Thursday's Here....

Thirteen Things SUSAN LOVES about SPRING! 1. The weather is breezy...not too hot/not too cold 2. Bright colored clothes are in the stores 3. Eating Lunch Outside 4. Walking outside 5. Planning summer vacations 6. We get a week off to enjoy it 7. It's the "downhill slide" to the end of the school year 8. Easter 9. Bright Blue Skies 10. Tulips (even though they don't grow here) 11. Flowers of any kind 12. Newness of life 13. Light Spring Showers and the smell afterwards Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Red Headed Rants and Rambles 2. The KtKronicles 3. Seeking Thin Spaces 4. Treasure of Jewels

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

The Secret Life Of Bees

I just finished this book. For the first time in a very LONG time, I got to the last page and decided to go back to the first and read it again. All I can say is WOW! It made me think about growing up, diversity, family relationships, poverty, tolerance, and spirituality all at once.

This one is a keeper to be treasured and savored over and over!

Monday Memory

Many of the blogs I read include a Monday Memory. There's evidently a code, but when I click on the link for the code, it says "bad URL". So I thought....hey, you can do a "Monday Memory" without the cute graphics....drumroll please....Here's MY FIRST MONDAY MEMORY!


Did I ever tell you when I learned the phrase: "Stay RIGHT There!"

I was almost four years old and living in Ohio with my Mom and Dad. Mom and I were going to go get Dad from work. He worked at GTE Data Services. The year was 1968 and it was the winter. I don't remember snow on the ground, but I do remember being bundled. I know there was at least ice out there...but I am getting ahead of myself.

Mom brought me out to the stoop...we don't call them that in Florida....but it's the steps and the landing that lead outside a door of your home. Ours was a small concrete landing with about three steps down to the ground. I don't know why, but Mom said, "STAY RIGHT THERE!" and she went on to the car and was going to come back up and help me.

I suppose even at this young age, I was a bit stubborn...OK a lot stubborn. I had an "I-can-do-it-myself-thank-you-very-much" attitude. And while she was turned around doing whatever she was doing, I took a step. That step was NOT a good decision. I split open the back of my head and had to go to the hospital to get stitches!

I still remember screaming. I still remember the feel of that hospital. It was kind of like being surrounded by terrazo floors, stainless steel, and lights. I remember there being a doctor and a nurse in there. I also remember my Dad meeting us over there at the hospital...luckily, his office was right in front of it.

I am sure that was the first of many times I didn't heed the words, "Stay right there"! Instead, I would set out to do whatever it was on my own.

Tonight, while in Target with ds 4, I realized that I have passed this same gene on to him. He insists on pushing the cart. I needed to get something and he was ahead of me...rather than having him back up the cart in the midst of people and displays, I said, "Stay right there!" He didn't. He insisted on turning around and following me. Luckily, his choice to move didn't cause him pain....but I am certain this may not always be true.

Then I thought to myself...I wonder how many times God has wanted me to "Stay"...."Rest"...."Stop"...."Wait"....and I have said, "No-thank-you-I-can-do-it-myself!" And even more than that, I wonder how many emotional falls down the stoop I could have avoided if I simply would have said, "OK"!

Who WAS she?

Last night I attended a worship service and fellowship for a group to which I belong. There were probably 100 - 150 people there. We started with a little music, then ate, then went for a talk, communion, more worship and home. As we started to line up for the the food, a woman walked in that no one knew. Her face was extremely deformed. She was unkempt. She had a tote bag that was filled with bags and stuff. She walked with a purpose...yet aimless...at the same time. She definitely did NOT "fit in"...

She walked through the room toward the bathroom. I thought maybe she was homeless and saw the church open so she wanted to come in a while. I kind of lost her in the crowd. But I did notice that people stopped and stared.

After most people had gone through the line, I saw her again. She was at the food table and she started yelling at the people around her, "I'm leaving!" "I'm just going to go home." "Back to my cats!" and many other things that simply didn't make sense. A few ladies went over to her and tried to calm her down and actually get her to sit down and eat. Their words were gentle and kind. She finally did.

I watched a friend of mine usher her to her own table and the seat next to her. This is where I felt a twinge of guilt as I didn't know if I would have done that as willingly and gracefully as my friend seemed to! I watched my friend with her. She got her settled down and started writing down information as she talked to her. I thought: "Maybe they are going to call the authorities...she was definitely 'off'." No authorities came. She simply treated this woman as if she was somebody!

We moved to the chapel and after communion, we made a huge circle around the chapel....there she was standing across the room from me praising the Lord! Again, I was struck how people had opened their hearts and arms to welcome her. They seize the opportnity to reach out to someone in need.

On the way home we asked ourselves: "WHO was she?" And someone wondered if she was just a wanderer, homeless, alone. I said she may have been...but I couldn't get the verse about "entertaining angels unaware" OR the song by Mercy Me "We are the Body" out of my head!

And then I prayed that the VERY next time I had the opportunity to minister to some "less desirable" that I would do so (like my friend) with a willing spirit and joy!! I asked God to help me remember that we can ALL be parts of the body of Christ and thanked Him for sending this reminder gently through this woman and through this evening!

"Matthew 25
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

And the band played on....

Several months ago, I wrote about my boys' band and their first gig.

Tonight is the "second gig". They will, again, be playing in our local coffee shop. Everytime I walk through what has become the obstacle course of cords, instruments, stands, and stuff in my living room, I think "It's WORTH IT!" It is, right?

I hope they will always know that we supported their efforts.

I hope they will see that they had a place that allowed them to create and dream.

I hope they will see that this time in their lives is so special.

I hope they will look back one day (maybe in my well put-together living room) and think what they used to "do to the place"!

I hope they will continue to have vision for themselves.

Yes, I believe it's worth it.

And for me, it's taught me to balance and watch my step....both lessons that apply in so many ways to our everyday lives.

Play on, boys, play on!

Thirteen Things about Susan's Wonderful HUSBAND! 1. He loves the ministry opportunities that he has been given and is constantly thinking outside the box about how to reach more people 2. He's does the laundry 3. He does most of the cooking in our house 4. He took me searching for water towers when we were dating (just for something to do and without question---we'd see one in the distance then drive until we found it) 5. He and I have known each other for 21 years and been married for 18 and a half years and he has helped me raise four wonderful young men 6. He learned to play the guitar in the past 7 years and plays in the band at church 7. He gives a great massage! 8. He loves spicy food---for that matter, I think he really loves good food 9. He likes to travel 10. He brings me flowers regularly for no special reason 11. He puts his family's needs and wants far above his needs and wants (I could write about his old tired car...) 12. He is my best friend--and has been for our entire marriage 13. He's one of the most patient people I know..... What can I say? I love that man!!!!!!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Red Headed Rants and Rambles 2. The KtKronicles 3. Seeking Thin Spaces 4. Treasure of Jewels

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

The Winds of Change are Blowin!

Every year at this time it happens...in both dh's and my jobs....people start talking about changes. As a pastor in a denomination where appointments are made annually, you can imagine how the rumors fly about who is leaving, who is staying, etc. We go through it every year. He hears who, what, where, when, why, and how.

My job is no different. I work in education. It's the time of year when we turn in our intention forms for the coming year. It's a time when we let our administrators know what we'd like to do in the organization. It's also a time, as my principal says, that the administration makes sure everyone is in the "right seat on the bus". Every year it happens and every year I hate it. Rumors start flying....people "dig" for information....quite frankly it frustrates me.

Today, though, I realized that the wind may be blowing my way and could bring changes in my world. I have a GREAT job that I LOVE. One of the things that I love about it is the team of people I work with from the top down. I am very fortunate. I work for a visionary leader who loves creating unique and exciting learning environments for kids. He surrounds himself with "can-do" people and we have been able to create a GREAT school for some of our county's poorest students.

Today may have changed things in our district though. You see, today our county passed a referendum for education. This is not a new tax. It's simply extending a tax that has been in place for the past four years. What's different is the plan for the money. The plan is to overhaul our secondary schools and really turn up the expectations for teachers in those schools in hopes of closing the achievement gap that exists in our county. It's a HUGE plan with a lot of unknowns.

As I said, rumors fly. People are talking about some of the middle and high schools and impending administrative changes that will be made there. I fear that my boss may go. He is a visionary. He is clear that learning MUST be kid-centered. He is unafraid to take the bull by the horns and look mediocrity in the face. He is unwilling to settle for second best for any kid. Why WOULDN'T "they" want someone like that to lead a middle or high school?

So, here I am wondering....what will my future bring? Where will I be? Is there a reason that I am getting endorsed to teach Reading in K - 12?

Time will tell. In the meantime, I'm going to hold on, because the winds look like they could be pretty strong this year!

Do You Want to Live Longer?

DS 4 asked me this question on our way home from school today. I am no fool. Of course, I said, "YES". He said, "Take a walk everyday and drink chocolate milk." We did hear this advice on the radio the other day. It was a new study that some doctor completed. He said, "I told Grandma and Grandpa yesterday." And then he continued, "You don't have to take a walk outside. You can do it at the Y on the treadmill." I said, "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind."

Then I started to ponder all the "things" I have learned that are supposed to help you reduce risks for certain diseases, extend life, etc. And I really wondered what a STRICT diet of that would look like. Here are just a few of the "miracle foods" that should be taken regularly:

Oatmeal with Blueberries (reduce cholesterol and healthy heart)
Spinach Salad with almonds (Roughage with more heart help)
Olive Oil Dressing (Reduces risk of diabetes and is heart healthy)
Chocoalate Milk
Red Wine (one glass for heart health)
Strawberries (more antioxidants)
Fatty Fish (reduces risk of death from heart attack and Alzheimer's disease)
Whole Grain Bread--son 2 says 12 grain (helps prevent diabetes and colon cancer)
Beans (fiber that helps prevent diabetes and colon cancer)
1/8 tsp. of cinnamon (reduces some cancer risks and helps when you have a cold or the flu)
Dark Chocolate
Green Tea (Lowers blood pressure and prevents hypertension)

While researching healthy foods not long ago, I found this article. Sounds like HONEY is a MUST!

Yes, son, I DO want to live longer...thanks for the tip!

Simply Praiseworthy!

This past week, ds 1 was invited to go to Los Angeles for a Student Youth Leader Conference. He was asked to go by our Youth Pastor because he leads worship for Middle School and plays in the worship band for High School youth. His excitement was unbelievable.

When I look at him, I am often reminded of a little boy sitting on a front pew of a "traditional" church at the age of 4 and lifting his hands to praise God. Not wanting anyone to judge him...and being "far too worried about what people think"...I said, "not here". I have regretted that day for the rest of my years. There he was, open to worship, uninhibited and there I was standing in the way and NOT setting the example that I should have.

In some ways, he has come full circle. We are now in a place where worship is what each person needs it to be. It's open and honest. He is part of leading people in it...I am SO glad. He makes me proud!

Then...last night, I was with DSs 2, 3, and 4 in Tampa after a day at the soccer fields and we were on our way home when DS 2 said, "I wonder if there is anywhere around here that has Saturday Night Church?" My Mother told him she wasn't sure.

He and DS 3 are staying up in Tampa because there is a more tournament play today. He knew he was going to miss church.

My thought? Wow! At 16 or 17, even though I was REALLY involved in church, I don't think I would have been thinking, "Gee, when else could I go to church because I have to miss a Sunday?" I was proud and amazed.

I am so thankful for all of my sons. They are truly turning into Godly young men. I am thankful that even though we may sometimes falter in our parenting...they are clinging to the faith in which they have been raised. It's a BLESSING beyond what they will ever know.

He Just Wanted to Point Out....

As I have said before, my sons read my blog occasionally. After I updated my blog yesterday afternoon, I was leaving the house and my ds 1 came running out of the house to talk to me about my Thursday 13 post. He said, "MOM, you told me that 'Babe' was one of the greatest love songs ever written! I can't believe you didn't include it in your list!"

I told him it was there when I was composing my list, but it got edged out by some others. He said, "The GREATEST love song ever didn't get put on your list." But in my mind I was thinking "What is he talking about?" and "How did HE know I loved that song?" and "Why does he care?" Then I remembered that we had it on in the car one time and I must have made that comment to him.

OK, OK, I might have told him that I thought it was a GREAT love song. And I might have said, "This might be the greatest love song ever written." (Remember, it's only an opinion.)

Quite honestly, I was impressed that he even remembered that I said anything about it. And I DID wrestle with putting it on my list. It was a hard list to narrow down. So, today, I am adding a #14 to my Thursday 13 and paying tribute to a song that I DO love and to my ds 1:

14. Babe (Styx)

Thanks, son, for keeping me on my toes!!

Goodbye Sushi

Last week marked 7 months since we buried our 15 year old dog, Corky. Today, we will bury our cat, Sushi. We have known for a while that her time was coming. At 16, she is old for a cat. My dh and dss 3 and 4 went to the vet with her to put her to sleep.

Sushi came into our lives when dss 1 and 2 were very young. None of my boys remembers life without her. My Mother got her and realized that her allergies were cat related...thus we kind of inherited Sushi.

She has been through the toddler stages of all four of my kids plus four foster children many years ago not to mention other nieces, nephews, and cousins. She has never once been "cross" with any child. I remember seeing one of the youngsters dragging her backwards by the tail one time as if she were a stuffed animal...she didn't put a claw out...she just relaxed until a grown-up rescued her.

Sushi loved being outside when she was younger and before we moved to Sarasota. She gave birth to a total of 8 kittens in about three years during our time in Port Tampa. Her kittens were just as pretty as she was. People always asked us to "let" her have more!

When we moved to Brandon, she loved to play with Corky in our big backyard. I think it was there that she developed an attachment to my dh. Our parsonage was right on the church property. She would walk over to dh's office and sit in the window or by his door waiting for him to be done with work and come home. She never wandered any farther than that.


When we moved to Sarasota, she had to become an indoor cat. She didn't mind. She would spend her days soaking up the sun's rays from behind a window blind, or perched atop one of our sofa's (a.k.a. her "throne") or on dh's side of the bed, or most recently, on the lap of Son 3.

Not long ago, I told dh that I never thought I'd have problems with "another woman" and I certainly never thought it would be a CAT! She loved sleeping on his side of the bed. When he would go away and I would sleep there, she would bat me away with her paw. That was definitely "her territory" and "not mine".

As I said, in the past year, she and ds 3 have REALLY bonded. In fact, we didn't see her in our room much at all. If she had the opportunity to lay on son 3's clothes, his bed, or anything else he touched, she would. They truly loved each other.

It's hard. Our pets become such an important part of our lives. In a funny way, they ARE family. I will be forever thankful that she was a part of ours.

Goodbye, Sushi! You will be missed!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen of my FAVORITE LOVE Songs What can I say? I'm sappy. I LOVE music and I especially LOVE to hear a great LOVE song...here are 13 of my favorites in no particular order: 1. I Want to Know Where Love Is (Foreigner) 2. Still the One (Shania Twain) 3. It's Your Love (Tim McGraw/Faith Hill) 4. Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers) 5. Desperado (The Eagles) 6. When I Fall in Love (Nat King Cole--Celine Dion) 7. Your Song (Elton John) 8. Because You Love Me (Celine Dion) 9. After All (Al Jarreau) 10. Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley) 11. Everything I Own (Bread) 12. I Honestly Love You (Olivia Newton John) 13. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) 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

And Time MARCHES On...

I can't believe March is here already. Every year at this time, I am amazed that one quarter of the year is over. And we continue to mark time day to day as we go through our lives. Here is what has happened since January 1st in our family:

Dh has been to Texas and California and has booked more dates in the near future. He continues to work on rebuilding our church after the devastation caused by Hurricane Charley.

Son #1 finished the LPN program. He enrolled at the Community College as a Dual Enrollment student and will graduate High School in May. He continues to play in three bands (two at church and one at home). He will attend a National Student Worship Seminar in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks.

Son #2 finished his varsity soccer season. He has begun playing with the traveling team again and had his first tournament last week. His team is in the finals and will continue play this weekend. We attended his soccer banquet last week and he again is a scholar athelete. He is planning on attending his second mission trip this summer (along with ds 1). They will go to Belize.

Son #3 has refined his skills at creating computer graphics. He can fix almost any problem that I run into on my computer. He began working out at the YMCA and is still very active in the Youth Group at Church. He also finished his very first "solo flight" for a ski weekend with his cousins in Ohio and West Virginia. He enjoyed learning to ski and would like to try again, soon.

Son #4 is still busy finishing the first grade. He is working hard in school and has realized a few awards academically since the year began. He also was the top runner with the most laps in his class for our annual walk-a-thon (which really should be called a "jog-a-thon". He will receive his ribbon in a ceremony later this month.

I have returned the edits on my third book. I continue my work as a Literacy Coach in our school and the district. In addition, I continue to write almost 90 teacher's guides a year for a major publishing company. I am praying to drop my status as the Children's Church coordinator so that I can begin something in the area of Women's Ministry.

We are busy. And time keeps ticking away. As I read the blog left by the young mother who lost her life while giving birth to her fifth child, I was struck. She was a homeschooling Mom of five. She called it "Heartschooling" as she recognized the importance of heart. In the busy-ness of our lives, we should consider how much "heartwork" we have done in our families. I know that I fall short in this area occasionally. I want to improve BECAUSE I know time IS marching on. It's important.

I ask myself if I have hugged them enough? Have I told them I love them enough? Have I sat and listened to them enough? Have I been there for them when they need me? Do I set a Godly example of a wife and mother for them?

Those are the things that are important....and they are TIME investments that will have a GREAT return!

Who's YOUR Daddy????

I heard the funniest story at work today. For those of you who don't know my background, I work in a Title I school that has children from many different backgrounds and socio-economic levels. A colleague heard this from a friend at a neighboring TItle I school:

Setting: First Grade Classroom
Little Girl 1: I got a picture of my Daddy, wanna' see?

Little Girl 2: Yeah.

Little Girl 1: See? This is MY Daddy! My Mama gave me this picture.

Little Girl 2 stares at the photo and replies: That's YOUR Daddy....that's MY Daddy too! My Mama has the SAME picture!

Even though it's funny, it's also a sad commentary on the world in which we live....You can't make this stuff up, folks!

Have a GREAT day!!

It Takes a Village

If you have read any of my blog at all...then you know about my zesty go-for-all-the-gusto-you-can son 4. He is energetic and that is an understatement. He is also convinced that he is a grown-up. He doesn't understand the life of a seven-year-old. This is most likely because he has older brothers and has pretty much been playing I-can-do-anything-you-can-do since he was a baby.

Because I have been at my school for 7 years, many of my colleagues have watched hin grow up and have been listening to stories about him for years. Now that he goes there...they are taking an important role in his formative years. I regularly remind them, "It takes a village....and you're part of his."

The same is true at church. Last week, I couldn't see him in the service. This occasionally happens as he thinks he can (and should) be sitting with his older brothers and the youth group. They usually oblige him and I keep him in my sights so that I can give him the "Mommy eye" if necessary. As I said, I couldn't see him. I made eye contact with ds 2 and his girlfriend and asked them if they saw him. I walked out of the song service looking for him. When I returned ds 1 told me, "he's up in the sound booth." I walked up there and he proudly announced, "I'M RUNNING POWER POINT, MOM!" Kim, the lady who runs our Power Point, smiled and told me he was fine, so I left him there. He ran the power point for the entire service. Afterwards, someone said, "If your dh knew it was ds 4 running his power point slides, he might have been shocked!" True.

The other thing you may have picked up about son 4 from reading my blog is that he is EXTREMELY verbal. This week, he has been talking about how he has a new job at church. He hasn't stopped talking about running Power Point. I kept telling him that Kim might not want him back there. I have been trying to prepare him to sit in the service like normal children...all the while forgetting that he is NOT a normal child!

Today, I caught Kim before the service and told her that he had been talking about it all week....but that it was absolutely understandable and OK if she wanted me to tell him that he doesn't belong in the sound booth. She assured me that he is fine.

Now, Kim is part of his village. I'm not sure she knows it yet...but she is.

It's important, you know. He may remember that she allowed him to take part in ministry one day and that testimony may be what he needs to stay close to Jesus. He may grow up and actually create the Power Points (or whatever we are using then). I don't know...but it HAS made me think about which children are in my village.

Do I do all I can to help nurture them and help them grow? Do I set a good example? Do I speak well? Do I show them that I care?

It doesn't how much we do or do not "love" little children...we are part of someone's village. And it takes all of us to help them become the adults they will one day be.

I'm so thankful for the adults that are in his village....he's a blessed little boy (ahem) I mean "young man"! ;-)

Timely and TRUE

My cousin, Lynn, over at Seeking Thin Spaces sent me this link today (click the title of this entry). The article is really timely in light of my last two posts. Sara Groves is talking about being gripped by fear after the birth of her son:

I told a girlfriend, "If something happens to Kirby [her son], I don't know if my faith will survive." I realized if I could envision a scenario in which my faith wouldn't survive, then it wasn't surviving now.

I love this insight that Sara Groves offers as she thinks about how circumstances can bring doubt about:

Michael Card, in his wonderful book A Sacred Sorrow, says doubts are actually a profound statement of faith because they're a person saying she won't let go of a good God in the face of the profound evil she's seeing.

Sara goes on to say:

I've come to see that's the good news. Despite our depravity and selfishness, God uses us to heal this broken world. That's pretty amazing.

Yes, it IS AMAZING!! I have seen it over and over in each painful situation that I have been aware of this week...FAITH....true testimonies to the greatness of God....

Thanks, Lynn (and thanks Sara)!

God's Will Part 2

I hope I haven't upset anyone with my last post. I almost felt guilty for posting it last night and then I remembered, "This is my blog and it's a place where I can work out my own faith and learning and share my stories." This week, I have needed to work out some "stuff".

I was talking to a dear friend this morning about my last post. She, too, has had her share of pain this week. Her dd who was four months pregnant with twins lost ONE of them on Monday and is now carrying ONE baby that may have some serious chromosome issues. We are praying that a miracle takes place and this baby lives and is healthy.

So I asked her, "Do you think it was 'God's will' that one of P's babies had to die?" She said, "No, but I know that God will use it for a purpose and I know that He has been holding us all in His hand as we go through this." She also said, "If I 'over-think' it, then I tend to lose my faith that he is in control."

I believe that too.

I know that God knows what it's like to grieve the loss of a child. I know that He will use this situation (and all the others mentioned previously) for teaching and for drawing people closer to Him.

And, yes, I KNOW He holds us in his hand when we don't understand. I blogged many months ago about the Natalie Grant song, Held. My point now, as it was then....I know that God's everlasting arms are always there holding us...and that "WHEN EVERYTHING FELL....WE'D BE HELD"! I am thankful that I know so many people who are being held this week and are acknowledging that it is God who is doing the holding.

Be Blessed!!

God's Will????

Some of you read my post from a few days ago about David's car accident. That has been heavy on my heart this week. Someone said in the flurry of email we have received about this....that it must be "God's will."

Then, I ran into this blog last night. This is the blog of a lady who was a homeschooling Mom who was expecting her fifth child. She died during an emergency c-section. Her baby lived and has been named after her Mother. As I read the comments about Missey and her life, someone wrote, we don't always understand "God's will".

Then, I read a blog about someone who is afraid of flying. Since I deal with this same anxiety, I read more carefully. She said that she determined that if it was "God's will" that she crash, then she had to be "ok" with that.

I say NO, NO, NO!!! I simply can't believe that the same God who loves us with an everlasting and unconditional love would also "do" something so horrific to someone. God's will that a mother watches her son in a hospital bed after he is twisted around a tree? God's will that a mother not get to watch her FIVE young children grow up? God's will that the young children grow up without a MOTHER? God's will that a plane crash and kill all the people inside?

Am I the only one who thinks this doesn't line up?

Here's what I think. Unfortunately there is sin in the world. These things that happen are unexplainable sometimes. It "could" be the ripple effect of sin...it "could" be that it just happened because we are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. It could be that because we are not God's puppets and we have free will that "bad things do sometimes happen to good people."

What I KNOW and BELIEVE is that God will never leave us or forsake us. He CAN and DOES bring beauty from the ashes. He USES these situations to see HIS name glorified. I believe that He DOES work ALL things to the GOOD for those who LOVE HIM and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Finally, I don't think God needs to "give" us situations to exercise our faith in the form of "bad circumstances"...we are good enough at getting our own selves into situations.

I am NOT saying that any of the people above caused their great pain. And I believe that He is and will hold each person close to His heart as they go through their pain and fear.

God's will? In my opinion, it's that we LOVE HIM and those with whom we come in contact. God's will? That we glorify Him in the good and the bad. But I also think He loves us too much to cause the pain....He loves us too much to leave us during it.

And for that, I will be eternally grateful!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen ReasonsI'm Glad that I am not single DH is out of town this week. Being a single Mom is not something I do well. I can handle it for a week at a time, but it reminds me why God designed us to be together raising kids. Here are thirteen reasons why: 1…. I hate to cook 2. I cannot juggle well...schedules and all 3. I don't sleep well..I hear every "bump" in the night. 4. My bed's too big... 5. It's hard to KEEP saying "no" when you need to...it's easier to get a "yes" out of a single parent (in my opinion) 6. I am not good at keeping track of money and bills and stuff like that 7. I'm out of balance 8. I am not a morning person 9. The kids aren't morning people 10. I don't like communicating via email and computers. I'd rather be face to face. 11. Schedule logistics is not my thing 12. It's lonely 13. I am just not complete! I MISS you hon...we really are fine....BUT I can't wait until you get home! ;-) 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

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

Prayer Request

This past weekend a family that I know had to deal with something that I know has been very difficult. Their middle son (they have three) was in a near fatal car wreck. He is in a coma in the hospital. Today, people here are conducting a 24 hour prayer vigil for David and his life. PLEASE, if you have a moment, stop and pray for this young man. There is no telling how long this will take and how much damage has been done as most of his injury seems to be brain trauma. I am pasting our latest update on David---from his mother---below:

Isiah 40:20 my friend gave me last night.
God give strength to the weary and power to the weak.
I GOT 7 HOURS SLEEP LAST NIGHT!! I am good to go. We are not allowed to be with David from 6p to 9P and then in the morning 6a to 9a... that is when Oscar sleeps. Otherwise one of us is there.

After talking to the police, paramedic and the Bayflight tech came in to see Oscar in the middle of the night. Then the trauma Dr. all told us yesterday that from the very on-site of the scence - David was posturing (sp) - which is a sign of dying. That's why they wouldn't let me anywhere near the scence, they were waiting for an advocate to come be with me to share the bad news.

This is almost day 5 - and the Life/Death situation he was in I believe is over. Today he has a cat scan to see if the brain is absorbing the blood, if it is they will take out the monitor that's screwed into his head.

He is still in a coma on the respirator and they talked about a trach maybe early next week (which would be more comfortable for him). He is still in a coma, and now we just wait to see how much of DAvid we have left. (of Course I believe we will have 100%).

He has big mittens on now because he got ahold of his tube and almost pulled it out.

Daniel and I were telling him last nigt that Bill McLain (his publix manager) has been calling and we told him he could "close" every night of the week". (David fights us all the time about working more, working later, he loves Publix) - He hasn't opened his eyes but for the first time he was blinking!!! We had to laugh. We told the lady if your trying to wake him talk about PUBLIX.

They keep telling us it could be weeks or months before he starts to come back to us. But they don't know David and his determination. Of all my boys, if you tell him he can't or isn't able to do something.... he does it in double time.

Ok, thanks everybody for keeping us up in prayer... we feel it. We are doing fine and feel loved. Oscar especailly has loved the e-mails and cards you have forwarded to my sister - it helps the night go a little faster. We love hearing all the "DAVID" stories.

Love,
Lisa

I can't even imagine what this family must be going through right now. I DO know that they have a VERY strong faith and are trusting God for a miracle for their son. Let's join them in believing that as well.

Thanks!!

What Color Are You?

I found this over at Cozy Reader and think it is SO cool!! I think I have changed over the years...because some of these words would NEVER have been used to describe me 15 years ago.

So, what color are you?


GOLD:

At work or in school: I like set routines

and organized ways of doing thingsl rules and

directions are a great help to me. I prefer

to stay on one topic at a time. I need to

know what is expected of me, and I always

want to know if I am on the right track. I

like subjects that are useful and

traditional, such as business, accounting,

history and government.

With friends: I prefer people who are

careful with their money and who make plans

ahead of time. I like my friends to be

loyal, dependable and on time. I am serious

about love and show it in many practical

ways.

With family: I like stability and security

and enjoy traditions and frequent

celebrations. I like to spend holidays with

family members, and I plan ahead for such

gatherings.


What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla

Four Big Cookies!?!?!

For the second or third time this week, ds 4 has said, "You had four BIG cookies, Mom!" Since I've been working out and trying to eat more healthy, and maybe because my memory seems to be slipping some, his statement has caught me by surprise each time.

Tonight was the latest example of him making this statement out of the blue. The conversation went something like this:

ds 4: "You had four BIG cookies, Mom!"

Me (certain I wasn't hearing him correctly): I had WHAT? I didn't have cookies.

ds 4: Yes, you did. You had four BIG boys.

Me (recalling what his statement meant before): Yes, you're right, I had four big boys.

ds 4: I just call us "cookies".

Me: OK. I had four big cookies.

ds 4: Did the other boys cooperate?

Me: Huh?

ds 4: You know, did they cooperate? When you had them, did they make it easy on you?

Me: Sort of.

ds 4: I didn't cooperate. I had to come out of your tummy, right. (aside: I had to have him via c-section)

Me (wondering just WHERE this is coming from and where it is GOING): Right, but you were a miracle.

And that is where the conversation slips back to the present and veers away. I am not sure where he got the idea that babies are "cookies"...or that MY BABIES were "cookies"....I'm not sure where he learned that he didn't cooperate....but one thing is for sure, he is trying to process it all.

And I'm not certain that the next time he says, "You had four big cookies, Mom." that I won't find myself right back at the beginning again saying, "Huh, I didn't have any cookies!" and still trying to process it myself!

What's Art Anyway?

I live in an Arts focused town. The visual and performing arts are represented in many ways and at many levels from amateur to professional throughout our community. Our bayfront has many sculptures to reflect the importance of the arts here. This sculpture:



is causing a HUGE uproar. It's very tall....26 feet! People are now saying "It's NOT art!"

This artist of this sculpture:



Jonathan Kowal, covered his sculpture in black velvet and chains last week in protest to the inclusion of the other sculpture. He said that this sculpture represents the "dumbing down of art". He detests it.

Recently, the artist who sculpted "Unconditional Surrender", J. Seward Johnson, was in town to defend his work. Defend his work? What is up with that?

I have never had an "art eye"...but I am learning. I know that much of what people consider fine arts makes me say, "Huh?" But, just because it does that to ME does not mean that it is not art to someone else's eye. I have always wondered when I looked at a piece of art that looks like someone spattered paint from a toothbrush onto a canvas is considered so amazing...when I think, "My seven-year-old made that just last week at school." But this does not make me not appreciate different art forms.

One spectator at Johnson's talk put it like this: "Some people don't like brussels sprouts," she said. "That doesn't mean there shouldn't be brussels sprouts."

I just find it amazing that the very people who encourage us to "think outside the box"---and be a bit more "right-brained"---WON'T! Oddly enough, the controversy has sparked interest in many people and has engaged people who may not have been engaged before. So, perhaps this protest has actually backfired in some ways.

It's totally childish, in my opinion, that we can't all "play in the same sandbox." To me, it's simple: if it's art to my eye (but not yours), then it's still art and if it's art to your eyes (and not mine), it's still art...the old adage is true: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

What's that NOISE???

DSs graduation was interesting last night. It was a celebration for approximately 160 students in the health program at our technical high school. Ds was one of only five kids to make it through the LPN program before he even graduated high school. He had grandparents, friends and family there to root him on. We were certainly proud of him.

I noticed something though...things have changed. I know that times are different and families are different and what's OK when you are in auditorium is different. I am NOT OK with the last change though. People have no (or limited) social graces anymore. People are up and in front of others....babies are screaming (and not being removed soon enough)....kids are humming loudly and not being told to stop. There were a couple of times when I thought I would come unglued! Dh even commented on how it worked me up...and that he didn't have enough life insurance for me to die of a heart attack stressing over OTHER people.

And, if it were just the little ones....I might be able to handle it. It's the adults though. They don't know how to behave. I was absolutely amazed and quite bugged.

Reading my Cousin Lynn's blog, I was reminded that I needed to suspend judgement. It was probably a little too late for I had already judged these people. I had already decided that they were lower SES and that they were there to see people who are probably at the top of their career whereas my son is just beginning his schooling and career path. I generalized that they didn't have class. I decided that they were not "fit parents" and that the one with the screaming child was probably outside smacking her when she got her away from the crowd. I judged. OUCH!

I work with many parents like these each and every day and I know the truth: THEY LOVE THEIR KIDS. And their love is just as strong as my love for my children. We are more alike than different. They don't deserve my judgement. (But then, who does?)

I am not sure how to suspend it in that situation though. I guess that I can set an example and take care of myself and teach my children well (my antsy ds 4 sat there for three hours).

I was proud even with the distractions. I cried. They were tears of pride and joy in the man this one is becoming.

And you know what, I am sure that there were many Moms, Dads, Grandparents and Friends in that room last night who were also proud of the person that they came to see...even if they weren't so quiet and still about it!! ;-)

Graduation #1

Thirteen Things about SUSAN'S DS 1 I decided to use ds 1 since we are attending his first graduation (from LPN training) tonight.He'll graduate high school in May although he is taking all of his courses at the community college right now. 1. DS 1 was born 9 months and 10 days after dh and I were married. 2. He has always been VERY verbal and learned the power of words early. 3. He loves to try new things and is uninhibited by challenges. 4. He has played the piano, the trumpet, and the bass guitar in his eighteen years. 5. He is fun and driven all at once. 6. He surprised me when he said he wanted to enter an LPN program. 7. He has great visions and dreams for his future. 8. He is a thinker who can STILL hold a great conversation. 9. He has worked hard in these past 18 months to finish this program. 10. He plans to go on to finish the RN and really would love to work as a flight nurse. 11. He is a HUGE help when I need him. 12. He has made the transition from being a boy to a young man with relatively few bumps in the road. 13. I am proud of him beyond what I could ever type in 13 lines. Happy Graduation son!! 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

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

Are YOU Ready????

This is just your friendly BLOG reminder that tomorrow is THURSDAY THIRTEEN day...get those creative juices flowing everyone and let's learn more about each other.

The Nicest Thing

Yesterday when I came to work there was a present on my desk chair. It was a huge bag filled with yummy banana bread....scrapbooking supplies...and Yankee Candle tarts. I thought it strange since my birthday is in August and Christmas is long gone.

As I opened the card, tears welled up in my eyes. My friend, Sandy, who went cropping with me on my cropping weekend had sent it just to say "thanks" for taking her along. You see she had never really cropped before. She was a "newbie"...but had been telling me that she wanted to do it. So her gift was her way of giving back. It was so sweet. And it made me feel good.

I realized, I am not good at these sweet "little touches". I am so thankful for so many people and who they are to me and what they do for me...but I sometimes forget to go the extra mile and say a special thank you...or even better, DO a special thank you. It takes effort and it takes time. But it is time that is so worth it.

I am going to try and be more mindful of opportunities when I can bless someone. I may not have time to bake and put together a sweet gift....I am sure, though, that I could do or say something that will be a blessing. I fear that we are in such a hustle bustle society that we miss more opportunities than we take.

I'm glad Sandy took the time...to both bless me and teach me yesterday. For me, it's another lesson learned.

It's PEANUTS!

Thanks Heather
You are Woodstock!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Y-Phobia

It's a little known fact (and one I guess I won't save for my next "100" list)...but I have workout phobia and more particular "Y-Phobia". It's not because I am afraid of sweating...I am not afraid to try the machines....I just hate it when you go to the gym and there are all these cute little things working out and I feel like uh...not-a-cute-little-thing. I also don't like doing it alone. I much prefer having a workout buddy.

Four years ago I was walking 2 miles everyday at 5:45 am with a "Walking Buddy". We did this for a little over a year...and BOY did it pay off. Then my walking buddy moved. I tried to walk alone. I just can't. Or I won't. Especially at that time in the morning.

Then I got a "workout buddy" at my school. We joined a Women's Gym together and we were working out about 4 days a week together. We were doing treadmill, weights, and other cardio stuff...then the gym membership ran out for her and I decided not to join since I had to drive about 20 minutes to get there. I just couldn't be committed to that...and face the possibility of working out alone again.

Then I got a new walking buddy...and we met at a local strip mall at 5:00am to walk...YES you read that right. I loved walking with her...but I am NOT a morning person by any stretch of the imagination and rather than feeling better since I was working out...I felt horrible!!!!! I had to "drop out".

Last year, we got a membership to the YMCA. My older boys go all the time...and they have told me off and on they would "take me down there." I have stayed quiet and maintained a low profile about it because of my "Y-Phobia".

I have known, though, that it's time to put all that "junk" aside and start doing something for "ME"....and my health is important...so today I took the first step to overcoming my "Y-Phobia".

DS 3 and I went down there on Saturday to kind of "scope it out". Not too bad. I saw where everything was and decided I could walk on a treadmill in a corner somewhere. Plus that, since we live in a HUGE retirement area, there were quite a few older people there that would put me and my agility to shame!

DS 1 said today...."I'll take you down there, Mom and show you around." As I began to fess up about my "Y-phobia" on the way to the gym...He said, "Now THAT'S the FIRST thing you need to get over! You CAN'T worry about what everyone else is doing." And he's right. He showed me around. He coaxed me on to the machine...he took son 4 to play basketball and left me on the treadmill. It felt GREAT....It was wonderful to be breaking a sweat once again...even though I was alone (sort of).

I am so thankful that ds 1 was there. It was just nice knowing that if I needed a little encouragement, I could get it.

I almost can't wait to go back.

Cue up the Pink Panther theme....

Last night dss 3 and 4 and I went to see The Pink Panther movie.. It was just downright FUNNY. The theater was packed and people laughed hysterically throughout at the antics and experiences of Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin). But there was a sad part too. When the Inspector realizes that he wasn't chosen to handle the murder case because of his past history...but because he is a bumbling inspector...and when he realizes that even his cohort on the case knew this.....he is visibly heartbroken. It was sad.

I think it is more common than what we know in our society to break the hearts of those around us without even realizing it. We take advantage of the ineptitude of others. We use humor to elevate our own agendas while trampling down that of another. It's sad.

Then I read this spiritual twist on the movie over at Hollywood Jesus. I was amazed. In his review of the spiritual side of the movie, Matt Kinne notes: Clouseau's heart is in the right place, and he loves justice. This verse came to mind:

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

I think Clouseau DID love justice and he also worked with humility.

OK, now I am definitely thinking too deep. If you decide to go see it, I promise you'll laugh...and who knows? Just maybe you'll take a deeper message home as well.

T-shirt in seconds....

You can make your own blogging t-shirt at Snapshirts. Kind of interesting to see which words are used most frequently on your blog...I saved the shirt design to my desktop then uploaded the image from there.

Interesting.

Better Late than Never...

As I have ventured out in the blogging world, I have noticed there is a common practice. Once you hit your 100th post, you do a "100 things about me" post. I read this one over at Jane's Cozy Reader blog.and thought I'd give it a go...although even thinking of 13 things on Thursdays has been a challenge! ;-) These are no special order...just random things I thought while typing this list. Enjoy!

1. I have lived in Florida ever since I was 4 years old (with the exception of the two years that we lived in Kentucky).

2. I have always dreamed that I would live on Walton's Mountain and have my own mountain.

3. I have been married to my dh for 19 years in August.

4. I am the Mother of four sons. DS 1 is almost 18. DS 2 will be 17 in Sept. DS 3 will be 12 in Aug. and DS 4 just turned 7.

5. DH has been a United Methodist pastor for most of our 19 year marriage.

6. We have lived in 4 parsonages and a total of 8 houses in our marriage.

7. We now own parsonage #4...and all of it's contents.

8. I have been teaching for 20 years.

9. I have been a Reading Specialist for almost half of my teaching career.

10. Two years ago, I was honored and blessed to be the Teacher of the Year for our county.

11. I have published three professional books for teachers and approximately 200 teacher's guides for reading books.

12. I can't believe I am only a little more than a tenth of the way to 100!!!!

13. I was Gretel in our Community Theater's version of the Sound of Music.

14. DS 3 was Kurt in the local dinner theater's version of the Sound of Music two years ago.

15. I am 42 and proud of that.

16. My birthday is in August.

17. I am going back to school in June.

18. I'd love to teach at the post secondary level someday.

19. I have one cat, Sushi and one rabbit, Button.

20. We lost our beloved dog, Corky this past summer (after 15 years of being with us).

21. Sushi has been with us for 16 years.

22. My dh loves to watch the Olympics...I like some of it (this is only relevant because they are on as I type this list).

23. I have visited 26 states.

24. I have been on 3 cruises.

25. My favorite places to visit are places that have mountains...I am partial to the Smokeys'

26. My favorite food is meatloaf (well-made) followed by anything Italian.

27. I graduated from Florida Southern College in 1986 with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

28. I graduated from National Louis University in 1996 with a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

29. I am addicted to Diet Coke. I really LOVE it from the fountain.

30. I LOVE music.

31. I used to direct the church choir.

32. I listen to a wide range of music...and can sing along to most of it.

33. I scrapbook for fun...and am seeing the possibility of getting caught up soon.

34. I have sold tupperware, Mary Kay, and Discovery Toys. I loved all of these things...because I love being around people...not necessarily because I love selling things.

35. When I was four years old, I sold brown leaves to the neighbors for a penny each...(maybe I really DO like selling?). My Mother made me return the money to each neighbor and apologize.

36. I loved visiting my cousins in the summers when I was growing up.

37. Dh and I met in college. We were friends before we ever dated.

38. We used to be Foster Parents...we had a total of 5 children that we cared for over a three year span.

39. At one time while we were foster parents, we had 5 children under the age of 5!!

40. I taught ds 1 in Kindergarten.

41. I don't like crying in front of people...but my kids have a way of making me "tear up" when I least expect it.

42. I love watching The Amazing Race.

43. I also love American Idol.

44. As much as I love being around people, there have been some years that I have felt very lonely and longed for a close friend and confidant.

45. This past year, I have been blessed with a group of women who fill this role for me in Bible Study.

46. Biography is my favorite genre.

47. Helen Keller was the first biography that I read.

48. Close behind that was the Biography if Eleanor Roosevelt.

49. I love blogging and feel like I have connected with people in a unique way.

50. I'd love to meet some of my "online friends" someday IRL.

51. I am half-way and slowing down to a crawl to find things to list.

52. I have two brothers.

53. My brother G is married to C.

54. I have four nieces and two nephews.

55. I LOVE being an aunt.

56. I love antiques.

57. I have gone from Country blue and mauve to more warm colors in my decor.

58. I love quilts. I have two antique quilts that are over a hundred years old.

59. I love a good romantic movie.

60. I watch Extreme Home Makeover and CRY like a baby every time.

61. My DSs love to watch "Mom cry" during this show.

62. I dream of traveling America by backroads.

63. I love the history and character that lives in "small towns".

64. Dh worked as an associate pastor at the church where I grew up and we got married.

65. The same pastor that married us baptized our first two children.

66. DS 3 was baptized by our district superintendent.

67. DS 4 has not been baptized.

68. Our church was devastated in Hurricane Charlie almost two years ago.

69. No house I have ever lived in was impacted by a hurricane....or other weather.

70. I remember it snowing in Tampa in 1977.

71. I worked at Busch Gardens while I was in high school and college.

72. Every one of our boys (except son 3) has had stitches.

73. DS 2 is the only one who's had them twice.

74. DS 3 suffered two febrile siezures....one at age 3 and the other at age 5.

75. I hate cooking.

76. Dh doesn't mind cooking...thank goodness.

77. I collect Nativity sets. I have over 50 from different nations and nationalities.

78. I used to collect rocking horses. I still have a few.

79. I don't like flying...but am trying to get over that.

80. I still love roller coasters. Rock-n-roller coaster at MGM is probably my favorite right now.

81. I love front porches with swings.

82. I can roller skate and ice skate...but I can't ski or roller blade.

83. I was in the color guard in high school. I could throw a triple spin with my flag.

84. I love to get my feet and nails done regularly...this is so relaxing!

85. I highlighted my hair for the first time two years ago....now I'm hooked.

86. I love wearing sweaters and sweatshirts...but can't wear them very often because I live in HOT Florida.

87. I would not live in Florida if my extended family did not live here.

88. I do most of my computer work in my family room with a laptop...

89. I have communicated to my husband and children via IM when they were in the same room with me.

90. I love peanut M&M's.

91. I hate beets.

92. I preached my first sermon this year...and I loved it.

93. I sometimes talk to myself.

94. I hope to one day visit Italy.

95. I am excited that we are getting ready to enter a new season in our lives with our kids...they are reading for college and their careers.

96. I don't like to take medicine.

97. I don't like to go to the doctor.

98. I love the smell of Yankee Candles burning in my house.

99. My kids make me so proud every single day.

100. Thinking of 100 things has not been easy...but it HAS reminded me just how very blessed I am.

If you have read this far, thank you.

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!