Wordless Wednesday

Galveston

So, we made a practice run to Galveston on Memorial Day in anticipation of Love Fest '08. *note: If you haven't ordered your commemorative T-shirt, supplies are limited.

We kinda wanted to get the whole beach thing out of our systems so we can concentrate on other planned activities on our anniversary, if you know what I mean. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway, the red flags were flyin' due to the high surf on Monday. There was a lot of this:

This poor girl spent her afternoon blowing her whistle and running up and down the shore to get the stoopid surfers people out of harm's way.

We stayed close to shore and allowed our freaks delightful children to pummel each other frolic in the surf.

And here? They're just resting their eyes. They're not sleepy. No way.

"Zoo-rific" or "Sweatapoloosa"

I got to meet my super cool and fabulous online homeschool teaching buddy at the zoo last Friday. Here is photographic evidence that she exists! *Please pardon the blown out pic. It was hot and I couldn't be bothered with details of photography. We are both much more attractive and successful looking in person.


This is our posse.

How cute is this?
I don't get to be around babies very much anymore and this one, quite simply, rocked!

Oh, and him?

He's smiling on the inside...

Thanks, Debra, for the adult companionship. My kids are still talking about how much fun they had! Aside from the 248% humidity, I had a lovely time! Let's try it again in November! When it's cooler. And less humidity-y.

Wordless Wednesday *

My mother is alleging that this is a baby photo of me. I think my birthday post made her feel bad. The blue blanket is a little suspicious...

*not wordless

Hmmmm...

So it says, "Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medication". Do they think I drive this?

Or this?



Or maybe this?

I just thought that was interesting. I drive one of these:

So look out if you see me comin'.


I am better. I just have this lingering sinus issue. My sphenoid sinus is inflamed and putting pressure on my right eye. This is a self diagnosis, mind you. I prescribed myself an eye patch just for fun. My kids said no. So I'm sticking to a dose of Sudafed here and there and Tylenol. I'm rationing the Sudafed, though. Due to the amount I've taken in the last two weeks, I can't buy products with pseudoephedrine in the state of Texas for a while. I think the ATF or DEA is watching the house.


Let me just say, I'm supposed to go here for my anniversary next weekend:

It was bad enough to be sick for The Blessed Day of Birth '08. Heads will roll if I'm not 100% for Love Fest '08. I will need my strength back for planned activities.

Guess what today is?!? Celebrate with me, will you?

Random Birthday Thoughts (it's random because I'm high on meds. I'm still coughing up vital organs under the weather.)


On this day 38 years ago, my parents were blessed with...me. **sniff** I really wanted to post a baby picture, but...what's that? There aren't any!?! How can that be? I'd think I was adopted, but our family shares somewhat of a resemblance. Here's me and my sister, circa 1990 (I'm on the right):

Here's my mom with Phil when he was a baby, circa 1995:

Here she is listening to a box. Wait. What?

Then, of course, Luscious Leisure Suit Larry, circa 1972. (He's smiling on the inside):

Mother's Day '08 or Barfapoloosa...

So, I've been hurling since 2:30 this morning. Actually, I hurled once and then heaved for the next 10 hours. As I emptied my body of any life sustaining fluid, I pondered a few things. One is that my level of tolerance of where I'll put my face lowers significantly when I am nauseated. **note to self...get a padded toilet seat.**

I also learned that I have an actual hurling language. I believe this may be personal to everyone, but I have learned to recognize some of my guttural retching. One conveys, "Please don't let me lose control of my bowels". Another is, "This is it! They're actually going to pop out of my head into the toilet!". Well, you get the picture.

I'd like to thank my husband for participating in this endeavor. He was very compassionate as he led my shaking body back and forth to the toilet and politely looked away as I reached new lows of what's appropriate to share with another human being. He dutifully supplied me with water, iced tea (with lemon) and protein shakes...all with bendy straws. He locked the children outside tended to the children with utmost patience so I could rest.

I think the worst has passed and I'm on the mend. I guess I could say today was a blessing as I saw my family rally around me to care for me. Loree "cleaned " every room in the house. Aaron told me it was hard to stay away from me. Ashlie played for hours in the pool with the kids, keeping them entertained. Everyone helped to get the laundry up to speed. Darren repeatedly told me how sorry he was that I was feeling bad. I believe he would have traded places with me if he could have. So, looking back, now that the toilet seat is not imprinted on my right cheek, it was a good Mother's Day, believe it or not. I hope yours was, as well.

Happy Mother's Day

Be sure to turn off my playlist at the bottom of the page...

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

Always!

Soup
Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

It's a mix of laminate and dust bunnies.

Salad
Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Kthis kis kreally ktoo khard.

Main Course
Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

Mine. We adopted Katrina right after Hurricane Katrina. (The creativity within these walls abounds) We quickly discovered she was a street cat. Too tough to be contained. She sat in front of our glass door and stared longingly into the front yard. Happy from next door would traipse by, taunting Katrina. Her restlessness began to consume her. She peed in my closet made it clear she needed space. So, we allowed her to roam the cul de sac released her into the wild. She's at peace now. **sniff**

Dessert
Name 2 blue things.

**snicker** I can't believe you're asking me that question.

Important Graphs

A remedy for Blogstipation

A friend confessed to having Blogstipation. It is an actual condition. Symptoms are flashing cursors on an empty page, lots of staring without blinking followed by spasmodic surfing for inspiration. 9 out of 10 doctors recommend posting pictures that have been locked away at your mom's for 20 years. They don't have to make sense.




For example:

This is me with my Nanny and Papa. They met us on the road while we were on a choir tour with church, circa 1987. To my left was Jason Varner. He liked my hair and sang Good Hearted Woman by Waylon Jennings at church camp talent shows. He also stepped into pictures inappropriately. He liked the ladies and told us frequently that he loved us. Everyone needs a Jason experience in their lives.

Wordless Wednesday

Totally Excellent! Part Deux

Continuing with the theme, let's peruse the awesomeness here. Now, duh! Feather boa...always superfine. But take a look at the photo on the left. I'm actually flaring my nostrils. I learned that these are actually two different shoots. The cowl neck sweater series is when I was 15. Feather boa is obviously Senior pictures. Here's another:

You'll notice with age came wisdom and a lot less eye make-up. But check my brows, man. Where was Tiffany, the Vietnamese waxer when I needed her!?! If you're patient, watch carefully. They should turn into butterflies after their final transformation.

Being new

I hate being new to a church. Usually, it is a result from having to wash your hands of a situation that wrecks both heart and soul. Being new to me means having to show up naked (in a bad way)and wounded from hurt and irresolution. It means giving up on a very pesonal investment.

God led us here. There is no doubt. He made the transition easy when we finally listened. This is the first time in years that I feel my family is in it's spiritual home. I've felt joy in the last couple of months that I haven't felt in so long. The tears I shed when I sing to the Lord now are because I'm connecting with Him again! The tears before were because I felt lost and empty. Habits, although not always healthy, are still habits and there is comfort in that. That's why women stay in abusive marriages. It's why people cling to jobs in which they have no passion. I was brought up to worship, serve and, at times, depend on the relationships knitted together at the place where we declare ourselves members. Being a member means I've committed to being part of a family. A family that not only supports me, but lets me be an example of the child of God that I so want to be. I support them, as well. I want to support and encourage, laugh, cry, study, debate and serve. In our last church we just had to try too hard. There were so many things to overlook and excuse. I guess it just comes to a point when you have to move on and start to heal. To plant new roots.

Roots.

Roots anchor.

Roots absorb.

Ultimately, roots sustain life. I guess that's why this journey has been so painful. This is why, at times, I felt spiritually dead. Not being able to serve where God has taught me to serve was stifling. "The Lord is my strength and my song!" Exodus 15:2. God digs singing. Especially when it's lifted up to Him in praise. I feel closest to Him when I'm singing in harmony with others that are praising Him with me. I bet we'll be doing a lot of it in heaven. That's a post for another time...

But. We found new soil! A large part of my faith is about serving. And a large part of serving is fellowship. We build relationships with people as we serve Jesus Christ and each other together. It's not a competition. It's a relationship.

People ask me often about my kids and socialization because we homeschool. But what about the parents? How much socialization do we really get at this stage in the game? With young kids sucking the life out of us requiring so much of our time, it's difficult to nurture outside friendships. I need to make more time for that. I'm more comfortable building relationships with people that have the same final destination in mind. Who love their husbands and do more than tolerate their children. The odds are better at a place like we've found.

A hard lesson learned this time is that there are no perfect churches. Yes, I knew that before. Churches are filled with man. We're bound to screw it up somewhere. People are flawed. But that's what makes them fun to talk about. Doh! I kid...