Listening

Was reading a post today by fat mum slim.  In the post she wonders why her mother doesn't read her blog.  At the end of the post, she asked if your parents read your blog or are on facebook.  The responses were sadly revealing. 

Most people responded that if they do have a blog that their parents, friends and/or spouses don't read it.  Most expressed that they wished these important people did read what they write.  And a few told how much it meant to them when their loved ones let them know they were reading.

How sad that most of us who are writing in blogs or jotting in journals are doing so and not being heard by the people that matter most to us.  If you write, you write to be heard, yes?  You have something to say... don't we all?  Who is listening?  Who is paying attention?  And, even if you have a blog, are you able to openly express your feelings or do you feel prohibited from approaching certain topics, expressing your emotions, giving your opinion?  And how sad is it that we feel a need to send our thoughts out into the World Wide Web because we can't do so at home?  Looking for feedback, encouragement, like-minded individuals, acceptance, recognition, someone who is really listening without interrupting, ...._____________.  Fill in your blank.

We're all so terribly, terribly busy.  We don't stop to pay attention...to hear.  

Stop. 

Listen. 

Who is talking to you today?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Finally joining Joyce's Wednesday Hodge Podge.  Here are her questions this week:

1. Will you watch the Super Bowl? If so who will you root for? If you are outside the USA what is the 'big deal sporting event' in your own country?   We'll probably watch this year.  It will be like watching a Super Bowl rerun or highlight clip from the 70's.  Steelers and the Pack!  How cool is that?  It'd be cooler if it was Steelers and Falcons but ... oh well.  Who will I root for?  Hmmm...I don't really care but it might be easier to swallow our (the Falcons') defeat if we lost to the guys who win it all.... so I guess I'm cheering for Packers.

2. Is ignorance bliss?  I'm going with ... sometimes Yes?  But I don't know, really.  There are definitely some things I would rather I didn't know and there are some things that I am glad I know about because, otherwise, how would you be able to help if you didn't know about it?  Am I being too ambiguous?

3. Which of the seven dwarfs are you? (and just in case your Disney is a little bit rusty, here they are-Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy)  I think I'm all but Sneezy.   Bashful is afraid to speak up and sometimes I feel the same way.   Doc stumbles over his words - so do I.  Dopey is sweet and lovable but a little slow - me again.  Grumpy - well, I can be too.  Happy - this is me most of the time!  And Sleepy - goodness knows I could use a nap!  

4. When you are riding in the car with another couple how do you organize the seating? (Men up front? Women up front? Couples sit together?) And thanks to Lori at Mountain Woman at Heart for the question! Everyone go say hi to Lori.  Depends on who we're with.  Most of the time it's couples but occasionally it's men up front and women in back.  It's rare that we're in the car with another couple, though.

5. What is beauty?  Everything.   No, not everything.   There are a lot of ugly things too (this could be a reference to question #2) but beauty is almost everywhere.  It doesn't need to be defined ... just found.

6. If someone asks you to bring an appetizer or a dessert to a party in their home, which would you choose?  I usually choose dessert.

7. What is your crowd pleasing go-to appetizer?  Gosh!  I wish I had one.  Cheese dip?  Can't go wrong with cheese.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  I sent Brian a link to Ann Voskamp's post today and he sent me this in reply.  Tissue warning!  And, by-the-way, He was 26 and I was 21 when we got engaged but we still got the "you're too young" comment from one or two people.

A Dozen

To change up my recent travel posts so all 3 of you don't get bored, I'm going to throw in 2nd Cup of Coffee's Random Dozen questions along with some random, albeit beautiful, pictures I took while on the trip.  How do ya like that for tootin' my own horn?  heehee

1. Is there a word which you initially mispronounced?  Were the circumstances which you made the faux pas embarrassing?  

Hmmm...I can't think of any right off.  However, when we were kids and riding in the car, sometimes I would say, "Ham on game!"  instead of  "Hang on, gang!" which is what my dad used to say to us if we had to stop quickly.  But, no, I'm not embarrassed to reveal this.  After all, I was only 4 years old. ; )

2. How do you feel about the use of texting shortcuts and trends? (ex.: "I've got ur notes.  Get them 2 u 2morow?")  

I'm indifferent.  i use some txtng shrtcts but i thnk it cld get cnfusng if u used m 2 often.  And I try to avoid miscommunications as much as humanly possible.

And here's an example just from this morning (after I had already published this post):
Background:  My birthday is tomorrow and Brian has the day off and wanted to know what I want to do - Here are our texts back and forth about this subject.

Me:  Birthday plan - drop off L at school, brkfst, High museum for Dali exhibit
Brian: Bet
Me: Bet?
Brian: low, ok
Me: What is low?
Brian: In other words
Me: (realizing that my phone's capital i's look like lower case l's)
Brian: low, im wichu
Me: My capital i's look like lower case l's.
Brian: Not my fault
Me: Ahem
Brian: low, i love you

Of course, I'm substituting his upper-case i's with lower-case l's so you can basically see what I was seeing.

3. Tell me about your high school senior picture. Please feel free to post.

Ugh.  Must I?  Mushroom hair.  'Nuf said.  And they misspelled my name in the yearbook.  But, then again, nearly everyone misspells my name and I'm used to it by now and it doesn't bug me.

4. How funny!  There isn't a number four!  Let's see if I can think of one... 

Gosh!  I got nothin'.

5. Share a high school or college homecoming memory.

Homecoming was usually kind of uneventful.  I do remember not knowing if I was going to go to the Homecoming dance my senior year and I decided to go and ended up borrowing a dress from a friend or my cousin and going solo. My mom dropped me off (no car of my own) and since I was "unattached" was able to dance with whomever I pleased.   I was much more interested in watching my friends play in the football game beforehand and checking out what the Homecoming court was wearing and who would win the crown.

6. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Sunsets.  I'm not what you'd call a "morning person".

7. What is something that you have not done that you desire to do?

Go to Italy.

8. If you could come back (in another life) as an animal, which would it be?

A house cat.

9. Where were you 10 years ago?  Please feel free to elaborate more than just your physical location.

Weekend of my birthday October 2000?  I was at a Dress as Famous Couples Halloween party dressed as Sonny Bono and Brian was dressed as Cher.  Naturally, because he's taller and does a mean impression of Cher tossing her hair over her shoulder.  He can even do it without hair on his head! .... He's such a good sport!

10. When you are proven to be correct in a contentious discussion, do you gloat?

I try not to engage in contentious discussions.  But, IF I'm proven to be correct, (which would be rare) then I don't gloat.  I just  bite my lip and smile a lot on the inside.

11. What is your favorite food which includes the ingredient "caramel"?

Caramello candy bars

12. If you could be part of any fictional family, which family would you choose and why?

I don't want any family but my own.    Awwww...

Muskrat Love? Really?! What kind of drug do you have to be on to come up with that one?!

Don't look!  ...  But it's been 4 whole days since I posted!

I told you not to look!

It's been busy around here ... Yes!  I realize you're thinking, "So?  What's new?  It's always busy there!"   And, my brain kind of feels like a deflated balloon.  Again, "So? What's new?  Doesn't your brain always feel that way?"  So I haven't had enough mental energy to come up with my own post.


And because I love Joyce's answers so much (as always) I'm answering The Random Dozen questions from 2nd Cup of Coffee.

1. Ever had any run ins with the library police?
Ummmm...what are the library police?  Are they those people who shush you the whole time you're there?

2.  Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?
I keep most of it in my coat closet all jumbled on the floor and once a year (maybe once every other year) I try to "organize" it.   When you have as many kids as I do there is no need to buy any gift bags.  Hooray for recycling!   I love wrapping presents and prefer to wrap than to throw something in a bag with tissue paper, though, which is why my gift bag stash never seems to get any smaller.  My favorite wrapping "method?" is plain white paper and a pretty bow and hand-made gift tag. Plain white paper works for any occasion and any recipient.


3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster? 
I've seen a tornado from a distance when I was a kid and we were only a mile away from the tornado that hit our area a couple years ago.  It took us almost two hours to get home that night from church because all of our regular routes were blocked by fallen trees and debris.  I love spring time but this is about the time I start to have my recurring nightmares about walking out the front door and seeing a dozen tornadoes headed in our direction.  I hate that dream.


4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?
Copacabana? Do I have to have a favorite Barry Manilow song?  He's not exactly someone I listen to on purpose.

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?

For a Halloween party with our Sunday School class we were supposed to dress as famous couples. Brian and I went as Sonny and Cher.  It was only appropriate that he be Cher because he's taller and also does a mean impression of Cher flipping her hair.  Sorry, honey, but this picture refuses to go away! 

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?
Probably the dictionary.  I always want to make certain that I am using a word correctly.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food? 
There definitely isn't just one.  My favorite breakfast is The Old Timer's Breakfast at Cracker Barrel: eggs over medium, bacon, hashbrown casserole, biscuits and gravy, o.j. and coffee.   I believe I've mentioned this a time or twenty.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?
Joyce, you'll love this!

A series (very long series) of cd's from Time Life called Singers/ Songwriters.  There are over 20 cd's in that set and each one of them is a double cd and there isn't one bad song in the lot!  Oh!  Wait!  I forgot!  Muskrat Love is featured on one!  WHY?!  Why must we be tortured with Muskrat Love?!  Oh the inhumanity!

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?
I think so. 


10. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I do.  I don't think it happens to everyone but I'm pretty sure it happens to some.  Just ask Kayann and Phil!  And I definitely believe in love after first date!  Because that's what happened with us.  Man!  I'll never forget that night.  I'll tell you more on May 11th. 

11. How many pairs of jeans do you own?
 I have approximately 5 pairs of jeans?  But only two pairs fit and that's because they are identical twins.  When you find a pair that great then you make sure to buy two! 

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")
I LOVE "Ace of Cakes"!  Thanks to Ginger for that one!  Hmmm.... what would my cake look like?  A camera laying on a quilt with a picture of my kids in the viewfinder.
 

Hmmmm...Post Title:... I'll have to think about it...

 I haven't had many words lately.  Or, rather, I have had many and I won't bore you with all of them.  Because I am not one to be prone to word shortages.   It's just that I've been busier with other things than this here blog.

For instance:  ________________

Wow!  Look!  A word shortage!  My mind is blank.

Think, think, think!

Sunday:   Hmmm...That was 4 whole days ago; I can't remember a single thing except pastor's sermon.  So,...BONUS  POINTS  for me, right?

Monday:  Busy. 1. Half of the laundry got done. 
                         2. I  RAN ON THE TREADMILL!!!  whoot! whoot!  (sorry, I know every intelligent human being can't stand that sound but I couldn't help myself.)
                         3.  Took Anna and Parker to our new wonderful pediatrician!  (More on this at a later date.)
                         4.  Went straight from doctor's office (in Norcross) to boys' soccer practice
                         5.   Watched So I Married an Axe Murderer for the 8th time with Brian and laughed 'til I cried AGAIN!  "We have a piper down!  I repeat:  A piper is down."  .... "Oh, Colonel Sanders with his wee beady eyes!  Oh!  You'll eat me chicken!"

Tuesday:  Brian was sweet enough to take both Anna and Landon with him to "turtle work" so I had 4 whole hours of uninterrupted time to clean!!!  whoot!  whoot!   Ooops!  Sorry.  There I go again; I can't help myself.  Those 4 hours of uninterrupted time to clean were almost as good as my weekend off.

I said, "almost".

Wednesday:   The usual stuff + a meeting about a trip to South Asia in the fall to minister to some ladies over there!!!  CAN'T  WAIT!!!   Everyone that we have ever supported to go on a short-term trip like that....here comes my letter!   It's payback time!   LOL!   (Just kidding!) 

 And just because I feel like adding it:
This is one of my most vivid memories of my childhood!  And also, one of my favorites!
Love y'all!

Oh!  And I'm not kidding about the support letters.  ; )  

I was never good at playing Tag...

Okay.  Ian tagged me.

It's a good thing, too, 'cause I didn't have anything to say until he did!  Ha!

1. Post where you're gonna be in 10 years (Lord, willing).

Then...
2. Tag 10 bloggy friends - who don't necessarily have to participate.  'Cause I'm all about "no pressure" blogging.

In 10 years, I will have *shriek!*   FOUR teenagers in the house!!!   I will be sending one off to college, researching universities for the 2nd child, wringing my hands about all the trouble that Anna will be getting into at age 14 and praying daily that Landon makes it to his next birthday.  Brian and I will have been married for 22 years and I will be saving up money for our 25th anniversary since it will take me 3 years to save up for a month long trip to Europe!  I will be speaking Spanish fluently and I'll run my own business.

How about you?  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  Dream Big or Go Home!

Now I'm tagging:
-Kristy
-Joyce
-Shannon
-Joanne
-Alita
-Ms. Anthropy
-Kristin
-Qandle Queen
-Stephanie
-and anyone else who might want to participate!  Can you tell I have four children?  I hate to leave anyone out.

A Question

I haven't had much to say lately.  Have you noticed?   Hmmmm.... Probably not.

And that's okay because that is kind of what I  want to talk about today.

I've been unsettled and unmotivated lately.  I feel like I haven't had much to contribute lately.  I think it stems from wanting to be something or someone else.  A desire to be attention grabbing, head turning. To be heard and people say, "Ah-Ha!  Exactly what I was thinking/what needed to be said."   To be seen and they say, "Oooo..Lovely!"   To be known... even the ugly stuff... and to be loved and admired.

But "I am what I am." - Popeye

Andy Andrews says in The Noticer,
****
        "You are not receiving opportunities and encouragement that people have to share for a very simple reason.  No one wants to be around you."
....
         "Young man, you must become a person that others want to be around!  This is far and away the greatest success secret in existence."
....
         "I believe you should ask yourself every day, 'What is it about me that other people would change if they could?'"
****

I respectfully disagree.   I'm not saying that the opposite is true either.   That you should just be who you are without any concern for what people think:  to be obstinate, unchanging and cantankerous.  

There is a healthy balance in there somewhere.   Loving yourself, quirks and all, as God made you and yet being moldable - discerning what you could and should change in order to be more like Him.   

So, I want to contribute more.  To give more.  To be more than I am.  But I don't want to lose myself in order to be what everyone else wants.   Especially since they don't all want the same thing. ; )

- Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Andrews?


I know this isn't normally the kind of thing I post here but by now you know I'm just a goofball and have come to expect it. ; )

Philippians 2:14

Well, I think I've finally gotten this here blog to look about the way I want it to. I've gotten sucked into an HTML vortex this week trying to figure it all out. Most of the figurin' I had to do all by little lonesome 'cause the "tutorials" available are less than helpful if you're a moron like I am. They are assuming that I already know a little about what they are describing. Which I don't. And Paint.Net. Well, let's not even go there. NOT helpful. Not. one. little. bit.

Also, I want to say that I always wanted to be the house that the neighborhood kids felt comfortable in. You know, "The Hangout". But, lately, ... I've been greeting them at the door with my Grouchy Face on and yelling, "Hey! You pesky kids get off my lawn!" Well, I didn't really but that's what I wanted to do. So today when I heard some more of them headed this way, before my bugs could even get their back packs off, I intercepted them and shooed them home. And this woman has thoroughly enjoyed the last hour of peace and quiet. I know the other mothers are thinking, "Send 'em to the crazy lady's house so I can get some work done around here. She won't mind; she's already got four of her own. What are four more?" .... There was an old lady who lived in a shoe.... But I'm the only one left on our street with preschoolers who need a daily nap or they implode at precisely 5:43 p.m.. So, share the love, folks. Let my boys come over there now and then; they're good kids, I promise.

Lastly, this week was Red Ribbon Week at the boys' school. These were their ribbons:
The 1st one is so obviously wrong. "Peace Out" means basically, "I'm leaving. Love ya. Hope you have a great day." Right? Well, sorta. Anyhow. It does not mean, "No way. I don't want any part of you. Leave me alone." So, why would we want our kids to say "Peace Out" to drugs??? Okay. Next. "One Life. One Goal." Our singular life goal should be, "I didn't take drugs." ? We can't reach for the stars and at least hope to finish school or get a job or be influential in someone else's life? Let's just keep it simple and say, "My life has been successful because I didn't participate in the consumption of illegal substances." I'm not really standing on a soapbox over these silly ribbons; I just thought they were odd to say the least. And I'm just curious as to who came up with these slogans.

Gosh, that sure was complaining post. I try not to do that too often. I'm really not Ebenezer Scrooge. I spend at least 10% of my day doing something else.