I can be right, or I can be happy

My God, is not a God of "everything happens for a reason"

2012-01-14T21:07:00.002-06:00

I would like to preface this post by reminding myself and others that I am in no way a theologian, as if anyone close to me needed to be reminded of that. But....I am feeling overwhelmed with thoughts that need a forum and this one seems as safe as any or safer than most anyway.

I have to believe that the God I serve is greater and more creative than showing himself in some magical way though some random numbers that all seemed to line up with the stars and have some magical winning sequence and meaning. I have no ill will toward a young man who has a great Christian testimony and a forum to make that proclamation, but really? That's what concerns my Savior? Football?

I have to believe that tonight my God is more concerned about how to move the hearts and feet of His followers to protect the less fortunate, to stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves, to feed a hungry child, to clothe a couple with uniforms so that they can keep the $8.00 an hour job that they got so that the can afford to get out of the "pay by the week" motel they are living in. Everything does not happen for a reason...sometimes life sucks. Football? Really?

I have to believe that He is looking for us to be His hands and feet that He expects us to do what we know is right. He does not need to spell out Matt 25:35 in pennies on the sidewalk or have 2535 appear as some hint for all the world to see. Give me a break...God moves our hearts to be available to help those who can not or will not help themselves. He asks us to be available to be the change. Show His love.

I have to believe that my God is busy tonight with the cares of the world, He is trying to move our hearts to action. I can't believe he has wasted one moment on trying to align a million ways to remind of us John 3:16, because football is the way He is planning on saving a broken world.

Livestrong

2011-12-10T16:10:00.002-06:00

I have been able to run for 60 minutes, 2 times this week....just shy of a 12 minute mile...love this weather...love weightwatchers...love that I don't have make "start a diet, again" as a New Year's resolution in 2012.

Source: tumblr.com via Lori on Pinterest

When the craft bug hits you...

2011-12-06T07:34:00.002-06:00

It has been too long since we have found the time and energy to create at our house. But with the introduction of "Pinterest" to my life (thank you Alisa and Melissa) inspiration has once again landed smack dab in the middle of the kitchen table and has caused glue covered fingers, neck aches, paint smears and some not to shabby creations. I really can only show this one. The personal nature of the subject matter would be much to revealing to those who may or may not be receiving these creations for the upcoming holiday....I'm just sayin"

I was feeling inspired...

2011-11-30T18:49:00.005-06:00

This year, my Christmas tree needed a little "punch" to help it out. We have a very traditional Christmas tree. We are partial to old family ornaments and ornaments that represent something we love or given to us by someone we love. I love colored lights both solid for consistent lighting and blinking to give the tree motion. I know what I like for our tree.

This year, because of a minor remodeling of the living room, I had to rethink where all the Christmas decorations were going to find homes. I will have to say that some did not make the cut...but because I manage a thrift store they found re-purposing. I decided to update and freshen everything with some new decorations that give the whole room a little more consistency.

So how to tie the Tree into the whole "theming" process?

Tree Picks!!!

I'm thinking of making a come back

2011-11-29T22:35:00.002-06:00

Stay tuned for an update from a blogger from days gone by. I'm hoping to become inspired to start using this space again. It may be for new thoughts from my life or maybe the same old things that I hold dear. Either way I am hoping for some inspiration, some clarity, some advice, some social networking and maybe even some humor

...and it could be yours!!!!

2010-06-18T21:25:00.002-05:00

Not your typical June Cleaver Thanksgiving Day apron (to say the absolute least)!!!
Drumstick anyone?

A Transformation....

2010-05-09T09:07:00.002-05:00

I'm sure some of you (okay maybe none of you) have been wondering where I have been. Well along with the chaos of regular life that I'm sure all of are experiencing with end of school and the beginning of summer upon us, we have been in the middle of a remodel.

I will have to say that the regular chaos has been totally and utterly consumed by the fact that we have been living in the midst of remodeling some of our home now that we own it. Since I was last here we have gotten out of debt only to get back in by purchasing our house. And almost immediately after the closing we stared to remodel the kitchen.

Jim had a vision and the ability to execute it. So after much discussion, planning, searching, researching and more trips to Dallas to go to IKEA then I care to count we have gone from this...

to now having this wonderful, amazing, built by the husband's own hands, designer kitchen....

We still have a few more finishing touches, along with at least one more trip to IKEA...but yesterday we had a Mother's Day dinner for family and everything worked great. I even think my macaroni and cheese tasted better than usual. Can a new updated kitchen make your old recipes taste better?

Well hopefully I will be able to be back here a little more regularly. Hope all is well with all of you.

Two old men still Rockin"

2010-02-26T06:50:00.002-06:00

Two stars, two pianos, two full bands, crowd going crazy. It was incredible. I think it may have been worth paying the $175 a ticket, if I would have had to pay...but I didn't. I may however need a trip to the ear specialist to restore my normal hearing. All in all a wonderful Anniversary.

The sweetness and the sorrow

2010-02-25T06:00:00.002-06:00

When I arrived at the store one day last week I was greeted with this jacket. I am often greeted with bags of plastic walmart sacks, sometimes homeless who have slept in the alcove, sometimes people making a mad dash for the city bus. But on this day I saw both the sweetenss of someone going out of their way to make sure we got this jacket and the sorrow that maybe this coat had so much significance that it was worthy of a soltary trip to be dropped of, nothing else accompianied it, just the jacket.

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
Luke 21:1-4

What the heck is this?

2010-02-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

A single item today-- a couple of the guesses from the staff were some sort of can opener or some kind of utility hook. Do you have any thoughts? Whatever it is you can purchase it for the bargain price of .50. Com'on over for a closer look.

You just know it has to be a scam....

2010-02-22T21:32:00.002-06:00

I entered a contest a few weeks ago and then entered a couple of additional times throughout the allotted time period, which by the way was supposed to be over today, Feb. 22. Time goes by and I kinda forgot all about it.

Skip ahead... last Thursday I received an email saying that I was a runner up in the contest and they wanted to offer me two tickets. The email gave instructions on what I had to do to be eligible for these tickets. I followed the instructions and figured it was probably just some sort of scam. I figured if they wanted to offer me tickets they meant for some sort of $$$ deal.

I was telling Jim about the email and we decided we would go check it out this morning and see what happened. Jim told me under know circumstances was I to pay anything for these tickets, because he was mad at the cost of this particular concert and was not paying for it.

I sheepishly went up to the ticket office and showed her my email and told her I was sure it was a scam but I had to check it out. She looked it over and asked to see my ID and low and behold my name was on the list because I had followed the email's instructions and she handed me two FREE tickets to the Elton John/Billy Joel concert. Unbelievable!!!

Jim is a huge Elton John fan and really wanted to attend this concert but would not pay the ticket price. This is the only way he would've gone. I know you're not gonna believe this part-- the concert is this Thursday, February 25th, which just happens to be our 21st anniversary.

So, Happy Anniversary, honey!! LYMI

Every penny counts...

2010-02-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

At the store Thursday we received a dining table and chairs. I wish I had taken a picture of it being carried into the store as the leg fell off, but I missed that. Anyway....we are really short on furniture at the moment so in an attempt to get the most we can out of this donation we went to work to change it's worth.

We screwed the leg back on with reinforcements, we used scratch cover and a shiny layer of old english to make it shine. And then we used donated staples and a staple gun, donated upholstery fabric, and lots of manpower and changed....

THIS NASTINESS

TO THIS LOVELINESS

Now what seemed like a donation worth maybe $60 --is now a wonderfully clean and polished dining room table and four chairs priced at $125. That $60+ difference could buy 7000lbs. of food from the regional food bank. I love my new job!

OK...TTYL

2010-02-18T06:00:00.004-06:00

Jenna had her first showchoir contest yesterday. They had to be at school, on the bus at 6:00am, yes in the freaking AM! Plus she went with hair done and make-up started. So that backs us up to about 4:40am Wednesday. I am tired just remembering it. Anyway....

At about 12:30 she texted me just to touch base. I have to admit that I am a reluctant texter. I understand it's versatility and it's many uses but I never was much of a typist and it seems to take me forever to text out a message, so I was so proud of my abbreviation skills when I responded

Me: R U tired?

to which my, obviously not keyboard challenged, daughter responded

Jenna: Surprisingly, No.

Really? Surprisingly? Which even now while typing on a full sized keyboard I spelled wrong both times I typed it. Kids?!! Such show-offs!! TTFN--TTYL.

What the Heck is this?

2010-02-17T06:00:00.001-06:00

When reorganizing and cleaning out the kitchen gadget area of the store we came upon quite a few items without explanation. Any thoughts?

A little reminder...

2010-02-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Two parts of this reminder--

Be sure and check your pockets before you donate old coats.
Be sure all the things were done on your to do list before you donated it. It is quite possible that the person on this list never got a sympathy card for her loss in 1997.

Movin' on up...maybe not so much.

2010-02-14T08:23:00.005-06:00

2010 is bringing major changes to our lives. One of the biggest is that we are trying to become home owners. Gotta take advantage of that $8000 tax credit!

We thought the process we be a little simpler for us than for most people. We don't need the help of Suzanne Wong (does House Hunters really need a host?) and HGTV because we want to buy the house we already live in. We have effectively eliminated the hardest step. In addition, we're buying the house from my mom, so no price negotiations. Best of all--No Moving.

So we had to have the appraiser come out,which is a requirement of the loan process, and we needed to make sure the price we agreed on wasn't too high or too low. We live in an older home folks, we know that it has some updates that need to be done, you know all the normals--bathrooms--kitchen--windows--carpet--(wait, why are we buying this house?). I digress--because that's what bloggers do.

But what amazes me most about the appraisal was that the man took pictures of my family room (well he took pictures of everything) but the pictures of the family room were to show the datedness (is that a word?) of the decor. Now first let's remember that we actually live in the house and we actually chose the decor. Second --all together now --let's say --she made it look that way on purpose!! Really-- I know that it is not 1969!

And the other thing--it's not like I'd leave the decor with the house when I go. Anyway...,my feelings were just a little hurt that he didn't want to embrace my retro room for what it is...RETRO!

A whole new world...and not in a good way.

2010-02-09T20:33:00.002-06:00

A few things have happened in the past few weeks that have changed me. I have always thought that when celebrities and the likes try to tell me how my life should be and what I should think about products, morals, religion, politics and whatever else they think they know it all about that they are so out of touch with mainstream America, phooey on them. I go on with my middle class life and think that I know what Americans think and how they live and what they should believe and then BAM....

...a woman (the grandmother) comes into the store and has three children under the age of 3 with her and she is keeping them while their mom is in prison. The youngest is probably 2 months old, the next just 10 months older than the first. Mom went to prison just after the older one was born and must have been pregnant with the second. She's hoping that the daughter gets out in May. In the meantime, she takes them to visitation day and tries to help her create a bond and hopes to help her went she gets home.

...a woman that I have known a while comes into the store and she is fostering three small children under the age of 3 whose mother is 22 years old completely on her own. The father and the grandfather have probably abused the children and are in prison the mother wants the children back but works the overnight shift at Wal-Mart and has absolutely no support system here. The case worker is headed to a hearing to recommend terminating her rights.

...a man walks into the store and he has obviously been beaten...to a pulp beaten...His wounds have been treated but are still fresh. He is walking with a cane and shaking uncontrollably. He is coming in for a purpose--he knows Glen (the former manager) will give him a ride home. He has taken the bus from the Downtown Medical Center to the bus stop at store's corner. I know not to take him alone so myself and another employee take him home, if he even had a home, we're still not sure. The conversation between this man and my employee is about how many times they have been attacked and how they know better than to be out at night....etc. This is their world.

...my employee's daughter shows up at home in the wee hours Sunday morning after having been out with a friend that they have warned her numerous times about. She is bleeding so badly the my employee is sure that she is going to die. She describes the scene to me with tears rolling down her face. She has been attacked by a gang of girls that were after the friend. She has been stabbed and cut with box knives. She drives herself home because no one would call 911, and when the police were called the friend won't give the names of the gang of girls. The friend walked away with out a scratch. My employee's daughter has staples in her head, a stitched wound 12 inches long from her forehead to mid throat (which I saw), a chest wound and a shoulder wound. My daughter is safe in bed in her middle class home.

These are just a few of the stories I have from the last few days--countless others come through the doors daily. My world is small, safe and protected. I am grateful. I hope in the gratefulness I am also compassionate, merciful, gracious, understanding, and tenderhearted.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
Matthew 25:40

The Trolls perspective...

2010-02-01T21:51:00.009-06:00

At our Small Group Christmas Party, which due to unforeseen circumstances, was actually celebrated on New Year's Eve, we had our now traditional Dirty Santa gifts and our party raffle prizes. I will have to tell you that our Raffle prizes are now becoming something of a challenge -- I always feel the need to have some great prizes--a theme that ties into the game choice--random unisex prizes--etc.. The theme changed with this party--because now I am the manager of a thrift store --so the raffle prizes took on a life of their own. I brought all kinds of raffle prizes that you never knew you needed or were certain you didn't want. But the anticipation of what you might have to open was quite fun. We had a range of prizes from a set of four 35th anniversary Wal-Mart glasses, NKOTB (original) board game, a huge purple stuffed ape, and troll dolls. Everyone went home with something equally remarkable.

My friend Tonya ~~ended up with~~ won the Troll dolls. It so happened that we were planning a little New Year's getaway the next day to Great Wolf Lodge and when we arrived at their house to depart these two little guys were eagerly anticipating the trip.

So let me tell you that a great time was had by all participants, especially the troll dolls.

Trolls at the Waterpark area--

Trolls at Grapevine Mall--

Trolls at lunch--yummy chicken-n-dumplins

Trolls enjoying the Cabana--gotta have me some football.

Trolls enjoying the breakfast buffet

Buckled in and ready to head for home

The Bales-Smith end of vacation tradition of dinner at Chili's. No vacation is complete without it, no matter how tired, worn-out, sick, or loopy we might be.

Saturday at home...

2010-01-23T16:11:00.003-06:00

Lounging on the couch Saturday with my daughter while watching Legally Blonde and the conversation went something like this...

CiCi's commercial is on, the one where the woman stuffs the whole cinnamon roll into her mouth at the end (yuck--it does not entice me to go there)...

Jenna: "Let's go there."

Me: "where?, to CiCi's??, I ask in surprise.

Jenna : "Yeah"

Me: "Really?"

Jenna: Yeah, we can go there in our pajamas"

Me: "In our Pajamas?"

Jenna: "Yeah, it's not a very fancy restaurant."

I'm now expecting Stacey and Clinton to knock on our door any minute to tell us that have been secretly filming us and sweep us away to their studio.....

What the Heck is this?

2010-01-13T09:46:00.002-06:00

Okay, I think the giraffe thingy is probably some kind of nightmarish trinket box, and I'm pretty sure the other item is missing some parts--which is why we get most things. Come by and see the store for yourselves...we'd love to have you visit.

Sorry for the quality of the photos, my camera battery died as I took the second photo.

Happy Anniversary to Me...

2010-01-12T20:24:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I almost let this day pass by without a word about the significance of it. One year ago today I posted my first blog post. It was something totally goofy about the moon. It meant absolutely nothing to anyone, including me.

It held significance because it started me on a journey that I never intended to be on. It all started because I wanted to be able to share vacation photos with Jenna's friends family when we took her to Walt Disney World last March. So in trying to prepare for that event I stared a blog. It has taken me so much farther than just posting a trip report.

What have I learned this year as I became a blogger...

I have friends that started out as mere acquaintances.
Other people are as Disney Crazy as me.
That when a particular friend of mine mentions me on her blog my readership skyrockets.
I now know who "The Pioneer Woman" is and have friends who have been to her ranch.
Blogging was a great record of the past year's events
It has given me an outlet for my cynicism and my idealism.
When my life took a new road this year the blog gave me a place to share the journey.
It has introduced me to a new vocabulary about social networking.
It gives me one more outlet to brag about my daughter.
I have learned to carry my camera with me, cause you never know...
Hidden Mickeys are everywhere.
I love the blogger community, thanks letting me part of it.

Here's to a great upcoming year. I hope that as my life takes twists and turns you'll be here with me. I imagine that this year will bring a whole new set of circumstances as this new job matures into a greater ministry opportunity than I ever imagined. Keep me and the Reaching Our City, Inc. organization in your prayers. Grace and Peace to you and yours.

HMM 12

2010-01-04T22:46:00.002-06:00

The first HMM of the new year. This is a great HMM but it was rather a hard picture to get seeing that I was driving my car at the time. I got some really good ones, then I realized that you could read the tag number so I tried again with this result. Happy HMM hunting.

Have a Magical Hidden Mickey Day.

Really?

2009-12-30T18:39:00.003-06:00

Seriously? Someone donated these today. An empty egg carton and two empty creamer bottles. I'm really hoping that we got them by mistake, although the creamer bottles had been rinsed out. I'm just saying....

Thanks for the Memories...

2009-12-29T21:00:00.002-06:00

As 2009 comes to a close I find myself trying to do a year in review...the fact that I find it difficult to remember does not speak well of the current state of tiredness. Well here goes...

January 2009

I joined the world of blogging, I never would've dreamed that I could have kept up with this for a year. More to come, I hope.
I started or restarted scrapbooking with new friends

February 2009

Celebrated our 2oth Wedding Anniversary
Celebrated the life of Doctor Knight
A great Small Group start
Facebook and Twitter

March 2009

Disney World through the eyes of a first-timer. We got to take go to Walt Disney World and take Jenna's friend
A new van...not a planned event, but nice all the same
Loss of an Uncle

April 2009

The blessing of another birthday--better than the alternative.
The beginning of the forever being promised office remodel.
Too many Musicals.

May 2009

The end of 6th grade for Jenna.
Beginning of summer break.
Some great new friendships made.

June 2009

Great vacation to Orange Beach, AL with the Bales. The Caribe Resort Rocks.
Death of Michael Jackson

July 2009

Cooking classes for Jenna--one of the best things ever.
Feelings of needing a new job opportunity

August 2009

Bethany Girls Breakaway 2009-- A great weekend with daughters and moms
The start of HMM
Jim starts Photo of the Day blog
The remodel was finally complete.
The start of 7th grade.

September 2009

Guiding Light comes to and end after 70+ years
Jenna turned 12
The Homecoming car accident--glad everyone was safe.

October 2009

Trip to WDW with my best friend. Food and Wine Festival--no responsibilities--splitting meals. ALL GOOD.
The Nehemiah Series--sermons to change your life.
A new JOB!!
1ooth anniversary of BFC--Jenna joins the church.

November 2009

A new job-- like none I've ever taken.
Tragic death of a friend
Death of an Uncle
Great Thanksgiving trip to Ohio. Spent with great family that I wished didn't live so far away.

December 2009

Another great Christmas card designed and executed by Jim
A real snow storm in Oklahoma
Debt free
The end to a great year of change, some losses and some great blessings in our lives.

I hope as you do a review of the past year that you find most of yours full of great memories and wonderful events. Even in the tragic happenings I hope that we all are able to find ourselves more grateful for the blessings we have and that we not take them or one another for granted in the coming year. God's grace and peace to you.

What the heck is this?

2009-12-23T22:10:00.004-06:00

It really amazes more and more everyday what comes through the store in the donations. Some I'm sure weren't really meant for the donation pile and some just leave us wondering...

What the heck are these???

They have no relationship to one another...just both equally puzzling.

Any thoughts??

Merry Christmas to all of you!!

HMM 12

2009-12-21T23:11:00.003-06:00

It's a little summer dress full of hidden mickeys. See how many you can find?

Have A Magical Hidden Mickey Day!

....And To All A Good Night!

2009-12-19T21:57:00.004-06:00

I can't believe as I sit here this evening that Christmas is Friday. How can that be? I remember one Christmas when Jim and I were first married and I was working retail we had every gift purchased, wrapped and under the tree before Thanksgiving. Now that I can look back over the last 6-8 weeks I probably should have adopted that practice this year before I started my new job. The time has flown by and it completely caught me unprepared for Christmas.

Jim has introduced me to some churches, pastors, laymen (okay, I don't really know who all movement includes) that are trying to get us (Americans) to rethink Christmas. What if we really embraced a spirit of giving of ourselves and not so much the giving of only material things? I can't imagine a Christmas where my daughter isn't excited by some great toy or gadget, but I will have to tell you that she couldn't even really make me a list this year. What does that say about me as a parent? Does she really have a life of no wants? What can I give her that will really mean something?

As I go through the the next year surrounded by a community of people who really have needs, I'm hoping to discover a better way to celebrate Christmas next year. These people are trying to better themselves but fall back into old traps. Women trying to go back to school but can't make rent because they can't work if they accept monetary assistance to go to school. Men who have criminal records and can't find a place to live because no one wants to take a chance on former criminal. People who walk everywhere they go, not because they are supporting green lifestyle, but because that is their only choice. People who crave a kind word. People who come in everyday just because it's a safe place to be for a little while.

I don't have a plan, but I have a desire. I don't know what the solution is, but I see the problem everyday. I hope the Lord lays a really good vision on me so next year when I am only six days from Christmas I know that I have done my best to make it meaningful for those whom I love and for those who don't really know love.

Finally...a Christmas fun moment.

2009-12-16T22:26:00.002-06:00

Today was last day I turned in work with my former employer. I have been trying to do two jobs for the past 6-8 weeks. It was good money and my former job needed stuff done until they decided what they were going to do about my old job. But I am so glad to be finished.

Jenna and I actually got to spend the evening making Christmas crafts, which we traditionally do way before now. So this might be the only one we do --but if I do say so myself--it turned out pretty darn cute. It did help my Christmas spirit just a little. We're supposed to see a live version of "White Christmas" this weekend so I have high hopes of finally finding some of the joyous season happiness.

By the way --just so you don't think that all the sudden I've become some great photographer --Jim took this photo of the craft we created.

Can we stop the hustle and the bustle?

2009-12-09T07:10:00.005-06:00

and I don't mean these...thank God somebody already stopped these!

What I mean is how crazy busy everything is between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Could we not have a few parties between New Year's and St. Patrick's Day? Could we decide to ask for donations all throughout the year and not just for these 4 weeks? Could we have Groundhog Day Musical Presentations? Just a few thoughts! Have a non-crazed (that the best I can hope for) Day!

Just when you think.....

2009-12-07T07:12:00.003-06:00

Well...I've been at this job about 6 weeks now and most of the time I'm so tired that every part of my body hurts. My hands now look like I do hard construction work for a living. I broke down and spent way too much on a pair of shoes that look like they came from some old "B" Sci-fi movie, but feel heavenly. I find myself irritated with the other merchants in my strip when they don't break down their boxes before they put them in the dumpster. (how sad am I?)

I spend most of my day bent over sorting through all the wonderful items that the public drops by on an almost hourly basis. Which can include some really great stuff but also the occasional grossness. And then there's the bag that seems as if someone just walked through the house picking up all the things that seemed out of place and brought them to me, which included an empty BudLight can. Really?? Com'on people!!

But then after hours of sorting and my sciatica trying to jump out of my back I come across something that makes it all worth it...something that makes me squeal with delight...something like this...

A Mickey Mouse Sweatshirt with my favorite saying on it, in my size, with no tears or stains. It may all be worth it.

I know you were hoping for some great story of redemption or some story of how we are helping so many people,,,,yada yada, yada. But you know it's really all about ME! LOL! I have some great human interest stories to tell too, and I will spend some quality time writing them down as soon as I can stand up straight again and not feel like climbing into bed the moments I walk in the door in the evening. Grace and Peace to you.

HMM 11

2009-11-30T22:02:00.004-06:00

I found this one as I was walking out of the backroom of the store. There it was to greet me. Someone was just decorating and trying to show off the merchandise and created this wonderful little surprise just for me.

Have a Magical Hidden Mickey Day!

Fun with Cousins

2009-11-27T15:47:00.003-06:00

Fun with cousins at Thanksgiving. How much icing can we actually get on the gingerbread house and train? I think they did a great job decorating and they got to spend some really fun time together. They also got to roast marshmallows in the back yard on my cousin's porch in the fire pit. Great memories are being made.

Something Frivolous...

2009-11-21T08:05:00.002-06:00

I follow some great blogs and one of those is a woman that Jim met through facebook and then discovered that my sister-in-law knows her too. Supposedly, we go to the same church but we have yet to meet. I started following because Jim follows-- but man, she has some really great content for us gen-xer's. All of that to say---she's having a contest. She had people send her old Halloween pictures back in October and we're voting on the favorite costumes...so do something frivolous today and go here to vote for me.

Remember when you are voting that my friend and I worked tirelessly a on these costumes when were was 15, that my friend and I spent hours on these very original, creative, outstanding Campbell's Soup Cans. Remember that we did not win the costume contest at the church party, we lost to some "elderly" couple--not that I'm bitter. So please vote with my fragile ego in mind.

Have a great day! Happy Halloween!

In a New York Minute

2009-11-15T20:07:00.003-06:00

It seemed like a regular Saturday. Even more regular than the last couple because I didn't have to work. We got up and started thinking about the day. Jim and I were fussing about what to do about a Christmas tree. I was griping because I slept (or didn't sleep) wrong and my neck was hurting. I was watching reruns of Gilmore Girls and Jenna was just crawling out of bed.

The phone rings----the caller ID reads someone from our Sunday School class---I'm sure it's just a reminder about the Chili Cook-Off that we were not planning to attend---then I hear from Jim "Oh No!!" and everything changes.....

A friend of ours has fallen from his roof and has a head injury, they have taken him to the head trauma hospital....

Moments like these always bring the lyrics of Don Henley's New York Minute to mind. I know... not too spiritual uh? But it always reminds me how quickly things can change.

Since that phone call I have witnessed the body of Christ to what it should do. They have rallied beyond what is normal. I have witnessed the wonder of technology in how facebook has brought this tragic news to people all over the country in a matter of moments. I have witnessed a Sunday School class without direction but with determination to pray and lift up a family and take a love offering when no one knew what else to do. I have witnessed a school community (a public school at that) arrange a prayer vigil in a moment''s notice to pray for this teacher/coach and his family. I've watched my husband remembering all the time he spent with this man while they were in grad school. Then I saw him volunteer to finish out the man's teaching session at SNU without compensation. The call of God's people is never as evident as when there is a need in a tragic situation.

The situation for this family is dire and we are reminding ourselves that we serve a God of miracles...but know that we live in a world of cruel reality. Please say a prayer for this family as you think of it, the road ahead of them is one of uncertainty no matter what the outcome.

What the heck is this?

2009-11-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

I realize that these are the laziest posts known to blogger world, but I will have to say that this is all I've got for the moment. Until I get a little more used to working so many more hours this is all the energy I can manage. Besides my co-workers thinks it's funny and look at me like I'm speaking Latin when I talk about taking photos to post on my blog. So without further ~~crap~~ ado....

What the heck is this??

It's about 3ft long and maybe 6in wide--lined with velvet.

HMM 10 --I 've had a conversion!

2009-11-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

I've had a conversion! Not the two point kind like you find it football. Not the kind that people experience when someone finds the Lord and becomes a Christian. Not the kind where they take a van chassis and add an extra "lid" to it. I had the kind where normal everyday people who have been exposed to my craziness for Disney have been so overexposed that they are now finding Hidden Mickeys for me and bringing them to me so that I can see them for myself. I love it!! My friends John, Stephanie, Katie and Lizzie have now come to the happy side of life, and I'll bet this won't be the last Hidden Mickey they discover. Here is a photo of their find. I bet you have one in your house too. Have a Magical Hidden Mickey day!

The dreams gone by...

2009-11-05T10:52:00.003-06:00

Why didn't I have the confidence for Musical theatre when I still had the youth for it? My daughter is getting ready to audition for the all school musical which just happens to be "The Sound of Music" (insert big sigh of enjoyment here). This is my all time favorite. As a young girl I wanted to be Maria or Julie Andrews whichever, they were interchangeable to me. As a singer, this music is in the perfect range for me, at the time I thought I wanted to be a teacher, so the kids were an added bonus, dancing around singing was my favorite activity and who doesn't want to fall in love with the rich, handsome and some what aloof Captain?

So, now when I could possibly muster up the actual confidence to try out for a musical, alas my youth has passed me by. My voice still might be able to sing these favorites of my youth but I'm sure the wrinkles, creaky knees, arthritic fingers, and added 30 pounds will prevent me from ever capturing this particular dream. So I'm hoping to get to realise it through my daughter. I don't usually force my dreams on her but you may spot me in the back of the audition in my best stage mother voice reminiscent of Rosalind Russell in Gypsy "Sing out, Louise...do it for Momma!"

And now pardon me as I warm up my voice and get my hairbrush out to sing my best version of "My Favorite Things"

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.........

P.S. If you are following "What the heck is this?" we went with a knife holder as the use for this particular item. Watch for more "What the heck is this?" int he coming days.

What the heck is this??

2009-11-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my new reoccurring segment. It seems only appropriate that a new job will bring along new segments and interesting human interest stories. I'm sure the great stories will come when I actually have two seconds to spend on the sales floor.

On a daily basis we will receive at least one pick up truck load of donations. These donations are full of all kinds of merchandise, to use the term lightly. There is always something in the boxes that has a questionable use. So today I bring the first installation of:

What the heck is this???

It is made by Sterilite, so we're guessing some kind of kitchen/office utility unit. Any of your thoughts would be welcome.

Come on Over

2009-10-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

While working Thursday I looked up and saw an old soccer mom friend...really...our girls used to play soccer together. Now the girls go to Middle School together and she and I are facebook friends. She and a friend were shopping at the ROC Resale Shop for the first time. I was so excited to see new people. So come on over for a visit, to shop, or to donate, we'd love to see you. Just look around until you find me, I'll the one looking sort of like this:

ROC Resale Shop
1518 NW Rockwell Ave.

OKC, OK 73127

M-F 9-5

Sat. 9-3

440-0174

Starting Day Four

2009-10-29T07:10:00.002-05:00

I'm getting ready to go to my fourth official day on my new job. It has been really good so far. I will have to tell you that going from basically sitting all day at my former desk job to basically standing all day and physical labor most of the day makes me fall into bed dead every night. I've also discovered that when I do physical work all day the need I always have felt to go run/walk in the evening has significantly if not completely disappeared.

Some interesting facts about the store that you don't notice when you only volunteer a couple days a week but now are there 40 hours a week:

People will donate anything, and expect you to be grateful to get it, and of course we will be.
My hands are so dry that they feel like sandpaper
Some customers come by everyday.
The need to snack during the day is directly related to what box you have been digging through.
I work in a Hoarders Haven.
At this time of year we could rename the store North Pole City--so much Christmas stuff!!!
A significant amount of the people I see daily live a completely different life than I do and I should be more grateful.
The people that work there are amazing and have embraced me unconditionally--at least to my face.

So Far. So Good!!!

Happy Stretching!

2009-10-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

Our church celebrated it's 100th anniversary/birthday Sunday. It was an incredible service. It was filled to the brim with people, which I love. We normally have two services, neither of which are full and sometimes I find that frustrating (a story for another day). The full sanctuary often means a totally spirit-filled service. This was a great mixture of looking back on our amazing roots and a commission to be part of the future.

As I embark on a totally different "career" challenge this week I feel the like God has been tapping me on the shoulder for months and finally I felt it, or at least I acknowledged it was Him. I am really excited to see what He has in store for this time in my life. I'm sure that He will be expanding my capacity to give and love to lengths that I can't even imagine. I hope you are blessed this week (or soon) with some opportunities to try to out give God. I heard someone quip this tonight on TV and it seems appropriate for me this week, "The Purpose of Life is to live a Life of Purpose."

The pastor left us with a great quote today to try to get us out of our comfortable church mode and be about the Kingdom business.

Some wish to live within the sound of church or a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

All Dogs go to Heaven...right??

2009-10-24T22:02:00.004-05:00

This article was on one of our local news station's website on Saturday. The headline captured my attention, whose attention wouldn't it catch?

Pay an Atheist for Post-Rapture Pet Care

ALSTEAD, N.H. -- Christians who believe they'll vanish from Earth in the rapture can now hire an atheist to care for their pets.

For $110, Eternal Earth-Bound Pets offers a 10-year contract guaranteeing that an atheist will adopt the pet that's left behind by its raptured owner. Additional pets can be covered for $15.
The company's owner, Bart Centre, said his pet rescuers definitely won't be raptured because they've all blasphemed the Holy Spirit in writing, committing what they believe Jesus called the unforgivable sin.

His Web site said the rescuers are animal lovers who "are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus."

Centre said he doesn't believe in God or the rapture, but is offering a service for those who do.

The service is available in 22 states, including Oklahoma.

Now, I know it's going to hard but put aside all your beliefs, doctrines, religious upbringing, theology classes you had in college, faith in the human spirit, and basic morality and be honest, aren't you thinking "Dog Gone It (pun totally intended) I wish I had thought of that!!"

P.S. My daughter is sure our dog is a Christian since she has prayed with him, so in our case we're covered.

As Halloween approaches...

2009-10-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

My daughter and husband are so clever and creative. Jim brought home the pumpkins and had the vision. Jenna drew the Mickey face and Jim attached the "ears" with wooden skewers. They really can find Mickey anywhere. We still call it Halloween at our house and embrace it without going overboard on the scary stuff. Hope you are having fun getting ready for Halloween or whatever you might celebrate.

The Great Escape

2009-10-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

It's nice to know that in my world of craziness and chaos somethings are still easy, like a vacation with your best friend. When my friend Tonya's husband Tim and my husband Jim thought that it would be a great idea for the two of us to get away for a long weekend we took them up on it. I will say I'm always a hesitant at first but then I always seem to warm up to the idea with my whole heart. I know some (okay most) people thought we were crazy when we chose Walt Disney World (WDW) as our destination. We love Walt Disney World so it makes perfect sense to us, but let me help the sceptics.

We really prefer the familiar --especially if we're traveling without the husbands.

Southwest Airlines was offering a Friends Fly Free deal--choices? WDW or Las Vegas. Really no choice for a girls only trip(especially since we've not been to Las Vegas)

If you stay on sight at WDW they will get you from the airport to the resort on a Magical Express bus. No rental car needed.

WDW has a great Resort transportation system to get wherever you want to go on property.

Epcot's Food and Wine Festival

Great Service and Clean Surroundings

Total escape from reality

Sure, we might have gotten some of the those things or may be all of them at another destination but we knew we would have them at WDW and we love WDW so for us it was really no contest.

We did not count on the heat however. It was summer hot. It was the talk of the whole resort. But I will have to say that it did make us slow down a little and not try to push so hard. We get to WDW and feel like we have to see all the things we love and push ourselves to exhaustion. It's what we do--but we don't do it so well in 90+ temperatures with 100+ heat indexes. I think God was smiling on me on Saturday (I don't why he wasn't smiling on Tonya, but I guess that's between them) but I got to spend the whole day--10:30am-4:30pm at the pool. Tonya spent the day with me but it's not the same piece of paradise for her. She is learning to appreciate the escape of it, but for me it is still my true bliss. So even though she thoroughly and completely beat me to the ground at an ongoing game of 7/11, it was the best day of relaxation between two days of great theme park visits. And now the proverbial vacation slides.

Transportation from the airport

This is where we spent all day Saturday

Some of the sights on the Pop Century resort

the props at Hollywood Studios and us
Epcot's Food and Wine Festival
We attended a culinary demonstration by Keegan Gerhard the Food Network Food Challenge Host and owner of the D-Bar Desserts in Denver. So completely over our heads but still fun to attend.

This the apple dessert they served, totally delish...

Taking the Big Plunge!

2009-10-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have worked at the same place for 15 years. When I took this job I really thought I might be there five years at the most but as it turned out I really liked it (most of the time) and it really accommodated my life.

Since I have worked there I have:

had a dear friend get married (Happy 15th Anniversary--Oct 2009)

lost two grandparents

felt the shock wave of the Murrow Building Bombing

turned 30

tried to get pregnant

had a baby

moved a few times

became WDW fan(atics)

watched the unfathomable, as the Twin Towers fell

discovered the Internet and can't seem to live without it.

changed churches more than once.

more celebrities than I can mention have died

turned 40

reality TV somehow became acceptable entertainment

Jim got me hooked on Lost (help me God?)

lost my dad

became part of a "small group" at church

started a blog

found my holy discontent (thank you Pastor Busic)

gave notice on my job

Yes, I gave notice on my job. This is the last week I will get to enjoy the new door on my new wonderful office. I will have to give up my amazing co-workers. I will have to give up my ability to come and go if the need be. I will be adjusting to a whole new life with a new job. I think I might actually be hyperventilating while I am typing this....(paper bag....please....hurry...)

I really believe that God has been preparing me for this change for a while (it's easy to blame God for our choices, but I really think He has had a hand in this one). I am a going to manage the ROC Resale Shop. This is one of the ministries of Reaching Our City, Inc. and it helps to financially support many of the other ministries of the organization. I have been volunteering there for about three years in a very small capacity but have always felt a draw to the store's ministry. I have a degree and some experience in retail management and a real heart for this store, I am praying that this will be a successful pairing.

So please keep me in you thoughts this week while I end a great run at my current job and jump out the "proverbial" plane without a parachute into this new endeavor. I'm praying God will give the strength and insight of Nehemiah in the coming days.

HMM 9

2009-10-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

I made it my mission to bring back some Hidden Mickeys from the magical world of Walt Disney World. I know, I know, I'm such the giver --and I just want to share with all of you so you can also share the magic.

Carpet at my home away from home someday--

Bay Lake Towers.

Back to reality!

2009-10-13T09:11:00.003-05:00

It's amazing how a little reality break can give you a bump to get on with your real life, well at least until the next escape. We had a great little get away to Walt Disney World. I'll be back with a trip report later in the week. Right now I have got to get caught up at work.

Now that you're over your sickness...what's next?

2009-10-07T08:12:00.003-05:00

I"M GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!

We're going to stay here.

Going to try to ride this.

Going to sprain my wrist trying to out score Tonya on this.

Gonna definitely ride this and scream like a girl!

Going to enjoy Wishes, as always!

We're also going to enjoy all kinds of food at the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. The only problem I foresee with this trip is that it will be too short. I will have plenty of things to report when we return. I'm sure that I can find a plethora of Hidden Mickeys to share. Have a magical weekend I know that we will.

A lot to think about...

2009-10-06T10:25:00.003-05:00

Our pastor finished his sermon Sunday with this thought for our week:

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks.” ---Phillip Brooks

Yeah--no pressure there???!!!

Back Amongst the Living

2009-10-05T08:46:00.003-05:00

I think I am finally on the mend. This flu/cold/cough/crap really got the best of me. I am trying to catch up today after three days off work last week. I leave Thursday for my girls weekend to Disney World so I suspect these three days will be a little crazy.

My wonderful daughter baked me a "get better" cake on Thursday. She baked at her Grandma's after school, she really is becoming a baker, which is great, because I don't mind cooking, but I don't bake. We should be able to provide some great meals with our well-rounded interest.As you can tell, we dug right in to enjoy before I thought of taking a picture.

Under the Weather

2009-09-30T09:02:00.002-05:00

Although the weather here has been really nice I'm feeling really yuck! I'm sure I'll be back up and at'em any time now.

Sounds of the Magic Kingdom

2009-09-28T08:51:00.002-05:00

Only about 10 more days and I will get to hear this live.

TweetMic Publish Your Audio on Twitter loumongello's audio tweet

Shared via AddThis

Don't sweat the small stuff, there's plenty of real crap to keep you busy!

2009-09-25T22:02:00.006-05:00

It's Friday, I worked my half a day at my regular job then I worked a couple of hours at my volunteer job and I was on my way home to get ready for Jenna to have a friend over for the night when I get a panicked phone call from my mom. "where are you you?" I answer "what's wrong?" she yells "WHERE ARE YOU?" I say "home "(I'm not really home but that was easier than explaining exactly at what intersection I was). She finally says my niece and nephew have been in accident and Josh is hurt.

I hang up and call who Jim who is closest to the scene to send him there until we can find my sister-in-law. I arrive there just after my mom and Jim was already there. It's pretty bad. Katie's car is totaled and I don't see Josh anywhere. I get directed to Josh who is a bloody mess in the ambulance and Katie is frantically, and in the fashion a true Morgan woman, worried about all the Homecoming decorations and preparations that are in her car for the festivities tonight, insisting that we have to get them out before they tow the car away.

Katie sticks her head in the ambulance to check on Josh and the EMT immediately says that she needs to be checked out too, she has a mean contusion on her forehead. Next thing I know they are sure they need to transport both of them. I send Jim to try to track down my sister-in-law so she doesn't just come upon the wreck on her way home. She arrives and gets to see that the kids are talking and breathing even though Josh looks pretty bad it seems like things are under control. We head to the emergency room.

My brother meets us at the hospital and they start to examine the kids. They decided to do CT scans on both mostly just precautionary. They start to unwrap Josh's head and we're talking gaping wound. The EMT's hadn't really seen it because the firemen had it wrapped before they arrived, let's just say they understated the yuckiness and size (we could see skull). He had fourteen staples put in. If Halloween was a little closer he could definitely pull off a Frankenstein costume. They finished up with them and sent them home to be awakened every two hours through the night by their loving parents, mom of whom is saying that they really won't be driving without her any time soon.

We are counting our blessings tonight and reminding ourselves of what is most important in life.

One of the great EMT on the scene

Josh upon arrival to the hospital

They haven't shared a room for years, until today

Katie waiting for her CT.

and can you believe Jenna found a Hidden Mickey

It's been 70 years??

2009-09-24T11:26:00.003-05:00

Last night Jenna and I went to see The Wizard of Oz (the movie). In celebration of it's 70th Anniversary it was re-released in HD digitally remastered quality on the big screen for one night only. It was so fun. I was surprised at the crowd--more people than I thought would pay $10 for a 70 year old movie they can see on TV for free quite often. But it was a totally different experience than watching at home.

Just being in the theatre made it a more enjoyable experience for me because I wasn't tempted to try to accomplish six other things while it was on. The other thing that surprised me, never having seen it in a crowd, was the audience reaction. They loved the Cowardly Lion. They laughed out loud in places that a small crowd in your living room just wouldn't have. They responded with "ahs" when one little girl distraughtly let out a sob when Mrs. Gooch took Toto away, and were as equally delighted when Toto got away from her. They cheered when the Wicked Witch (whom I had difficult time not thinking of as Elphaba) melted. I will have to say I could have done without the lady beside me (who reeked of cigarette smoke) thinking it was okay to speak every line of every character in an audible voice. But what are you gonna do? All-in-all a very enjoyable evening spent with my wonderful daughter.

Kind of HMM 8

2009-09-23T08:47:00.004-05:00

This HMM combines some of my favorite things, ~~rain drops on roses, whiskers on kittens,~~ Coke and Disney. I pulled into the parking lot of work one morning and was greeted by this truck totally parked the wrong way. And I'm thinking, "it's not my birthday, who would send me a whole truck of Cokes? God Bless them whoever they are."
But in the lower right hand corner I noticed this little emblem. No ears but still a Hidden Mickey of sorts. Anyway... it brought a smile to my face.

Spirit Week--It might as well be the week of Halloween!

2009-09-22T09:06:00.006-05:00

It's Spirit Week at my daughter's school this week. Now really it's just an excuse to dress crazy and be silly, but that's okay! So the days consist of

Pajama Day--Okay so who wouldn't want to wear their pj's all day

Miss Match Day-- okay as long as you don't need to go anywhere after school

Senior Citizen Day--this one is lost on me--Spirit Week??

Purple and White--school colors--perfect sense.

Nerd Day--because Middle schoolers need help in pointing out each others flaws and shortcomings.

So tomorrow is Senior Citizen Day-- I'm sure the powers that be are thinking something like this--

I'm thinking something more like this----Tina Turner, baby!!! 69 years old!!!

I bet it's the beginning of the end....

2009-09-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Friday marked the end of something significant in my life. It brought what was the last episode of The Guiding Light. Now I will have to admit I really haven't watched much in the last few years. The new format that they chose to try to save themselves was just too weird for me, but more than once in my life soaps have meant a lot to me. I remember as a child watching As The World Turns and Guiding Light while my sainted grandmother (Nana) would do her weekly ironing. She would be hard pressed to admitting that she followed her stories as she called them. I then followed both of those stories through the years to keep up to date so that I could still talk about them with her.

Through the years I remember crossing the network boarders to be able to be part of the most interesting and popular story lines. I followed ABC's All My Children during the Tad/Liza--Greg/Jenny era. I followed NBC's Days of Our Lives during the Patch/Kayla --Bo/Hope era because that was what was being watched in the lounges of the numerous Universities I attended. But I always came back to CBS to follow Betsy/Frank/Craig on As the World Turns and Kelly/Morgan/Nola and then Phillip/Beth--Rick/Mindy on Guiding Light. I also found myself back in Springfield hoping that the new romantic triangle would intrigue me or that the old characters would give me a sense of nostalgia. But today they say "Good Bye" to the new and so many of the old. I just feel like this is probably the beginning of the end of Soap Operas that we knew of the past. That is probably a good thing seeing that they really have no redeeming value whatsoever but even so I find it sad and nostalgic.

So as I think of the years gone by I remember how many big stars have come out of the casts of Soap Operas and I wonder what other genre will aid those actors and actresses in honing their crafts. Where will they find the all-American Meg Ryans, the footloose Kevin Bacons, the adorable Marisa Tomeis and the countless others that now may never have a break out moment? I'm sure they will be welcome on some reality show or another.

So as I say good bye to Sprinfield, the Bauers, the Spaudlings, the Coopers, the Lewis' and all the other families that have come and gone from The Guiding Light through the years. I will find it a little disconcerting that I will not be able to turn on my Story to just keep up and touch base with those families that have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but I'm sure my life will go on but as of Friday something will not be the same as before. Thanks for a great 72 year run-- 35 or so which were important in the story of my life.

Happy Meal Happiness

2009-09-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

Tuesday evenings Jenna and Mady have Lyric Academy practice from 4:30pm-8:00pm. We share the carpooling responsibilities between parents. Susan (Mady's mom) usually takes and Jim or I pick up (guess we need to get Rick in there somewhere). Tuesday night was my turn to pick them up. We haven't quite figured out how to get dinner/snack in there yet so I was offering the wonderfully nutritious option of McDonald's, which my daughter jumped on immediately because it isn't an option much anymore.

We get in the drive through line and order an orange soda, a chicken sandwich, and a cheeseburger happy meal with an orange drink. (I know right now you're thinking how desperate I must be for material for my blog if I'm telling you what I ordered at McDonald's) Anyway... The guy on the intercom thingy asked if my happy meal was a boy or a girl, I'm sure he probably asked if it was for a boy or girl, but we got so tickled at the thought of how can you tell if a happy meal cheeseburger is a boy or a girl burger...do you turn it over?...do you lift the bun up? etc... I will never order a happy meal again without a smile on my face.

HMM 7

2009-09-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

This one was found at Target. It is a picture frame which I'm sure I would have to fill with pictures from any given Disney trip. And you get at least three hidden mickeys here, almost four. A friend called my office yesterday frustrated because she couldn't find me on Tuesday to tell me to get myself and camera over to another office on campus to get a picture of a hidden mickey she had seen on another friend's necklace. We may have the start of a whole new trend. Get those cameras out and collect those Hidden Mickeys, I've already had my friend Kristie join in the fun. We're defintely gonna have to have a free give away contest.

Vacation all I ever wanted--Vacation had to get away...

2009-09-16T08:43:00.005-05:00

In November of 2008, Jim was scheduled to attend a conference in Orlando so I planned to attend with him so that I could hang for a few days and then in the evenings we would go over to Disney World (of course). We had annual passes so it seemed to make sense. Then my best friend and her husband decided to tag along (also annual passholders). So during the day the guys worked and Tonya and I hit the parks and the guys joined us in the evening. We happened to be visiting during Epcot's annual Food and Wine festival. Not being drinkers, we really didn't think it was something that we would participate in. When the guys arrived they proved us wrong--we had a great time trying all the food from the different countries and since the kids were left at home we didn't have to hear constant whining about how gross our food choices were. So we had a great trip and thought "wow, the Food and Wine Festival was really cool."

End of story....fast forward to last weekend...

We're playing cards Friday night and Tonya and I mentioned that we think we (moms only) should try to get away for a long weekend. I remembered that I had received an e-mail from Southwest that they were running friends fly free to Orlando and Las Vegas. We really didn't think we'd go to Las Vegas for the first time without the husbands, but of course Orlando always interests us. The husbands said "you should do that," yeah right like that could happen with the crazy schedules right now. Nice thought...maybe another time.

I go home and check the deals that Southwest sent and they're pretty good. I discover that Epcot's Food and Wine Festival 2009 is about to start, now that's interesting. So I casually check the two weekends that could possibly work out and the deals look okay. I casually give Tonya a call to see if she might be serious about going away for a few days. Okay...who am I kidding we're always serious about getting away for any amount of days. We check the schedules and crunch the numbers and decide to go for it. Now when I say "go for it" that means that I make all the arrangements and then I contemplate for hours, sometimes days, until finally Jim has to push me over the edge and push the purchase button for me. So guess what? I'm going to Walt Disney World with my bestie!!! Yeah!! You never know what adventures each next day might hold. Epcot's Food and Wine Festival here we come.

Autumn Thoughts

2009-09-13T14:05:00.003-05:00

As Autumn makes its appearance
It often makes me think
That although the leaves begin to fall
and living things become doormat
I fell change is on the brink

I find myself somewhat unsettled
I wonder what the season will bring:
changes to friendships and relations,
shifts in maturity in our home.
Change can be a really scary thing.

When I find new doors are opening
I struggle with the walk on through
I find the pulls of safety and comfort
The things I find familiar having
more strength than I really knew.

Autumn brings a time of reflection
moments to sit and ponder.
Getting ready for God's inconceivables that
He has in store for those who pray.
and I am expecting gifts of God's amazing wonder.

The Cat's Meow...

2009-09-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

When playing cards at my best friend's house last weekend we had one of those "you had to be there" funny moments. I know you're thinking of one of your own, right now. So you know when you try to tell the story to others it completely loses all it's character and you might as well have told the story in Latin because no one understood what was so funny about it anyway! So now you're totally wondering where I am going with this post if I already know the outcome of trying to relay to all of you how funny the moment was. So... I won't try to recreate the moment but I do have to share some of what was the source of our laughing til we cried.

My friend's grandmother, in an attempt to make some kind of connection with her great granddaughters wanted to give them some books that she thought they might enjoy. Now you never know what type of books those could turn out to be. Sometimes they are old religious books that meant something to their lives, or maybe books from the childhood of your parents or grandparents. But no matter what they are they most definitely will prove how good of a parent you are. Can your children be gracious when faced with the challenge of accepting the book even when it happens to be this one:

This book was published in 1964 and is translated from the feline. This is not an ordinary how to train your cat book this is a cat's version on how to train your person. I really think that some suppressed psycho-analytical type must have enjoyed the thrill of writing this book. A great example is found in Chapter 11--People.

Men

In dealing with the man of the house, it is fortunate that by and large the species suffers from a basic insecurity and is plagued, particularly in family matters, with an ambivalence that can be most usefully exploited.

Women

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT apply the same methods and ploys to softening up the woman of the house as you do to buttering up the man. They won't work for the simple reason that she has probably used some of them herself on the same male....Do not underestimate them, for they area for more clever, certainly, than the males they have captured and taken over.

Children

By and large children are a nuisance, although I should say they come under the heading of a mixed blessing, and where children are concerned you will have to decide for yourselves whether the price is worth while.

The Bachelor

I have not much to say to you on the subject of bachelors...To begin with, there are not all that many about, and the fact is that if a man has reached the age of fifty without being able to attract some woman or another into a successful partnership with him, there is something the matter with him and he might very well not be right material for living with a cat.

158 pages of this. The whole book is written in the cat's voice. The book also contains some minor cursing and descriptions of boy parts of the cat all of which had been lovingly blacked out by either the original giver of the book or by my friend's grandmother. That has yet to be determined. I recommend that if you would enjoy that premise of training your person with the tricks of pet training that you might enjoy the movie If A Man Answers --at least it was meant to be a comedy and was released about the same year so you still get the antiquated interpersonal skills that are enjoyed with this book.

Chantel worries about her new marriage to photographer Eugene failing so she decides to take her mother's advice and manipulate him. First, her mother gives her a book that will solve all her problems about how to treat a husband - namely a book on how to train dogs. Then, her mother gives her a second trick, an imaginary boyfriend who used to come in handy during her own marriage to Chantel's father. However, if Chantel's mother made this man up, what is she going to do when Eugene brings him home for dinner one night? Written by MaxVaughn

HMM 6

2009-09-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

These Mickey's are not so hidden, but so cool. One of the professors at the University where I work sent me this great picture when he discovered I am a Disney nut.

He saw this bus on a trip to Japan. I really need some of these tail lights on my van.

I cant' believe she's 12!!

2009-09-08T09:43:00.002-05:00

My friend Alisa sent me this great photo of my daughter when they happened to attend the same baseball a while back. Today is Jenna's 12th Birthday and if seems an appropriate photo as I reflect on what a blessing Jenna has been to our lives. I really find the time flying, but unlike some people I don't feel the twang of infant or preschool days, I was never much of a baby person. I really enjoy the person Jenna is becoming now. I love the way she thinks through things. I love her view on the world and how she is able to let things roll of her back an move forward. She is so not like her mother, which is probably a blessing that she doesn't quite appreciate yet. She is laid back and thoughtful. She rarely stresses out over stuff. She can start a project without knowing what the final outcome will be. She really believes that if you love God with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself that the rest will take care of itself. She has a humble confidence about her abilities that astounds me. She is truly a blessing. So Happy 12th Birthday to my Sweet Girl. I love you!

She brought back SPT.

2009-09-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

She's back with SPT. It could be short lived but heck it's about Vacation and I love Vacation.

Lelly's Musings

This is what I did for summer vacation--it was the best and totally relaxing.

This is me enjoying a dolphin cruise.

Door Number 2

2009-09-03T23:30:00.001-05:00

We are finally in our new offices -- Everything is put away and I am now functioning in my new environment. I have walls and even my own door.

So Welcome -- come on in....

Thanks for virtually dropping by...feel free to drop by for real anytime.

Surviving the Wilderness.

2009-09-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

I am part of a small group that meets every other Sunday or so and also for family game night about once every couple of months. Small groups are meetings of a smaller numbers of people than a church service or Sunday School class. At our church even the Sunday School classes can be the size of small churches elsewhere thus the reason for a smaller group to be accountable to and have fellowship with. We have a pretty well established group and it has become much more important in my life that I would ever have imagined. I am a sceptic won over by some great people. All of that to say...we had a great discussion Sunday evening.

It wasn't that we made any great revelations but we came to realize that each of us is going through our own version of the Israelites in the wilderness. We each had things to share about how we are waiting on the promised land. What we may have discovered is that

The Wilderness might not be as lonely as we each first thought. We each are fighting something that makes us feel lost and sometimes without a way out.

Just Because we can't see Land doesn't mean that it isn't out there somewhere. Just hold on and keep your eyes peeled. In the philosophical words of Dorie in Finding Nemo. "just keep swimming.."

God's plans are the best plans. No really...God's plans are the best plans. Let go of your expectations of the situation and the people who control it. Jason Mraz sings a song called "I'm Yours" and for the most part the lyrics are very much from "me" point of view, but like most lyrics (for me anyway) you can come away with parts that really speak to you. the lines I like here are:

I won't hesitate no more, no more

It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me

Open up your plans and damn you're free

Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love

Play the cards you are a dealt and be grateful. When we feel entitled, we focus on what we are owed, not what we might need to give to others. It is a "one-way street" mind-set. When these feelings are strong and people don't meet our expectations, we often find ourselves bitter, resentful, and angry. Relationships can be (and often are) destroyed by feelings of entitlement. (copied --not my words)

The things realised about the wilderness that even if we can't see each other we are all out there somewhere at sometime, scream really loud and we're there to help.

For me personally... I am realising more each and every day that it is not about me. I need to get out the way --God has bigger plans--plans the are inconceivable to me. The things that seem to have no rhyme or reason (like going into a land of giants) are part of a larger vision. It's not about me being comfortable but about me getting out of the way so others can be comfortable. I'm not entitled to things being a certain way. All the things that cause nightmares for us control freaks. Grace and Peace to you.

HMM 5

2009-08-31T07:00:00.002-05:00

I've been looking for hidden Mickey's all weekend. I have taken my camera with me whenever I've been out the house, just in case I spotted one. It just wasn't happening, then yesterday afternoon I was organizing my scrapbook paraphernalia trying to get ready to actually scrap something and there it was a page full of circles, two pages actually and there was one right in the middle of the paper. Can you spot it?

Now that I'm looking at the picture there is probably more than one....

Have a Magical Hidden Mickey Moment!

Can you spring clean in August?

2009-08-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

With Jim starting his own blog this month it lead to all of the photography equipment that we own being in out in the house all the time and we I had to rethink some space issues.

It doesn't help that I am totally captivated by the A&E show Hoarders. Not only does it captivate me, it utterly freaks me out that I could turn into one of these people if I don't get a grip on the crap in my house. Now, I don't think I would ever get to the point where the counselor is asking me "Could there be any rotting food in this room?" (because there are are bugs everywhere) and I deny it vehemently and there is a freaking rotting pumpkin at my feet in the living room!!!!!! I don't think that could happen but I can talk myself into keeping things that are completely unnecessary in my life. So... the clean out began today!

Cleaning out the hall closet to make room for the camera equipment which led to cleaning out the bedroom closet to make room for the stuff from the hall closet which led to me making Jenna clean out her stuffed animals which led to her cleaning out her shoes which led to me filling my car with things to go to the thrift store where I will have to sort though and price them to put out the sales floor which will lead to me taking things off the floor to make room for the things that I brought to the store. All the sudden I feel like singing The Circe of Life.

Time for bed where I am sure that I will dream of black plastic garbage bags full of my own belongings coming over the seats of my van and suffocating me while I'm driving to the thrift store.

Some things couldn't make the cut..

2009-08-26T21:17:00.002-05:00

In my new office I had to eliminate some of my personal items in order to actually have space for me and whatever prospective students I might meet. Although, I now have walls and a door the space itself did not grow at all.

The above piece of cherished photography was given to me on my 33rd birthday. My beautiful daughter was about 71/2 months old at the time and my husband not only took the photos...he picked out her outfit, got her dressed, called my mom to come and assist him at the park, took the photos, edited the photo choices, matted the whole thing himself and then wrapped it and brought it on vacation with us so that I could get for my birthday. It holds a special place in my heart but it will no longer hold a place in my office. It will now get a coveted space in the play/multi-purpose room along with some of the other treasured memorabilia.

Below is a Jenna's latest head shot for her Lyric auditions. It was probably time for the baby pictures to come home before prospects started asking me "Are those pictures of your granddaughter?"

The 60 days is finally over...

2009-08-25T08:44:00.004-05:00

We're moving back to our newly remodeled offices tomorrow!!! If you follow my blog you will know that we were banished to a multipurpose room back in April and then they began what was supposed to be a 60 day remodel. Well, 120 days later, we are finally moving back in. We don't have any of the new furniture for the foyer and the waiting area but they swear that it is coming.

Here's a reminder of where we started. Then the progress.

And this is where we are today.

new reception area

My office with walls and a door. Yea!!

Look for pictures later this week of me in this office with the door closed actually getting some of my work done without the song and dance of being in the multipurpose room.

Don't forget to visit my husband's new blog this week-- he's giving away t-shirts.

Fork in the road....

2009-08-24T09:10:00.003-05:00

This is where I'm headed. Do you take the steps to change some of your life or do you let things stay pretty much status quo?

Does Disney have a Saturday Chore Fairy?

2009-08-22T12:03:00.002-05:00

This is Saturday...When the gardener ~~calls in sick,~~ ~~is unavailable,~~ does not work for you and tells you to quit bothering him then you resort to doing the work yourself. Of course this is the area of the house that no one can see--so the neighbors won't even get to appreciate my hard work. I probably need to start working on the sections they can see before they start calling the nieghborhood association to report me. Such is life

BEFORE

AFTER

It's all about Perspective...

2009-08-21T09:39:00.003-05:00

With thoughts of Back To School

I often find myself torn..

Do I want her to stay home,

just so I don't have to face the fight of each morn?

I find thoughts of her seeing her friends - a joy.

She had to sit behind a really gross boy.

I find the challenge of a tough math class to be a good sign.

She thinks math is the subject sent by Satan to mess with her mind.

I get excited about new pencils, pens, notebooks, and such.

She wants to use the same stuff as last year because a trip to Target is just too much.

She thinks a locker to herself is just great.

I think she needs a buddy to help keep her locker straight.

I think she will soon get into the routine and things will be fine and dandy.

She thinks if given the chance she will be glad to stay home in her pajamas watch T.V.,

eat popcorn, and candy.

Back to School.

HMM 3&4

2009-08-18T08:27:00.005-05:00

I am so buried in work today that I thought this would be the perfect time for a HMM installment. Not much time to write so I will take the lazy way out.

I would love to see any that ya'll might come across.

Have a Hidden Mickey Magical Day!

Is 40 somethng too old for Children's Church?

2009-08-16T22:29:00.002-05:00

I'm thinking that maybe I need to go back to children's church. Do you ever think that maybe Big Church, as we used to call it back in the day, is a little overrated? Today our "the senior pastor is out town again fill in pastor" was our Elementary Pastor, Dave Mowry, and I'm sure that ~~some~~ a lot of the congregation stayed home. I like to hear some of our other pastors preach so Jenna and I got up and went to church, it was Sunday after all. I am so glad that we did. I might have to go to Children's Church next week to hear what else he has to say.

Oh my goodness, God might as well have just whacked me on the head with a hammer and said audibly "Hey--you --the blonde (He knows I'm not really blonde but He's willing to go along with the illusion)--with the jaw clenched --and tightest grip ever to be held on the control stick that is your life.--yea, you!! LISTEN!!" And then Pastor Dave preached just to me, some you may have been in attendance but he really was preaching just to me.

A sermon titled Inconceivable --really? For a pragmatic, cynical, control freak such as myself this title is more than I can handle, let alone the sermon and scripture (John 11:45-57) to go with it. "If I just snuck out now, would anyone even notice?" But I stayed put with my legs crossed, my arms folded, and my hands firmly gripping every plan, detail, well-balanced, event that is my life.

I have had that swirling gut feeling lately that God has plans for me that I might not find quite as appealing as the plans that I have for myself. Not that He wouldn't know what's best just that He might need me to tweak it a little for a better fit. Well I get the feeling that he let Pastor Dave in on that secret and gave him the 3 step plan to give to me.

You might as well accept it....
1. Be open that God has an inconceivable plan, other than our agenda.
2. Ask God to begin to show you the plan, Be ready. "Am I ready?"
3. I know what you want me to do, give me the courage and opportunity to do it.

For people like me, this might as well come as a nightmare rather than a sermon, it already is my nightmare so what's the difference. Have Faith! Trust me! I have a plan! These are just fancy curse words in my world.

Then I went to see the movie Julie & Julia tonight. Hammer meet head. Julia Child was a woman who took an inconceivable idea and made it reality. Julie was a woman who took an idea that seemed inconceivable (524 recipes in 365 days) and it profoundly changed her. No mention of God here in these stories...think what could happen if the inconceivable is conceived by God for Me...pick me up off the floor now. Am I still breathing?

So if you see me walking around with kind of a lost but hopeful look on my face, I am just in my limited, controlled ruled, finite, sense of reality trying to imagine the Inconceivable possibilities that God has for me. Thanks (both sarcastically and sincerely) Pastor Dave!

HMM 2

2009-08-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

For those of you who are looking for the little more obscure and artistic

Hidden Mickey...

This ain't Cary Grant and Sophia Loren's Houseboat.

2009-08-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

I was reminiscing about vacation and how nice it was to have no schedules or homework, and how nice it was to just sit by this pool all day with this view...

and this view...
and oh yea...this view!!

The true epitome of an "house"boat!!!
The lengths people will go to have a house on the water:)

Great Girls + Great Moms = Great Weekend

2009-08-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

To say that I am a pragmatic, not touchy feely, type A, kind of person would kind of be somewhat of an understatement. But I put all my insecurities aside, okay I didn't put them aside they were right out in the open for everyone to see, and planned a mother/daughter weekend for Jenna's friends and their moms.

I turned out to be a great experience. The group was made up of girls going into the 7th grade at the same Middle school and their moms. Some of us also have other connections but that was the one common thread for all of us. We would loved to have escaped to some exotic place for our little retreat but you know $$, schedules, $$, etc.. So we retreated to our little town that most us spend all of our time in. We were able to escape a bit of our "normal," even though we stayed in town. We were able to rent out the Alumni House at the campus where I work which allowed us to all stay together with the moms having beds to sleep on the girls getting to have a sleep over in the living room. This worked out really well and it was really inexpensive.

We spent our activity and meal time in one of the classrooms in the building where I work which also has a kitchen. This room was free--so again expenses kept to a minimum. One of the other moms and myself set down and put together a schedule and a menu for the weekend and then each mom took a session and presented it. We had some great learning activities with some object lessons, we had fun craft times, games, door prizes, karaoke, laughter, tears and lots of food.

This whole weekend was a huge leap for me. I don't stretch well, I don't share well, I freak out about how everyone is going to respond to any activity planned, so this was a big deal for me. I hope that I can take it as a lesson learned because I'm not sure (other that my daughter not puking her guts out) how the weekend could gone any better. Everyone seemed happy to be there and enjoyed themselves, the activities and lessons were well received by all, the door prizes were a hit, (okay only the fold up butterfly chairs were a hit but the others were graciously accepted), the food was well planned and delicious. It was as if we had done a thousand of these little retreats.

We were hoping to give our girls a sense of who they are and how they can live their best life. It was good for us moms too, to know that we all are going through the same issues. We had a great mixture of learning and fun and really the moms just used their gifts and talents to show the girls the things that they love and it went remarkably well. I would recommend this type of activity to any group of girls and moms and would be glad to share some of our itinerary ideas.

The best pictures will be yet to come from some of the other moms who did a great job documenting the weekend through photos...but here a few that I took when I had a minute to remember to grab my camera.

This is where we stayed.

Our Dining Table (just like camp)

Getting ready for a great session

Scrap booking

Tye -Dye in the foyer thanks to the remodel

All the stuff you need to make it work

Scrapbooking

Hidden Mickey Moments

2009-08-06T19:57:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my new segment. I was trying to think of something that I could blog ~~monthly,~~ ~~weekly,~~ ~~daily,~~ ~~regularly,~~ at any given moment, and while running last night I saw this:

By the way I wasn't running with my camera, I returned to the scene to get the photo. I thought it might be fun (for me) to have a place to record the Hidden Mickeys that I come upon, and I thought I would drag all of you along with me. Through the years I have had many people send me photos of Hidden Mickeys they have found, which have included a gravy spill and flower bulbs pulled from the ground. So if you find yourself so inclined to join the fun feel free to send me your photos and I will post them here at HMM.

My wonderful husband was kind enough to design me a little logo to go with my segment. He suggested that maybe down the line we do a little give away of a logo t-shirt so watch for that in the Hidden Mickey Moments to come. So I'll sign off the only way that seems appropriate...

Have a Magical Hidden Mickey Moment!

I'm paying for this??

2009-08-04T12:49:00.004-05:00

When I picked up Jenna from her theatre classes today this what I was greeted with...
She really freaked out her dad who had forgotten that today's class was stage make-up. And she had to go the eye doctor's office to get her glasses fixed and they were a little taken back also. The things she will do for her "art."

More on this later...

2009-08-02T18:52:00.002-05:00

We had an awesome Mother/Daughter weekend! I don't know why It surprises how incredible, intelligent, talented, thoughtful, funny, strong, spiritual, musical...these mothers and daughters are. More details will follow in the next couple of days. But let's say it was a success and I would recommend this type of activity to any group like ours. Thanks Ladies!

We might not be as normal as we thought....

2009-07-30T08:44:00.011-05:00

My daughter tries to encourage us to "Think Green". I will have to admit that it easier to think it than to actually do anything about it. But we try to do two things ~~regularly,~~ ~~occasionally,~~ okay, when we remember. We use our Big Blue tub that the city provides to recycle plastic, paper and aluminum, and we try to use reusable shopping bags instead of plastic. That's it, that's about the amount of effort I ashamedly put forth.

The big trick to the reusable shopping bags is two fold (besides actually folding them)--remembering to put them into the car after the last use and remembering to get them out of the car and into the store.

Well...last night we went to do the grocery shopping for the big girls weekend. We picked a good time, it was about 8:30 pm and the store was relatively quiet and they hadn't started unpacking the stocking crates yet. I felt encouraged that we could accomplish our task in a timely fashion. That's what I get for having a positive attitude.

We finished gathering what seems like enough stuff for an army and head to the check out. We walked right up with one person finishing up ahead of us. Now... I try to be pleasant to the clerk I appreciate the job he/she does but I also try to respect the time of those behind me in line. But my respecting their time is irrelevant if the clerk seems oblivious. She was totally telling me her life story and at the same time was determined to stuff every reusable bag to a weight so heavy that I would need Hulk Hogan to get me out of the store. Really... I have plenty of bags, I remembered to put them in the car and I remembered to bring them in the store, I'm prepared.

We finally get everything bagged and paid for and the person behind me is totally taken back by our use of the reusable bags...really?...So now the clerk remarks how wonderful she thinks they are and how much stuff she can get into them...yea we noticed. And the shopper wants to know how we thought to do that...really? I mutter my standard line "The trick is remembering to bring them in the store"...laugh... polite dismissal. Moving on...

Believe it or not two more people, before we get out the door, mention what a great idea those bags are. Where did you get? How much do they cost?...really? Are these that much of a novelty? I guess since Jenna is so into the "Think Green" that we just think of these bags as normal ...but now that I think of it maybe we have a few more than normal...

Is it Wednesday already?

2009-07-29T08:24:00.006-05:00

The preparation for the Mother/Daughter weekend is heating up. I might as well be moving into the office for all the stuff I keep bringing with me everyday. Because we are in the midst of this wonderful remodel I have extra pieces of furniture all around me. One of the carpenters just finished a storage cabinet that will eventually have a permanent place in our room. So for now....

I'm using the lovely cabinet as storage for all my goodies for the weekend. Luckily, the office also has two full size refrigerators that I plan to fill tomorrow.

Now I have to find time to read the book club book and prepare my Mother/Daughter activity session. I'm going to need to take Monday off work to recover from the weekend.

What was I thinking?

2009-07-28T08:12:00.004-05:00

I really may have completely lost it this time. In the effort to provide my only child a ~~perfect~~ tolerable world in which grow up, I sometimes over think things. Months ago I had this ~~brilliant~~
not really all that well thought out idea. I thought what if I host a mother/daughter weekend for us and some of Jenna's closest friends. I really thought that I might face some resistance from the mother's who thought that I was nuts, crazy, delusional....etc. But that didn't happen. I got lots of support, the girls were really excited, the plans all came together. Now the weekend is almost here and I am wondering....WHAT WAS I THINKING????

This a great group of people and I'm sure we will have a great weekend. But as the time approaches and the reality sets in of what I have really said I will do, I get a little freaked out. We have a great itinerary planned out, we have good space to host the event, everyone has been great about pitching in to provide activities, food, and support. I have no reason to believe that it will be anything but fantastic.... I have no reason to believe that it will be anything but fantastic.... I have no reason to believe that it will be anything but fantastic....

Another Musical Moment!

2009-07-27T15:45:00.000-05:00

More musical news. We got to see Wicked yesterday. It was incredible! It was a great story and the score was amazing, I've been hearing in my head all day. Jenna has a great music/theatre teacher who loves this musical and really got her interested in it so when it came near we had to go see. It worked out that we got to ride, have lunch, and attend with friends. That made it even better.

This is the musical the really put Kristen Chenoweth, an Oklahoma native, on the map. We had been listening to the soundtrack, with her, all week and I will have to admit I thought her shoes might be impossible to fill. But I was wrong, the young woman who played the role of Glinda was fantastic, as was the role of Elphaba.

This a picture of mine and Jenna's fingernails, which had to be green in honor of the greeness of Elphaba. We also wore green, thanks to Savanna's great idea when they went to see it. All in all a great day and another great moment brought to us through the magic of musical theatre.

The facebook group strikes again!

2009-07-23T21:48:00.008-05:00

I'm sure many of you have fallen into what I like to call The Facebook Group Syndrome. It's that brief moment when you want to believe that this time is going to be different. This time the group will build quickly and continue to grow momentum, that you will actually find the time and energy to check back often for posts and pictures that will surely be added. This time the Facebook Group will be successful.

Yesterday it happened to me again. I am getting my hopes up for this page though. The other groups that I have joined have had various reasons for gathering. Mostly the other groups that I am part of are groups where the people only have one thing in common...ie. A summer mission trip, a show choir, loving Walt Disney World, High school...you get the picture and I'm guessing you also are part of one or two of these type of groups. They get you all excited. They entice you with the promise of renewal, but let's be honest if you really had things in common with these people other than one moment time you would've already stayed in touch.

Anyway....... Today's invitation came for a family group. My Grandmother's (Dad's mom) side of the family decided to start a family group page. I have hope for this to actually be useful and full of promise. These people have blood in common something that should actually make us care about one another. Hopefully we have more common ground to build a facebook group. I am tucking my cynicism in a corner and going to give this group a chance. I can hope!

Here's a sampling of some of the people this group includes:

Okay, maybe my hope is misplaced!

Something old...Something new.

2009-07-22T22:44:00.005-05:00

The blog content is the same, just making some cosmetic changes. Come to think of it maybe I should take some of those same liberties with my actual person. Please excuse the mess.

Joseph...What cha gonna do?

2009-07-22T09:21:00.005-05:00

We went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last night. What fun!! We had never seen it but my friend Alisa loaned me the soundtrack so I would be familiar with the music...always a great idea in preparation to enjoy a new musical. It was fantastic, and so fun that it goes with the sermon series this month.

Oklahoma City has a great treasure in our Lyric Theatre at the Civic Center. They produce a whole summer season of great musicals every year and do a smaller fall season of plays and musicals in their own theatre. They bring in great talent and then use all the wonderful talent from the Oklahoma and the region. This particular production is very heavy on the vocal abilities of the leads. They brought in two American Idol finalist from years past to do the leads, I was a little sceptical about that myself but the did an outstanding job. (Anthony Fedorov and Diana DeGarmo). Then just to get the public out they combined their summer theatre camp kids into to production (80 kids on the stage, quite a few of Jenna's friends).

Another wonderful event that provided us the transportation from our hum-drum life to that of the magical musical theatre. Off the see Wicked on Sunday. Gotta go listen to the soundtrack. Kristen Chenoweth...enough said.

Out of the mouths of babes...

2009-07-21T09:29:00.001-05:00

After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.

His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.'

You want to teach me what????

2009-07-20T20:51:00.003-05:00

I had a full weekend without having too full of a weekend. I am typically a social person, but everyone once in a while a have to fight the urge to just hibernate, and it's not even winter. This past weekend brought just the right amount of activity, you know, the amount that gives you time to do a load of white clothes so you have clean underwear, but enough to do that there is no time to clean the house.

Jenna came home from camp and just the three of us got to go to dinner and Jenna and I got to go visit one of our favorite new stores in town, Half-Price Books. Quite a nice mix of right priced new books and value price gently used books. Even my non-shopper daughter likes it there.

Saturday brought time for a friend to come over for swimming, sunning, a movie. Then dinner with the besties and cards. This was the challenge of the evening for me. I do not like new things. I like to know what's happening. I don't like to try new restaurants. I do not want to learn a new card game. I like the card game we always play, I have it down, it offers me comfort. But no....Jim thought we should learn to play Hearts. You would think after 20 years he would know not to spring a new thing on me without warning. Every passive aggressive tone in my voice and action in my body language came to the surface. But I played, and in time I could probably even learn to like it...but don't push it.

Sunday brought another great sermon on Joseph and a great lunch with the family at my mom's house. She made a delicious lunch and everyone's favorite dessert...you ready...Chocolate cake with homemade caramel icing...so far, so normal. But we all eat it in a bowl with milk on it. I know...blame my dad, it was his favorite. My nieces and nephews are growing up so fast but they are growing up well and are quite enjoyable to be around. But then my niece Katie (a senior this year and who I thought was so much like me when I was her age) suggests that we learn a new card game. Silently I am thinking... NOOOOOOOO!!! Two in one weekend. Thank you God, nice joke.

But I played and was not nearly as passive aggressive as the night before. Before the lesson was over there was a table full of us playing and we had a great time. I don't know if it even had a name but we played it with like three decks of Skip-Bo cards. Great for a large group or a party.

Arrived home in time for sun and run time and then we head to small group. I will have to admit that I am not always excited to go to small group but after arrive I am always glad I went. These are some great, down to earth people. They have great hearts and intelligent minds and I greatly enjoy their company. They shared some great examples of God's hand of Providence last night.

All in all this was a great weekend and I thank God for his blessings in my life and for the things that I might not know the reasons for quite yet, and I even thank Him for new card games.

No more empty nest!

2009-07-17T10:00:00.004-05:00

Jenna (my darling pre-teen) comes home today!! She has been away a church camp all week. It has been strangely quite. Jim and I have had a taste of the empty nest syndrome. I don't how well we faired. The dog is completely confused because he usually eats his food when sit down for dinner but we haven't actually sat down for dinner this week. The laundry took less loads to complete. We went to a movie on a Monday night, which by the way, there is no line at the concessions on a Monday night. We were kinda back to that days "before child", and we were married 8 years "before child". We were such two single married people. We did what we pleased and occasionally ran into one another for some activities and mostly went about our business individually. This particular choice of lifestyle made it little difficult to adjust to a baby coming into out lives but...it may be as one goes out eventually that it won't be so hard to fall back into a routine with the empty nest. We do have a few years to figure it all out and in the meantime we will be glad to have our girl back home tonight.

Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson

2009-07-11T08:43:00.000-05:00

These are some incredible lyrics--You never know who the messenger is going to be. I have appreciated Michael Jackson's musical ability for what seems like forever. This is one of my absolute favorites. If you read my blog or have a ever been around me for more than ten minutes you will have noticed that music and especially lyrics of music play a huge role in my life. These lyrics hit me right between the eyes--- No message could have been any clearer--If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a change

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On
My Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs

A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other
On The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go
That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of
A Selfish Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some
With No Home,
Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind,
Ya' See Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
(Ooh!)I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Ooh!)And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
—Matthew 25:34-46

We're thinking about two more weeks....oooh really?

2009-07-10T08:57:00.000-05:00

If you have been following my blog attempts you might remember that my office is in the middle, well I hope further than the middle, of a remodel. I have made reference to a few of the interesting moments that have come about because of close quarters. Go here and here.

So today I thought I would get you up to speed. You would think we should be moved back in and I could show you lovely photos of all of us back in a our respective areas with the students comfort being our number one priority...yeah, you would think?????

No, we are still in our common space. We have seen progress...as turtle like slow as it may seem. We've had carpet in certain area for weeks, but no baseboards. We have painted walls but with really strange finishes. We have carpeted areas that just don't seem quite right. We have major spills, who needs a drop cloth anyway? We have opened ceilings just like your favorite sitcom. In fact we might become your favorite sitcom before this is over.

We do have more electrical outlets than before. We have a new storefront doorway. Dayna has a beautiful handcrafted reception desk.

So... maybe we are on the tail end of this project. I think if they had just let me and my co-worker Franicine have a couple hammers and some paint brushes evrything would have been done long ago. So here's to hoping we are in our new area before that rush of students that always comes with the beginning of August.

If Only..

2009-07-08T09:50:00.004-05:00

...life could be wrapped up in a neat package of musical numbers, right decisions and a happy ending with a great deal or applause at the end!

Jenna and I went to see The Music Man last night. It was all you expect from an old-fashioned musical, and for some of you the thought of just that is nauseating beyond being tolerated, but for Jenna and I it is most enjoyable. The escape from reality into the magical world of musical theater is one of the things we enjoy most.

And really, wouldn't it be fantastic if the world worked that way? If you put your feet on the floor in the morning with the anticipation of musical numbers bursting out of nowhere with full orchestra accompaniment. Where people played a part that was scripted and always timed perfectly. Where the plot of the day is never too deep or intellectual but has enough moral conflict to make you feel good about the decisions made. A day where everyone is rooting for the couple to live happily ever after and make prefect harmonies as the last notes of the score are heard. And then... the whole cast of your day gets to return to the stage and receive applause for a job well done (that part should be a new federal mandate for the end of everyone's day--all days should end with each person receiving a warm round of applause!) I think life lived like in a musical really may not be such a bad idea.

So here's to all of you who trudge along today and do the work put before you with a song in your heart. I tip my hat and raise my hands in a warm round of applause to all of you.

Meanwhile....

2009-07-07T08:30:00.001-05:00

Genesis 37:34-36

34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Our Senior pastor was back on Sunday after a four week break. I really didn't want to get up and go to church in fact we got in Jim's car and had to come back to the house because his tire was so low and we almost just gave it up and stayed home. But we switched cars and headed out a second time. I don't know why it surprised me, but it was worth it. God has blessed our pastor with the ability to present the stories we have heard for years in a way that becomes pertinent to our (or at least my) life today in 2009.

He started a series on Joseph, you know the guy with coat of many colors. I know this story inside and out, I've heard it a million times. I would say it is one of my favorite Bible stories. So how is it possible that Sunday morning it became a whole new story for me.

He started with examining the two hands of God...the hand of the miracles of God and the hand of God's providence. The providence of God -- His ability to work through any situation that we happen to get ourselves into. The providence of God provides a way... Joseph is arrogant and obviously his Father's favorite...jealous brothers take the future into their own hands... lies are presented to a heartbroken father...greed overwhelms... but meanwhile.... God's hand of Providence prepares the way.

These past few months I have been struggling. What am I doing with my life? Am I being a successful parent? How do I get my cheerleader back? In the words of Bob Hope to his wife of 69 years.. "What are you doing for the rest of your life?...the north and south and east and west of your life?" This is the question that is turning my comfortable life upside down.

I have been reading, searching, questioning, praying, crying, running, eating, hoping for an answer or some guidance...the came Sunday.

God's hand of Providence... God his working through all the situations in which I find myself. There is not a path I take where He cannot lead. That even when I don't quite know what I'm doing he is ahead of me preparing the way. Maybe I just have to push on through these crazy moments to find the light...so to speak.

So, I don't find the struggle completely over, I still seem to find myself in a new search for something, I still feel a little off balance and somewhat crazy, but I press on looking forward to the next part of God's providence in my life. I know that as I do my part to travel this road with as much eloquence as possible that there is a way through...God goes before me...Meanwhile...

A Welcomed Surprise!

2009-07-06T18:33:00.005-05:00

When I arrived home from work today I had the sense, even as I walked in the door, that someone had baked something. I don't really bake--I cook dinner, and can usually follow a recipe to make casseroles and such, but baking, not so much. I knew Jim had been home at lunchtime so I thought maybe he had baked something in the oven and the smell was just lingering. But no... My wonderful daughter sheepishly says that I need to carefully open the freezer to see what she has created. This is what I discovered...

Yes... She made Cream Puffs!! My mom had given her a cookies press that she bought at a garage sale and there was a recipe for cream puffs so she just decided to make them. No hesitation, no thoughts of failure, no reason not to believe that she can cream puffs... who knew?

I give credit for this new "cooking enthusiasm" to my friend Alisa who has been patiently, lovingly, and selflessly teaching 6 almost 7th grade girls to cook this summer. Jenna did you proud today.

By: Jenna

2009-06-30T12:38:00.003-05:00

Vacation is over? Already? Sure we added an extra day, but it went by so fast!!! Caribe was Amazing!!! 3 indoor pools, 3 outdoor pools, a lazy river, 3 wonderful resorts, a snack bar (including ice-cream and icees), 7 slides (2 of which I went on), 3 tennis courts, a bocce ball court (does anyone know what that is?), a tram to the beach which was so cool (the tram was bright yellow by the way), a fishing dock,and great service. We also went para sailing (i didn't do that), went on a dolphin cruise, got hair raps, tye-dyed t-shirts, and swam every day! Some stuff wasn't as cool. Like making our own beds, making our own food, the fact that the seats were NOT attached to the chairs, we accidentally broke a glass, and Micheal Jackson died. The last one's a real downer on any ones day. My best wishes to the family. That's all I have to say. Maybe my mom will let me post for her again. Good-Bye!!!!

Balcony Cam

2009-06-21T09:11:00.003-05:00

Well, it's not streaming video, but it's a still image that refreshes every 15 seconds. Click on the photo to access our "balcony cam". We're on the 12th floor and we've already seen a school of dolphins going by.

Pulling it all together!

2009-06-18T16:35:00.002-05:00

The countdown is on. The last loads of laundry are waiting to be folded. The suitcases need to have their zippers zipped. Then we will be on our way. Be sure and check back next week-- Jim is going to try to figure out how to set up a web cam from our condo balcony. I'll let you know if it works.

I plan to return to my reality tan, rested and ready!!