Friday, July 31, 2009

Finally Dinner AND A Show

I've been to tons of weddings in my lifetime but I must say I've never been afforded dinner AND a show. You really can't call the wedding ceremony a show because well. It's a ceremony. You can't clap and applaud and woot. Churches are sacred vessels.

So how's this for dining enjoyment? I gotta say this couple will have one fun life if they walk through it in this way.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Thankful Thursday

It's been an awesome week for me. I'm finding myself with a cheek twinged smile planted across my face and believe me there is no better feeling than pure joy.

1. Thank you God for awakened senses that focus on your beautiful creations in new ways.
2. Thank you for wonderful news this week (even if I am not supposed to speak of it yet).
3. Thank you for an awesome reading 7 year old who is right now reading to the future pilot and teaching him patiently at the same time.
4. Thank you for family near and far that enable visits short and long to give my days delight.
5. Thank you for understanding me and dealing with me in ways only You can.
6. Thank you for barbecue Fritos (shhh don't tell anyone who knows I'm dieting).
7. Thank you for a week of vacation bible school to teach me in the ways of a child thus reteaching me instructions I might have glossed over in the past.
8. Thank you that Stellan and Gavin are still fighting warriors.
9. Thank you for summer vacation and time to spend with my kids without the rush rush of homework.
10. Thank you for finances that are in good order.


With a thankful heart I confess,
Every day it's me You bless.
I am not deserving,
Not rightfully serving,
but You are there,
always willing to share.
Thank you God above,
Your examples show me love.
Thank you God so near,
Your presence shields my fear.
Thank you for your Son,
My life, my love, you've won.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Gardens

Green

Grimy
Growing
Grandma
Grateful

Grandma's gotta gift'a growin.' Great gal.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Buzz Buzz Buzz

The future pilot has moved on from being totally obsessed with airplanes to being totally obsessed with tiny legged creatures when he's not obsessed with airplanes.

He puts his findings in here...

It's been crickets, spiders, lightning bugs. But lately...

Bees.

He catches them himself. Don't ask me how he gets them in there. He's relentless.

Tonight he got braver.

He figured out a way to hold them from behind so they can't sting him. I didn't know what to say. I mean we've told him not to catch them because he could get stung.

And then. It happened.

Ouch.

He believes us now. Brave lil trooper. He didn't cry and he didn't release the other bumble bees.


Might I add that bee did a face plant too. I'm positive I removed half his nose from my little guy's finger.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Peaceful Sundays

We left her a lot this week...

Five mornings spent at VBS. It was for a good cause.

She had the run of the house be she knew we were leaving. She always crates herself when she senses it will be just her (and the radio). As sad as she looked we still left.


For this...



is there anything cuter in the summer world than flipper feet?
What a week it has been. Now to go start working on my neglected laundry. So long fun. It was great visiting with you for a while.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Thankful Thursday

Thursday is here. It is finally here! Thank you God for...

1. A week off to spend with the kids and the opportunity to teach a class full of second graders all about you.

2. Two glorious days at the pool with the kids and friends.

3. Banana Boat After Sun. (See number 2 (OUCH)

4. A day of rain after our ground was beginning to look like tiny earthquakes.

5. A husband who took the time given while the kids and I were at church to help his mama, bathe our two stinky dogs, and cut the grass.

6. For giving us great weather this week.

7. That I've lasted 4 days with high energy kids!

8. For clean laundry. Phew am I the only one who feels like it's always looming?

9. For silly little boys who drench themselves in pooled rain water and make me laugh.

10. For a daughter who rejoices when I am home and thanks me when I least expect it for tasks that are mundane and routine.


Thank you God above
You are the One I love.
The blessings you give to me
Fill my heart with glee.
Thank you God most high,
For granting things money can't buy.

Friday, July 17, 2009

If The Shoe Fits

I dressed up for work today. I rarely do anymore. I've been between sizes for far too long and I refuse to buy anything new until I am where I want to be. But I dressed up for work today because I found something that actually fits now. A nice brown skirt. A nice fitted beige blouse. I knew the shoes were all wrong. I just knew it.

I put the shoes on. The only brown shoes I own. Sandals that would have been more fitting for a peasant skirt of the 70's. Clunky and not a bit fitting for a just below the knee length A-line skirt. But I wore them and that should have been my first indication that they were trouble.

Nobody laughed at me.
Nobody stared at my feet.
The shoes were quiet and so was I.

Until I decided to animatedly tell a story. One where I motioned a swift kick to someone's backside. And that's when it happened.

That.
Is.
When.

The shoe FLEW through the air and. Over the wall of our shared office space. Right on the desk of a worker I have never met!!!

Mortified I gripped my face. Afraid to peer over the wall. Mortified that three of my coworkers knew of nothing but that a flying shoe was hurdling through the air.

By.
The.
Grace.
Of.
God.

No one was on the other side of the wall. A workspace that is typically laden with workers was completely empty!

Thank you God!

Oh and thank you lovely co-worker who saved me from the embarrassment of limping around the corner and down the aisle, minus a shoe, to retrieve my offending footwear.

Shoes. Bad bad shoes.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Thankful Thursday

Blessed to be sure
Loved to be blessed.

1. A nice fast dinner with minimal clean up.
2. For a week of no work at the daily grind next week.
3. A harmonious house.
4. A significant weight loss this week that put me back where I was over a month ago. I WILL SUCCEED.
5. That flying shoes don't always lead to big big trouble. (More on that tomorrow)
6. For outdoor activities.
7. For kids that LOVE outdoor activities enough to drag themselves away from the tv to participate.
8. For a heart that has not felt personal burden all week.
9. For laughter.
10. For a delicious insurance quote that will save me money (and no it isn't GEICO).


Trusted
Honored
Able
New
Kindred
Full
Undying
Loved
Lasting

Thank you God for all these things you are to me.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Park Entertainment

I dot a told fromb my kids (translation - I got a cold from my kids) but decided to grant their request of an afternoon at the park anyway. I made them promise not to make me push them on the merry-go-round cuz mama feels like she's got the flu. Don't worry it's just the whine flu not that other one. And further don't worry because I won't WHINE to you.

The park is always entertaining for me. The kids love to go and pretty much do entertain themselves. Today some family of the Griffins were having a family reunion so there were a lot of people at the park. No pictures either because I couldn't get any without other kids in them. I might exploit my own family here but I try not to do it to others without their consent.

Entertainment Act I - Boasts

Big kid: I bet I have the biggest shoes here.
My fave lil girl: I have big shoes too.
Big kid: But MY shoes are MUCH bigger they are a men's size 9.
My fave lil girl: Mine are pretty big.
Big kid: Well mine are maybe a size 8 and a half.
Might I mention that Big kid's shoes fell off no less than half a dozen times and when he stood in them there were about two inches from his heel to the back of the shoe.

Hmmm wondering what he was trying to prove.

Entertainment Act II - Suspense

A young child is heard crying on the bridge of the playset. Three older girls run to comfort him. He continues to bawl like the baby he is until he spies the merry-go-round. As soon as he makes eye contact he walks longingly over to it.

One little girl: Do you want to get on?
Young one: Yes
Little girl put him on and instructs him to hold on. I watch, with my heart creeping towards my throat, as he scoots to the edge to put his feet down like one of the "cool kids". Soon he is struggling to hold on and I am sucking in my breath as he tries in vain to scoot towards the center and without success begins to drag beside the merry-go-round. I leap to my feet and head over just as the same little girl races over and scoops him up. I was sure he was going to bawl his head off like I'd witnessed on the bridge. The little girl looks him in the eye and says, "What were you doing? Are you okay? How did you do that? Did you fall off?" The little boy just grinned from ear to ear and asked to be put on again.

Kids amaze me.

I'm not sure who these Griffin folks are but kudos to ya'll cuz yer kids sure were polite and friendly and sure were nice to my kids.

Friday, July 10, 2009

It Landed...

on my book as I read 'My Sister's Keeper' peacefully on my swing. I glanced at it and realized I have never in my life been this close to a dragonfly. I continued to watch it as it devoured a fly hanging from it's mouth. It would pulse it's mouth a bit and then throw back it's head. Little by little the fly disappeared. I thought to myself, "Of all the times for my camera to be INside and not OUT here with me."

I also thought of my little sis. The dragonfly has become my symbol for her. Every time I see one she pops into my head. I think this is God's way of telling me to think of her and pray for her. As I watched the fly vanish I remembered a time when we were little. Inseparable. Forced together by closeness in age and a lack of other playmates. I remember the day we caught lady bugs by the handfuls and how when she ran out of hand space she cleverly--or so she thought, opened her mouth and deposited the tiny orange bugs to free her hands to catch more. It wasn't long before the tickle of bugs caused her to start coughing them out. The view of exiting bugs was hysterical. Well maybe not if you ask her but it was rather entertaining to me.

Lil sis, wherever you are. I hope you are well. Oh and that you don't swallow any flies. Leave that to the dragonfly please.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday! It's Thursday! Guess what that means. It means it's time to remind myself of the many blessings God has given me. I sure love days where I am brimming with warm fuzzies.

1. Fruit salad! It seriously kept me satisfied and helped me refrain from eating a lot more junk than I might have on our recent vacation.

2. For uncles who remember what joy can be found in squirrel watching and take the time to encourage my children to find entertainment in God's creations.

3. For more amazing wonders of God, such as this moth which graced our garage as we were packing for vacation.

4. For a peaceful house hold--rare when my husband is working and I am alone with the kids. They've been perfect angels. I heart perfect angels.

5. For patience. Something God is working in me a lot lately.

6. For a great work week with zero stress. UNHEARD of on a normal basis. Soooo thankful for this.

7. For friends who call and check on your just because you popped in their head. (I wonder if they know how hard God works to pop people into their heads because He knows when we need that sort of thing)

8. For the really long extension I got for my vehicle when it didn't pass the emissions test. May I have a new car before I have to go back (well, or maybe just have the car fixed by then).

9. For cheap vacations that leave you feeling rested and don't fill you with dread when you return home and peak at your bank account.

10. That my husband cared enough about his kids to come home earlier than expected last night to shoot off some sparkly fireworks for them.


Thank you God for the works of your hands!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Bul-what?

I made Bulgogi a while ago. You should try it sometime. Trust me. You will love it.


Kiwi and onion...













Recipe found here http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/issues/bulgogi.htm

Enjoy!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy Independence Day

Be who you want to be.
Be an individual.
Be free.
Feel blessed.
Feel free.
Be thankful.
Enjoy time.
Enjoy your children.
Enjoy your spouses.
Enjoy your parents.
Appreciate the memories you are making.
Appreciate the streets you walk on.

Some do not have choices.
Some cannot be.
Some are not free.
Some were not so blessed.
Some do not feel.
Some sacrificed their time.
Some have lost their children.
Some have lost their spouses.
Some have lost their parents.
Some will have no memories to treasure.
Some will not walk at all.

Freedom isn't free. Thank you to those who have paid and for those who continue to pay for my freedom. Thank you to those who serve. Thank you to those who go without the things I hold most dear to keep our country free. I will not forget.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Tell Them Noah

If you are familiar with the bible and the story of Noah you will recall God told him to build an ark. God also told Noah to let the people know that great floods were coming.

A lot of stuff is happening in the political world and my mom insists on keeping me informed. I don't like to think of myself as a stork with it's head in the sand but I do tend to want to be in the land of "LaLa" when it comes to listening to anything that has to do with politics.

I'm not sure why this is. I am the middle girl with an older sister and older brother and a younger sister and a younger brother. Smack dab. That's me. I've given this some thought and I think I'm in this land alone. Family functions turn to crowds around the table discussing politics. Me? I find this the perfect time to exit stage right. I have sand up my nose and in my eyes and I'm probably crunching on quite a bit too.

As my mom was trying to explain the energy bill and what it will do to us again today I was trying to spit out the sand and understand what she was trying to tell me. I just wasn't getting it. She just told me to pray that this thing doesn't get passed because it will NOT be a good thing. That little people will not survive it's toll.

These types of conversations are becoming more frequent and I'm not sure what to do exactly. To my brain they are like complicated calculus equations and I just can't figure them all out. I thought of Noah and how he kept trying to warn people that there WAS going to be water and LOTS of it and that not only were heads gonna roll but they were gonna roll right under the strongest current ever imagined. People were gonna die! But the people thought this was absurd and kept on livin' like they were and doin' what they wanted and eventually Noah lost all the neighbors he'd ever known and more.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't wanna drown and as much as I wanna just turn my head and say, "Bladdy blah dee blah, whatever." I can't. Can someone please explain this whole thing to me in terms I might be able to understand? Pardon me while I go swap the sand from my ears so I can hear what you have to say.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

My Blue Heaven

I borrowed this picture. That means I didn't take it with any intention of profiting on it. I sure am profiting on it though. I ogle it daily.


Don't get me wrong I love a good beach, the mountains call my name, and I go slowly through the "miniature forest" on the way home every day in the summer. But this place just speaks peace to me.

Now if you don't mind I think I'm gonna find me a way to crawl in right there and frolic awhile.

Thankful Thursday

Thursday has arrived!!!! And Thursdays are sooo much more exciting when they pretend to be Fridays and begin your weekend a whole day earlier. Thank you God for every single blessing!

1. Vacation. Yep we are goin' on another one again here real soon.
2. Dependable people.
3. Caught up laundry. Wahoo I'm even FOLDING it as I take it directly from the dryer! What an awesome concept!
4. For the kept promise from the future pilot when he actually DID EAT his pizza AFTER dessert. (I want dessert-uh. Mommy-uh can I-uh have dessert-uh? Where does that come from please tell me!)
5. For energy!!!!! I actually do not feel like I'm fighting a windstorm right now with cement in my socks and that is one awesome feeling.
6. For superdeeduper loooong weekends.
7. For computers! Well, when I'm playing on them that is. At work? Not so much.
8. For Baked Scoops that go awesome with my black bean and corn salsa and don't cost me too many points!
9. For a mom who keeps me informed on the nuts and bolts of politics. I just get too scared trying to suck it all down.
10. For the break in rainy weather so we can soak in much needed Vitamin D.

Heavenly Father I thank thee.
You ARE the world to me.