Here's the language I speak...what's yours?

Your Linguistic Profile:

80% General American English

10% Dixie

10% Yankee

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Random Weekend thoughts...

I am so excited about the weekend. We have Monday off for President's Day. I need it. For some reason, I have been exhausted this week. It couldn't be that we sometimes burn the candle at both ends and in the middle at our house!?!?!

I am ready though.

Dh is doing a funeral service for a member of our church who died last week. This man was a retired military colonel with more decorations and awards than most people EVER get. In addition to that though, he was a fine Christian man. Even as an older man, he loved the youth and young children at the church. His dear wife has stood by him over this long illness. In a matter of months (it seemed) she watched her husband go from being a vibrant, energetic man, to one that lost a lot of weight, had to do dialysis, and just faded out rather slowly.

He knew he was going to die. And yet, he kept pressing on. He told the doctors several months ago that he "couldn't die yet" because he had an appointment that he had to make. And he didn't.

In December, the church threw a surprise "Celebration of Life" event...and he was so touched by it.

It wasn't long after that when he ended up taking himself off of dialysis. He knew that it would only be a matter of time once he did this. I think he was at peace. I think he was ready to get the final award and enter into Glory.

What a powerful testimony to a life well-lived. Go rest high on that mountain, Colonel...you deserve it.

THURSDAY'S Here...Come on, Everybody!

Thirteen Things about SUSAN'S Week 1. On Valentines Day, dh and I had a wonderful QUIET dinner for two at a restaurant...and I got my favorite flowers: TULIPS!! 2. I have not unpacked the cropping stuff out of the back of my car from last weekend 3. I wrote my first editorial to our newspaper 4. I blew my stack at an able-bodied custodian at my school who sat and watched four women lug very heavy testing boxes from a bus 5. I can still get cranky over "little things" 6. I know that I am loved beyond belief by my family and the Lord regardless of these little setbacks 7. I spent over an hour on my Wednesday blog (only because I had to do it three times to make the pics come up right) 8. I realized that I take on things that I should not---and I still don't know how to say NO 9. I sat with my family for a church directory photo (UGH!) 10. I realized that photography could be a quite lucrative job as I think "professional photos" are WAY overpriced 11. I bought girl scout cookies for the first time in years 12. I spent time nurturing an "old friendship" and am glad that I made the time to do it 13. I am continually reminded that I am still a work in progress...some days are good...others are not...and I am SO thankful that I am covered by AMAZING GRACE!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Red Headed Rants and Rambles 2. The KtKronicles 3. Seeking Thin Spaces 4. Treasure of Jewels 5. V I R T U E

TOOOO funny....

OK, perhaps I have gone over the blogging edge. I saw this on another blog last night and wanted to pass it along to you. It made me laugh out loud!! This is called "Google Image Fun".

If any of you dare to try it, go to Google Images. Type in your response to each of the items below and paste whatever picture you get into your blog. (Note: I DID use the second or third image sometimes just because the first one didn't seem appropriate...but I committed to ONLY using images from the first page of the search):

1. Your first name (like I really wish!):



2. Your middle name:



3. Your last name:

Maiden



Married


4. Age on next birthday:


5. Favorite Color:


6. Place where you want to live:


7. Place where you actually live:



8. A habit I have:



9. Religion:


10. Favorite Food (I had to go deeper on this one because the singer Meatloaf was the first picture---NOT on MY blog!)



11. Favorite Animal:



12. Dream Job:


Note: If you choose to do this, you have to save the clipart to your computer as a .jpg file then you can move it into blogger. It's considered stealing bandwith to just link up to someone's website via the URL.

BUT it IS worth the time it takes and it really is FUNNY!!

I Love...

OK after my cranky blog last night and knowing that today is Valentine's Day...I thought I'd list just a few of the things I love...

♥ My Lord and Savior, Jesus
♥ My wonderful husband of almost 19 years for his undying, unconditional love and support for me and our children and his steadfast faith
♥ Son 1 for his determination and willingness to stand strong for what he believes and the willingness to try new things
♥ Son 2 for his tenderness, concern and gentle way that he treats other people and his “can-do” attitude
♥ Son 3 for his ability to handle some of the tech pains that I have run into and his persistence in figuring things out
♥ Son 4 for the music that is in his heart and the zest with which he approaches life
♥ My Mother for believing in me and giving me my faith foundation
♥ My Dad for his support and love as I have gone through each new season of life
♥ My Stepmother for being so compassionate and thoughtful
♥ My brother D for his friendship and laughter
♥ My brother G for his concern and compassion for his entire family
♥ My SIL C for the way she has blended in with our family as if she has always been there (and for two of my darling nieces and sweet nephew ☺)
♥ My FIL for being there to “help” whenever we need it and giving without condition
♥ My MIL for the best “coupon” ever ☺ AND for Grandma’s kitchen and her unwavering faith
♥ My Phoenix BIL and SIL and their children (the other two darling nieces and two nephews ☺) for seeing to it that we get to still be part of each other’s lives even when the miles separate—and for their beautiful example and constant testimony of how Jesus works in their lives
♥ My wonderful extended family: Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, and many many cousins for making it seem like they are only a phone call away though there are many miles between us
♥ My dearest friends from church, Bible study, and school for their love and willingness to reign me back in when it’s necessary and to nudge me forward when I need to move on

This list could go on and on...but for each of these people and their part in my life, I am eternally grateful!! Happy Valentine's Day!!

Can You Feel the Love?

Here I am on the eve of Valentines not feeling very loving. I took ds 4 to the store to get Valentines cards for his class (I know, I know, last minute Mommy). Anyway, he couldn't make his selection and it took FOREVER! The bad thing was that we were there in the middle of all the other last minute Mommies and a few Daddies. So, I was a bit cranky by the time we left the store.

DS 4 normally goes to bed at 8:00...but I was shopping with him at 7:30...so now he is up writing his Valentines and I am getting more CRANKY! He is whiny and slow right now (a little more than an hour later).

DS 3 is upset because he cannot find his Math book. I don't know where it is either. I have looked through the house and cannot find it. So he, too, is cranky (but for a different reason).

DS 2 is out at soccer practice, so he is in the clear.

DS 1 is frustrated because someone left him a Valentines dessert in our fridge today and he doesn't know who it is....dh received the gift and has shed little light on where it came from.

On top of it all, I am not feeling well. My throat is sore and I am stuffed up.

Sometimes I think Valentines is overrated anyway. Why should we wait until this one day to tell everyone we love them?

And yet, I know it's important...because there are SO MANY missed opportunities.

Soooo as this blog entry comes to an end....I am reflecting on the biggest Valentine of all....from God because he LOVED US so much...even when we are cranky.

Can you feel the love?

I am back from my cropping weekend. We cropped until 1:30 Friday morning...woke up at 8:00 on Saturday and cropped again until 1:00 in the morning. This morning, I spent time organizing my stuff to bring it home so that I could be more productive here.

It was wonderful!!

I probably crop a bit slower than some people do. I have my photos organized chronologically and try to do a year at a time but I spend time looking at them again and again. I finished 2003 this weekend....and am more than 3/4 of the way into 2004 as well. This means that I more than met my own personal goal.

I might have been able to get a bit more done, but I love to stop and look at the pictures. Each one takes me back to a moment in time...it allows me to go on a precious memory journey. I took several "trips" this weekend:

I found myself at the hospital again meeting my nieces for the first time...sailing somewhere in the Carribbean with my family....visiting with our relatives from the West...going back to middle school graduations....first days of school...visiting Disney and Universal...Christmas...church activities...a Thanksgiving visit to Gatlinburg....and just generally being a family.

I know that these moments spent collecting and recording these special times for my kids will help them be able to share the stories of who they are with their own children someday.

It was relaxing...it was also a powerful reminder that we are weaving a tapestry of memories for our children each and every day. I pray that I weave a tapestry that will not unravel...I pray that it leaves a picture on each of their hearts that defines for them love and fellowship...so that one day, they too, can pass along their stories to those who come after them.

I'm Going Cropping

Sing to the tune of "I'm Gettin' Married in the Morning"

I'm going cropping for the weekend!
Snip, snip my scissors are going to shine...
No kids or husband...
No other distractions...
Just cropping for the whole darn time!!


I am SO excited. I leave tonight for a full weekend of cropping. I don't know how much I'll get done...but I am sure looking forward to the decompression that I KNOW will happen!

Now, I know my children read my blog occasionally...so lest they get their noses cut off...they should know getting away is just a "girl thing". It makes us better mothers and wives and women in general when we come back.

See you all on Sunday night!!

OK...cue up the Carpenter's Again....

I told you all last week that the song, "I can't live a day without you" comes to mind when I think about how much I love reading your blogs. Seeing your Thursday Thirteens today was very FUN...I know, I'm kind of strange sometimes. Thanks for playing! See you next Thursday (if not before--hint)!

And another week rolls around....

Thirteen of Susan's favorite Bible verses (minus John 3:16) I had to ask ds 2 what to write and so this Thursday Thirteen topic is courtesy of him. 1…. Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." 2. Phillipians 4:13 "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." 3. Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." 4. Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, O God." 5. I Corinthians 13: 13 "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest is love." 6. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Behold if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." 7. Romans 8:28 "For we know that all things work to the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 8. Psalm 32:7 "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." 9. Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing, and perfect will." 10. Romans 12:9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil and cling to what is good." 11. Psalm 23: 1 - 3 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." 12. John 15:5 "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him , he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 13. Romans 8:31 "What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Red Headed Rants and Rambles 2. The KtKronicles 3. Treasure of Jewels 4. V I R T U E

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Is Everyone Gearing Up....

For THURSDAY THIRTEEN?????? You can push the link in my last Thursday Thirteen to find the code to add this to your blog....Come on, TRY IT! It's fun! I hope to see you all have blogged a list of "thirteen somethings" tomorrow!

It's NOT Funny!!

Have you ever been around someone who tries to be humorous or funny only by putting other people down? I can't stand that. I know a guy that does this everytime he is around me. Recently it has escalated. He will start jabbing at me about things and saying that "It's all your fault that so and so said....." OR "Susan did it...she is the reason we have to do ......" OR "That lady over there said that Susan was the cause of ......" He always says these things with a smile like he is trying to be funny and humorous. I honestly think he thinks he is being funny....but he is not. It's not just me that he does it to...but it seems like recently it has been me on a daily basis. And often it is an incident that I know NOTHING about!

Today I asked a colleague what he thought the reasoning was....and neither of us could totally figure it out. We could only speculate. But, he has noticed the same thing. We decided that sometimes people use humor to take jabs at other people when they are insecure about themselves. They act like they are being funny...but there is an element of truth in their statements that can be hurtful. They are trying to elevate their own status or be "in on" something that they are not. That certainly could be the case here.

As I really think about it....I may have been guilty of doing that too in my past. I may have taken a "jab" and used humor at someone else's expense. It's not right.

I am praying that the next time it happens that I have the strength and the courage to say the right words. I don't want to be mean...but I'd like this person to be able to reflect and perhaps understand the way these things are being perceived. It may help and it may not. I know for certain that until I say something and confront it, there can be no change. I pray that the words I say are filled with grace, but are also clear enough. Who knows? Maybe someone else will be spared this treatment.

And speaking of the Super Bowl...

I think this is an awesome story about football and priorities and love and what really matters. (Click on the title above to view the story.)

Super Bowl

I LOVE football. I am always a bit sad when the Super Bowl comes because it means so many months without watching a good game.

Last night, as I watched, I didn't have a real stake in the game. I didn't care who won or lost. I leaned more toward the Seahawks for many reasons. But I can be happy for the Steelers as well. Regardless, though, I DO get caught up in the excitement of it all. I yell at the TV. I clap sometimes.

As I watch games, I do find myself wondering....what would happen if we, as Christians, got as enthusiastic about our faith as football fans do their teams? They watch the game with such passion and zeal. Wouldn't it be cool if we could cheer on "God's Team" with that same fervor?

We just might set the world on fire and rock the world---even better than the Rolling Stones. We just might get people excited who weren't excited before. We just might help one more person raise a trophy high over their head on judgement day as they enter the Kingdom. And we just might help more people attend the ultimate Super Bowl Celebration.

Go Team!!

The Flock

Yesterday I watched a flock of birds. They didn't do anything that I hadn't seen birds do before...you know, they dance from wire to wire. They all land on a wire (or two) and then suddenly, as if someone yelled, "GO!", they all fly at once. It happened repeatedly and methodically. I've seen this over and over again...but it struck me differently as I watched yesterday.

Each time the birds would "up and go", there were always one or two birds left behind. They chose to stay seated comfortably on the wire. I willed them to follow, "They're leaving you, GO!" And, "What if they fly far away this time and you are lost from the flock?" (I know, weird, right?) Then I remembered this story that I heard years ago:

LESSONS FROM GEESE

We could learn a lot from a goose.

As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can go further and get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back in formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership – with people, as with geese, interdependent with each other.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging – not something less than helpful.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect him. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly again, or dies. Then they launch out on their own with another formation or catch up to the flock.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in hard times as well as good.

- "Lessons from Geese" was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and was based on the work of Milton Olson.

And while these were not geese I watched, I was reminded that important lessons are in nature all around us. The birds and their flocks should remind us of the power of a group....and you know, as I thought about those one or two sitting on the wire, I had a new thought about not always following the flock: Maybe they don't want to "follow the crowd". Maybe they want to set out on a new path. Maybe they just need to stop and enjoy the wire a little longer.

May we all know when to go with the flock and when to set out on our own journeys!! After all, it seems to be a very delicate balancing act.

The Blog Monster!

OK I don't get it....

I blogged last night. I know I did because KT commented on it in my latest Thursday Thirteen....

Now it's gone! What happened to it?

There must be a monster on my blog because now I don't see it in my lists of posts nor do I see it on my blog page. Weird, huh????

It's stuff like this that makes me crazy with the computer!! My post has to be flying around somewhere in cyberspace.

Anyway, for anyone who gets to read this and didn't see last night...here's a recap (as close as I can remember):

Title: I Can't Live a Day Without You

Post: {Cue up the Carpenter's music.} I have a habit. Everynight before I go to bed (and sometimes during the day) I check my email...check up on a couple of forums that I read daily...and then write and/or check out the blog world. I have put the blogs I read in my sidebar over on the right. I love visiting these sites each day...I am always filled with anticipation when I push the link button to "catch up" on what's going on. Some of these people I know and others I have never met...but somehow I feel like I have a connection to them.

I almost feel guilty for writing this post after I read my SIL, Heather's, blog. She had a very busy week where blogging had to have dropped clear to the bottom of a long list of responsibilities and "life stuff". And maybe that's true for others here too.

It's OK....

I just want you to know that I miss you when you are gone.

So maybe I should switch the song to say, "I Don't Like Going a Day Without You" OR "I Enjoy Catching Up With You"....

I don't know.....Forget the music, I'm going to bed. {End of Last Night's Post}

And now, after knowing that the above post has been stollen by the blogmonster...I am wondering if he's visited some of you too!! ;-)

It's that time again....

Thirteen Places Susan Wants to Visit (in no particular order) 1. Rome, Italy 2. Denver, Colorado 3. Mt. Rushmore 4. Mt. Everest 5. Vermont 6. Alaska 7. Hawaii 8. Maine 9. Toronto, Canada 10. Australia 11. New Zealand 12. America's Backroads 13. New York City Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Tally Up!

Occasionally one of my DSs will make a comment about my blog just to let me know that they DO peak in on it occasionally. For example, after I posted my "Going Back to School" post recently, one of them said, "So you're thinking about going back to school?" I knew he had read that post.

Last night, I was sitting in MY room minding MY business while son 2 was on the computer (which is also in my room). He said, "You didn't say ONE thing about me in your blog from January 24th until the 31st! Mom, that's not good!" For those of you who have not been reading since day 1, let me just say this is the very same son who told me, "DOOON'T BLOG, MOM! You don't know what I learned about my firends in their blogs!" (Like I was going to air our "dirty laundry" on the Internet!) Funny, isn't it, that this very same son is now keeping a tally of how much I mention him in a week??

I believe in equity...even in blogging I suppose. It's hard, though, because sometimes one child gives you more "material" than another. Tonight the anal side of me decided that I would tally up the number of times I have talked about each child on my blog since June. Son 2, this is for you:

Son 1 ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** * (26)

Son 2 ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ** (32)

Son 3 ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ** (27)

Son 4 ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ** (32)

Each of those *s represents a mention somewhere in this blog. It looks to me like I'll be blogging about DSs 1 and 3 a bit more over the next few weeks....they have some catching up to do!!

And thanks, Son 2, for today's material. Tally Ho!

A HUGE pill to swallow

A dear friend and I were talking recently and she told me that her husband was memorizing Romans 12. I decided to take a break from my Psalm reading in The Message and see this chapter through new eyes. All I can say is WOW!! I am going to excerpt just a bit of it here:

1So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.

This kind of goes along with the heart transplant that I started asking God for on Sunday. It's critical that we take our everyday, ordinary life and actually place it before God. I am reminded as I read this that many of us are in danger of becoming desensitized to the ugly things that are part of our culture....language, promiscuity, dress, etc. It's all changing. These verses are a gentle (OK about as gentle as a 2X4) reminder that we need to fix our attention on God so that we can be changed from the inside out.

Paul goes on to say:

So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, 6let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; 7if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; 8if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. 9Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it.

I love verse 6. It's so easy to get caught up in the "I wish I was more like so and so..." or "I wish I had..." and try to be something we aren't.

And the final verse quoted above might be the biggest challenge of all.....Love from the center of who you are....don't fake it.

I am asking God to help me love from this deep inside me....when it's hard....when people are unlovable...and when my first reaction might have been different.

So again, I sing: Create in me a clean heart, Oh God!!

Middle of the Night Remote School

I have come to a conclusion about males and TV remotes. Remember that I live with five of them.

When I married dh almost 19 years ago, we didn't have a remote control television. So it snuck up on me without me expecting it. It wasn't long after ds 1 was born that we got a remote for our television and I started to notice it. Men need to hold the remote. And they channel surf like no one else. They stay on a station all of 2 seconds (if that) then surf on. I always thought it was interesting to see how he did decide when to stop and stay a while on a channel and then how suddenly he would move on. Nineteen years and this remains a great mystery to me.

I know my dh is not the only one who does this. I have watched his father, my father, and two brothers do this over the years. So I pretty much decided it's a guy thing....

But now, I have noticed this practice is being passed along to my own brood. It really sunk in tonight when ds 3 was channel surfing. He and ds 4 were watching something and I notice they surf almost as quickly as the men on who's shoulders they stand.

Dh used to say that women went to "Men School" when we go to the bathroom together. So, I have decided.....they must wake up in the middle of the night and practice remote channel surfing. I am sure it is just a "guy thing"....you know, a NO-girls-allowed-middle-of-the-night-remote-school. The thing that makes me wonder is what other lessons they are learning there!?!

A Heart Transplant

Dh had a great sermon today. Basically the crux of the sermon was its title "If the Heart Is Not Right, Nothing Will Be". Here is a portion of the verses that he used:

Matthew 15:

13Jesus shrugged it off. "Every tree that wasn't planted by my Father in heaven will be pulled up by its roots.
14Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men. When a blind man leads a blind man, they both end up
in the ditch."

15Peter said, "I don't get it. Put it in plain language."

16Jesus replied, "You too? Are you being willfully stupid? 17Don't you know that anything that is swallowed
works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? 18But what comes out of the mouth gets its
start in the heart. 19It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, lies, and cussing. 20That's what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing
your hands--that's neither here nor there."

I chose to use The Message version for this blog. He uses the Contemporary English Version in church and read chapter 15 verses 1 - 20. The bottom line is: our hearts need to be pure and undefiled. They need to be free of sin. It's what comes out of them that defines who we are.

I am praying for a heart transplant this week...that God would help me rid my heart of all the "yuck" that is in there so that what comes out is pure and holy. I want others to see the love of Jesus there and not the remnants of sin that might be there. I am reminded of an old scripture chorus that we used to sing in church:

Create in me a clean heart, oh God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not from thy presence
oh Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit
within me!

Higher Education??

For years I have vascillated between wanting to go back to school and get another degree and just doing what I do. I have my Master's degree in Education...and would love to go back and get a doctoral degree. The problem is that the degree I "want" and the one I "need" are two different things. I would LOVE to go back and get a degree in Reading or Language Arts. It's my passion.

In our state, though, if you want to move out of the classroom to a district level position, you have to hold the coveted "Educational Leadership" degree. I almost jumped in two years ago when two friends from work did...but I was TOO busy. Now they are done and ready to move up and on while I watch.

Quite frankly, this frustrates me. It's watching people who have less years in Education than I scoot right up and over me on the "ladder". I am not looking for a new job. I love my job. But, I know that I am out of options at the local school site---and withou this degree, my options at the district level are almost nil. It's nice to know you have options in your back pocket should the need (or opportunity) arise.

So, here I go...I'm going to the orientation meeting next week. I'll see what the plan is and probably jump into the pool of higher learning once again.

And less than an hour later...

Son 3 has posted his own blinkie on my site "I love diet coke".....AMAZING!!

I'm Learning Again

My learning for today has been how to add the cute little "blinkies" over there on my sidebar. I found them on a blog that I visited tonight and was so excited to add them to my blog. I did it the way that I knew how...and then found out it was illegal to do it that way (always good to read carefully). You can't just link from someone else's blog because it slows their site down...you have to save it to your own computer then upload it to your blog.

So, I sought out my resident computer genius: son 3. He said, "I can make those for you, Mom." I told him that I would love that, but for right now, I'd like to use these.

He helped me get the ones that I wanted legally and has now set out to make his own using all the html codes. I hope to have an "I love diet coke!" blinkie up real soon!

Their generation is going to be so much more adept at all this technology stuff than ours is. I am constantly amazed at the stuff this young man can do without hardly blinking an eye.

I say he should keep honing his skills because he may have to support his Mom and Dad someday! ;-)

My First Thursday Thirteen

As I have been lurking and following links in the blogging world, I discovered this little gem. I am going to try and do this every Thursday. Maybe some of you would like to join me.

Thirteen Things about MY WEEK 1. I watched two evenings of American Idol auditons. 2. I was supposed to be in California...but got grounded in Florida. 3. I discovered SEVERAL new blogs that I am going to peek in on. 4. I attended the first class for my last class in the Reading Endorsement (did that make sense?). 5. I vacuumed my car (finally) with ds 4's help. 6. Our desktop computer got infected with a spyware virus. 7. I sauteed spinach for the first time in my life---and ate it. 8. I didn't get my Bible reading in like I wanted in days one through three...so I will make it a point to do it on days four through seven. 9. I got a new dryer---see Wednesday's blog. 10. I planned for a workshop that I am doing in a week. (This is actually a bit early for me.) 11. I planned a weekend away with the "girls" to scrapbook---YEP---THREE days to only focus on getting much done! 12. I planned my trip to Chicago in May for the International Reading Association conference. 13. I am already trying to decide what my NEXT "Thursday Thirteen" subject will be!!!!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Laundry Blues

Our family of six generates a lot of laundry! Piles. Mounds. Sometimes I think the boys put things in their baskets after they just try it on to see if it's "right". And in that regard, they may be worse than girls their ages! Luckily, I have a house assistant who helps us out with this task each week...I know, it's an "extra" that is a total blessing for our busy schedules. We lovingly call her our "Alice". Imagine "Alice's" reaction when she realized this week that the dryer was broken...

She called me frantic on Monday and said, "You better get someone out there quick...the laundry is going to pile up and take over."

I finally called on Tuesday only to be told they could come "next Wednesday"...EIGHT days away!! They obviously don't get it. And the piles grew.

Dh called Sears this morning and found out they could come this afternoon. They came only to inform us that the dryer is broken and while it could be repaired, it would cost about the same as getting a new dryer. The "duh" factor came into play and that WONDERFUL MAN I am married to...rushed down to Sears to get a new dryer. HE gets it!!

He selected a nice new dryer with some great features for our busy family. Sears agreed to deliver it NEXT week. They didn't get it.

But, my wonderful dh and his wonderful father drove to Sears tonight...picked up the dryer and are now assembling it in my kitchen in preparation to be moved into its new home. They're bonding and my laundry piles are waiting.

The laundry blues will soon be over...the dryer will be well broken-in before the morning comes....everyone is waiting on their laundry to be done...and Alice will be thrilled that she can bring order out of our laundry chaos.

I am pretty sure all will be right in the world by morning thanks to the man that understands just how important time is when you are talking laundry...six people...and boys! Gotta go check those piles. Now, whose pile to tackle FIRST????

A GREAT Day...

A Great Day...

I love the old bumper sticker that says: "Won't it be a great day when schools have all the money they need and the military has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber?"

Our county is in the middle of a campaign for a new tax referendum. This tax basically would ask home owners to give about $1.00/day (on average) to the school system. The school system in turn plans to use the funds to maintain teacher salaries, continue special programs, and generally "beef up" the school system a bit more in the areas of technology and educational opportunities.

Some teachers are upset about it. You see, also tied to this tax is the requirement that teachers (especially secondary teachers) will make some shifts in their instructional delivery. It means that teachers are going to be held accountable for teaching students using best practices.

Is that a bad thing?

One of the things that has bugged me since the day I became a certified teacher is that there are pockets of mediocrity out there. And worse, there are some people who simply should NOT be in a classroom. And we protect them. These are people who have no passion...they are simply marking time waiting to retire. Working under the radar. We allow it to happen and we allow them to be influences on new children year after year.

I wish there were also a bumper sticker that said: "Won't it be a GREAT day when every child is taught by a passionate teacher who believes his or her students have the potential to make a difference in our world?"

I hope the tax passes. But more than that, I hope that I see the day when passion and excitement for teaching and learning is alive and well in EVERY classroom everywhere. Kids are worth it!!

The Flight that Wasn't

OK...here I am writing my next blog entry from sunny Florida...when I am supposed to be on a plane headed to California!! I went to the airport and was informed that flights were delayed in Atlanta. No problem, right? WRONG! I could get to Atlanta almost two hours late then "maybe" get on a flight to California at 9:00pm tonight....and land in California around 2:00am "my time"??? NO WAY! I couldn't even be guaranteed that this could happen.

I hate the unknown. I simply didn't want to get on a flight and "hope" that I might get to California before I had to present...and I know I wouldn't have been "on" for my early morning presentation.

So here I am. It's not the best for the company. It's not the best for me. It IS what happened though. Sometimes outside circumstances dictate what happens. Sometimes it's a combination.

So, here I am...in sunny Florida...wondering what lesson I am supposed to take out of this one!!

He KNOWS my NAME!

Tonight I was at a praise service where we sang this praise song:
"I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call"
Those words "HE KNOWS MY NAME" are still ringing in my ears.

I recall being a young teen and getting all "giddy" when boy "knew my name"! It was that all-over feeling that "I matter" that came over me during those years when somebody knew my name. I am sure that many of us have similar stories to share.

Now, here I am, at 41 rejoicing that the Father of All KNOWS MY NAME! I've known this for a long time. And yet, it makes me a bit giddy. It is a joyful thing. Tonight I was just overwhelmed by the thought of just how awesome that truly is....HE KNOWS MY NAME. May each person who visits here find joy in the fact that "HE KNOWS YOUR NAME" too!!

Working it Out

As I hinted earlier this week, I don't like to fly. I am going to California on Sunday for a teacher conference. I will return to Florida on Tuesday. In my head, I have been trying to work out my fear and anxiety all week long. I even blogged about it a bit. Here's what I have concluded:

• I have always had a little trouble with the "unknown". I don't like surprises and I don't like not being in control. This certainly contributes to this fear. I know in my head that I "never" am in control...there are always external things that contribute to every move I make.
• I get this "you're going to die" feeling sometimes when I am about to fly. Lately this has been fueled by the fact that EVERYTIME I turn on the radio, I hear a song by Superchick called "We Live". (And of course, the voice in my head tells me "this message is for you...but today the voice said, "Maybe this is just the hottest song the Christian radio station is playing now.")
• Here is an excerpt:

There's a cross on the side of the road

Where a mother lost a son How could she know that the morning he left Would be their last time she'd trade with him
for a little more time So she could say she loved him one last time And hold him tight But with life we never know When we're coming up to the end of the road So what do we do then With tragedy around the bend? Chorus:We live we love We forgive and never give up Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above Today we remember to live and to love There is a man who waits for the tests To see if the cancer has spread yet And now he asks,
"So why did I wait to live till it was time to die?" If I could have the time back how I'd live Life is such a gift So how does the story end? Well this is your story and it all depends So don't let it become true Get out and do what we are meant to do

• I realized this afternoon that I have been focused on the "wrong part" of this message. It's not that tragedy could come my way(that's true for all of us all the time)....it' s that we need to "Get out and do what we are meant to do." We need to live, and love, forgive, and never give up.
• The truth is: We will all die sometime. It's not right for me to not live in the moment and do all I can to further the kingdom while I am here. Being in fear impedes that important job that we all have as Christians.
• Fear CAN grip us to paralysis. I think it has done so to me before.
• My word for this year is PROMISE. God promises that he can cast out fear and doubt. He does not want any one of us to be gripped by anything but love.

On my way to California, I plan to rest in Him. I plan to continue to praise Him that He can "cast out all fear". I plan to soar on Delta's wings AND Eagle's wings!! That's a PROMISE!!

The $16,000 Boy!

Yesterday I was out of school with my principal and other instructional support personnel for a meeting. Today when we returned to school, we found out what the Assistant Principal did while we were gone.

It seems that a 5th grader took $16,000 in cash from his home and has had it in his backpack. As if that is not bad enough...he has been giving it out to kids in the 5th grade $100 at a time! Apparently, by the time they figured out this was going on (thanks to the phone call of a conscientious parent who wanted to know WHY her son brought home a hundred dollar bill from school) there was $11,000 in the backpack. The AP (aka our "detective") was able to recoup $4000 as she started asking kids to "cough up" what they had been given. One child had been given $3300 over the past three days.

This family is not wealthy. They are immigrants---maybe even illegal. They are saving their money for something and their son got ahold of it. They are obviously angry and disappointed with their son's actions.

I can't even imagine what I would say to my son!

I believe this boy is kind of an "outcast" and not considered "in" by the kids. Kids are sometimes viscious (especially at the ages of 10 - 14). They harass each other. They call each other names. They bully. The kids who are victims will often go to great lengths to have the labels erased from their identitiy. I have to wonder if this was true in this case. Is it possible that this boy wanted to be "liked" so much that he would do "anything" to make it so? I hope not but I suspect it's true. He wanted to be important. He wanted to have "status" where he felt he had none. I am not saying that he should not have some severe consequences for his actions...but there MUST be something that precipitated it.

Again, I am reminded that we (as adults) must help our kids recognize who they are...and help them to see their potential. Our jobs are important. We also need to help them realize that they ARE somebody regardless of what the "world" says about them. Peer pressure is great...but mentoring pressure and "love" pressure CAN be greater.

It's a valuable lesson---in my opinion, it's worth FAR MORE than $16,000!

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Do you remember that hymn: His Eye is On the Sparrow?

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart belonely,
And long for heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion,
My constant Friend is He;
His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He watches me.

Chorus:I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free;
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

2. "Let not your heart be troubled,
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears,
Tho' by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,And I know He
watches me.

Yet another hymn that reminds me of beautiful scripture. I hate flying...and I have to do it on Sunday. I experience panic attacks sometimes and usually at the very least anxiety for at least the first twenty minutes I am in the air. (I will reread my entry regarding "panic or prayer" before I leave this time.) I don't hate flying enough not to do it...but it is not fun for me regardless. And yet, as I think about the promises that I am given....God has numbered the hairs on our heads...since I just got a haircut tonight, I can really relate to just how awesome this is. He knows each strand of hair and He cares for the little sparrow...and He cares for us MORE....so, why would I feel anxious about anything?

Luke 12:6-8 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies[a]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

Now, that's a PROMISE for which I am grateful! Blessings, everyone and know that He is watching you too!

Promise...contemplation

I woke up this morning contemplating the word that I was given yesterday: PROMISE. The old hymn, "Standing on the Promises" keeps coming to my mind. I read it today and really narrowed it down to these favorite verses from this great song:

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.


And you know, another thought came to my mind: We CANNOT sing "Standing on the Promises" if we aren't mindful of what they are. Oh they are in my heart and mind somewhere. But, how often I let my focus drift from the promises I know to the insecurity of the unknown! So many times I try to do things alone (OK...I know it's the control freak in me!) and I miss the peace and direction that God's promises bring. So today I have had a little talk with myself and said, "If you're going to stand on the promises...you've got to KNOW them in your heart and mind and plant your feet squarely upon them." Because as the songwriter reminds us these are the promises that cannot fail...they are the ones that cleanse us...set us free...keep us from falling and give us rest.

I'm standing on the promises of God!

In a Word...

My sil Heather posted this information on her blog this morning:

My friend Amy's website (www.amywallace.com) with links to her blog, is one of my favorite retreats on the web. She's an amazing writer, and an even more amazingly faithful and real child of God.

Her post (inspired by her mentor's post) about finding a word for the year (instead of a resolution) inspired me.

Well, Heather's blog in turn inspired me. Heather chose BALANCE as her word (or rather that is the word that God showed her). I thought, "Yeah, I could SURE use that word!" Then I said, "No, Lord, I want my own word...so I'll wait."

I went out to the store this morning to get the last minute things for ds 4's birthday today and there in the sky that didn't look like it would have one was a rainbow. Immediately, I said, "Thank you, Lord for that pretty rainbow." Then I realized....Heeeere's your sign, Susan...your word: PROMISE!

Not the empty "I PROMISE I'll feed the dog" type of promise...but the real covenant PROMISE that can only come from our Heavenly Father.

Thank you, Heather...and thank you Lord!

HOW does this happen????

Just before Christmas we had an Open House for our friends and family. My house was clean and picked up. Of course, by Christmas, it looked a bit different because there is NO WAY to have a "neat and tidy" Christmas with four boys and the busy-ness that defines our family.

Just after Christmas, I decided that I would work on those scrapbooks that have been much neglected in my closet. I decided to use my dining room table to do it so that I could spread out. My goal: To finish my scrapbook for 2003 (YES, I am that far behind)by January 1st, 2006. I did really well...I started in Dec. 2003 and got back to May 2003 within a few days. Then the busyness hit again and like so many times before "the best laid plans" went astray. I left it all out on the table "just in case" I had a minute to sit down and crop.

So there it has been for now 2 and 1/2 weeks...the "cropping mound" on my dining room table.

Tomorrow is ds 4's birthday party. We are doing it at the bowling alley...but my family and a few of his friends are coming over here after the party. Of course, that means that my cropping mound has to be put away so as not to create an eyesore for all who visit here tomorrow.

I started putting it away (and doing a bit of organizing of paper and stickers) around 9:00. Do you see the timestamp on this blog? It's NOT done yet. It's almost done...I just needed a break.

So here I am wondering just HOW this happens. How is it that something that was so neat and tidy one week can be SO messed up the next?

The truth be told, I think life is like that. We tidy up...get on our best behavior and exhibit the best habits one day then suddenly it all goes down hill and we find ourselves in a pile of junk.

HOW does it happen? The same way my scrapbook goes unfinished: we lose our focus. If I would have stuck with my plan it would be done now and in an album for all to see. But it's not. I've got to go finish tidying up my table and plan just how I'll get 2003 finished. I am also going to contemplate just what it is that I need to tidy up on the inside. Then I am going to pray for focus and ask God to help me get rid of the "stuff" that sometimes gets in the way of me being "complete". The thing is, I KNOW He'll finish the job! ;-)

Son 3 (Temporarily) Flies from the Nest!

Today, ds 3 went to Ohio for a long weekend. He has said for years, "You're going to send me to Ohio to visit my cousins during the winter, right?" He has longed to get up there when it snows and see what it's really like. This year, we decided to do it.

He left today and flew to Ohio. He will go to W. VA with my cousin, Lynn's husband and son. They will spend the weekend skiing and enjoying the Winter (if that's possible). ;-)

Letting him go was hard. I was kind of a wreck until I knew that he was safely deposited on the other end. It's hard having one person "gone". DH is away this week, so our nest already feels weird...but now it's even emptier. Nonetheless, I am happy for them to have the experiences that they have away from this place. It's important that they get to explore the world around them.

DS 3 often gets "stuck in the middle" around here...he's not quite old enough to hang out with his bigger brothers...and not small enough to enjoy the company of ds 4. His cousin is very close to the same age and they get along as if they are never apart each visit they have.

My hope for this weekend anyway...hopefully he feels like he is independent and able to get out on his own....but, hopefully he also feels that gentle pull "back" to the nest as he is apart from us, too. It's a delicate balance.

As the mother and only female in this home...I think it's too empty when even ONE person is gone! And now that there are TWO gone.... I realize that I don't know if that is something I'll get used to too easily.

Have a GREAT weekend, son!!

Panic or Prayer?

I am single this week. My dh is out of town and life at my house is CRAZY! Son 3 is leaving tomorrow for Ohio to go skiing with his cousins. He has been struggling with a cough (asthma-type) for a week now. We took him to the doctor last week....but I needed to take him again this morning just to make sure we were at right dosages and such for his trip.

I went to the doctor (hooray for early morning walk-in hours)...and dss 3 and 4 were with me. DS 3 was picked up by my dear friend to go back to his school after the visit (call it a Starbucks bribe!). DS 4 and I headed to our school...but knew we'd be about 15 minutes late. No problem.

On the way to our school, I remembered that ds 4 needed a lunch check, so wrote it at a red light. He took it and all was calm once again.

About one hour into the school day, ds 4 comes to find me to tell me that he can't find the check. Panic started to set in...but I suggested that he go look in all the places where it might be. We did not find it. I went out to the parking lot and searched the car and ground. Nothing.

Two hours later, I am still looking and quite frankly panicking!! I stopped, whispered a prayer and said, "Lord, let whoever finds that check be honest and turn it in. I need peace." About that time, my df Debra came into the Media Center and said, "Did you find your $100 check?" I said "no". Then I said, "How did you know?" She replied, "Someone found it and turned it into the front office."

My prayer was answered within seconds!!! I realize that things like this happen all the time...and I have a choice: Panic or Prayer? I hope next time I make the right choice sooner.

Worth the Time...

OK...I hope I am not too late posting this link
for Country Boys. This is a documentary on pbs described as follows:

For everyone who remembers what it was like to be young -- when the whole world seemed to stretch out before you while you were stuck in your own backyard -- this special FRONTLINE series tells the story of Chris and Cody: two boys growing up in a hard land, determined to beat the odds against them, and struggling with
who they are -- and who they can become.

I watched the first part last night...it is six hours total. The producer and his crew followed these boys for three years during their teens. They are struggling to survive poverty and other hard circumstances in a small rural Kentucky town.

It was AMAZING! The boys watched it with me and I must say that they, too, were struck with how hard these boys' lives are and just how easy they have it.

They do a tremendous job showing one boy struggling with his faith.

These are not your clean cut white middle-class American boys. These are boys who were born into rough lives. It's real. It's powerful. It has a lesson for all of us about the importance that we can play in the lives of others.

It is a gentle reminder of what life could be and what it is. It is also a reality check for us as we consider ways to reach out into our communities to make a difference in the life of a young person.

OUCH...Another Message from "The Message"

OK...I have to share my reading from last night:

Psalm 15

GOD, who gets invited
to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?

"Walk straight,
act right,
tell the truth.

"Don't hurt your friend,
don't blame your neighbor,
despise the despicable.

"Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living,
never take a bribe.

"You'll never get blacklisted
if you live like this."

All I can say is WOW...those are words to live by!!

The Oh's

I am just back from the big "gig" and thought I'd share some of the pics.
Here they are playing tonight.


This is the photo that they used on the flier that they passed around announcing the "big event".


And there was even a tip jar that was receiving REAL tips!


And I couldn't resist passing along the marquee sign.



They did a great job and had a nice crowd. I am sure that their first priority will be to learn new music so that they can fill that much time. The crowd enjoyed it and they did too! (And I can still hear! ;-)

Here we are! Just thought I'd share our photo with all of you who have been wondering what my delightful family looks like!!

We're STILL Rockin' and Rollin' Here

Things are still rocking and rolling in my house. It started at 10:30 this morning and now it's 2:00. We are T -4 hours 30 minutes and counting. It's interesting hearing the "planning" and "non-planning" that is going on. Some of the boys think they should play straight through the "set" they will use tonight...others think they need to stop and discuss between each song. Some think they should tenatively plan who will talk and what they will say...others think they should "wing it".

Here I sit on the computer because I can't hear the TV and I literally am catching my knick-knacks before they fall off their shelves---actually I just missed one as it "shook to the edge" before I saw it----I TOLD YOU my house was SHAKING!!

I DO love music....I DO love music....I DO, I DO!

On another note, I went by the coffee shop in an effort to escape for a bit this morning. They are on the marquee! It IS exciting for them and I can't help being a bit enthusiastic about their zeal and determination.

I'll try and post photos and report more later.

More Tales from the Frontlines

I can't remember if I blogged about this at all earlier and don't really want to check my archives right now...so since it's my blog and I'll write if I want to...here goes:

DSs 1 and 2 are part of a neighborhood band. DS 1 plays bass guitar. DS 2 plays drums. Two neighbor brothers play electric guitar and rhythm. And one other neighbor does vocals. They are pretty good. It has not been uncommon for me to come home and find them all stuffed into DS 2's room playing (and I DO mean STUFFED because it isn't that big a room).

Just before Christmas, I got new family room furniture. The old stuff is in my garage waiting for the church to pick up for the thrift store. About two weeks ago, I came home to find all of my old furniture strewn in my driveway with teenagers sitting and laying all over it while the band blared their music from my garage! We did NOT look like we lived in a community of hard working professionals...but instead looked like we belonged somewhere on the "other side of the tracks". This is NOT good when you have deed restrictions...but the kids assured me that the neighbors "loved it".

Well, they held off practicing like that until three days ago when I again came home to see the furniture out and the garage WIDE open and the music LOUD. Several seniors were walking their dogs by and shaking their heads in what may have been disgust. No one has said anything to this point...except me. I explained to all the boys that I love them and I love their music...but that doesn't mean that everyone shares my approval or opinion.

Yeah, it's pretty much "What will the neighbors think?" And in our neighborhood, that matters.

That night, they played at open mike night at our local coffee shop. They called at the end of the evening elated because they have been asked to play a "gig" at the shop on Saturday night (for 2 and a half hours)! I am THRILLED for them and told them so. Then they told me just how much practice they would need between now and then. You see, as of three days ago, they only really had four songs down---and they would have to learn new ones. So, I told them I'd rather them "push the furniture in our living room back and practice inside than force the neighbors to listen to an uninvited concert."

When I came home today there was no furniture in the driveway. For that matter, right now, there's not much in my living room either. It's all pushed back and tucked into other rooms. The boys have acquired some new speakers and all five of them AND my DH are in the living room getting ready. (It's kind of testosterone heaven.)

Here I sit behind my CLOSED bedroom door (which is really not making a difference) while they follow my suggestion...My house is SHAKING! And you know what, I'm OK with that. They are at home. They are doing what they love. They are happy. They are learning the value of hard work.

Can the neighbors hear? Oh, probably...but right now, I don't care! I am reminded of a quote dh told me years ago when we realized that our tastes in music might be changing: "If it's too loud, you're too old."

When all's silent in a few years and they are out on their own...I KNOW I am going to long for the shaking windows....keep playing, guys...keep playing!

God hasn't moved

During my devotion time, I am reading the Psalms from The Message version of the Bible. Here is an interesting one that I read the other night:

Psalm 11

But God hasn't moved to the mountains;
his holy address hasn't changed.
He's in charge, as always, his eyes
taking everything in, his eyelids
Unblinking, examining Adam's unruly brood
inside and out, not missing a thing.
He testst he good and the bad alike;
if anyone cheats, God's outraged.
Fail the test and you're out,
out in a hail of firestones,
Drinking from a canteen
filled with hot desert wind.

God's business is putting things right;
he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall,
we can look him straight in the eye.

I love this version of these verses! God has not taken up a new residence. He did not move. Furthermore, He wants to put things right in our lives.

I love the last verse, once we're standing tall...we can look him straight in the eyes. And what will we see when we do that? PURE UNDYING LOVE! It's a beautiful thought...and one worth really digesting.

Just where is the safest place in the world?

Today ds 4 and I were driving home and I had to go to the bathroom (one of the joys of 40+ yr old bladders--but that's a blog for another day).

We stopped at Wendy's with the promise of a Frosty for DS 4. He said, "I'll just go get in line while you go to the bathroom." I replied, "No, because that Wendy's is not the safest place in the world." He was quiet for a minute then said, "Mom, just where is the safest place in the world?" I was stumped. I admitted that I did not know.

Then he said, "I'll bet it's heaven."

I didn't want to go into the fact that heaven is really not in this world...so I replied:

"I think that's a pretty good bet!"

Birthday and/or BUST!!

DS 4 is going to turn 7 on the 17th. I know some of you might think this is a crazy deal...but I started it when the older boys were younger and it has stuck. I offer the kids the option of having a party with friends OR $100 in cash. The older three usually take me up on the money (and have since they were little). Now, son 4 is of the age where I offer the "deal".

He is kind of social and I don't really ever expect him to take me up on this offer.

Last night, he decided that he wants to go bowling for his birthday. I've done this before. It's pretty easy. You pay the bowling alley money per bowler. They give them drinks a slice of pizza and two hours of bowling. Low stress, right?

Today we went to make arrangements. In the midst of me laying down my credit card for the down payment...ds announces that he is "not sure that he wants to do it at the bowling alley." I still haven't figured out why but "it depended on the time they could do it." I explain life and deposits and the fact that I have invested time and energy to get over there to solidify the plans. I sign my credit card slip and we leave.

In the car I learn that his friends talked to him today about his party and asked him why he didn't think about Chuck E. Cheeses. I explain that it's too late and he proceeds to cry. As far as he is concerned his birthday is BUSTED.

I wrestle for a moment between standing my ground and going with the plan vs. giving in and asking the man at the bowling alley to give me my money back. It's at these moments when you (as a parent) envision your child laying on someone's couch someday talking about the dysfunction.

I have decided to go with the bowling party. I think he'll get over it. It's a better deal cost-wise...unless I have to contribute to future counseling!! ;-)

A New Year's Reflection...

I saw this on a few other blogs today and I thought it was a good idea. I decided that it would be a good idea to try and see if I can actually remember the last 12 months!

1. What did you do in 2005 that you had never done before?
Took a sleep study....now THERE'S an exciting thing to record!

2.Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
If I don't remember them, then I guess that I cannot say with confidence that I kept them. I am really not into the whole "resolution" thing...as evidenced in my blogs from the past few days.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Both Sisters-in-law gave birth to two beautiful nephews: one in February...one in December. A dear friend's daughter gave birth to a little boy in November.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Countries? That would mean that I would have to get on a plane and go over water, right??? NOT going to happen.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
The ability to recognize those times that I need to slow down and enjoy life, friends, and family day to day.

7. What dates will remain etched in your memory and why?
From this year? I can't think of any...

8. What's your biggest achievement of the year?
I earned National Board Certification---a VERY LOONNGGG process!!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I had great ambition to reorganize my closets...and didn't do it. There's always 2006!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope.

11.What was the best thing you bought?
New sofas for the family room and the big screen TV.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
DS 1 made it through the LPN program in high school...this is an incredible accomplishment for a young man.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
The kids in our area (two different families) who killed their own parents---unbelievable!!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Savings, house, cars, charity, kids, among other things (and not necessarily in that order).

15. What did you get really really excited about?
Finishing another book...it's like giving birth

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
"The Time of Your Life" (Greenday)

17. Compared to this time last year are you?
a)happier or sadder? happier
b)fatter or thinner? same
c)richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you had done more of?
Scrapbooking, simply hanging out with kids, travel

19. What do you wish you had done less of?
working and worrying

20. How will (did) you be spending (spend) New Year's Eve?
Scrapbooking and relaxing at home with dh and 2/4 sons.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes, all over again, with my wonderful dh!!

22. What was your favorite TV program?
American Idol/The Amazing Race

23. What was the most fun you had this year?*
I loved going to Ohio to surprise my Grandmother for her 85th birthday!

(*Note: I changed this question from something about hating someone else...since I didn't even think that question was worth contemplating!)

24. What was the best book you read?
Abram's Daughters Series (all five of them) by Beverly Lewis

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Michael Buble' and Natalie Grant's CD

26. What did you want and get?
New furniture and a house

27. What did you not want and not get?
SICK

28. What was your favorite film this year?
Chronicles of Narnia

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Buried the dog..Ate out....41

30. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
I really can't think of anything...it was a good year and I am satisfied.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion in 2005?
Same old, same old

32. What kept you sane?
DH and my small group

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
"Fancy"???? HUH????

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I think I was stirred when Katrina hit and I watched the two political parties blaming each other for the way it was (or was not being handled)...a little less bickering a little more focus on the people and the real issues would have been nice.

35. Who did you miss?
My Grandfather---not a day goes by that I don't think about him

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Ava

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
I am continually reminded of this scripture:

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"He sees you - He knows you - He loves you
And He wants you to know that

The life that you've been living, the days that you've been given
Were made for something beautiful
Life - don't let it pass you by
Because you were created for something beautiful" (Something Beautiful by Natalie Grant)


I'm going to tag anyone who is reading this...come on...it's good to reflect!! Try it...you'll like it!!

Spice Gets In My Eyes

My boys are "into" Iron Chef contests. They have these contests regularly with the neighbors in my house. They pick food and then make it together. I think it's because they like our extensive spice cabinet. Tonight, they are having a contest. I think there are two pans involved as there are two "chefs" cooking. Whatever they are cooking is so spicy that my eyes are watering and I am not even in the kitchen!

With tears in my eyes, I tell myself: "At least they are in OUR kitchen...they are not out creating havoc anywhere (except maybe on my counters)....and they are having fun...." What more could I ask?

Current report from the kitchen: "That's GOOD!"

I'll just keep sitting here with watery eyes and remember that one day I'll look back and reminisce about the stuff they used to do in our kitchen! Then my eyes will water for a different reason!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Here I sit on New Year's Eve updating my blog....We are celebrating quietly this year. Dh is going out in a little bit to get us Outback Carry Out. We'll have steak, watch football games, and just enjoy a quiet evening here at home. Actually, I am planning to catch up on some much needed "crop time".

Two of the boys are going out. DS 1 and his girlfriend are going to a concert nearby and will be back just after midnight. DS 2 is going to his girlfriend's house for a party and will join us at church tomorrow. DS 3 is playing a computer game online. DS 4 is just playing...

It's quiet...and I'm glad. I think I like going quietly into a new year.

I wish you all a wonderful New Year's Eve and Peaceful 2006!

You Can Do This Too!

OK here is another nature photo that I took earlier this year. This lizard was shedding its skin on a bush outside my Dad's house. I couldn't resist the urge to photograph it.

I am reminded when I see it, though, that we can do that too. We can take off the old and put on the new. It's scriptural. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

This is especially appropriate as we head into the New Year. It's that time of year when we make empty promises in the form of resolutions. It's that time of year when we learn that most of us don't have what it takes to keep a resolution.

And yet, God (who always keeps His promises) made a promise to us long before the ball was falling in Times Square. It's time to shed the old and put on the new.

May 2006 bring each of us HOPE and NEWNESS of life!

Isn't this cool?

The boys took this photo when we were in Ohio this fall. I just thought it was so neat.

Just Wait...

I was struck emotionally at the tragic loss of Tony Dungy's son, James. In one article recounting the funeral message Tony shared some of his daughter's comments about their loss: "My daughter Tiara said it best the other day. She said: `I just wish he could have made it until he was 20. Because when you're 17 or 18, sometimes the things you guys say to us don't always make sense. ... When I got to 20, they started making sense again."' This is such a wise statement.

I was reminded just how many times I tell my teenagers, "Believe it or not, your parents do NOT sit around at night and think 'how can we make their lives miserable.'" Parents, in general, try and do the best they can with the information they have. We truly DO make decisions and suggestions based on trying to guide our children on the best path. We also try and help them avoid the same mistakes that we made. It's easy to see on this side of it.

Coach Dungy noted: "As he got a little older, like all teenagers, he was searching for who that person was inside of him. Who he was going to be. ... And like most of us, I think he went through a time as a teenager that he wasn't sure his parents always had the best advice. He wasn't sure that we always had his best interest at heart," the coach said.

My dh often says that while he was in college his parents went to "smart school".

I remember being 17 and 18 and being in the conflict of having a foot in my childhood and trying to open the door to my adult life. That is where my two oldest are right now---at the threshold of their adult lives. I continue to pray that we will be able to help them enter it with grace and dignity. So far, it's going pretty well.

Rest assured boys, we DO have your best interest at heart.

Welcome Nephew!

My third nephew was born yesterday! He joins his two sisters C-almost 4, and K-2. They LOVED their new little brother. He is absolutely adorable...but then I think that about all of our nieces and nephews.

As I was holding him last night, my Dad, my Brother and I were reflecting just how much he looks like my Grandfather. He definitely has features of that side of the family. It was kind of amazing.

I thought though...we DO pass so much along in our families. We pass genes down from generation to generation. We also pass down our personalities, our stories, and pieces of our lives. It IS our job to leave a legacy in the lives of those who come behind us.

I pray that God would continue to help me stop and think about the young people in my life. May He help me pass along those things that I want to continue. And may He also help me stop the stuff that needs to stop and not be perpetuated.

May each little child remind us that we are sowing into their lives. And they will reap what we sow. Let's sow well!

Welcome, little Z! You are a blessing!!

And Speaking of Time....

Ds 4 met a new friend last week. We'll call him "K". K is quite outspoken and articulate. He doesn't hesitate to tell you exactly what he wants and when he wants it...but in a very polite way. They are the same age. K just moved from Chicago and France with his family. The boys hit it off right away.

Today, K and DS 4 are on a marathon play day (after all they have been two whole days without seeing each other due to Christmas activities). They have been back and forth between our two houses all day long. They have played hard and had fun. About 4:15 they came back home and DS 4 got in trouble for something and had to do some work and a timeout before proceeding his play. K cried. In fact, I think he was more heartbroken that ds 4! K did not want DS 4 to have to stay inside. He wanted him to be able to continue whatever it was they were doing. DH talked to K and explained that DS 4 had to do this and that he would be able to come back out at 5:00.

About 4:25 I was surprised to see K just walk in the front door just like he lived here! He said, "Is it 5:00 yet?" Then he told me he would "just wait outside". Knowing how six year olds work, I know that 30 minutes can seem like a lifetime. I wondered for a minute how he would pass the time. I showed him on his new watch how long it was going to be and sent him back outside.

At 4:45 he knocked on my door because there was a "five" in the time. I explained once more that it had to be "5-0-0". And he returned to our sidewalk to wait. At 5:00 sharp...he knocked on the door and said, "I kept the numbers on the sidewalk come see!" He did not let up until dh went out there to see what he had done.

In HUGE chalk numbers starting at the bottom of our sidewalk and leading right up to our front door, we saw:

4:51

4:52

4:53

4:54

4:55

4:56

4:57

4:58

4:59

You have to admire that determination and stamina, don't you? K and DS are outside playing once again and I think all is right in the world...at least in their world.

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

As we are in the final frenzied hours before Christmas Morning, I had to make a run to Walmart. Upon my arrival home, the boys and my dh were having a conversation. They wanted to "do Christmas" this afternoon. Well almost everyone. DS 3 was adament that you cannot "do Christmas" unless it is the 25th.

His argument, "Do you dress up for Halloween on the 30th?" To which DS 2 replied, "You might." He was obviously passionate about this plan. DSs 1 and 2 did NOT agree and the discussion escalated a bit.

Of course, I know that you can "do Christmas" anytime you want and it would be the joy, the giving, the being together that makes it Christmas...not the fact that it is the 25th of December. But, you know what? I agreed with son 3, I didn't want to do it today either. I love waking up on Christmas morning with the anticipation. I think somehow on the 25th, I am still a kid. I love it. I love all of it.

The result of our discussion? DS 3 won. We will open gifts early tomorrow morning before we go to Church. We will give dh the remainder of this presents tomorrow morning...we went ahead and did some this afternoon.

Whenever you celebrate...I hope that this Christmas is as magical for you as it might be for DS 3 and for me.

Holiday Peace?

Today I went to the mall again. I went to pick up the last couple of things that I needed to finish gifts so that I could come home, sit in the pile, and wrap!

It was relatively calm there. There were the usual last minute shoppers trying to find the perfect gift. I noticed Dads with their sons out shopping for Mom's and other girls in their lives. Perhaps the funniest was the man in Bath and Body Works who noted that you could buy a gift and you didn't even have to wrap it because they have such pretty gift sets! The teenage boys behind him were wide-eyed as they learned how to "shop like a man" (sorry for any of you who are great shoppers).

Most disconcerting though were the number of people I watched bickering. Blood pressure obviously up...I saw grown Daughters yelling at Mothers. Grown sisters at odds over what gift to buy for Mom. Sons and Mothers who differed as to who had spent more money on a gift so far. I heard one Mother explode at her teenager and say, "If you don't get me out of here righ this instance, I am going to lose it!" I thought: "Toooooo Late!!!"

It was sad. These same people are going to sit together most likely on Sunday and share gifts. They are going to try and be cheerful about a holiday that obviously was causing them much stress.

Yet, didn't the angels proclaim "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men" at the birth of Christ. Peace. Goodwill to all. I pray that it happens in each of our lives in a powerful way that sends the message that we serve the "Prince of PEACE"! Maybe, just maybe, it will make the difference in the eyes of someone who is watching.

Peace.

Power Shopping!

Every year we do it. We brave the mall during this, the last week before Christmas. The boys really seem to enjoy it. Usually, the group includes my extended family and us. Occasionally, though, it has just been the boys and me. Today was the latter.

The boys and I left for the mall around 1:00. We divide and conquer. I am pretty much done with shopping...so today was my day to help them.

Round 1: Ds's 1 and 2 go off alone to do whatever teenage guys do when they shop. Ds 3 decided HE (at 11) is quite OK going out on his own. (So I gave him my cell phone with strict orders to call dss 1 and 2 if he needed anything.) DS 4 and I went shopping...for the brothers and his Dad. I am not sure how I drew the short straw in this round, but I did. (I say that with love, really I do.) It's just that ds 4 wants to stop and look at all the other 6 yr. old distractions that are in the mall. He actually tried to convince me that he needed to just take the money that he had budgeted for today and put it in his bank...then everything would be OK. One hour later, round 1 ended.

Round 2: DS 2 takes DSs 3 and 4 to shop for Mom and Dad while DS 1 and I go and find a gift for his girlfriend. This is no picnic either! He is conflicted because she has put parameters on the gift. She wants "no jewelry"..."no cheesy stuffed animal" and yet wants him to find something meaningful. DS 1 tells me, "Her favorite color is yellow..." NOW THERE'S a lot to shop on! During this round, I realize just how FEW YELLOW meaningful gifts are in the mall! We found something though and Round 2 ended.

Round 3: DS 1 and I get caught in the food court getting a bite to eat by all other DSs. They join us and DS 1 and 3 go off together. DS 4 now needs to shop for me and so DS 2 helps. I WIN this round as I get a few minutes of quiet time to browse a few stores in the mall. DSs 1 and 3 are done in record time...but I still win because the oldest drives and they call me and tell me they are heading home. During my quiet browsing...another call comes in. It's DS 2 who calls and says, "Mom, can you talk to DB 4 and tell him that you DON'T want a football for Christmas!" So, I am in the clothing store talking loud because of a bad signal saying, "NO son, I DON'T want a Buccaneer football for Christmas!" It took a bit of convincing...but I think it worked. I did notice a few snickers from the people around me, though.

Round 4: DSs 2 and 4 and I are done and we make our way to the mall exit. On the way, DS 4 announces, "Mom, DB2 wouldn't let me get you a Gator football blanket." No offense to you Gator fans, but I don't even LIKE the Gators. DS 4 proceeds to tell me that he tried to tell his brother, "it doesn't matter the team...because Mom just likes football." That is true...I DO like football....

As we leave the mall, I whisper a prayer of thanks. Thanks for four wonderful sons who can even spend time in a mall without fighting. Thanks that they are helping steer each other in the right direction. Thanks that ds 4 knows his mother well enough to know that she likes football (I'll report on what I ended up with after the big reveal)! And thanks that THIS powershopping trip came to a successful end!

Happy Shopping Everyone!!

Watch, Weep, and Wish

I'm weepy lately. I don't know why. It could be strictly that I'm a female in my forties. On the other hand, it could be holiday stress.

I've decided that it a good portion of my weepiness has to do with all that I have been watching lately. I'm watching my boys become men (at least the oldest two). I am watching them trying to make their own way in their own worlds. DSs 1 and 2 both have girlfriends that they are pretty serious about. I adore both girls. They didn't pick girls that are totally wrapped up in their teenage worlds and whose lives are filled with drama. No, they picked girls that have their heads on their shoulders and are excited about their futures. They picked girls who are down to earth and unafraid to try new things. I am proud of both of them.

Of course, with their focus on school, developing their relationships and extracurricular stuff, we get squeezed to the bottom sometimes. That's just kind of how it works I think. My priorities can't always be their priorities. I think I'm OK with that.

As I watched them today, I wept. I wasn't ready for them to change so quickly. I wept because there are things to do and they are busy. I wept because I am learning that I will not always be in control of my world. I wept because I can.

I also wish. I wish that I could have more time. I wish that they would each always know how much they are loved. I wish that they will continue to refine their characters into Godly young men.

I know that they are growing. I know that life will go on for all of us. And I know that God will hold them in His hand as they experience this phase of their lives. I also know that He will hold me in His hand as I watch, as I weep, and as I wish.