We interupt the current blog snow to bring you this important message:
"At the risk of losing hits, the author wishes us to inform you that she has realized the finality of summer is upon her and has curled up with a book; is blowing bubbles with K; celebrating her oldest becoming a teenager (*sniff-sniff*); cuddling with C on the top bunk in the mornings; talking with A on the deck after dinner; going for walks with R in the evenings and then lying on the porch star-gazing and planning together. So, she is on temporary hiatus as she seizes the day and spends a bit more time with those she loves and those that love her. She plans to return to her regularly scheduled blogging next week."
Thank you and we now return you to the same stale blog snow.
(Now get outside; make a phone call; write a letter with pen and ink; visit a relative; do nothing; read a book; but for goodness sake! get off the computer! Carpe diem!)
Display Comments »Due to the overwhelming response, I present (and recall that I can never claim anything to be all inclusive because someone can always come up with one more song)
More 80's (Pop, of course, there are several other genres to list):
You Might Think, Cars
Cover Me, Bruce Springsteen
Dance Hall Days, Wang Chung
I've Been in Love Before, The Cutting Crew
Your Love, The Outfield
Undercover Of The Night, Rolling Stones
The Longest Time, Billy Joel
Magic, Cars
I Feel For You, Chaka Khan
Mandolin Rain, Bruce Hornsby & The Range
Big Time, Peter Gabriel
Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tears For Fears
Money For Nothing, Dire Straits
Take On Me, A-Ha
Things Can Only Get Better, Howard Jones
Raspberry Beret, Prince & The Revolution
The Boys Of Summer, Don Henley
Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears
Smooth Operator, Sade
Run To You, Bryan Adams
No More Lonely Nights, Paul McCartney
Too Late For Goodbyes, Julian Lennon
I'm On Fire, Bruce Springsteen
Lay Your Hands On Me, Thompson Twins
Need You Tonight, INXS
One More Try, George Michael
What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
What's On Your Mind, Information Society
I Get Weak, Belinda Carlisle
Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
Always On My Mind, Pet Shop Boys
Straight Up, Paula Abdul
If You Don't Know Me By Now, Simply Red
The Living Years, Mike & The Mechanics
Love Song, Cure
What I Am, Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians
The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley
It's O.K. that men prefer to be King of the Grill. Let R have his throne and glory.
Now, go have a beer.
Display Comments »My friend Kris has described her husband as the kind of pastor who on Sunday mornings doesn't pass out bowls to for the parishoners' pablum. He would rather encourage thinking by placing a small pebble in their shoes. She and I have discussed how very much her husband and I are alike and how very similar her personality is to my husband. It helps us reconcile annoyances and minor grievances. I know that I can count on her to point out, with the proper measure of humility and humor, how wonderful R is and to perhaps encourage me to extend him the benefit of charity. It is a wonderful and blessed friendship.
I am like Travis. When I write, I don't necessarily give the reader a point-by-point post. I do occasionally have an agenda, but more often than not, I want to gently take the reader down the path I am describing, and hope that they will recognize similarities or differences and be prompted to share them. It is through this process that I feel I can know myself and the very reason that I started this blog. I seem to have a resounding need to know that others have and/or are enduring and prospering in this life; that they are both loathe to embrace it's enigmatic charm and weakened to love of it's charismatic draw.
I recall thinking that my in-laws weren't very mature Christians. This conclusion was justified to me because, while they attended church, prayed, participated in communion and ministering to their families and the other saints, they rarely mentioned "God" or "Jesus" in conversations. I had grown-up in a fundamentalist faith where the mark of your sincerity was how often you said those names. I now am humbled by my incorrect judgement of them. Theirs is truly a sustaining and profoundly deep faith. I now recognize that the Trinity is so much a part of who they are, there is no need to put on a show of names as proof as such. (Please no reading-between the lines, those who do frequently mention the name of God often aren't lacking, worse, or poseurs). For example, I know my hair is brown. I see it many times a day. I wash it, condition it, weave it, iron it, etc. It is a part of who I am, but I don't need to constantly bring it to the attention of others to make it somehow more real or to validate it's existence in my life. This is how I have come to see my God in my life. He is everywhere and in everypart of me. His Providence moves my heart to beat, my lungs to breathe, my mind to think. His love draws me to forgive and seek forgiveness. While there is place for purposed prayer and I can only affirm it's goodness, I find that my thoughts are prayers to Him; that my plea for help in finding the keys is to the Lord.
I am by no means where I should be, but in all of this I have seen the hope that I will eventually be there. And oh, the Glory of it when it comes.
Display Comments »Kadi elicited this response from me in the comments section of this post:
Yes, there are times when I briefly miss my newborn greedily nuzzling my breast or the smell of their downy heads. I miss the house being so still by 9 p.m. each night that all you can hear is their tick-tocking respirations clocking the passing of another day. I miss the little lisps. And naptime. I definitely miss nap time.
But, I really do enjoy having philosophical and theological discussions with my older children now, too. I love that they have the ability now to tell me exactly (though I sometimes don't want to hear it) what is bugging them. I relish helping them gain problem solving skills and sharing a chick flick (appropriately reviewed and selected, of course) and a good book together. I like baking with them and watching them present a meal to their daddy in mock of their future husband. I love seeing the pride in R's eyes as they reach the touch pad of a lane after swimming their fastest time (and also seeing their confidence soar because of his approval). I am enamoured of their coming moral strength and how it weaves itself so wholly into their physical beauty, as well. I am thankful for the accountability they bring to me as my Christian sisters.
I will never regret having born my children. It is at times an exhausting and daunting task, but it seems to be that all the great accomplishments in this life are so. Climbing Everest; participating in the Olympics; going through Boot Camp; getting a degree; raising a family.
It is hard, Kadi, and it is the most tiring thing I have ever done, but so worth it that it brings no regret and there's not much else in life about which I can say that.
Display Comments »Kadi Prescott (Patrick's beautiful sister-in-law) has her own blog, Overworked, Underpaid Uterus. She is the mother of five children (all under five, right?). Her title should be enough to let you know that she approaches all those hungry mouths, sweet Prescott cheeks (they have the cheeks, right?), and endearing little souls with a touch of sanity retaining humor.
You are officially inducted, Lady Kadi :)
Display Comments »And will find the rest tomorrow...wait, later today, that is...maybe...
Some of My Favorite 80's Songs:
Paul Young-Everytime You Go
OMD-If You Leave
Spandau Ballet - "True"
A VIEW TO A KILL Duran Duran
THE WILD BOYS Duran Duran
Only the Lonely The Motels
OWNER OF A LONELY HEART Yes
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE Police
SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE Thomas Dolby
THE SAFETY DANCE Men Without Hats
BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Pretenders
THE SWEETEST THING Juice Newton
TAKE IT EASY ON ME Little River Band
HEAT OF THE MOMENT Asia
ADDICTED TO LOVE Robert Palmer
. HOLDING BACK THE YEARS Simply Red
TAKE MY BREATH AWAY Berlin
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU Level 42
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU U2
DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER Crowded House
THE LADY IN RED Chris De Burgh
I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR U2
. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF Georgia Satellites
JUST DIED IN YOUR ARMS Cutting Crew
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE Robert Palmer
THE FLAME Cheap Trick
HANDS TO HEAVEN Breathe
THE TIDE IS HIGH Blondie
. I LOVE YOU Climax Blues Band
LOVE ON THE ROCKS Neil Diamond
HUNGRY HEART Bruce Springsteen
Life In A Northern Town, Dream Academy
Another One Bites The Dust, Queen
While You See A Chance, Steve Winwood
Don't Stand So Close To Me, Police
Hey Nineteen, Steely Dan
Idea for this posting fun borrowed with permission from ResurrectionSong.com
Display Comments »|
Tangerine
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You are a beautiful person, in a wistful kind of way. If you could, you would spend all your time daydreaming and writing poetry. You are a tragic beauty.
You are sensitive and caring, and you don't take insults well. You don't smile much, but when you do, you really mean it.
People like to be around you because you are a calming influence. You have an appreciation for all things beautiful, and you probably have some potted plants. You also most likely own a cat.
You like Sundays and hot tea. You will spend your entire life yearning for quiet beauty, which is a rarity in this world, so you read a lot.
Everyone you know thinks you're "nice."
Take the Which Led Zeppelin Song Are You? Quiz
Via Z (after a lengthy and fun excavation).
Display Comments »Happy Birthday, Sir Patrick. I hope you have a truly terrific day :)
Display Comments »Last night R pulled out the camcorder and we watched videos from when our children were younger. It was fun for them to see themselves distinctly smaller, talking differently, sometimes with less teeth, sometimes with a few new big ones. From birthday parties to riding a bike without training wheels for the first time, to welcoming a new one to the bunch, it was so good to watch their little(er) bodies move; to see the swing of their hair; hear the sound of their little voices as they talked and described things and performed for the camera.
I remember all the little ladies in the grocery store who I would catch gently staring at me as I juggled a baby, a toddler, a pre-schooler and a shopping cart. I would respectfully smile as I saw her slowly making her way over to me. She would tell me what felt like a thousand other ones before her had in that shaking tiny voice of theirs, "They grow up so fast." Lack of sleep would sometimes tip the scale of my response: I would either say something kind and quaint in return or murmur under my breath, "Not fast enough."
She was right and even when I was tired and sarcastic, I knew she was right. And guess what, I don't have that shaking voice yet, but I occasionally see a young woman doing the dance of trying to find where the item for the coupon she painstakingly cut out is, giving the baby the pacifier, shifting the toddler from one hip to the other, telling the preschooler that no-she-may-not-have-Cocoa-Krispies-because-they-aren't-healthy-and-I-don't-care-that-Jenny's-mother-buys-them-for-her, I smile to myself and miss those days. Briefly.
Display Comments »The phrase "Christian Disciplines" should be one of familiarity to one claiming to be a follower of Christ. There is nothing more challenging to the human being than to submit themselves to the daily practice of such disciplines.
Driving down the road with the radio playing, I can sing almost any song from the '80's that pops on, and yet, I sometimes struggle to recall that verse that I memorized last week.
Conversation is so stimulating to me, and truthfully, I must restrain myself from dominating it most of the time. Yet, when I seek the face of my God through the discipline of prayer, I am challenged to not let my mind wander and begin thinking of other things.
While I don't believe that my salvation rests on doing these things: prayer, reading the Bible, committing it to my memory, singing praise to God, serving Him by serving others around me, confessing my sin; I do believe that the joy of my salvation in this human life is completely dependent on my active participation in these opportunities given me by God to commune with Him. And who doesn't desire this? It is what I must remember in my exercise of these things; the ultimate result is joy.
Display Comments »I love finding new good blogs as much as I like walking into Dillard's and finding the gift bag for Lancôme. Both are exciting and add a bit more color to my palatte.
As I was digging through all the good stuff at the Club for Growth site, I followed a link on Friday's post to Scrapple Face. This one where Hillary admits that Kerry may need some help with introductions as he hasn't "done much of that sort of thing during his 16 years as a senator" made me giggle.
Scott Ott's eye for news and his ability to turn it into pointed sarcasm and occasional hilarity is genius. (Note the blog description: "News fairly unbalanced. We report. You decipher.")
After reading Scott, I eagerly returned to their blogroll and began to blissfully click. Donald L. Luskin's Poor and Stupid was also a delightful read ( I love conservative humor, it has seemingly more wit and wile, less gutter and venom).
Consider yourself knighted, Scott and Donald. Oh, ummm, can you sing and dance?
Display Comments »Listening to Terry Gross is only a treat for me when she isn't talking politics. I much prefer her menu to sell the voices of authors and musicians and celebrities otherwise known and unknown. But, as I am not her producer and don't get to pick, I can only switch the dial.
Friday I almost reached for it, but K needed something that she couldn't reach, so I was intercepted and providentially so. Terry interviewed Stephen Moore, president of The Club for Growth. It was interesting and informative and I was hooked when I heard this snippet of an advertisement run against Howard Dean in Des Moines, Iowa during the Democratic Primary. This line particularly lured me:
"Husband: 'Well, I think Howard Dean should take his tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading…
His wife continues: “…body piercing, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show back to Vermont where it belongs."'
What made it even more fun was Terry attempting to get an understanding of why Howard Dean and those who would vote for him were characterized in that manner. Mr. Moore said simply that the people who supported Howard Dean were liberal elitists. Terry proposed that perhaps money was more of an indicator of elitisim than drinking lattes and driving a foreign car, specifically "the family friendly Volvo." (Ummm, Terry, I don't know anyone who drives a Volvo. Most of us are driving what we can afford and pray for safety and do our best to change the oil every 3000 miles. Volvo? In my debt-free, college-educations-paid-for, weddings-financed, retirement-account-where-it-needs-to-be-dreams. O.K. back to the regularly scheduled post....)
He replied that, no, it was not. I chuckled. It is so gratifying to listen to intelligent conservatives discuss politics with liberals. The libs are always so astounded to find out that they don't own the market on intellectual thought. He then gave the best definition of a populist (someone who believes in the people's ability to decide matters fo themselves) and an elitist (the public isn't smart enough to make decisions for themselves). He proceeded to say that most liberals are elitist, thus "there oughta be a law."
According to Stephen, the group is looking for "conservatives first, Republicans second" as supporters and those running for office who put "policy ahead of politics."
Display Comments »You know, Norah soothes my windshield, too, Mr. Wilson.
P.S. Which CD?
Display Comments »You know, it's your blog and you can put anything on it you like. Really. Go ahead.
But you can't deny how good it felt to get your first link, comment, e-mail about a post.
Furthermore, it had to be extremely exciting when one of the big bloggers out there gave you a mention. Then you find out that there are truly monolythic bloggers out there who have only the time for other monolythic bloggers and you get ignored when you comment and then one day, you realize that they really think it "quaint" that you have linked them. If they have even noticed.
Don't mind me. Really. What was I thinking, really, I mean if they had to list everyone.....
*then you feel like a coveting-obsessive-link-fool who should only be writing for "the joy of it" and even stupider for thinking your own writing would be considered high enough caliber for one of the monolyths anyway.
Sigh. Please excuse me while I get back to blogging for the joy (aka therapy) of it all.
Display Comments »All I wanted to do this morning was sleep late and lounge around in my pajamas; drink my coffee (erm, that's tea, shhh); sit in my living room; stare out at the mountains curtained by the smokey grey clouds; listen to the younger girls giggle while playing dolls.
Alas, piano lessons and grocery shopping and other necessary errands pull me out of my pajamas and into my clothes; off my couch and into my van. The dolls are put away and piano books are collected. So, I will save it for another day.
Sigh.
Display Comments »King-of-Fools is one of my favorite bloggers. I found him early on and waged a gentle campaign to get on his blogroll list.
Over coffee and our daily discussion, Kris asked if I had read a post by KOF yesterday. She told me how touching and thought provoking it was. We finished our conversation (and Kris, I am making that list we talked about-will be waiting for yours :), and I helped C practice piano and put away the dishes from this morning's breakfast. Then I headed downstairs to hop on-line and go read the post myself.
It was, as Kris said, "eloquent and moving." Thank you, KOF for reminding us that death can bring both celebration of life and pause for reflection of the preciousness of it
Display Comments »When I was permitted the blessing of being removed for the summer from my own Number 4 Privet Drive, I spent the summers at my grandmother's home. I was warned to be on my best behavior as my socks were matched and tossed into the bag. While a dress or two was neatly folded, I was lectured on chewing with my mouth closed and remembering my manners.
Knowing that none of this was ever required of me at home, I inwardly chortled at what were probably the normal requests of a child visiting relatives. I never ate a meal with my parents unless we were eating out with friends or relatives. My meals were either take-out eaten in the car or alone in my room. I learned to chew with my mouth closed while eating dinner at a neighborhood friend's home. Her father had had enough of my chomping and slopping and told his daughter to remind me to keep my lips together or leave the table. I was horrified, but I never smacked again.
Read more "That's All" » Display Comments »When a child of mine tells a lie, they are severely punished. R and I decided long ago that would be the consequence to telling untruths. Only one of our four children has struggled with fabricating.
I recall the first time I realized she had lied. I took her aside and asked her to spank me because lying hurts everyone. Extreme? Yes. Effective? Temporarily. The second time, I asked her if God ever lied. No, she replied. I asked her how she would feel if she strived to please God her whole life and when she died, God told her it was all a lie and her efforts were in vain and she was sent to hell. Extreme? Yes. Appropriate? I thought so at the time. Effective? Not enough.
Read more Absolutely Absolutes » Display Comments »I can never read more than two paragraphs of Anna Quindlen. She is one of the high ranking Spin Sisters: those women in the media who try to come across as being "just an average American woman struggling through life just like you." Yeah, like me because I have a six figure salary (enough to cover what insurance doesn't), a nanny, numerous books published with more contracts in the wings, and an extreme liberal stance on politics. Right. That's me and that is most definitely every woman I know.
She thinks that she represents the majority of women in American in calling Bush a liar, demanding abortion be legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and thinking that John Kerry is the answer to our prayers. Now I am sure that Ms. Quindlen is a person of integrity. That is, I don't doubt that she honestly thinks that more women than not agree with her politics.
The human experience is not unique. We all experience sadness, joy, hope, depression, loss, gain, etc. at some point in our lives. I do think experiences can be relative. While I haven't lost a daughter, it doesn't keep me from sympathizing with a mother who has, as have I, distressed over the death of someone whom I dearly loved. I have never experienced an adulterating husband, but I have been betrayed by those who had committed to loving me. These are the things that unite us in our human frailty.
When Ms. Bryant writes about her children and her dreams for them; when she writes about the death of her mother and how she coped(copes); when she tells of being inspired to writing as a young girl while reading books like Betsy-Tacy, then we relate. Then she removes her Spin Sister's sorority pin and is a human being to me.
However, when the pin is on her lapel, I can't get through three lines without disgust. So Dick Cheney told a certain Senator (who had been publically inferring a lack of Mr. Cheney's integrity) to go do a certain impossible-to-do- something to himself. It is incredulous that she finds it lacking civility and professionalism. Surely it is easier to forgive a Vice President swearing than a married President having an affair with an impressionable young intern? What? The affair was private and not the business of the public? Well, so was the exchange between Mr. Cheney and the Senator. What? Pubically done, you say? Well, so was Mr. Clinton and Monica. There doesn't exisit privacy in the Oval Office (unless you count hiding beneath the desk-that might afford some measure of secrecy, er, privacy).
Personally, I wish that Dick Cheney hadn't said what he did. I also wish that Bill Clinton had remained faithful to his wife and daughter. I also wish that Ms. Quindlen would save her pontificating pointing fingers for herself. It's most effective that way and it makes her writing far more palatable.
Display Comments »Everytime I read or hear about the death of a Marine, I catch my breath and pray. I pray that it isn't Dave. I plead that he has somehow escaped the bullet, the shrapnel, the ambush against an American simply for being American.
I really hope that he writes a book about his experiences and gets into politics. He would be a superior politician. As usual, the emphasis is mine.
Read and pray.
July 9, 2004
Dear Dad -
We have had a pretty hard week here. Unfortunately, we have taken some tough casualties and had a setback or two with the fledgling Iraqi Security Forces. Even though these setbacks are inevitable in this kind of insurgency, the 115 degree heat and general conditions seem to make them all the more bitter at times.
Read more Everytime I read or hear » Display Comments »About three months ago, I went over to play at Mr. Picassohead through a link from Zombyboy.
Here is my creation (as captured and saved by Z), a rendition of my paternal grandmother:
Pretension never appealed to me. "Straight up," "up front," "down to earth," "tell-it-like-it-is" has always been my personal preference. So, reading La Shawn has been a treat from day one.
I found her through ResurrectionSong. Her writing is like good cooking: hard to resist, savory and satisfying, and worth indulgence. So, when I skipped over to her place for a bit of tasty feed, I found this. Sooooooo well cooked, La Shawn. Thank you for being a voice of the Truth.
Display Comments »So, K and her family have gone.
My heart has boarded a plane with her. I didn't think I would cry, but alas, the tears came like a sudden rain. It was cathartic and depressing at the same time.
For one week, I wasn't actually in Utah. I was home, in a different house, but as long as I didn't look outside, it was the midwest and I was with someone who knows me, who I know, and the laughter was healing.
We were driving up the mountain and chatting away, and I looked over at her once when she laughed. I had forgotten how pretty she was; how her humor is so physical and hysterical; how her eyes light up when she talks.
I am not blooming too well. I think this transplant has damaged my roots.
Display Comments »This via Pipe Line News.
Readers:
Over the past few months we have been conducting an in-depth review of the Clinton administration's dealings regarding an offer made by the government of Sudan to extradite, or otherwise make available to the United States, Osama bin-Laden.
We are particularly interested in this story because we believe that the 911 Commission, whom we have been in contact with, is going to deny - in their final report - the existence of this offer by the Sudanese.
Just popping in real quick to say that we have company this week and so the posting will be light to nil this week. I hope that everyone has had fun and reflective Independence Day celebrations. Fireworks and sparklers always remind me of being a kid in the dark and humid Oklahoma nights of July at Lake McAlester. Those were the early days of grooming this patriette and I hope to pass that pride in culture and nationality on to my daughters, too.
I found this mythic story from the Revolutionary War of a brave young woman quite inspiring. I hope you will, too.
Big-thankful-for-living-in-the-Land-of-the-Free-and-the-Home-of-the-Brave smile for you :)
Display Comments »In the interest of full diclosure (Patrick says that I look differently in this photo than the one on the banner), here is the most recent (April 2004) of me (I need to have more, but I am always the one behind the shutter). What do you think?
Again in black and white, one of my favorite mediums:
(Kris and I before stepping out.)
Photo credit: Caleb Tamerius
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HammerHead
