Things That Go CRASH In the Night...

... and scare the bejabbers out of me!

So, I was out for a walk on Saturday night, and was almost home. It was starting to get quite dark (as opposed to the semi-dark when I had started out) and there in front of me I saw the shadow of a four-legged being cross the road. Kind of startled me, but I decided to not be too afraid.

Then I heard The Beast walking toward me through the field. (For those of you familiar with my surroundings, I was on the same side of the road as my house, walking by the Seven Acre Piece, right across the road from the church. For those of you not familiar, the time has come for you to visit me!) It was kind of like a LOST episode, but sadly, there was no Jack or Sawyer by my side. That always seem to make Kate a little less nervous.

SUDDENLY The Creature BURST through the grass about 20 feet in front of me, and my legs began to tremble. I stood frozen on the road, not sure whether to:

1. run into the church,
2. stay frozen,
3. wait for a car to come by and rescue me, (and pray it wasn't scary stalker man who gives out flowers to people on walks)
4. scream loudly and draw all the attention of the neighbors,
5. faint,
6. or give chase! (Yeah, um... that one never crossed my mind!)

There I was, knowing that the Dreaded Quadreped was in between myself and my home! I could still hear it crashing around, though now it was in the cemetery.

I bravely opted for Option Number One, and crept quietly over to the church, pulled out my cell phone and called my big brother to come and rescue me. Who needs Jack or Sawyer when Pastor Evan is around?!?

Phones And Such

Just wanted the masses to know that I have now disconnected my home phone and will be going wholly on my cell for now.
And that's all I have to say about that!

Boys, Girls, and the Differences Between Them

On the way home from Bugaboo Creek for Jed's birthday last week, Amy & I were driving the kids in the mini van. Chloe requested the chance to regale us with songs, so she began "singing" a song about a monkey with a pink ribbon who was in a tree. (It was rather like a Gregorian chant... multiple syllables on the same note, then going up or down periodically)

Then Jed requested a turn, and began chanting a song about a Minotaur (I have not one clue on how to spell that Narnia creature!) who killed a cow.

Not to be outdone in the Minotaur category, Chloe then began singing another song, but the Minotaur in her song came into the house and stole her makeup.

What incredibly witty lyrics!!

A Man Among Men

Things I love about my Dad...

* I don't remember a day growing up that I didn't hear "I love you" from him (and the only reason I don't now is because I don't talk to him every day)

* He prayed with me every night before bed - all the way up through high school

* There are several of my friends whom he has taken under his wing as his own daughters

* Because of his love, it's been an easy step of faith to believe that God's Father-love is deep

* He sleeps during movies, but if others are laughing at the movie, he'll laugh too... just to show us he's "awake" :)

* I'm always aware that I'm his little girl and that he thinks I'm wonderful

* He's made it very clear that there is nothing I could do to make him love me less

And so many more. How blessed am I?

Six Years Ago Today...

... A little someone came into my life, and taught me that it's very possible to love someone so much it makes you cry.

Happy Birthday, Precious Jed!

I Don't Think It's Just the Highlights!

So, today at work I was called in to do a little subbing for a trainer who's child was sick. I was talking with the class about various issues regarding when a woman is with child, and what our company's policies are that they would need to become familiar with.
Suddenly in mid-sentence I completely forgot what it's called when a woman has a child in her tummy. (BOTH my sister-in-laws are in that stage right now! HOW could I forget that word??) There I was, standing in front of 20 people, trying to get this important concept across, when I had to pause, and for lack of a better word say...

Maternity-ness!

Right after that, "pregnancy" came to mind. By then it was too late! I had 20 people laughing at my expense. Twenty-one, really, because I was laughing pretty hard myself!

And Then There Was LIGHT!

The sun was out for almost the entire day today... and lately, that's a BIG deal! (Amy, Wesley and I went to the park today, and it was such fun! I saw a snake... that was not much fun!) It's been raining so much lately, all my thoughts of "I think I could handle leaving my beloved NH if it was for Oregon or Washington" have flown COMPLETELY out the window. (I've been to those states several times, and each time I have been overwhelmed with their beauty!) I would never survive in a sun-deprived state!

But the more it's rained, the more I've wondered if I was blowing things out of proportion in my mind.. something that I've only done once or twice in my life! Maybe it just seems like it's rained the last 87 days straight! Maybe I haven't had to use my windshield wipers either on the way to work or on the way home, every single day since Christmas! Etc... you get the idea...

Then, as I was driving with Amy last night, we heard on the radio that in the last two months we have received 18 inches of rain! "If that had been snow," continued the announcer, "that would be 180 inches!" So, I began to put my math-brain to work, and figured out that if it had indeed been snow, we would have gotten...

16 feet in total over the last two months!
One foot every four days for two months straight,
or three inches every single day for TWO MONTHS STRAIGHT.

And that is a very lot of snow.
The End.

PS - If you find any math inconsistencies, please don't mention them. I'm very shy about my math skills.

I've Discovered the PERFECT Job!

And you might wonder what could this job be? I will tell you!

I think that the perfect job would be a Professional Street Namer!

Here are three characteristics that to me make it seem like perfection...

* Get to utilize your creative bent

* Can honor those whom you choose to - what better way to say "You're special" than in naming a street after someone??

* There must be no expectations in this job! After I've driven past Chubbuck Rd so many times I could scream, it became clear to me that there really must not be a whole lot that would go into street naming...

Can you think of any others?

Things That Made Me Laugh Today

On the way home I saw a bumper sticker that always makes me laugh...

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons
For you are crunchy & taste good with ketchup

And,

This