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.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
stupid little things are not really stupid
My stupid little things mean a lot to me. They are a break from life, a change of pace, a breeze if you will.
My stupid little thing right now is staying up until midnight, adding about 160 movies to our Netflix queue and reminiscing about all the great (or some not so great) movies I've seen. I put some in from the 80's that I enjoyed as a kid in hopes that my kids may like them (Clash of the Titans-now that brings me back-can't wait to see Medusa with the snake hair).
I like staying up late. The house is so quiet, I get a lot done or do stupid little things that I can't do normally. I pay for it usually in the morning but once in a while, I sure do enjoy it. I guess I am a bit of a night person still. Perhaps I will be one of those "sundowners" (people who stay up all night roaming) when I am old. God help my kids!
Remember the famous quote (from where I do not know): It's the little things in life that make life grand. (Wow! I sound like my mother!)
By the way, reading blogs may be considered a stupid little thing but I sure enjoy it along with millions of others.
My stupid little thing right now is staying up until midnight, adding about 160 movies to our Netflix queue and reminiscing about all the great (or some not so great) movies I've seen. I put some in from the 80's that I enjoyed as a kid in hopes that my kids may like them (Clash of the Titans-now that brings me back-can't wait to see Medusa with the snake hair).
I like staying up late. The house is so quiet, I get a lot done or do stupid little things that I can't do normally. I pay for it usually in the morning but once in a while, I sure do enjoy it. I guess I am a bit of a night person still. Perhaps I will be one of those "sundowners" (people who stay up all night roaming) when I am old. God help my kids!
Remember the famous quote (from where I do not know): It's the little things in life that make life grand. (Wow! I sound like my mother!)
By the way, reading blogs may be considered a stupid little thing but I sure enjoy it along with millions of others.
Book Update
Finished "The Devil in the White City". An excellent book about the Chicago's World Fair in the 1890's and how the city of Chicago worked to bring in the World's Fair. Amongst the World's Fair is a serial killer. The history and people that were connected to the fair are amazing (Cracker Jack, Ferris Wheel, Walt Disney). At that time period, there were lots of people losing jobs, banks failing and a tough time in the US.
Recommend reading it for the historical value but the added insight into serial killers only added to the excellence of this book.
Recommend reading it for the historical value but the added insight into serial killers only added to the excellence of this book.
Stupid Little Stuff That Makes Life Better
I'm a huge baseball fan, especially the Minnesota Twins. I like baseball more than any other sport, even football and NASCAR. Recently I've been reading Joe Posnanski's blog at http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/. He is a baseball writer in Kansas City who talks a lot of sports but will throw in commentary on politics/life/being a dad. He doesn't seem to like Dan Marino, but that's okay.
He recently wrote a column talking about the Stupid Little Stuff that makes life better. Stuff like waiting to read the credits in a movie, Diet Pepsi/Diet Coke, Chinese Restaurants that pile food on your plate, the 60 minutes clock. The comments are great to read as well.
So, some of the Stupid Little Stuff That Makes Life Better
- Fresh roasted coffee (home roasted). No coffee place including Starbucks can make coffee as good as a home roast. Nancy and I went to a restaurant in Richmond that served their coffee in a coffee press. What a restaurant. Even the food was good.
- Coming home on a Sunday night and hearing Jon Miller and Joe Morgan calling a baseball game on ESPN. I don't even have to watch the game or care about the teams. I love listening to them call a game.
- Chinese places such as the Panda Express do pile on the Chinese food.
What are some of your Stupid Little Things that make life better?
He recently wrote a column talking about the Stupid Little Stuff that makes life better. Stuff like waiting to read the credits in a movie, Diet Pepsi/Diet Coke, Chinese Restaurants that pile food on your plate, the 60 minutes clock. The comments are great to read as well.
So, some of the Stupid Little Stuff That Makes Life Better
- Fresh roasted coffee (home roasted). No coffee place including Starbucks can make coffee as good as a home roast. Nancy and I went to a restaurant in Richmond that served their coffee in a coffee press. What a restaurant. Even the food was good.
- Coming home on a Sunday night and hearing Jon Miller and Joe Morgan calling a baseball game on ESPN. I don't even have to watch the game or care about the teams. I love listening to them call a game.
- Chinese places such as the Panda Express do pile on the Chinese food.
What are some of your Stupid Little Things that make life better?
New Bloggers
Bobby O has joined the blogging community. Read his obscure revelations at http://bobbyohasablog.blogspot.com/
Also, Jonathan Burke at http://burke-nation.blogspot.com/
Also, Jonathan Burke at http://burke-nation.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Stitches and Drains and Dressings, OH MY!
So I am recovering and other than pain and tight dressings and these annoying drains, I am catching up on some of the home bound things I like to do like reading, writing, scrapbooking, e-mailing, blogging, school work (well lets not go too far), etc. I have a nice little set up here on the couch while my stomach decides to heal back together hopefully tighter without any holes in it.
Today, I had to go to the Doc and get stitches taken out (felt like little needles), dressing off (along with some skin), and the worst, one of the drains out (a bit of a painful and weird experience). The nurse was glad I did not hit her or pass out, neither of which I do although I would sometimes welcome the passing out part. Dave would have passed out today for sure although God bless him, he did do the drain emptying at least 2x. I have a new lighter dressing, one drain left, and a few stitches left to take out-if all goes well, probably on Thursday. I have pain pills but am scrounging around for some Valium!
But people are kind by bringing dinner and doing errands and schlepping my kids to various places, God bless them all.
I am getting out of some of winter's cold at least for a bit over 2 weeks.
Which books, dear are not non-fiction?
Today, I had to go to the Doc and get stitches taken out (felt like little needles), dressing off (along with some skin), and the worst, one of the drains out (a bit of a painful and weird experience). The nurse was glad I did not hit her or pass out, neither of which I do although I would sometimes welcome the passing out part. Dave would have passed out today for sure although God bless him, he did do the drain emptying at least 2x. I have a new lighter dressing, one drain left, and a few stitches left to take out-if all goes well, probably on Thursday. I have pain pills but am scrounging around for some Valium!
But people are kind by bringing dinner and doing errands and schlepping my kids to various places, God bless them all.
I am getting out of some of winter's cold at least for a bit over 2 weeks.
Which books, dear are not non-fiction?
Friday, January 18, 2008
New Reading Material
The end of a year always brings out people's favorite books or books that they enjoyed over the last year. It has given me some new books to read over the next few months:
Among them:
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography
How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life
Gilead
The devil in the white city : murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America
Orthodoxy: The Classic Account of a Remarkable Christian Experience
Best book that I read last year:
The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard.
Yes, Nan, some of them are not strictly non-fiction. I know that will shock you.
Among them:
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography
How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life
Gilead
The devil in the white city : murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America
Orthodoxy: The Classic Account of a Remarkable Christian Experience
Best book that I read last year:
The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard.
Yes, Nan, some of them are not strictly non-fiction. I know that will shock you.
What we did with OUR snowday
Our snowday wasn't as exciting as this or this. However, it was a different experience as Nancy was at Mary Washington Hospital finally fixing her hernia on the third attempt. After about a two hour before surgery experience, four hours of surgery and then two plus hours to recover, she was all fixed up and headed home. A little sore, but doing well all things considered.
And, I didn't faint at the site of blood.
And, I didn't faint at the site of blood.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
ITCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been coughing for over 6weeks now and have struggled with lots of headaches in November. I have started itching all over in the last 2 weeks. So I made an appointment with an allergist before Christmas and went to that appointment today. I had been to an allergist before but not since 1992 or there abouts. I had forgotten what it was like. 2 breathing tests, 1 breathing treatment, 64 skin pricks on back, 20 dermal injections on each arm, 1 large needle in the butt, and a partridge in a pear tree (well, that was not included in the appt). I got 3 new perscriptions and still need to do patch tests for chemicals (perfumes and such). I am hoping to get rid of the cough and itching before my surgery on January 17th (I can't imagine having abdominal surgery and coughing my head off and itching all over!). Needless to say I am even more itchy now because I was very allergic to 9 things: dust mites (no surprise-covered my pillows and bed with dust mite blocking covers), CATS! (surprise), grasses, pollen from certain trees (no surprise), cockroaches (yuck). Those pin pricks swelled up and became very itchy on my back. Even with the cream and an antihistamine I am still itching as I write this. I got a steroid shot which I hope helps with it all and after the patches will go back on either my old antihistamine or the new one whichever works. I feel like I have lots of mosquito bites. I just hope this all works. The doctor was great and his office is literally down the street in my neighborhood. I will eventually also get allergy shots which I did in the past and felt like they worked so hopefully.
On another note, Christmas and New Year's was fun with family and friends, and now I am cleaning up a storm and getting decorations down before school starts again (January 14th) and my surgery (January 17th). Good luck to me. I am halfway on the deep cleaning.
Here's to 2008!
On another note, Christmas and New Year's was fun with family and friends, and now I am cleaning up a storm and getting decorations down before school starts again (January 14th) and my surgery (January 17th). Good luck to me. I am halfway on the deep cleaning.
Here's to 2008!
Saturday, December 08, 2007
What to do with 18 year olds!
Lately I have been thinking about what I will do when my children turn 18 or thereabouts. The reason I am thinking of this is 1. I am a planner, 2. I have always looked ahead (way ahead obviously), 3. Women are revealing their struggles to me with their own 18yrs old, 4. My son is over 14 so it is coming up. Mostly the struggle and anxiety occurs when the child does not go down the right path. But I wonder, is it the path we as parents want them to go down, or do we consider that there might be another path that of course, God knows. When the kid is failing a class, is it always bad? When she is moody and doesn't want to talk or is always out, does it rub us the wrong way? When he drifts from God and church, what is God doing (or to our thinking, not doing)? Is God not answering our prayers or are we just missing the answer? Can we trust Him? This is our kid! Or is he really ours? Can we love, trust and rest in God in all this? Can we love the kid through the rough spots? These are questions I ask myself and other women that our coming to me. We wish God would shout down the answer, but He is. He whispers, "I am enough". A current song on the radio lately thrills me every time I hear it. It's main phrase is:
"Your grace is enough for me". I just wonder, do I really believe that? Do you?
"Your grace is enough for me". I just wonder, do I really believe that? Do you?
Monday, December 03, 2007
Lots of things b/c I haven't written in a long time
I may ramble but need to get these things out:
I finished my last difficult, annoying class on Nov 10th and pulled off an A for which I am grateful because it was very challenging to me and took a lot of my time, energy and effort. I almost quit, but I will readjust some things when my next class starts in January (work less, less classes,etc)
My husband gave me our Christmas gift early-he bought the new Nikon digital camera with those 2 nice lenses on it. It is so much better than our old Kodak. So we are clicking away.
My house is all decked out-It is really beautiful this year!It has the most decorations I have ever had. I really enjoy Christmas. One of our Pastors this week in church reminded us not to lose sight of our need for the Savior-our horrible, ugly sin and our turning away from our Maker. Isaiah 9 and 11 have brought me to tears thinking about how my great God made Himself nothing (think about it-He started out as a little fertilized egg just like the rest of us) to save us from our filth and ugliness. How could I be proud after that when He is so humble? I could I be so aloof when He is so approachable? How could I want anything else when He is everything? So I celebrate Christmas with a great bang because of Jesus and His worthiness to be celebrated and enjoyed!
So we missed Thanksgiving in NYC-disappointing. My brother had to go to sea early. But we will go another time. We had our good friends over and ate a lot!
I just finished the book by Thomas Brooks, a puritan, written in 1652 (although it might as well been written today for its practicality) called: Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. It was excellent. Here are some snippets but I would encourage you to read it:
Devices against the great and honorable of the earth:
Satan works them to make it their business to seek themselves, to seek how to greaten themselves, to raise themselves, to enrich themselves, to secure themselves.
Remedy 1:Self-seeking is a sin that will put men upon a world of sins, upon sins not only against the law of God, the rules of the gospel, but that are against the very laws of nature, that are so much darkened by the fall of man.
Remedy 2:Self-seeking makes a person become a servant to the creature. Self-seeking will make a man say anything, do anything and be anything to please the lusts of others, and to get advantages upon others.
Remedy 3:Dwell upon those dreadful curses and woes that are from heaven denounced against self-seekers.
Remedy 4: Self-seekers are self-losers and self-destroyers. He that is too much for himself, fails to be good to others.
Remedy 5:Dwell upon the famous examples of those worthy saints that have denied themselves and preferred the public good before their own particular advantage. (Moses, Daniel, Christ)
Remedy 6: Self is a great hinderance to divine things. Self-seeking blinds the soul so it cannot see the beauty of Christ nor an excellency in holiness. It distempers the palate so that it cannot taste the sweetness of the Word of God, the ways of God, nor in the society of the people of God. It hardens the heart against all the entreaties of Christ. There is not a greater hindrance to all the duties of piety than self-seeking.
Another remedy for disunity of the saints is:
To be much in self-judging.Were Christian hearts more taken up in judging themselves than condemning others, they would not be so apt to judge and censure others, and to carry it sourly and bitterly towards others that differ from them.
Labor to be clothed with humility. Humility fits for the highest services and yet will not neglect the lowest services. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him and pray for those that persecute him. Humility will make a man quiet and content in the meanest conditions...preserve him from envy. Did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward and sour... and more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self. Were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than there is now.
This convicted me. What about you? This brings me to something my husband expressed recently. He basically thanked me for aruing with him! He was glad I was struggling to keep our marriage strong, but I thought it was quite humble of him. How often he takes my sharp tongue and is just silent or even blesses me instead. How much I have to learn from Jesus' example of humility, from Dave, and from others in my life. Here's a new year's resolution for us all: try to either be silent or answer kindly, gently, quietly when someone is sharp or even nasty to you. Whew! That will take not only all year but the rest of our lives.
I finished my last difficult, annoying class on Nov 10th and pulled off an A for which I am grateful because it was very challenging to me and took a lot of my time, energy and effort. I almost quit, but I will readjust some things when my next class starts in January (work less, less classes,etc)
My husband gave me our Christmas gift early-he bought the new Nikon digital camera with those 2 nice lenses on it. It is so much better than our old Kodak. So we are clicking away.
My house is all decked out-It is really beautiful this year!It has the most decorations I have ever had. I really enjoy Christmas. One of our Pastors this week in church reminded us not to lose sight of our need for the Savior-our horrible, ugly sin and our turning away from our Maker. Isaiah 9 and 11 have brought me to tears thinking about how my great God made Himself nothing (think about it-He started out as a little fertilized egg just like the rest of us) to save us from our filth and ugliness. How could I be proud after that when He is so humble? I could I be so aloof when He is so approachable? How could I want anything else when He is everything? So I celebrate Christmas with a great bang because of Jesus and His worthiness to be celebrated and enjoyed!
So we missed Thanksgiving in NYC-disappointing. My brother had to go to sea early. But we will go another time. We had our good friends over and ate a lot!
I just finished the book by Thomas Brooks, a puritan, written in 1652 (although it might as well been written today for its practicality) called: Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. It was excellent. Here are some snippets but I would encourage you to read it:
Devices against the great and honorable of the earth:
Satan works them to make it their business to seek themselves, to seek how to greaten themselves, to raise themselves, to enrich themselves, to secure themselves.
Remedy 1:Self-seeking is a sin that will put men upon a world of sins, upon sins not only against the law of God, the rules of the gospel, but that are against the very laws of nature, that are so much darkened by the fall of man.
Remedy 2:Self-seeking makes a person become a servant to the creature. Self-seeking will make a man say anything, do anything and be anything to please the lusts of others, and to get advantages upon others.
Remedy 3:Dwell upon those dreadful curses and woes that are from heaven denounced against self-seekers.
Remedy 4: Self-seekers are self-losers and self-destroyers. He that is too much for himself, fails to be good to others.
Remedy 5:Dwell upon the famous examples of those worthy saints that have denied themselves and preferred the public good before their own particular advantage. (Moses, Daniel, Christ)
Remedy 6: Self is a great hinderance to divine things. Self-seeking blinds the soul so it cannot see the beauty of Christ nor an excellency in holiness. It distempers the palate so that it cannot taste the sweetness of the Word of God, the ways of God, nor in the society of the people of God. It hardens the heart against all the entreaties of Christ. There is not a greater hindrance to all the duties of piety than self-seeking.
Another remedy for disunity of the saints is:
To be much in self-judging.Were Christian hearts more taken up in judging themselves than condemning others, they would not be so apt to judge and censure others, and to carry it sourly and bitterly towards others that differ from them.
Labor to be clothed with humility. Humility fits for the highest services and yet will not neglect the lowest services. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him and pray for those that persecute him. Humility will make a man quiet and content in the meanest conditions...preserve him from envy. Did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward and sour... and more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self. Were Christians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than there is now.
This convicted me. What about you? This brings me to something my husband expressed recently. He basically thanked me for aruing with him! He was glad I was struggling to keep our marriage strong, but I thought it was quite humble of him. How often he takes my sharp tongue and is just silent or even blesses me instead. How much I have to learn from Jesus' example of humility, from Dave, and from others in my life. Here's a new year's resolution for us all: try to either be silent or answer kindly, gently, quietly when someone is sharp or even nasty to you. Whew! That will take not only all year but the rest of our lives.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Being a Good Host/other happenings
You may recall from some recent postings here that I was talking about the Reaching Out book and mentioning that people are guests and we need to create a free safe space for them in our lives and homes. Now we talk about how to become a good host:
"Once we become poor, we can be a good host." If you are poor you don't own anything so everything is for everyone else and you have nothing to lose. It is hard for them to hurt you when you don't cling to anything and you are willing to give all. Remember in Matthew "Blessed are the poor in spirit"-they are the humble.
"Poverty is the inner disposition that allows us to take away our defenses and convert our enemies into friends. We only perceive the stranger as an enemy as long as we have something to defend." It is hard to think we don't own all this stuff and even the people around us, but the truth is, we don't. God says all the silver and gold are mine! Everything is God's, including the people and children in our lives.
"Turning the other cheek means showing our enemies that they can only be our enemies while supposing that we are anxiously clinging to our private property, whatever it is: our knowledge, our good name, our land, our money or the many objects we have collected around us. But who will be our robber when everything he wants to steal from us becomes our gift to him?...Who wants to sneak in our back door when our front door is wide open?"
"Poverty of the mind as a spiritual attitude is a growing willingness to recognize the incomprehensibility of the mystery of life. ...a learned ignorance...an education not to master God but to be mastered by God."
"Have less to say and much more to listen to....people whose 'not-knowing' makes them free to listen to the voice of God in the words of the peo0ple, in the events of the day and in the books containing the life experience of men and women from other places and other times....with great attention...the continual refusal to identify God with any concept, theory, document or event, thus preventing man or woman from becoming a fanatic sectarian or enthusiast, while allowing for an ongoing growth in gentleness and receptivity."
"God...cannot be defined by any specific feeling or emotion....avoid adapting God to our small concepts...and our small feelings...poverty of the heart creates community since it is not in self sufficiendy but in a creative interdependedncy that the mystery of life unfolds itself to us."
"Training for service...not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor; not to fill ourselves but to empty ourselves, not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. ..hard to accept in our world which tells us about the importance of power and influence....we should like Paul, boast in our weakness."
Stay tuned in future for Henri Nouwen's thought on prayer.
___________________________________________________________________
New Ariannaism: We were hiking yesterday in the Shenandoah's/Appalachian trail (yes we were all off and all free and actually had an entire family day!!!!!!!!) when we passed by some growths on a tree. Elizabeth thought they look like ice cream. She asked what they were. I replied that I thought they were fungus. I also said they were kind of funky. So Arianna says, "Well they are funkus!"
___________________________________________________________________
Haggai talks about the people dwelling in nice houses while the Lord's house just sat in ruins, unfinished. The point: Do we care about our own stuff and kingdom or God's? How much time am I spending on my cares, worries, and stuff instead of God and His "stuff"? Then I remember, oh yeah, God, and give him "blemished sacrifices", easy things for me to do so I can "get Him off my back" so to speak. So I harvest but God blows it away, I drink but am thirsty. God wants my (and your) attention. He comes up with some interesting and difficult ways to get it. In Haggai I thought it was interesting that they were having a drought and their land was only producing half of what it should. Sound like our area? Hope you are convicted. I was! Read Haggai-only 2 jam packed chapters.
__________________________________________________________________
School is almost half way over. I have settled in and am doing well. It is a lot to think about and learn and I wonder how God is going to use me and all this learning.
"Once we become poor, we can be a good host." If you are poor you don't own anything so everything is for everyone else and you have nothing to lose. It is hard for them to hurt you when you don't cling to anything and you are willing to give all. Remember in Matthew "Blessed are the poor in spirit"-they are the humble.
"Poverty is the inner disposition that allows us to take away our defenses and convert our enemies into friends. We only perceive the stranger as an enemy as long as we have something to defend." It is hard to think we don't own all this stuff and even the people around us, but the truth is, we don't. God says all the silver and gold are mine! Everything is God's, including the people and children in our lives.
"Turning the other cheek means showing our enemies that they can only be our enemies while supposing that we are anxiously clinging to our private property, whatever it is: our knowledge, our good name, our land, our money or the many objects we have collected around us. But who will be our robber when everything he wants to steal from us becomes our gift to him?...Who wants to sneak in our back door when our front door is wide open?"
"Poverty of the mind as a spiritual attitude is a growing willingness to recognize the incomprehensibility of the mystery of life. ...a learned ignorance...an education not to master God but to be mastered by God."
"Have less to say and much more to listen to....people whose 'not-knowing' makes them free to listen to the voice of God in the words of the peo0ple, in the events of the day and in the books containing the life experience of men and women from other places and other times....with great attention...the continual refusal to identify God with any concept, theory, document or event, thus preventing man or woman from becoming a fanatic sectarian or enthusiast, while allowing for an ongoing growth in gentleness and receptivity."
"God...cannot be defined by any specific feeling or emotion....avoid adapting God to our small concepts...and our small feelings...poverty of the heart creates community since it is not in self sufficiendy but in a creative interdependedncy that the mystery of life unfolds itself to us."
"Training for service...not a training to become rich but to become voluntarily poor; not to fill ourselves but to empty ourselves, not to conquer God but to surrender to his saving power. ..hard to accept in our world which tells us about the importance of power and influence....we should like Paul, boast in our weakness."
Stay tuned in future for Henri Nouwen's thought on prayer.
___________________________________________________________________
New Ariannaism: We were hiking yesterday in the Shenandoah's/Appalachian trail (yes we were all off and all free and actually had an entire family day!!!!!!!!) when we passed by some growths on a tree. Elizabeth thought they look like ice cream. She asked what they were. I replied that I thought they were fungus. I also said they were kind of funky. So Arianna says, "Well they are funkus!"
___________________________________________________________________
Haggai talks about the people dwelling in nice houses while the Lord's house just sat in ruins, unfinished. The point: Do we care about our own stuff and kingdom or God's? How much time am I spending on my cares, worries, and stuff instead of God and His "stuff"? Then I remember, oh yeah, God, and give him "blemished sacrifices", easy things for me to do so I can "get Him off my back" so to speak. So I harvest but God blows it away, I drink but am thirsty. God wants my (and your) attention. He comes up with some interesting and difficult ways to get it. In Haggai I thought it was interesting that they were having a drought and their land was only producing half of what it should. Sound like our area? Hope you are convicted. I was! Read Haggai-only 2 jam packed chapters.
__________________________________________________________________
School is almost half way over. I have settled in and am doing well. It is a lot to think about and learn and I wonder how God is going to use me and all this learning.
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