My Weekend Window

This is definitely a weekend that is "worth a window"--a glimpse into our world over the past couple of days. First, there was the Monkey Bread Debacle. Friday was rather quiet around our house.

DS 1 went out with his friends. DS 2 was going to the movies with his friend E. DSs 3, 4, and I went to the store to check out aquarium fish. (Hmmm...did I forget to tell everyone in the blogosphere that all of DS 4's fish died this week?) When we came home, those two were occupied and I was busy preparing my pictures for an all day scrapbooking event on Saturday.

Soon after the two younger boys and I got home, DS 2 and E came in the door and said, "Did you get my text?" I told him that I had not. He said the movie was sold out and they had been sitting down at the mall trying to think of something to do. They decided to come home and figure it out. Somehow, "We're bored" evolved into "Let's make Monkey Bread!" So off they went to the store to get the ingredients.

I figured they are two 18 (almost 19) year olds who can handle their cooking quest, and I know it's sexist, but E IS a girl, so I left them alone and continued my preparation. It wasn't long after the bread was in the oven that we started to smell something odd. I heard them open it up and suddenly, as if the flood gates opened up, there was SMOKE everywhere! It seems the recipe they used called for FOUR cans of biscuits....and they put ALL of them into the smallest pan (the white pan at the top of the picture). The smell was the butter, sugar, and cinnamon mixture flooding the bottom of my oven.

We opened windows. Turned on fans. And they removed the cooked layer and spread out the rest in a larger pan to continue cooking. This meant that the butter continued to cook and smoke on the bottom of the oven. And in the midst of all of this, they decided they really wanted us all to play a game of FARKEL. And that's exactly what we did while they tried to fix the bread. No matter what they tried, however, it simply wasn't going to cook....the effort to finish the project went on, though, until well after midnight. I had to go to bed because I was supposed to pick Sandy up at 7:30am.


And that is exactly what I did! With DH out of town, I had to chose to bribe the boys to care for, and be kind to (thus the bribe), their little brother all day. I figured if they older three split the day, they'd only be responsible for just over three hours each. DS 4 also received renumeration for his cooperation and hard work. So, with that out of the way, and cell phone close by, Sandy and I took off early Saturday. Here we are all set up and working away.



We went to a scrapbooking event with one thousand other women! It was a BLAST! Of course, the boys had a ball teasing us about it.
We cropped from 8:30AM until 8:00PM! Our day included door prizes, a chair massage, and being able to browse so many great ideas from other croppers. I took the second picture from one corner of the expo hall so everyone could see what it looks like when that many scrapbookers join together.

Once again, Sandy and I were reminded just how important it is to take time out to do this sort of thing. Whether it's scrapbooking, spending time just chatting with a friend, or any other thing that rejuvinates us, it's important.

The nice outcome of our day was that we both got so much accomplished! I finished half of my Alaska album and have the rest all ready to put together quicker. Sandy worked on one of her girl's childhood albums...

Of course, after cropping all day, we were exhausted. When I arrived home, the boys were all happy and the house was in one piece! I don't know what else a Mom could ask for. What a nice surprise, also, to come home and find out that Mary had almost finished my new blog!

Sunday was spent at church and simply resting up for the coming week. I hope your weekend was productive and fun as well!! Have a GREAT week!!

Isn't she WONDERFUL???

Oh my goodness! I love the way God works. In one emotional moment this week, I posted that I wanted a new blog. I was frustrated. Now I know there are far more important things to think about and worry about. But I had been asking for a new design for several months from several people who design blogs for pay and had had no response. None.

I hit "send" on that post and then went to my hotmail account. There, sent before I posted, was an email from my SWEET friend, Mary. asking me if she'd like for me to "play around with a blog design for me" for FREE! Now, I am no fool. Mary has been working hard redesigning her own blog and creating her new church. I said yes and Mary went to work. Quick work. By this morning, she had this design done for me.

I met Mary on a Christian Women's forum a few years ago. We met in real life almost two years ago before her precious Zoe was born. I was pleased as punch when she called me to tell me that she'd delivered her little girl! We've read each other's blogs, shared email, cards, and prayers over the years. Although we're primarily "cyber-friends"...she's a PERFECT example of just how good a cyber-friend can be. I love visiting her blog and hearing what God is doing in and through her.

She is a wife, a working Mom, and a musician with quite a heart for people and for ministry. This week, Mary, you ministered to me in a BIG way as you BLESSED my SOCKS OFF! Wait, I don't usually wear socks. Anyway, you know what I mean.

Now I can even play with the whole template too because she's got it in New Blogger which is easier for those of us who do not know or understand HTML.

Mary, you are simply the BEST! I'm sending you MUCH LOVE!

The Mother and the Goose

This post could just as easily be titled: "What I learned at school this week"!

E is the Kindergarten Student that I told you about earlier this week. We have had to physically take him to class every day this week. On Monday afternoon, Mom asked me if I would meet her at the parking lot every day to get him from her car and escort him to class. She is very pregnant and has back trouble. Since I am there each day, I agreed.

The first day, I had to escort him he kicked and screamed the whole way there. Someone who is trained to physically handle children came soon after we arrived in class and removed him. He did eventually go to class with a turtle puppet that belonged to one of our counselors.

The second day when Mom showed up, I met E at the car with my smiling teacher face and welcomed him back to school. As I am physically pulling the flailing child from the car, I put him in one arm—kind of in a football hold—and went to grab the backpack and lunchbox from the back seat. Mom, in a very serious voice, handed me this two inch tall plastic goose and said, “Here’s the goose. He’s going to need it.”

OK. I am curious, but I am not stupid. I was not going to stand there for an explanation with the child wriggling, squirming, screaming and kicking in my arms! I took the goose and said, “OK.”

The Principal saw that E wasn’t happy and came and took him from me. I took the backpack, lunchbox, and the goose to the teacher. I told the teacher, “E is here today. Here’s the goose. Mom says he’s going to need it.” The teacher, looked at it quizzically but stuck the little figure in his pocket.

Yesterday afternoon, E’s Mom found me on my way to our Parent Pick-Up line. And she approached me very seriously and said, “I gave you the goose. We are going to need it.” I said, “I gave it to Mr. B.” She said, “Well, we need it.” So, I got on my radio and called the office. Can you imagine what my call sounded like to everyone with a radio?

“Um, Office, this is Mrs. N. Can you please call Mr. B. and ask him to bring E’s goose to Parent Pick-up?”

The reply came quickly, “Mrs. N. I don’t think I understand your request.”

I said, “E’s Mother sent a goose to the room this morning and she needs it back.”

The Office person, hearing the seriousness in my voice, said: “OK I’ll call him and ask him for it.”

Soon, the goose and Mr. B. showed up at Parent Pick-Up and all was well in the world again.

When I was relaying the story to my boys last night, I mentioned that I am not “trained to do restraints” and they replied: “MOM, you’ve raised FOUR boys…you are QUITE TRAINED!”

Well, OK-then. I guess what I need is a little “goose training”. Cause I know I’m missing something somewhere!!

I WANT a new BLOG!!

In the past month, I have emailed three different blog template creators to ask for a new look and have yet to hear back from ONE.

Can SOMEBODY help me and suggest a creator. I'm sick of blue!! Maybe that's why I haven't been motivated to blog.

I'm the kind of person that if I knew how to do it, I'd change it all the time. But I don't.

Suggestions, please???

School and Storms...both are calm

Yesterday was the first day of school. I loved sitting around and listening to my boys give the run down of their day at dinner last night:

DS 1 was there to offer advice to his younger brothers since he's been where each of them are.

DS 2 had his first day of classes at the community college. He's dealing with a couple of things there...

* How do you borrow a pencil from someone who is the same age as your parents?

* Or worse yet, get their number to form a study group?

* What does it mean when the prof introduces himself and notes that this is his last semester of teaching and he wants everyone to know where his nitro pill is in case he has a heart attack in class?

* How do you keep from looking like a "know-it-all" when the speech teacher talks about knowing your audience and says "obviously no one in this room would understand if Einstein stood up here and explained the theory of Relativity"? DS 2 said he kept picturing every movie he's seen of college classrooms with the kid who always has his hand in the air. And he physically held his own hand down! (Don't get me started on this sort of thing.)

* How do you handle it when a peer that graduated with you from high school says, "Wow, I'm surprised to see someone like YOU here! I mean you were one of the top students at (our)HS!" DS 2 didn't explain that this is just a stepping stone for him while he waits for admission to the other school.

Then there was DS 3 who had a pretty good first day of 9th grade. As you might expect, the biggest issue for a new high schooler is whether they'll know anyone when they get there. It seems like he connected with someone in most of his classes and most importantly in lunch! A few of his observations:

* My classes are spread all over campus! As he showed us the map, DS 2 had a good laugh because they are QUITE as spread out as DS 3 might have made them.

* I don't know WHERE my locker is! And there's not time for me to go there anyway!

* It's EARLY to get up and go to school! He's TIRED!

* There's only 719 more days that he'll have to get up that early!

DS 4 had a great day in fourth grade. He had dance for his special on day one. He knows a couple of kids in his class and enjoyed connecting with some of his "old friends" at the school. Of course he'd be grateful if we'd do SOMETHING about the wasps that are outside the FRONT door of his classroom. Thank God I was able to tell Sandy about his wasp issues. She said when she announced to the class that they'd be using the back door to stay away from those pesky critters, A breathed a HUGE sigh of relief!

For me, it was a typical day one. We usually have a few Kindergarteners that we have to chase. Yesterday I got to chase E. He is a darling little boy who has a very pregnant mother and a father in Iraq. As he layed under the classroom table screaming, he told me, "I don't think I can make it!" You should have seen his eyes when I put my hand on my own head and said, "I don't think I can make it either!" Of course, for me, it was because we were hunched under a little Kindergarten table!

Anyway, he finally came out and ended up having a guidance counselor escort him through the day. (Forgive my humor, but this counselor just got surplussed to our elementary from a high school. All I could think was, "Wow! She may be bagging groceries at the local Publix by Wednesday!" I'm not sure chasing K students is what she thought SHE'D be doing for a living!)

So, as we sit here listening to the wind whistle through the trees rather gently, I am going to catch up on some filing that I needed to get done.

A New Day Dawns...

Here we are at the first day of school. I usually LOVE this day. I love the smell of new crayons. Having new school supplies. I love seeing the boys get dressed up in their new uniforms and clothes. I love it all.

Today, though, I had a tear in my eye. I dropped my DS 3 off at High School for the first time. He walked confidently onto the campus, and I had a tear in my eye. I'm allowed. I'm the Mom!

I am not one of those Moms who wants to keep them forever small. I love watching them grow. And, in fact, I've quite enjoyed the high school years with my older two. But, it means I am one step closer to having less in the nest.

I know I talk about wanting a "pink room". And I'm not kidding about that. I want a place where I can do what I want. Watch Lifetime movies. Laugh. Cry. And, in general, be a "girl". My friend Kelly keeps telling me I need to fill my room with American Girl dolls and only allow girls inside!! And I might.

The truth is, however, that I LOVE having my boys. I love being around them. I love how they tussel. I was meant for the life I've been given. And I'm not in that big a hurry to have them gone just so I can have a little space.

And watching each of them take a new step in their schooling just means I am that much closer to bigger changes. DSs 1 and 2 have finished that season of their lives. They are doing the "college thing" now. I know that I will but blink my eyes and DS 3 will be done with high school. That will mean my DS 4 will be much older too.

And THAT'S why I get all sappy!

Blogger Blahs...

I've decided that I have the "Blogger Blahs." I really don't know WHAT to post, so I haven't posted for a couple of days. Here are a couple of random thoughts and things going on here:

* School starts tomorrow. It looks like we're going to be in for a day then have a day off for the hurricane. Our neighbors to the south have already had school cancelled.

* DH is out of town, so the boys and I are preparing without him. Now we are perfectly capable of doing so, but it doesn't mean I don't miss him. He normally takes control of all prep work.

* Even though he's out of town, he sent the boys a list of "to-do's" to take care of things around here.

* That is just one of the things I love about him...and reasons we've been married for 21 years. He takes care of us so well.

* Took DSs 3 and 4 shopping yesterday. We got some school clothes. Nothing like shopping last minute. But today we went for more supplies...even MORE last minute. Oh well.

* Stayed up to watch Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal last night. I enjoyed it. But I have to say that I disagreed with his teammate who basically told the world that Phelps was better than all other athletes out there. The guy said Phelps win was bigger and better than the Tour de France and other competitions. I disagree. Yeah the guy is good. In fact, he's downright amazing...but so are so many young athletes out there.

* DS 2 is starting at the community college tomorrow. There will be four of us up and out before seven. That'll be fun!

* Now I'm cooking dinner and planning to wind this household down cause morning's going to come EARLY for all of us!!

Book Review: Coming Unglued

When I was shopping for fun reads in our bookstore a few weeks ago, I was so excited to see the second book in this series of Sisters Ink by Rebecca Seitz. I won the first book over at Stacy's blog earlier this year and read and reviewed it in March.

The second book, Coming Unglued, hones in on another Sinclair sister, Kendra. Kendra is a flamboyant artist who has a rough past behind her. Before being adopted by the Sinclairs, she lived with her single Mother who had a parade of boyfriends in the house. Although it is not mentioned with great depth, some even used to "visit Kendra's room".

Kendra is forced to face her past while also learning to understand the adult she is as she deals with not one, but two relationships. This book deals with betrayal and reminds the reader that often betrayal is nothing more than emotional. But even then, it can be very damaging to the people involved and those around them.

Seitz does a great job giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of the Sinclair sisters in her book. While they help Kendra face some of the hurdles that her life choices bring, they are also planning Tandy's wedding. These are sisters who care deeply for one another and aren't afraid to confront issues head on when necessary. And they do it all while surrounded by two of MY favorite things: scrapbooking and chocolate!

This book is definitely a good (and quick) read! Like the first book, the faith thread is woven throughout the story, but it is not overly heavy. The message of redemption and moving beyond our past is strong. And the fact that God's love is stronger than any of the lies that roll around our heads is clear.

Once again, I'll be waiting for book 3 to come out in February!!


{Note: I am very excited because I am now down to my last three books from my Summer reading list...which is good, since school starts Monday! It's about the best I've done with intentions and reading in a while.}

Things I Learned from a Box...

In the past week, cardboard boxes have filled my life. And they are teaching me lessons.

As most of you know, I am a Literacy Coach at an Elementary School. This year our state adopted new reading texts, so that meant that all the "old stuff" got boxed up and returned to the warehouse and was replaced with a brand new program.

As with most things in our world, new often means MORE. This reading series has MORE components than ever before. For each teacher, there are close to 10 large boxes of materials. I know ten sounds manageable, but when you multiply that times sixty classrooms, that's a lot of boxes.

Earlier in the summer, we had a team of teachers come in to sort and mark grade level materials by teacher. Everything was neatly laid out by grade level and further divided by teacher. I made arrangements to meet with our custodial staff for delivery to classrooms. Although it may have seemed a bit anal, I decided to give each custodian a cart and only put ONE teacher's materials on it. After they delivered it, they returned to me to pick up the next teacher's stuff.

I don't know how much more carefully we could have done this.

It wasn't long before my friend Brenda (see her photo in the post below) came to me and said Mr. SoandSo doesn't have any materials, and I'm missing a box. My head nearly spun on my neck as I reiterated how methodical we were being to avoid this sort of thing. And it was worse because her grade level (K) was the first one out of the chute!

We scoured the school. Several times. We put out an email APB for the missing materials. I looked the next day. I was devastated. I mean the cost is nearly $3000 per teacher! It didn't take me long to get in touch with my judging side and decide that one of the custodians must have taken my kit. And I determined to look at the security cameras to find out.

Friday morning, I spent three hours with my AP going camera by camera to watch the kits move around the school. As we entered the third hour of second by second detective work, I noticed the K kit leaving the K building and heading for another building via one of the custodians. Then he came out of that building with an empty cart. My answer was somewhere in that second building.

I immediately left the office, grabbed Brenda, and headed to the building in question. It was there that the "mystery" suddenly made sense. To protect the people involved, let's just say the kit was going to "Mr. Smith". In the second building is our school's Science teacher...whose name would be equivalent to "Smithers". See? They SHARE the same first five letters of their name. The custodian, who has just begun reading in the past few years, delivered by "sight"

Mystery solved!

Mystery two occured when a first grade teacher came to me to tell me that she was missing one particular box. I asked her if she'd checked with her teammates because I KNOW the boxes were delivered. She asked a few of them. But not ALL of them.

As she headed off to ask a teacher in another building, I walked to her neighbor's room around the corner and found the box. In five minutes!

Mystery solved!

Lessons learned:

1: Don't be so quick to judge a situation.

2: You've got to look at things from all angles to find a solution.

3: Sometimes the answer is right around the corner!

And finally...

You never know what you can learn from a box!

Dragon Hunt...and then some...

Melli decided she wanted to initiate this dragon hunt. And I was so excited to play since there are dragons all over my school. I just haven't had time to take a photo of ONE of them this week (yet). BUT...I decided that I could put this one up here:

This is the dragon ice sculpture from our cruise. It's a little hard to see with the lighting, but I was having trouble with the flash reflecting. You can make it bigger if you'd like.

In the meantime, it was "back to school" for teachers yesterday for me. We always have some sort of "back to school" party for our staff. Last night we went to the antique car museum that is in our area and we had a little fun...

Here are Sandy, Debra, and I in our "period costumes". We literally found the accessories and shirts at the last minute. But I think they worked.

This is my Principal and Assistant Principal posin' by one of the cars. My school is a very "tough" place sometimes due to the populations we serve, but these two never forget to help us stop and have a little fun along the way. I think it's one of the things that makes our school successful.

Here is my friend Brenda. She is going to turn 70 in not too long and has more energy than most 20 year olds I know!! Brenda's costume (the piece over her pants and shirt) was her Grandmother's in 1917!

And just to show that this seating area can span the ages, I decided to do my best statue pose! That's all for now, I've got to head out to work. I'll be around later to read!!

Book Review: The Shack

Back in December, my blogging friend Connie read this book, The Shack by William P. Young. She came over here and encouraged me to check it out and read it. I told her I'd try and add it to my list of books. And I DID make a mental note to do so.

It wasn't until I was purchasing some books for summer reading, however, that I actually purchased the book to add to my pile. I started it just after we returned from Alaska. Then, I thought I left it in a hotel on our July 4th weekend. And after I bought a new copy, I found out I'd just tucked it in my tote bag for safe keeping.

It was when I went to buy my new copy that I heard about all the controversy that is following this book. The sales lady said she had read it and enjoyed it. She said she especially "loved the ending" but she wanted me to be aware that there were people in the Christian community who are emphatically against the book. In fact, our local Christian bookstore put the following notice in the book:

The management of [insert name of your local Christian bookstore]does not agree with the theology and doctrinal statements of the book entitled, "THE SHACK",but since it is written as FICTION,you be the judge and make up your
own mind.Comments are welcome.

OK, in many ways, that is like telling someone "not to think about a pink elephant." And never being one to shy away from the "pink elephant" without a clear reason not to forgo my reading of this book, I decided to plow ahead.

I took the new copy on my cruise to the Caribbean, but couldn't bring myself to pick it back up. In fact, I gave that copy to my cousin, Lynn, and decided I'd read it as soon as I returned home. I looked for a deeper reason for the delay in my finishing this book. But there wasn't one, of which I am aware.

I finished the book, however, during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics last night. And I'm glad I did.

At first, the story reminded me a bit of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" as we find the main character "Mackenzie Allen Philips" heading back to an abandoned shack in search of answers regarding the brutal kidnapping and murder of his daughter. He ends up meeting up with God or Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu (Young's version of the Holy Spirit) in a very unique way--that's the "Dickens part".

I tried to keep in mind that this was, in fact, a work of fiction. And, for me, I did not find the areas of "issue" of great concern. Here is a great article on the controversy surrounding the book in USA Today.

Here are a couple of highlights from the story for me:

While Jesus and Mack are talking, Jesus discusses where Mack's imagination is most of the time. He notes: "When I dwell with you, I do so in the present--I live in the present. Not the past, although much can be remembered and learned by looking back, but only for a visit, not an extended stay. And for sure I do not dwell in the future you visualize or imagine. Mack, do you realize thatyour imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?"

OUCH! I am guilty of worrying about that future and forgetting that Jesus is a part of it as He walks with me each and every day of my life. Rather than worrying about it, as the Bible tells us...we need to live in the here and now.

And because I see and hear over and over again people trying to say that "God caused a tragedy because..." OR "It was 'his/her time to go' because God needed him/her in heaven..." I loved Papa's words to Mack when speaking of the horrible tragedy that claimed his daughter's life:
"Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

I love that!

Another poignant part of the story is when Mack is confronted with his own habit of judging. I'd love to say that I couldn't relate at all to passing judgment in some of my own life situations. But I can't. And neither could Mack. He is forced to realize that each time he judges something, he is playing God. And no one has that right.

The book is centered on relationships and facing the things that can "grip us" from our past--requiring each reader to visit our own "shack" of sorts. Again and again Mack is reminded that he must have a relationship with God (Papa) through his son Jesus. And while Young's critics note that he doesn't mention "The Bible" in this book...I know of no better way to learn the character of God and to be in relationship with Him than to be "in the Word".

I can see this being a book that appeals to those who are seeking God in a very real way. The story reminds us that God is there even when we endure unspeakable pain. Speaking about his main character, the author says: "Mack is me, a guy who has made a mess of everything," Young says. "The book takes him[Mack] outside everything familiar, back to the worst experience of his life and lets him recognize God is so much greater."

And, in my opinion, Young "hits home" the most important message of all: God loves each of us deeply regardless of where we are in our life's journey!

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.