Wednesday, 19 November 2008
"Gee, the productivity in your husband's business has really gone to pot!"
"Tomorrow, I think your husband should fire his colleague and go out and find someone who can really do the job!!!"
"It's going to be a really hard year for you and your husband! His effectiveness has taken a major turn for the worse."
"The employees of your husband's business are rude!"
Or my favorite-
"I really hope that the competitors beat the heck out of your husband's business tonight!!!!!"
Of course not! No! People don't do that kind of thing. Unless they are a social moron OR your husband happens to be a coach.
You'd think after 10+ years in the business, I'd get used to it. But maybe I never will.
Since my husband makes his living coaching a GAME that people are able to watch, I guess that people think it's just fine to make whatever stupid comment comes into their minds.
You know, I've heard that if you can't take the heat, then stay out of the kitchen.
And I have 2 problems with that.
#1 - I had no choice in this. God gave me this man, and He gave Tom this job, and I am here faithfully believing that He is going to bless us. Even when the point guard screws up. Even when we didn't land that top recruit. Even when we have a 5 game losing streak. He is with us, and He has a purpose for us. And YES, He cares about basketball games, even though people tell me He does not.
#2 - There is something called politeness. Your husband's job is very important to you. My husband's job is very important to me. I won't make dire predictions about what is going to happen to your husband's job and you don't do the same to me. I will sincerely wish you and your husband the best when it comes to his job. I'm hoping for a promotion for you, not that he gets beat out by the others (even if I happen to know the others and like them very well.)
You know, I try to tread lightly. I try not to be easily offended because in my heart, I think people just really don't get it. They have an opinion on every other game on TV, so why not have an opinion on my husband's game? And for the most part, I move on through life thankful for where God has put us and thankful for the friends (they are precious to me!) He has put in our lives who do understand and are sensitive to our situation. Some friends even put away their colors and wear ours for a game! Wow!
But at the most recent game pictured above (THAT WE LOST, by the way,) I had one "friend" walk up to me wearing opposing colors and begin complaining about the 30 person cheering section for our team: "They are so loud and rude!" And then another one, who at half time, thought he would come tell me how bad our team looked: "You guys are looking pretty terrible so far."
Maybe it's just that I'm approaching 40 or something, but it didn't slide off my back this time.
What about common courtesy?
That felt good. Thanks for letting me vent. It's been comin' on for oh, about 10 years. :)
"Tomorrow, I think your husband should fire his colleague and go out and find someone who can really do the job!!!"
"It's going to be a really hard year for you and your husband! His effectiveness has taken a major turn for the worse."
"The employees of your husband's business are rude!"
Or my favorite-
"I really hope that the competitors beat the heck out of your husband's business tonight!!!!!"
Of course not! No! People don't do that kind of thing. Unless they are a social moron OR your husband happens to be a coach.
You'd think after 10+ years in the business, I'd get used to it. But maybe I never will.Since my husband makes his living coaching a GAME that people are able to watch, I guess that people think it's just fine to make whatever stupid comment comes into their minds.
You know, I've heard that if you can't take the heat, then stay out of the kitchen.
And I have 2 problems with that.
#1 - I had no choice in this. God gave me this man, and He gave Tom this job, and I am here faithfully believing that He is going to bless us. Even when the point guard screws up. Even when we didn't land that top recruit. Even when we have a 5 game losing streak. He is with us, and He has a purpose for us. And YES, He cares about basketball games, even though people tell me He does not.
#2 - There is something called politeness. Your husband's job is very important to you. My husband's job is very important to me. I won't make dire predictions about what is going to happen to your husband's job and you don't do the same to me. I will sincerely wish you and your husband the best when it comes to his job. I'm hoping for a promotion for you, not that he gets beat out by the others (even if I happen to know the others and like them very well.)
You know, I try to tread lightly. I try not to be easily offended because in my heart, I think people just really don't get it. They have an opinion on every other game on TV, so why not have an opinion on my husband's game? And for the most part, I move on through life thankful for where God has put us and thankful for the friends (they are precious to me!) He has put in our lives who do understand and are sensitive to our situation. Some friends even put away their colors and wear ours for a game! Wow!
But at the most recent game pictured above (THAT WE LOST, by the way,) I had one "friend" walk up to me wearing opposing colors and begin complaining about the 30 person cheering section for our team: "They are so loud and rude!" And then another one, who at half time, thought he would come tell me how bad our team looked: "You guys are looking pretty terrible so far."
Maybe it's just that I'm approaching 40 or something, but it didn't slide off my back this time.
What about common courtesy?
That felt good. Thanks for letting me vent. It's been comin' on for oh, about 10 years. :)
Friday, 14 November 2008
...not just any, ordinary girls' weekend! Oh no! Instead it was a week-long, 40th birthday blowout cruise for a near and dear friend, whom I've happened to know since, oh... 1985.
Here she is, and the shirt fits, if you know what I mean! Doesn't she look amazing? We found that hilarious shirt in a vintage store in Tampa the night before we left on the cruise. It's going to become the traveling shirt, as we each hit the fabulous age over the next couple of years! 
The three of us were LAK growing up... Linda, Anne, Kim... we were inseparable, forging our way through high school and college ... the time we spent together molded me in ways that I am still discovering. God gave me a gift of lifelong friendship when he gave me these girls! We haven't seen nearly as much of each other since starting our families a decade ago, so there was years of catching up to do. 
We added a new friend in college, named Chrissy (in purple.) She is darling and fun and a blast to go cruisin' with! I have not seen or even talked to her in over TEN(!) years, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her and learning about her life as a mom of three and ER nurse! We definitely rekindled an old friendship! Then there is Rhonda (in pink), the spunky little sister (also mom of three) of the birthday girl... she kept us going... laughing... and smiling. Sweet, funny and thoughtful, so thoughtful that she brought us all matching, pink, embroidered robes! 
Grand Cayman was our first stop after a couple days at sea. Amazingly, hurricane Paloma had passed over the area just two calendar days earlier. But the day was sunny and pleasant! We went snorkeling and got to gaze through our masks at the swimming jewels of the sea, flitting around the ocean floor.
Then... we had the unusual opportunity to hang out with the Stingrays. So the story goes that years ago, on this particular sandbar, a fisherman began feeding the stingrays his leftover fish pieces. They became rather tame stingrays, unafraid of human contact. Yes, I know that Steve Irvin was killed by a stingray, and believe me, that did race through my mind at the time,
especially given the huge size of these things. But we decided they were quite like puppies as they rubbed up against our legs and let us hold them. I know it sounds crazy, but the stingrays were lovable creatures. Never thought I'd use that word in the same sentence as stingray.
Next stop was Cozumel, Mexico, where we basically rented a little slice of our own beach for the day. We just did nothing but listen to the beat of the waves on the sand, beachcomb for shells, read our novels, talk and laugh ourselves silly and tell Carlos what next fabulous food or drink we would like to have delivered, beachside!
Wow! What a trip! We talked a wild streak, laughed till our ribs felt sore, danced like no one was watching, and sang as loud as we possibly could. We shed some tears while talking, stirred up old memories from the dead, and made plans for the future! We sang and danced some more, freaking out every time we heard one of our favorite songs, such as "Push It" or "Jessie' s Girl." 
We went to a comedy show and dressed up like the 80's. Big hair and bright colors. Did I mention we ate and ate? We had to take advantage of the free buffets! Right, Chrissy? We celebrated a very special person in our friend Linda. And we took zillions of pictures of it all. Truly, through it all, we felt the very strong hand of God on all we did. It is no coincidence that everything went so smoothly. Yes, we believe that He cares even about 40th birthday parties, and especially His birthday girl... Linda Ruth! We give Him praise for the ways He watched over us, big and little. Everything good and perfect is from above.
In the end, leaving was mostly sweet. The vacation was more than I could have expected and the time with friends was irreplaceable. However, I missed my family so much that I could barely sleep our last night on the boat. I was so thrilled to finally be back at home with my loved ones, but......
I am very glad I went on that trip.
Here she is, and the shirt fits, if you know what I mean! Doesn't she look amazing? We found that hilarious shirt in a vintage store in Tampa the night before we left on the cruise. It's going to become the traveling shirt, as we each hit the fabulous age over the next couple of years! 
The three of us were LAK growing up... Linda, Anne, Kim... we were inseparable, forging our way through high school and college ... the time we spent together molded me in ways that I am still discovering. God gave me a gift of lifelong friendship when he gave me these girls! We haven't seen nearly as much of each other since starting our families a decade ago, so there was years of catching up to do. 
We added a new friend in college, named Chrissy (in purple.) She is darling and fun and a blast to go cruisin' with! I have not seen or even talked to her in over TEN(!) years, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her and learning about her life as a mom of three and ER nurse! We definitely rekindled an old friendship! Then there is Rhonda (in pink), the spunky little sister (also mom of three) of the birthday girl... she kept us going... laughing... and smiling. Sweet, funny and thoughtful, so thoughtful that she brought us all matching, pink, embroidered robes! 
Grand Cayman was our first stop after a couple days at sea. Amazingly, hurricane Paloma had passed over the area just two calendar days earlier. But the day was sunny and pleasant! We went snorkeling and got to gaze through our masks at the swimming jewels of the sea, flitting around the ocean floor.
Then... we had the unusual opportunity to hang out with the Stingrays. So the story goes that years ago, on this particular sandbar, a fisherman began feeding the stingrays his leftover fish pieces. They became rather tame stingrays, unafraid of human contact. Yes, I know that Steve Irvin was killed by a stingray, and believe me, that did race through my mind at the time,
especially given the huge size of these things. But we decided they were quite like puppies as they rubbed up against our legs and let us hold them. I know it sounds crazy, but the stingrays were lovable creatures. Never thought I'd use that word in the same sentence as stingray.
Next stop was Cozumel, Mexico, where we basically rented a little slice of our own beach for the day. We just did nothing but listen to the beat of the waves on the sand, beachcomb for shells, read our novels, talk and laugh ourselves silly and tell Carlos what next fabulous food or drink we would like to have delivered, beachside!
Wow! What a trip! We talked a wild streak, laughed till our ribs felt sore, danced like no one was watching, and sang as loud as we possibly could. We shed some tears while talking, stirred up old memories from the dead, and made plans for the future! We sang and danced some more, freaking out every time we heard one of our favorite songs, such as "Push It" or "Jessie' s Girl." 
We went to a comedy show and dressed up like the 80's. Big hair and bright colors. Did I mention we ate and ate? We had to take advantage of the free buffets! Right, Chrissy? We celebrated a very special person in our friend Linda. And we took zillions of pictures of it all. Truly, through it all, we felt the very strong hand of God on all we did. It is no coincidence that everything went so smoothly. Yes, we believe that He cares even about 40th birthday parties, and especially His birthday girl... Linda Ruth! We give Him praise for the ways He watched over us, big and little. Everything good and perfect is from above.
In the end, leaving was mostly sweet. The vacation was more than I could have expected and the time with friends was irreplaceable. However, I missed my family so much that I could barely sleep our last night on the boat. I was so thrilled to finally be back at home with my loved ones, but......I am very glad I went on that trip.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Maybe
you are pleased at yesterday's election,
but maybe
you feel awful rejection.
Maybe
you feel exhilarated! Vindicated!
Maybe
you just feel things are complicated.
Maybe
you partied late into the night -
and Maybe
you are sick with fright.
But there are no
maybes,
baby...
when it comes to this:
God, and God alone, fashions the tapestry of human history.
He rules from the heavens and determines the next part of our earthly story.
He is bigger than votes and scams; he is smarter than Democrats and Republicans.
HE.... The mighty one... is control of this election.
No doubt about it; it's divine selection
Maybe NOT - should we worry and scurry
Maybe NOT - should we judge
Maybe NOT - should we doubt that our God has made a mistake.
I determine to look forward with peace and expectation, without reservation....
believing that HE is on the throne.
He will never leave us alone...
He is using our President elect...
in ways we may never expect.
Let's pray God's blessing upon him
and this great country we live in.
No MAYBE about it!
you are pleased at yesterday's election,
but maybe
you feel awful rejection.
Maybe
you feel exhilarated! Vindicated!
Maybe
you just feel things are complicated.
Maybe
you partied late into the night -
and Maybe
you are sick with fright.
But there are no
maybes,
baby...
when it comes to this:
God, and God alone, fashions the tapestry of human history.
He rules from the heavens and determines the next part of our earthly story.
He is bigger than votes and scams; he is smarter than Democrats and Republicans.
HE.... The mighty one... is control of this election.
No doubt about it; it's divine selection
Maybe NOT - should we worry and scurry
Maybe NOT - should we judge
Maybe NOT - should we doubt that our God has made a mistake.
I determine to look forward with peace and expectation, without reservation....
believing that HE is on the throne.
He will never leave us alone...
He is using our President elect...
in ways we may never expect.
Let's pray God's blessing upon him
and this great country we live in.
No MAYBE about it!
Monday, 3 November 2008
POST NOTE:
Lest you think that I posted my previous post to let the world know my daughter's amazingly high IQ, I must add that is not at all the case. While I do, of course, think she is a bright, little girl, (what parent doesn't!) this is more a tribute to her uncanny knack at picking up things in pop culture and using them correctly in conversation. Since the day she was 2 and she busted out "That's Smoking HOT!" we just have to laugh at the things she says. I would venture to say she has little to no grasp of the policies of our two candidates or even exactly who Honest Abe is. But when she said that, it just sounded right. We seem to need someone who really IS going to cut through all the CRUD out there and be a true American leader. In one of the classes I teach, one of my students did an excellent presentation about Booker T. Washington. I knew who Booker T. was before that presentation, but not of his character. He was an incredible leader. That presentation made me truly LONG for someone in this day and age who will lead fearlessly, fight vigorously, and guide our country in a way we sorely need. That's the kind of man I wish for and pray for to be president of this amazing country. I'm not sure we will get that with either candidate tomorrow; however, I believe that God's mighty hand is in charge and will lead us through. For a great post on the spiritual perspective for tomorrow's election, look at my friend Katie's post here!
Post Post Note: I used Scrapblog for the first time today (THANKS DAWN!) and I am in blogging heaven! It is so easy and cute and fun!!! I highly recommend it.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
I try to keep my mouth shut when it comes to politics, but THIS I could not pass up.
Car talk today....
Ellie: Mom, is it true that McCain will just give us more of the same?
Mom: (after I recover from my surprise)
Not exactly Ellie... followed up by the best explanation I can give to 8 year old ears.
Ellie: Mom, is it true that Obama wants to take away our freedoms?
Mom: (after I again recover from my surprise)
Well, babe, not exactly... followed up by the best explanation I can possibly give her.
After a pause....and with a wistful inflection...
Ellie: I sure wish Honest Abe was still around.
Car talk today....
Ellie: Mom, is it true that McCain will just give us more of the same?
Mom: (after I recover from my surprise)
Not exactly Ellie... followed up by the best explanation I can give to 8 year old ears.
Ellie: Mom, is it true that Obama wants to take away our freedoms?
Mom: (after I again recover from my surprise)
Well, babe, not exactly... followed up by the best explanation I can possibly give her.
After a pause....and with a wistful inflection...
Ellie: I sure wish Honest Abe was still around.
Friday, 31 October 2008
It's a tradition!
Granny with some of her great grandkids....
Granny drawing a name to give away her Halloween quilt. Remember, Kami won it last year! The guy in the top right hand corner was the big winner this year..... 
Indiana Jones and the Pumpkin Princess on Granny's swing...
Kami as a football player, Luke as IJ, and Ellie as a Pirate who lost her pants. We never found em and had to go back home before trick or treating and find some different pants. Also, the hat was so rumpled! The costume I actually paid big bucks for at Target was, sadly, the least cute.
Sibling love?
Granny with some of her great grandkids....
Granny drawing a name to give away her Halloween quilt. Remember, Kami won it last year! The guy in the top right hand corner was the big winner this year..... 
Indiana Jones and the Pumpkin Princess on Granny's swing...
Kami as a football player, Luke as IJ, and Ellie as a Pirate who lost her pants. We never found em and had to go back home before trick or treating and find some different pants. Also, the hat was so rumpled! The costume I actually paid big bucks for at Target was, sadly, the least cute.
Sibling love?
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