Nancy says:
Correction:
The Irish movie recommended by Andrew Peterson that we saw having to do with musicians was called Once (not Alone). The main song on it was actually on the Academy Awards performed by the couple in the movie. Apparently they are more popular than I thought. She is only 17yrs old from Czech. He is Irish. Excellent movie-bad language in the beginning.
I have my big long paper to do this coming week and then I am done with another course! Finished the annoying test tonight. I decided I would rather write long papers. My next course much to my nervousness, is on statistical research. Math-yikes. Dave, help me.
Clogged toilets: Does anyone get as many clogged toilets as we do? They are almost clogging on a daily basis. I informed the kids that I was no longer going to de-clog them and also, instructed them all on the proper flushing technique to possibly avoid this problem (needless to say they giggled throughout). One does not want to call a plumber only to hear him say, "Well don't put so much in there. That will be $100." Any wisdom I am open. (I only wish my toilets were as open).
A new song on the Christian radio station I believe by Stephen Curtis Chapman called "Cinderella". It is about his daughter growing up and the different times of practicing dancing with daddy in preparation for some event-prom, wedding. He dances with her, all the time remembering that by midnight, she will be gone. I burst into tears. One daughter in 6th , one in 1st. Not too long and they will all be gone. (Yes, go ahead and say it. I am a sap!) I can't believe I am saying this when I vowed I wouldn't. When my kids were babies and I just wanted them to grow up and now they are quickly on their way. Everyone told me to enjoy them while they were little. Now I get it. Well, I have time to enjoy them still. We have instituted family night each week and other special times and trips, and so I am glad. We are watching all the Home Improvement episodes.
This is for Annie and anyone else who gets confused about how to spell my son's and my brother's name. Both of their names are Jonathan and if shortened are spelled: Jon or Jonny. No H.
Speaking of Jonny, I had a bit of a breakthrough with him the other day. He has been struggling in school not because he is stupid, but seems to have lack of motivation. For example, he still does not know his multiplication tables and I have gotten very frustrated over them for the last year or so. I asked him what is wrong and he said they were too hard. I told him lots of things were hard in life. " I am afraid I will never get it-especially the 8's", he said. He is afraid of failing, of not getting what he is supposed to get, of not being who he is supposed to be, or who people (esp. us) think he should be. Oh boy, I wonder where he got that from and now I wonder what to do? I told him he could do it and would get it eventually and that we would just work until he got it. So confusing to be a parent. I felt like a counselor already!
Happy Leap Day!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Oscar Award for Best Original Song- Once
Glen Hansard and partner Markéta Irglová won the Best Original Song Oscar for 'Falling Slowly' from the film 'Once', in which they starred.
"no matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible," Irglova said during take two. "And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream, and don't give up. This song was written from the perspective of hope, and hope, at the end of the day, connects us all, no matter how different we are."
I'll have to show Kielan the replay of the performance and get his insight on the Hansard's guitar. It did look "well loved".Friday, February 22, 2008
Teach us to number our days
Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days...
Psalm 103:15 - As for man, his day's are like grass...
This past Wednesday, I had to drop off our car to get the oil changed. We had delayed and forgotten to do it earlier in the week, so after youth group, Nancy took the kids home and I went to Eddie's repaire on Courthouse road.
As I pulled in to Eddies, I looked across the street and saw a car upside down against a pole and about five guys around it. I got out and ran over to see what was going on. I yelled to see if anyone had called 911 as I could hear screaming and shouting. I anticipated either someone strapped in their seatbelt and waiting to get out or someone covered in a bunch of blood. As I looked in, all I could see was a part of an arm trapped under the car. Nearby was an 8 year old boy screaming for his mom, asking if he was hurt and bleeding. Over and over he kept asking the same question.
There was nothing we could do. Within a few minutes, fire and rescue arrived and took over. I went back across the street and dropped my keys in the drop box and waited for Nancy to pick me up.
As I have been processing this over the last two days, I'm reminded to pray more for the fire and rescue people in Stafford who deal with this on a frequent basis. We talk about it in church regularly but this drives it home.
I'm still thinking about "teach us to number our days...". It is a short time here on this earth. God, teach me more and teach me to value the truly valuable things.
Psalm 103:15 - As for man, his day's are like grass...
This past Wednesday, I had to drop off our car to get the oil changed. We had delayed and forgotten to do it earlier in the week, so after youth group, Nancy took the kids home and I went to Eddie's repaire on Courthouse road.
As I pulled in to Eddies, I looked across the street and saw a car upside down against a pole and about five guys around it. I got out and ran over to see what was going on. I yelled to see if anyone had called 911 as I could hear screaming and shouting. I anticipated either someone strapped in their seatbelt and waiting to get out or someone covered in a bunch of blood. As I looked in, all I could see was a part of an arm trapped under the car. Nearby was an 8 year old boy screaming for his mom, asking if he was hurt and bleeding. Over and over he kept asking the same question.
There was nothing we could do. Within a few minutes, fire and rescue arrived and took over. I went back across the street and dropped my keys in the drop box and waited for Nancy to pick me up.
As I have been processing this over the last two days, I'm reminded to pray more for the fire and rescue people in Stafford who deal with this on a frequent basis. We talk about it in church regularly but this drives it home.
I'm still thinking about "teach us to number our days...". It is a short time here on this earth. God, teach me more and teach me to value the truly valuable things.
Movie Review - Once
As Nancy mentioned in an early chapter, errr post, we have been watching some different movies. Reading through some end of year movie lists, the movie Once kept popping up. So, I thought, let's see what the buzz is about the movie.
Alone was an independent movie that received good reviews at some of the film festivals. Set in Dublin, Ireland, it tells the story of a song writer over the course of a week as he writes music, interacts with another younger woman he has met while performing on the street, his and her relationships with other people and his relationship with his dad.
The language is raw in the movie so if that bothers you, you've had your warning. It is in a deep Irish brogue so we used the English subtitles which did help.
The songwriting and music is amazing. It is almost considered a musical with all of the music being played throughout the movie. I'm impressed by the talents and abilities of musical people and how they can write music that moves and impacts people. To listen to the music, you can go to http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/
This was a movie that I could have watched again and probably again. The story was not your typical Hollywood ending. I specifically enjoyed the father/son interaction.
Overall, excellent movie. Raw language but great storyline and insight into relationships.
Alone was an independent movie that received good reviews at some of the film festivals. Set in Dublin, Ireland, it tells the story of a song writer over the course of a week as he writes music, interacts with another younger woman he has met while performing on the street, his and her relationships with other people and his relationship with his dad.
The language is raw in the movie so if that bothers you, you've had your warning. It is in a deep Irish brogue so we used the English subtitles which did help.
The songwriting and music is amazing. It is almost considered a musical with all of the music being played throughout the movie. I'm impressed by the talents and abilities of musical people and how they can write music that moves and impacts people. To listen to the music, you can go to http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/
This was a movie that I could have watched again and probably again. The story was not your typical Hollywood ending. I specifically enjoyed the father/son interaction.
Overall, excellent movie. Raw language but great storyline and insight into relationships.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Correction
I just wanted to correct my last entry. Erickson's stage that I find myself in is generativity (not initiative-that's toddlers!) vs. stagnation. Anyway, the point is not to stagnate. Which brings me to thoughts of my friend, Annie's, mother. She flew in the other day and I was able to chat with her a bit in the nursery at church. While I was chatting, she certainly was not stagnating! She was doing all kinds of sit ups and crunches the whole time and never did sit still. When Darcy climbed on, she just kept crunching up with more "weight". I hope to be like this, and encouragingly, Annie says I already am.
The CRACK IS BACK!
I have returned to the chiropractor due to horendous headaches mostly, but also other minor chronic ailments that have not been relieved by any of the several doctors I have gone to (or the several medications). I feel better already in only 2 weeks. I am journaling this and will periodically let you all know differences as I go through my year. So far, no headaches, more energy, sleep better. We shall see.
Nancy
The CRACK IS BACK!
I have returned to the chiropractor due to horendous headaches mostly, but also other minor chronic ailments that have not been relieved by any of the several doctors I have gone to (or the several medications). I feel better already in only 2 weeks. I am journaling this and will periodically let you all know differences as I go through my year. So far, no headaches, more energy, sleep better. We shall see.
Nancy
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Nancy's new stuff
It's been a while for me, Nancy, making any new postings, so I have a bunch of "random" thoughts, so bear with me.
My friend reads our blog and couldn't figure out who posted what between Dave and I so I promise to at least identify myself somewhere.
New movies worth seeing (all picked by Dave I might add. He is becoming quite the philosopher/psychologist lately-think "deep thoughts"):
Rain on Me with Adam Sandler (not funny or crude at all believe it or not)
Alone (Irish movie)
Evening (Meryl Streep, Gwen Close, Vanessa Redgrave)
Get ready to think, feel and cry.
Culture: 2 weeks ago we took both our daughters to the Richmond ballet's performance of , "A Midsummer Night's Dream" . We have been going to these ballet productions for the last 2 yrs or so and have enjoyed them plus they are cheaper than Kennedy center and just as good to our novice eyes. Anyway, what an amazing production. It was a great one to take the girls to for the first time. It had an excellent orchestra which played several pieces on their own and were portrayed on the big screen along with the energetic conductor. Then there were 2 narrators who were reading Shakespeare well. (This is based on the Shakespeare comedy/play by the same name so the plot was amazing). There were 2 opera singers who did several pieces with dancers performing around them. To top it off there was a women's chorus adding to the mix. The scenery was excellent and the ballet dancing was as usual superb. I cannot recommend it enough especailly if you are trying out your first ballet or entrance into culture. It has been the best one I have seen so far. The girls loved it. AND... IT WAS FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Servant Leadership: I want to recommend a person who has really had an impact in my life and I am not even in business per se. His name if John Maxwell. He has CD's and books. He is a Christian business leader and very successful. My husband's company subscribes to him and I would highly recommend his books. He said: "If you cannot lead yourself, how can you lead others?" Even pastors and church leaders go to his seminars. Dave and I will go to one in April.
Books: I have read 2 books by Joshua Harris called, "I kissed dating goodbye" and "Boy meets girl". They are amazing and I wish I had read them and been taught that when I was "dating" and in misery half the time. I plan to teach it to my children and asked if Dave and I could teach it in our youth group. I recommend them to any parent or church leader with teens. It has even helped me currently in my own marriage believe it or not. That is because its premise is that we get married not to see what we can get but to glorify God and serve another. Before marriage we treat the opposite sex as brothers and sisters to care for and as God's other children. New perspective.
School: I have less than 3 weeks to be done with this course but it has been very good. It is on all the 11 psychological theories. Makes one think. I can't believe in April that I will be a quarter of the way done with my degree!
Perfect husband: Dave has been continuing his perfect husband streak by doing a beautiful job on the house painting (basement and dining room). I can't wait to see his wainscotting that he plans to create himself and put up in the dining room.
He also remembers all math! and helps both David and Elizabeth with their work in math. He has also been science fair dad this month with Jonny. I do not remember math!
He has been working on our budget and I made a list of dreams for trips and the house (both my favorite things to spend my money on after family). I asked about redoing the floors in the basement (I despise wall to wall carpeting) and he said probably not until 2012. This made me discouraged at first but then I admired him because he isn't willing to let us get in trouble with money by gratifying all his own (we need and he would really like new computers-7+ yrs old) and my wants. That is a true leader.
He tells me I am beautiful (see below) and "I love you" constantly and that never gets old.
Midlife crisis: I think I am in a midlife crisis but not the kind we hear about a lot that men do-leave wife for a young fluzy and get a new sports car. I have not enjoyed 40 and now I am 41 so I am in the thick of it. Mine has to do with transitions and decisions. Eric Erickson had stages that he believed we went through in our lives and at each stage is a crisis that we must successfully resolve or we will get stuck and experience dissatisfaction. I am in the initiative vs stagnation stage and I can really feel that.
1. Getting old: I can really see this since I turned 40 and in a society that emphasizes the outside and beauty and youth, it makes it even harder and more obvious. I told Dave that I used to feel beautiful just by myself-no makeup, hair dye, etc. Then, in my 30's, felt better with nice clothes and makeup and the hair dying started. Now even with that, I do not feel beautiful. Everyone seems younger and prettier (it doesn't help that my kids are entering teens AND I work in youth group, so I hang around a lot of young people). Hence, Dave comes in with "You are so beautiful" and I struggle to believe him because I want to so bad. Then God reminds me of what really matters and I settle.
2. Career: I am still working as a nurse but there have been some changes at the hospital and the shift I worked for 10 yrs has been taken away from me. So now I sit at a desk mostly and make phone calls. I am PRN which means I work as needed so they don't consider me much there. Then I am going to school for Counseling-bit of a career change. This will take me about 8 yrs and I have barely completed one so I am in a long transition with that. I just keep persevering and do not give up.
3. Kids: My son really changed this past year from a boy to a man at least on the outside and it really struck me that I am entering into a new stage with my kids. I not longer have babies, toddlers, or even preschoolers anymore and this is strange. I like them and do not want another baby, but it is still strange to have 1 teen and 2 tweens and a school ager. David especially though, has hit me with the reality that they will soon be gone and what will I do with myself? Another transition which requires a lot of thought and thankfully, I am starting now and have time. Already I try to treat David and Elizabeth differently, but it is hard.
I am crying as I write some of this but I am glad I am facing all these things and not burying my head under the sand. I used to hear women say all this especially about the kids "enjoy them while they are little" and while they were little I wanted to punch these women out, but now I get it much to my chagrine. So I make time for the kids, try to hug and kiss them a lot (hard with David b/c he is so big-5'7' and 150lbs. and he pulls away), and talk to them and listen. I teach them about God, life, experiences and about Dave and I and our relationship. I pray and hope they are listening and that God is speaking to their hearts.
I think I may write a book on turning 40 or hitting this midlife realization that some of my dreams did not come true, some did and some still may. I will include marriage, kids, jobs, careers, experiences, and growth in the Lord. Maybe it will help someone else as some older women have helped me. My one friend who is 57 told me, "When I get down, I just get up, get busy, and serve others". She is absolutely beautiful both inside and out. May we all find mentors to mentor us and others that we can mentor.
My friend reads our blog and couldn't figure out who posted what between Dave and I so I promise to at least identify myself somewhere.
New movies worth seeing (all picked by Dave I might add. He is becoming quite the philosopher/psychologist lately-think "deep thoughts"):
Rain on Me with Adam Sandler (not funny or crude at all believe it or not)
Alone (Irish movie)
Evening (Meryl Streep, Gwen Close, Vanessa Redgrave)
Get ready to think, feel and cry.
Culture: 2 weeks ago we took both our daughters to the Richmond ballet's performance of , "A Midsummer Night's Dream" . We have been going to these ballet productions for the last 2 yrs or so and have enjoyed them plus they are cheaper than Kennedy center and just as good to our novice eyes. Anyway, what an amazing production. It was a great one to take the girls to for the first time. It had an excellent orchestra which played several pieces on their own and were portrayed on the big screen along with the energetic conductor. Then there were 2 narrators who were reading Shakespeare well. (This is based on the Shakespeare comedy/play by the same name so the plot was amazing). There were 2 opera singers who did several pieces with dancers performing around them. To top it off there was a women's chorus adding to the mix. The scenery was excellent and the ballet dancing was as usual superb. I cannot recommend it enough especailly if you are trying out your first ballet or entrance into culture. It has been the best one I have seen so far. The girls loved it. AND... IT WAS FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Servant Leadership: I want to recommend a person who has really had an impact in my life and I am not even in business per se. His name if John Maxwell. He has CD's and books. He is a Christian business leader and very successful. My husband's company subscribes to him and I would highly recommend his books. He said: "If you cannot lead yourself, how can you lead others?" Even pastors and church leaders go to his seminars. Dave and I will go to one in April.
Books: I have read 2 books by Joshua Harris called, "I kissed dating goodbye" and "Boy meets girl". They are amazing and I wish I had read them and been taught that when I was "dating" and in misery half the time. I plan to teach it to my children and asked if Dave and I could teach it in our youth group. I recommend them to any parent or church leader with teens. It has even helped me currently in my own marriage believe it or not. That is because its premise is that we get married not to see what we can get but to glorify God and serve another. Before marriage we treat the opposite sex as brothers and sisters to care for and as God's other children. New perspective.
School: I have less than 3 weeks to be done with this course but it has been very good. It is on all the 11 psychological theories. Makes one think. I can't believe in April that I will be a quarter of the way done with my degree!
Perfect husband: Dave has been continuing his perfect husband streak by doing a beautiful job on the house painting (basement and dining room). I can't wait to see his wainscotting that he plans to create himself and put up in the dining room.
He also remembers all math! and helps both David and Elizabeth with their work in math. He has also been science fair dad this month with Jonny. I do not remember math!
He has been working on our budget and I made a list of dreams for trips and the house (both my favorite things to spend my money on after family). I asked about redoing the floors in the basement (I despise wall to wall carpeting) and he said probably not until 2012. This made me discouraged at first but then I admired him because he isn't willing to let us get in trouble with money by gratifying all his own (we need and he would really like new computers-7+ yrs old) and my wants. That is a true leader.
He tells me I am beautiful (see below) and "I love you" constantly and that never gets old.
Midlife crisis: I think I am in a midlife crisis but not the kind we hear about a lot that men do-leave wife for a young fluzy and get a new sports car. I have not enjoyed 40 and now I am 41 so I am in the thick of it. Mine has to do with transitions and decisions. Eric Erickson had stages that he believed we went through in our lives and at each stage is a crisis that we must successfully resolve or we will get stuck and experience dissatisfaction. I am in the initiative vs stagnation stage and I can really feel that.
1. Getting old: I can really see this since I turned 40 and in a society that emphasizes the outside and beauty and youth, it makes it even harder and more obvious. I told Dave that I used to feel beautiful just by myself-no makeup, hair dye, etc. Then, in my 30's, felt better with nice clothes and makeup and the hair dying started. Now even with that, I do not feel beautiful. Everyone seems younger and prettier (it doesn't help that my kids are entering teens AND I work in youth group, so I hang around a lot of young people). Hence, Dave comes in with "You are so beautiful" and I struggle to believe him because I want to so bad. Then God reminds me of what really matters and I settle.
2. Career: I am still working as a nurse but there have been some changes at the hospital and the shift I worked for 10 yrs has been taken away from me. So now I sit at a desk mostly and make phone calls. I am PRN which means I work as needed so they don't consider me much there. Then I am going to school for Counseling-bit of a career change. This will take me about 8 yrs and I have barely completed one so I am in a long transition with that. I just keep persevering and do not give up.
3. Kids: My son really changed this past year from a boy to a man at least on the outside and it really struck me that I am entering into a new stage with my kids. I not longer have babies, toddlers, or even preschoolers anymore and this is strange. I like them and do not want another baby, but it is still strange to have 1 teen and 2 tweens and a school ager. David especially though, has hit me with the reality that they will soon be gone and what will I do with myself? Another transition which requires a lot of thought and thankfully, I am starting now and have time. Already I try to treat David and Elizabeth differently, but it is hard.
I am crying as I write some of this but I am glad I am facing all these things and not burying my head under the sand. I used to hear women say all this especially about the kids "enjoy them while they are little" and while they were little I wanted to punch these women out, but now I get it much to my chagrine. So I make time for the kids, try to hug and kiss them a lot (hard with David b/c he is so big-5'7' and 150lbs. and he pulls away), and talk to them and listen. I teach them about God, life, experiences and about Dave and I and our relationship. I pray and hope they are listening and that God is speaking to their hearts.
I think I may write a book on turning 40 or hitting this midlife realization that some of my dreams did not come true, some did and some still may. I will include marriage, kids, jobs, careers, experiences, and growth in the Lord. Maybe it will help someone else as some older women have helped me. My one friend who is 57 told me, "When I get down, I just get up, get busy, and serve others". She is absolutely beautiful both inside and out. May we all find mentors to mentor us and others that we can mentor.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Your Homework Assignment
In college, I took a lot of courses in calculus, thermodynamics, differential equations, partial differential equations, etc. We were required to do multiple proofs and solve advanced equations. Often the professor would solve part of the problem and then say "solve the rest as part of your homework assignment".
Which brings me to a "holiday" Arianna-ism. When my parents visited over Christmas, we were out driving around Virginia. In Virginia, we have these gas station/quick marts called FasMart where you can get gas,chips,soda (pop), fried chicken, etc. It is pronounced Fass Mart.
Arianna tells her grandpa that if you switch the F and the M in FasMart you get...The rest is your homework assignment.
Which brings me to a "holiday" Arianna-ism. When my parents visited over Christmas, we were out driving around Virginia. In Virginia, we have these gas station/quick marts called FasMart where you can get gas,chips,soda (pop), fried chicken, etc. It is pronounced Fass Mart.
Arianna tells her grandpa that if you switch the F and the M in FasMart you get...The rest is your homework assignment.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Garmans - Iceland
As I read the following quote, I thought of the Garmans possibly headed to Iceland.
"My Bible is full of those kind of heroes - the shaking-at-the-knees men and women thinking there are countless people more qualified than they are and wondering why the cosmos has deferred a particular task, job, position, title or dream upon them."
Our prayers are continually with you as while there may be more people more qualified than you, God has planned this from the foundations of the earth.
"My Bible is full of those kind of heroes - the shaking-at-the-knees men and women thinking there are countless people more qualified than they are and wondering why the cosmos has deferred a particular task, job, position, title or dream upon them."
Our prayers are continually with you as while there may be more people more qualified than you, God has planned this from the foundations of the earth.
Community - Fullness of God
Andrew Peterson said “It takes all of us united together living now and all who came before us in ages past and in ages to come to equal the fulness exhibited by Jesus Christ on earth.”
In our Western world culture with the "pull yourselves up by the bootstraps"mentality, this is a deep, refreshing thought. So often, my Christian walk is about how I am interacting with God. It's not about how I'm interacting with each of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Sure, I may listen to something you have to say and you may teach me something, but overall, that is a rare ocurrence. If I can figure it out on my own, I can increase my own value and self importance. Normally it is a luxury and a privilege for me to let anyone inside my walk with God.
But I need you, you need me, we need one another to build the true community and fullness of God. When we are united in love, in spirit and in a greater purpose than just ourselves, we become the body of Christ, his bride and the hope for this world.
In Colossians 2, Paul writes "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Somehow we become beautiful when we open our lives to each other, sharing life, giving life, being knit together in love to reach all the riches and the knowledge of God's mystery in Christ.
In our Western world culture with the "pull yourselves up by the bootstraps"mentality, this is a deep, refreshing thought. So often, my Christian walk is about how I am interacting with God. It's not about how I'm interacting with each of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Sure, I may listen to something you have to say and you may teach me something, but overall, that is a rare ocurrence. If I can figure it out on my own, I can increase my own value and self importance. Normally it is a luxury and a privilege for me to let anyone inside my walk with God.
But I need you, you need me, we need one another to build the true community and fullness of God. When we are united in love, in spirit and in a greater purpose than just ourselves, we become the body of Christ, his bride and the hope for this world.
In Colossians 2, Paul writes "For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Somehow we become beautiful when we open our lives to each other, sharing life, giving life, being knit together in love to reach all the riches and the knowledge of God's mystery in Christ.
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