Hobo Dinners

NPR is doing a series right now for which they have invited input from listeners. You e-mail a story about your favorite summer food. . . here's what I sent:

Hobo Dinners

For 23 years I have been going to Dale Hollow Lake (the Tennessee side) with my husband and his parents for vacation. It’s a pilgrimage of sorts. We camp – well, sort of. Tim’s folks have a big RV now -- but in the beginning they had a truck camper and we’re still sleeping in a tent. Back when I first joined them, we were cooking all of our meals either over the open fire in the campsite pit or over a Coleman stove (I think we went through at least two).

As we began having children, the favorite meal on vacation became “hobo dinners.” This distinctly American delicacy is prepared in aluminum foil and cooked in the hot coals of the fire pit. When our kids were younger our hobo dinners consisted mainly of a hamburger patty, some onions and carrots for flavor and salt and pepper for spice. The kids would toss out the onions and smother their burgers in ketchup.

Part of the ritual is preparing it yourself – a huge rite of passage for each of our three children was the day they could finally assemble their own hobo dinner. You must complete the ritual by engraving some sort of identifying label on the outside of your meal with a black Sharpie marker. It's sort of a contest to see who can be wittiest with their moniker.

This past May, our eldest child graduated from High School. Her senior year was bittersweet, as I’m sure every parent has experienced, as we passed through each event “for the last time.” Concerts, dances, holidays . . . it all went so quickly. She had a busy summer and while our youngest child, Noah, went to the Lake with his grandparents twice this summer, Mary, our graduate, Sara, our middle “angel,” Tim and I could only catch a three day weekend. It was two weeks ago. We left Friday night and arrived at the Lake around dusk.

We had eaten dinner on the road and we were leaving Sunday around lunch time. We had one night for which we needed a dinner and the kids asked for . . . you guessed it, hobo dinners.

Our kids all prepare their own now. We added a few new ingredient choices this year: sweet potatoes in addition to “new” red potatoes, mushrooms and all the Chef Paul spices in my in-laws' cabinets. A smorgasbord of ingredients from which you picked your favorites.

I watched as Mary laid her hamburger patty out on the foil. She placed a baby carrot in the middle vertically, two purple half moon slivers of onion at the top on each side and about 5 slices of new potato along the bottom in a smile. “Meet Mrs. Tastyface,” she announced proudly.

Mary is 17 and she will be a freshman at a small college here in Kentucky in the fall. She’s blonde, but not stupid. She wants to be a teacher. In that one moment, I saw her at 4 or 5 making her first hobo dinner, at 17 as a teacher’s assistant at a local elementary and at 25, teaching someone, perhaps her own child, to make a hobo dinner. This was not her “last time.” It’s just the beginning.

HP SPOILER -- Beware, I'm about to spill it! Maybe. . .

I can't stand it anymore! I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning, and no one else in my house has yet -- I've got to vomit up all the stuff in my head before it explodes! I don't think I'll be blowing anything too much for those who haven't read it but I can't guarantee anything at this point so, if you haven't read it and you don't want it "spoiled," DO NOT READ ON! If, however, like me, you are the only soul in your home (or workplace or whatever) who has read it and cares about it. . . feel free.

I'm so down today. I guess I'm in mourning but I'm also somewhat disappointed. I've been reading reviews and they all gush about how neatly everything was tied up -- well, that's my problem with it. The whole "19 years later" epilogue is like reading a story by a 14-year-old for Freshman lit class. Or some of the horrible fan fiction submitted in recent years. I mean really, all those names honoring the dead. . . yoiks! It's too cute, too adolescent.

And having to flash back and use memories to fill in the great gaping holes. It was too pat. The idea that Harry would choose to sacrifice himself is not believable either. He's spent the last 7 years being selfish and stupid -- never studying, being exactly the overrated punk that Snape makes him out to be -- how is it possible that the same kid who causes his best friend to abandon him -- yeah, I said that -- could give his life? Unfortunately, I just don't buy it.

I was VERY sad to see beloved characters go and, frankly, don't see why it had to happen. I guess I can understand the first casualty because it's hard to drag an owl cage across the British countryside, but Dobby?

I guess I just feel sort of robbed. I had hoped Harry would find a brilliance in himself, a strength. Perhaps that he'd learn from some of what Hermione had been exhibiting for all these years -- she needed to tell him to "look it up, for cryin out loud!"

I just found him to be a whiner -- and why did Fred have to die? And Lupin and Tonks? I'm just so sad about it all.

I was right about Harry himself being a horcrux tho -- I've said it since I put the sixth book down the first time (yeah, who hasn't read all the books at least 6 times?). Also, that Snape wasn't either good or bad. . . .just human. If you didn't figure out from the Snape/Lily/James memory that Snape was in love with Lily, you're completely daft! But I think going back as far as she did with it was a bit contrived.

I guess I'm saying I don't think it was enough that Harry be WILLING to die -- I think he should have. A tragic hero is so much more interesting.

After everyone else in my house reads it, I'll go back again. I've already got the audio cd's on their way -- Jim Dale rocks!

I'm sure I'll recover but until then -- blech, ptooey. . the vomit is out.

I've said it before. . .

Time flies. . .

See below for pictures from our cruise if that's what you're here for but I thought I'd ramble for a bit.

As I get older, I feel like my life is like looking through a fan. Not a japanese fan, more like one you make out of paper in kindergarten. I'm watching things go on around me and it all folds in on top of whatever went before. That doesn't make much sense but let me try to clarify. Mary is now 17 years old. I remember her at two -- not just because we have pictures but because I really remember. So we're at the airport on our way home and I see a little girl who resembles Mary when she was about two. So I looked at her and "over" her was Mary at two and then Mary now. I'm sad sometimes because I feel like I missed so much when the kids were small. Now they are moving on and becoming people of their own. Making decisions and choices that I have nothing to do with.

Scary a bit. I'm proud of most of their choices. Hopeful. Sometimes it seems like my life is over. Like I've done what I was supposed to do and now I'm just waiting for the "spectatorship" to start. Watching them make their way. I hate it. I want to go back and start over. I'm sure everyone feels that way.

I don't always feel like this. I don't think it's deep or even different. I'll miss them.

My new favorite way to vacation

Well, Tim and I are no longer "cruise virgins." We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary aboard Carnival's MS Inspiration. It was wonderful beyond words -- sure, there were some problems. . .we paid WAY too much for manicure/pedicure treatments, the photography is constant but buying the pictures is archaic. . .I have some ideas and I'm going to be writing a letter this weekend.

But for the most part it was one for the books.

We flew into Ft. Myers and stayed with my mom and dad on Friday, June 22. They took us to dinner (joined by my Aunt Peg, Uncle Ron and their friends Gil and Lois who brought us an anniversary card and flowers). Then Saturday mom and dad drove us to Tampa. Honey (their dog) rode with us. She's my baby sister. . .

Here are some of my favorite shots, so far (we haven't had the waterproof camera developed yet). . .

You could see the ship as we approached down the street. It was very cool. Tim and I at the port before we boarded -- my dad took this picture.
I immediately thought of Noah when I saw this huge chess set -- someone was always playing.

Towel animals:

Grand Cayman pictures will go here . . .


Calica/Playa del Carmen, Mexico:
Hacienda at the ranch where we got on our horses for our ride on the beach. . .

Our postcard shot. . . >>>>>>>>














We celebrated our anniversary with our new friends at Table 229 in the Carnivale dining room (5:45 seating):










Left to Right: Donna, Hanak, Roy, Jana (server), Rommel (co-server), Elaine, Kelly and Tim

Almost the end of the (fiscal) year

Well, Summer Celebration is over for another year and as June quickly draws to a close, we are busy beavers getting budgets ready for July 1. Well, not "we" -- I don' t have much to do with it except to cut and paste information.
Here are some pictures from Summer Celebration:
Tim and I had a good time -- he dealt Texas Hold 'Em (aka KET Hold 'Em). We had a blow mid-party because we got word that our dear friend David Gichuru had drowned while on vacation in California. Tim was still processing when this picture was taken I think.









Me and my boss, Michele Ripley, president of the Commonwealth Fund for KET. She called it "Kelly's party" all night. . . well, it was.





Mary and I posing in an Austin Healey. My big coup was getting the Louisville British Sports Car Club to bring 7 of their cars as "decoration" for our James Bond themed event. Mary was there to hold a kitten for the silent auction -- we'll never do that again -- bidding war, icky.

New Year, New Me

So, I turned 42 a couple of weeks ago and I've been at my job for over a year. . . I decided it was time for a change. So I'm back on Weight Watchers and I've lost seven (or six, depends on the day) pounds so far! I also colored my hair. I went in for brown/brunette. I picked a color in a magazine that had a sort of auburn glow. Well, see for yourself. . .

Pictures from Christmas Break

So here are some pics from our Christmas travels:

Talula is Bob and Janet's dog. A gift from Tim's brother, Tony, after he came back from Florida. And speaking of Tony. . .



Here he is with his new fiancee, Cassie. She's sweet and seems grounded and laid back . . . we're excited to have her in the family!
Tim's Aunt Ollie is 97 years old! Tony told her she had to "hitch" a ride home and she said, "Oh yeah?" She's a pistol but gets lonely. . . who wouldn't when you're far and away the only one in your age bracket?


Tim's cousin, Michael, is one of the younger cousins who is finally married and starting a family -- we've been it for long time now. Here's Michael's son, Kameron. We had a lot of fun pushing the snowman's hand and watching the K-man dance along!

Here's Lily, the newest little flower of the family, and her mom, Amy. Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Well, the holidays have come and gone (with the notable exception of Epiphany of which I hope to have one soon so I know what to write here) and life continues.

Mary has turned 17. . .oy, my life is a cliche. . . Noah is 10 (my baby in double digits) and Sara will be 14 this month! My own birthdays bother me much less than those of my children.

Tim and I will celebrate 20 yars of marriage in June. What a milestone! We've worked so hard to get here and I'm proud of what we've accomplished together. And what is to come will be even better. We're talking about a cruise to celebrate. . . anyone with any suggestions write me!

So, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year -- make this one count!

K

That Legacy Question again. . .

So, what will be my legacy? I'm asking myself today because a wonderful, Godly man died this week and I was supposed to sing at his funeral this morning. I say "supposed to" because another appointment (at which my presence was superfluous at best) kept me from arriving at the church in time to practice with the ensemble of which I was supposed to be a part. The director found a replacement and I was out. It hurt. Not so much because I wanted so badly to sing at a funeral. I've done that. Not because I loved Jim so much -- I bearly knew him but wanted to honor him. No, it hurt that, after the things I've done and the times I've managed to surmount odds and show up, I still got a vote of "no confidence."

I'm wondering a lot lately who I really am and what my life means. Maybe I'm just thinking too much. Tim tries to cheer me up by pointing at our wonderful children. They are wonderful but I feel like very little of their "wonderfulness" has to do with me. We've been incredibly blessed. But they'll leave and then what will I have to remind me I've even been on the Earth at all. Yeah, I'm depressed.

I guess I'm just feeling lost and replaceable. Blah, blah, blah. Yadda Yadda Yadda. I hate feeling sorry for myself but I'm very good at it.

Anyway, if you're reading this and you're not married yet and you're still in school -- figure out who you are first and then join your life with someone else. "Finding yourself" only gets harder if you've already morphed into part of someone else.

Homework Help

This wasn't like anything I'd seen or done before so I thought I'd share it:

My name is Kelly Hamilton

My name is Kelly (Noah’s mom).
The name I should be called is “Mom,” because that’s how most people know me – I'm Mary, Sara and Noah’s mom.
The animal that is inside of me is a cat because I love to take naps.
What’s in my heart is Jesus because He helps me love others.
The sound I like is my children’s laughter.
The sound I dislike is the noises people make when they eat.
The smell I love is chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.
The smell I don’t love is burnt popcorn.
I love to touch my family with hugs and kisses.
I don’t love to touch any food that’s gone bad – ewwww.
I love the taste of milk chocolate.
The taste I don’t love is coconut.
Something I like to look at is my kids when they are being loving and sweet.
I don’t like to see suffering and pain.
My favorite memory is our family trip to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina when Noah was two. He really liked playing in the water!
My favorite thing in the whole world is being with my family having fun – inside or out!

Drama

Tim and I did a small skit in church this morning. It was about a guy coming to terms with his past and trying to move forward through his issues with his dad. Hit a lot of buttons with people and it felt good to think we were part of a message that's universal. If we believe in Jesus and being made "new" in Him, why do we continue to hang on so tightly to all the bad stuff (and good) from the past? We aren't what we did or said or thought then, we're today; we're this moment.

I need to take that thought with me to work tomorrow!

Time Flying. . .

Tomorrow is the start of the 2006-07 school year. Mary will be a Senior. She had her Senior Portraits taken earlier in the summer and we're supposed to go at the end of August to purchase a package. Where have the days gone?

I'm still at KET. I'm staring down the barrel of my year anniversary and feeling deserving of a ginormous pat on the back. It's the most stressful job I've ever had. But there have been some wonderful moments and I know my kids have had fun here -- despite missing me during pledge drives. I literally lost the month of March.

Tim's back is great for the most part -- if he overdoes it he has pain but who doesn't. The surgery was a miracle. He's working hard on his bachelor's degree and should be done in December 2007 -- the end of Mary's freshman year in college. Irony rules my life.

Sara is a freshman tomorrow. She auditioned for and made Color Guard. She has worked really hard this summer (as have all the girls and the band) and I'm excited because the first home football game is Friday night! I am encouraging her (I hope NOT too strongly because I know that will actually DIScourage her) to think about trying out to be a drum major -- she'd be perfect for it! I think she's excited about high school but, as anyone would be, nervous. Mary says she will share her locker with Sara . . .which I find extremely sweet.

Noah starts 4th grade. In Lexington, that's the year you begin to get letter grades and you start your portfolio. It was a hard year for both girls. I don't want to anticipate or assume anything but I'm girding myself. . .

I know it seems like I whine a lot. . . I guess I just get tired of never having any money. It's not like we don't work hard. Stuff is just expensive.

Life Goes On. . .

So we're back from Florida -- seems like a dream. Isn't that how vacation usually works?

Tony sold his house in Clearwater and will be coming north in February. He'll be moving back in with Bob and Janet (my in-laws) for a bit until he's decided on a specific direction to move in. We're excited because we have a lot of work to do on our house and are hoping he'll come help us!

So here are some pics from our vacation. . .
Banyan Tree from the Edison Estate

Noah and Gus (those dogs were ALL about just licking him and loving him)

Tony's House in Clearwater (no longer his. . .)

So, life goes on and we're back to the grind. I've already had to get through a Board Meeting and a luncheon since vacation (dream that it was). Mary is working hard. . .just finished as "Costume Mistress" for Seussical the Musical and is now slogging through Mock Trial and ACT preperations. Sara's orchestra is preparing to play at the KMEA Educator's conference in Louisville in February and Noah is just doing that third grade boy thing. Tim has made it through a round of lay offs at Lexmark. . . Thank you Jesus!

God blessed us so much and so deeply in 2005. I am praying that I can just be grateful in 2006.

Blessings. . .

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!