An interesting play on light in Ethan's room. The sun was shining through the string holes in his blinds and it was casting the most amazing light! No one else in our house appreciated it, but it brought me a little bit of joy to see something so beautiful come from something so normal.

Third Day on Leno!!!!

We were so excited to hear that Third Day, one of our favorite Christian bands was going to perform on The Tonight Show. God is doing some major work to get a Christian band onto a secular show. I was disappointed that there was not time for an interview, but the band really sounded terrific. I hope that everybody who saw the show buys the CD to get the full experience of Third Day!

Back to School (which shall be referred to as BTS from here on out)

Above video from "Billy Madison"

For me, the lure of BTS is new stuff. There is nothing like the BTS sales. I'm not sure what the draw is, but even now, 5+ years out of school and I need new notebooks and pencils and markers and why not throw a new backpack in for good measure! Maybe it's because I'm still "in school", just in a different capacity. All of those sharpened pencils and notebooks with pristine pages waiting to be filled with new learning, information, and ideas is so promising.

I can go to Target and wander and examine in the BTS aisles for a good hour. It amazes me how many different products there are compared to when I was in school. Remember covering your books with brown paper sacks? That is so over. Now you've got to buy the stretch fabric book covers. Where is the fun in that? I kinda liked wrestling with that paper sack. And pens and pencils. Remember when Bic was it? Now you've got endless options when choosing a writing utensil. It's crazy!

I love BTS so much that the last three years I worked as a BTS consultant through Crayola at a local Wal-Mart store. For several hours, I did my best to help parents and families navigate the BTS madness. Parents entered that aisle with a deer in the headlights look and I got to help them choose the products that would make the school year successful!

This year, the BTS program at Wal-Mart was cancelled in Nebraska and I have really limited myself to what new school supplies I have purchased. I have gotten three pretty notebooks and a ginormous package of mechanical pencils, but that's it. I do have my eye on the jumbo pack of Sharpie markers with every color imaginable, so we'll see what the next week brings. My blissful, stress free summer with E is coming to an end and I have to return to work. I am ready...I think!

So, what was/is your favorite part about BTS?

Sassy Sophia Petrillo, you'll be missed

In college, watching The Golden Girls was our thing, just like singing Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun at the top of our lungs cruising campus. I am so sad to hear that Estelle Getty who played Sophia on The Golden Girls has passed away. She is my favorite character on the show. I love her quick wit and biting sarcastic remarks. She was a softie when it mattered too. I still love to watch The Golden Girls if I happen upon the show on the Lifetime Network.



Here's a news story with more information.

July Blessings

July has been a month of finding contentment and practicing gratitude for all of the blessings in my life. I wanted to share a few here.

*The blessing of old friends!This is a gathering of some of my oldest friends from elementary, middle and high school. I've know Erin (front row, left) ever since first grade, some 25 years ago! I was talking to a teenage friend from church and she could hardly believe that I've know someone who is not biological family for that long. She said she hardly remembers people she graduated with just a few years ago.

*The blessing of God's delicious provisions

Our garden got obliterated in a crazy freak storm in late June, so our harvest has been slim. Fortunately, there is a wonderful farm stand a few blocks from our house with the BEST WATERMELON I'VE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE! They also have delicious tomatoes and cucumbers. I did buy a zucchini too, but haven't gotten around to eating that yet.

*The blessing of having the choice to hang my laundry outside to dry

I love hanging laundry on the clothesline, even though most of the time I take the lazy way out and just pop stuff in the dryer. But you truly cannot beat the smell of fresh laundry that has been dried in the sun.

*The blessing of the freedoms we have as Americans, including blowing things up!

We were fortunate enough this year to see three wonderful fireworks shows. One was for our church group, one was a family thing in hub's hometown and the third was right here in our neighborhood.

*The blessing of a fun-filled calendar

July has filled our calendar with many social activities with family and friends new, old and somewhere in between. The picture is of a fruit pizza I made for our church 4th of July party.

We have so many things to be thankful for and the blessings in our lives are numerous.

Scorched!

The start of summer was just a few weeks ago, and so far we have been blessed with mild weather. Even over the 4th of July the weather here was gorgeous. Well ladies and gentlemen, the mild temperatures have fled the region. Yesterday was Hot. Today is HOT!! Today is fry and egg on the sidewalk, melt the m-n-m's in the bag, how few clothes can I wear and still remain decent HOT!

I can't believe the temperature today, and I am very thankful for the lovely air conditioning that is keeping my home cool as a cucumber. I keep praying that our ancient AC unit makes it through another summer without incident.

I'm gonna go eat some popscicles for supper and dream about autumn. Stay cool!

Independence Day 2008

I hope everyone has plans to celebrate the wonders of our nation this July 4th! Enjoy the day and spend it with those you love, and remember to thank those folks who help ensure our continued freedom!

The ABC's of Me!

I saw this meme on a blog in my feed reader and thought it would be fun. Enjoy!

Accent: Pure Nebraska. There's a reason customer service companies set up shop here.

Breakfast or no breakfast: A Must. Cereal if I've got time, but usually a PBJ and banana in the car

Chore I don’t care for: Laundry. Argh!

Dog or Cat: one dog, Zeke

Essential Electronics: computer and cell phone

Favorite Cologne: Pholosphy's Amazing Grace

Gold or Silver: I am a silver girl all the way

Handbag I carry most often: Ha, I switch purses like I switch clothes.

Insomnia: Rarely, I sleep like a rock

Job Title: K-6 Art Specialist

Kids: So far, my preschooler E

Living Arrangements: 108 year old home in beautiful midtown Omaha with my boys

Most Admirable Trait: positive attitude

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Making my brother dress up like a girl, makeup and all!

Overnight hospital stays: For a kidney infection in college and when E was born

Phobias: no phobias, just a severe dislike of things that slither, creep and crawl

Quote: To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
--William Ellery Channing


Reason to smile: For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Siblings: Mi hermano, Julio (Joel). He's 4 years younger than me

Time I wake up: During the school year 6, during the summer, whenever my buddy E saunters in.

Unusual Talent or Skill: I can make an elephant sound with my mouth. E is impressed, but I don't expect you to be. Oh yeah, I can also make a select assortment of balloon animals!

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: Brussels Sprouts

Worst Habit: a tendency to get sidetrack...oooh look, something shiny!

X-rays: on my arm in the second grade

Yummy Stuff: pizza, nachos, salad, fruit and veggies, cheese, chocolate, ice cream

Zoo Animal I Like Most: The penguins by FAR. I could watch them for hours!

What is your alphabet meme like?

Lovely little preschooler

E and I went to the zoo yesterday. The weather was perfect. We managed to leave before it got too hot and crazy busy. They have a great new butterfly exhibit. The picture is from the outside of the building. They've got these beautiful benches scattered all around the building.

Since the CWS is in town, we also encountered a gaggle of baseball players from Louisiana State University. They were very gracious to all of the little people, signing autographs, taking photos and shaking hands. E got his picture with one of them, along with a hardy handshake.

Mom mom mom

How many of you feel like this? I need to play it in my classroom as well!

So here he is, three years old!

These were taken in September when we were at the lake for Labor Day. The boy absolutely cracks me up!

When I Say...

Ok...Life has been busy for a while, and that's no excuse to forgo this blogging commitment, so I'm back. I am going to make a concerted effort to post at least twice a month. Our computer is soooooooo very slow and everything takes twelve times as long as it should. I am down to checking our home email once a week and my myspace as well. Once we can fit wireless, high speed into our budget, we can use the laptop, but until then...we'll deal!

So, while I have not been maintaining my own blog, I have been reading tons of great writers in my blog feed. I want to share something I read this past week. It definitely gives us all something to think about. In my Homebuilders class at church, we talked about how we feel hypocritical about our Christian present because of our past life. To me, this really sums it all up. I read it at a great blog, http://southbreezefarm.blogspot.com/2007/10/when-i-say-i-am-christian.html


When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting “I've been saved!”I’m whispering, “I get lost! That's why I chose this way.”When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride.I’m confessing that I stumble - needing God to be my guide.When I say, “I am a Christian” I’m not trying to be strong.I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on.When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success.I’m admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt.When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don't think I know it all.I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught.When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect.My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it.When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain.I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name.When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge.I have no authority -- I only know I’m loved.~ Carol Wimmer, 1988

Have a blessed week!

Now that's what I call art!

Ok, last weekend YB and I went to a Christmas party for our Wednesday night church group. We had a white elephant gift exchange (my first one ever!! FUN!!) and the gift I took was the plaster bust sculpture that I made at WSC in my undergrad studies. We took a group photo at the end of the evening with one person holding the bust (against my protests). Then, a group member did some photo magic and replaced everyones head with the bust. It actually is pretty funny, a wee bit frightening, but mostly amusing. So, now my "art" is being freed from the confines of my home to be enjoyed among the masses.
The person who actually took it home is using it to perform practical jokes on her teenage children. No wonder they look at me funny at church!

Merry Christmas from Lola and family! 

Nothin' like a late afternoon high speed chase...A first hand account

I was almost asleep for a little siesta before boogs woke up, and I hear sirens. I say a little prayer that whoever was getting rescued was going to be ok, as were the people doing the rescuing. Then I hear more sirens, and even more sirens and then cap, cap, cap, cap, cap... (I'm not sure how many there were. I was a little freaked out at the time and I know that "cap cap" sounds pretty ghetto, but that's what my students say when there is gun fire in the projects) I launch off the couch and look out the front window and I see several police cars zoom by, stop, back up, going this way and that in the intersection shown above (before the police tape was put up, of course). Apparently they were after some robbery suspects and they caught them just a block from my home. I called my husband, but he thought I was joking (were the really gun shots? he asks, like I could make that stuff up), then I called my mom and she was much more sympathetic.

They've got the neighborhood taped off pretty well to the north of our house and now I hear the police helicopter overhead, circling, looking, I assume for another suspect.

It just seems sort of surreal. This kind of stuff doesn't happen in my neighborhood. Why would those people choose this street to careen unsafely down, and in the process scare the sh*t out of me? I guess now I have an interesting story to tell at parties, huh?

I must go out and commiserate with the neighboors, who are all still gathered on the corner, putting their two cents in and coming up with a theory.

Enough is Enough...or is it?

It seems like I can't ever get over wanting more, something new or different, whether it is a book, a pair of shoes, or a tube of lip balm. How does a person get to the point where enough is enough? Why am I always left craving more stuff? I have been thinking and praying on this for a while now, and it seems like God is taking his time letting me know. I try to be good, I really do, but I guess there is some part of my DNA that is missing.

The story: After church on Wednesday evening, the bus driver who brings children from all over the city to our church needed help delivering the kiddos back home (the church bus was at camp for the week). YB and I offered to take a child home (we could only take one 'cause of Boog's car seat). Bus driver pointed out a 'tween boy for us to deliver, and we all got settled into the car and off we went. The boy was so talkative and friendly, and he said "Wow, this is a really nice car!" Now mind you, our car is 5 years old and nothing spectacular (see here) and I have actually been dreaming of a new car for some time now, even though Monty is perfectly fine, I just feel like something NEW and BRIGHT and SHINY and CLEAN with that NEW CAR SMELL.

We get to the child's neighborhood (a run-down trailer park) and see the sort of conditions he lives in on a daily basis and here I am complaining about my perfectly nice car when the child has plywood covering several of the windows of the trailer where he lives, along with junk all around the trailer and some rather unsavory fellows chatting across the road. Will this boy ever know the life that it seems I am so ungrateful for? My "not good enough, more, more, more" is his "oh my gosh, you are so lucky".

I have no reason to be so unthankful (if that's a word) for all of the blessings that God has bestowed upon my family and me. I have a wonderful husband and son, as well as parents and siblings, we have a nice home, a reliable automobile, good paying jobs, clean clothes and a full pantry. How can I get myself to realize that "enough is enough"? I have all that I need and I should be sharing the blessings with others instead of always wishing it was more.

Backseat Driver

I am so glad that the eight hours of traffic class are over. Why does it seem that sitting on your arse for an extended period of time is more taxing than chasing after a toddler for 14 hours a day? I was exhausted when I got home yesterday.

However, I did realize that there are certain types of people in every class you may take. The same profiles would fit for traffic class, childbirth class, a wine tasting class, etc. Think about a class you have taken previously, and I know that you will remember having all of these people present. You may have to look deep in your memory, because you have probably tried to bury the experience of having to deal with these folks.

• The Know-it-all- This person characteristically has what they think is the correct answer to every question the teacher may ask. They are very vocal in sharing that answer, often throwing common courtesy out the window and hollering out the answer. They are usually wrong.
• The Smartaleck- This person has a sarcastic quip for a majority of the information the teacher may discuss. Comments are usually made under their breath, just loud enough for the teacher to ask "excuse me?" and request the person repeat their barb. They are sometimes comical, but usually not.
• The Idiot- This is the person who asks the stupid questions, and yes there is such a thing as a stupid question (i.e. in childbirth class, the girl who asked what to do about heartburn and in traffic class, the girl who asked if there is a difference between dough-nut and do-nut). These questions are usually met with groans of agony and loud "oh my gosh, they really asked that!" sighs from fellow class members.
• The Storyteller- This person has an anecdote for a majority of the discussion topics brought forth by the teacher and is not afraid to share. Yesterday, I heard about somebody's 1957 such and such car that could blah blah blah, even though so and so and her sister and their cousin Walter knew how to dismantle the whatchamacallit to make said car drive faster even though the whosiwhatsit wasn't really even supposed to be in the car in the first place. These are the ones who make you want to pull your hair out!

Now, I know that all of us probably have some of the above characteristics embedded in our DNA, but most of are able to curb the need to dump our stupidity, sarcasm, smarts, or stories on the unsuspecting public.

Next time that you take a class, no matter what it is, please control the urge to act like the above profiles. Just sit quietly, politely raise your hand to answer a question (make sure you are 100% correct), resist the urge to tell about Aunt Sophie's recent hip surgery, and when in doubt, please remember it probably is a stupid question, so don't bother asking it!

Ijoboko

Well, we are back from vacation. It was nice to get away, but the weather was backwards for our long weekend at the lake. It was beautiful on Thursday (see photo!) Perfect Lake Okoboji weather. YB got to fish (nothing caught) and we got to take boogs to the beach for awhile. But then it all went downhill. This Canadian cold front moved in and Friday, Saturday and Sunday were windy, damp, and cold. YB couldn't fish and boogs couldn't swim.
Being at the lake is not fun when the weather is gloomy and chilly. You can only go to Wal-Mart for entertainment so many times (Yes, we were there 3 times in the span of the trip). You can only look at used car lots for so long (Yes, we did this for one whole evening. YB's lookin' to buy a "new" used car this fall). You can only go to so many resort boutiques when you have only enough funds to window shop (Yes, I hit all the high spots).
The cabin is only so big. Even with three people and a dog in there it seems crowded when you can't go outside to play. I wanted to tell YB that we should pack it up and come home Saturday morning, but he really wanted to try and get out and fish again SO, we packed up the car Saturday night and left by 6:30 Sunday morning.
The lake...definitely more fun in warm summer weather!

Take a little trip...

A beautiful Lake Okoboji sunset

It is official. Tomorrow my family leaves for beautiful Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa. I am very excited to go to the lake and open the cabin up for the summer. The first visit of the year is always great. You put the key in the door, open it and whoosh, the moth-bally, sea-weedy summertime smell hits you. It is such a distinctive scent, and one that always brings back pleasant memories.
I am not however looking forward to the drive there. I know it is only 3 1/2-4 hours, but even one hour in the car with boogs is too long. He has got to be the strangest toddler out there. He does not sleep in the car. I don't know if there is too much to see, maybe he's too uncomfortable, it could be he's just stubborn (like his mama). We thought maybe he'd like to watch movies, so last time we took a trip we borrowed my parents DVD player. No go with boogs. So, I have packed a small arsenal of new and exciting things to entertain him on the trip up. Grams just bought him a new Elmo guitar at Target today, so hopefully that will entertain him for at least 20 minutes.
For the next four days, I will be lazing around the beach with my boys, window shopping at all the fun shops, and sitting on the dock watching the beautiful 'Boji sunsets while YB tries to catch our dinner, boogs tries to jump in the water and Zeke-dog sits on shore and whines about being at the lake.

The Breakup

My mom and I went to see the movie The Breakup yesterday. I really enjoyed the movie, except it didn't end the way I pictured it happening. I am the type who loves a happy ending, and this one was happy (I guess), jut not the happy I wanted. I find Vince Vaughn adorable with his think-out-loud demeanor and Jennifer Aniston is a beautiful woman and a great actress.
All through the movie though, I thought about my own breakup with hubs. It was the spring I graduated college (2001) and hubs and I had been dating for a few years already. He was not giving me what I thought I needed at that time, so I broke it off with him. He was devastated, I was devastated, yet there we were, separated.
I met up with a guy I had gone on a couple of double dates with years before, and we decided to give it another go. We spent the summer going out and partying, ball games and the like. He lived in Lincoln, so I would go down to visit frequently.
I was convinced in my head that what I was doing was the right thing and I would get over hubs sooner or later. I knew that this thing with Lincoln guy was the best thing for me and that he was better than hubs. The whole summer, I was happy on the outside, but miserable on the inside.
Well, Lincoln guy and I ended up not making it through the summer (he ditched me and left me dateless before a friend's wedding) and after a couple more weeks, I came to my senses and called hubs. We got back together and got married the summer after I completed grad school.
Looking back, I know that God was giving me not so subtle hints that what I was doing was the wrong thing, and that I was missing out on someone special. He led me back to my hubs, and I thank Him everyday for the wisdom and courage to ask forgiveness of someone I hurt so badly.