Today while eating my Tongue Torch wings at Zaxby's, a sign on the wall caught my eye. It read, "I know that God created me to do many things before I die; but I'm so far behind, I think I will never be able to die!!" A true assessment of this past week!!
But in spite of the aggressive and demanding schedule in the past eight days, I want to count my blessings. For strength to do what I have had to do. For the breath to experience all that I have seen this past week. For friends and others that love God as much (or more than I do). For the Creator of this magnificent world where the crescendo of greens, blues, pinks, oranges, and reds can all be displayed in unified measure for our enjoyment!
Busy? you bet. Overwhelmed? my middle name. Satisfied? completely.
30 October 2005
21 October 2005
Celebrating 50
This weekend I'm heading to the home of my heart and heritage, the place where my Barbie dolls, playhouse, and 8 tracks still reside. My mother's sister and her husband (to me: Uncle Jack and Aunt Bog) are celebrating 50 years of marriage! I'm glad that their one daughter and two sons see the extreme value in this milestone and are giving a country "shindig" in their honor. They are not your typical family, but even as I write those words, I laugh. I don't think I have ever met a "typical" family. Each family has its own nuances , its own unique flavors and smells and weirdnesses. (Is that really a word?) Anyway, you know what I mean. Uncle Jack and Aunt Bog are of the old school that teaches you stick it out no matter what. Through Uncle Jack's father committing suicide, their two sons' divorces and all the unwelcomed baggage that comes with those situations, to Aunt Bog's breast cancer and near-death experience with a blood clot in her lungs, they stuck it out.
Now it's time to celebrate what they have lived and how they have loved! But most of all, we celebrate their commitment to God's ordained sanctity of the marriage vows. My husband and I have been married 24 years and that in itself is enough for me to realize that living with someone 50 years is twice the pain and frustration, but it's also twice the pleasure, twice the loving. Ah! Amour! Methinks it is worth the bumps in the road to get to the place of celebrating 50 years!
Very warm anniversary wishes, Aunt Bog and Uncle Jack! I'll be there with bells on!
Now it's time to celebrate what they have lived and how they have loved! But most of all, we celebrate their commitment to God's ordained sanctity of the marriage vows. My husband and I have been married 24 years and that in itself is enough for me to realize that living with someone 50 years is twice the pain and frustration, but it's also twice the pleasure, twice the loving. Ah! Amour! Methinks it is worth the bumps in the road to get to the place of celebrating 50 years!
Very warm anniversary wishes, Aunt Bog and Uncle Jack! I'll be there with bells on!
18 October 2005
When It's All Locked Up Inside
Almost three years ago, my husband wisely invested in AAA coverage and motorist assistance. I concurred with his reasoning since we had three daughters, and two of them were of driving age, it would be a good thing to do. Who knows how many times they may lock their keys in the car, run out of gas, have a flat tire? It's good to know they can get help when they need it. Yep, good for the daughters to have it.
So, now I need to stop beating around the bush and relate to you that in the past two and a half years, I have been the only one to need to call AAA -- both times because I locked my keys in the car! The first time was when we first moved into the house we are in now. That wasn't a big deal. I was still in town. But the most recent one was this past Friday night on the way back from my daughter's volleyball game. I was traveling to my parent's mountain house from the game and had stopped to gas up for an unbelievable and irresistible price of $2.69 per gallon!! I took my keys out of the ignition, laid them down on the seat while I got out my debit card, and then got out of the car, locked the door, and that is when the metal of the keys caught my eye!
You know how that goes. I'm closing the door as I'm seeing the keys and my brain was shouting, "Keys inside on seat!! Keys not in your hand!" However, the connectors between my brain and body just do not function as they did when I was younger. So, I'm standing outside my car at a gas pump in the middle of a very small town at 9:30 at night. I have a Triple A card, so no problem there. The problem was WHERE the card was at that moment. Inside the locked car.
The Exxon station happened to be staffed that night by two good "ole" boys. They allowed me to make a long distance call from their station phone and then proceeded to brag about the 58 different ways they could get my keys out of the car if I needed backup! All of them included a bit of violent measures and inevitably would cause some kind of harm to the car itself. One and a half hours later (because the local AAA locksmith/wrecker service was not answering the phone), a capable and qualified locksmith showed up with his toupee stuck haphazardly on his head, but his trusty tools in his hand. It took him short of 20 seconds to have the door opened and the illusive keys in my hands!
My impulse was to hug him, I was so relieved to be back inside my comfort zone, but I restrained myself. It was indeed a night of driving magic, because an hour later, just four miles from my parents' mtn. house, I sat another hour on the side of a mountain waiting for an accident to be cleared up. At 1:30 a.m. I arrived at the mountain house. Just like old times, my mom was waiting up for me! The only difference was this time I was glad she did!
So, now I need to stop beating around the bush and relate to you that in the past two and a half years, I have been the only one to need to call AAA -- both times because I locked my keys in the car! The first time was when we first moved into the house we are in now. That wasn't a big deal. I was still in town. But the most recent one was this past Friday night on the way back from my daughter's volleyball game. I was traveling to my parent's mountain house from the game and had stopped to gas up for an unbelievable and irresistible price of $2.69 per gallon!! I took my keys out of the ignition, laid them down on the seat while I got out my debit card, and then got out of the car, locked the door, and that is when the metal of the keys caught my eye!
You know how that goes. I'm closing the door as I'm seeing the keys and my brain was shouting, "Keys inside on seat!! Keys not in your hand!" However, the connectors between my brain and body just do not function as they did when I was younger. So, I'm standing outside my car at a gas pump in the middle of a very small town at 9:30 at night. I have a Triple A card, so no problem there. The problem was WHERE the card was at that moment. Inside the locked car.
The Exxon station happened to be staffed that night by two good "ole" boys. They allowed me to make a long distance call from their station phone and then proceeded to brag about the 58 different ways they could get my keys out of the car if I needed backup! All of them included a bit of violent measures and inevitably would cause some kind of harm to the car itself. One and a half hours later (because the local AAA locksmith/wrecker service was not answering the phone), a capable and qualified locksmith showed up with his toupee stuck haphazardly on his head, but his trusty tools in his hand. It took him short of 20 seconds to have the door opened and the illusive keys in my hands!
My impulse was to hug him, I was so relieved to be back inside my comfort zone, but I restrained myself. It was indeed a night of driving magic, because an hour later, just four miles from my parents' mtn. house, I sat another hour on the side of a mountain waiting for an accident to be cleared up. At 1:30 a.m. I arrived at the mountain house. Just like old times, my mom was waiting up for me! The only difference was this time I was glad she did!
13 October 2005
On Daughters
Well, the "edible cell" was a success! Daughter #3 got an A on the project; however, she brought the biological quiche home with not a slice missing! That was her fear, after all. "Mom", she says, "Biology is right after lunch and everyone else will have edible cells made out of sweet stuff that everyone will eat. Who wants to eat a cold quiche after lunch?" (Who wants to eat cold quiche at any time?? I was discreetly thinking) Despite the possibility that her edible cell would not be popular with her classmates, the chance to be different and do a first-class project won out. However, it won't take much to conclude where the cold biological quiche went that night!
Daughter #1 has been married for almost two years now. She andher husband grace uswith their presence a couple of times a week, often eating leftovers from the frig (I'm smiling at being called "the food bank") and watching videos together. It's interesting watching her and her husband figure out this marriage thing. This is quite satisfying for parents -- actually watching the fruit of your labor of rearing this beautiful, strong-willed young person, and then realizing that they are turning out sane, savvy, loving, and loyal to all the things that you, too, think are important!! It's good stuff. She's one completed project (as far as the aggressive parenting goes) that definitely won't go into the trash!
Daughter #2 is five months out of high school and learning some things about life that we could not have taught her otherwise. She's basically responsible, industrious, organized, and methodical with her life right now, which for a 19-year old is quite amazing. But, she is working through some roadblocks (of her own making) that right now is keeping her from going to college, but I know that she'll be a better person because of all this. Ah, the lessons learned when a parent doesn't have to speak a word! So, so powerful! Once again, she is a fine project in the making! A keeper, for sure!
Daughter #1 has been married for almost two years now. She andher husband grace uswith their presence a couple of times a week, often eating leftovers from the frig (I'm smiling at being called "the food bank") and watching videos together. It's interesting watching her and her husband figure out this marriage thing. This is quite satisfying for parents -- actually watching the fruit of your labor of rearing this beautiful, strong-willed young person, and then realizing that they are turning out sane, savvy, loving, and loyal to all the things that you, too, think are important!! It's good stuff. She's one completed project (as far as the aggressive parenting goes) that definitely won't go into the trash!
Daughter #2 is five months out of high school and learning some things about life that we could not have taught her otherwise. She's basically responsible, industrious, organized, and methodical with her life right now, which for a 19-year old is quite amazing. But, she is working through some roadblocks (of her own making) that right now is keeping her from going to college, but I know that she'll be a better person because of all this. Ah, the lessons learned when a parent doesn't have to speak a word! So, so powerful! Once again, she is a fine project in the making! A keeper, for sure!
10 October 2005
Edible Cell Project???
The egg might be incredible and edible, but let me tell you that this "edible cell" project has been a challenge! By the way, the project is not even for me. It's for my 15-year old daughter who is taking Biology. After a full afternoon of volleyball practice and a couple of hours practicing for a school play, I picked her up and we stopped by the grocery store to buy the stuff to make this A+ project in thirty minutes or less. Yeah, right! It's after 11:00 and we're just pulling the edible cell out of the oven. Hey, I'm an originalist, okay. Can't do what anyone else is doing. My daughter procured that same challenge for life. Be different. Do it differently. See it differently. So we did a quiche, with the egg base being the cytoplasm of the cell. If I sound intelligent about the makeup of a cell, don't be fooled. I've only seen those thirteen words about twenty times already tonight! Who says repetition isn't a way to learn something? Now, if you were to ask me to name the parts of a cell by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.....well, don't.
I had a wonderful day writing. We were missionaries in West Africa for almost twenty years and have seen some amazing things. Over and over again, I have people ask when I am going to write a book about our African stories. Funny, I knew that I would eventually write this book 17-18 years ago. But it has only been in the past year or so that I knew it was time to write. But actually taking the opportunity or making an opportunity to write has been my greatest challenge. Today, however; was one of those opportunities staring me right in the face! I was able to devote my entire day to writing. Actually I did more editing and researching, but that's part of writing, too!
And then came the edible cell! Haunting me, stalking me, taunting me! But finally it's out of the oven, very impressive and cell-like, and my daughter is putting the finishing touches on her colorful checklist that she will present with the biological quiche tomorrow! Bon appetit, Mrs. Biology teacher!!
Ah, nothing like a day when you get something accomplished and see the fruit of your labor!!
I had a wonderful day writing. We were missionaries in West Africa for almost twenty years and have seen some amazing things. Over and over again, I have people ask when I am going to write a book about our African stories. Funny, I knew that I would eventually write this book 17-18 years ago. But it has only been in the past year or so that I knew it was time to write. But actually taking the opportunity or making an opportunity to write has been my greatest challenge. Today, however; was one of those opportunities staring me right in the face! I was able to devote my entire day to writing. Actually I did more editing and researching, but that's part of writing, too!
And then came the edible cell! Haunting me, stalking me, taunting me! But finally it's out of the oven, very impressive and cell-like, and my daughter is putting the finishing touches on her colorful checklist that she will present with the biological quiche tomorrow! Bon appetit, Mrs. Biology teacher!!
Ah, nothing like a day when you get something accomplished and see the fruit of your labor!!
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