I shall henceforth simply refer to the college kids as 'enthusiastic drivers'. Love it.

And the Smileys? It seems most of us are left-to-right smilers, as well it should be. Jana, join us here in this millenium. We will all smile with you -- with our faces AND our keyboards. Nathaniel, THANK YOU for that link -- I had tried those Emojicons before, but couldn't find the current 'secret code'. How fun are those??? Too bad for you, non iPhone users... :-)

I believe I have decided that I am allergic to the ACU library. Sorry I didn't realize this while I was in college -- it would have provided me with all manner of excuses. The last two Wednesdays I have spent 1.5 to 2 hours in there working on a project, then spent the rest of Wednesday, and most of Thursday convinced I was sick with a cold. Now I'm guessing it's some form of book allergy. Seriously. What will I think of next?

I am doing many different little things that needed to be done -- lots of odds and ends that needed to be wrapped up. Coffee Group is traveling next week, so I am finishing up my talk. Helping Troy with a website for his business. Link when we get the website functional.


While you are helping with the mundane thoughts of this world, the folks over at A Better View need your help. As you may/may not know, we are doing a weekly podcast. A round-table type discussion with 3 women, kept on track (and professionally edited) by our producer, Steve. So Steve goes to introduce us, and always stumbles over... "Here are the... hosts? stars? of our show?" What are we? Talk goddesses?

What does one call the 3 women who sit and yak into their computers wondering if anyone other than the dog in the next room can hear it? Podcast divas? Give it your best shot. Would love a family-friendly name for us!

Beginning of a Great Week

Oh, we are gearing up for end of school madness. In a fit of insanity, I reluctantly agreed to be in charge of the 5th Grade Talent Show at Riley's school. One very sweet empty-nester said, "Well, he'll never be this age again." To which I replied, "Yes, and I don't want to HATE one of the last activities he is in at elementary school, and I WILL by the time it gets here!" It's only 2 weeks out of my life. What else would I do, right?

Well, that is currently the question. I have mentioned here off and on that I have occasional migraines. In the last 8 weeks occasional has gone to regular to frequent. I am VERY blessed to have medication -- $10 per pill -- that effectively treats the pain of the migraine. I can be mostly pain-free within an hour, but it's the post-migraine "hangover" that kills me. I still haven't figured out if it's the medication or the migraine itself, but I lose at least the rest of the day, and frequently part of the next day being completely useless.

Unless you get them, I don't know how else to describe it besides limp dishrag syndrome! For an example: I'm not a TV watcher, and if I ever do sit to watch TV, I HAVE to have something else to do. Read a book, work on a crossword, paint my nails, whatever. I can't stand to sit idle in front of the flicking screen. Unless I am in post-migraine hangover, at which time keeping up with a flicking screen plot line is about all I can manage. I am completely void of energy. I can physically do the most important things -- I just can't think of what the most important thing is.

So the past few weeks I have been in migraine/ hangover/ realize all I didn't do during migraine/ hangover cycyle. It's not a great way to raise a family and not much of a way to live. Please don't hear me saying it's the worst thing ever. Oh, no, God keeps reminding me of MANY things that could be worse. But it is annoying. And expensive, at $10/pill.

I know that there are also medications that are migraine preventives -- a daily medication. One woman told me she quit taking them because they were $100/ month. I'm already spending $100/ month, and maybe I could prevent getting them. I don't know.

I'm also looking at external factors/ triggers I can control to eliminate -- chocolate (not much of a chocolate eater), caffeine (how sad would that be), aspartame (Diet Coke, even sadder), and many, many others. My head kind of hurts thinking about trying to figure it out!

So, that is my boring news, boring quest for this week: try to avoid getting a migraine. And that is why the blogging is becoming increasingly lame these days -- I can't think straight or I'm so busy catching up that I don't have time to write anything.

I'm still listening for the Lord, still appreciate teachers, and still have a rockin' family. Back tomorrow for more excitement!

No time for Blogging!

Friends, I was touched and blown away by your comments to "The Atonement Child". Such sadness and broken hearts in our world. And soon I would like to touch back on that difficult subject.

But I haven't been able to string two thoughts together.

Friday I subbed in Kindergarten. Luckily for you, I didn't take any pictures. Because those kids are darn cute, which is how they lull you into believing they aren't actually trying to take over the world. Oy. They wore me out.

Troy's dad came in town and took us to dinner Friday night, which is the perfect way to end an afternoon in kindergarten!

Saturday I woke up bright and early -- theoretically, to run, but since I had a migraine, I lay in the chair praying for my medicine to work. Then it was off to Ashley's tennis tournament.

She has worked hard and improved so much this year. She and her partner took 2nd place! Posing with the medals:Ashley and I went straight from the tennis courts to the soccer fields to watch Riley's game. You know, you feel like you are going to be having soccer for the rest of your life. So I didn't realize that Saturday was the last game. Thankfully, Troy's dad took some pictures, or I would have gone all season without taking any pictures. Okay, I DID go all season without taking any pictures, but I now HAVE some pictures thanks to Troy's dad.

As you can tell by the flag, trees, and Riley's long, flowing hair, it was a little breezy!

As soon as we left the soccer field, I hurried to a wedding shower for church. Again, I didn't take pictures, and I'm sure the beautifully-dressed, pretty-smelling people would just as soon I not have showed up (I changed clothes, but didn't have time for a shower). But I delivered the GOODS!

And, of course, what busy Saturday is complete without a trip to the grocery store? Troy grilled out for us so that we could all enjoy the last of a great outdoorsy- day!

And Sunday? Well, I was the sermon on Sunday, along with more than 1,000 other folks for "We Are the Sermon Day", a day of service to our community. Hands-down, we got the best-looking leader on our team:

So I did some of this. And, I promise, just a little tiny bit of this:But I am worn out!

Soon, much more deep thoughts and discussion! And maybe something funny, And we need a random fact from Riley (ooh -- he actually told me one yesterday -- I'll have to verify. Not that all of them are accurate anyway!)

Stay tuned! Make it a great Monday!

Happy New Week!

What an amazingly gorgeous weekend God blessed us with. And I confess I spent precious little of it outside, but I got a little rest, and more importantly, I got a new car.

Old news to those of you on facebook and Twitter, but, yes, we managed to get a new-to-us car before the Expedition completely dropped dead. I can now drive carpool without my stomach being in knots wondering if I will make it back to the house.

We got a Maxima. And, it's still 3 years old (Expedition was 9) but, hey, some things have changed in vehicles since 2000! It's bluetooth capable, so I can punch a button on my steering wheel, say, "call Troy office" and voila, I'm talkin' to Troy (or, more likely, his answering machine -- I can't ever catch him in the office). The seat moves out to let me out when I park, then back in when I start the engine -- like my own personal concierge!

Yes, I am country gone big city in my car! Driving around like Gomer Pyle saying, "Goooolllleee! What will they think of next?" Just craziness. And such a blessing.

Riley, my, um, petite-ish 11 year old is thrilled that the airbag will shut itself off when a petite-ish person is sitting in the front seat. At 80 pounds, his life's longing has been to sit in the front seat for a while. We already have a fight-reducing plan for that!

Part of my weekend was birthday-celebrating my friend Denise. Some of us from Coffee Group gathered for a brunch and laughed together. Donna pointed out how wonderful it was that we all knew -- Denise doesn't do cheese, I don't do coffee and my Diet Coke was chilling for me when I got there. I hope I never take for granted that I am blessed with a group of women that know. Not just my Diet Coke affinity (if you've been at the COTR for very long, you know that) but my history, my hurts, my peeves, my soapboxes, my laughter triggers. I am amazingly blessed in that group.

I also made a blog roll. Donna, it's quite tasty. Give it a try! I'm sure I've forgotten someone. Please leave a comment and let me know if you don't see you on there!

So here we are on Monday morning. Ever since I have been home with the kids when Ashley was born, I have LOVED Mondays. When the kids were little bitty, Sundays were SO hard, and Monday was a day to re-group, clean up, and relax. Even with the jobs I've had since the kids have been in school, I still generally love Mondays. It's a fairly unscheduled day, and it's kind of like every week's New Year's Day -- you get to start it all over, get a fresh start, try to get it right this time. Ever hopeful, I guess.

I think I'm looking forward to a little big easier schedule than I had last week. But I always am just a little lonely without my family that I enjoyed over the weekend -- it's never quite enough for me.

In July I will be joining my daughter and 19 other 7th and 8th graders on a mission trip to South Texas. Those of us going -- parents and youth alike -- are required to attend training time and part of that is scripture memory. So I am memorizing Ephesians 2:10 right now:

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God has prepared some good work for you to do today! You are His workmanship! May you find His strength and might to do the good works He has prepared for you.

Girl Talk!

Warning to my gentleman readers: You are always totally welcome, and no discussion here SHOULD get too lady-graphic, but today's blog post will be a little 'chick-intensive'. Join us if you like, tell us the 'dude's point-o-view' but don't complain!

So let's talk hair.

You guys have been very sweet about my new look, and more than one person has mentioned that it makes me look younger. Which is hilarious, because one of the things I had to get past to get my hair cut is thinking that short hair is just what you do when you get middle aged, give up on your appearance, and are too tired to mess with your hair.

Updated: Jana brings up a good point -- not everyone will have seen yesterday's post. Here's a pic of the 'do:
Part of it stems from my early teaching days. I remember sitting in teacher's meetings with my long, flowing locks and realizing that you could almost tell which side of 40 someone landed on by how long her hair was. So, short hair became a declaration of "I am too old to grow long hair!" which I still am not quite ready to admit!

Also, (warning: major psycho confession ahead) anytime I saw someone my age-ish with short hair that DID look good on her, I would think, "Oh, well, sure SHE can wear short hair, she's a size 2!" (or tall, or has small feet, or any one of a million things I'm not). I don't know -- I just never thought I could pull it off.

A year or two ago, my long hair was requiring more and more work to look good. My hair has always been RIDICULOUSLY thick (which is also why many short cuts did NOT look good on me) but in the past few years it seemed to not be quite so thick. Then I read somewhere that the quantity of your hair (for women) doesn't NECESSARILY thin as you get older, but the follicle itself isn't quite as 'plump' as when you were younger. Believe me, if I had known that my hair was fat when I was younger, I would have just shaved it off! :-) So your hair is literally 'thinner' -- EACH hair is thinner! Crazy, isn't it?

I really do think that my thinning hair and my rockin' stylist, Caroline, have made this the best short cut I've ever had. So, all in all, yes, I'm pleased with it. But, I haven't even touched all of the "issues" that not having long hair bring up for me. I don't need therapy (yet) but it's just stuff I've thought of. I think a lot -- but I don't change my hair a lot!

For the record, by the way, MANY people have asked: yes, Troy is totally okay with my short hair and really likes it. I think we both grew kind of weary of my long hair about the same time.

Amanda said she had her own theory/ thoughts about short hair/ long hair. Do you?

Okay, while we are being all girly, if you don't have a 'y' chromosome, GO WATCH THIS video clip. I caught it on the Rachael Ray show yesterday afternoon about the "universal fashion code". I am a BIG believer that many of us could dress better for our body types -- and this shows you how! Seriously! It's worth your time. It made me think (again) that I really need to take the time and money to have most of the things in my closet altered.

Like Ruth Levy mentioned on the show, if you could pay $8 (to have a shirt altered) for a shirt that would make you look 20 pounds thinner and you would wear often, wouldn't you? Um, yeah. And remember this -- you want your upper body to be a wine glass, not a beer can. It's true...

So men, you may need to go burp and scratch to recover from this blog. Girls -- have anything else girly we need to talk about?

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I really meant to take a before picture, but it would have meant me breaking my long-standing policy of not having a picture of myself on the internet that includes one of my arms fully extended in front of me taking my own picture. SO. At 1 p.m. yesterday my hair looked basically like this:

Okay, there was a little bit of a post-workout ponytail bump, and the wind wasn't quite blowing it ever-so-gently, but I said 'basically'.

So at 2 p.m. yesterday, my hair looked like this:

(I am resisting the urge to fix everything about this picture -- believe it or not, my hair is the same color in both pictures...).

Yes, I went short. I cut it fairly short a few years ago, but it's been long for a LONG time. Thinking about this makes me realize I still haven't told the story of my friend Denise coming to my house when Troy was out of town and I had lice -- and combing out my very long, very thick hair for lice. I think celebrating my short hair will be the time to tell THAT story of friendship -- not just anyone would do such. That may be tomorrow's blog. I know your are giddy with anticipation.

When I mentioned that I was getting my hair cut short, one person asked me if I was going to get a 'mommy-'do'. Um, no. Here's the deal: most women want to BE moms, and I am eternally grateful I was given that gift. Precious few of them want to LOOK LIKE one, and I am included in that group. Sorry, it's just the reality. (You can send hate email to: u-no-u-r-1-2@mommydo.com) I did not get a 'mommy-do'. I got a "I'm too s*xy for my hair" 'do!!

Like most things in life, cutting my hair has made me think about lots of things. That's for later too. Today was just show-and-tell for two reasons: 1) I hate when my hair is noticeably different and people feel obligated to say how fabulous it looks. See it here, say nothing later. We're both happy. 2) Now you will know who Troy is sitting next to in church from across the way.

And, when I walked Riley home from school, we realized that now HE, my 11-year-old son, wins the prize for longest hair in the family. We don't even have a long-haired DOG!

To all of you that thought this was going to be something great -- sorry, this is as big as it gets at my house!

Get. A. Life.

A quote from someone who was speaking directly to me (yes, she was serious), in conspiratorial tones:

"There just may have to be a coup."

What would require such drastic change of power?

PTA officers, of course.

Just don't get blood on your Gucci purse, sweety.

Elephant Mystery Solved ... Kind of...

So today I was tagged in a pic on facebook. I clicked over and Kyle (my Aflac representative!) had posted this:

(Notice the elephant is on the truck, not a trailer... hmmm....)

Anyway, if Kyle is being serious (always a gamble) he said he had talked to the guy, company name Flashback, and he makes them. That is all Kyle said. So.... I guess Mr. Flashback either doesn't have room to store it now that he made it, or he is spending all of his advertising budget on gasoline to drive around town. Now, Kyle said he makes "them". Do you honestly think there is a big market for almost-life-size elephants here in Abilene? What does Mrs. Flashback say about this? Still more mystery.

Y'all, I have to tell you -- My little Nike-mini gal that I posted on my blog is CRACKING me up. Sometimes she's doing the 'walking man'. Sometimes she's running hurdles. What cracks me up the most is when she says "I could run this with my eyes closed" because we all KNOW that I can barely run with my eyes open!

Tonight was basketball. The gym felt nice and cozy warm when I walked in from outside, but after sitting there for about 10 minutes, it was too warm to hardly stay awake! Add to that, the very young little referee positioned himself precisely where I could see NOTHING that happened in the southeast fourth of the court, which was probably only about 33% of the game! At one point, there was a tremendous crash (from that corner), the entire crowd that COULD see gave a collective, "Oooooooh..." So, I realized, "Well, someone fell REALLY hard." The gym is still completely silent at this point. I'm craning and stretching and looking around ref's rear to realize, "Oh, hey, that was my baby girl that just crashed into the gym floor." By the time I realized that she was on her feet and taking off, but I still don't know what happened. It's probably best. I do know that she landed on elbows and knees, instead of her head like the lady in front of me told me. That's gonna leave a mark.

And, tomorrow is Friday. A fairly calm weekend in store for us -- our only one this month. Anyone doing anything fun? I think I'm going elephant hunting.

Snoozed and Lost

This morning, I read a really great scripture that I wanted to share with you. But it's carpool week. And today is Ashley's birthday (which means I am the mother of a teenager!!!) so of course I had to take her a lunch to school. Oh, and buy a card because I always forget that her birthday comes RIGHT after everyone goes back to school. And I volunteer at Riley's school on Wednesday afternoons. Then there was a haircut, birthday dinner, church, more birthday celebration, and here I am. I have no idea what the scripture was, but I'm sure it would have rocked your socks off.

Anne signed up for this. As always, I'm 3 days late and several dollars short, but I think I shall participate. I think you should, too.

As mentioned, I am the mother of a teenager. I wasn't prepared for how old that makes me feel! And as Chondra Pierce says, "That means that now, I'm an idiot." I'm totally used to that.

And, since you aren't on facebook, I have to tell you the great elephant mystery of Abilene. Yesterday, driving through the middle of town, I saw the strangest thing. So this was my facebook status:
"Sarah is very sad I didn't have the camera phone ready when the truck carrying the ginormous elephant statue on a trailer drove by."

Very funny. Then, this morning, another facebook friend said:
"I saw the ginormous elephant statue this morning on the way to work and I didn't have my camera with me either! Yes, it was on a trailer being pulled behind a white truck! Where is the elephant going??"

Weird... there is an elephant statue cruising the streets of Abilene. Surely it has a destination...

THEN, this afternoon, Amy posted:
"OK, I'm totally 100% not making this up.... just driving home from HEB and cruising over the overpass at 83/84 was the truck carrying the elephant statue on a trailer!!!!! WHAT THE HECK!!!????"

What the heck, indeed? I mean, this statue is truly a little bit larger than any baby elephants I have seen. It's a little big to be selling door-to-door, you know?

So my status tonight is:
"Sarah needs the next person in Abilene to spot the elephant statue on the trailer to stop the driver and ask him why he is cruising town with it?"

And Val said that he saw an elephant statue yesterday, too -- but not on a trailer, it was in a truck. (Cue eery music) Are there two? Are the elephants stampeding via motorized vehicles? (and one at a time because they're low on gas money?)

In short, what is the DEAL with the elephants, people???

Since we may NEVER know, make up your best story about why a man is pulling a trailer with an almost-life-size elephant statue on it around Abilene, evidently for DAYS??? What do you think could possibly be the reason?

Ortho and Haircuts and Carpool, Oh My!

I know it's your world, too, but every afternoon/ evening from 3-7 is just a life- marathon, isn't it? I was incredibly lazy over the holidays so getting back to a routine has actually been a nice change. But it's just so much routine! This week is typically nutty, with just all sorts of mundane appointments that never seem to be in the 'finished' column!



As I mentioned yesterday, I'm just slowly crawling back into walk/ jogging. I shouldn't have quit going to the bicycle class so soon -- my brain is suffering lack of exercise endorphins! I know that makes no sense to you, but if I don't get back on track soon, my family will probably request that I move out for a while. I'm also getting paid back for the people I have tortured while walking with me. I'm not tall, but when I walk for exercise, I walk FAST. It's what I do, how I find my endorphins! Well, flipping up your feet much faster than you are used to really works the front of your calf muscle (yes, it's the still the calf muscle, even in the front). So anytime I get a new walking buddy, they usually make it about 5 minutes into the walk until I hear, "Man, my shins are burning... let me stretch... wow... that is really on fire.." I sigh and roll my eyes and keep torturing these people. Well, my feet are flipping for about 5 minutes before my shins are aflame these days. Take great delight, walking partners!

Thank you to everyone who responded -- via facebook, email, AND comments on this blog for song suggestions! I plan to (eventually) try every last one of them. Maybe a reward to myself for getting back to running where I want to be would be an iTunes gift card to stock up! You can never give me too many! Keep sending them!

This morning, I woke up early to read my Bible before the day ran away with me. Walking down the hall in the dark I could hear Stickers' wheel squeaking. When I let Duchess out, I could hear Stickers "crunch, crunch, crunch"-ing on her food. I turned around to see Stickers' very ample bottom still on her exercise wheel while her top half leaned toward her food bowl. We have Americanized Stickers -- she is snacking while she exercises. Yeeshk. So funny.

Between my lack of exercise endorphins and some minor technology derailments of late, I have been a little grinchy. I think it's a mark of an abundantly blessed life when you allow the little things to bug you. And they have. But God is faithful and continued to bless me and this morning, after viewing my waddly little rodent, God gave me these words. Familiar words that, thankfully, increase their power to me with repitition:

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

May you soar on wings like eagles. May you run and carpool and care for and not grow weary. May you walk -- just one step in front of the other -- and not be faint. His blessings on you today.

Pull Up a Chair!

I usually do a "Good Things Out There" on Sunday, but a)I didn't spend any time this week squirreling away good things, and now I've forgotten where all they are and b)I don't have a voice, so I have nodded and 'hello-ed' in a very deep, throaty, Kathleen Turner-esque way, but "chatting" is way too much effort for me or my listener. So I feel like chatting. Go ahead -- have a seat. I'll pour the Diet Coke -- we do have tea or water if you'd rather. Oh, absolutely! Put your feet up -- it will be the closest that coffee table has come to getting dusted in weeks!

Irony: our family rarely is able to go to church all at the same time on Sunday mornings (and lately Wednesday nights). Troy's singing requires him to be at practices on Sunday mornings before the kids are out of bed. Today, probably for the first time in 6 months, we could all go to church together. Are you hearing the 'hallelujah chorus'? Yeah, well, I did for about 27 seconds -- until I realized that my vehicle was getting worked on and the only car we had at the house was Troy's pick-up that has one bench seat. Period. Which is one too few seats for the 4 of us. So, woo-hoo! We can all go to church together!! Only woo-hoo! We don't all fit! Then, John W., my good and faithful mechanic, brought my car to me at church. And we left in two separate vehicles anyway. *sigh* It was fun while it lasted (if not a bit squishy).

We have been having gorgeously amazing weather lately! I am SO thankful! We rarely have anything that feels like transitional seasons here. We usually go from 92* days, then a blue norther blows through and it's 44*, rainy, with 100 mph winds from the north the next day. *BAM* Winter. But the last week has been glorious picture-perfect weather. Not one cloud anywhere. It was QUITE cool Friday morning, but made for an even better afternoon. Just such wonderful weather to play outside in! I hope you are having beautiful weather where you are!

This afternoon Troy and I took advantage of the glorious weather and went for a motorcycle ride. I get really tickled -- there's an unwritten "cyclists code" for how you a) MUST wave at each passing motorcycle and b) MUST use the cool- cycler wave. Now, the cool- cycler wave makes sense from a wind-resistance standpoint. If you were to throw your left hand in the air, a-la Gomer Pyle, you might throw your shoulder out of socket or smack your passenger in the face as the 60 mph winds hit your hand. So you simply extend your hand out toward your knee/ the pavement -- about 8:00 on a clock face. If you're uber-cool, you extend a finger (a polite one) or two: like giving the 'peace' sign on the down low. Here's the deal: EVERY motorcyclist is in on it.

Some folks still are surprised that I "let" Troy get a motorcycle and that we have one AND that I will actually get on it. (I really don't like the idea that I "let" Troy do anything -- we pretty much make joint decisions -- and if one of us doesn't care any iotas, the other gets to decide. End of story.) My dad is a motorcycle rider, and I know that the many, many miles he has logged with my mom have given them mostly great joy (and a few hair-raising, bonding-by-missing-death-together moments). Today it was a fun way to experience this glorious day -- until you pass by a freshly-squashed skunk. Then it is a little too outdoorsy. Before Troy got his new job, we were facing the possibility of him being a part of some of the personnel cutbacks that were taking place. We were trying to prepare financially for the possibility of him losing his job and were thinking of what that would look like. At one point he said, "It's going to make me really sad to get rid of that motorcycle." To which I replied, "Good! 'Cause I've got news for you: you'll get rid of that gas-guzzling 10 year old truck before you'll get rid of the sipping 2 year old motorcycle!" (but that would have been a joint decision, of course!) Thankfully, we still have the gas-guzzler AND the motorcycle. Thank you, Lord, for taking care of our needs AND wants!

Oh, I have kept you too long. I haven't even broken out the chocolate yet! I know, me too -- so much left to do this evening. Thanks for stopping by. Let's do this more often! Oh, yeah, if you found any "Good Things Out There" feel free to tell us all about them!

What I've Learned

So, I had a birthday. It was relatively painless, though the number hurts just a little to say. In honor of spending ... some number of years on this planet, I compiled a list of things I've learned over the years -- one for each year, as a matter of fact. Some are about myself, some are about human nature, and some are just silly. Feel free to comment and tell me anything I've left off -- I'm sure I still have plenty to learn!

1. Any empty shopping cart at the back of the store is there for a reason. Don't get it. Satan lives in its wheels.

2. I actually am a morning person (I know what you're thinking Roxanne -- I'm not saying I'm HAPPY when I first wake up, I'm saying I'm PRODUCTIVE once I DO wake up).

3. "Time heals all wounds" = big fat lie.

4. Few people are actually mean and/or hateful just for grins -- most people just want to be heard and/or understood.

5. Men are generally unable to multi-task. (generality -- I'm sure there are exceptions)

6. I thought I 'got' unconditional love. Then I had children.

7. Laughter really is 'carbonated holiness' (Anne Lamott)

8. I have a deep need (is this me, or just human?) for trials and tragedies to have reason and purpose. Sometimes they just don't.

9. God can use unreasonable and purposeless trials and tragedies for His kingdom in mighty ways.

10. There are few quicker ways to make me cry other than showing me a child waving an American flag.

11. You never outgrow feeling like a total dork.

12. I'm stronger than I thought I was.

13. I'm more fearful than I thought I was.

14. Giving birth is actual hard work -- yes, there is a reason they call it labor.

15. Being a parent is way harder than labor.

16. Something will make me laugh about almost every situation. Usually at completely inappropriate times.

17. The human spirit has an amazing capacity for resiliency.

18. Few things are as peaceful, fulfilling, and just plain fun as simply 'being' with my family and enjoying laughing together. Doing this around the dinner table is my favorite time of day.

19. I have no tolerance for people who won't be authentic -- with me or anyone else.

20. The most offensive inauthentic people (to me) are those that don't have a clue they are because they never examine their own hearts.

21. I am WAY more introspective than your average person, which probably leads me to intolerance of inauthentic people who also aren't introspective.

22.I love words. Lots and lots -- a veritable plethora -- of words, of utterances. An affinity for vernacular. Love, love, love to use words.

23. The more words you use, the less impact they have. Bummer.

24. Dogs and children make me very happy.

25. I don't get people who don't enjoy dogs or children.

26. Forgive = scriptural; forgive and forget = human concoction to induce guilt. The Lord never tells us to forgive and forget, and ya ain't gonna. So just keep forgiving when you remember.

27. I thought being strong-willed and being a risk-taker were the same thing. Turns out I'm only one of those.

28. I HATE making phone calls, pretty much for any reason.

29. A person's own name has tremendous power to that person.

30. (another lesson from dad): People are generally willing to help you solve your problem. Give them the opportunity to help before attacking them because you have a problem.

31. "I'm sorry" goes a LONG way to diffusing a situation, even if you aren't responsible for the situation (see #4).

32. Drinking coffee makes me nervous and grouchy.

33. Drinking Diet Coke makes me nice.

34. I wield more power -- to build up, tear down, nurture or destroy -- as a wife and mother than I ever dreamed (especially if I work up a good set of tears). "With great power comes great responsibility."

35. Practice doesn't make perfect unless you're doing it correctly while you practice(I tell my kids "Perfect practice makes perfect" -- but I do realize how that makes me sound). Practicing something incorrectly will just make you very proficient at something WRONG.

36. A smile can generally disarm a grouchy person. It can even occasionally disarm my own grouchy face.

37. There really isn't any such thing as a 'spiritual giant': the people that we consider to be such are people who understand their own weaknesses (hey! maybe they're introspective!) and have truly come to see: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

38. I am NEVER going to fully 'get it': my place on this earth, His love for me, the depth of my flesh nature, the height of His grace and forgiveness.

39. Nor will I EVER fully put to death my flesh nature while I'm still wearing my flesh. I can only plead ignorance and humanity, and let His grace be sufficient for me.

Where I'm From

There has been a 'meme' (I still don't know how to say that word or what it means, and it bugs me) about 'where I'm from'. I just couldn't do it when it was going around, and I'm not sure I could now. But while I was home (north Louisiana) in August (yes, Louisiana in August is as lovely as it sounds) I took some photos to SHOW you 'Where I'm from'.
My parents live on a cul-de-sac (and, thanks to the Gilmore Girls I know to say "There are several culs-de-sac in that neighborhood" as the plural). You can see the end of my car sticking out -- I never took a pic of my parents house. Not only did I just plain forget, I never asked them if they would mind if I posted it on the www. 'Cause, as you might imagine, the paparazzi for my childhood home ... out of control!

This is the cul-de-sac. I think there were only 2 other houses on this street when we moved in about 32 years ago. So I have wandered through most of these homes in their early construction phases. I have ridden bikes and go-carts millions of miles those last 100 feet of street, as well as learned to drive -- an automatic AND standard transmission vehicle. I've used the path between two of the houses -- pre-privacy fences -- to walk through to a friend's house on the street behind. I don't feel particularly sentimental about this street, but I sure have given it a lot of mileage.
This is the church where my parents still worship. Yes, it's funny looking, and you don't even want to know what kind of quotes they recently got for re-roofing. Now, I think I do feel a little sentimental about this crazy building. This is the only church I knew as 'home' for 18 years. I was baptized in that baptistry, and my friend Christy's 'Uncle Bill' (who we all called Uncle Bill) kept it locked and heated and cooled for years. I attended the nursery and worked in the nursery there. I scared myself and tried to scare others at lock-ins there. I stood in the front of that church and exchanged rings, vows, and one big kiss with my man at that church. I have showed off my babies there, and they have been appropriately 'oohed' and 'ahhed' over. When I think about the church where I grew up, I don't think about this building, the roofline, or the horrible accoustics (yes, the inside of the auditorium does the same thing). I think about the faces of folks -- most of them no longer on this planet -- loving me through my childhood.

This is the Bayou Desiard Country Club. Yes, that is Bayou Desiard, and it is in front of the Country Club. Original, no? I confess that this is a part of where I'm from that I hesitate to share. Partly because I just heard Denver Moore speak, it's hard to think of how he grew up, not far from this spot, as opposed to how I grew up. But, Denver also said, in speaking of his own past experiences and tragedies, "It's what happened then that made me who I am now." And the country club life was very much part of my growing up years. I've been to at least 500 Sunday lunches there (amazing buffet), swam in the pool every summer, rode the cart while my then-fiance, now-husband, gave a round of golf a try (and decided that next time he'll bring his shotgun). I have celebrated some wonderful occasions in that building: my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, my Poppa Max's 90th birthday, and my personal favorite was my wedding reception held in there, almost 16 years ago now.

I have to also tell you a little about the bayou. I realized how remiss I had been in telling about my hometown when someone that I know fairly well asked me (after I was singing the obligatory 'Jambalaya' about having big fun on the bayou) if there was an actual bayou. Uh, yeah there is! I have skied and floated and boated in that bayou. The road where I took this picture was on my way to my school, and I loved to watch the fog crawl up the banks of the bayou on chilly fall mornings. Off to the right you can't see the road that crosses the bayou. When I was in high school a truck drove off of that road into the bayou. The daddy and little girl got out, but Momma couldn't swim. My dad, who witnessed the accident, went in and got her. (Yes, my dad, who said he didn't have a story to tell!!) My senior party was a skiing party on that bayou. Lots of memories for me around the bayou.

This is just a picture from the end of the street where I lived before we moved to the cul-de-sac. Where all those houses are used to be a HUGE cotton field. I always loved the symmetry of the rows when we drove by.

This is just a random Cypress tree, complete with moss hanging all over it. See that little bitty shed at the bottom? Yeah, that's a house... Dear friends in West Texas: this is a tree. Maybe now you will understand why I just can't get on board with the shrubs we have around here.

And that is a partial tour of my hometown in Louisiana. I didn't make it out to my school, but a) It doesn't look anything like it did when I was in school there and b)It would require an entire blog post (or 3) anyway. Thanks for coming along!

Monday, Monday

Oh, my. What a day. Just checking in. I have many, many blogs pinging around my cranium, but this simple 'Ola!' will have to suffice. We have been in Louisiana visiting my family for a few days. We left this morning at 8:30 a.m. in the pouring rain. Y'all, it was GREAT to go to bed listening to it rain last night. But to wake up to it and try to drive in it? Not so much. And Troy didn't feel well. Coming home always seems to take longer than going, and it was simply an eternal trip. We left early trying to get home for Ashley's 6:30 basketball game.

We rolled into the driveway at 5:15. Perfect -- 30 minutes to start a load of laundry, unpack, and get Ashley to the gym for the game. I had given the kids a list of things to start working on when we got home. As Troy and I are unpacking the car, Riley walks through the garage: "Ew!!! There is some AWFUL smell in here!" Ashley heads into the garage, "Oh, MAN! Something must have died in here." Troy follows into the garage. He doesn't exclaim, but it is quite evident that he affirms that there is, indeed, a funk. I, being a not-too-slow learner, marched myself to the front door and rang the doorbell waiting for someone who had already gone through the green cloud-o-funk to open the door so that I could get in. Troy finally figured it out -- and it was quite obvious that the funk wasn't contained to the garage but was concentrated there -- that our outside refrigerator/freezer quit working. In August. In Texas. While we were gone. Need I say more? Oh, yes, I should say more: deer meat. whole chickens. Are you getting the imagery? More importantly, are you imagining the odor?

My precious Troy, who never could identify a dirty diaper, even on his lap, knew my olfactory would never allow me that clean up. I offered to help, but that wonderful man did battle with the 'fridge alone. I don't know all of the details, and he says he hopes he can sleep tonight for some of the horrible images in his brain. Some things are better left to bear alone.

I left Troy hosing out the 'fridge while I got Ashley to the game. He showed up not too much later, freshly showered. Ashley had a wonderful game, and I got to sit in the stands listening to the other team's parents complaining that there was no way she was in the 11/12 age group. (We love that). The game was awesome, we stopped by Subway on the way home. Where I stepped in gum. At least today is over.

Random Thoughts for Wednesday

Personal to readers in my neighborhood:
a) Roxanne and I are participating in a Bible study long distance. Every-other Tuesday night I leash up the dog, put my headphones on (which is also my phone) and walk the neighborhood while I talk to Roxanne on the phone. So, if you see me having some deep conversation with Duchess about functional gods and the desire to be holy as He is holy, I'm really talking to Roxanne. I've been meaning to say that for some time now -- please spread the word. I think people are starting to wonder.
b) To the kind soul that found our ever-so-stinky Duchess who took an unauthorized, unaccompanied tour of the neighborhood and returned her to our backyard while we were in a cool theater: Thank you so much. She's not much on aroma or obedience, but she's family.

Now, to bore everyone with my soul-baring true confessions:
You know, bless my soul, I don't think of myself as having very many natural gifts other than the desire to learn to do better in order to compensate for not having a natural gift. I'm not a cook, decorator, organizer, or bargain shopper by nature. Which makes me a little bit of a flop in the wife and mother department if not for my unrelenting determination to learn to do better (or learn who to hire to do such things!) And, truly, I am always willing to learn and thanks to the miracle that is youtube, I can learn all manner of things. So I have watched this video no fewer than 3 times, and I will NEVER be able to do this -- but I will try to the death!



While we're on the subject, in my constant, yet ever-so-sad, quest for improving this area of my life, I did see a tip to keep a set of folded sheets in the pillowcase of the set. Handy.

For a praise update!! Riley's foot is broken in the same exact way that it was (but it was 7 months ago, not 8 -- late November) but on the opposite side. It's not quite as bad and, for some reason, there is no pain at the site of the fracture, but on the opposite side. So, doc wanted to treat it like a sprain instead of a fracture! We are SO thankful! He's on crutches and in a brace/ splint for 4 weeks (for the brace -- the crutches are just as pain dictates). Which means we are headed to the pool tomorrow! YAY and "Thank you, Lord!!" On the way to the ER I remembered that the Dr.s parting words in January when he took off the cast were, "It all looks great. You're free to do whatever. I don't like trampolines much, though." Yeah, he was on a trampoline. He was at a church function at a local gymnastics center. I think we'll remember longer than 6 months to stay off of trampolines!

Saw Wall-e tonight with the kids. Very cute, and I really like the message about taking care of our earth AND our bodies.

Does anyone have any great plans for our country's 222nd birthday?

Announcement

I have an announcement to make:

I will not be purchasing what is, in these-here parts anyway, the latest and greatest, evidently. Yes, I will survive this season WITHOUT a giraffe-print purse.

'Cause see? You're already carrying one. Oh, you aren't? Well then your sister is. And your mother. And that lady over there. And that other one over there. Of course, they all look TOTALLY different with their multi-colored accents. Notice the VAST differences in the following:

versus:

versus:

See? Completely different look all. So, besides the fact that it. has. been. done. and. done. again -- do they always have to use the WHOLE giraffe to make the purse? Are there no petite giraffe purses? Right now my purse is about half the size of these -- and it's one of the larger purses I carry (of course it has a convenient feature where it holds virtually nothing, yet still weighs 48 pounds).

So, I just needed to go on record as bucking the trend! No giraffe-prints for me! To those of you that are currently enjoying your giraffe-sized giraffe-print purse: enjoy! I'll stick with my straw. That is all.

Catching Up!

I have enjoyed being here a little more than previously, but I'm still a little bit of a slacker. Turns out, this week is just as busy as most school weeks! I am still teaching swimming lessons -- and enjoying it much more than years past. I've taken on a pre-lifeguarding-type class. I actually have to do a little preparation for that. I am SO the old person! I don't remember what I was ever supposed to do as a lifeguard and what the regulations were -- and it was so long ago it isn't still a regulation anyway. I have been time-traveling in my head as I remember some lifeguarding details. Stories soon.

The kids are also taking lessons while I teach. We just have a high time at the pool! We also are doing some traveling soon, having college kids at our house as soon as we return, mix and match in some teaching (yes, the book of Revelation to 4th graders -- no sweat!) and interpreting and singing at church. Your basic life, you know.

So, all the lifeguard talk has made me think of my first summer job. What was your first summer job? Would you ever do it again? A favorite memory from that job?

How Many Ways Am I a Dork? Let Me Count the Ways...

Yesterday was a somewhat (using 'somewhat' as in -- not really) historical day for me: I saw my first ever Indiana Jones movie. Yes, I, a child of the '80's, had never seen Harrison Ford crack a whip until yesterday. Side note to my friend who said they had trouble buying into the last scene: so you were completely on board for the red ants dragging the guy away and the 5 people going over 3 different Niagra-sized waterfalls in an aluminum fishing boat unscathed? It's your 7 bucks... I HAVE seen Indiana Jones run away from a giant rock or ball or something-or-other, and I do know that Sean Connery is his father and that he hates snakes. I've got all that. Just never seen a movie.

So, to show how ignorant I am of much pop culture, I started thinking about the many, many things that I have never seen:

• Any of the other Indiana Jones movies
• The only 'Star Wars' movie I have seen is 'Star Wars'. When I was 7, the year it came out.
• Never seen an episode of "S*x and the City" (nor the movie)
• Never seen an episode of "Desperate Housewives"
• Never seen an episode of "The Office"
• Only watch 'American Idol' the first few weeks with their auditions on location. After that, meh.

So, mock me if you will. I'm just not that into it. More than anything, I think I've figured out, screens -- movie or TV -- are not my way to relax. They're okay in short segments, but to sit for 2 hours makes me twitch. EXCEPT in front of a computer screen. It plays into my ADD. I can do research for a writing project. I can pick out a paint color for my son's bedroom. I can Facebook with the best of 'em. I can read every blog in existence. Whatev. But I don't do plots well anymore. Especially for action stuff. Life is tense enough. If I have to sit for two hours, make me laugh, but don't make my neck hurt from squinching up my shoulders (no, Indiana Jones didn't do that.)

So, my perfect way to relax was pretty much this afternoon: in my pajamas, in my bed, laptop on my lap, punching lots of buttons on the laptop to let it make me crazy, then happy at my whim. That was fun.

Saturday

I have felt the need to touch base here, but I have absolutely nothing to say. Of course, I could report on the fruit fly battle at my house, but that's a)embarrassing -- especially considering the fruit flies seem to be winning, b)disgusting, and c)simply way too much information about my boring life. It could ALSO be d)educational, since my battle has led me to this information, but I will presume none of us desire such information/ education.

As I've mentioned, I don't exactly have a boring life currently (she says as she glances out the window to see her son running into the street -- that could be all levels of exciting) but it's nothing you want me to report on, and it prevents me from having any thought in my head other than, "Am I going to get there within 7 minutes of being 'on time'?" Which, by the way, if you missed THAT whole blog post, you missed quite the dialog on my blog! I LOVE that Stephanie loves us with a "7-minute buffer" -- because she and I are... which are we? Polychromes? Yes, we are polychromes because we see the world and its schedules and time constraints as all colorful and fluid, and those monochromes with their black and white, well, we love them, too. I also figured out why Denise has to get there in time to get "her pew" and I never have any trouble getting mine in my 7-minute window: I ALWAYS get there in my 7-minute window, so I always get the same spot (hence, my pew, which now we know I've had to move and it CHAFES at me to sit on a different side) because everyone else has their pew that they got their 10 minutes early to claim. I'm okay with leftover seating.

So I've learned if you hang around long enough, a blog just begs itself to be written. Riley has a friend over. He's a sweet kid and he and Riley seem to get along very well. I don't know the family very well, but have always enjoyed having him over. So the two boys are playing some electronic game with the TV (I honestly don't even know what we have) and the other kids' comment about his player: "Oh, yeah, I know this one! This guy sucks!" He says with much enthusiasm. My eyebrows went up -- I know that phrase is becoming more and more commonplace, but we do NOT say it at our house (do we, Troy?:-) Riley said, "Don't SAY that!" I was proud of Riley for speaking up for all of our tender ears --HA! -- but did/ said nothing. Other kid says, "No, I mean his powers suck." Riley can't stand it: "Stop saying THAT!!" I suspect that the kid is confused about what exactly the problem is, and I wonder if that's just a common phrase at his house like "No, way!" is at ours. The game continues and finally as the kids are LOUDLY exclaiming over the game, friend yells out, "I'll get him!! See, I can suck him up!!" Evidently, the powers of his character are "sucking stuff up", so evidently, he really does suck. I guess we just don't call it that at our house.

Hello? Is Anybody In There?

Where have I been? I have no idea. And, I have virtually nothing to say, so why am I even back? I'm chock full-o-questions -- no answers.

Remember the movie "The Money Pit"? It's no wonder that movie called to me long before I owned a home, since I've spent most of my adult life re-living some version of it. However, my favorite line from it comes when Shelly Long's character is rushing into orchestra rehearsal. The lady in the chair next to her, with a very proper British accent, is apalled:

"Where have you been? You were almost late!!"

To which Shelley Long repeats a phrase I have used to my husband on more than one occasion: "In this country we have an expression for almost late. We call it "on time."

Troy lives by the philosophy, "If you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late." I live by the philosophy, "I'm here, aren't I?" It has taken some years to reach a happy medium about such. Thankfully, however, our children seem to have inherited their father's sense of punctuality. They're doing a great job of getting themselves to school on time so far.

Not only do Kendra and I share a classroom and all those kids, but our oldest children both started middle school this year. Kendra was asking me how it was going for Ashley and commented that the most interesting story she has heard from middle school has been the kid who got in a fight and then ran away from the teachers and climbed a tree. I figured surely Ashley had missed this excitement at middle school since I hadn't heard anything about it. So, I asked Ashley about "climb-a-tree" boy and she said, "Yeah, I saw it. I told you about it, but you were being 'supermom'."

"What does THAT mean?"

"You were doing 12 different things and weren't really listening."

Obviously, the label of 'supermom' combined with "you weren't listening to me" is my proudest moment as a mother. Really.

I'm hoping to post pictures of what happens when you force an intelligent child to step away from all electronic devices with screens and they find an extra stash of pencils and mix in some army men with their pencil-town-landscape. You, too, should force your child to turn off all electronic devices with screens and see what they come up with. You'll be amazed.