Early Bird or Night Owl...Random on a Tuesday.

 

Sometimes, I sit and read my blog. Old posts, old comments...like an outsider looking in. One thing I realized recently is that I enjoy the sprinkled in small doses of me. Random things that make no real impact, but somehow tell more about me than well thought out posts about hopes, dreams, fears, and the like. Things that otherwise might never come up, but may be meaningful to someone, even me,at another time.

The "random things" blog posts I wrote in my first year of blogging were some of my most commented on posts. I think we all like to connect in simple ways. We like to say "me too", "I do that too" or "I thought I was the only one". A random thing can bring two people together quickly, some common ground is all we are looking for at times. True, yes?

So for me...it's back to random things. This time in the form of questions and answers. 

  

Morning person or Night person?

This is tricky. I work night shift. 

When I am not influenced by shift work sleep habits, however, I am a "middle of the day" person. I like mornings, but not early mornings. My husband is the early bird of the family. I love evenings, but not late late nights. My daughter is the night owl.   By 11 am, I am feeling right. I have had my coffee. I have usually showered and dressed, read and journaled, and am on to the tasks of the day. I am sticking to this 'middle of the day' answer, but if I had to choose morning or night, I would wake up at 10:30 am and say morning!

Favorite Fast Food Restaurant?

Now this one is easy. Chick Fila, no doubt! Nuggets and fries with Polynesian sauce. What's not to like except the fact that there is no dollar menu. 

Last person you went to lunch with?

My sweet friend, Beth. We have this great way of reading each others minds. One hour before lunch, I'll get a text that says "lunch today?" and it just seems to work out. We even have a regular place and a regular dish!

Least favorite chore? 

It used to be unloading the dishwasher, but then we lived through 6 months without a working dishwasher, and I learned to love it, and now I cheerfully unload the clean dishes.  This week I'll say it is matching up the many socks that make their way into the lonely sock bin in the laundry room. It is time consuming and mind boggling at the same time. I mean where does the other sock go...and how does it show up again like 3 laundry loads later?

Where would you like to retire?

I am going to be all sentimental and say somewhere close to my grown children and their little ones (when they grow up and have little ones, that is.)  For me, it is not about warm weather, or beaches or beautiful scenery. All of that stuff wouldn't satisfy me for long. It is my family that makes me want to live it on out....and getting to spend my time with them with a few side trips to the beaches and mountains mixed in, of course, would be perfect.

Favorite pizza toppings?

Italian sausage, green peppers, black olives, and onions. Thin crust. I mean cracker thin! I can eat more that way!

Soda drinker?

I have to say yes! Diet Pepsi is my first choice. I try not to buy it to have at home unless I am planning to make popcorn. Cola is a "must have" with popcorn.

Favorite TV show?

I do not watch TV. I used to watch TV and back then I loved "Will and Grace" and last year I watched "Once Upon a Time" with my family, but it became too complicated for me to understand.  "Revenge" really got my attention for a little while too. Maybe it would be my favorite, but maybe not anymore since I haven't seen it in months.

Favorite salad dressing?

Ranch, homemade from the little packet. On salad, as a veggie dip, so creamy and fattening. Oh my! Might as well skip the salad and eat a burger and dip the fries too. 

Any Tattoos?

Nope! I do not even like it when I get magic marker on my skin. I don't care if you have one (or five) though. My husband has two (that he says he wishes he could have removed.)  My daughter says she'll get one when she's old enough. I have a friend that has a tattoo where her wedding ring should go. I like that! But again...nope!

Last movie you saw in the theater?

Honestly, the last movie I saw in the theater may have been "Hunger Games." I'd rather spend my date nights sitting and talking rather than going to a movie. The last movie I watched at home on Netflix was "October Baby". It was outstanding. A wonderful story of forgiveness and the realization that what happens to us may shape us, but the way we respond to it is what makes us!

A rule that should not be broken?

These two go together. Seat belts and bike helmets. I am a stickler. I work in a hospital. It's just not worth the risk.

What did you have for dinner?

Grilled chicken with peppers and onions and sweet potato fries. 

How do you drink your coffee?

Often and everyday, with sugar and french vanilla creamer... Unless it is after Christmas. Then it is Peppermint Mocha creamer.  Now you can get it all year long, but it just doesn't seem appropriate.

I have thought about giving up coffee, as it is an addiction, a ritual.  I am enslaved to it and I am not wanting to be enslaved to anything. I am waiting on confirmation before I do anything drastic.

Favorite store to wander around in when you need to waste an hour or two?

I think of the days when I dropped a child off at dance, soccer or volleyball practice. There is a shopping center nearby that has a World Market, Home Goods and Target, all within a minutes drives. Throw in the Garden Center of Home Depot and there you have a time wasting shoppers heaven!

Random is fun! 

Any "Me too's!" or "No ways!" 

Enjoy your day!

Prom Season!

With Spring, comes Prom...and the excitement of it all!
These are just a few of the many photos I took to capture the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was perfect! The girls were beautiful! The boys were charming!
That whole group of teenagers went together to dinner, danced at the prom and then afterward, one brave family had the kids over for a late night breakfast.
Emily slept and lounged around the entire next day!

'Tis the season!
Loving this time of year!


Linking up with Mrs Jenny for alphabe-Thursday! X is for eXcitement!
Come over here to join the rest of the class!

Some people love it....Spring Cleaning!

What is it about spring cleaning?

I want to simplify and get rid of bags and bags of unneeded stuff.
I want to clean out cabinets, like really clean them. Spray them down with 409 and replace the shelf liners.
I want to wash curtains and base boards and vacuum under all the beds.
I want to wash the dog.
I want to label stuff and organize papers and delete old emails.
I want to clean the oven.
I want to do all of it....or let me say, I want it all done!

This week the kids were on spring break. I cleaned out one cabinet. I did our taxes. I changed all the sheets. I vacuumed the upstairs. I think that sums it up. I need a plan. I need a maid.

Do you spring clean?
Do you love it?  Some people do, so I've heard.
How do you get it all done?

What to do with fear.

The police department called, but didn't leave a message.

My heart pounding, I called them back. The lady that answered had no information about anyone having called my number.

I hung up, then called my daughter who had just gotten out of school and should have still been in the parking lot. I called my husband, who should have been at work. Neither one of them answered.

Fear is a powerful thing. It can weigh you down, make you sick to your stomach and cause you to panic. Emily texted back, then she called.  I took a deep breath. Then as I had a moment to calm down, I realized that the police department had called my cell phone. In an emergency, surely they would have called my house phone. I also thought more clearly and remembered that just a few weeks earlier I had filed a police report about a tuba that had been stolen from our garage. I called the police department back. This time I had enough information to get through the gatekeeper to the officer who had called and not left a message.

He wanted to inform me that the tuba had been found. It was pawned shortly after it was taken. On Presidemt's Day, while my kids were playing in and out of the house, doors unlocked, in the driveway, and in the garage, someone was watching and waiting to walk into my garage and steal something that they knew could be pawned quickly and easily.  The officer was sure the offenders were just looking for quick cash and were probably harmless, but because the tuba had been pawned so close to the time it was stolen, the cameras in the pawn shop could be used as evidence to indict the theives. As I rehashed the details with the officer, the fear came back again. Thoughts of how we should never keep our garage door open because nothing is safe. Thoughts about how close the stranger was to the door leading to the inside of our home. Thoughts about him coming back.

It is often said that the things we fear the most, are the things that never happen. Fear can stop you from living and keep you in hiding.  Fear can cause you to lose trust in people and lose trust in God. Fear puts too much pressure on "what if" and not enough reliance on "He is!"

It is scary to think that something could happen to my children or my husband. It is scary to think about theives coming to watch our home or steal our things. When my mind  begins to go there and causes me to panic, I have to take those thoughts captive and claim the truth of God's word.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self discipline. 2 Tim 1:7  

There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out all fear. 1 John 4:18

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

This is my command-- Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

It is God's word that releases the power to break the bond of fear. To allow us to rest and trust and experience life.

We will continue to leave our garage door open when we are in and out and we will pay attention to what's around us. We will remind each other to "be careful" and "call us when you get there" and we will still worry unnecessarily. It is our nature, but if we can remember that we are powerless over fear without the promise of a God who is for us, we can feel secure in the moment and rely on who "He is" instead of on our own "What if's?"

Is it just me?

How do you deal with your fears?

I'm linking up here with Jenny Matlock for alphabe-thursday. The letter for today is "T". 

At the end of the day, I almost forgot...

Hello Monday!

Hello Spring Break.
Hello cousins and neighborhood kids hanging out at our house.
Hello hiding food and snacks...or they will all be gone...today.
Hello grocery shopping, because they will most likely find the snacks.
Hello unpacking from a weekend of volleyball in Atlanta.
Hello laundry that goes along with unpacking.
Hello Charlotte traffic. I love you much more after spending the weekend in Atlanta.
Hello pain relief for a friend who has been waiting for surgery.
Hello reconnecting with my husband after 7 really busy days of work and travel.
Hello sunshine and 70 degree weather.
Hello Good News of a Risen Lord and the promise of new life.

Happy Monday!
What are you saying hello to this week?

Enjoy!

Another Lovely Monday!

Today is Monday and life is lovely.

It is officially Spring. The daffodils are showing off their splendor and pronouncing the soon to be warmer days and brighter nights. Summer comes right after Spring and that is exciting indeed.

We have a full fledged 17 year old living in our home. It doesn't seem possible. 16 was big...but 17 just seems old. Too old. Emily celebrated her birthday earlier this month in New York City with a group of friends from school...and with chaperones of course. She also celebrated this weekend with her family on Friday...and friends on Saturday. She has the sweetest friends...and of course, her family is amazing too.

Jonathan is celebrating his birthday early with the acquisition of an iPhone. Something tragic happened to his itouch, therefore he suckered me into getting the phone for him one month early. The best part is that with a small repair to the itouch, I'll have some really fun music to listen to if I can ever get my running shoes off the bottom of the shoe pile.

Zac and his good buddy Max took an ice hockey lesson this weekend....then we all skated.

Today marks the start of another Good Morning Girls online bible study session. I love the pace of these studies. I love that God uses his word to speak truth to me. I am anticipating a lot of ah ha moments when I realize how personal God is in the midst of my circumstances.

We have the sweetest young professional living in our bonus room. My cousin, who is out of college with her first real big girl job, is bunking with us until she finds an apartment to share uptown. She is amazing. Everyone loves having her here. She is stylish and shares her clothes with Emily. She is as neat as a pin...and unloads our dishwasher and folds laundry. She is a health food nut and she even convinced our boys to try mustard greens. They would not think of trying the seaweed salad, though. We are sad to think that one day she will move out....but I guess living with us long term is not the idea she had when she imagined her fabulous new life in the city.

My husband and I are going on dates more often these days. Quick little getaways after family dinner, for coffee and dessert...or lunch dates when our schedules allow.  I love the conversations we've been having and find that by being intentional about our getaways, we are placing great value on each other and caring for our relationship.

It can't all be rosie, but we are so thankful for the lovelies around us that cause us to pause and recognize God's great gifts!

Happy Monday and have a lovely week.

What to do with my disappointment...

Sometimes things in life are disappointing.
Not tragic, devastating, or unbearable, but just different than the way we had planned. And when I say different, I mean worse.

In the last few months, we have been disappointed by a few altered plans of our own.

Emily has had a tough club volleyball season this year. She is an incredible athlete with so much potential. She has always been one of the best at her position. She has always had passion. This year, she made the top team in the club. It was a tremendous honor and the coach is amazing, but the first few nights she came home and cried into her pillow. She is the youngest. All of the other girls are seniors and at least 5 of them have committed to play in college on scholarships. She felt isolated and alone. She had expected to play with the same friends she has played with for the past 4 years. Throughout this season she has discovered that she no longer wants to devote the time and effort needed to play at the college level. She has not lost her passion, but her passions have changed.
Emily also submitted an application to be considered for a prestigious club at her high school. 12 students are to selected to represent an elite group of students committed to remaining drug, alcohol, and violence free. They travel and speak to middle school students, promote positive alternatives and encourage students to reach their full potential. Her application was amazing. She was honest and transparent about some of her struggles and how she had learned from her mistakes. She wrote boldly about her relationship with Jesus and about how He sustains her through trials and temptations. She turned in her application....and was one of a very few who did not get an interview. A huge disappointment.

Jonathan is small in stature. He is also an incredible athlete, but he has a good head on his shoulders and knows that some sports are just plain dangerous for small boys. He is very fast. He has always been complimented on his speed. In baseball, he stole the most bases, in soccer, he out ran the ball, in flag football, he juked and spun and broke away from the pack. We always knew he would run track. He tried out this spring and he did not make it. He was less than 1 second from making the 100 meter hurdle event. Only 4 seventh graders made it and as usual, there may have been some politics involved. Another disappointment.

The thing that got my attention, the huge lesson that I learned, was not in their disappointment, but in their response to their disappointment.  I was upset and wanting answers. I was wanting to question why Emily didn't get an  interview when at least she was honest, unlike many of the other applicants who conveniently denied their true struggles. And I wanted to question the track coaches ridiculous reasoning behind putting only 4 seventh graders on the track team. Why not invest a season to get these boys ready for next year.
Emily and Jonathan did not question or stew over bad decisions or unfair practices. They both agreed that it must not be "meant to be." Emily said things like, "I can still be that same person {of high moral standards} without being a part of that club," and "I still love volleyball, I just don't want the pressure of playing in college. I want to experience more."  Jonathan asked the coach, "How can I improve? What do you think I should do to get better," and Jonathan said to me, "Maybe I need more down time, I love being at home after school too."

I talk about their disappointments here because I am not ready to talk about mine, but in watching them respond, I gain such hope.

In Romans Chapter 5, I read these words, 

 

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"  

                                                                                                                                {Message Translation}

 

I love the hope that is promised here. Disappointments will come, some small and fleeting and some that linger on, but when I choose to respond in a way that puts the pressure back on God, then I can be excited and not defeated. Hopeful and expectant.

What do you do with disappointment?

What gives you the greatest hope?

Enjoy the weekend!

I'm Alive!

I'm Alive!  I'm Alive!

I have not vanished. I have not left the building. I have not run off to a deserted island, even though, I may have wanted to at one time or another.

Sometimes, when life gets hectic and we start to lose our footings, all we really need is rest. Sometimes that rest comes as a little gift, a break that we didn't plan for, or even recognize until after it was well underway. A set back, or a sickness or a broken down car that leaves us stranded at home. Gifts of rest in disguise, you know?

I have missed this writing place, but truth be told, I have been able to spend more time writing in other places. I have ramped up my journaling. I have emailed friends and I have even hand-written a few note cards to friends that needed to be encouraged. I have been reading more books and searching more blogs and I have been spending time thinking about where I want to go with this little blog of mine. I love that this project is mine and that it can flow and ebb into whatever form I choose to best fit who I am and what I want to say in this moment.

One thing I know about resting is that it crucial for revival. It is calming. It brings healing. It is mind-clearing and it just makes you feel better on the other side of it! This is where I am. Ready to hop up from a nice, long, cozy slumber and start afresh.

Do you need rest?

Where do you go to get revived...for blogging....for life?

Happy Thursday! 

Linking up with Mrs Jenny for alphabe-thursday!  "R" is for Rest!
Come on over here to join the rest of the class!

Happenings....

 January is half over. We are already super busy.  Everyone around here is still eating healthy and trying hard to stay on task with assignments. The sun is shining more each day and even though we did not get any snow...we are happy about an extra long holiday weekend.

Emily is fully into the club volleyball season. She is on the top 18's team in the club. That should be fabulous for her, right? The trouble is that all of the girls on her team are older than her and her friends that she has played with since she was 14 are on the 17's team.  She realizes that her coach is amazing. She has played for him before and he is the one who is able to get the most out of her. She also realizes that the competition this year will be tough. The best girls in the country compete at this level. Five of the girls on her team are already committed to play in college. She is a little unsure of herself.  She told her coach that this is the year that she will decide whether or not to pursue playing volleyball in college. Depending on what she decides...this may be her last club season.  We have loved watching her play. She really is amazing. We want her to succeed and to play with the best...but more than that we want her to be so happy! At the beginning of the season, there were a couple of nights that she would come home and cry into her pillow. She felt alone and isolated. She is so outgoing and I knew that it was not like her to feel that way. I prayed for a miracle...that God would show her why she was put on that team....away from all of her friends.  The first tournament was a success. She felt better after playing with the girls and got several compliments from players and parents that boosted her confidence. Next weekend we have another tournament. Again, I am praying that God will give her confidence and that she will have the opportunity to hang out with her teammates and get to know them off the court.

Other than volleyball...she is busy with school. Her hardest semester starts on Wednesday. She is also busy with work at Chick-fil-a and hopes to begin training to become a team leader in the Spring... and she has been asked to help lead worship at Young Life on Monday nights. And if that's not enough...she has given up sweets, bread, pasta and potatoes....and that is enough to stress any teenage girl out. Bless her!

Jonathan is enjoying the extra curricular activities in Middle School. His grades are steady, A's and B's, and his social life is off the charts. He has tons of friends and he even has a little girlfriend. I say "little" because it makes it sound more cute and less scary to me.  Over Christmas break, they went ice skating. She lives in our neighborhood and one day he went over to her house to exchange presents. I am trying not to make a big deal of it...but oh my goodness...she is so cute and he is my oldest son.
He has been spending more time in his room since he got a TV with his Christmas money. He is the one of our 3 children that is good about saving money. He realizes that saving for something better later is better than spending what you have now.  We always said our kids would never have a TV in their rooms. Well....it is only used for the PS3 game system and has no cable hook-up so we agreed we would give it a try. So far it has been fine....but he knows that the first time he needs to be punished for something....Mom and Dad are going to have a nice new TV in their bedroom for a week or so.

Zac is into lots of things. He loves his game systems and his couch potato time after school. He also loves to wrestle and play Nerf Wars with his best friend, Max. He got a Mandolin at Christmas from my Uncle Dan. He learned three chords in the first evening, played it a few more times...and actually sounds really good.
We have also noticed that Zac is becoming more independent. He does most things for himself...too much at times. Just yesterday I threatened (seriously) to keep the pantry door locked. I tried it for a short time. The major problem is that my trash can is in the pantry. It is amazing how many times, during dinner prep, that I need to toss something in the trash can. Ugggh. This weekend he is ice skating and spending the night with a friend. He asked if we would come by to check on him before bedtime. I love that! Of course, I will think of a good excuse like him forgetting his tooth brush or pillow, although I really don't think he would even think to be embarrassed...yet.

David and I are finding ourselves to be very busy too. I have added an extra day to my work schedule to pay off some bills to get in position to add a college tuition payment to our budget in just over a year.  I love my job and the people I work with and feel blessed to be in the medical field where the pay is good and the hours are flexible. Being away from home an extra night...means sleeping another day. I am looking for some good crock pot recipes and freezer casserole ideas to make dinners easier for all and the kids are pitching in more to help with easy household chores. So far when people ask me how it's going, my response is...steady...we are holding steady! It is actually good...with the promise to get even better.

These are just a few of our latest happenings!
Happy Weekend!

New!

Christmas is over and the new year is coming at me quickly. I am already 11 days in and feeling as if it may be moving even more quickly than the months leading up to Christmas.
It will be 75 degrees here this weekend. I suppose in just a few moments....it will be time for summer vacation.

As I say at the start of each new year, I do not set resolutions. I have failed too many times in the past to set myself up for that again, but I do acknowledge that with each new year there is a sense of newness.  A starting point.....just like the first Monday of a new diet or the first day of a new semester in school. A place where one can feel victorious.

There is something inside me that makes me want to throw away old things, start a new journal, clean out linen closets, rearrange some furniture and buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to replace the boxes of Christmas candies and cookies.I want to eat right and exercise and make my bed up every morning. I want to be on time and delete my email messages right after I read them. I am at the starting point...and it is all still possible.

I want to experience the new in the New Year and not just in the first few weeks.
I am excited about what is ahead.
I am hopeful and happy.
I am free to try and free to fail.....and free to experience the goodness that comes from a fresh start. There is no slate that has been wiped clean, no big change that has taken place.....it is just an attitude in my heart.
New.... I feel it!
Now....what am I going to do with it?
2013... A NEW year.

I realize I am a little late with the holiday wishes, but....
Happy New Year to you and yours!
I hope it will be our very best year yet!