I try not to rant too often on this blog, but...
I'm getting tired of being told that America is a horrible country, we're going down the toilet or whatever, whether it's by political leaders, Christian leaders, the media, whoever. Many of you know that I have a tendency to be a talk radio junkie and one of my favorite hosts is Glenn Beck.
This transcript of his show from yesterday reminds of many of the things that make America great.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Pass it down the line
Yesterday's and today's blog prompts from DSP:
What heirlooms do you have to pass down?
I have one or two pieces of jewelry that I will probably pass down. One of them is a piece that was passed down to me. I have a beautiful cameo pin/pendant that came from a bracelet that my grandmother had. Grandpa H. watched a craftsman carve it on the beach in Italy during WWII and he bought it then and there. Grandma H. broke it up and gave cameos to the daughters and granddaughters. My sister, mother and myself each had ours set as a gold pin/pendant. I put it on a strand of pearls and wore it as my 'something old' in my wedding. I wear it occasionally, and I try not to get in the mindset that it's "too special" to wear.
Where did you get your talents?
I'm not sure if I have talent as much as I have some abilities. If I have any musical talent, it comes from my dad and his mom. My ability to read quickly comes from my mom. My ability to put words together comes from my dad and his dad. Any talent I have for making a great meal comes from my mom. My Grandma H. taught me to crochet, and my Grandma B. is quilt-maker extraordinaire (not to mention a great all-around crafty type) so my crafting talent may come from both of them.
***Happy Birthday, Grandma B! Sorry I missed you and Grandpa's 62nd anniversary last week (how amazing is that?). That both sides of my family have such good health and have wonderful, long, healthy marriages are two blessings and heirlooms that I hope to pass down to my children.
***And just an update: Danae and I both survived her trip to camp :) We'll see if Jackson 'lives the dream' with his trip out there tonight.
What heirlooms do you have to pass down?
I have one or two pieces of jewelry that I will probably pass down. One of them is a piece that was passed down to me. I have a beautiful cameo pin/pendant that came from a bracelet that my grandmother had. Grandpa H. watched a craftsman carve it on the beach in Italy during WWII and he bought it then and there. Grandma H. broke it up and gave cameos to the daughters and granddaughters. My sister, mother and myself each had ours set as a gold pin/pendant. I put it on a strand of pearls and wore it as my 'something old' in my wedding. I wear it occasionally, and I try not to get in the mindset that it's "too special" to wear.
Where did you get your talents?
I'm not sure if I have talent as much as I have some abilities. If I have any musical talent, it comes from my dad and his mom. My ability to read quickly comes from my mom. My ability to put words together comes from my dad and his dad. Any talent I have for making a great meal comes from my mom. My Grandma H. taught me to crochet, and my Grandma B. is quilt-maker extraordinaire (not to mention a great all-around crafty type) so my crafting talent may come from both of them.
***Happy Birthday, Grandma B! Sorry I missed you and Grandpa's 62nd anniversary last week (how amazing is that?). That both sides of my family have such good health and have wonderful, long, healthy marriages are two blessings and heirlooms that I hope to pass down to my children.
***And just an update: Danae and I both survived her trip to camp :) We'll see if Jackson 'lives the dream' with his trip out there tonight.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Makin' me cry...
Today's prompt: What makes you cry?
The older I get, the less it takes. When I was a child, I used to think it was strange how my mom would cry over the news or a commercial on TV. No longer do I wonder. I cry over stories of people dying in Rwanda. I cry when I sing 'Jesus Loves Me'. I cry for friends who hurt. I cry when I feel underappreciated. I cry to think of my children growing up, which leads to the rest of my post today.
I took Danae to camp for the first time yesterday afternoon. She'll stay until we pick her up Tuesday afternoon. When I left she was crying and pleading for me to stay. I'm too soft and should have made a clean break about 45 minutes before I did, so I gave her plenty of time to start getting scared and nervous. Then I made the mistake of trying to shove her in the door and she made a scene. I finally left but I definitely did NOT feel like Mother of the Year!
Then as we were walking back up to the car, Jackson says, "She isn't livin' the dream, is she, Mom?" I couldn't help but laugh, because otherwise I would have cried!
The older I get, the less it takes. When I was a child, I used to think it was strange how my mom would cry over the news or a commercial on TV. No longer do I wonder. I cry over stories of people dying in Rwanda. I cry when I sing 'Jesus Loves Me'. I cry for friends who hurt. I cry when I feel underappreciated. I cry to think of my children growing up, which leads to the rest of my post today.
I took Danae to camp for the first time yesterday afternoon. She'll stay until we pick her up Tuesday afternoon. When I left she was crying and pleading for me to stay. I'm too soft and should have made a clean break about 45 minutes before I did, so I gave her plenty of time to start getting scared and nervous. Then I made the mistake of trying to shove her in the door and she made a scene. I finally left but I definitely did NOT feel like Mother of the Year!
Then as we were walking back up to the car, Jackson says, "She isn't livin' the dream, is she, Mom?" I couldn't help but laugh, because otherwise I would have cried!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Grandparents and beyond
We are now at the end of another week. Let's round it out by telling favorite memories of your grandparents.
I am blessed that I had grandparents who lived long enough for me to get to know them. My father's parents are still living (and quite possibly reading this post!). Visiting them is always such a joy and when I was a child it was a very special treat. I loved playing with my cousins at their house because we always got the basement to ourselves. Sunday after church was a big family meal and we were allowed to go in the basement and eat. I'm sure now that that was a lot of work to get food up and down all those stairs, but it was great to have that time all to ourselves. I can still taste Grandma's potato salad--which I can never quite duplicate--and one of any number of Jell-o salads! Grandpa B would always take us for walks down their country road and gave me an appreciation for pressed flowers and a taste for fresh raspberries. Grandpa B was always up for a game of cribbage (wish I could be there to challenge him) or helping us get down the swing from the garage attic. I love all those memories!
My mother's father passed away in 1995 and I will always remember how he and I would sit and do crossword puzzles. I can't do one to this day without thinking of how we would sit on that orange couch in Grandma's green living room and laugh and laugh. I miss that laugh. Grandma H. always had a project going on--sewing a dress, crocheting an afghan, making jelly. But whenever she sat down for more than 10 minutes, you're sure to see her catching a cat nap sitting up in a chair. She was a lovely, gracious woman. She's been gone for 7 years and I miss her too.
I am blessed that I had grandparents who lived long enough for me to get to know them. My father's parents are still living (and quite possibly reading this post!). Visiting them is always such a joy and when I was a child it was a very special treat. I loved playing with my cousins at their house because we always got the basement to ourselves. Sunday after church was a big family meal and we were allowed to go in the basement and eat. I'm sure now that that was a lot of work to get food up and down all those stairs, but it was great to have that time all to ourselves. I can still taste Grandma's potato salad--which I can never quite duplicate--and one of any number of Jell-o salads! Grandpa B would always take us for walks down their country road and gave me an appreciation for pressed flowers and a taste for fresh raspberries. Grandpa B was always up for a game of cribbage (wish I could be there to challenge him) or helping us get down the swing from the garage attic. I love all those memories!
My mother's father passed away in 1995 and I will always remember how he and I would sit and do crossword puzzles. I can't do one to this day without thinking of how we would sit on that orange couch in Grandma's green living room and laugh and laugh. I miss that laugh. Grandma H. always had a project going on--sewing a dress, crocheting an afghan, making jelly. But whenever she sat down for more than 10 minutes, you're sure to see her catching a cat nap sitting up in a chair. She was a lovely, gracious woman. She's been gone for 7 years and I miss her too.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Another small success
Last night I got an email that Maryland Women of Worship is going to use a piece I wrote in their upcoming issue. My first piece for a publication that people pay for!! The theme of the issue is 'Heavenly Laughter' and mine is a little essay about sitting in the waiting room during Danae's first surgery -- she was four days old.
These are all small successes, but the encouragement of having someone think my writing is good enough to be read by other people makes me think maybe my dream of "being a writer" someday isn't just pie in the sky.
Thanks to all of you fellow bloggers and friends who have helped me find my voice!
These are all small successes, but the encouragement of having someone think my writing is good enough to be read by other people makes me think maybe my dream of "being a writer" someday isn't just pie in the sky.
Thanks to all of you fellow bloggers and friends who have helped me find my voice!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Just Monday stuff
We had a great sunny weekend here--finally! I was told earlier this year, by a friend who lives in Georgia, that South Dakota is always behind the times. Hadn't we heard about the global warming trend? The thermometer hit about 80 degrees (I think) and we spent the whole weekend in the sun. Both kids have mild sunburns to prove it.
On a different note, my second story, Cinderella's Song has been published at Stories That Lift. If you have a few minutes, take a look. It was a lot of fun to write.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!
On a different note, my second story, Cinderella's Song has been published at Stories That Lift. If you have a few minutes, take a look. It was a lot of fun to write.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Vacation?? What's that??
Talk about a childhood vacation that you hold dear.
I've said this before, but we never took vacations when I was a kid; we moved. About every three years (or less) we'd be stationed somewhere new. So, I think my folks had about enough traveling and we didn't really go and do the tourist thing. If we went on a trip, it was to see family out on the West Coast and those are fantastic memories for me.
The one vacation that I do remember taking has turned into a family story about God's sense of humor. When we were living here in the Black Hills in the mid-80's, my father had a TDY (temporary duty for you non-military types) out to Washington, D.C. So my parents decided to make it a working vacation and we all packed up, got on a plane and headed out east. We saw the Smithsonian museums, walked the Mall and saw the Vietnam Memorial. I'm not sure about how long after we got home, but our next assignment was to--guess where?--Washington, D.C. We take one trip somewhere and end up moving.
Why couldn't have the trip been to Europe? :)
I've said this before, but we never took vacations when I was a kid; we moved. About every three years (or less) we'd be stationed somewhere new. So, I think my folks had about enough traveling and we didn't really go and do the tourist thing. If we went on a trip, it was to see family out on the West Coast and those are fantastic memories for me.
The one vacation that I do remember taking has turned into a family story about God's sense of humor. When we were living here in the Black Hills in the mid-80's, my father had a TDY (temporary duty for you non-military types) out to Washington, D.C. So my parents decided to make it a working vacation and we all packed up, got on a plane and headed out east. We saw the Smithsonian museums, walked the Mall and saw the Vietnam Memorial. I'm not sure about how long after we got home, but our next assignment was to--guess where?--Washington, D.C. We take one trip somewhere and end up moving.
Why couldn't have the trip been to Europe? :)
Monday, June 09, 2008
Fascinating news story
Just had to share the link to this Fox News story just in case you missed it. Prenatal surgery is fascinating to me. At the bottom of this news story, it says that diaphragmatic hernias are one of the conditions that are sometimes corrected in-utero. I suppose that if we had known Danae's condition before she was born, they might have suggested that for us. Anyway, here is another story with a happy ending: Baby With Rare Tumor 'Born' Twice.
And I can't let it go without saying that those doctors go to an awful lot of trouble for something that's not really a person, don't you think? I'll step off my pro-life soapbox now...
And I can't let it go without saying that those doctors go to an awful lot of trouble for something that's not really a person, don't you think? I'll step off my pro-life soapbox now...
My 'office'
Tell us about your office.
Well, now that I'm not full-time-employed, my home is my office. I carry my laptop around so that I can write, scrap or surf the web anywhere--from on the couch to the island in kitchen. I don't keep regular business hours anymore. When I work it happens usually after laundry and in-between mealtimes (which means I don't work often because laundry isn't ever done and mealtimes never seem to have an end).
Well, now that I'm not full-time-employed, my home is my office. I carry my laptop around so that I can write, scrap or surf the web anywhere--from on the couch to the island in kitchen. I don't keep regular business hours anymore. When I work it happens usually after laundry and in-between mealtimes (which means I don't work often because laundry isn't ever done and mealtimes never seem to have an end).
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Busy week!
It's been a whole week since I updated and what a week it's been! Friday, May 30th was the last day of school for the kids and it was Jackson's 6th birthday. Dinner (which took a trip of the grocery store and the better part of the morning to make) was Spaghetti Pie, with homemade spaghetti sauce (I was proud of the way it turned out--delicious!), presents and ice cream at McDonald's (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa).
Sunday, June 1st we celebrated the birthdays of Jackson and Danae with a party. We rented a 15 foot inflatable slide and invited (almost) the whole neighborhood and some of their friends from school. Danae and I made homemade ice cream sandwiches (vanilla ice cream between sugar cookies, rolled in nuts, coconut or m&ms) and Jackson chose "worms and dirt" (pudding and coolwhip on the bottom with crushed oreo's on top--complete with gummy worms for effect).
Tuesday I had my first call as a temporary with Kelly Temp Services. Went great until I was dumb enough to get a parking ticket. Oh well.
Wednesday was Danae's 8th birthday, so we went to the park between rainstorms, did the grocery shopping to make her dinner choice: mini pizzas (refrigerated biscuit dough with homemade pizza sauce). Then we had presents and ice cream at Dairy Queen (even though it was 50 deg. and raining).
Will post pictures when I have time because all-in-all it's been a pretty good week!
Sunday, June 1st we celebrated the birthdays of Jackson and Danae with a party. We rented a 15 foot inflatable slide and invited (almost) the whole neighborhood and some of their friends from school. Danae and I made homemade ice cream sandwiches (vanilla ice cream between sugar cookies, rolled in nuts, coconut or m&ms) and Jackson chose "worms and dirt" (pudding and coolwhip on the bottom with crushed oreo's on top--complete with gummy worms for effect).
Tuesday I had my first call as a temporary with Kelly Temp Services. Went great until I was dumb enough to get a parking ticket. Oh well.
Wednesday was Danae's 8th birthday, so we went to the park between rainstorms, did the grocery shopping to make her dinner choice: mini pizzas (refrigerated biscuit dough with homemade pizza sauce). Then we had presents and ice cream at Dairy Queen (even though it was 50 deg. and raining).
Will post pictures when I have time because all-in-all it's been a pretty good week!
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