFORE ME.

So, I'm trying to get a bit of clean up done and start getting ready to vacate and I find these little horns -- bicycle horns -- that the sales guys (when there was more than one) used to indicate they'd made a sale. (John, our one sales guy, still does.) I took them to Don and explained what they were for and we started talking about change . . . and then I opened my e-mail.

One of the regular offerings I receive is from Beliefnet and it's called "From the Masters." Sometimes it's just quotes (OH BOY) from brilliant minds but other times it's inspirational writings. . . today was a "quote day."

"Of the events of life we may have some control, but over the law of its progress none."
-- John W. Draper

"Everything changes, nothing remains without change."
-- Buddha

"When you're finished changing, you're finished."
-- Benjamin Franklin

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Then there were these gems:

Every day I live I am more convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing and which, shirking pain, misses happiness as well. No one ever yet was the poorer in the long run for having once in a lifetime "let out all the length of all the reins." Mary Cholmondeley (1859-1925), Writer

To be truly cultivated is to think reasonably, to live grandly, to love greatly, to shun pettiness, to condemn prejudice and cruelty. In short, to be cultivated is to be alive in the very largest sense. Dorothy J. Farnan (1919-2003), Educator and writer

Some day, I hope to be quoted . . .

Witty repartee and some other thoughts

I'm not sure I spelled that heading correctly. . .

First, I need to say that I put an addendum on my post about my visit to Washington, D.C. -- please go back and read it. It's a cool prayer.

Anyway, I got a couple of great quotes in my e-mail this morning and wanted to share them:

I believe that people would be alive today if there were a death penalty.
-- Nancy Reagan

Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.
-- John F. Kennedy

Think about it . . .

You gotta love JFK. Too bad the brains in that family died with Bobby.

Something I haven't mentioned about myself is that I'm an enigma wrapped in a dichotomy tied with a very pretty purple, silk ribbon.

I'm blonde and, I think my husband would agree, reasonably attractive. However, I'm also intelligent. Some would think that a dichotomy. I find it the case more often than not. Blondes have a bad rap.

I'm a "thinking Christian" -- I don't follow whatever the church tells me to believe and do. I read the Bible and follow what I understad JESUS wants me to believe and do. Or at least I try to.

Anywho, I have become a very involved member of a parachurch group called the Walk to Emmaus over the last, oh, 8 years. I went on my "pilgrim" (or original) Walk when I was pregnant with my son, Noah. It opened my eyes to what my relationship with Jesus, and the world, could be. I'm still not there but I keep "walking" in the hope that I'll get a bit closer. I am on the Board of Directors for the Lexington Emmaus Community and am on the team for the upcoming Men's Walk -- Tim is the Lay Director. Our daughter, Mary, is also on the team. She went on a retreat called Chrysalis last February after living in an "Emmaus House" for 7 years. We're immersed in it. I wonder sometimes if it's Jesus we follow or Emmaus. I pray it is the former.

Catch Up

Okay, remember how, a few posts ago, I mentioned we were going to buy my Aunt and Uncle's car? Well, we got it! We've actually had it a couple weeks. The material on the ceiling is falling down, it only has a radio (stone age!), the air compressor for the a/c needs to be replaced (not gonna do it) and the paint on the hood looks like birds have been pecking at it. But it runs on very little gas (I filled the tank for the first time since we brought it home from OHIO yesterday!), it's a FIVE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION (fun!) and it's a sporty little red thing. It's so much fun to drive. The most immediate problem was that it smelled like smoke. Both my Aunt and my Uncle smoke and she drove it. LOVE THEM -- hate their smoking. Anywho, a friend here at work, Zak Pence, had recommended that I buy some spray from a pet store for eliminating pet urine odor . . . ewwwwww! He told me it would smell like a vet's office but then I could spray something else and it would be okay.

Well, I went to Petsmart (is that Pet Smart or Pets Mart??) yesterday and got some spray that said it had an apple fragrance. It's GREAT! It's called Simple Solution Home (brand) Stain and Odor Remover(product) Juicy Apple (fragrance). I highly recommend it. However, I may need to purchase another bottle... wonder how many packs a day she smoked...

Finally a Grown Up

Well, it's only taken 40 years but I'm finally a grown up!

I had to go to Washington, D.C. last week on "business." What I actually did was eat Salmon for 2 lunches and a dinner (all in a row), meet Naomi Judd (!!) and talk to people (read "schmooze"). The part where I became a grown up is that I've been married my entire adult life so I RARELY travel alone. I went to NYC in January of 2004 but stayed with my Uncle Ardon (the consummate New Yorker) so I had help. I went to Florida in March of this year but stayed with my mom and dad . . . you get it. In D.C. it was just me. I navigated my way from the airport to the hotel (the easy way, in a cab) and back (via the Metro -- kinda scary for a small town girl). I managed to get myself to the Holocaust Museum, which wasn't even built the last time I was there. That place blew me away. I was a History major in college so there were things I already knew. I read The Diary of Anne Frank, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom and Night by Elie Weisel (highly recommend all). But there are things there that make it all REAL. A picture of Ike at one of the camps and a quote by him:

"The things I saw beggar description.... The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were... overpowering....I made the visit deliberately in order to be in a position to give firsthand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to 'propaganda.'" General Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a letter to Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, April 15, 1945

And, he was right -- what I saw "beggar(ed)" description. How could human beings do the things the Nazis did? How could DOCTORS do those things? And record it all on film of varying types!

I was especially touched by the case that displayed the so-called "euthenasia" of handicapped people (mentally and physically). Barbaric.

But the most convicting to me in some ways was the photo of the woman on the park bench. Obviously Jewish, for who would sit on a bench marked "Jews Only" if she were not? Her face was covered with her beret. The card that described the photo said something to the effect that the Nazis based their treatment of the Jews -- at least as far as "separate but (not necessarily) equal" -- on the US's treatment of our Black citizens at the time. Ouch. . .

Well, after navigating our Nation's Capital -- I felt rather proud of myself.

Besides meeting Naomi, I got to hear Jim Wallis speak (http://www.sojo.net/), met Rabbi Elliott Kleinman and, as I say, got my protein.

Rabbi Kleinman was awesome! Very intelligent and very funny. We chatted for a long time about the Hebrew language and how moving it is, even to (and perhaps especially to) those of us who cannot speak it. He told me about some research that had been done that showed that a majority of Jewish people do not speak or read Hebrew BUT they prefer to have it read in their services! Think about it -- it's a holy language like none other. Hearing it is like hearing music. I'll never forget attending a Bar Mitzvah (the Friday evening service only) several years ago. The boy in question is the son of the attorney I was working with at the time and I took my eldest daughter, Mary, with me. There were published versions of the Torah available at each seat and, as the Psalms were spoken in Hebrew, we could follow along in English. It was magical and moved me in a way I've seldom experienced. I felt sort of the same way about The Passion of the Christ. There's just a wonderful connection there -- ancient language, roots of our faith, etc. Very cool.

I've started Disciple Bible Study at church on Sunday evenings. The class is a diverse group as far as male/female and educational/spiritual backgrounds. Still, there are no African-Americans (although I have noticed an upswing in attendance from that sector on Sunday morning) and no Hispanics. It's not necessarily a representative sampling of our city's populace.

Just some "grown up" thoughts on Monday. . .

[Addendum: I had almost forgotten the wonderful closing prayer given at our luncheon on Tuesday, September 13 by Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president:

O God, sometimes words and images tell us truths we don’t want to know, so we spike them, spin them, censor them. Sometimes words and images expose us, so we stay on message, stay on point to keep others, keep ourselves from knowing too much. But sometimes truth cannot be controlled. The powerful hide behind tinted glass from a mother’s haunting questions, and we see the bitter fruit of our deceptions. The desperate cries of the vulnerable poor - few affluent among them - rise from the deluge toward the camera flying overhead, and suddenly we know the real meaning of “left behind.” “What is truth?” Pilate’s cynicism is repeated again and again by those who have little interest in truth. So make us bold to speak, to write, to print, to photograph. And make us persistent in our work to allow all to see the sin and the grace, the horror and the hope, the despair and the dignity of our lives, and thus to see what You see when You gaze upon all that You have made. Amen.]

Long Weekend and other stuff

Well, we spent the weekend in Tennessee. My cousin, Dawn, lives there and she and her husband have 4 kids to our 3. It's a huge party! In most senses of the word. . .

They put in a pool (inground, 28x48) this summer and this was our first chance to get down there. We usually go for the July 4th weekend. Anyway, it was great and we all came back in varying shades of pink!

Weekends like this one make me SO grateful for Dawn. She's as close as I have to a sister and I wouldn't trade her for an ACTUAL sister! We are very close and she's basically my best girlfriend. We used to talk when we were kids about how cool it would be when we were grown ups and our kids played together . . . I guess that's NOW!

We are hoping to spend a week next summer . . .

Quotes

I collect quotes. I receive an e-mail every day that has quotations in it from people (famous, infamous and "fringe") and I move them to another folder and save them "just in case I need them."

I never have.

But it's fun to think I have this endless well of wit and wisdom at my command.

For instance, this one was in the e-mail this morning:

What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists?
In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet.
-- Woody Allen

I love that! And I don't really like Woody Allen.

I also like:

Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.
-- Evelyn Waugh, Diaries of Evelyn Waugh (1976)

Who is Evelyn Waugh??

Google says. . . She wrote Brideshead Revisited!! Wow, you learn something new every day!

Anyway, I guess I've decided that this could be a place where I sprinkle a quotation or two. So be expecting it -- I wouldn't want anyone to wet himself (or herself) from shock.

Also, I'm currently in the process of writing a Harry Potter Fanfiction for a contest that www.veritaserum.com is holding. They rock and are one of my favorite HP sites. After I post it there, I'll probably post it here too.

I don't work tomorrow (I work a "flex" schedule) and it's Labor Day weekend, so have a great one and see you next week!

The Princess

What's my "Call"??

I don't mean the kind you receive on the telephone. Nor do I mean being "on call" as one in an important profession, such as doctor, nurse or plumber. I mean, what does God want me to be doing? To what end am I supposed to be working with the gifts I have been given?

I've never taken a "spiritual gifts" survey but I'd like to. If you've taken one, did the results come as a surprise? Were they a Revelation? Were you spurred to heights of missionary zeal??

Tell me all about it!

Thwarted

Well, I went to the Y this morning to swim and the pool was empty . . . no not empty of people, empty of WATER! Apparently, they'd posted a sign for several days (or weeks) telling of this development but, being blonde and not very observant, I didn't notice it. Apparently, it will be empty all week next week -- EEK! They let us use the outside pool this morning. It was sprinkling when we went out -- three of us at first but there were a couple more when I left. I got 3 good laps in and then I adjusted my goggles. I must stop at this point and tell you that, while I love swimming, I can't see in the water without goggles. However, I hate the kind that just cover each eye separately. So, I bought some that look more like snorkling goggles. However, they are difficult to situate. They never fail to leak at some point. Much as I try, I can't get them in the perfect spot twice in a row. I manage it every once in a while but, well . . . I fiddled with them several times, doing half a lap and then adjusting and on and on. Got through 9 laps and got fed up. Next week, for cardio, I'll be doing the Walk Away the Pounds dvds that my mom gave me.

The good news is that I've lost about 5 lbs. this week simply by watching points and exercising again! Woo Hoo!

The bad news is, I yelled at the kids this morning to start their day. Which always sucks. I had good reason and it was pretty much justified but I still feel crappy about it.

But my wonderful hubby sent me a Hallmark Card (Hoops & Yo Yo) and I feel a bit better.

Working Out and other thoughts

Well, I am trying to get back into the Work Out routine. You know, get up at an ungodly hour, shrug into either some spandex or a bathing suit, drive to the Y, sweat or swim, go home and shower and move (slowly, because my muscles ache from disuse) through the rest of the day.

I lost a bunch of weight a couple of summers ago. I looked great. But I got cocky and fell off the weightwatchers points wagon AND stopped exercising. Talk about stupid. One day I got on the scale and went "Yoiks!" Plus, my clothes don't fit anymore. I got rid of my "fat clothes" because I was sure I wouldn't need them anymore . . .

So, here I am, trying to get back on the wagon. It's not easy. I'm back to counting points and trying to do some sort of exercise every weekday. I may go to MTW (skip Thursday) F. I didn't swim this morning and I meant to . . .but I did the weight machines yesterday morning and every muscle is screaming!

Wish me luck.

Next subject.

We can't really afford a new car but we really need one. We are going to buy my aunt and uncle's used (very -- it's a '95) Dodge Neon. After swearing we'd never buy a domestic vehicle again. Beggars can't be choosers. And, boy, are we beggars. We couldn't buy a toothpick on credit. I'd really like to get Tim a motorcycle but he drives the kids to school . . .

However, I LONG for a Prius. You know, the hybrid from Toyota that has a waiting list? I've driven one and they are great. Seemless movement from electric to gas motor. Also, when you are stopped at a light or anything, the gas motor isn't engaged so there's no noise. . . you think the car is dead . . . then you step on the accelerator and you're moving! It's an awesome car. I'm hoping that next year . . .

And speaking of cars. I am SO tired of the US's dependence on oil! I've been listening to NPR's story about the Nigerian oil fields. It's so awful. A crime really. And don't get me started about our own, not-so-little war for oil. . .

Can we do anything about it? We can start by buying Priuses. . .

Our Kitchen

So, the big news in our house this summer has been that we won a kitchen makeover. It started in May and it's still not (officially) done. They included our front room because there's no wall between it and the kitchen. So we've got new paint, new fridge, new stove, new range hood. A big mirror and some new prints. Here's a link to the pictures: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/chrysalisdude/album?.dir=a316&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

It's been an excrutiating process -- I hated the curtains that came with the house for the big picture window in the front room . . . but living in a fish bowl is a pain in the a*#! Having been told we were getting new ones, we folded up the old, heavy, EXPENSIVE drapes (pepto bismol pink-ish) and put them in the basement pre-garage sale. The walls were painted and new appliances arrived . . . but no curtains. We have panels now but they don't cover the entire window (it's kinda big) so we still live with somewhat of a glass wall in our home. No prancing around in our undies to get a glass of water in the middle of the night. Oh well. . .

That being said -- we LOVE it! Talk about a difference. God has really been good to us over the last 6 months or so and that's the only way I can explain it!

Here I am with my newest "baby" -- Beau. He was my 40th birthday present (January 2005)...

Opening Salvo

Wow - I really feel the pressure to be brilliant hanging on this first post. Oh well, I've failed before and I'll do it again, I'm sure.

My friend, Marty, started a blog this weekend and, not to be outdone, I'm starting one too. I really don't have an original thought in my head -- a rather empty thing that rattles occasionally -- so I don't expect a lot of visitors but it might be fun.

Let's see, I'm a 40 year old mother of three. Beautiful children, really. I know everyone says that about their kids but ours really ARE! I've been married to their dad (my first and only husband) for 18 years. We've been together our entire adult lives and have seen each other through varied experiences . . .nothing earth shattering or outside the continental United States. But our lives have meant a lot to us.

I'm sort of boring. I go to work and church and I nap on a semi-regular basis (which means I was a cat in a former life, even though I don't really believe in reincarnation, and I sleep as often as I can possibly get away with). I write the way I speak -- with a lot of parentheticals -- so I will probably ramble in an unorganized and maddening way. However, stick with me and, eventually, I'll sometimes make a point.

Anyway, as the school year begins, I find myself with a Junior in High School and an actual balance in a savings account. I am new to both of these things. I believe, as dotty as I am, I could not have gotten this far without a lot of help -- from God, my parents, my husband (and kids) and my friends (of which I have a gaggle). To those people I dedicate this first silly post. . . Love and kisses, K