Wonderful World

It's busy, busy, busy around the Diner lately!   So let me just serve up a little magic and move on to the next table today.

Have a fabulous Friday. Go and do what you can to make it a Wonderful World.

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Australia's only unusualist, Raymond Crowe offers a captivating combination of visual comedy, ventriloquism, shadow puppetry and magic. Here is a clip of his artistry in the shadow puppet world. 

Well, My BatGirl Costume Must Be Returned...

But not my Starbucks Card from Kelli, thank goodness!  (I called her and she gave me her blessing to use it in a celebratory fashion.  That woman is just too good to me!)

Who was praying?  Seriously, who was praying about my upcoming move because if you've got that kind of connection with God, I've got some bills I'd appreciate being lifted to the Lord...  I'm offering you a hearty thanks right now for the time you spent on my dismal future move because...

The move is off!  There will be no Batcave in my immediate future!  Woo hoo!  Hello my precious window!  I feel good looking out and seeing an uninspiring view.  BECAUSE IT IS A VIEW!!

Oh God is good in so many ways, I can't even count them...

My boss called us into his office to tell us that the move is off due to the building owners making faulty business moves.  Then he looked at me and said, "Shalee, now you can rest easy about the no windows thing."  (Let me just add here that although I did have a bit of a tizzy about the no window thing at first, I've accepted it and even moved on with it.  Don't get the idea that I was complaining daily about not having any access to sunshine, sky or the essence of anything that makes work seem bearable rather than a "Joe vs. the Volcano" sort of thing.  I'm just setting the record straight...)

Now we will be moving in November into another of our new offices in town.  I can't tell you at all what my work view will be like because 1) I've not been inside it and 2) I've not seen a plan for the new set up.  But I'm giving it to God.  Window or no window - it's all good.  Especially since there's a Panera right across the courtyard from the new office. 

Life is good.  Life is Very Good. 

Maybe I can return the BatGirl costume for a new work outfit.  That's so much more practical since I'm pretty sure I'd have been fired if I had shown up in a  body-squeezing latex suit and a mask...

Potter Puppets

Warning:  I did not create the following YouTube.  But I'm posting it because I do believe I've laughed myself silly over it for too long now...  Please come back for an original post tomorrow.  Thank you very much.  

This has been an unpaid public announcement sponsored by the Shalee's Diner, home of some great apple pie... and pecan pie  (Mr. Right loved the recipe, Gina, so thanks!)... and Toll House Cookie Bars (because the boy had his dessert privileges revoked due to bad behavior and I had to make something that he would really regret missing for the next 3 days.)

What Is This Thing?!

I was upstairs fiddling with the blog to see if I could make it load any faster (did it work?) when my son yelled up to me, "Mom, come see this big furry thing eating our leaves!"

At first I thought he was joking, but I realized the  kids were talking about it together, giggling, asking all sorts of questions about it.  I ran down with the camera and caught one good picture of it.  (I tried to sneak outside to get a zoomed-in picture, but that thing was more scared of me than I was of it.  It took off like a mom and a kid fighting over a dropped M&M.)

So now I've got a picture of something, but I don't know what it is.  

We think it's a beaver without the big tail, but really we get confused between a dog and a cat sometimes... what do we know?  But the funny thing is that we don't live near a large river or anything.  We do have a tiny creek that runs through our neighborhood and it only gets wet when it rains, but we don't live near it at all.

So all you nature-loving, walking encyclopedias, what is this thing and, more importantly, should I be scared?  Because if I should, I'm totally not going to go outside to become beaver food...

Suddenly, I'm Feeling Bookish...

There are so many things I love about Fall.

· Fires in the fireplace

· Apple Pie

· Football

· Apple Cider

· Hayrides

· Apple Dumplings

· Crispness in the air

· Apple Crisp

· Sweaters

· Apple Fritters

· Reading

Oh ho! Days of Reading have come at last! Katrina at Callapidder Days has got the reading going on once again. And might I just say that it's just in time. Whew. I thought it would never get here!

I know y’all are all on the edge of your seats to hear what I’m going to read this season. THE EDGE OF YOUR SEATS, I tell you. (Here is where you scoot forward to the edge just to humor me, okay?) Now without further ado, here is my (almost) final list.

(Trumpets sound: Tooo too too toooooo)

1. The Family Tree by Carole Cadwalladr

2. The Woods by Harlan Coben

3. The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson

4. Thursday Next in first among sequels by Jasper Fforde

5. Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George

6. The Bible (Psalms - Songs of Solomon) by God

7. Out To Canaan by Jan Karon

8. A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

9. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

10. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Thanks Barb!!!)

11. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffernegger (THE best work of contemporary fiction in the last 5 years)

12. The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Pachett

13. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

14. Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

15. The Book Thief by Markus Zarkus

Whew! That list should be enough to keep me out of trouble for a couple of weeks or 12… Hmmm, we’ll see.

I think I can pull off one more: What book would you think I absolutely MUST read (while I’m eating apple pie cake, of course)?

Brewing Friendship

So I went out to have coffee with Addie the other night. (Oh, the delicious goodness of it getting to spend time her!) Even though we live about 10 miles from each other on very easy to travel roads, we couldn’t seem to coordinate any time that would work for both of us during the summer, but now that school has started, Mr. Right works late at night and Addie has more responsibilities than ever, we seem to have found the time for each other. Go figure.

Anyway, we met up at a cool, non-Starbucks, welcoming coffee place, where the drinks were perfect and the atmosphere was friendly. Oh, and you’ve got to try a Milky Way. It’s basically a Café Mocha with Caramel and Whipped Cream. Mmmm. And it's even better if you get to sip on it with great company...

It was such a beautiful night, we decided to join the rank of patrons who were sitting outside.  They just happen all to be under the age of 22.  Nothing like a crowd of college kids around you to provide a sense of belonging and ease... and youth. (Actually, they were all politely jolly and, for the most part, kept to themselves.)

We talked about anything and everything: kids, blogging, jobs, marriages. You name it, it might have been mentioned because Addie and I aren't afraid to talk.  And laugh.  And get serious.  

One of the things discussed over the course of our tête-à-tête was the DISC tests. She’d taken that personality test too, so we had lots about which to converse regarding it. When I relayed how much I dislike being a D (for I think of it as demanding, directing, delusional, demonic and dorky.  Why oh why couldn't I be a nice S with a nice dose of I?), Addie said, “Shalee, you’re a D? Really? I can’t see you as being a D.”

Y’ALL. She said this statement WITH A SERIOUS EXPRESSION. She totally meant it.  And although she couldn't be more wrong and it's only because she doesn't have to live with me, I felt extremely grateful to Addie for those extremely kind words.  So much so,  I had to tell her.

And with that, I couldn’t help but smile and exclaim, “I love you, Addie!”

Then a blanket of silence covered the 10 or so people next to us. And I noticed that they were all staring in our direction, at me in particular.  Quickly, with poise and elegance, I stammered, “Ummm, well, not like THAT. I mean I love her but I don’t LOVE her, okay? I think her husband would have something to say about that…” 

Then they regaled us with choruses of “That’s okay.” “Hey, your choices are your choices.” “Well, we don’t judge around here.” And then they returned to their conversation as if some loud, loving woman had never made a remark.

Well. It’s good to know that I’ve got someplace to go where I won’t be judged if I ever have need of it. I’m pretty sure that Addie may feel quite differently, though…

Too bad. That was a really cool coffee place.

IT Never Had It So Good

It's Kelli's fault really. Last Friday she sent me an email that ended thusly:

"Now- go drive IT mad. Do it for me. " 

So I did.

Kelli, this one's for you.

Problem: Brighten my Outlook, please

Problem Description - My Outlook is a bit dim. I'm sure it's because summer is behind me with cold months ahead and because I've gained back every ounce of flesh that I worked so hard to lose to wear a bathing suit, but really that is neither here nor there. My Outlook is hazy mainly because I need rights to send an email from Outlook for the following addresses: Iowa Email Users, Kansas Email Users, Missouri Email Users and Nebraska Email Users. If you could correct this situation I would be extremely grateful, not to mention capable of doing my work.

And if you could remedy the first two reasons for my dreary outlook, then I will think you worthy of high praise indeed, as well as a miracle worker. And then I know lots of women who would want to talk to you...

And if by chance they figure out some way to correct the first problems, I'll be sure to let you know...  

Nicknames

The boy yelled to me that he was off to play with his friends.

I yelled, “See you later, Baby!"

The Boy: “Mom?”

Me: “Yeah?”

The Boy: ( Pausing a moment before speaking, then quietly, respectfully) “Would you please not call me Baby anymore?”

Me: "Oh. Sure. Bye The Boy."

The Boy: (With relief) "Okay. Thanks, Mom. See you later!"

And out he goes to his friends.

Sigh. I hate it when they grow up.

Opposites Attract

I’ve always said that Mr. Right and I were opposites. Last weekend I had my opinion validated scientifically. In other words, written proof – which really makes me happy down to my core.

We attended a Marriage Retreat this weekend, a very informative, very worthwhile time with about 20 other couples from church. There was deep fellowship, great fun and time spent on understanding each other, not only our relationships as a couple, but also the relationships that we have with each other as a spiritual family. After the retreat, we were blessed to be able to stay an extra night with a few couples for dinner and bowling. It was a perfect getaway in all.

However, Friday night was pretty hard on me. Although I was really excited and willing to participate last weekend, I was at the end of my rope with being able to function. I don’t know if it’s the change of season, the change of schedules or me just being me, but for the last week, I’ve had a very hard time sleeping. Little sleep = tiredness = emotional. So when we were instructed to take a timed test at 10:20 PM, my cranky side kicked in.

Did it matter that the “test” was just a personality test that had no right or wrong answers? Did it matter that I wasn’t penalized in any way for not wanting to take the test at that moment? Did it matter that no one was going to think less of me if I was having a hard time? Yes, but only to me. As the words were literally jumping around on the page, I put my glasses on, read the first box of words to select my answer and thought, I don’t know if I’m more or less for each of the words. I looked at Mr. Right and said, “I think I’m going to cry.” The stress/work was just too much for me.

He did what he always does. He took my hand in his and gently reminded that everything was going to be okay, that I should just take one box at a time and that he loves me no matter what my answers will be.

Needless to say, I finished the test in the proper time. He gave me the reassurance I needed to hear.

We stayed up for a very little bit to talk with the other couples and then hit the hay because we were the cranky, old couple at this Young Marrieds retreat. (Young Marrieds is really a misnomer… The group has couple ranging from newlyweds to 15-years married. Some really don’t want to move up into the Young Families Group until everyone decides to promote.)

The next morning’s sessions began at 9:30 AM with another devotional and then we hit the ground running on the results of the tests. Everyone had agreed that we would share our results as a group, so it was interesting to see the difference in couples and individuals.

The names discussed were as follows:

• D for Dominance (Lions) are daring, adventuresome, direct, demanding, decisive, results-oriented, inquisitive, forceful, self-assured and competitive. 
• I for Influence (Otters) are enthusiastic, influential, impulsive, emotional, gregarious, trusting, persuasive, self-promoting, pleasant, social and generous. 
• S for Steadiness (Golden Retrievers) are patient, loyal, deliberate, team-oriented, serene, undemonstrative, protective, relaxed, passive and possessive
• C for Conscientiousness (Beaver) are accurate, fact-finding, diplomatic, systematic, conventional, cautious, careful, restrained, analytical, sensitive to criticism and detail oriented.

What a great goldmine of knowledge was found in these sessions! We discussed not only how we think our mate wants us to be, but also how each of us react under pressure or stress, which are not necessarily the same. Then it gave a chart about how we really are. The extra bonus of information included was now that we know how we are, how do we work as a couple to emphasize strengths and how to deal with each other well when we have stress and disagreement. (What can I do to help Mr. Right understand where I want to go and why? What can Mr. Right do to help me understand where he wants to go and why? Good stuff! I only wish we had it 10 years ago… Oh the misconceptions and arguments that could have been avoided had I known all this back then…)

When the leader pulled out our charts to compare Mr. Right and myself, he asked what we thought we were. I said I know I’m a D/I. Mr. Right replied that he was a C/S. We were dead on.

When the leader showed our charts under pressure/stress, we were as opposite as opposite can me. The group gave a quiet groan when they saw our chart. It was perfect X, which really means that we need exactly the opposite things from each other when confronted with difficulties. Where I need to DO something ASAP, Mr. Right needs as much DATA and TIME to make a decision. Me? Data and time are the last things on my list to need. Mr. Right? Making a quick decision sets him on edge and gives him absolutely no sense of security. He likes to analyze and reanalyze and then, just for good measure, go over all the options one more time until he makes a decision. You can see how we aren’t the best when it comes to arguing or making decisions and how we have been unintentionally frustrating and compounding the problems by not understanding each other’s needs in order to feel safe and secure.

When the leader showed our chart of how we really are, again it was opposite from each other. Where Mr. Right is quiet, reserved and slow to change, I’m outgoing, outspoken and quick to jump into an activity and participate. Crowds are intimidating to Mr. Right; I love being in the center of things. I’m quick to make a decision or just to jump into a situation without reviewing everything; he’s slow to accumulate all the details, facts and sees each process in his head before he makes a move. I dive right in wanting a solution when we argue (and I want to be right!); Mr. Right shuts down, needing time to process every bit of info that I’m throwing at him, feeling more and more freaked and clammed up when I push him for agreement. In other words, I leap before I look, thinking that everything will work itself out, and Mr. Right looks 29 times before he leaps, thinking of all the outcomes in detail before he moves a foot. Exact opposites.

Yet, with all these polar differences, I still know that God put us together with forethought and goodness in mind. He might have chuckled a few times when he thought about the fireworks that would ensure from our union, but he still blessed it by allowing us to love each others’ hearts. And I can’t tell you how many times I have thanked God for his divine wisdom, for putting me together with a man who makes me slow down, forces me to think things through before making big decisions and encourages me to think about others as I make decisions. In return for all these wonderful things (and more!), all I have to do is to help Mr. Right to make decisions at a quicker speed, loyally love him with all my heart and encourage him to have more fun. I so got the better end of the deal.

So don’t tell me that God doesn’t perform miracles. I’m living one every day.  And I love it.

A Session On The Couch

Thank you all for your wonderful support yesterday.  You know I'm feeling a bit sheepish after reading all the encouraging comments that basically told me 1) I'm not alone in my feelings, 2) I am indeed loved and 3) I should just step back and enjoy being myself and let God do the rest.  I like that, especially the last part.  

Thus ends the pity party.  But hey, it was fun while it lasted.  Next time I'll add some rocking 80's music and some chips and dip.  We might as well get some great social time in while we're all here...

And now, back to our regularly scheduled post.

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Dreams are the funniest things.  They can take aspects of your life, either from the present or the past, and melt them all together into a messy glob of idiocy, humor or fright.

Take my dream last night for example:

It was a big day at my in-laws house (although I wasn't married in the dream).  I was to be part of the swing set synchronized swinging team later that morning and the house was in full high energy.  High energy around me really meant emotional, but hey, it was all good.

My old boyfriend from high school came into the kitchen, joking and laughing.  And then he turns to me to ask me to marry him, in front of God and everyone - my parents included.  (Funny how in the dream I didn't answer him.  But I liked that he asked me.)  

A few moments later when my emotions were running high (remember was getting ready for the biggest day of my life with the swing set synchronized swinging event of the year, not to mention that I had just been asked to be someone's wife), he asked if I were pregnant or something.  I stared at him and then looked at my parents' faces, which were busily fixing something - anything - else.  Mortified that he asked such an intimate-type question in front of my folks,  I asked why in heaven's name he thought I would be pregnant.  He replied, "Well you're just so emotional.  How am I suppose to know what's going on with you?"

  

I calmly (It's a dream, remember?  You can do things right in a dream.) replied, "Well Lance, you actually have to have sex in order to get pregnant, don't you think?," knowing that we hadn't been sexually active and I was still a virgin.  (It's good to know that my values can hold strong even in my dreams!  But I have to tell you that in my dream I actually thought that if we were the sex-before-marriage type, he so wouldn't be getting any for quite a while after that remark!)

Next thing I know I'm on the swing set, which strangely enough, looks like the swing sets at the boy's school.  The day is beautiful, the crowds have gathered, the reporters are clicking pictures and jotting down details.  The synchronized swing set swingers are all dressed in solid colors, each a different color, just like the Fantanas!   

I'm dressed in orange, from my head to my toes:  My hair is in an orange scrunchie, I'm wearing an orange t-shirt with a darling orange tight skirt, and my toes are adorned with orange socks with really darling orange canvas tennis shoes.  (I'm sorry Big Mama.  Obviously, your fashion advice doesn't transfer to the dream world.)  The young girl next to me looks like a little round lime, so I'm glad I chose orange.  Antique Mommy is on the team too, but she's not dressed in a color.  I get the feeling that she's the team coach. (Sorry you've been made part of this AM; I couldn't help it...)

The announcer began talking about our goals and some of the members, and I noted that every time my name was mentioned it was pronounced incorrectly.  Then our sponsors talk and they butcher it just as brutally.  Finally they give the mic to each of the team members, and when I get it, I hammed it up and introduce myself correctly, pointedly turning to each of the offending speakers and giving them a "see that isn't so hard now, is it?" look.  The audience ripples with laughter at my obvious wit and ease; I was a born natural, I tell you.  Life on stage awaited my beck and call.

I started to thank my family for all their wonderful support, but they're sitting in a white church van, just waiting for the entire thing to be over.  My supposed boyfriend, who mind you had just proposed (so is he my fiance at that point?) but in the next breath basically called me extremely loose with my sexual favors in front of my parents, was sitting in the middle by the big window next to my dad, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and waving eagerly.  (As if I would be happy to see him after being called a brazen hussy!) Photographers were snapping pictures, so I walked to the van to tell my mom, who at that very moment was arguing with my grandmother, that the photographers wanted to take her and Grandma's picture, but she said that they might as well get a natural shot, and then she went back to arguing with Grandma.

And then I woke up.

So Freud... what do you think the dream means?  What's you're take on this vision in my sleep?

I'll tell you what I think.  I think that if I want to have some more crazy dreams, then I'm going to have to eat more Chocolate Fudge ice cream right before going to bed.

And God Humbles Me Yet Again...

Okay, I've got to be straight with you.  I've been feeling really down in the dumps lately, especially about blogging.   One of the things I love about this blogosphere is the camaraderie, the conversations that ensue from posts, the general feelings of being accepted among the internets.  But I've noticed a sharp decline in comments over the past few months.  Add to that the drop of Blogline subscribers.  It really made me wonder if I had offended half of blogland, and they just took their marbles and left without telling me.

Recently, Mr. Right asked about the blog and for the very first time in my blogging history, I said, "Anhh."  And then I couldn't look at him because I wanted to cry, and knowing him, he would not only let me, he would hold me and tell me that everything was going to be okay.  But I really didn't care to look like a blotchy, big-nosed blowfish last night, so I just sat on the bed and pretended that everything was okay while I tried to figured out what to do and if I wanted to keep doing whatever it was I decided to do.

And then the next morning, God gave me some blessings that I didn't see coming.   

Ashley at twenty six cats awarded me this heart-warmer and these sweet words.

Shalee’s Diner: She cracks me up. I’m especially enjoying her recent posts about life lessons. I will also forgive her for using Comic Sans on her blog.

Thanks for the forgiveness, Ashley.  I can always use a bit more of that in my life...  But mostly, thanks for letting me know that I still make someone smile.

In addition to the first award, Kim at The Bitter Ball passed a really nice award on to me along with kind words when I needed to hear them.  This was how she announced in the comments that she was giving me an award:  Although I don't comment here often, I read your blog everyday. You have a way of making my day a little brighter. Stop by my blog if you get a chance... I passed an award on to you!  

That comment alone was like a balm to my soul and an award in and of itself.  And then, of course, I cried.  Hey, I just can't not cry two days in a row when the feeling is there...  I gave in and enjoyed it, blotchy face and all.

Here's what she gave me.

Shalee at Shalee's Diner. She is just one of the sweetest ladies in the blogging world. Her kindness and love show in each and every post she writes. Reading her blog just makes you feel good! Check out her blog, it will leave you with a nice feeling and a smile.

Thank you, Ashley and Kim, for letting God use you to lift my spirits.  He knew just what I needed at just the right time.

And in addition to the wonderful awards, I've been blessed incredibly the last two days by Barb, Jeana and Chili.   When they each asked how I was doing, I was able to dump on them and they each in their own way comforted me.  These are the true, deep rewards to blogging: having friends across the miles.

Barb thanks for verifying that I've not offended anyone.  Your kind words set me at ease.

Jeana, thanks for honesty between us.  When you pointed out that I may be loosing readers due to my posting numerous posts I've not actually written, I hadn't even considered that those posts would be a deterrent.  I was just posting some things that had spoken to me lately.  So I'll get back to writing my own stuff and letting y'all into my "real life."  (But I'll still post things that speak to me.  I'll just scatter them out a bit more.)

Chili, thanks for telling me to just get my funk on and get it out of the way.  I'm one of those "I shouldn't even have a funk because my life is so good" people, so your advice gave me the freedom to accept my funk and then let it go.  I feel much better now, thank you very much.

I'm going to wait to spread the blog love.  This post is long enough and I want to focus on others properly when I do pass them on to various bloggers.  But if you've made it thus far, thanks and cheers to your wading through to the end.

Happy Birthday Mr. Right

Today is a special day in the Diner.  Ribbons are flying.  Pies abound.  Balloons glide from stool to stool. Presents are stacked high.

Why you ask?  

Because Mr. Right turns 41 today!! 

So it only seems fitting that for my post I define 41 of the millions of reasons that I love that he’s alive and kicking.

1. He’s a great kisser. (He says I taught him well, but I think it’s the other way around.)

2. He’s the world’s best Daddy.

3. He’d rather spend time with his family than do just about anything else.

4. Patience is definitely one of his virtues.

5. He has a funny, dry sense of humor that catches me off guard consistently.

6. He laughs at most of my idiotic moments, of which there are many.

7. He’s dependable, trustworthy and a hard worker.

8. He loves to volunteer when someone needs help.

9. Our lawn looks great because he puts in good time to make it nice.

10. He’s the official bug killer at our house.

11. He volunteers to clean up puke when the kids are sick.

12. He reads with the kids almost every night.

13. He’s not afraid to cry or to let me cry and turn into a big blotchy blowfish.

14. He tells me that he loves and needs me and then his actions back his words.

15. He has warm, wonderful-to-hold hands.

16. Without him, there would be no pie at our house. He’s the crustmaker extraordinaire.

17. He likes to watch chick flicks with me.

18. It’s not uncommon for me to be awakened with a kiss, followed by a nice hot cup of perfectly made coffee.

19. He vacuums… and he LIKES it. (Of course he likes it even more now that we have a Dyson…)

20. He likes to be in the great outdoors with me.

21. He loves God.

22. He does the dishes before he goes to work.

23. He walks our daughter to the bus stop per her request.

24. He plays a mean hand of Spades, a great round of Sorry and his the King of Yatzee.

25. He’s great at *ahem*. (Oooo – am I going to get a talking to for including that one on the blog!)

26. He likes to play with our children – games, sports, pretend.

27. He encourages optimism when things look dire.

28. He loves the beauty of God’s world and His nature.

29. Road trips are fun and lively when he’s in the car. He makes a fantastic traveling companion.

30. Seeking God’s will is a desire that he has everyday.

31. He writes marvelously romantic love letters.

32. He’s not afraid to try new things.

33. When he sees others hurting, he goes to pray with them.

34. He’s not afraid to use his past mistakes to help others avoid making theirs.

35. Dancing together in the living room gives him pleasure.

36. He encourages me in blogging and in meeting my friends.

37. He’s learning to sign with me so that we both can communicate with the deaf.

38. When I cannot sleep, he’ll wake up willingly to massage my back to help me relax.

39. He has the best smile. His entire face lights up when he smiles.

40. He can make fun of himself (but maybe that’s because he knows that if he doesn’t, then I will…)

41. Having an amazingly beautiful relationship with me is one of his primary goals.

Happy Birthday, Baby. You are my greatest blessing. Oh, how I love you so!!  

Fair to Middlin'

Karla at Ainsley's Mom tagged me for this meme, oh, about forever ago.  But I'm finally on it.

Here are the rules:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players - You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name.  If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. At the end of your post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

Now the problem with being tagged by Karla is that she and I share the same middle name.  I know I'm repeating a couple of her words, but in my own way, of course.

M - The toughest, yet best, job I've ever held (and continue to hold willingly) is MOM.  I'd love to see a Survivor show about all the contestants being a Mom 24/7 to 4 kids under the age of 5, the youngest two being one-year-old twins still in diapers.  Those contestants would be begging to be let go in the first week.  Wimps.

I - I'm often the world's biggest IDIOT.  I know it.  You know it.  I might as well accept it.

C - CHOCOLATE and I have an intimate relationship.  We really get each other.

H - I have humor and I'm not afraid to use it.  That doesn't mean that y'all aren't afraid that I might use it though.

E - Mid-to-late 80's music totally rocks!!!  My poor iPod... it sounds like an 80's dance club, and I've got the moves to prove it.

L - I LOVE my man with all my heart.  He makes my head swoon, my pulse race and my soul smile.

L - I make time to read all sorts of LITERATURE.  Books are my friends, and the best kind too - I can hold onto them for as long as I like.

E - I ENJOY life and all the beautiful blessings that God lavishes on me.  Though I've done nothing to earn them, I'm extremely grateful for each and every one of them.

Now I'm tagging one person for each letter of my middle name.  That's 8!  (And here is where I wish my parents had chosen something simple, like Anne - with an E, of course.)

If you've already done this meme, feel free to tell me I'm a dork for not remembering.  I'm most likely a dork anyway; it's just good to have a reason for it this time...

Jeana

Addie (Is she still breathing?)

Chili, AKA Melanie

Shannon

Barb

Kelli

Laurel Wreath

GiBee

Mom Song

Okay, I saw this one at Addie's place and I had to do what any good blogger would do - I stole it.

Happy Monday!

Conspiracy

First things first:  I'm sending out the biggest thank you imaginable to Kelli this morning.  When I got home last night, I found a beautiful card with an even more beautiful Starbucks card inside.  The reason for this sweet gift?  It was a little something to help lift my spirits about moving into a cave (which, I am happy to report, is something about which I have been feeling so much better!)  I'm saving that card for my first day in the new office, Kelli.  Thank you for your kindness and long-distance hug.

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I cannot really express to you how much this one makes me laugh. Well, I can. Just imagine some girl with her head thrown back, tears running down the side of her face and laughter escaping her lips.  That's me.  Can't say why it gets me. It just does. Something about that gray cat...

Happy Friday Everyone! 

Regina Brett's Words o' Wisdom

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does!
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

The Duck & the Devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it.

He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter? Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done - and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.,whatever it is - you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

Johnny the Bagger

This is the kind of labor we all should strive to do. Every person should see this clip. Because we ALL matter and we ALL can make a difference.

Happy Labor (of love) Day!



Will you find a way to make a difference to those around you?