I'm Coming Home

A little "feel good" clip to brighten your day. :)

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With a Little Help From My Friends

I can't figure this confounded thing out.

http://freeweb.siol.net/danej/riverIQGame.swf (Click on the blue circle to play.)

Here are the rules....

• Everyone must cross the river
• Only 2 persons on the raft at a time
• The father can not stay with any of the daughters, without their mother's presence
• The mother can not stay with any of the sons, without their father's presence
• The thief (striped shirt) can not stay with any family member,if the Policeman is not there
• Only the Father, the Mother and the Policeman know how to operate the raft

Someone figure it out please? And tell me!!

You Are Lovely

Today would have been Imogene's 85th birthday. This picture was taken of her in a chair she sat in only when her chair was taken by one of her grandkids. Which meant my dad had to find another chair. After so many years of visiting the same place, everyone kind of claims their favorite spot and gravitates towards it. Most often, you would find her sitting in her chair, telling stories, watching her great-grandkids, and nodding off every once in a while. (That is, when she wasn't busy in the kitchen doing something.) You can tell in this photo, she's wearing a housecoat. So very Imogene, though... to be wearing a housecoat and pearls. Also looks like she has a fresh application of Burt's Bees on. After leaving Jonesy after her funeral, Angie and I stopped in Hardy, a favorite destination on the trip to and from Grandma's. I think I walked away from Hardy with 4 or 5 new tubes of Burt's Bees. Simply because it made me think of her.

I used to think I talk too much. I used to think it was a bad thing. Hear me when I say I KNOW I talk too much. However, it's a small piece of my grandma that I carry with me every day. Now, whenever I notice my rambling nature, instead of becoming insecure and self-conscious, I smile and think of her and am grateful for the ways little pieces of her live on within me, within my sisters, within my dad. Even within my mom, who wasn't related by blood, but who will still put a rubber-band around a half eaten package of crackers to keep them from going stale. I'm still waiting for the day I find a Folgers can full of lard stashed in the back of the fridge.

Today, I am wearing some earrings my grandma made several years ago. I was with her when she made them. She actually made several sets of earrings / necklaces that summer, most of which she gave away. But this pair, she kept. I love it because I get so many compliments on these earrings. She certainly had great taste. With exception to those weird trinkets she kept in the lawyers bookshelves in the sitting room. And those angel nightgowns she used to buy us. And there was that really ugly cowboy statue thing she had. Ok. Maybe it was just the jewelry she had great taste in. Well, jewelry and people. No one knew quite how to love like Imogene.

For her 80th birthday, we had the Arkansas Smiths drive her to Branson where my family all met and surprised her with a weekend full of family, food, and even The Dixie Stampede. We were staying in a cabin / vacation home thing and we all hid when she came. She got settled into the living room and one by one, we all came to the door and knocked to be let in. Each time she saw someone new, she squealed with delight and clapped her hands. It was such a joy to bless her because she made sure you knew how much it meant to her. She never took a second of your time for granted. Even the phone calls would always end with, "Thank you so much for calling me, sweetie. It is so good to hear your voice. I love you so very much." Of course, you'd hear that 3 or 4 times before you got off the phone because she'd always remember a story she wanted to tell you between telling you that and actually saying goodbye.

She was quite the protector of us, always taking the side of the child who's feelings were hurt or the person who was getting made fun of. Even the night before she went into the hospital, my mom and I were with her and Casey and Dad had just gotten in town. She had me make them wait outside so she could be presentable when they walked in because she was so happy to see them, she just wanted to look her best for them. That night, I was making fun of Dad's feet for something or another. She popped me on the hand and said to me, "Now, you just leave him alone. He's a wonderful man and his feet don't bother me any. He can't help it if they smell."

mmmm. You make me smile, Grandma. I love you dearly and am so thankful for the memories. Even the one where we all got in trouble because we went to the park without telling you and you were worried. It brings me much joy to know your heart. I thank God He has brought you home. I'm sure He's created the perfect pink chair for you that sits directly across the room from Grandpa where you have your pear knife and your ice water right to your left, sitting on a folded paper towel. I'm sure He even remembered to put a straw in the water for you. Happy birthday, Grandma. You bless me.

Look Into My Eyes

I once met a man from Egypt who had the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen. There's no real reason why I mention this other than the fact I just saw someone who reminded me of him. And I feel like my eyes have been opened lately. And I no longer want to be a rockstar, so it no longer makes sense to have that be the first post on my blog. Lots of "ands".

Speaking of conjunctions, apparently I should have never passed 4th grade. Last week on Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, I completely got schooled. Who really knows what a pronoun is anyway??

Kyle is definitely my favorite. I love it when he gets nervous and giggly...

Rock Star

It's OK. I'm on my lunch break.

Rock Star - Third Day

I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes
The drive and the determination
And The lucky breaks
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got the face
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes

Seeing my face up on the TV
Hearing my songs on the radio
People waiting all day inline to see me
Doing my pose for the Rolling Stone
Well, it's alright,
Yeah it'a alright

I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes
The drive and the determination
And The lucky breaks
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got the face
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes

Living lifestyles of the rich and famous
Turning all heads in the music scene
Flying in my own jet plane to Vegas
Riding in a big black limousine
Well, it's alright,
Yeah it'a alright

I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes
The drive and the determination
And The lucky breaks
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got the face
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes

No, I ain't got nothing
But, to You I'm something
Something so much more

My Stupid Mouth

For me, friends, the third time is always the charm. I will be walking along, ho hum through out my day, and God will bring a particular verse or passage or character to my attention. We'll call this a "Moment". It could be through conversations with friends, a verse in a sermon, or a line of a song. Something about whatever is said will jump out at me. I'll think, "Hm... that's interesting....", shrug my shoulders, and move on.

The second time the Moment hits me, it causes me a little more pause, a little more hesitation, but is typically followed with the same shrug and the same passivity.

The third time, however.... the third time is when I finally have the "Ah-HA Moment" and realize that God is trying to get me to actually pick up on what He's been calling to my attention. And then it makes sense to me all the "coincidences" of coming across the same topic or theme. Maybe one of these days, I'll learn to pay attention on the first round, or at least notice the pattern by the second round and not have to make it to the third.

Anyway, my Moment as of late has been on the things I let come out of my mouth and how it's a reflection of my heart. Typically this happens in the workplace where gossip and behind-the-back conversations are normal, if not expected. It's easy for me to spot when I am gossiping. Not always easy to stop, but at least easy to spot. Even when I do catch myself, though, even when I do actually hold my tongue.... I've been realizing lately that it doesn't even matter. That's not the point.

Do you ever …get a glimpse of your natural, completely unhindered reaction to people and get absolutely disgusted?

A few nights ago, I was in line behind an older man who couldn't decide what he needed and it was holding me up. I got very frustrated and started making disparaging comments about him in my head.

Disgusting.

I caught myself and immediately repented…. But then it left me wondering why my natural reaction to this man was one of hate? It certainly is not the way I was raised to respond to people, nor is it how I was created. After the Lord changed my heart and my attitude, I actually fell in LOVE with him… and just wanted to walk up to him and HUG him. And have him talk to me. And be able to look into his eyes and bring comfort to his heart. And I felt so very horrible about the ways I had wronged him that he wasn't even aware of. And I prayed for the Lord to bless his heart. How I long for that to be my natural reaction!!!

Twice since then that I am aware of, I found myself in a similar situation at work; getting frustrated with simply idiosyncratic traits of those I work with... placing myself on a pedestal by judging them internally. Really, it just is repulsive to me my natural reaction at times.

But as always, when God is trying to get a message across, He will point you to applicable scripture. I have my sights on reading the bible in a year and have been using this book... each day it has a section of the Old Testament, the New Testament, a Psalm and a Proverb. Each night, before I fall asleep, I read. These have been the verses from Proverbs chapter 10 this week...

17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

My prayer is to bring the Lord value. In my thoughts, in my actions, in my heart. I want to honor Him. It is always discouraging when you're brought face to face with the muck in your own heart. But I am so very thankful the Lord uses opportunities like this to discipline me, to train me, to LOVE me.

Oh, it is good to be a Child of God. It makes me Smile. :)

May the words of my heart and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Oh Lord.