It amazes me that it's been seven years without new memories of you.
I think that's what hurts the most... knowing that the memories that we made together are now the only ones that I'll have of you for the rest of my life.
Until I get to Heaven as well, that is.
Can't wait to see you again and make an eternity of memories.
I still miss you, Mindy Dawn.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
H*I*L*D*A
One of my goals for this Christmas break was to laugh... hard!
And I did, mainly because of Hilda.
When I got home on Saturday night and went to hang up my coat, I saw a form hanging in the closet. With questioning eyes I dragged this being out into the light, and asked Mom & Dad for an explanation.
A dear woman in their church had made this blessing for them. The creation is about two feet tall, with blonde frizzy hair, blue button eyes, and a circle of bright pink rouge on each of her cheeks. Her hips are v-e-r-y wide, and get wider when you stuff plastic grocery bags in her skirt. She's a bag lady, of course.
We dubbed her Hilda, and she started popping up in various locations all over the house to the shock/surprise/horror of all. She was waiting for Mom in bed on numerous occasions, and then would strangely make her way to my bed minutes later. She appeared in chairs when the original sitters had moved momentarily, lurked in closets, sat patiently outside numerous doors, and even waited for us in the car when we did errands. Last night she came to the front door, ringing the doorbell and making all three of us double over in laughter.
Perhaps Hilda is a "had to be there" moment, but thankfully I was, and she sure made me laugh!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
A Threefold Cord
Happy Birthday to my two best girls!
I thank God every day that He brought our lives together, and I'm trusting that this year your lives are filled with everything good from His hand.
Love you both, Drewey & Amy!
Monday, December 25, 2006
It's Pretty Much Balmy!
Greetings from a place that's supposed to be covered in snow, but where we had the heat turned down and the front door open this morning, to keep from being too hot while we cooked!
I remember one Christmas where a friend from CA (peek-a-boo, Janice!) came home, and it was so far below zero that it couldn't snow! We went to the beach to show her the red Nova Scotia sand and the waves were frozen solid. Not this year... Could practically go swimming.
Merry Christmas, friends of mine! Have a wonderful day basking in family, friendship & God's love for us all!
I remember one Christmas where a friend from CA (peek-a-boo, Janice!) came home, and it was so far below zero that it couldn't snow! We went to the beach to show her the red Nova Scotia sand and the waves were frozen solid. Not this year... Could practically go swimming.
Merry Christmas, friends of mine! Have a wonderful day basking in family, friendship & God's love for us all!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Jiggity Jig...
I left Chestnut Hill this morning a little before six, and drove like crazy to get to Nova Scotia for Christmas!
It rained the entire way, sometimes a little bit freezing, but the border guard was nice, and I made the trip in really good time, until...
I was less than a mile from Mom & Dad's exit when my car started doing weird things - chugging and such. Then it quit. Despite careful calculations on my mileage counter, I had run out of gas. (Garsh!)
How embarrassing to, instead of showing up on the parent's doorstep singing carols & bearing gifts, have to call them and say, "Um, I'm a mile away and can't seem to get home. Want to come rescue me?"
Thankfully, the answer to that last question was yes, so I was safe and at a gas station in less than 15 minutes!
The house is beautifully decorated, we just ate a wonderful home-cooked meal, and now it's time to hunker down and play the spoiled kid for a bit!
It rained the entire way, sometimes a little bit freezing, but the border guard was nice, and I made the trip in really good time, until...
I was less than a mile from Mom & Dad's exit when my car started doing weird things - chugging and such. Then it quit. Despite careful calculations on my mileage counter, I had run out of gas. (Garsh!)
How embarrassing to, instead of showing up on the parent's doorstep singing carols & bearing gifts, have to call them and say, "Um, I'm a mile away and can't seem to get home. Want to come rescue me?"
Thankfully, the answer to that last question was yes, so I was safe and at a gas station in less than 15 minutes!
The house is beautifully decorated, we just ate a wonderful home-cooked meal, and now it's time to hunker down and play the spoiled kid for a bit!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Tucker Therapy
On Monday night Tucker came to spend the night.
We listened to Fernando.
Lit candles.
Snuggled for over two hours before falling asleep on the living room floor.
Woke up at midnight and went to bed. (Aunt Lindsay's body is not all that cool with floor sleeping any more!)
He slept right through the night... I became aware that the words a friend of mine spoke ("A queen size bed is only as big as the person you share it with") were very true. That child w-i-g-g-l-e-s!
We both needed.
We both gave.
And we both came away with mended hearts.
God bless two year olds!
We listened to Fernando.
Lit candles.
Snuggled for over two hours before falling asleep on the living room floor.
Woke up at midnight and went to bed. (Aunt Lindsay's body is not all that cool with floor sleeping any more!)
He slept right through the night... I became aware that the words a friend of mine spoke ("A queen size bed is only as big as the person you share it with") were very true. That child w-i-g-g-l-e-s!
We both needed.
We both gave.
And we both came away with mended hearts.
God bless two year olds!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Little Word, Big Difference
The scene:
My car
The players:
God & me
The soundtrack:
Barlow Girl "Enough"
"All of You is more than enough
For all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough"
The script:
Me - whining, crying and generally "carrying on"
God- listening and eventually speaking peace to my heart
Scene 1:
Me - In pain, grasping to something I thought was my right to hold onto
God - letting me explain my side of the story
Scene 2:
Me - Being quiet and loosening my grip
God - Standing by, waiting
Scene 3:
Me - still crying, but letting go entirely
God - "I know what's best for you, but I also WANT what's best for you."
Scene 4:
Me - blown away by the difference of one little word... He doesn't just know, He wants what's best
God - smiling, I think
Curtain down on a peaceful scene:
Me - still crying, but what else is new...
God - still smiling and speaking peace, but what else is new...
My car
The players:
God & me
The soundtrack:
Barlow Girl "Enough"
"All of You is more than enough
For all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough"
The script:
Me - whining, crying and generally "carrying on"
God- listening and eventually speaking peace to my heart
Scene 1:
Me - In pain, grasping to something I thought was my right to hold onto
God - letting me explain my side of the story
Scene 2:
Me - Being quiet and loosening my grip
God - Standing by, waiting
Scene 3:
Me - still crying, but letting go entirely
God - "I know what's best for you, but I also WANT what's best for you."
Scene 4:
Me - blown away by the difference of one little word... He doesn't just know, He wants what's best
God - smiling, I think
Curtain down on a peaceful scene:
Me - still crying, but what else is new...
God - still smiling and speaking peace, but what else is new...
Saturday, December 16, 2006
So, laugh already!
I'm not generally a forwarded-emails fan, but this one made me laugh out loud. Hope it has the same effect/affect (take your pick - I'm too tired to figure out which one it is, or to call my editor sister-in-law.) on you...
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a
holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit.
In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately!
Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can... and quickly.
It's rare. You can't find it any other time of the year
but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000
calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to
turn into an eggnog-aholic or something.
It's a treat.
Enjoy it.
Have one for me.
Have two.
It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it.
That's the whole point of gravy.
Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on.
Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes.
Fill it with gravy.
Eat the volcano.
Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made
with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass.
Why bother?
It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in
an effort to control your eating.
The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people's food for free.
Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between
now and New Year's. You can do that in January when
you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need
after circling the buffet table while carrying a
10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good
at the buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies
in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them
and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming
the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to
see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat.
Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat,
have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.
When else do you get to have more than one dessert?
Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake?
Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory
calories, but avoid it at all costs!
I mean, you have to have SOME standards.
10. One final tip:
If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
Re-read the tips; start over, but hurry.
January is just around the corner.
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a
holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit.
In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately!
Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can... and quickly.
It's rare. You can't find it any other time of the year
but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000
calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to
turn into an eggnog-aholic or something.
It's a treat.
Enjoy it.
Have one for me.
Have two.
It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it.
That's the whole point of gravy.
Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on.
Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes.
Fill it with gravy.
Eat the volcano.
Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made
with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass.
Why bother?
It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in
an effort to control your eating.
The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people's food for free.
Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between
now and New Year's. You can do that in January when
you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need
after circling the buffet table while carrying a
10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good
at the buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies
in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them
and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming
the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to
see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat.
Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat,
have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.
When else do you get to have more than one dessert?
Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake?
Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory
calories, but avoid it at all costs!
I mean, you have to have SOME standards.
10. One final tip:
If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
Re-read the tips; start over, but hurry.
January is just around the corner.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
The Drama Queen Speaketh
Tonight, I watched Jed, Chloe and Tucker for a bit while Evan & Jill did an errand.
During the course of the evening, Chloe had her will cross a tad bit, and decided to ooze off my lap onto the floor. I was sitting in Evan's office chair, so on her way to the floor she scratched her back on one of the wheeled legs.
This created a flood of tears and gut-wrenching sobs... that lasted for almost 20 minutes. She stopped in order to ask me to read her a book, but would periodically start up again, declaring herself in need of a bandaid.
As we were walking to the bathroom to get one, she wailed, "I just want to DIE! I want to go live with God!!"
The Superman bandaid did some to appease that yearning.
During the course of the evening, Chloe had her will cross a tad bit, and decided to ooze off my lap onto the floor. I was sitting in Evan's office chair, so on her way to the floor she scratched her back on one of the wheeled legs.
This created a flood of tears and gut-wrenching sobs... that lasted for almost 20 minutes. She stopped in order to ask me to read her a book, but would periodically start up again, declaring herself in need of a bandaid.
As we were walking to the bathroom to get one, she wailed, "I just want to DIE! I want to go live with God!!"
The Superman bandaid did some to appease that yearning.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)