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I once got a really hideous gift. It was from a very good friend of mine in high school. I don't remember if the occasion was my birthday or Christmas, but I was really excited at first. She had wrapped it beautifully, and it was in a large box. Neither of us had much money, so our gifts to one another were usually in the Claire's Boutique earring or Cover Girl eyeshadow category. This looked like it might be a clearance rack shirt from the 5*7*9 shop in the mall or something. I eagerly tore into the box, ripping back the layers of shiny paper and curly ribbons, to lay my eyes on one of the most gaudy, butt-ugly homemade sweatshirts I'd ever seen. I truly wish I had a picture, but I don't, so I'll do my best to do the description justice. The sweatshirt was white, but around the neck my friend used iridescent fabric paint in 80s shades of mauve, teal and purple to paint a....well....umm...to this day, I'm really not sure. It looked like preschool finger-painting. With blobs. And in the blobs my friend stuck large faux gems in the same offending colors. It looked like an 80s neon version of an Egyptian collar. I was speechless. To my friend's credit, she knew the gift was bad. She usually had impeccable taste. She had messed up on the original design and tried to fix it. It didn't work, and she knew it, but she was out of money, and well...hey, it's the thought that counts, right? I think blogging can be somewhat like this incident. My blog (or your blog), like the wrapping of that gift, might look great, exciting even. Smiling children, funny stories, warm fuzzies, cute pets, blah, blah, blah.... Yet, if you peel off the layers, you might be surprised at what you find. It might even be a little gross. It might not be cute or funny. It might be sounding like I'm about to share something horrid that's going on in my life, something shocking and scandalous. I'm not. It's just every now and then, I look back at my blog and feel I haven't told the whole story. I haven't shared that I have a child right now that is really struggling in the responsibility department and that I've been beating my head against the wall as to what to do about it. You won't find the temper-tantrum pictures in my occasional "Peek" features. Drool and tears don't photograph well. I have neglected to post that my usually sweet-tempered Boxer has turned a bit cranky in her dotage, has been regularly stealing food from our table and trash and then nips a little at us when we try to retrieve the goods. I've also left out the tales of her incontinence issues, but perhaps I was just too busy scrubbing at the carpets. I really don't like to mention the fact that I often have more desire to read a novel than to read my Bible. I know I never shared about my humbling acrylic nail story. Oh yeah....it's a real hoot. A couple of months ago, I spent an obscene amount of money to get an acrylic French manicure, and I felt like an absolute diva doing it. I even went and forked out more money three times in the interim to have them "filled." Well, last week I discovered that fungus was growing under one of them. Yes, you read correctly....fungus. Talk about knocking me down a notch. Or two. Or three. Or fourteen. Does this mean I am regularly going to start sharing this kind of stuff? Of course not. I guess I am just feeling a bit cheap or something, just blogging along, not even acknowledging these incidents. So, if you are a reader of mine, this message is for you: I have issues. I have cranky kids. I have a bad dog that pees on my floors. I lose my temper. I sometimes yell. Big D and I fight a little. I have a fungus on my thumbnail. Did you hear me? I HAVE A FUNGUS ON MY THUMBNAIL!!!!!! Whew....I feel better now. But you know what would make me feel really good? Share with me about what's underneath the wrapping paper of your blog! I want to know about your fungus. I want to see your gaudy sweatshirt. So, go ahead....leave me a comment and tell me one teensy-weensy thing that makes you human, that makes you real, that maybe even makes you a little gross. Don't be shy! Now to get this blog wrapped back up.... "Big D, pass me the tape!" (Oh...and don't worry about my nail. I ripped the fake ones off and am treating the area. It's already looking better.) |
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Yesterday in church our pastor's wife shared a cute, yet poignant, story about two of her young sons. Apparently the five and almost four year-old boys were playing a make-believe game. The oldest was pretending to be God, and he designated his younger brother to be Jesus. They went through a few scenarios in these roles, when the oldest announced that it was time for his brother to die on the cross. The youngest got very quiet suddenly. "But I don't wanna," he finally voiced. The oldest tried tried to make his brother with threats and pleas and the younger brother eventually decided he wasn't playing any longer. It wasn't fun anymore to be Jesus. I'm so glad and thankful and awe-struck and rendered speechless sometimes that while He may not have wanted to (the human part of Him anyway), He still did....
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Here at Hilltop Academy we are all about deep. If you're a regular reader here you already know that and have come to expect that from this blog. This blog just oozes depth. Well, in the spirit of all that is deep and ponderous, I share the following conversation we had one evening while enjoying a meal at our local Mexican restaurant. We had just received our food, so we were quietly munching our selections. I was slurping my chicken tortilla soup, but I was thinking about a chile relleno drenched in cheese. Annaleigh was nibbling at her cheeseburger, waiting for mayonnaise packets. (We have problems procuring mayo at this restaurant, mainly because I think some of the waiters do not have a clue what we just asked for.) Harrison is playing with the pieces of his cheese quesadilla, moving them around his plate in parade formation. Big D is eating.....well, I actually don't remember what he ordered, but it probably had meat in it, and I'm sure he was enjoying it. "Did you know that if God wanted to He could turn me into a carrot?" quips Harrison. We all stop mid-bite and look at this child, who is still playing with the bite-size pieces of his quesadilla. I smile at Big D in that aren't-our-kids-the-cutest kind of way. "Uh, yeah Bud, He surely could if He wanted to." We all smirk a little and proceed to take a few more bites. "Or, if He wanted to, He could turn me into a Bud Light." My soup fell out of my open mouth. Annaleigh was the first to recover from this strange statement, and in her eleven-year-old-girl way said, "Harrison, puh-leeze. You don't even know what a Bud Light is." "It's a beer," said Harrison, moving onto his refried beans. I can't remember the details of this conversation past this point, but I'm pretty sure we confirmed that indeed, if God wanted to, He could turn Harrison....or anyone for that matter...into a Bud Light...or any vegetable or alcoholic beverage for that matter, but that we were also equally sure that He didn't want to do that. Harrison agreed. While it was a sort of weird way to come to this conclusion, I am thankful that my children know at a young age that God is powerful and that He can do what He wants. I hope this knowledge grows into a strong faith and a resolve to allow God to mold and shape their lives and that they will love Him for that and serve Him unwaveringly. So what do you think? This....
or this?
Dear Lord, if it's alright with You, I'll just keep the latter. |
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So, I'm sort of waxing poetic and messin' around with my new camera. The result is my first ever photo essay called.... FALL IS... Vivid
Oooohhhh....ahhhh.... Birthdays (in our family anyway)
Big D with the tiramisu I made him yesterday. It's Pioneer Woman's recipe. Black Cats
In the determination to maintain 100% integrity on my blog, we painted Ripley black for this photo shoot.
OK...not really. There's Ripley, still orange, and trying to melt the black cat that's in his yard and playing with his family with his scary laser eyes. Leaves
Orange Leaves
Red Leaves
Yellow Leaves
Green Leaves
Black Leaves....oops
Forgot to turn on my flash. I'm starting to sound a little like Sandra Boynton. Brown leaves
Multi-colored Leaves
No Leaves
One more reason for my R-rating: tree nudity. My new pumpkin pie-colored chunky sweater
Football
Warning: Use caution when photographing someone kicking a football. Use your zoom and have plenty of ice on hand. Fun for some
Another birthday picture of Big D ...but not so much fun for others
And finally, fall is your mother putting you in a tree for a cool photo op even though you were rather scared, smiling nervously, saying the whole time through your teeth, "Get me down. Please, get me down, Mom," and hanging onto the trunk for dear life...
DID YOU SEE THE WREATH?!? E-mail me at kellieann@adelgren.com for your chance to earn some points! Update: I have awarded a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for this entry. It took a whole 20 minutes. Obviously, I have some very competitive ladies playing this game. Be watching for another opportunity for some points that will not involve "I Spy"....coming soon! |
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The other day Big D and I were sitting at our home-away-from-home, Rodgers Taekwondo Academy, while our children trained. I was trying to read, but the 40+ children out on the floor, screaming, "Yes, Sir!!!!" every few minutes was distracting me. And then I noticed that Big D was reading my latest blog entry on his little Blackberry-ish phone thingy. It was my tongue-in-cheek entry about "American Idol." I waited until he was finished, and then waited for him to praise my amazing writing abilities and tell me that I should be writing for World Magazine or Focus on the Family or at the very least our local paper. Or I thought he might bring up the fact that he's always thought I have a little crush on Bo Bice again (which, by the way, is totally not true. I could never have a crush on someone who has better hair than me! I would like to try to get him to sing "Sweet Home Alabama" at my funeral some day, but that's another story...) But what he said was, "You know, you should really try to write more inspirational stuff." Inspirational stuff?! Does he mean to insinuate that my Delmonte banana sticker essay was less than inspiring? Was he not uplifted by my breakdown of VH1's "Top 100 Songs of the 80s"? I thought my piece on my latest Goodwill find was not only poignant and insightful but very cutting-edge. And then, of course, who will ever forget Big D himself in his Elvis attire? I'm sure that inspired Elvis impersonators young and old, all across the globe to be better Elvises! More inspirational?! Why, this blog is right next door to Guideposts! Well, actually, I think I know what he means. And while I refuse to abandon my discourses on the random and ridiculous, I am totally up for the challenge. So much so that I am skipping such foundational topics like loving your neighbor or obeying the ten commandments and going straight for the big one: "The Rapture." How's this for inspirational? I cannot think of one single thing that has ever struck more fear in my very soul than the phrase, "The Rapture" (well, maybe the time when my parents let me watch half of Stephen King's made-for-TV movie Salem's Lot when I was about 8 years old...I did not sleep for months after that). I'm not sure what scared me so much. Maybe the southern Baptist sermons I heard as a child. Maybe my grandma's heartfelt renditions of "I'll Fly Away" and "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder." Maybe the vivid watercolor picture in my Children's Bible showing the graves splitting open and spirit-like beings floating upwards to the heavens. Maybe it was those sort of creepy cartoon tracts that were popular in the late 70s. It was probably a combination of all of those things, I'm sure. When I was about 15 or so and not really living the Christian life, a speaker at my church mentioned a book called, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Would Be in 1988. Does anyone remember this? Oh. My. Goodness. That whole concept scared me absolutely senseless! I believe the date was early September, and that man's predictions just ruined the whole first month of my junior year of high school. I mean how was I supposed to watch an R-rated movie or break my curfew or flirt with boys when Jesus was returning in mere days?! Well, it was only a few months after that incident that I recommitted my life to Christ (not because of that book, mind you). The whole concept of "The Rapture" still had odd connotations for me, but I found myself no longer fearing it. In the early 90s these books rose to popularity:
I, like almost every other Christian in America, started reading them. I'm not sure where I dropped off, but I never finished the series. Don't get me wrong....I'm not bashing these books. I have heard some of the stories of how non-believers have come to Christ through reading these, and I think that's a good thing! I just got a little bored with them. I do that with series sometimes. And then there was this:
I was a teenage girl in the 80s, and so, yes, I watched "Growing Pains," and yes, Kirk Cameron's boyish mug smiled out at me from a poster on my wall. So I feel a little disloyal in saying this, but...I'm sorry...this just wasn't a good movie. They should have just stayed with the books. OK, so why I am telling you all of this? Where I am going? Well, here:
This is Beth Moore's latest Bible study. I started it last spring with some ladies in my church. The first six weeks cover chapters 1-6 of Daniel andfocus on the more traditional, historical parts of Daniel. You know...the fiery furnace, the lions' den, the writing on the wall...all of those great Sunday school, flannel board lessons. It was absolutely fantastic! We took a break over the summer, and now we've resumed the next six chapters, which is a study in eschatology (which means the study of end times....not the study of bugs or bumps on your head or the stars). I was scared. Even though I had gotten over my unhealthy obsession of "The Rapture," I was still not sure if I was ready to breakdown visions of multi-headed animals with wings and horns, the anti-Christ or the mark of the beast. We are two weeks into the study now, and I am breathing easy. I am actually really fascinated by Daniel's visions and how they link to what Annaleigh is studying in ancient history and our present-day news headlines and to things that have yet to come. Beth Moore is an engaging and passionate tutor, and it is totally not her fault that I get somewhat distracted by her outfits and find myself wondering where she got her groovy jacket and if it has to be dry-cleaned. So, I am trying to inspire you to not be a ninny (like I "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" ~Revelation 22:20 (Psst....Big D....How'd I do?) |
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....and since I'm really cheap, that's a good thing! I was given the following award by two of my blogging buddies, Crossview and lahbluebonnet. Thanks so much ladies! I can assure you, the feeling is mutual (except that I don't think Crossview is insane.....but don't worry...I took it as a compliment!)
The award creater said: Now, I'm supposed to share the love. Well, I could give this to any of my friends listed on the left, since basically that's how one makes it to my friends list...by making me smile. But it seems a good bit of them have been awarded this already, so I will try to choose a few who haven't already been dubbed. CarpeBanana......I only recently discovered her blog. A true wordsmith. I totally appreciate her quips and quirkiness. mycrazylife.....Always a fun read over there. Even her "Wordless Wednesday" entries make me smile, and her entries regularly make me LOL....especially when she tries to stop potential criminals with her lint-roller. jess4him.....She is a super-cute newlywed, and her zest for life and her endeavors always bring a smile, despite the fact that I am super jealous of her Alaskan landscape pictures that she posts so often. OhPumpkinshellz....I always pass on my awards to her! What can I say? Even her comments make me smile. Sorry it doesn't come with glitter. lilred....Because she is my daughter, and she's been standing over my shoulder, jumping up and down, saying, "Pick me! Pick me!". But she really does make me smile (among other things...but now is not the time nor place...) You really should check out her blog. I'll bet it will make you smile too! Oh, and leave her a comment. She FLIPS for comments! Now, go forth, and distribute smilage! |
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On Labor Day we have the tradition of participating in and helping with a local 5 and 10K run/walk event. Normally, we walk the 5K with a bunch of our friends. It is a great time really. It's so fun cheering the runners and their sweaty little hides over the finish line. I have never run the thing. I have never even considered running the thing. As a matter of fact, one year the only people I beat in the walk were a very pregnant lady, and an elderly couple walking a fat beagle....and I was proud! This year I did not walk or run it. First of all, I had some funky pain thing going on in my hips and thighs. It's better now, but it was full-blown on the day of the race, so I opted not to add to my misery. Also my crazy friends, who I normally walk with, got all healthy on me and actually ran it this year, so I had no one to walk with. And then I also was baby-sitting a little guy whose parents were running. And finally somebody had to take pictures of all the healthy, active people. So I was sort of like the designated driver....with a camera....and a toddler....and aching legs. Do you need any other excuses? I'm probably good for a couple more. Anyway because I am completely proud of all my friends and family and just plain awe-struck by their will-power, I'm posting a few pictures of the event. First, just to prove that I was there...
See me? Right over Harrison's shoulders watching all the fit people? Here's Big D and the kids finishing up the Kids Fun Run, a 1K:
Here they are after they finished, with Powerade in hand.
This is our good friend Jay. He has lost like a gazillion pounds so far. We are soooooo proud of him!
And then these are my friends from church, who started a "Biggest Loser" club called "180". They were my former walking buddies. Again, we are so, so proud!
I don't know who these people are, but I like the look of them. I especially would like to look like # 2930 in a sports bra and running shorts.
This couple was cute. The husband is running and fanning his wife over the finish line. This is what I would need if I ever do this run, times 4.
And then there was this guy, which totally snapped me right out of my dream state of thinking I could actually do this, even with 4 people fanning me....
He finished though. Everyone applauded, and then they hooked him up to a heart monitor. Annaleigh is now wanting me to train with her so that we can run it next year since she has outgrown the Fun Run. I don't know.....maybe I could train for the Fun Run with Harrison, and Big D can do the 5K with Annaleigh. Sounds fair to me! |
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My friend Lori tagged me, and thankfully changed the nature of the tag. If I had to come up with 8 more random facts I was going to have to start either posting really, really boring stuff like I only use Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste, or completely making stuff up, like I once starred in a Broadway musical. Her new and improved tag is this: What is the most precious spiritual lesson you have learned this year, OR, How has God's glory been evident in your life this year? I think to answer these questions I'm going to include links to previous blog entries.... First and foremost, I am forever learning and realizing that God is in complete control and that is always what is best for me. Read this post to understand how this has recently been demonstrated in my life. I am also being ever-gently reminded at how blessed I am to be a wife and mom, exactly where I am right now. I talk about this here. God continues to remind me to confess my sins and to be honest about them. Thanks to my dog and her trash-digging ways, I shared this. I am constantly reminded how temporal and insignificant our lives really are. Earlier this year I was reminded of this in a tangible way and wrote about it in this post. And I think that about does it. Thanks, Lori, for such a thoughtful and creative tag. I in turn tag whoever reads this and wants to respond. And by the way, stay tuned for the story of our camping trip with my husband's family. I'm still sifting through the pictures and hope to post by tomorrow....
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Gosh dernnit! I was just bragging to someone the other day that my elderly boxer Bridget had not rummaged through our trash in years, and then lo' and behold, I find this...
She was just wandering around the house with this banana sticker on her face. Usually if she has done something bad, she acts guilty. She will sort of cower, lay her ears flat, tuck what little tail she has and slink about. But tell me, does this look like a guilty dog to you?! Noooooo, and the reason why is that she has no idea that the sticker is on her chin! So she's just sauntering around, acting all innocent, after obviously having devoured dirty bananas and who knows what else. (Now I will wholly admit that I tempted her beyond reason by throwing some trash, including half a banana, into a low, open oatmeal box sitting beside the trash can because the trash was too full, it was Sat. a.m., and I didn't feel like carrying it outside.) This little episode made me wonder how often I walk around with a figurative banana sticker on my face. I am all about keeping up appearances. So when does the real garbage sort of seep up and out a little, huh? I remember a time that Annaleigh was about three years old. Her well-meaning Sunday school teacher came up to me after church and said this: "Ummm, well.... I just thought you should know that Annaleigh gave a prayer request for you and Damon in class today, and well, ummm...she said that she wanted to pray for you because, well, ummm...you two got into a bad argument on the way to church this morning. So, ummm, well...I just wanted you to know so you could ummm, well....talk to her about it, you know...well, ummm...since she seemed sort of upset about it you know." Ummm, yeah....well, I know. There's a banana sticker on my chin. A more recent time I was busy with something downstairs, so I asked Annaleigh (that girl!!!....who does she think she is anyway? The sin police?!) to go over Harrison's math sheet with him. I finished up downstairs and came up to check their progress. Harrison was near tears, and Annaleigh's face red with frustration. "Harrison!" she was fussing, "You're not doing this right! Can't you listen?!" I try to gently tell her to use kindness and patience and she explodes with, "What's the big deal, Mom? I'm just doing it like you do it!" Now she totally should not have been so smart-alecky about it, but hey....I just realized there's another banana sticker on my face. Eventually, after groveling on the hardwood floor with a camera in Bridget's stickered face, I removed the evidence. And again, I'm reminded that just like I saw the sticker on my dog's chin, God sees the "stickers" on ours. Good news.....He can remove them just as easily! We just first have to recognize that we've been digging through the trash and realize that we need to clean up and stay out of there, or we'll look like this:
Pretty silly, huh? |
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If someone were to ask me for a list of my problems, what I would give them would look something like this... 1. My lower back hurts...not sure why. As far as I know, I didn't injure it. I probably slept on it wrongly or something. Anyway, it doesn't feel like anything serious. It just kind of nags. 2. I need a haircut, and I can never seem to find the time to go get it done. And my hair is hard to take care of too. I wake up every morning looking like a frizzy Julia Roberts from Steel Magnolias. What worked for 1991 is not necessarily good for 2007. 3. Annaleigh has a mysterious splinter in her foot, and it's been there since early December. We thought we had extracted it, but it started to form a sort of little bump after Christmas. She's been to the doctor, who had to open up her foot, but they didn't find anything. But now it's back, so it looks like we have to go back and see if they can find it this time...{sigh}. 4. I'm 34 years old, and I still get once-a-month acne break-outs. Ugh... 5. I have an unattractive, outdated sofa in my family room, which I'd like to replace, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. 6. I have a color printer that I like to use for school and scrapbooking projects, but it is just sitting and gathering dust because I can NEVER remember to buy the stinkin' toner for it. 7. I fairly regularly clip coupons from the Sunday paper, organize them and keep them in my purse. Then I go on to forget to actually use them at the store. I think the last time I used a coupon was October 2006. 8. Sometimes after I'm finished doing school with Harrison, I have a little bit of an urge to go put my finger in a light socket. 9. I have organized and cleaned out our craft closet about 3-4 times in the past year, and right now if I were to open the door, something would very likely fall and hit me in the head. Hmmm...maybe I'll just do that after school.... 10. I am 2 jean sizes larger than before I had kids. I'm not happy about this, but I can't seem to do anything about it either. I could probably continue to list things like this for much longer than you'd want to continue to sit and read my seemingly petty little pity party. My point in pondering a list such as this is to prove that I really don't have any significant problems. I know everyone does at some point in their lives...and I definitely have gone through some valleys in my existence. I have not, however, known suffering in tremendous degrees, and for that I'm thankful. Right now, eight doors down from where I live, a homeschooling mom in her thirties, just left this world to be with Jesus, leaving behind a husband and four small children, all seven years old and under. I knew her by reputation only through a local homeschooling yahoo group, and through that became acquainted with her battle with ovarian cancer over the past couple of years. I do not have problems. I have inconveniences. Lord, help me to never gripe and complain over the petty when others are experiencing loss and grief like that of this precious family. May I, and many others, learn through this to treasure our existence and not take a day...or even a moment...for granted. And may those moments be to Your glory! |
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Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that sort of sneaks up on me. I know, I know...the store aisles have been lined with pink bears and cellophave covered hearts since the week after Christmas. But still I manage to always put off the actual planning for this day, and I'm usually running around trying to put together some goodies for my sweeties at the last minute. And this year, with it falling on a Wednesday, it just adds to the hectic, let's-try-to-squeeze-this-in sort of attitude. As I think about that, I (and everyone else for that matter!) really should try to improve. Valentine's is one of those selfless times, where we are thinking of the most important people in our lives and going above and beyond the ordinary to show them our love. I love my family greatly, but I sometimes fail at conveying that to them. Valentine's Day gives me the opportunity to make up for those failures and shower them with extra love and affection. So in order to get myself in the right frame of mind, I thought I would ponder (and share like a good blogger) some effective ways to celebrate this "LOVE"-ly holiday. 1. Make a special dinner. Sure, going out is fantastic, but not everyone has a filet mignon meal in their budget, not to mention childcare costs and hassles. Last year I made heart-shaped mini pizzas with custom toppings. This year I'm making chicken enchiladas. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, but I would suggest going outside your norm. For me, that's simply thinking beyond my usual crockpot fare and spending a little more time on the meal...and, of course, making a dessert. 2. Homemade Valentine's cards. I honestly don't know when the last time was that I gave Damon a store-bought card. It doesn't have to be fancy or super-creative. Some doodles, hearts, magazine letters, and a handwritten note are enough. I am a pretty serious scrapbooker so mine tend to be a little more elaborate. This year I actually made Damon a little mini book, complete with pictures and sentiments that reminded me of "US." I have been wanting to try my hand at these paperbag albums that I have seen, so Valentine's was the perfect excuse to put one together. I love the way it turned out, so I will definitely be making some more. The front: A page inside: Because it is made with paper lunch bags, you can have little hidden pull-outs inside. This one has my favorite Shakespearean sonnet printed on it (Sonnet 130 "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun..."): 3. Watch a movie. There are scads of good romantic flicks out there. It doesn't have to be a new release (although the one with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant that's coming out soon looks pretty cute!). We have several favorites on hand that we can pop in at a moment's notice. Some of my favorites are.... *Gone with the Wind (although good luck in getting your guy to sit through it) *Phantom of the Opera (the music alone is romantically inspiring, but the story itself is pretty sad) *Never Been Kissed (it's a little teeny-boppy, but it always makes me smile) *Thirteen Going on Thirty (again, lots of smilage) *The Count of Monte Cristo (romantic and enough sword-fighting to still be manly) *anything with Meg Ryan.....ok I've not seen all of her movies, but her romantic comedies are the BEST! 4. Write out some scripture. If you are a little on the shorthand for some romantic inspiration, go right to the source. The Bible is the ultimate authroity on love. In looking for some quotes for my little book I mentioned, I found some of the best stuff here, beyond 1 Corinthians 13. Nothing will tell your spouse you love him/her more than writing some Word to them. 5. Buy someone flowers. Yes, even if you're the girl. Every Valentine's, I think, Damon has gotten me flowers. I am very blessed. But for some people who are not in a relationship, Valentine's might be pretty depressing....possibly even a reminder of some pain. My mom is single, and we always try to include her in some of our festivities. One year we got some single girls at our church some flowers from Harrison. Find someone who is not going to get a Valentine and make their day! I'm sure there are many, many other ways to celebrate this day. The main thing is to show people that you love them. As cliche as this sounds, it should not just be limited to this day set aside for chocolates and diamonds and flowers. Every day we need to love.....love Christ, love our spouses, love our kids, love our neighbors, love our enemies. |
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I will probably always remember this very different New Year's in two parts. First, it was all about Bridget, our boxer. Before Christmas she was diagnosed with an aural hematoma, and as grim as that sounds to the non-medical personalities out there, is actually just a term for a bruised ear and is not all that serious. As a matter of fact, with the help of my vet and truckloads of internet information, I had decided not to do anything about it and let the blood just reabsorb into her body. Worst case scenario, she would end up with an unattractive "cauliflower ear", but at nearly nine years old, cosmetics was not my main concern with her. Plus I thought it was sort uncanny that she would now be a 'boxer' in a truer sense of the word. (Just in case you have no idea what I'm talking about, human boxers sometimes get cauliflower ears from injuries in their sport.) As Christmas approached, and we prepared to head south for our holiday, Bridget's ear swelled enormously. She still did not seem to be in any pain, but I was feeling leery about putting her in a kennel, so off to Charleston she went. When we got home, she took another turn for the worse, and was now yelping with pain anytime she moved her head. As much as I hated to, I made the appointment with the vet for the surgery, but the earliest they could see her was January 4th...six days from the time I was making the appointment! After an afternoon of high-pitched yelping, I called an emergency, after-hours vet and took her in. I can't describe how thankful I am that I did this. This vet found a heart murmer which prevented a full-anesthetic surgery, which my vet was going to perform. He was able to do an alternate kind, which she still did not react well to. He was doubtful that she would have survived a full-blown surgery! She has done remarkably well with the procedure he did, and despite his doubts has left the majority of her bandage on. We are hopeful that this will solve the problem, and that it will not recur, which is sometimes likely. For now, she's enjoying the extra attention and the bits of bread and lunch meat that I've been wrapping her antibiotics in. Here's a picture of the invalid...
The second part of this New Year's began with my taking a pregnancy test and through a rather unorthodox and pretty humorous method (sorry...I just don't have the patience or humor to go into this story right now...if you're curious, ask me later...) getting a very "if-y" positive result. Obviously I retested (twice, actually) and got very faint but positive results both times. At this point, we chose to tell our family, but pretty much keep it quiet until I had seen a doctor. Unfortunately, on New Year's Eve, I began spotting, and the next day brought a more steady blood flow. I went to the doctor today, and a pregnancy test came back negative in their office. I'm undergoing some blood work, but it looks as if I'm no longer pregnant and had a very early miscarriage. I realize that I'm telling this tale in a rather detached manner, but please understand that all of this seems so surreal at this point. Honestly, the whole thing felt so natural, that if I had not had the positive tests, I would have chalked the whole thing up as a late cycle, which, by the way, is not unusual at all for me. The grief I've felt has been strange. At one moment, my eyes will flood with tears and I can't hardly bear what's happened. And then I find myself in the next moment asking my kids if they'd rather have grilled cheese or tuna for lunch and just going about my business. In one moment, I'm having thoughts of scheduling Damon's vasectomy so as not to go through this again. And then seconds later, finding myself daydreaming about a positive test next month or the next.... It's all very strange, and I'm not quite sure how to convey all of my thoughts feelings and emotions. People who knew about this keep asking me how I am. I am fine. I really am...both physically and emotionally. I know that God is in control. I know that although I have suffered a loss and that it was hard, that I am a very blessed individual. I have a loving, supportive husband. I have two, beautiful, smart, healthy kids. I have a wonderful family (on both sides!) who have prayed me through this. Even if I am not ever to conceive again, I am content with what I have, and I will not err by second-guessing God's sovereignty. New Year's is one of those times for me where I have a hard time remembering one year to the next how we celebrated. 2001....was that the year we played RISK into midnight? 2003....didn't we have some friends over? Weren't we traveling for 2005? Our entry into 2007 will not go down in history for us so remotely. It will be the year I remember God's grace in a time of emotional upheaval, and I will know I was held in the palm of His hand. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to start a new year any other way. |
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Somehow, despite the fact that I have now had two turkey dinners, mulitiple slices of pumpkin pie and been to Grandma's house and back, I feel that I have not properly celebrated Thanksgiving. Is this because I didn't cook...at all? Is it because I forgot I had whipped cream so ate at least two slices of naked pie? Is it because we also celebrated Christmas at the grandparents'? Or is it because I did not take the time to truly adjust my heart and focus on the Lord's extreme blessing in my life? Actually, I think it's probably a combination of all of those, but with a great emphasis on the latter. That...and because I did not do one turkey craft with my kids this year, which is against some Thanksgiving law, I believe.
So, I was browsing my e-mail this morning and saw a Thanksgiving acrostic from someone. You know, it's one of those things where you spell things with the letters written vertically down the side of the paper. In an attempt for some Thanksgiving closure, I thought I'd try one. Here goes...
T is for THANKFUL. It is true. I am not thankful enough. I live a very blessed existence. I have a wonderful husband, who loves and supports me. I have two great, healthy, smart, amazing kids. I live in a nice house with all kinds of amenities. I drive an almost new van. I have a wonderful extended family, who almost all live within a day's drive. I am able to stay at home with my kids and homeschool them. I could go on and on and on and on.... I am THANKFUL....and I need to express it everyday and keep my heart full of a thankful spirit.
H is for HOMESCHOOLING. I already mentioned it, I know, but I had to type it in all caps. I am so very thankful to be able to homeschool. You could call me on the phone on any given day, and I may have something to complain about. Annaleigh may be having one of her days where she's done a little bit of all of her assignments but not completed one entire assignment (which drives me nuts, by he way!!!), or Harrison may have had a temper tantrum and thrown his math manipulatives across the room (which makes me want to throw a tantrum, by the way), or I may still not be over this ogre of a cold I've had for a month and a half, which makes reading aloud a tremendous bear, or any number of things that make homeschooling difficult. But none of these things negates the fact that I love it, and I wouldn't have it any other way....permanatly. I might give it up for a few hours one afternoon!
A is for ANIMOSITY. Why can't families get through any major holiday without this?!? Well, maybe yours can, but ours can't. Damon and I have already had to go through and settle a money issue. Harrison had to get a spanking for disobedience last night just when we were beginning to decorate the tree. Sometimes these incidents are small, but then I can remember times when the emotional hangover creates a major damper on other festivities. I know that families will always have difficulties, but wouldn't it be nice if they could disappear during the holidays?
N is for NEW. One of my favorite things about this time is that the year is winding down. Now I'm not a big fan of New Year's in the traditional sense. We've never partied like it's 1999 or anything like that. I just like the fact that I get to start over, turn over a new leaf, begin again....or whatever cliche you want to insert there. I like New Year's resolutions...I said I like them.... I don't necessarily keep them. I usually start pondering the New Year around this time, and I'm always anxious to shed some of my undesirables come December 31.
K is for KIDS. I enjoy this time of year, and I always have, but something about sharing it with kids makes it magical. I love carrying on traditions that Damon and I had as children, and I equally love creating new ones with them. Every year since Annaleigh was five, she has baked a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Well, this year we decided to go to Cracker Barrel for our meal, and Annaleigh about had a fit. Come to find out, one major reason was that she wouldn't get to bake her pie. So I went to Wal-mart, bought the pumpkin pie fixins', and we baked a pie.
S is for SNOW. No, we don't see much of it here....especially in November. But just once I'd love to see a good ole' fashioned Currier & Ives snow for Thanksgiving weekend. Once it did snow when we were getting our Christmas tree. It was beautiful, and surreal, and very short-lived. Just once I'd love a blanket of cold, white stuff!
G is for GRANDMA. I always miss my grandma more at this time of year. I miss her always, but I guess holidays just do that to you. I was thinking about her the other day at Cracker Barrel. Over the last few years of her life, she had begun to enjoy the convenience of going there for Thanksgiving. She was the best cook I've ever known, but she was just tired, and it was a treat for her to go there. She wouldn't even get the traditional meal, but usually a vegetable plate! I am so thankful to have known her like I did and enjoy a closeness that is so rare in our society today.
I is for ILLUMINATE. We always decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend....usually a combination of Friday and Saturday. We got our tree on Friday. We drove to Volunteer Tree Farm in Lebanon, where you can cut your own. We only got the decorations on the tree that evening, and we've spent the rest of the weekend doing all the rest, i.e. manger scene, nutcrackers, etc. One of my favorite decorations is lights. I love to turn out all of the house lights and just let the soft twinkle of the tree and banister lights glow. I have heard and seen that colored lights are making a comeback, but I remain partial to white. I just love their quiet, beautiful simplicity and subtle reminder of the light that Christ is to this world.
V is for VOCAL. In our house there is a rule: No Christmas music until after Thanksgiving! Damon feels that merchandisers do enough to skip Thanksgiving as it is, and we're not going to help them by "Jingle-Belling" until after our turkey. I have to agree, even though I'm usually foaming at the mouth for a little "Silent Night" or "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Well, and if you know me, you know that I just don't listen, I'm a singer, so I sing them...all month long. And Amy Grant, if you're reading this, I can do a great harmony for your "Breath of Heaven," so if you ever decide to do a remix, let me know. I'm in your neck of the woods....
I is for ....hmmmm...another I. How about ICE STORM? It's second best after SNOW, but I'll take what I can get.
N is for NOCTURNAL. Actually, I'm like this pretty much all the time. It's a real chore for me to go to bed. But during the holidays, it becomes a way of life for me. I'm up until all hours of the night wrapping, baking, watching my favorite Christmas movies.
G is for GOD. Isn't this what it all boils down to? Without God and his Son, all celebrating is in vain. It is easy to lose God in all of the hoopla of this time of year, but I encourage you, to take time to make sure He is the center and the purpose for all of your festivities.
Whew...well, Thanksgiving weekend is winding down here, so I'm glad I got that under my belt. Enjoy the season and all of its wonders and merriments. I'm so thankful for all of you!!! |
Posted in inspirational
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I have always felt guilty about when our schedules get hectic and we tend to fall short on our academic load. That has happened for the last three weeks. We had the company I blogged about before the week of Halloween, so no school then. After that, my Dad and his wife, visited the next week. They were staying in their RV, so we mostly only saw them in the evenings, so we managed to squeak in a few lessons here and there. This weekend we found ourselves in NC celebrating a baby shower, Thanksgiving and Christmas over the course of two days with my husband's family. I was just not in Christmas-mode yet, so I kept thinking this event was a long-way off and majorly put off the much needed preparations for this weekend (see "procrastination" entry below). I found myself a few days before this trip, putting on major educational brakes so that I could wrap gifts, make chocolate-covered pretzels with the kids and pack. Today I awoke to a disastrous living room, strewn end to end with Christmas litter and an impressive mountain of laundry to tackle...so no school, again. And this week is Thanksgiving, so no school at the end of the week either.
But, you know what? I've decided NOT to feel guilty about this. As I sat back and observed my children interacting this weekend, in particular, I saw them learning in ways that they never could from a book. This is what I saw...
I could go on and on about what a rich experience this was for my kids (or me, for that matter!). This is the type of learning that isn't found in a text or on the computer. It is life-learning, and for that I will not feel guilty!
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Yesterday at church Harrison, who is 6, was getting kinda squirmy towards the end of church. He was sort of fingering a bracelet that I was wearing, so I pulled it off and let him hold it. It was one of those with beads all the way around on an elastic band, not expensive, probably bought at a flea market for a couple of dollars. I really like it, however, and always got lots of compliments on it. Well, about half-way through praise and worship (ours is mostly after the sermon), Harrison pokes me, and I look down and see him holding a piece of broken elastic, while the floor around us is strewn with pewter and amber beads. {sigh} I hurriedly bend to pick them up, shooing off people behind us who are trying to help. I give Harrison's shoulder a little squeeze to let him know I'm not angry, and then try to focus on the words we're still singing while clutching a fistful of beads. I guess I was thinking I might try to re-string them later...?
Church was winding down now, but after the offering, someone asked to give a prayer request. This ended up being a precious time of spontaneous sharing that lasted for another 15 minutes or so. Two women's testimony touched me in particular. Both women openly and humbly confessed sin in their life and asked for prayer in the church body. Now when I say they confessed sin, we automatically in our minds (well, at least I do) go to the more shocking variety....infidelity, dishonesty, etc. There was no shock factor here. They were not specific, but just confessed things that hindered their walk with the Lord. They were things many of us struggle with but often ignore because they do lack the shock value. They were things like coldness and bitterness, issues of the heart. I was struck by the brokeness and honesty with God that must be present in order to do this.
Wait....brokeness? My palm was still clutching what was left of my bracelet...my broken bracelet. I looked again at the jumbled beads. Although they will no longer adorn my wrist, they are still beautiful with their unique colors and shapes, with the way they catch and reflect the light. It was then that I realized that it was pure and unadulterated beauty that I saw in these two women...the blinding beauty of their brokeness before the Lord and fellow believers.
I have decided not to fix my bracelet. I put the beads in a little baggie, and I'm going to put it with the rest of my jewelry as a reminder each to day to be broken before the Lord, to allow Him to search my mind and heart in such a frank way, and to strive for the beauty that comes from that kind of knowing. |