I'm Stepping In...

I invited DS 3 to guest blog and he said he would, but alas he is still a 14yo boy and it didn't happen in his "Mother's timing". So, I'm stepping in and sharing some of his flight information here.

Here's DS 3 in the "roomy" cockpit ready to go. NO A/C on a HOT summer day...but ready to go.

Here he is in the air. Gliding....

Coming in for the landing...He got to go up another time and was up for 40 minutes after the first flight.

He did it!! He did it!!

Did you know that after you make your first solo flight, they cut your shirt? The shirt tails get signed by the pilot, marked with the date, the instructor's name, and the flight location and glider type. Then they get hung on the wall with the shirts of all the other pilots.

From my DS 3: "Getting to fly solo yesterday was very fun. I had a great time and the feeling of being up in the air, alone, felt great!"

Wordless Wednesday: He's Going Solo

(These three have gone to watch DS 3--in the middle--complete his solo flight in a glider this morning. Although this is NOT a glider, it is the three of them with the thing they enjoy so much: an airplane.)

He's 14 today...

My DS 3 has a birthday today. He's 14. It's hard for me to believe it. It seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital.

Tomorrow he solos in a glider airplane (which you can't do until you're 14). He is passionate about this whole aviation thing. It's neat to see him explore and develop his passion at such a young age. He knows more about airplanes than I could ever relay here. And when he talks about them, he just lights up.

DS 3 is a steady presence in our family. I think he gets more text message updates from his brothers than I do. They often tell HIM where they are and when they'll return! Perhaps it's because he is reliable and "always there".

I'm very proud of the young man he is becoming. I can't wait to see what his future holds, because I know it's awfully bright!

Happy happy birthday son!

Whoever...

Our church service today, my personal reading, and some blogs that I've read lately, have left me thinking.

Deeply.

The Pastor kind of summed up much of what's been marinating in my head for a few weeks. He used the very familiar passage of John 3:16--"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." He kind of zeroed in on that word "whoever"...and really continued to drive home that point...WHOEVER means just what it says: anyone, everyone, whichever person, all humanity. It's there for everyone.

Yet we live in a society that throws conditions into almost everything. I'll love you IF, or WHEN, or BECAUSE. When you do X, you'll get Y. Additionally, our society bombards us with images that shout to so many of us, "You're not ____ enough." You fill in the blank...pretty? smart? thin? tough? happy? good?

But, this verse in John says WHOEVER. It doesn't say "Whoever gives enough money..." "Whoever has the right clothes..." "Whoever knows enough stuff..." "Whoever drives the right car..." Nope. It only says "WHOEVER BELIEVES". There is no other condition.

Believe.

I remember when DH and I first married I took an Evangelism Explosion course. One of the illustrations in there about belief asked the seeker: "You're sitting in that chair right? When did you believe that chair would hold you? You had to believe it before you sat, otherwise you wouldn't have given it a try." Once you've sat, however, there is no "belief"...there's only reality that the chair is holding you.

Belief doesn't require proof...it requires faith. And it's OK if we take that journey one little step at a time.

WHOEVER.

The pastor asked us today, "Do you have friends who believe or act differently than you? Do you have friends who are Buddhist? Muslim? Atheist? Gay?" No matter who it is, or what the lifestyle, the entire human race fits into God's WHOEVER. And they fit where ever they are right now...

And when I really think about it, there are people with whom I "rub elbows" every single day who I am certain don't feel like they fit in the "WHOEVER" of God. For whatever reason, they are stuck behind a wall of self-doubt, pride, hate, anger, bitterness, fear, shame...and they don't let themselves believe that GOD GAVE HIS SON for WHOEVER. But HE did.

And he did it for one reason and one reason only.

Because he LOVED the WORLD. EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in it.

And because of that amazing love, WHOEVER can have FOREVER!

Book Review: Sex God

Now, if THAT title doesn't catch your ear, I don't know what will! A few weeks back, my DS 2, who never reads, told me he was reading "the best book". After I made sure my ears weren't clogged and I was hearing him right, I asked him to share what it was. This was it.

My first reaction was, "Duh, what 18 year old boy wouldn't want to read a book about that topic!" But, he let me browse it and began telling me what it was about. I told him I'd like to read it when he was done...and thus, I've been working through it. But it wasn't as easy for me. You see, this is no "how-to" manual. It's really a "WHY-manual".

First of all, the entire title is, "Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality." The book was written by Pastor Rob Bell who was the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

In Bell's words: "This physical thing [no matter what it is]--a picture, trophy, artifact, gift--is actually about a relationship, that truth, that reality, that moment in time" [it is connected to the spiritual]. He goes on to note, "Sex. God. They're connected. And they can't be separated. Where the one is, you will always find the other....To make sense of the one, we have to explore the other." And spends the entire book doing just that.

I am still not certain this would have been a book I would have chosen on my own. In fact, I know it wouldn't have been. BUT, I can see where it is an excellent read for someone like my own older sons. People who are bombarded with the physical each and every day. It'd be so easy to "give in" to the world's view of sexuality. Yet, as Bell notes, that is what makes it empty and unfulfilling. It is a deep thinking book. I had to reread several sections to really get my head around his thinking. In the end, I'm glad I did.

I'm going to close with the book review that was given by "Publishers Weekly". I think they sum it up much better than I ever could:

Bell raises the bar with this evocative follow-up to last year's bestseller Velvet Elvis....Bell's book isn't a sex manual, an exploration of the differences between men and women, or a marriage how-to, though all of that is here. Instead, it's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God, and love made manifest in the messiness of our humanity. Sex God is about relationships revealed in a way that elevates the human condition and offers hope to those whose relationships are wounded. In Bell's spare, somewhat oblique style, he addresses lust, respect, denial, risk, acceptance, and more. His love for God and the Bible is clear, as is his ability to ask probing questions and offer answers that make readers think deeply about their own lives. He does a fine job using the Bible and real life to show that our physical relationships are really about spiritual relationships. This book joyfully ties, and then tightens, the knot between God and humankind. — Publishers Weekly

Photo Hunt: Clouds

I don't know what's going on with Blogger, it keeps shutting down blogs before I can open them. At any rate, here's my photo hunt picture for this week: One of my favorite "cloud" pictures from Alaska.

It's all fun and games until...

Someone FARKELS!

While in Alaska, DH and I saw this little pocket-sized game called, "Moose Farkel". This is a dice game where you can roll as much as you want as long as you continue to score. If you don't roll a moose or a five, or another set of "scoring dice" then you FARKEL!

I liked it because the box fits in the palm of my hand. And it reminded me of a game that I used to play with my Grandmother called "Blow up". I am pretty sure they are loosely related.

I took the game to the Caribbean with me. We played a few nights while we were there. And I've played some with the guys at home.

Today I found out that you can buy a whole "Party Farkel" kit..I guess in the same line as Bunco. At any rate, this little game is a lot of fun and easy to learn. It's light and portable too which would make it easy to take along to fill time while waiting in a restaurant or a doctor's office.

And who doesn't love a good distraction when you're waiting to get food or an examination?

And...speaking of fun and games....

I saw this meme over at Melli's earlier this week- and I loved it...so I'm copying. If you want to play along, let me know so I can come and see your answers.

8 Things I Have a Passion For

1. Jesus

2. My Guys.

3. Extended Family

4. Friends

5. Teaching and Learning

6. Reading

7. Church

8. Mountains

8 Things I would Like to do Before I Die

1. Go to Italy

2. Be a Grandma and perhaps even a Great Grandma

3. Travel all 50 states

4. Have a house with a wrap around front porch

5. Teach a college course

6. Write more books

7. Cook better

8. Have a house in the mountains (even if it's only a vacation home) with a wrap around front porch

8 Things I Say A Lot

1. No way!

2. Please!

3. My boys' names

4. What!?!

5. Diet Coke, light ice...

6. What do you want for dinner?

7. Where are you going?

8. How did THAT happen?

8 Books I Have Read Recently (This was hard because they are right over there in my sidebar. I tried to include a couple that aren't quite finished and those I will probably not review here.)

1. Flies on the Butter (Denise Hildreth)

2. Teaching Essentials (Regie Routman)

3. If you Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name (Heather Lende)

4. Intelligence for Your Life (John Tesh)

5. Sex God (Rob Bell) (I'll review as soon as I finish)

6. The Shack (William P. Young) (Not finished with this one either)

7. Mama, Do You Love Me (Barbara M. Joose)

8. Responsive Literacy Coaching (Cheryl Dosier)

8 Movies I Have Seen 8 Times (This one made me wonder why I thought this meme was FUN to begin with...It's harder than it looks.)

1. The Sound of Music

2. The Wizard of Oz

3. It's a Wonderful Life

4. Holiday Inn (sometimes mistakenly called, "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby)

5. Grease

6. ET

7. Born Free

8. Aladdin

True Confessions...

I sat down to do my Thursday Thirteen post tonight and this is what happened:

I am working through the "ABC's of Me". This week should be "N" week. So, I started with my regular TT ritual of brainstorming the weekly letter in my head. These are the first "N" words that came to mind: nappy, nosey, noisy, nil.

Then I sat up and started analyzing THAT brainstorm....

Nappy? I don't think so unless we are talking about taking a little siesta "nappy"...and that is simply not how I talk. In fact, I hate it when grown adults add "y's" on the end of words that simply don't normally have them. You know like "Would you like a little huggy?" Or "Do you want to take a walky with your wifey?" You get the picture.

Nosey? OK I admit sometimes this is a good description of me. BUT, and this is a big BUT, I am really not as nosey as I once was. I never was "Gladys Cravitz" kind of nosey (I'm dating myself now, so maybe I should use "nostalgia" when I actually DO this thing). But, I am way too busy to be nosey much anymore.

Noisy? I think I'm pretty quiet most of the time. Although it's possible that those in my family might disagree and think this is a viable "N" word for my Thursday Thirteen list.

And "Nil"? That's just not right. I am not sure WHAT that means or WHERE that came from...but it's going back into the brainstorm file for another time when I feel like really figuring it all out.

Soooooo I decided to forgo the list this week.

While I'm confessing, though, I want to go ahead and get something else off my chest:

I'm a comment addict. There. I said it.

At one time I was a site meter addict. I stopped looking at it and now hardly even give it a second thought. Just before I left on my cruise, however, there was a day when I got several comments followed by a day of very few comments. And the day I got so few was one I wanted to hear from people. So, I decided to check the meter once again.

When I got there, I kept seeing this "visitor" from a little town about an hour and a half north of where I live. A few hits on the "back button" and the history was clear that this person had been visiting me for several weeks. Multiple times each day. I was absolutely furious that this person kept visiting and never commented. I mean how can you be a "neighbor" and not say "hello"? Not even one little eensy weensy comment.

Then I clicked out of my blog and checked back about 15 minutes later---a good sign that you're a comment addict. Nothing. I clicked over to site meter to see my "northern neighbor" was on at the SAME TIME. Then, reminding myself that I lack true computer savvy, and possibly being hit by a blogging lightbulb, I asked my 13 yo..."can you tell when our own computer logs in on this thing?" And he said, yes. Then he proceeded to show me how to match the number on my laptop with the one in my site meter.

Lo and behold, I am the one who has been visiting my OWN blog and not leaving comments! Rest assured that my site meter addiction is quite under control. I haven't been back since that revelation.

But the comment addiction is a whole other story. I like to hear from those in bloggy world. It's part of my "social side". I enjoy visiting blogs and leaving comments too. Truly I believe if you want comments, you have to give them. My Mama DID teach me the Golden Rule. I want to remember, though, that there are all kinds of people in the world and thus bloggers in the "sphere". I know that not everyone is a commenter and that's got to be OK. It's what makes this such a unique medium.

So this confession is the first part of my "treatment". The second part took place when I really thought about WHY I blog.

It's really for me anyway. It's a place to record my thoughts, my feelings, my faith journey, my family stories, the lessons I learn, and the everyday happenings that make up my life. It's a place to get and be real. It's a place to laugh and cry and simply be. And none of that requires an audience. Although, I'll be honest, an audience is nice sometimes. It's not so much wanting attention as it is wanting true reflection. It's that opportunity to push my thinking a bit...share experiences...and learn together. But, if it's really for "me", then those days when it's "comment lite" should not bother me. So I'm letting go here and now.

Whew! Now I feel better.

If you're reading this, though, could you please tell me how you feel about comments on your blogs? Oops...that may have just set me back to square one of my treatment...but go ahead. Tell me anyway. Cause, tomorrow's another day!

Book Review: Flies on the Butter

A few weeks ago, I went to the Christian bookstore and found several books on sale for $5. I picked up a couple that I thought would be good "summer reading". I have two other books I am reading, but wanted to read something "light" on the cruise.

Denise Hildreth is a new author for me. I found her book, Flies on the Butter a wonderful read that was light yet thought-provoking.

This book is about Washington D.C. child advocate Rose Fletcher. When Rose left her hometown of Mullins, South Carolina, she intended to never look back. But this story centers around an event that finds Rose in her car heading South.

Rose is forced to deal with her past and the present chaos that defines her life as she makes her way to visit the family that she left behind. This book is filled with southern charm as Rose relives many chapters of her childhood during the drive.

I found Hildreth's writing charming and oh so refreshing. I also found myself challenged to once again make sure that there are no "flies on the butter". I love the picture that Hildreth paints of swatting those flies. Rose is reliving the childhood memory of her Mamaw shooing the flies from the butter when we find out the deeper meaning:

"Why do you keep swatting at those flies, Mamaw? They ain't going
nowhere. They just keep landing when you're not looking."

"You got to stay on them, Red," her granddaddy said. "Let those
flies have the butter, and the next thing you know, they'll want your biscuits
too. You've got to be vigilant about some things in life. Ain't that
right, Mama?"

"That's right," Rosey's Mamaw said with another swat.

Hildreth notes in her acknowledgements that Flies on the Butter is a song that she first heard sung by Wynona Judd. One line in the song says, "You can dream about it every now and then. But you can't go home again." Hildreth shares that when she first heard the song, she was moved to tears. It caused her to remember a time when life was less complicated.

And while I think the "time travel" is fun in this book, it is also quite necessary for even the reader. For it's in going back that we can see the places where we forgot to swat the flies and let them "have the bisuits too"!

I hit "publish" on this post then noticed the Bible verse that showed up on my blog today. I simply think it's neat how related it is to this whole lesson:

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

I'm glad I took the time to read this book. Now, somebody pass me that fly swatter!

I'm HOME!!

Once again, I feel July has gone by in a whirlwind! It's usually the month that we travel. This year has been no different except we're all traveling differently!

I have just returned from our seven day cruise in the Caribbean. We visited Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos. The weather simply couldn't have been more perfect. Unusually mild days accompanied by extremely calm seas made it a wonderful trip!

I know it may seem strange to go on two cruises in one Summer. Believe me, it's kind of weird for me to think about!

Here's the thing...our first cruise to Alaska was a "free cruise" that DH won last year on our anniversary cruise to Panama. The second one is one that my cousin invited me to attend with other people from her school. It kind of grew and my Mom and Brother and my friend Debra tagged along. Both were blessings to me and did the very thing John Tesh wrote about in his book----they helped me and my family and friends make some fantastic memories! And those are endorphins that last a lifetime.

I've already highlighted Alaska here pretty much. Let me highlight this cruise that just finished:

Of course, no cruise is complete without the exciting LIFEBOAT DRILL! Here are Lynn and my Mom preparing for it. I am so proud! Actually, I'd have been right there in the picture with them, but SOMEBODY had to be sane and take the darn thing!

Of course there was plenty to do each and every day. We took advantage of many of the ship's activities including my favorite, the Piano Bar. I could sit around a piano and sing "old favorites" forever! In fact, I'm listening to the music of the pianist right now. His name is Eric Fischer. If you get the chance, head over to his website and listen to a few of his original pieces. He's really a very talented young man.

There were plenty of "off ship" adventures as well. Here are Mom, Dan and Me looking a little "touristy" wouldn't you say? We were on our way to the beach.
And, the nature...OH the nature! In many ways, it pales in comparison to Alaska, but I think it is no less grand to see such gorgeous sunsets:

And look at this photo taken from one of the mountains in St. Thomas looking down over the sea port:

The water is such an incredible blue. It's really like no other place I've seen. When we were swimming, it was almost as clear as swimming in a backyard swimming pool. So very refreshing!And this year, the sky matched the sea. It was a beautiful clear blue about 90% of the time. This picture was taken in the Puerto Rican Rainforest.

In addition to the nature was the wonderful crew. Our waiter made it a delight to go to dinner each night. I enjoyed a full body massage one day...and although I felt a little like I'd been run through a car wash (another blog for another day), it was a blessing. We had wonderful service and entertainment in so many places aboard the ship. I am so thankful that I've had the chance to make some lasting memories this week.

It was relaxing, refreshing, and rejuvinating! And for that, I'm REJOICING!

Bon Voyage!!

I am leaving this morning for a week long trip to the Caribbean. My Mom, Brother, friend Debra, and my cousin Lynn are tagging along with several staff members from Lynn's school. I'm excited! I'll update when I can...but won't have a chance to visit until I return.

Have a great week!

A Book Meme...

My SIL, Heather, tagged me for this one.


1. Do you remember how you developed a love of reading?
My Mother was a reader. We read many children's books together when I was small. I also remember being in the first grade and having a contest to see who could read the most Dr. Seuss books. And I won! I still have the little porcelain mouse that I got as a result. So, I think it was a combination of my teachers as well.

2. What are some books you loved as a child?
Without a doubt, The Story of Helen Keller was one of my favorites that I read more than once. I also read The Bobbsey Twins, The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler, Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, and Island of the Blue Dolphins. (Just to name a few)

3. Do you have a favorite genre?
Yep. I love to read biographies. I guess second to that would be historical fiction.

4. Do you have a favorite novel?
Hmm....so hard to choose. I loved Secret Life of Bees. I also loved To Kill a Mockingbird. I just don't know if I can narrow down to a favorite "all time" book.

5. Where do you usually read?
I can usually be found reading on the couch in our living room. But I'll read anywhere I can. I usually have a book with me when I go out so I can steal a few minutes in it while waiting in places. I, like Heather, read at the soccer field and in the car waiting for soccer practice to end.

And, I confess, when I was reading The Kite Runner last year, I even went to a small closet in the back of our cafeteria at school to steal a few minutes to finish the last chapter. I NEEDED to
finish and promised I'd stay extra that day!!!

6. When do you usually read?
Whenever I can find time. My problem during the school year is finding (or is it making) the time. I read quite a bit over the summer. Although this summer hasn't been quite as full of books because it's been filled with other stuff.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?
Yes I do. Right now, I have four books started. I am close to finishing one that my DS 2 read. I also hit the point where I have none started and then I have to "get moving".

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? Sometimes. It depends how "deep" the nonfiction is. I tend to read professional books at work for my job. So I read at my desk. I also read to study at home. When I read nonfiction, I usually mark and highlight the book.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?
I buy 'em. I simply like having my own copy. But, this is not always a good thing. My kids didn't really use the public library as a result. They know how...they use the school library...but most of the books they've read, we've also bought.

10. Do you keep most of the books you buy? No. I tend to pass them on so they don't crowd us out. I do keep my most favorite, though.

11. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?
Too many picture books to name...I love to read poetry with them. We also loved Charlotte's Web, Where the Red Fern Grows, Stone Fox, a couple of Jean Craighead George's novels, and Because of Winn Dixie. I haven't done as well making sure to read chapter books aloud to them! Their "read together" attention span wasn't quite as long. DS 1 loved the Hemmingway books and To Kill a Mockingbird. Anyone who knows DS 2 knows he "hates books"...until this summer when he red Rob Bell's Sex God (which I am currently reading). DS 3 loves to read his flying manuals and books about aviation. DS 4 loves to read animal stories.

12. What are you reading now?
Sex God by Rob Bell, Healing Promises by Amy Wallace, Flies in the Butter (don't know the author right now) and The Shack by William Young.

13. Do you keep a To Be Read list?
Yes, somewhat. I have a "to be read pile" next to my bed. It is ever-growing. It doesn't mean some book won't come along and pre-empt the pile, however.

14. What’s next?
The next "Sisters, Ink" novel and another one that I bought in Alaska called, "The Children from Nowhere"...and I have a TON of professional reading to do!

15. What books would you like to reread?
I don't really reread because I have so many in my "to be read" pile. I would like to revisit Intelligence for Your Life by John Tesh and Secret Life of Bees.

16. Who are your favorite authors?
That's hard to narrow down. For fiction, I love Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, Khaled Hosseini, Karen Kingsbury, Beverly Lewis, and so many others. For nonfiction, there's no one who sticks out as a favorite.

I'm not tagging anyone, however I'd love to read some of your answers. If you want to play along, let me know and I'll come visit.

Book Review: Intelligence for Your Life

Often while driving on the weeknights, I find myself flipping through several radio stations. Many times I end up stopping on the John Tesh radio show where he shares "Intelligence for Your Life". It's a good mix of music and tid bits about living and learning. And that's right up my alley!

I was excited when I was browsing books for summer reading and found that John Tesh has rolled his life story (including his faith testimony) and his radio show into one book. I actually found myself thinking about reviewing this book chapter by chapter for the blogging world. It's got that many "gold nuggets" in it!

Here are just a few of my favorite pieces of "Intelligence for MY Life"...

He explores the importance of having (and living with) purpose in our lives. And, he explains, that this begins by finding your passion. Here's something to think about: "If someone asks you to state the deepest desire of your heart and you don't have an answer, there's a good chance you are living your life merely as a REACTION to what happens to you." We uncover our passions by asking ourselves four key questions:

* What makes me feel most energized and excited?

* What do I want to be known as?

* What could I talk about nonstop?

* Which activities do I get so caught up in that time just flies?

Money "cannot buy happiness"...but actually, it CAN. The thing is, the dopamine (happiness hormone) that is released when we purchase things is short-lived. At the most, big purchases (house, car) can last about 3 months. Then it's GONE. But, Tesh reveals, scientists and therapists have found that money can buy sustained happiness when it's used to purchase "experiences". He writes: "it's the experiences--the memories--that give lasting happiness, not the fanciness of the experiences." I love that.

Throughout the rest of the book, Tesh helps the reader explore how to put our passion into action, focus and simplify, take care of relationships, and take care of business. Then, he leaves us with the best intelligence of all: TRUST GOD!

I read this book very quickly, but it's one that I don't think is meant to be read alone. It's more of a read, let the words marinate in your heart and mind, and then discuss with someone else type of book. If you like books that challenge your thinking, add to your knowledge, and tell a good life story, then this book is an excellent read!! And I promise you'll want to reference it again and again.

Thursday Thirteen: FINALLY!

I haven't been able to taken the time to complete my ABC's of me...and feeling a bit guilty about it...I decided it was time to plunge back in:

Thirteen M words that describe Susan:

1. Musical - Now, I don't play an instrument and I really don't sing in front of too many people, BUT I am quite musical. I often find myself "thinking in music". I will be in a situation and suddenly a song will pop into my head that either describes it or, at least, fits it.

2. Muscles - I have been working with the trainer for almost 11 months and for the first time the other day I could really see the muscles in my arms when I was doing my curls. I felt like a guy there watching it.

3. Meatloaf - This is one of my favorite dishes when it's well-made. I used to love my Mom's when I was growing up. And I love the meatloaf dinner at Cracker Barrel.

4. Math - NOT! I really don't like having to do Math. On more than one occasion, while covering classes at school, I've had to say "Forget that I said THAT...do it THIS way!"

5. Meander - I distinctly remember learning this word in the 7th grade. I don't know why. It's one I liked when I heard it and it "stuck"!

6. Metacognitive - This is the act of "thinking about your thinking". In the past few years people in the reading world have realized that they have to teach kids to be "metacognitive" when they read....therefore, I have to spend a lot of time helping adults be metacognitive when THEY read to be able to really "flesh out" what good readers do.

7. Mono - I had this horrible illness during the summer just prior to my senior year of high school. I realized it on July 4th and spent the next six weeks in bed pretty much. My Mom actually sent me away to my Grandparents so that my friends would stop coming by and calling. It was at Grandma's that summer that I watched Princess Di wed Prince Charles AND that's when I learned to cross stitch.

8. Missions - I have not been on an "official" mission trip, but I have a heart for missions. I love supporting long term and short term projects. And right now, I am learning about all the things that we can do (even things that are "unorganized") right in our own backyards.

9. Methodist - I was raised in the UM church. I still remember accepting Christ there during a Good Friday service. I left for a while when I was in college because I felt like some of our churches were way too liberal. But then DH ended up pastoring there for 21 years! It's interesting how things come back around, isn't it?

10. Mountains - I LOVE the mountains and dream of living in them someday! When I was growing up, I wanted to live on Walton's Mountain. I just love everything about them. It wasn't until a few years ago that I really realized that we each have our own "landscape loves". I live right near the beach...and while it's pretty...it doesn't do for me what the mountains do. I learned this when someone said, "I can leave the mountains...give me a beach." I was honestly shocked to think that someone might not love them like I do. I suppose that's what makes the world go round and keeps us from being "lopsided"...I mean if we ALL wanted to live in the mountains....

11. Maps - I am pretty good at navigating with a map. I love having an atlas in my car and figuring out new places to go visit when we travel. Although, for loving maps, I don't "map" out things in my own life. I like the spontaneous too

12. Meaning - I love to look for meaning in the every day events that define me. I think that's why my blog is called Learning for Lifetime. I always look for those little meaningful lessons that I can take away from a situation.

13. Mammoth Cave - I have been in Mammoth Cave several times. Although I am a bit claustrophobic, it's not something I'd miss. I am constantly amazed at the enormity and wonder of it all.

If you're going to try on clothes alone....

YOU'VE GOTTA know the "Zipper Dance"!

I love to shop! But unlike my blogging friend, Linda, I only have BOYS. And my boys, while they like to shop when Mom's buying them stuff, are power shoppers. You know, in and out. No lingering. No wandering in and out of dressing rooms, and dreaming of what you "might buy". Nope. It's simply not the same as shopping with the female set.

I also fessed up here not long ago just how much I love shopping at our local thrift stores. We often have very high end clothing for a fraction of the original cost in there. For example, I got this cute little green jacket at Goodwill only hours before we left for Alaska. I wanted one more "jacket option" and found it for $6!!

This Sunday I leave for another 7-day cruise. This time, I'm going to the Carribean with my Mom, Brother, Cousin Lynn, Friend Debra, and several teachers from Lynn's school. While I have clothes for this sort of cruising, I thought I'd just take a peek at our Goodwill yesterday and see if they had anything cute and new.

And they did!

They had a darling little pair of crop pants in a tropical motif from Talbots in my size!! And when they look brand new, I really feel like it's a steal. So I went into the dressing room to try them on. They zipped on the side.

The zipper went right up and the pants looked so cute. After posing a couple different ways in the mirror, I went to take them off and that zipper started down it's track and stopped just an inch or so from the top. I said they fit. They were NOT in any way baggy. Nope. That zipper would have to go down further to get them off my body.

I twisted. I turned. I tugged. Then I started jumping a bit to try and get it to go back up. Nothing. It wasn't going UP or DOWN. I stuck my head out the door in hopes that I'd catch a nice little lady to help me. But there were none near and I simply couldn't allow myself to holler across the store. I tried again, to no avail.

I remembered that Sandy was out and about and looked for my cell phone. It was in my car.
I wondered for a moment if I called home (which is not too far away) and asked my DH or my DSs to come...would they? Perhaps, but I'd rather call another female. Because I'm pretty sure they'd "get it".

I leaned against the wall and thought, "I'll just break the zipper and pay for them." Remember though, these are well-made pants. They were not going to just rip! I tugged and tried the zipper dance again.

Suddenly, I could feel that familiar twinge of anxiety creeping up on me. I leaned against the wall and I prayed. No, Lord, I don't want to panic and melt down right here! Especially over a zipper!!

And suddenly, as if the zipper angels themselves had entered that room, I took "one last tug" and the zipper came down easily!

I rehung those pants right back on the rack, made a mental note to never try on clothes without a cell phone again, and left the store. I called Sandy and she assured me that if I'd called, she'd have come to my rescue.

So, dear friends, don't forget to hone your zipper dance before you go trying on anything. Cause you never know when you just might need it!!

Random Thoughts...

Here are some random thoughts from my weekend and today:

** Sandy and I finished writing our next book for teachers. Text is done and ready to be sent to the publisher. Now for the fun editing process!!

** I got the edits back on the book I just finished with Suzi and Kristin for K/1 teachers....I hate the pictures...and am absolutely ready to CRY about it. It's so hard to have a vision and let someone else try to bring it to fruition for you!!

** We had a VERY cool service at church yesterday. We call it "Interact". We set up several stations around the room. At one we wrote letters to our local fire stations to say thank you for all of their hard work. We made 350 thank you bags for a local assisted living facility. We also made 400 bags of goodies for our local kids beach run. And we tagged toys for the hospital to be given to kids who are sick or in need.

** My job is to oversee this committee which is easy cause they're all hard workers. But I had to come up with the items for the thank you bags.

** Thanks to my awesome family, and a marathon trip to all of the dollar bins at our local JoAnn's stores, I acquired 350 corkboard coasters in the shape of teapots. This included my brother in Texas who brought my teapots to me on Saturday! We decorated them with "thank you" and a ribbon and put them in a baggie with cookies, tea, and mints.

**Today I took my niece, nephew, DS 4, and his friend to the waterpark for two hours. We had a grand time.

** My niece and nephew came home with us and will go back to Grandma and Grandpa's after dinner tonight.

** DS 3 and I went with the team to distribute the thank you bags at the ALF today. It was wonderful to see the look of surprise on the faces of these employees when we simply took the time to say "thank you for all that you do"!!

** DH is preparing our dinner. He's so good!!

** I'm catching up on some much-needed "down time" thanks to my DSs who are playing with their cousins.

And they're home...

There was great rejoicing in my home this evening as DSs 1 and 2 came home. If you haven't read the texts they sent me below this post, you may not get the announcement DS 2 made to all of us:

DS 2 with SWEATY t-shirt and shorts, said: "I am glad I was born when I was, because I NEVER could have been a pioneer...like on the Oregon Trail."

DH: You wouldn't have known any different.

DS 2: OK, well, if they ever create time travel, I'll only be going forward! Cause I can't travel without air conditioning!

DS 1 concurred.

Oh the joys of text....

The Three Muskateers I mean my DSs 1 and 2 and their friend Z are on their way home from Oklahoma City. D and M flew there last week to meet Z and his Dad. They spent a couple of days visiting then began their trek home yesterday morning.

Here's a summary of the texts and calls I have received. Each ** represents another time in the day.

** From DS 2: "We're going to go to Toby Keith's restaurant." From Me: "Do you both know how to manage your money?" DS 2: "We're fine, Mom!"

**From Me: "Do you even know how to drive from Oklahoma to Florida?" From DS 1: We mapquested it.

**From DS 2: "We were going to leave tonight (Friday), but D is being a bit cranky and so we're leaving in the morning." From Me: "Oh THAT ought to be a fun ride home!" From DS 2: "Yeah tell me about it."

**From Me (on Saturday) to DS 1: "Are you guys getting along?" From DS 1: "No, we can't stand each other."

**From Me to DS 2 (later in the day): "Are you guys getting along?" From DS 2: "Yeah, surprisingly well." In my head: "That's a boy thing...they can be duking it out one moment and best friends the next. I don't get it, but it's one of the things I wish I could do better."

** From DS 1: "I think I just saw Old Dan and Little Ann. We're in the Ozarks!" {Mother note...he LOVED Where the Red Fern Grows}

** From One of them (can't remember which): "We just passed the national headquarters for Sonic! Thought you'd want to know. {Mother note...they know which Diet Coke their Mother loves best.}

** From DS 2: "Can you look on the Internet and see if you can find a Fazoli's in Memphis?" I did, but it was nowhere near where they were. From Me: "Boys, you'll just have to keep driving. And is that a CAT I hear in the background?" DS 2: "Yes, we have two cats that Z had to bring back, too. And by the way, did you know the car doesn't have air conditioning?" In my head only: "Oh to be young again!"

**From DS 1: "Mom the Smoky Mountains are really smoky tonight." From Mom: "That's cool." In my head: "At least they're living up to their names."

**From DS 1: "We just passed a lake with an island and the mountains in the background." From Mom: "cool"...In my head: "Calgon...take me away there.

** From DS 1: "Driving through the Smoky's tonight I thought about you. I said, "My Mom loves the Smokies!" From Mom: "Did you sing Rocky Top for me?" DS 1: "Good Ol' Rocky Top..." In My Head: "I've raised good boys!!"

This afternoon:

**From Me: "What's your status?" DS 1: We're stopping at Wendy's for lunch. We drove through rain this morning and a cat pooped in the car, so we've been having to push through. In my head: "Oh yeah, they're driving with no A/C and aroma de cat..." To my DS: "Oh my gosh, I can NOT imagine driving with two cats in the car!" DS 1: "Yeah, we didn't know about them until we got out there." In my head: "My boys are really good friends to others..."cause I might have just hopped a flight back and wished my friend the best...OK maybe not.

Still they are good and seem to be making their way through Georgia relatively well. And, if their text messages are any indication, they DO occasionally think about home.

Photo Hunt: Support

It's been forever since I've done a Saturday Photo Hunt, but I figure with so many travel pics, I can play again. Today's theme is "Support"...This is a house we saw while whale watching in Alaska.

A Pleasant Surprise

As I've mentioned this week, my niece and nephew are in town staying at their Grandparents. Earlier in the week, it was suggested that I consider taking my niece to see the new movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.

My FIL and I discussed timing and we agreed that he would take the boys to see one movie while I took her to this movie.

Remember that I am a "Boy-Mom" who WANTS (but doesn't really have yet) a "pink room". My life is pretty well filled with all things "male". BUT, I have been to Chicago. I have visited The American Girl Store on more than one occasion. I even showed the one to my DH when we were in NYC and tried to explain why it was surrounded by young girls with their precious dolls for almost an entire city block. I explained it was a good thing we had boys, but if we have Grandaughters, we will DEFINITELY spend more time there. I even hosted American Girl author, Valerie Tripp, when she visited my school several years ago.

This does not, however, make me an American Girl aficionado. I actually didn't even know this movie existed until this whole conversation came up. In fact, I really didn't know much about the doll, Kit, or her character, either. I did, of course, agree to go...especially since I found out that my niece IS not only an American Girl expert, but a Kit specialist (she's read all the books). I think she was surprised that my DS 4 wanted to go with us, but she didn't seem to mind.

The three of us armed ourselves with popcorn, skittles, water, soda, and sour patch candy (even though we'd just eaten lunch) and went to our theater leaving Grandpa and M to go to the other one. When we walked into the theater, I immediately wondered if I read the sign on the door right. I was certain the sign said this was our movie, but the theater was filled with several older couples, a few "single" movie watchers, and perhaps 2 other kids. Just 2. For a KIDS' movie. We sat down and I prepared to tell the kids I had taken us into the wrong theater.

But I had not.

Once I figured that out, I decided it'd be fun to see just how long the men in the room (and even some of the women) lasted for the movie. In fact, I was fairly certain THEY had gone into the wrong theater. But they did not budge.

It wasn't long into the movie before I realized the appeal for this crowd. The movie takes place in 1934. It definitely sheds some light on The Great Depression Era from this young girl's perspective. The music delightfully transports you to that time. The storyline kept me engaged the entire time and even had me shedding a few tears.

When Kit was faced with her Father leaving town to go find work, she notes something like, "It's not right if we're not together." And I heard my DS 4 respond, "Yeah, that's the truth!" It was a sweet Mom-moment for me. And a couple of times my niece even helped me know what was about to happen and/or why it was happening--which was a special Aunt-moment.

Steeped in the "good things happen to people who don't give up" storyline are the important messages of loving and serving one another regardless of socio-economic background and/or skin color. For me it was a pleasant surprise. In fact, I even found myself thinking that perhaps I should read the books in order to share them with some of "my girls" at school next year.

Whether you have an "American Girl" in your life or not, this movie is a good clean summer choice with a happy ending. Add a sweet niece and DS 4, and it was a great way to spend a hot summer afternoon!

It's true...

I'm aging and I know it....

Last night I found myself talking about bodily functions with my brother that I used to cringe about when I heard "older people" discussing. I mean I always wondered why it makes national news when the President of the US goes and sees his Urologist. And now here I am having an ailment conversation that made my DS 3 blush! Oy!!

Today, my DSs 1 and 2 left for Oklahoma on a plane. They will meet their friend, Z, there and drive with him back to Florida.

Now DSs 1 and 2 are 20 and 18 respectively. I found myself wondering if DH should walk them inside the airport and help them navigate. He didn't.

I shudder a bit at them driving alone from Oklahoma to Florida...even though they are three young men who collectively know more about automobiles than I do. I mean when did they get old enough to do THAT???

I took my niece and DSs 3 and 4 to a bounce house last night. I found myself fretting if I didn't know where they were at all times...even though we were in a closed-in room with only one exit.

Yep, my feet are firmly planted in my forties for sure!

Be Still and Know...

I'm always learning. In fact, I'd consider myself quite introspective. I think deeper than I should on occasion. I analyze things, people, situations and I sometimes make assumptions about them. My friends tease me about the "people that live in my head". This is because I am always thinking and planning and dreaming. Even when I am quiet, and perhaps especially when I am quiet, my mind is quite a busy place.

My trip to Alaska taught me something about this.

It happened for me in this place:

This is Prince William Sound near Anchorage, Alaska. We floated in there the final night of our cruise. While standing out on the deck, all you could hear was peace and quiet. This was amazing because there were literally hundreds of people out on the decks taking in the glorious sights. In fact, it was so quiet that you could hear the ice bergs melting in the water.

And my mind stilled. More still than I can ever remember it being. All I could hear in my head was the words of the Psalmist: "Be still, and KNOW that I am God." (Ps. 46:10). DH leaned over and asked softly, "What are you thinking?" And I replied, "It is just so beautiful." I'm pretty sure those were the only words we spoke for about an hour.
I breathed deeply. The air is, without a doubt, the freshest I've ever been around. It was an amazing feeling simply being and breathing with so many other people and yet, alone. As we reached the largest glaciers and the ship stopped completely, I simply wanted to shout: "MAJESTY!" For that is what I know I was seeing. And there, in that place, it became ever so clear to me. I don't have to be in Alaska to see it. His majesty and beauty is all around me. All I have to do is be willing to STOP and SEE IT and BREATHE it IN! It's in my children's faces. It's in the nature that surrounds me each and every day. It's in the way my DH loves me. It's when I drive in the car. It's at my job. For He is in all of those places. I just have to BE STILL and KNOW it. The lesson I learned in the silence and beauty of this place is perhaps best summed up in the words of Zephaniah: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zeph. 3:17)

Now I just have to remember it when the "busy-ness" tries to set in and take over! I believe when this happens, though, that God, in his infinite wisdom can say to the storm: "Peace! Be still!"

And there's nothing better than that!

I'm Back!!!

I've been home from Alaska for one week today. But, I had to head out less than 18 hours after arriving home to our state's Reading Coach Conference. After three days there, I spent the next three days at the "River" scalloping with my family...our "4th of July tradition" according to my DS 4.

At last, I am ready to start sharing some of the beauty of our Alaskan trip and will post more when I can. Below you will find my picks from more than 1000 photos from days 1 - 3 alone!! Don't worry, I narrowed it down to about twenty.

I PROMISE I will check in on all my blogging friends very soon.

Book Review: If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name

I brought plenty to read while I've been here in Alaska, but shifted my focus when a local Haines Resident shared this book title with me: If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende.

First, let me tell you a bit about Haines from my point of view. DH and I went to Haines on a ferry from Skagway. From there, we were taken by Larry, the bus driver out to a small fish camp where we took a scenic river boat tour of the valley.

In our 30 minute drive out to the camp, Larry told us about life in Haines. It is a small town in Alaska that has 2400 "locals"...Apparently there are about 900 people who live in the city area. They have no postal delivery, so they meet at the post office to pick up their mail. It's quite a social affair. This is a subsistence community, which means people there rely on what they can hunt, grow, or catch to sustain them. Haines is listed as one of the top ten places for people who are millionaires (and need no other income) to move, because it's "one of the most perfect places on Earth".

Larry explained what life is like during the long winter months. He told us how neighbors have to care for neighbors. And he told us that this is a place that you "have to love to live in". He even told us about his wife who is a member of the "Ripinsky Rippers", a quilting club that meets regularly in women's homes...and his wife doesn't quilt! She just likes to be with the ladies.

And Larry mentioned that there was even a book written about Haines.

Ever intrigued by the small town life and finding out that Heather Lende and her husband, Chip came to Alaska to visit on their honeymoon and never left, I made a mental note to find that book. Heather is a columnist for the Anchorage Daily News and writes the obituaries for every Haines resident who passes on.

How pleased I was when I was in an independent bookstore in Sitka that featured books written by Alaskans. DH and I both finished the book in the past three days. And I have really fallen in love with Haines, Alaska (no, I don't intend to move and never go home). The book is a sweet picture of life in small town America with the wilderness of Alaska thrown in the mix.

I was even more excited this morning to open up the Anchorage Daily News and find an article by the author herself. A sidebar noted that she has a second book coming out soon.

If you like memoir, reading about real life in real places, considering the convergence of belief systems, cultures, and/or environment, then you would love this book.

We spent a very wet rainy day rafting down the river between icebergs and below a glacier today. It was still simply amazing. Tomorrow, we head up to the Denali, or Mt. McKinley, area via train. We will be in Talkeetna for the day, then leave on a red-eye flight tomorrow night.

I'm looking forward to coming home and sharing more stories and pictures with friends and family.

Just a Glimpse...

Finally I am here, in downtown Anchorage, where Internet is "free" and I can give you more of a glimpse into the past 7 days. But I am finding it hard. You see, I think there is no easy way to truly share what we have been seeing.



Last night, while visitng Prince William Sound, and seeing the Harvard Glacier, I said to DH, "This all seems so surreal." I mean there simply are no words for that which takes your breath away.



I found myself repeatedly feeling intoxicated by the clean fresh air that is aplenty in this state, yet sobered and awestruck at each changing view of scenery.



It is simply amazing.

These are just preliminary photos that I clipped out of DH's uploaded files. We have hundreds that will need to be considered for publication. In the meantime, know that this is a place that makes a Christian want to stand upon the mountain, applaud His creation, and exclaim: "HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!"

(We are off for two days of inland tours via train. I'll check in again when I can.

Another Alaskan Check-in (and a Correction)

Hello Everyone!

I must have had too much fresh air because the last time I wrote, we were leaving Ketchikan and heading to Juneau. Today we are in Skagway. The temperatures have been pretty good...about 50 most days and only one day of rain so far.

Yesterday, our visit to the glacier was simply amazing! We actually flew there by helicopter, they put us on the top of it with a guide and special shoes. We walked and looked at the crevices and water falls. Incredible! We went whale watching. I can't wait to show you some of the pics my DH shot out there. He actually got the perfect "tail shot"! Then we topped it off with an outdoor grilled salmon bake at an old gold mine. Can you say YUM????

Today we cruised in an eagle preserve and nature hunt in the valley of the Chinook (sp?) mountains outside of Haines Alaska. It, again, was simply breathtaking. Even breathing is something special as you can tell how fresh and clean the air really is up here. It's also fun talking to to the "natives" as they tell us what life is like when there aren't all these cruise ships coming and going. They actually have to learn to hunt meat, fish, and harvest berries on their own in order to make it through the long winter months. We ended our boat trip with a hot dog cookout beside the river. We didn't get to see moose or bear, but another group did see bear on their trip. They're out there...that's for sure...cause we at least saw their "droppings"!

Tonight is our second formal night on the ship. Ship life hasn't been quite as great as our past cruises, but it all pales in comparison to the nature show that goes on around us each and every minute.

Currently the sun is up for 18 hours a day. That's something to get used to as well.

Tomorrow we go on an "otter tour" in Sitka. Can't remember just what all that entails, but I'm sure we'll have more to share soon. Sitka is also known for it's "Reindeer Hotdogs" that are sold on the street corners. I'm planning to give one a try.

Then it's on up to Whittier/Anchorage where we'll leave our ship and take two days of train trips and another glacier tour.

Hope you're all well. I PROMISE I'll check blogs as soon as I get home. Right now, Internet is costing us 40 cents a minutes, so time online is quite precious.

Hugs from the North!!

Hello from Alaska!!

I'm typing this from our ship as we float north from Skagway, Alaska to Juneau. Today, DH and I actually took a floatplane trip around the rainforest and mountains. Yes, you read that right...I went ON THE TINY floatplane!! It was a great ride with amazing views. I saw mountain goats and eagles from the air. We ended at a lodge with an all you can eat crab feast. (This is the same town where you can take a ride on the "Deadliest Catch" ship.) The crab was fantastic.

We have taken hundreds of pictures...which I cannot upload here due to slow internet connection. There is no way that words can express the beauty we are seeing. The "naturalist" on our ship calls out each time she spots whales and other wildlife. In fact, we are waiting for the whale watching to start tonight.

Tomorrow we take a helicopter ride...yes, you read that right too...to a glacier. We'll land there and be able to walk around the glacier. Then later on we'll go on a whale watch and salmon bake in the evening.

This trip has been an enormous blessing....and with each trip airborne, I've felt much peace. Thank you all for your prayers.

I'll check in again soon!

When the Glacier Melts...

For those of you who have been following our "pre-Alaskan Adventure", you may be surprised to learn that things took a new twist this morning.

DH made arrangements for our "Plan B" of travel. He rebooked airline flights, planned several daytrips, extended our hotel stay in Anchorage. I, on the other hand, took the kids to the Science Museum--determined to do some little "staycations" while we awaited our departure next week.

On my way to the museum, DH called and said, "She called, and we have a spot. Do you want to go tomorrow?" The glacier was melting, the only thing we had to see is if we were willing to CHANGE back all of our plans to "plan A" with the exception of finding a new flight, since , according to the original plan A, we'd be part of the way there by the time we found this out.

DH called her back to be sure we'd have a balcony and that the plane would work. When he looked online it looked like there is a flight leaving tomorrow morning at o'dark hundred, but it was pretty full, so he wanted to be sure I'd be OK not sitting together.

Now, are you ready for this?

The upgrade for our room is ONE UP from the original one I made that caused all this trouble to begin with and is LESS than the original upgrade cost. OK...it's m--eeee---llll--tt--ii---n--ggg.

The plane fare was able to be charged to DH's mileage plan at no cost...and he's able to have a credit for a future flight...much better deal than paying the high price to switch itineraries last minute. m--eeee---llll--tt--ii---n--ggg...

There are two seats together on all flights. AND we don't have to do the little prop job that he had originally booked. Rather than THREE planes to get there, it's only going to take two. (I think this is more than "melting"...it's like HUGE CHUNKS of ice falling right into the water.)

AND...he was able to get the hotel stay at the end of the trip, before we do the now infamous train ride, on points as well. MELTED!!

We're booked...we're leaving tomorrow...God is good...

And I'm thanking HIM in a big way!

Update and Book Review: One Thousand White Women

Trip Update: We are working on "Plan B" for our trip. No rooms opened on the ship, so DH and I will delay leaving for a week and travel next Monday instead. We will visit Anchorage and do a day cruise, a whale watch, and then our train journey. Our "free cruise" will now go out in July and we will travel to Belize, Cozumel, and Honduras. Never a dull moment in my life, no siree!! Thank you for your prayers as we've figured this little mystery out.

Now, for a review my latest "read"...

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus is, in his words, a work of "semi-historical" fiction. It is written as a series of journal entries by the main character, May Dodd, a young woman from Chicago society who has two children born out of wedlock and was later sent to an asylum by her family due to her promiscuity.

While there, Dodd learns of a government sponsored program where 1000 white women are going to be given as wives to the Cheyenne in order to help assimilate the Indians into the white man's world. The remainder of the story chronicles her journey, both physical and spiritual, into a world very different from the one she's known.

The Colorado Springs Gazette notes:

The best writing transports readers to another time and place, so that when they reluctantly close the book, they are astonished to find themselves returned to their everyday lives. One Thousand White Women is such a book. Jim Fergus so skillfully envelops us in the heart and mind of his main character, May Dodd, that we weep when she mourns, we shake our fist at anyone who tries to sway her course, and our hearts pound when she is in danger.

I loved the spiritual thread that is woven quite well through this book. Fergus explores many "issues" of Christian missions through the characters of Reverend Hare, an Episcopal priest who accompanies the first "wave of women" to the field. His fire and brimstone mannerisms turn people away and while he's regarded as "holy", it's only in the sense that he is set apart from others. When a transgression of his is discovered, the gentle monk, Brother Anthony takes his place as the "Christian presence" among the pagans. Anthony is such a picture of God's mercy and grace and love for all. Yet, that is not the crux of the book. It is only one thread that is woven through this powerful story.

If you liked the television show, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman", then you would probably love this book. Fergus paints quite a picture of what life must have been like for the Cheyenne people as they faced the white man coming in to take over the western plains. It's a powerful reminder that we all could be a little more tolerant of those who are different from us, whether it be skin color, culture, or belief systems.

I think Winston Groom, the author of Forrest Gump, says it best as he sums up Fergus' work: "It's a superb tale of sorrow, suspense, exultation, and triumph that leaves the reader waiting to turn the page and wonderfully wrung out at the end."

It's Father's Day....

Update

Here's the latest on our trip:

When I went to upgrade the room this past Spring, there was a SMALL charge. I thought the lady told me she took care of all of it via my account during the phone call, but apparently she did not. Therefore, it looked like we had an outstanding balance on our trip. If you don't "pay" by a certain date, then your trip is cancelled. This is what happened to us. (I will not go into just how teensy weensy the fraction of the cost of a total cruise this balance was, but suffice it to say, it was less than any one of you might believe.)

There are still no rooms on the ship. They have tried to switch dates, but we simply can't make that happen since we have a train trip that is non-refundable/transferable. Last week three customers canceled their cruise last minute (within 3 - 5 days of sailing). Today is five days before.

We are first on the waiting list to get in should anyone cancel their reservation. We have a new "friend" at Carnival who will be checking for us each and every day to see if someone cancels.

If they do not cancel, and we still have no room, DH and I will shift our dates and flight destination so that we can still do the train. Then we will take a cruise in the Gulf in July. With this plan, we'll still get to see a small part of Alaska...just for a shorter time.

All in all the cruise company is being as helpful as I think we could expect them to be.

I know it will all work out...and am thankful that we will be able to use our voucher for "something" even if this isn't it. Still praying for the "glacier" to move if it can.

Prayer Request

We have bumped into a "Glacier Sized" snafu in our cruise plans for next week. I know these notices on my blog send family into a frenzy to find out "what's going on". I'll elaborate later, but currently there is "NO ROOM in the CARNIVAL INN" with our name on it. The reason I am posting now is to ask for prayer from those of you who are "pray-ers". Please pray that the mountain will move and all will work out.

And if it doesn't move, then will you agree with me that we are able to figure out a realistic and amenable "plan B"?

Thank you!

How full's the glass?

I'm sure we've all heard "Glass half-empty/half-full" before. And I'm certain that most of us have seen both in our life situations before. I admit that I have a bent toward the "half-empty" pessimistic view. I try, however, to push my perspective and change my lens whenever possible.
This week I tried to do that with something I have been facing. You might remember that my DH won a free 7 day cruise for two anywhere Carnival goes on our anniversary trip last year. And I think I've told everyone that we've chosen to go to Alaska to use our vouchers. Of course, our "free" cruise is getting more expensive by the minute as we plan for airfare and the excursions...but the bulk of it is "free" nonetheless.

I'm excited. I am. My problem is that you have to take several airplane trips to get there and several more to come home. And those of you that know me know that doesn't excite me one bit.
So, to alleviate my anxiety, I'd like to say "I've been praying and fasting and have given it all to God." But that would be a half-truth.

Instead, I did my own search of the FAA website last week. When you go there, you can look at data and statistics about daily aircraft incidents throughout the entire US. And when you look at it in that perspective, the "incidents" are miniscule at best and really almost non-existant on the big carriers.

I was feeling a great deal better and less anxious the more I read. I was confirming what I know in my head is true. I saw the stats and they tell me that all will be well. Then, my eyes caught another link on this site called "Alaska Accidents"...WHAT!?!?! Can you believe that Alaska has its own private section on the FAA website? No other state...just the ONE I am going to. It seems that there is an initiative to reduce the number of general aviation accidents in this state. Re-enter anxiety....sort of. I mean it didn't come on as strong. But it was there, festering somewhere beneath the surface. (Alaska, by the way, relies on aviation more heavily than other states for travel due to the terrain.)

And so I have found myself in an anxious tug-o-war about our trip. I have moments of complete sanity and courage...and then I have moments of sheer panick and anxiety. In fact, if you heard the voices in my head, I am fairly certain you might run for cover!

Then I read Linda's post about "Hodophobia". This term is defined as the "fear of traveling" which is a bit different than a "fear of flying" which, according to Linda, is called, "Pteromerhanophobia". And although I was riveted learning about these two terms, I was more moved by the realization that Linda had in church yesterday when she listened to a sermon about living as an example. That's when her post nailed me right between the eyes. She writes:

Looking at me in my paralyzation, would anyone want to trust in the God I
worship? I felt so ashamed that ultimately my fear revealed a lack of faith. If
I believe (to cite one of many examples of God's power) that God parted the Red
Sea, do I not believe he can get me from the Charlotte airport to Embassy
Suites?....I can do this trip because with God (and the limo guy) all things are possible!

Uh, yeah, what SHE said! (Hey, Linda, isn't that the name of the conference?)

So I leave one week from tomorrow for a glorious trip to the great state of Alaska with my dear sweet husband. Today I have done what I should have done long before I started researching the FAA website. I have given the trip and my anxiety about it to God. And I've asked him to help me in those moments of doubt and unbelief for it is in those moments when I let go and his grace sustains me that I can truly say to others:

"My God shall supply all my needs." (Phil. 4:19) and "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7) and "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4).

And most of all...my glass (or cup)? It "runneth over"!

You're nobunny till somebunny moves in for the summer...

I am certain I've already offered my "regular readers" a glimpse of this story...and I tried to find it to link back...but I can't. So, let's just start at the beginning:

Several weeks-maybe even months-back, DS 4 came home and said, "Mom, would you mind if we babysat a bunny this Summer?" Since this is not your normal 9yo request, and I was a bit distracted at the time, I gave the best "Mom answer" I could come up with at the time: "We'll see."

I know I wasn't totally focused on the initial conversation. In fact, I am also certain that we talked about it more than once. OK HE talked...I, uh, listened busied myself with whatever task was at hand at the moment. I do remember saying, "NO!" at one point, but somehow it got watered down and forgotten.

Not long after the initial request, I came home one time to find my DH, my DS 4, 3 or 4 neighborhood kids, and a Mother I did not know, in my DS 4's room. Now to say I was mortified at this is simply an understatement. DH came out to assure me that all was OK. The Mother and girls wanted to bring their bunny over to "meet" our bunny for "when we watched her this Summer". When DH told me that the Mother had been here watching the bunnies "get to know each other" for over 2 hours, I couldn't believe it. Then the Mother came out, introduced herself to me and told me just how important it was for them to have a few visitation days if they are going to spend time together.

Now I am no pet hater, but they are RABBITS. I am fairly certain that no amount of "getting-to-know-you-courtship" would prepare them for a rendevouz that was to take place several weeks down the road. I love pets as much as your average pet-owner. I do not, however, treat my pets like they are people. But I am also someone who prays regularly to make relationships with the neighbors, so I didn't question it--I smiled and said, "Yeah, they seem to be getting along well." I did what any level-headed person would do, I ignored the whole thing and let DH handle it. Two more visits followed that one. Each visit meant that several children, and often the Mother, would sit in my DS 4's room watching these two bunnies hop around and "visit one another".

Over time, more pieces were added to my "bunny puzzle". DS 4 told me that he was to be the babysitter for the month of June while this family is in Israel for their daughter's Bat Mizvah. Their bunny is "fixed" so it cannot have babies. He promised to "feed it, clean the cage, and do a really good job" while this family is away celebrating this very important event. Through gritted teeth...and with the clear visual in mind of just WHO does the weekly cage cleaning...I agreed.

Fast forward to last night. I come home from a long day at work and a workout and DS 4 says, "Mom come in here." I got my second foot in the door and promptly headed to his room where I see Bella, the neighbor's bunny, in OUR bunny cage. Our bunny is out running around DS 4's room. DS 4 shows me Bella's back that has a huge hunk of hair missing and says, "Button did that when they were in his cage together." I asked just where Bella's cage was and found out that Bella doesn't HAVE a cage! She sleeps on their porch in a doggie crate at night. She runs free out there all day!

Somewhere in this conversation I also found out that Bella will be spending the ENTIRE Summer here at our house! Like, as in until AUGUST when school starts. As I walked away from his room with visions of dead rabbit in my head, I must confess there were NOT happy thoughts running through my mind. In fact, for a fleeting moment, I thought "this reaching out to the neighbors thing is a bit overrated!"

Last night, Bella slept in her "new digs" the dog crate that held my DS 2's "birthday duck". Of course, there's bedding all over the floor today, but no bunny is taking a bite out of another one. And more important, there are not bunny p**p balls all over DS 4's floor. And today I went out shopping for a new bunny cage to donate to Bella's cause. Cause one thing is for sure, if they're living under MY roof, they're gonna abide by MY rules.

There will be NO bunny cage visitations this Summer. They can visit between the bars as far as I'm concerned.

This might just be one LONG Summer!

Book Review: Stolen Innocence

I'll bet some of you think I haven't read for months! I have read plenty, but I've only finished two books this Spring. My latest read is Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall. This book is the powerful and at times hard-to-fathom story of a girl who grew up in a polygamous sect, was forced to marry at the age of 14, and then later was part of the court case against its leader.

Although she grew up in Utah and Arizona, this is the same group that has recently been in the news in Texas. Admittedly, this book helped me think a bit differently about the women and children that we've seen in the news and the religion as a whole.

Wall shares piece by piece and bit by bit her story of growing up in this culture. She has eleven brothers and twelve sisters. Her biological father had three wives when she was little. She weaves a tapestry of women who dearly love their children and men who truly believe they are doing the right thing by following the earthly "prophet" who supposedly has the direct line to God.

She tells of moments of chastening where wives and children are "reassigned" by the "prophet" to another Husband/Father when a family is not in control. This is what happened to Elissa and her family. She says that upon reassignment, they are taught that the DNA of the children is passed on to the new Father. The other Father is completely gone and contact with him does not happen.

Wall explains what happens when people question the faith and the teachings. People who choose to leave are often completely disconnected from their relatives who remain "inside". This happened to several of her siblings many years before she left. And it has now happened for her as she has no contact with her Mother or two younger sisters today.

There were many times while I read this book that I wondered just HOW some of this stuff happens in America. I think it really comes down to control. It starts with the youngest children and continues as they grow.

Here's what she notes about her schooling and how the leader ran it:

Unapproved pictures were removed from textbooks, and anything that had to do
with evolution or human anatomy was excised. In fact, anything that did
not conform to our strict religious teachings and beliefs was removed from the
lesson plans, and pages of books that dealt with conflicting subject matter were
simply ripped out.

Control. Power. No freedom of thought. Teachings by one person and one person only.

In a short video on the Barnes and Noble website, she notes that this sort of thing can, and does, happen because these are people who are born into this way of life. It's all they know. It is their "normal". And because they have no additional knowledge or influence from the outside, for them, it is "right".

Wall was forced to marry her first cousin at the age of 14. She was raped and abused in this marriage, but told to stay in it. Apparently women are taught over and over again to "keep sweet". This means not to ruffle feathers. Don't question. Smile and stay sweet.

This book is well worth the read. It is a great glimpse into a different religion and culture. Elissa writes not as a condemnation of her family and their faith, but as a story of hope for women who are victimized as a result of these beliefs. As a consultant for the Texas government during the recent events, she notes that her desire was to ensure that "the men, women, and children were treated with kindness, understanding, and respect." She is an extremely brave young woman who faced the challenges and escaped and is now doing her part to help other women as a result.

I applaud that kind of courage.