What's New in the Neighborhood

What's new in the neighborhood.... a few new shiitakes developed over the last few days because of this balmy October weather. I love walking a few feet into the woods and being able to pick a few gourmet mushrooms! We are in the process of trying to adopt another dog. I can't get into the details just yet, since there is a special situation going on behind the whole decision and it's not my story to tell. Bottom line, if it works out, we'll have 2 adorable white puppies in the house. Natalie's surgery has been scheduled for June 17th next year. Seems like a long way off, but there is alot to plan...finances, house/dog sitter, emotional and physical preparation, etc...Nat's feet are getting a bit cold, as expected. Steve has a chance to go to a world series game this Sunday, but I'm hoping he doesn't go. I wish I could tell you why! Just know I have a very good reason. I just can't share here. My mom and I went to a sweet little gift shop today and she bought my belated birthay present. A Lang calendar (that matches hers) and a print that I already have hanging over our bed. It's a beautiful rolling hills setting in the background, a big maple tree in the foreground with "Love you 4ever" carved in the trunk! It has a beautiful saying on it about marriage...I just loved it immediately! I also purchased a beautiful picture of Jesus holding a black lamb close to his chest, smiling down at it. When I asked about the print, the store owner told me that the author had a special reason for using a black sheep instead of the traditional white ones. She said the artist's father used to raise suffolk (sp) sheep, and that sometimes new Christians feel like outsiders in their new Christian environment.Sometimes they feel like the "black sheep", and these prints are to remind them that Jesus loves ALL of his sheep and sees them all the same. Now I want the whole series! And at only $3 for a 5x7, I just might get them all! So that's what's new in the neighborhood. Not much. Well, there is more, but I like to keep you waiting. Have a great weekend!

Change

In the past, I used to speak a lot before I'd think. I used to get myself in some doozies! I look back now and it's a bit embarassing to think of some of the things I've said. Kind of like toothpaste out of the tube, words just don't get "put back". They are "out there" for as long as people choose to think about them. The only way to "undo" something you wish you hadn't said is to apologize (if possible) to them, apologize to God, and stop doing that altogether. I had to step back and ask myself why I felt the need to open my mouth in the first place. A lot of times I was trying to gain favor with someone (kind of a funny way to do it now that I think about it!), trying to seem a certain way, or I was trying to control a situation. Really, it was never from a good place! And most of all, it was inauthentic, because it wasn't my heart. It wasn't until I found a safe place to share my heart that I began to feel accepted for the flawed person I was. My safe place, I will always say, was a good God-loving friend who saw all through my facade, and put up with my words! She knew better and soon, I began to know better too. I watched her and I began to "get it." The reason I bring up this story is not to claim that I've arrived in some way, but I do know I've had some victory in this area. It takes work to keep that victory! Sometimes I still catch myself slipping. So the reason I revisit this is because it has enabled me to be a better friend to those who don't always say the right thing at the right time. The friend who gossips a bit, the one who judges harshly, the one who puts down the woman at the store, the one who criticizes EVERYTHING all the time it seems. I have become more patient with them. More tolerant of the behavior, and more understanding of where it may come from. I want to be that "friend" who knows their heart is better than that. She didn't correct me with words. I don't correct with words. When someone is saying something inappropriate to me, I picture that I am talking to my old self! In other words, don't forget, YOU USED TO DO THAT TOO!! And as I think about that, I just act better and hope she sees. And while I claim my friend showed me the right way, I know that it was God all along, answering my cry for help. "Show me a better way. Bring me better friends. Make me better.Help me be more like you." And then it's no surprise that God would be helping me to help someone else. It's just the way I've seen it work. You want to be better? The only one who can make you better is God, but you have to recognize your weaknesses that trip you up or cause you to harm others. Then you have to admit you need help. God's help. Then you listen and do what He says. Hopefully He will provide you with a beautiful friend like mine, who came at just the right time. Thank you Sara. And thank you God.

Volley Girl

Serena's first year of school Volleyball is done! It's been a lot of fun for both of us, as I've been helping the 7th and 8th grade teams at practice since the season started. It was an accident that started it! The coach was late getting to practice one day as she had been involved in an accident (she was ok, by the way). So her mom asked if I knew anything about volleyball. I replied, "sure" and ran the practice until she got back. I really enjoyed working with both teams, but I have to say that coaching is harder than it looks! Let's just say if all you had to worry about was teaching the sport and showing up, it would be a piece of cake! There are so many elements to coaching that can just really make it difficult, and I'm not sure it would be a good fit for me. I did commit to helping again next year because I really loved teaching and encouraging the girls to do their best!

The girls had never touched a volleyball before the season started, so let's just say this....we did the best we could!! Serena had fun and did her best, and that's all we ever require. Next year should be even better, especially if our coach decides to stay!

Politics...here I go again...

I don't like election years. Sigh...I don't like politics. I care about the world and all of that. I have my own personal beliefs about politics, I just don't care to spend time discussing it much. The girls have been barraged by political nonsense at school, of course. Here are just a few highlights...if you care. Don't blame you if you don't! * Nat had to write a paper on the differences between demos and repubs. At the end of the paper, she HAD to declare her commitment to one or the other. What?? That's crazy. I told her she didn't HAVE to be anything. Apparently, the assignment required she did. I said, find out what the teacher is and be the opposite. That's just ridiculous....politics...right up there with enemas in my opinion. (not that I'd know anything about those, mind you) *Serena came home and told me all kinds of things about our current president, as told to her by an obviously brainwashed child of overly political parents who clearly watch one biased station on TV. No, to my knowledge, Obama is not trying to turn our children into slaves to get back at us. What are these parents thinking??? *If you're a Christian, apparently you HAVE to be republican. That's funny. I'm a Christian and I'm NOT a republican. (I just heard your appalled "WHAT??") That's right. Christians can be a little something called "AMERICANS". That's what I am. And I don't have to cater to a party to be that! So, what we're trying to show our kids is that you do HAVE to think for yourself. I encourage them to not discuss politics UNLESS they understand what they are saying. It is irresponsible to run your mouth because of what someone on TV is saying. What your parents are saying in the kitchen...what your church or place of business tells you you have to think. What a party tells you to do. This is America, and we have the right to think for ourselves. Intelligently, thoughtfully, mindfully, and with a love for our country as our main objective. I love this country, but I don't have to be a republican, a democrat, or a whateverist to prove it. And I certainly don't expect my kids to run around being my little mouthpieces, regurgitating my thoughts and opinions. When they are old enough to approach politics with maturity, I can't wait to hear what THEY think. And I hope they are respectful in sharing with their classmates these ideas. I have been pretty annoyed with some of the crazy things the girls come home and tell me. Clearly these parents aren't being objective or educational in their teachings, and all that does is confuse kids. It also teaches them to be very narrow-minded. Not cool. When I was a kid, I loved Jimmy Carter. I wasn't a democrat (that I knew of), and I didn't know or care what my parents thought. I loved him because he had a cool voice and he loved peanuts. Ahh...to be an innocent child and love your president. That would be a nice refreshing change.

Life Pictures

This is the caramel-covered honeycrisp apple I made for Natalie one day (when braces-wearing sister was gone!), He has peanut hair and a chocolate chip face. He didn't last long!

I am always amazed to see all my rosebushes still blooming, even after all the cold weather and most of the leaves have gone away.

I can't get enough of the trees...ya know?

One night, Natalie and I relaxed out on the patio in front of the fire. Those are her warm and toasty feet! Life may get crazy, busy, and even annoying sometimes, but I always have my camera and I can always escape!

Relax...it's Fall

What's a chilly fall day without homemade soup? Last weekend I made baked potato soup....in homemade bread bowls....yum, if I must say so myself!

Here's Serena, trying on Nat's homecoming dress. I know! She looks so grown up...and pretty cute too!

Speaking of cute, here's one of the pics I took last week on our annual "fall photo shoot".

Angel loves to snuggle in a warm blanket after her bath. I just love that time with her...so relaxing. That sums up Fall for me...relaxing!