Love is all you need...
I can think of no better way to end this week or any other than with the words of Brenning Manning. I have spent hours listening and studying his relentless faith of the One who created each of us. Whenever he comes. I clear my calendar. His passion makes me reach higher, believe further and trust higher every time I study at his feet. He is truly a man of who has experienced the tender, relentless Love of God. BM, you rock...
tidbits...
Not a big thought today but lots of little ones. It is days like this that I wonder how our brains hold all this information that we take in everyday and where we put it. I know that usually when I go looking for it - it is not so easy to find. Here they are in no particular order...
There have been 20 debates in the Democratic camp. Seems like an excessive amount and a great way to turn people off. How many would anyone need to make a choice?
Starbucks closed nationwide last night for three hours to teach employees how to make better expressio. Over 7000 stores and 130,000 people were affected. Why?
Our governor has proposed that our car licensing fees goes from the sliding scale we have now - (cars by age) from $24-$48 to a flat fee of $150. Makes the price of gas going up 10 cents every month... a mute point.
Got a letter from Health and Welfare today that said sick poppa's Medicaid benefits will run out on February 29...btw, sorry to hear of his passing. So much thought put into this one.
Rudy and Hillary - What happened to you guys? A few months ago, you both accepted the King/Queen ship of your respective balls.
The older I get the more I understand to lower my expectations when it comes to people and to step up to what is possible when it comes to Jesus. They both deserve that.
There are a million more running thru my brain but I can't corral them all. I also thought about you guys today. I hope your day had a bright spot, showed some promise and you felt His Love...
There have been 20 debates in the Democratic camp. Seems like an excessive amount and a great way to turn people off. How many would anyone need to make a choice?
Starbucks closed nationwide last night for three hours to teach employees how to make better expressio. Over 7000 stores and 130,000 people were affected. Why?
Our governor has proposed that our car licensing fees goes from the sliding scale we have now - (cars by age) from $24-$48 to a flat fee of $150. Makes the price of gas going up 10 cents every month... a mute point.
Got a letter from Health and Welfare today that said sick poppa's Medicaid benefits will run out on February 29...btw, sorry to hear of his passing. So much thought put into this one.
Rudy and Hillary - What happened to you guys? A few months ago, you both accepted the King/Queen ship of your respective balls.
The older I get the more I understand to lower my expectations when it comes to people and to step up to what is possible when it comes to Jesus. They both deserve that.
There are a million more running thru my brain but I can't corral them all. I also thought about you guys today. I hope your day had a bright spot, showed some promise and you felt His Love...
exodus of faith...
Have seen similar report the last few days about Americans and their faith.
25% have left the religion of their childhood.
31% have left the Catholic faith alone.
16% have no religious affiliation at all.
Our country is now 51% Protestant, apparently the lowest it has ever been. They say we have become a nation of searchers. Some in part, have blamed churches themselves. This is coming from church people. They say we have dumbed down the faith to make it more palatable to the Generation Now culture. they say we the Church have only ourselves to blame.
25% have left the religion of their childhood. Depending on your childhood, that could be said for a whole lot of things. Changing religion is certainly not a deal-breaker for me. One less atheist sounds pretty good to me. DH also left the religion of his childhood. He and Mitt Rommey had alot in common until 30 years ago. There was a much greater penalty he had to pay which in someway, affected his relationship with his family ever since.
Maybe your childhood was perfect. No complaints, no bitterness. If that is the case, and I truly mean this, God bless you. On a bad day, I would trade places with you in a heartbeat but, when I am thinking clearly - I would never have chose to be anywhere else. The lessons I have learned have been invaluable. It is very tough to look at your own childhood and not see it with little kid eyes but if you can get to that point, there are treasures to be found. If we can view childhood objectively without prejudice, whether those who were entrusted with our well-being did or did not do their job at some point, won't matter. I am not necessarily talking about forgiveness but growing up. Growing up is always an option. As I have explained to those in the boat that I traveled in long ago, when your last parent dies- no matter the relationship, you become an orphan. DH said that was his first thought when I called him at work to tell him that his dad had passed. You are no longer any one's baby. You are alone. It is a stark reality that takes time to sink in. It was an incredibly long journey for me even with my family history.
Generation N pretty much hits the nail on the head. As for faith, they will have to make their own way with their own resources. It will be interesting to see what faith in America looks like 10 years down the road. We will have a better data then. The thing is all that really matters is our own faith and how that plays out in our world. I am not going to panic. You can't use old school thinking to explain the what's happening now crowd. I see it more as an exodus of religion. Faith will out live religion...always.
25% have left the religion of their childhood.
31% have left the Catholic faith alone.
16% have no religious affiliation at all.
Our country is now 51% Protestant, apparently the lowest it has ever been. They say we have become a nation of searchers. Some in part, have blamed churches themselves. This is coming from church people. They say we have dumbed down the faith to make it more palatable to the Generation Now culture. they say we the Church have only ourselves to blame.
25% have left the religion of their childhood. Depending on your childhood, that could be said for a whole lot of things. Changing religion is certainly not a deal-breaker for me. One less atheist sounds pretty good to me. DH also left the religion of his childhood. He and Mitt Rommey had alot in common until 30 years ago. There was a much greater penalty he had to pay which in someway, affected his relationship with his family ever since.
Maybe your childhood was perfect. No complaints, no bitterness. If that is the case, and I truly mean this, God bless you. On a bad day, I would trade places with you in a heartbeat but, when I am thinking clearly - I would never have chose to be anywhere else. The lessons I have learned have been invaluable. It is very tough to look at your own childhood and not see it with little kid eyes but if you can get to that point, there are treasures to be found. If we can view childhood objectively without prejudice, whether those who were entrusted with our well-being did or did not do their job at some point, won't matter. I am not necessarily talking about forgiveness but growing up. Growing up is always an option. As I have explained to those in the boat that I traveled in long ago, when your last parent dies- no matter the relationship, you become an orphan. DH said that was his first thought when I called him at work to tell him that his dad had passed. You are no longer any one's baby. You are alone. It is a stark reality that takes time to sink in. It was an incredibly long journey for me even with my family history.
Generation N pretty much hits the nail on the head. As for faith, they will have to make their own way with their own resources. It will be interesting to see what faith in America looks like 10 years down the road. We will have a better data then. The thing is all that really matters is our own faith and how that plays out in our world. I am not going to panic. You can't use old school thinking to explain the what's happening now crowd. I see it more as an exodus of religion. Faith will out live religion...always.
imagine...
The Disney World slogan, Imagine never having to imagine, has been running with me today. As I went about setting up to pay off the mortgage tomorrow, I was also keenly aware of the dicotomy of thoughts and emotions as I had to deal with some of sick poppa's final issues today. We got some answers today and what they are telling me is that any funds left over, have to be turned over to the State. They call it State Recovery - it is the Medicaid world.
I go back and forth between seeing the overwhelming gift we were given and the having to account for every penny we spend. From, here - its yours, free and clear to needing full disclosure for every check written. We often find ourselves at odds not only with life but ourselves and each other. Today it seems like such a waste of time and energy. I couldn't have imagined my life being turned up side down the way it has the last few weeks - now, I can't imagine ever being the same.
If I have learned anything the last few weeks, it revolves around living in the Moment even bigger than before. Take nothing for granted, live like you have much to learn and be aware that anything is possible. See the world in a new light, let yourself fall thru a few cracks and practice living the Glorious Impossible because it just may be...
Imagine never having to imagine - those are life words to me even more now.
rollercoaster...
I feel like this is where I have been living for the last few weeks. This weekend has brought a different emotion then the last few weeks with a death in the family brought to our lives. Our lives will never be the same and I still can't wrap my mind around it.
The short Story is that we have been giving monies to pay off our mortgage. It is not related to DH dad's passing. This changes every retirment plan we have had. It will change the way we live for the rest of our lives. We are beyond overwhelmed. When I called DH at work on Saturday to tell him, he was in the middle of a bunch of co-workers. When the tears came to his eyes, they all gathered around him - knowing he had just lost his dad, they thought something else bad had happened.
I have thought of little else this weekend. To be blessed in this way is humbling. This is obviously, out of the ordinary but I can't help thinking what I could do in my life if I listen to His Voice. In the Big and the little things, how we could make someone's day or change someone's life. I will never forget this blessing in our lives. I just hope Someday, I can do the same...
the end of an era...
At one time, my living room seating consisted of 9 rocking chairs. Just rocking chairs, all wooden - different shapes and sizes. I had got the idea from DH aunt's home. She had a gigantic living room with windows on three sides that overlooked the mountains. No matter where you sat, you had a perfect view and could rock your little heart out.
Rocking has been a big part of my life. I will always go for the chair that doesn't stand still, anywhere I go. The dealership where I have my oil changes, has a high-back Mission rocker that I always claim for my time there. My best garage sale buy was a $25 low back Mission rocker that I have had for almost 20 years. All that changed today.
It has more to do with comfort these days. DH wanted some comfy chairs and I agreed it was time so we found some we both liked and they have settled in like they belong there. I knew I would have to sell the 3 remaining rockers I had to pay for the new chairs but held out hope that it would be different. Along with the yard sale chair, was one of the nicest rockers I ever owned. Beautiful oak and a tufted seat. The third was the rocking chair I bought for my new baby 36 years ago. While still sturdy, it was nothing to hold on to for any of the babies. Brandi said, let it go.
My BIL has a little side business of selling antiques so he bought all three of them. Peter The Organizer says if you are attached to something because of a memory, take a picture of it and keep that. I thought about it but the memory of each will stay with me forever or as long as my memory stays with me so I didn't need to take a picture. As he loaded them into his pick-up, I said goodbye to each of them and thanked them for their service. My BIL understood or at least, acted like I wasn't completely off my rocker...
The rest of the day was a little lonely as I made my way through each room and my friends were gone. The end of an era. I am proud of myself for letting go and if letting go isn't what life is really about - what is?
Rocking has been a big part of my life. I will always go for the chair that doesn't stand still, anywhere I go. The dealership where I have my oil changes, has a high-back Mission rocker that I always claim for my time there. My best garage sale buy was a $25 low back Mission rocker that I have had for almost 20 years. All that changed today.
It has more to do with comfort these days. DH wanted some comfy chairs and I agreed it was time so we found some we both liked and they have settled in like they belong there. I knew I would have to sell the 3 remaining rockers I had to pay for the new chairs but held out hope that it would be different. Along with the yard sale chair, was one of the nicest rockers I ever owned. Beautiful oak and a tufted seat. The third was the rocking chair I bought for my new baby 36 years ago. While still sturdy, it was nothing to hold on to for any of the babies. Brandi said, let it go.
My BIL has a little side business of selling antiques so he bought all three of them. Peter The Organizer says if you are attached to something because of a memory, take a picture of it and keep that. I thought about it but the memory of each will stay with me forever or as long as my memory stays with me so I didn't need to take a picture. As he loaded them into his pick-up, I said goodbye to each of them and thanked them for their service. My BIL understood or at least, acted like I wasn't completely off my rocker...
The rest of the day was a little lonely as I made my way through each room and my friends were gone. The end of an era. I am proud of myself for letting go and if letting go isn't what life is really about - what is?
style...
I was asked to shoot a wedding this summer. I had done the bride's senior pictures and she and her mom wanted me to take her wedding photos because ... they liked my style. There is a conflict with that date and I won't be able to be her photographer but I'm sure they will find someone else and I hope they love their style too.
My style - I never think about it. Whether it is what I shoot or in the post-processing, it seem so natural. In my mind, I think everyone sees it the same way but I know that isn't true. I would never have imagined that I have any consistant style to what I do. I use Lightroom to process my pictures and I counted up 202 different presets in my arsenal. For each of those presets (or effects), there are numerous sliders that let you control every aspect you could imagine for any given picture. I can isolate certain colors, warm up a black and white or change the color all together. The number of combinations is unfathomable and in all that, I have managed to work out a style that people recognize. I posted a layout on a digi board the other night and a poster said, Your photos are always awesome. Obviously, she has seen more than one. She recoginizes my style.
If you saw my closet, style is the last word you would use to describe me. Black shirts and levi's are my mainstays. The only color you will find is in the seasonal part of my side of the closet and those colors are restricted to red/green for Christmas/Valentine's Day. and orange/black for Halloween. when I started this whole photo/digi scrapping thing, Something Changed. It doesn't look like the rest of my real life. It is a place that I go most days and make creative Love. It is a place that feeds my soul and in the process has made a few people happy.
If you can find a way in your life to make creative Love - I highly recommend you do. For yourself - it is a way to feed your soul and you might just make someone else's day a little brighter. I still don't about the style thing - maybe it is just words but I do get it is what makes us each so special and different. Style, baby, style...
trust...
I have trust issues.
with those who are related to me
and to those who are not.
I have seen the government in action.
dealing with Medicaid for the last few years
and owning a television...
makes me nervous about the this.
WASHINGTON - A disabled U.S. spy satellite is likely to break into small pieces when it falls to Earth within weeks, posing little danger to humans, U.S. government officials said Monday.
Most, if any, debris that survives the intense heat of re-entry would likely fall into the oceans, which cover more than 70 percent of the planet, White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. But he said the U.S. government was monitoring the satellite’s descent from orbit and examining different options to “mitigate any damage.”
The U.S. military could potentially use a missile to destroy the minivan-sized satellite in space, but one senior U.S. defense official told Reuters that was unlikely for several reasons, including concern about creating space debris, as China did when it shot down one of its satellites last year.
Monday's paper said the government is going to shoot it down. While that should make me feel better, strangely - I do not. If they are not successful, OOPS is what we will be left with. I would feel better if they called in a back-up team. Maybe Donald Trump and Dog the Bounty Hunter. The more diverse the better. Hillary might volunteer Bill as he is causing her nothing but grief but that kind of help, we don't need. I can't say that as February winds down, I am not thinking about the satellite's whereabouts. I think I am pretty much on my own and all I need to do is look up when I go outside and run if I see Something heading my way. That's my plan today and it is as sound as the one being offered to us by the powers that be...
with those who are related to me
and to those who are not.
I have seen the government in action.
dealing with Medicaid for the last few years
and owning a television...
makes me nervous about the this.
WASHINGTON - A disabled U.S. spy satellite is likely to break into small pieces when it falls to Earth within weeks, posing little danger to humans, U.S. government officials said Monday.
Most, if any, debris that survives the intense heat of re-entry would likely fall into the oceans, which cover more than 70 percent of the planet, White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. But he said the U.S. government was monitoring the satellite’s descent from orbit and examining different options to “mitigate any damage.”
The U.S. military could potentially use a missile to destroy the minivan-sized satellite in space, but one senior U.S. defense official told Reuters that was unlikely for several reasons, including concern about creating space debris, as China did when it shot down one of its satellites last year.
Monday's paper said the government is going to shoot it down. While that should make me feel better, strangely - I do not. If they are not successful, OOPS is what we will be left with. I would feel better if they called in a back-up team. Maybe Donald Trump and Dog the Bounty Hunter. The more diverse the better. Hillary might volunteer Bill as he is causing her nothing but grief but that kind of help, we don't need. I can't say that as February winds down, I am not thinking about the satellite's whereabouts. I think I am pretty much on my own and all I need to do is look up when I go outside and run if I see Something heading my way. That's my plan today and it is as sound as the one being offered to us by the powers that be...
Decisions...
We chose to celebrate the holiday by going to the candy store. While this may not be the obvious choice for most, for us it was a perfect fit. I am not sure what one is suppose to be doing today. I wonder if President's Day will be celebrated 15 years from now? I never saw MLK Day coming - wonder what will be next.
New week - new choices. We have entered our after-funeral phase. I picked up a package from the funeral home today. The photo collages, guestbook and more paperwork to be signed. We have had to make lots of choices in the last week in a very short amount of time. It was tough on DH and a few times, I stepped in when he just couldn't decide, one way or another.
Whether you think fast on your feet or not, we make thousands of decisions everyday -most, we do automatically. Some have long-lasting consequences and we have made a quite a few of those kind in the last few days. Last night, DH and I talked about would we have done anything differently had we known concretely, what the consequences would be.
For us, we did the right things.
We decided we would do nothing differently.
We can live with what we decided.
We had some tough choices to make today. Mommy said, Only 1 candy each. Nana probably had the toughest time with that but mommy was the boss of all of us so when she caved and allowed 2 each, we all breathed a sigh of relief. We all walked away, happy.
Whether you had to make some tough, long lasting decisions today or it was a pretty average day. remember Someday, you will wear each other's shoes. The deal is while you have no control over what may come your way, you can prepare yourself by knowing where you stand and who you stand with. It will make a world of difference in your life, Someday...
Denmark...
An international study shows that the happiest people in the world live in Denmark. The Danes came in first - the US came in 22nd. They don't look particularly happy. They are a somber lot. We Americans, on the other hand, would seem to be a happier lot. We are big smilers, most of the time.
One of the reasons the study gave for this unseeming poll was the somberness of these people. Low expectations are the way they live their lives so when Something good happens, they appear to be over the moon. A Danish man said if they had come in at 22nd, the Danes would have been impressed with that ranking. We who chase the American Dream, start with the bar at a impossibly high mark. How difficult it would be to reach any state of happiness. It explains alot about us.
With the death of sick poppa and for many family reasons, the last few days have been tough. Yesterday, I was mad at a list of people, places and things. It took me until 3AM this morning to humble myself and let it go. I think my expectations have been too high. Funny that passion would be my theme for this year and less than 50 days in, I am at the top of the scale. I need to give myself some slack - the last five days have had us on a dead run. Now, there is silence and I am unable to let myself just be. Maybe it will just take some time. I think I am able to do that now.
So, the happiest people don't look it. I think I understand that. One Dane said he thinks it is more about being content. If you are content on a long term basis, the things that we think would bring that contentment - money, fame, security - would seem not to be the criteria that we have always attributed to our contentment.
Tomorrow is a new day and I am looking forward to moving on. It is a process and many times, I am guilty of forgetting that. Another day to learn, another day to look at myself and others and move on...
Happy Valentine's Day...
A day of love and while traditionally linked with the romantic kind of love, we should think outside the box and look at all the love in our lives. Whether romantic, maternal/paternal, friendships - wherever we find our hearts today. Any kind of Love can be celebrated today and should.
My van is packed with valentines, heart-shaped pizzas and 2 photo collages for sick poppa's funeral. For the first half of my day, I get to spend it with those who carry my heart sround with them on a daily basis. We have had to alter our plans a bit but we are having lunch with Keaton at his school with McDee's as our caterer. When I head bac, they will know, once again, that they are loved truly, fully and deeply...and they will have heart-shaped pizza for dinner as if they needed extra proof.
I have to head back, have our final meeting and viewing at the funeral home for the tomorrow's service. Weather permitting, the family is also supposed to be rolling in this afternoon. What a way to spend Valentine's day...or it may be the ultimate way to spend it. No matter what, my romantic Valentine will be with me and that is all I care about.
However we each spend the day, wherever our love comes from - it is a day to celebrate and be grateful for it. If you don't have someone to buy you a box of chocolates - GO BUY SOME for yourself. Celebrate the life you have. Celebrate the love you have known. Grab your favorite music and let it remind you why it is your favorite. If you are still having a tough time, watch an episode of TLC's Baby Story. It doesn't have to be about you to experience Love first hand. It really can be.
While my day would seem to be divided into black and white, it is really all part of one in the same. Picking up Happy Meals for my babies or grabbing an extra paper for my sister-in-law with her dad's obituary, comes from the same place. It is all part of the Big Picture and today, that is what I celebrate. To you and yours, I wish more of the same...love, zalaine.
the Glorious Impossible...
As I write this, there are tears forming in my eyes. Not from grief but from the overwhelming Love God has shown my family in the last 24 hours. It is difficult to explain and a very complicated Story but what is impossible...totally impossible with us - He takes and makes it happen...Just like that.
After the phone call, we basically hit the floor running after a very short nap. We needed to get over to the VA to clean out sick poppa's room. It was the first time DH, DD and I had been together in a long time. It felt good and strange. We just went about doing what needed to be done and enjoyed each other's company. Despite the circumstances, I had a fabulous time.
Later in the afternoon, we met with the funeral home. There has been a huge issue about trying to juggle a religion issue in the family. There has been a running verbal and emotional dialog going on for over five years that could not be decided until yesterday. After many back and forth phone calls, and some divine intervention - what did not seem possible, was. After almost 2 hours, we walked out with a win - win situation. Even the funeral director was surprised at the compromises that were made. On Friday, while we are at the funeral, have no doubt - I will be praising the Miracle that never, ever seemed possible.
We have another big list of Have To Do things on our list today but I have got to tell you, it is with a heart full of praise, love and awe for the One. The Author and Finisher of my faith. To Him be the Glory...
After the phone call, we basically hit the floor running after a very short nap. We needed to get over to the VA to clean out sick poppa's room. It was the first time DH, DD and I had been together in a long time. It felt good and strange. We just went about doing what needed to be done and enjoyed each other's company. Despite the circumstances, I had a fabulous time.
Later in the afternoon, we met with the funeral home. There has been a huge issue about trying to juggle a religion issue in the family. There has been a running verbal and emotional dialog going on for over five years that could not be decided until yesterday. After many back and forth phone calls, and some divine intervention - what did not seem possible, was. After almost 2 hours, we walked out with a win - win situation. Even the funeral director was surprised at the compromises that were made. On Friday, while we are at the funeral, have no doubt - I will be praising the Miracle that never, ever seemed possible.
We have another big list of Have To Do things on our list today but I have got to tell you, it is with a heart full of praise, love and awe for the One. The Author and Finisher of my faith. To Him be the Glory...
R.I.P.
The phone rang at 419AM. Steve should have been home by now - why would he be calling? I had forgotten last night's phone call...
The VA called - sick poppa's (the nickname the kids gave ggdad when he went into the VA home) heart was racing and he was unresponsive. The doctor had called several weeks ago and talked about colon cancer. He asked how we wanted to handle it and we had already decided no treatment - just keep him comfortable and that is exactly what happened.
I worry about Ken now, his roommate. I would never have guessed that sick poppa would go before Ken. They looked out for each other - when Ken was gone for a few weeks several years ago, sick poppa was lost. Even the staff noticed the difference when he came back. I hope Ken takes to his new roommate half as well.
DH had to go back to work at midnite and I couldn't sleep. turned off all the lights and played a Michael McDonald concert on my computer. Lights off, the only glow is coming from the computer screen, I am listening but not watching. I was fully aware of the Moment. I didn't know what the next 24 hours would hold but I was certainly of who held them.
Kenny Loggins, This Is It, just blew me away... the waiting is over, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Patty Austin's, You Belong To Me, says it all.
And the Doobie Brothers, Taking It To The Street,reminds me of what to do next - Take this message to my brother, you will find him anywhere.
Wendy said he went peacefully. She called the funeral home. I called my husband then his sister. We need to go to the home to pick up his things this morning. There is a waiting list at the home - I remember we had to wait for a bed a little over 3 years ago. Now it is our turn to give up and back.
When the doctor had called with the cancer diagnosis, Gage had heard the Talk going on about the whole thing. He told his mom IF he had any valentines left and IF sick poppa wasn't dead, he wanted to give him one on Valentine's Day. Coming from Gage, that is Love and life must go on...
The VA called - sick poppa's (the nickname the kids gave ggdad when he went into the VA home) heart was racing and he was unresponsive. The doctor had called several weeks ago and talked about colon cancer. He asked how we wanted to handle it and we had already decided no treatment - just keep him comfortable and that is exactly what happened.
I worry about Ken now, his roommate. I would never have guessed that sick poppa would go before Ken. They looked out for each other - when Ken was gone for a few weeks several years ago, sick poppa was lost. Even the staff noticed the difference when he came back. I hope Ken takes to his new roommate half as well.
DH had to go back to work at midnite and I couldn't sleep. turned off all the lights and played a Michael McDonald concert on my computer. Lights off, the only glow is coming from the computer screen, I am listening but not watching. I was fully aware of the Moment. I didn't know what the next 24 hours would hold but I was certainly of who held them.
Kenny Loggins, This Is It, just blew me away... the waiting is over, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Patty Austin's, You Belong To Me, says it all.
And the Doobie Brothers, Taking It To The Street,reminds me of what to do next - Take this message to my brother, you will find him anywhere.
Wendy said he went peacefully. She called the funeral home. I called my husband then his sister. We need to go to the home to pick up his things this morning. There is a waiting list at the home - I remember we had to wait for a bed a little over 3 years ago. Now it is our turn to give up and back.
When the doctor had called with the cancer diagnosis, Gage had heard the Talk going on about the whole thing. He told his mom IF he had any valentines left and IF sick poppa wasn't dead, he wanted to give him one on Valentine's Day. Coming from Gage, that is Love and life must go on...
Wii...
It all started last fall when DD said that she wanted to get her father a guitar game for his XBOX. I thought it was a fabulous idea and then we found out that our first-generation video systen was obsolete so that plan went down in flames - but I never forgot about it. Finding a Wii is a part-time job. They were impossible to get before Christmas so I thought I would try some patience and that by January 2, they would be readily available, everywhere.
Needless to say, my waking hours have been spent stalking the Wii. Best Buy hasn't had a shipment since before Christmas and has no idea when they will. The only place I could find that had been receiving them was Walmart. Long Story, somewhat shortened, I finally got one on Saturday. The clerk suggested that I take my Wii and Guitar Hero out to the car and then come back to finish my shopping. Apparently, there have been issues - I can certainly understand why. For us, it started some 25 plus years ago.
Our best friends had moved to Wyoming for 18 months. We all had seperation anxiety but at least, we didn't live in the middle of nowhere. They had to fill their time somehow. Little did I know...
When she called to say they were on their way home, she told me a little about this video game that she was bringing with her. There was great excitement in her voice - I mistook it for her missing me. I was way wrong. They pulled up and the first thing she unpacked was Ladybug. It was a Pac-Man like game and after one time, I was hooked. I am not exaggerating when I say for the next 6 months, we spent our days playing. There were cries from both families about running out of clean underwear and I'm hungry that went completely unnoticed. In my defense, I am not proud of this time in my life, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
There are so many things in our lives that are addicting and because it is not always the same for each of us, sometimes we have a hard time understanding how someone could get caught up in this or that. Some of us have more of an addicting nature than others (raising hand - my name is zalaine, I am a - insert current addictions here). I was once told by an AA sponsor that I was an alcoholic whether I ever took a drink or not. I knew the moment she said it that is was true. You can't learn until you accept. I have accepted alot in my lifetime and continue to daily.
Back to the Wii - I can see that learning Guitar Hero will also be a part time job. I plan on practing during the day and dazzling the family when they come over. Maybe I could entertain DH after a long day of work with my new-found skills. Oh YEAH baby...
quotes...
I love quotes. There is just Something about words strung together that at times. brings me to my emotional knees. I have stopped in my tracks at some. Others have mad me mad as hell. Either way, they set my soul on fire. A few perfectly fitted words and I am good for the day.
We all have our favorites. We get them from every walk of life - TV, politicians, movies and even our own families. I usually have a pad and pen handy but like yesterday, I was not prepared and had to make a mad dash to copy down Kevin Costner's line in, Rumor Has It. I have quotes everywhere in my house. I LOVE to scrap with them. They make me happy much like diagramming sentences but that is another Story.
Some, we are all familiar with -
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH - Jack Nickolson/A Few Good Men
I am not a crook/Richard Nixon
I love ya more than my luggage/Steel Magnolias
Some, you may never have heard -
Life should be a little nuts - otherwise it's just a bunch of Thursdays strung together/Rumor Has It.
Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles and the won'ts. Listen to the never haves...then listen close to me.
Anything can happen child, anything can be/Shel Silverstein
When Jesus returns is immaterial, when He returns for you, is what matters/me.
Quotes modify our lives, they don't set policy. They are never nouns but always adjectives...I so feel a diagram coming on. They provoke us to thought, makes us laugh and help to see the Bigger Picture. That one by Shel Silverstein sounds like great preaching to me. That going up on a wall somewhere at my house.
clutter...
Just the word brings a mental picture to each one of us. To some degree, we all suffer from some form of clutter from the hoarders who it truly is a mental illness to those of us who just take the easy way out. Peter Walsh, the great organizer of TLC's Clean Sweep, has a new book out where he says that clutter in your home can make your butt big. On Oprah, he tooka family of four, 48 hours and changed their lives. He said, You can't make healthly choices in a messy house.Room by room, he helped them see that by decluttering their living room, kitchen and bedrooms, they now can make healthly. Enviromental,physical and spiritual choices that no longer are slaves to the overwhelming aroma of having to take care of, store and live with - so much stuff.
He talked about the two kinds of clutter - memory clutter and Imightneedthatsomeday clutter. I truly believev that we each have this thing called clutter whether it is visible or not. If you walked into my house on any given day, you might think I don't have a clutter problem in the world but I have little tufts of the nasty stuff. Whereever the clutter is, the reason for it is to fill Something inside. A void that longs to be filled whether by stuff or food. My grandmother would buy food just to keep her refrigerator full. Most of it always had to be thrown away. It was that felling of being full, never haven't to want. We all have areas in our lives that crave some kind of consumption. Over and over again the word, respect, came up - the relationship between clutter and having respect for the things you do have is undeniable.
I think Peter is on to something. If your house is out of control, it can't be the only place in your life that this is true. Is there enough value to take on a Big Project and make that committment?
It makes me think about what I buy and why.
It makes me think about where my clutter spots are.
It makes me think about what I am trying to fill up and why...
Makes me want to clean out a cupboard. I have been working on it for a few months but have run out of garage space to put things for a spring yard sale. You may not be able to wait/want for a yard sale and donating it now may make the most sense to you. Either way, it really is about filling ourselves up with the good, healthly things. Can't help thinking that God is just waiting for us to turn to Him - He would be more than happy to oblige each one of us...
He talked about the two kinds of clutter - memory clutter and Imightneedthatsomeday clutter. I truly believev that we each have this thing called clutter whether it is visible or not. If you walked into my house on any given day, you might think I don't have a clutter problem in the world but I have little tufts of the nasty stuff. Whereever the clutter is, the reason for it is to fill Something inside. A void that longs to be filled whether by stuff or food. My grandmother would buy food just to keep her refrigerator full. Most of it always had to be thrown away. It was that felling of being full, never haven't to want. We all have areas in our lives that crave some kind of consumption. Over and over again the word, respect, came up - the relationship between clutter and having respect for the things you do have is undeniable.
I think Peter is on to something. If your house is out of control, it can't be the only place in your life that this is true. Is there enough value to take on a Big Project and make that committment?
It makes me think about what I buy and why.
It makes me think about where my clutter spots are.
It makes me think about what I am trying to fill up and why...
Makes me want to clean out a cupboard. I have been working on it for a few months but have run out of garage space to put things for a spring yard sale. You may not be able to wait/want for a yard sale and donating it now may make the most sense to you. Either way, it really is about filling ourselves up with the good, healthly things. Can't help thinking that God is just waiting for us to turn to Him - He would be more than happy to oblige each one of us...
in a nutshell...
Children's Bible in a Nutshell
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one,' but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!'and someone did. Then God made the world.
He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.
Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.
Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.
One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.
After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.
Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston.
Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people.
These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then He gave them His Top Ten Commandments.
These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.
Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.
One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.
After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.
There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.
After the Old Testament came the New Testament.
Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')
During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot.
Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.
Anyway's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
If this made you laugh, I would venture to say it would be because it reminded you about your own Story as much the childlike simplicity. Your life experiences will be the color of the glasses you see His Word thru. As confident as this young bible scholar appears to be, his Story telling is rich with words and emotion. We laugh at the play on words but I imagine that you, just like me, have heard similiar explanations in sermons given with the same authoritative tone.
I would also imagine that I have had perceptions about the bible that made less sense than this did and even worst, may have shared it with others and messed with their minds. Some of this information might have been much, more helpful.
Adam and Eve not being embarrassed because they didn't have mirrors....check
Germans on the Mount (I always suspected we were there )...check
300 wives and 500 porcupines (sounds about even to me)...check
Thanks Ms T - you have made my day. Feeling like I have a few more answers to some of the Big Questions. Think I may even sleep pretty soundly tonight. Wisdom - you never know where it will come from next...
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one,' but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!'and someone did. Then God made the world.
He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.
Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.
Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.
One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.
After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.
Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston.
Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people.
These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then He gave them His Top Ten Commandments.
These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.
Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.
One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.
After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.
There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.
After the Old Testament came the New Testament.
Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')
During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot.
Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.
Anyway's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
If this made you laugh, I would venture to say it would be because it reminded you about your own Story as much the childlike simplicity. Your life experiences will be the color of the glasses you see His Word thru. As confident as this young bible scholar appears to be, his Story telling is rich with words and emotion. We laugh at the play on words but I imagine that you, just like me, have heard similiar explanations in sermons given with the same authoritative tone.
I would also imagine that I have had perceptions about the bible that made less sense than this did and even worst, may have shared it with others and messed with their minds. Some of this information might have been much, more helpful.
Adam and Eve not being embarrassed because they didn't have mirrors....check
Germans on the Mount (I always suspected we were there )...check
300 wives and 500 porcupines (sounds about even to me)...check
Thanks Ms T - you have made my day. Feeling like I have a few more answers to some of the Big Questions. Think I may even sleep pretty soundly tonight. Wisdom - you never know where it will come from next...
Super Tuesday...
Sounds like by tomorrow we will have a pretty good idea of who the next Democratic candidate will be and from what I heard today, our youth may have a big say in who that will be. Personally, I know 3 who got out of bed very early last Saturday to hear Barack Obama. One is about to graduate from college, one just graduated from high school and one is still in high school. What would drive these young ones to make and carry out such a big commitment I heard Hillary's camp also talking about the young people coming out to support her in droves. What is the deal?
John Kerry thought he had the young vote behind him four years ago. It didn't feel like it to me but what do I know? In the end, they were not there for him. I don't know what it is about this generation but they seem to have come alive. What is stirring our young people and where is it all going after Super Tuesday?
I could not be prouder of these three young people. I have known all of them since they were babies. Politics hasn't seemed to be a big thing with them until now. I am excited to see them step up and learn how our country works. I keep thinking I can feel the winds of change coming up behind me. I keep saying it is a different world -Yes, We Can - is what they are saying and I believe, they are on to something...
standing still...
This was Keaton almost 5 1/2 years ago. I had just started digi scrapping and he was my constant and perfect inspiration. There was no Gage or Miss M to share the Love so he and I learned together all about this photography thing.
Fast forward to today. He is still a great sport about having his pictures taken but he is growing up and these days of his almost 9 year old flexiblility won't last forever. Life keeps taking us in a forward motion but we humans are not so flexible. We are either going forward or backward. If we are standing still, we can't maintain it for long periods of time. Even when we think we are able to just tread forever, if we are truthful with ourselves, that probably isn't the reality of the situation.
The most important lesson I ever learned abut this treading time came from my first pastor. To paraphrase, When you find yourself treading water - hold on to what you know. I have been standing still literally for most of January. I can't say there weren't days that it felt like I was losing ground and a few days, that were beyond fabulous. What I have decided is all three have a place in my life. Alone, I could never sustain any of them for long but I am not by myself. When the way gets foggy, I just have to wait until the air clears - and it always does.
I got a call today from the people who fertilize my lawn every year. I am looking out the window at 6" of snow and the guy on the other side of the phone is talking about my first application in 4 weeks. I realized at that moment that I had been standing still for way too long and it is time to start moving forward and forward is the direction I am heading...
Dick Cheney's distant cousin...
coming to town on Saturday would have been the highlight of the weekend if it wasn't for Hannah Montana 3-D on Friday afternoon. The little kids and I were at the head of the waiting line for the 430 PM showing while mommy picked up Keaton and his friend from school. We led the parade into the theatre where we were all issued our 3-D glasses and told we could NOT keep them unless we wanted to pay $50 each. Soon after we got in, the other half of the party showed up wih popcorn and Coke in tow.
It was the best 74 minutes of the day. Hannah and Miley serenaded us and everyone agreed it was the best movie ever. Miss M fell asleep for a while but at the end of the concert when Miley started singing, The Best Of Both Worlds, she woke right up and started singing along. There is not a better way to spend an afternoon - kids, music and snacks...
I had thought about going to see Barack Obama on Saturday morning but with the snow and the doors opening at 7AM, I opted for the internet version. He came to our very, very red state and spoke for over 40 minutes. It was just about a year ago that I heard one of his first speeches and I remember thinking, there is a distinct possibility that this semi-old white Republican woman could vote for this young black Democrat man. Over the last year, that possiblility becomes more and more real.
I don't remember much about the politics of my bio family until I was grown and gone. Looking back, apparently they were die-hard Republicans. I can still remember a conversion about how you always, always vote the party line even if you hate the guy. It makes as much sense to me now as it did then. When I first starting going to church. I learned real fast that Jesus was a Republican and only a Republican. Imagine my surprise when years later, I learned that Billy Graham was a Democrat.
I want to vote for Someone. I don't want to vote for Someone because I am against Someone else. I don't want to vote for Someone because they are the lesser of two evils. Let me tell you - if 9 years olds could vote and Hannah Montana was running, this whole thing would be over, right now. Barack, Hillary, John and Mitt couldn't raise enough money to with compete with her and the next White House would look a whole lot different. I guess you have have to call an Independent because she certainly in a league all her own.
Quite a weekend and another 4-5 inches of snow. 2008 is starting off to be quite a year, I can't hardly wait to see what comes next...
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