May Day, May Day!

First of all, thank you so much for the heart-felt responses to my last post.
It sounds as though it may have struck a chord with many of you, and sometimes it helps to know that we aren't completely alone in our feelings of needing approval.
Or in simply dealing with someone who may even have some good qualities, but for one reason or another...there is conflict.
Without going into details, if you could keep the situation in your prayers, I would be grateful. It is still not as resolved as I had once hoped it was, and am praying that the love of Christ overshadows all of the negative in the long run.

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Now...on a happier note...


*Edited to add our picture from this morning!

Today is May Day. Here in the U.S., the tradition of May Day is pretty much forgotten but my mom (a child of the 1930's) use to tell me charming stories about making baskets with flowers in them and leaving them on a favorite person's doorstep.
So when my oldest was about four, we started adopting this tradition.
Our first unsuspecting "victim" was a wonderful elderly lady who lived across the street. My daughter and I excitedly left the home made paper basket of simple wild flowers on her door knob...rang her doorbell...and ran! She came out in time to see us heading into our home, and she smiled happily and waved to us.
And I have to say, I was as giddy as my little girl. This was fun!

Last year, we made several and my youngest, now four, signed her name to the basket she made and placed on the nice family's door behind us. It was addressed to the mom, since from what I heard, the baskets are primarily to be for a "nice lady". (But I'm sure it doesn't have to be only for women.)
Well, imagine our surprise when only about two hours later, our sweet neighbor rang our doorbell with a wrapped gift of a Strawberry Shortcake notebook and an adorable homemade card for Lil Cherub! How this busy young mom to only boys found time to give a cute little girlie thank you gift so quickly to my daughter was beyond me. We were simply blown away, since the object of May Day is to surprise others, not wanting anything in return!
I thanked her profusely...and later told my girls not to expect presents from people in the future because May Day is all about bringing cheer to others.

So, here we are on another May Day. My youngest mentioned it last night, but at first I wasn't understanding what she was saying. She kept asking what we were going to do about Pay Day. (Hmmm...that is always the question, isn't it?)
Anyway, later this morning, we're going to make our little simple baskets and go tip toeing around to ring the doorbell at a few unsuspecting houses.
Maybe one of them will be completely clueless when they read "Happy May Day" inside. But that's OK...Thanks to my little girls having a grandmother who lived in the real "olden days", this tradition lives on with us.

For May Day basket ideas, visit here or here. (Some of these can also be used for Mother's Day!)
And for more about the holiday, you can visit here.

Perfect Acceptance

Here is a tough question: Have you ever had to deal with a fellow Christian that for one reason or another, just seemed to rub you the wrong way?


I have gotten to know a great many wonderful Christian women through church, home school groups, ect. And though with many of them I am friends with on a more "surface" basis, still...I love the camaraderie and fellowship that we share. It's good to share similar goals and be there for each other. I'm somewhat shy by nature, but I still appreciate getting together with other women. I think that is how God made most of us!

There is one woman, however, who for some reason or another, I have never felt completely comfortable with. She is a good person, by the way. Not evil hearted in any sense of the word...but yet, there has been that peculiar bristling whenever I am around her.
It's one of those things that is sometimes hard to put my finger on. Almost that subtle feeling of being judged.

It turns out I was pretty much right.

This weekend, she called me to tell me exactly about how and why I recently frustrated her. I was not completely surprised...I could tell by her vibes that she was mad at me concerning a particular situation.
She said she had prayed for the right words... and as she launched in, I inwardly prayed, too.
And I tried desperately not to dissolve in a humiliating puddle of tears, but just barely got by being able to do so.

In all fairness, there was an ounce of legitimacy in her complaint...and I told her I understood some of her frustration...still, she was seeing it from her own side. There was more to the situation on my end than she knew. She saw the end result...I saw the hours of my own frustration I put in trying to make it all happen and hitting one dead end after another.

And though she is not on my "people I would most want to hang out with on a dessert island"...there's just something in me that wants everyone to like me. Everyone.
Even the ones that I'm not especially fond of. Does that make any sense?
It seems silly that I would feel a bit hurt by someone whom I have always felt uncomfortable around anyway...but that is just my tendency.

I just want to be liked by every single person on the planet.

You may smile at the craziness of this statement...but even though I desire no personal friendship with this particular person, I feel bruised from her obvious bad opinion of me.

But here's a newsflash for yours truly:
Having everyone in my entire life whom I encounter liking me? Just not going to happen.
There are over 6 billion people and counting on the face of this earth. And not everyone is going to be nice to me...not everyone is going to think I'm worth their time nor energy or want to be my friend. (And I am sure there a few out there that I wouldn't want to go near, myself!)

Even though I try as best as I can to be everything to everyone, I am going to fall helplessly short...over and over again. I'm going to fail...and even though it is of no intent of my own, I'm going to let people down once in awhile. And once in awhile, someone will criticize me.

(I'm 44 years old, but some lessons are just harder to swallow sometimes.)

Maybe I'm more thinned skinned than the average person, but I suspect that most of us share somewhat similar feelings. Most of us want to be liked and accepted. It's only human nature.

But something I think God is trying to get through to me is that HE is the only One who is ever going to love me completely unconditionally. And HIS is ultimately the only opinion of me and my merits that counts.

My husband and children...my mom...they all give me a measure of unconditional love. But not completely. Theirs is only a portion...a taste of what it feels like to be loved completely. That kind of love can only come from our Heavenly Father through Christ.

And as for His opinion of each of us...
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness..." Jeremiah 31:3

I have a feeling that we may never comprehend the vastness of God's love for each and everyone of us. Probably if we did we'd be so overwhelmed that it would even be hard to function on a daily basis.

And the great thing is, He loves us even though we occasionally"drop the ball" in our daily life.
And unfathomably, He even loves us when we sin. It hurts His heart...but He loves us.


I'm not going to try and harbor ill feelings toward this particular woman. Our conversation ended somewhat amiably. But she will never be someone I feel comfortable with, and I'm guessing, the feeling's mutual.
When we were told to love one another, I'm pretty sure that the Lord didn't mean that we had be chummy with each and every person. I think He referred to caring for their heart and being kind...and knowing that they are also His children.

At the same time, we can choose to fellowship with those that are edifying to us...and there are so many people I meet on a weekly basis that I am happy to say edify me. Those that I already know, and that I am just getting to know.

But most of all, God is teaching me some very important lessons:

Not. every. person. will. like. me. (gulp...trying to swallow this concept...)
But it's HIS acceptance that should matter the very most...His unconditional love and friendship.

I am so glad that I can rely on this perfect love...whenever I fail, or whenever I fail others.

His love for each of us will never fail.

Tahiti, anyone?

I decided that since my dream island, Maui, turned sour on me last fall by shaking me up with earthquakes, drenching me in rain and burning me with it's rays...I'd just snub it for awhile and move on to a different island. Such as the one pictured above...Tahiti.
Not that I know anything about Tahiti. It just sounds exotic. Less commercial than my fickle friend, Maui...and not even one of our fifty states. Now that's exotic!

My husband also had wanted to visit there until a friend from work said it has a "bad" side. But then again...sadly, I can drive through our suburbs and find a raunchy section if I really try.

So, there. I've officially put in on my dream list.

No- we're not actually going. Not now, anyway. (Did I have you going there for a moment?)
We have no money to go waltzing off to Tahiti so soon after visiting Hawaii.. but dreaming doesn't cost very much, right?

I know...probably a fleeting fancy and I'm just trying to make Maui jealous or something...

Speaking of bad Hawaiian vacations (which I never previously knew could be put in the same sentence) I just started one of the books on my Spring reading list..."Stranded in Paradise"by Lori Copeland.
I cannot tell you how cathartic this has been so far. This poor heroine has had it even worse...not by much, but, she definitely wins the Dream Vacation Disaster Award. Except...I have a feeling by the time this story has ended, she will have found her true love.
So that pretty much nixes the whole bad time right there...

And a completely unrelated topic...

Before I go, Susanne tagged me for "Show us your handbags". Well...mine is more of a shoulder bag. I bought it last fall and it is so nice and roomy. Or...perhaps too roomy.
I'd take a picture of the inside, but I'm afraid to even look in there myself.

Sometimes, leftover granola bars from the kids find their way to the bottom of my bag...a baggie of crayons for "emergency drawing" (you moms will understand)...maybe a few store receipts from last October. I'm just not sure anymore. I think it's akin to the Black Hole.


But it's classier than the diaper bag I used everywhere about three years ago, don't you think?

If you're reading this and want to play "bag tag", then consider yourself tagged and let me know.
Meanwhile, forgive me for being so behind in blog reading...I hope to catch up this weekend!

Blessings!

Out of the Past!

Do you all remember this post?
And that groovy walk down memory lane?

(If you have never read it, go on and take an extra moment...it's kind of fun...I'll wait...)

Are you back from that blast from the past? Well, did you notice the part when I reminisced about a couple of my friends from that class...wondering where they were, what their lives were like, ect.? Something probably most of us do from time to time, when we look at old pictures of classmates.
I said, jokingly, "Mavis or Kellie, if you somehow come across my blog, be sure to get in touch, OK?"
Um...yeah. Like in the vast blogisphere of space, that's gonna' happen.

Imagine how my mouth fell open when I was reading replies to one of my following posts about old movies...and I see...someone who claims to be Mavis!!!
When I picked my jaw up off the floor, I felt myself growing skeptical. After all...this could be anyone. But then again...she mentioned her last name...and when I went back to check, I never used her last name in my post!

I e-mailed her that evening....and sure enough, folks....it is really her!!! (She sent a picture and everything!)

She is now a successful businesswoman and playwright, living right here in the Northwest! Wow...Mrs. S. would be so proud!
(By the way, Mavis is in the back row, fourth from the left...)

And though she seems to be one busy gal, we want to get together in the coming months, face to face.
Can you imagine...I haven't seen her since I was nine years old?!

So many memories... those Partridge Family lunch pails....the times we listened to her big sister's little 45 of The Lion Sleeps Tonight at a sleepover...

What is most amazing, is that we could have ever have found each other like this. Yes, blogging is an amazing forum!

But even more so, God is amazing...because I really think He may have had His Hand in this.
She just happened to google her name....first name only...a week or so after I had written that post.

I just had to share all of this with you! And I'll be sure to update you when Mavis and I have our big reunion!

We might even try our synchronized dance to Cherokee People right there in the coffee shop.

Wordless Wednesday..."Spring Frolic"

Making Tracks...
For more explanation, see the first reply... and Happy Spring!

(For more WW entries, you can go here)

Fashion Don'ts...

Today I'm participating once again in Let's Get Real Monday. This week's theme is...The Outfit! But I should call this..."Please Be Kind since I'm being Brave Monday."

Also...at the end, I will have my list of randomized questions for four brave souls...(and you know who you are, Ladies!)

I was going through my old photos, looking for all those "fashion statement"...you know, those outfits that looking back, "you wonder what was I thinking?"
Well, I'm happy to say that I found a few.

But this first one...it's kind of near and dear to my heart. It's Easter and my dad took several pictures of all of us before leaving for church. This is one of them...and I just love it. It's just that...well, my little coat is a tad too big.
Even my sweet mom has always said I was basically swimming in it. I'm not sure where or why I have it, unless it was given to me. But in spite of this, these Easter pictures always make me smile...and don't you love those little shoes?


The next one...well, let's just fast-forward quite a few years, OK? Now I'm seventeen, and giving preppy a run for it's money that year... although you can't see the whole ensemble, I do seem quite put together, don't you think? Such coiffed hair. Even have a nifty stick pin in the lapel. They were all the rage for that right blend of elegance and preppy. It's unbelievable I had no interest in secretarial work back then...


And a few years later, I am given this black blouse. The kind that I normally would never wear, given my bent towards either preppy or at least, simple and youngish looks. But since I tended to look a bit younger than I was anyway... and since I was silly enough to think this was bad thing back then...I decided to break trend and go sophisticated. Not sure at all where I was going on this particular evening...but I remember I was so excited about my hair being French braided, giving me that certain je ne sais quoi ...

Or maybe more like French dance hall girl. Ooh-la-la!

OK...there are just a few of my fashion statements (or should we say question marks) over the years. There's more...but these were all I could dig up at such short notice!

For more fashion diva pictures, check out I have to Say and follow the links!

*Edited to fix an after midnight type-o...and to say that I have a feeling there are so many "fashion statements" hidden in some of your boxes of old photos that we in blogland will never get to see...too bad...I would love you all to share in the humiliation fun!
And to think I didn't even show all the ones with my big hair and baggy shirts over the leggings...Is it wrong to miss those fashion days just a little???
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Alright, you brave friends whom volunteered to be randomized...are you ready? And like the friends who randomized me, I am going to give you all the same questions, just because I think it's fun to read all the different answers.

Plus, it's past midnight right now, so if I gave you each different questions, I might as well stay up until breakfast. And as much as I love you all and blogging...well, there is a limit.

So Tricia, Groovyoldlady, Susie, "The Woman"...(and if there's anyone I'm leaving out, please let me know!)...here are your 5 questions: (drum roll please...)

1) If you could suddenly be transported into an old movie (as in 1965 or earlier) which movie would that be and why?

2)You're given plane tickets and told that you can pick any place to fly to. The catch is that you have to go completely by yourself and stay a month. Where's your destination?

3)Name one favorite childhood friend...and a memory to go with it.

4)Speaking of childhood, is there something special you have hung on to from this time...a toy... a stuffed animal...special book? If so, why is this item special to you?

And last but not least...
5)You have just been informed that a Duke and his wife from a foreign country that you've barely heard of are visiting the United States and have picked your house at random to stop in for tea. They will be arriving in fifteen minutes.

What are the first five things you frantically do:

Good luck, Ladies! I am looking forward to all of you answers!

Now, I am tucking myself into bed at last. Hubby and I did celebrate a quiet desert at a restaurant this evening in honor of our anniversary. It was so nice, even though it was brief...because my poor sweetie has an awful bug! He promised to go to the doctor tomorrow...
And I'm praying the girls and I don't catch it! But all in all, it was a restful weekend for all of us...I even had a nap! (No wonder I'm up past my bedtime!)

Blessings!

Randomized ... Part 2

I was randomized not once...but twice this past week! Here's my second list of questions, written by one of my great new friends, Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. I was a little nervous about the kinds of questions Linda would come up with...she's so smart and sassy and all. But these were do-able. And after admitting in my last randomization the milking dog incident, I figure I have nothing left to hide.

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1. What is one thing you'd like to do but do not have the courage to do? And why don't you do it? What's the worst that could happen, anyway??

Since I've always been a writer-wannabe (as in stories) I guess finally finishing the novel that I stopped writing when I was nearly done would be the answer. I blame time as a factor...yet I have time for blogging, don't I? So maybe I need to just dive in and finish it. Then start sending it off. And the worst that could happen....?

Big Fat Rejection!!!

OK... I think the regret of not ever finishing it and sending it off would outweigh any rejection. So this question was actually very good for me! (Thank you, Linda!)

2. Describe your worst date. Did your poor fellow know it was your worst date? What did you learn about yourself from this experience?

They are all a blur, actually. One that comes to mind isn't very dramatic...just awful in that "will it ever end?" kind of way. Kind of the opposite of a wonderful date when "time stands still".
He was someone that a friend or relative tried relentlessly to fix me up with. And I knew he was not the kind of person I could ever be remotely interested in. He wasn't a bad person at all, just not the guy I wanted to hang out with...nor be the father of my children.
I gave in to whoever was pestering me (as I said, it's all a blur...I must have blocked it all out)
For the "date" we didn't even go anywhere. He came to my house. (Or actually my mom's house, where I was living.) It was a less than exciting evening.

We watched a movie on my VCR.
He talked on and on about his favorite sports, tractor-pulling and monster truck shows.
I kept watching the clock and smiling politely.

Yes, I think he had a clue that I wasn't interested when he asked me out as he was leaving and I told him that I'd rather "just be friends".

I later heard he got married even before I did, to some nice girl who loves seeing huge trucks mash over little ones every single Saturday night.
(There are certainly worse ways to spend an evening...but for me, well...it's just hard to think of what they would be...)

So glad I finally found my Mr. Right and he took me out of circulation! (Tomorrow's our 12th anniversary...Love you, Sweetie!)

3. You are at a nationally televised Presidential White House press conference as part of the press corps. President Bush calls on you because you are waving your hand around like a wild woman. You stand, but suddenly, your heart races, your mouth dries, and you're seeing stars. You can't remember your brilliant question or utter a single syllable. The only thing you are able to do is sing. Remaining silent is not an option. What will you sing and why?

It might have to be the funny song my husband found on the computer soon after he was elected...(and yes, we voted for him!)
It's to the tune of the rap song, "Who let the dogs out?"

"Who's in the White House....Bush! Bush! Bush!"

4. If you were named "Supreme Blogging Commander of the Official World Wide Webbings of Intranets" or some such other prestigious title, what is the first rule you would lay down as non-negotiable?

No foul language and lurkers are required to actually reply...even if it's just by typing a little smiley face. :)

5. What's your favorite color? NOT!!! Instead: You are hiring someone for a position in your company. Never mind which position. It's just your job to hire the best candidate and then tell your superior why you chose that person. If you choose unwisely, you get fired. The pressure is on. Which one will you choose?

A. Candidate A brought her Ipod and said she could listen to you and the music at the same time.

B. Candidate B challenged you to an arm wrestling match.

C. Candidate C threw up on your desk and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.

D. Candidate D stated that if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having your corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.

So which one is it? Why?

OK, C is just yucky...I know they couldn't help it but I would be too grossed out and too bewildered over their lack of proper embarrassment. Not quite human, there...
I'd have to go with Candidate D. Nothing like team spirit!

OK...this was fun! My second one I did this week, and not so painful, after all!

Only two people took me up on my last offer for me to "randomize" them...so this is your last chance...any more takers? I'll be putting my questions together this weekend and posting them soon!

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We're having a lazy day today. My sweet husband is sick with some kind of bug, and the girls are wore out from their busy week...and it's raining.
I'm hoping my sweetie will feel better tomorrow for our anniversary...poor baby!
I'm so behind in reading all of your posts, and hope to catch up off and on today...

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Belle...meet John and George

Thank you to all who replied on my last post. Such a simple thing like having a birthday...yet, as I wrote those words the other night, my eyes were blurred with tears. Wow, motherhood is emotional, isn't it?

On a lighter note...
When her daddy got home from work, we did our own family celebration. (And when it's Lil Cherub's birthday, that means dinner is spaghetti and corn!) Afterwards, we all excitedly gave her our gifts. I had some little things for her...things with Belle, Snow White and Strawberry Shortcake on them, of course...

but her daddy, it turns out, had just a couple surprises up his sleeve!

You see, we both had agreed to give her one thing she was asking for- The Curious George Bubble Maker. She had drawn a picture of it for us so that we knew exactly what to look for... and kept repeating the line from the commercial...
"Curious George blows bubbles right before your very eyes!"
She would say that with so much feeling, I was ready to hire an agent for her on the spot!


Unfortunately, it seems George, here, is as popular as a Cabbage Patch Doll in the 80's in these parts...they were being snatched up as soon as all the stores would get them in.
But her Daddy came to the rescue...he kept calling those stores every day... and then- on her very birthday- snatched the last one up himself.

But the last I heard, he had still not found it. He's just so sneaky like that!
But sneaky with a good heart.

But he scored even more when he put together a little treasure hunt for her, along with her sister.(And sister was key since she was the only one who could read the notes in the treasure hunt!)
Her first note would say...Go look in the top kitchen drawer...Then they'd find the second one, which would say something like, Now go look under your pillow...
Sometimes a small gift would even be with a note. Quite the elaborate setup, and I must say, I was impressed. (Especially since he is fighting a bit of a bug this week!)






But not only did this treasure hunt result in finding Mr. Curious George himself, but something that was a complete surprise to all of us...yes, Mommy included!

As they picked up that last present (George, but he was still wrapped), it happened to be in a closet with...none other than...

"A FISH! There's a fish in the closet!" they shouted.
I ran up to see ...and sure enough, there was, indeed, a fish in the closet! In an aquarium! With a little water in it!

Actually, the fish was a giant algae eater, and along with those clues the girls kept finding, they also found fish coupons...to go get three fish each from the pet store with Daddy this week!

Hmmm...I was completely clueless on this. (Daddy loves keeping little secrets like this from Mommy.He thinks it's lots of fun.)

As he did his 'splainin', it seems someone at work was moving and gave him a great deal on the whole thing.

Our birthday girl named our new pet John.
This surprised me somewhat. I just know if it looked a little more feminine, it would have been graced with a flowery name... something like "Fishea" or AlgeaEateria -as is her custom.
Nevertheless, John now enjoys dining among the fake ferns in his lighted home in the girls' room. And I have to admit, after getting over the initial shock, I think it is pretty cool!

After all, John does not pull at the leash, act ornery , or chew up anything useful. Just algae.


And as long as Daddy is in charge of cleaning John and his future friends' home, then it's all good...
bring on the fishy friends!

Five years Ago...

Five Years Ago Today...

They placed you on my chest and I held you for the very first time. I felt as if I could hold you forever.

You came into the world...and my heart.

You were the baby I prayed for.
I was already blessed with one wonderful child...but after recently feeling the pain of losing a pregnancy, I wanted so desperately to have another.
And growing up as I did, an only child, I wanted so much for my child to have a sibling.

Yet...I wasn't getting any younger.

And though I loved my first child so much, the trauma surrounding her birth left me weak afterwards, and unable to truly enjoy the maternal experience of a new baby in her early weeks.
I longed for a chance to give birth without terrifying complications...to hold my baby without weak arms, and in a cloud of depression.
I wanted to feel the overwhelming joy instead.

And as many prayers went up, God graciously smiled down on me, and gave me the desire of my heart.

One year to the month after losing a pregnancy, you came into the world....
smooth as silk...sweet as Springtime...and into my waiting arms.

And when I first gazed upon you, my first thought was that I already knew you. Like when you're meeting someone new but feeling like like you've known them all of your life.
And all the tender emotions I knew were waiting under the surface came flooding out, just as I hoped they would.

Thinking of this gift God granted me makes me well up with tears today.

You were more than just a second child. You were a second chance at so much.

Your sister's life is fuller because of you...and so are your mommy's and daddy's life.

I still feel as if I could hold you forever. But I know I cannot completely do that...not in the same way. And at the moment, I feel just a little sad at the thought...

Still...I know that in a way, I will always hold you close...throughout our lives and always.

Happy 5th birthday, sweet girl~

Randomized...and the Pizza Princesses

Last week, two new blog friends (whom I really enjoy!) asked some random questions and I agreed to, well, randomly answer them. Before I knew what they would be! How scary!
I'm doing Susan's first...and Linda, I promise to answer yours next! So...here goes...


1. What's your worst pet peeve?
(Do you mean, my worst peeve about my pet? Because at the moment, I could go on and on...) OK, seriously...
I think it would be people who are just plain rude or condescending to others.

2. What are five things you would do if "money were no object"?
(This list contains a lot of selfish things...because I'm dreaming here...)

1) Have a vacation home somewhere...probably Maui.
2) Own our "regular" home somewhere in the country...horses, lambs...and a cow named Daisy. (Hey, it's always been a dream, OK?)
3) Have a personal gym in our country home, complete with trainer and a personal masseuse, who come by three times a week. (Any more, and I would just be too spoiled...)
4) In all honesty, be able to freely give unreservedly to Christian ministries that work to spread the Gospel as well as feed the hungry.
5) Hire a professional dog trainer so that our six month old lab would lie around contently by the fire and bring us our slippers instead of just chewing them up.

3. If you could be an inanimate object, what would you be and why?
Oh, this is a tough one! Maybe a hot air balloon...now, if you had to be inanimate, flying up there above the scenery would be a lot of fun!

4. OK, fess up, some people have eaten crayons or tasted glue. What's the strangest thing you've ever taste-tested? Where were you and why did you do it?
I really have to fess up? Well, I was about six years old and our dog had recently had a litter of puppies. I was amazed that the puppies didn't have to eat puppy chow yet but got their milk from their mama. Hmmm...milk? Really? Could you milk a dog just like you do a cow?
Let's just say, you can only get a few drops of milk into a glass from a mama dog...

5. If you were standing before all of your friends and family and they asked you to summarize yourself in one to two songs, what would you sing and why?
Oh, this was the toughest of them all!
Maybe that old Bobby Darin song, "Beyond the Sea". I have always loved that song growing up...and then when my new husband was on deployment "out to sea" I loved it even more!

OK...who wants to brave and let me "randomize" you? I promise not to ask anything too, too personal...and spare you the humiliating milking dog stories...

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In other news, my little baby is about to turn five this week. FIVE!
Yesterday, after church, she had a little birthday party with her friends (a few days early) at a pizza place (where there's a big play area galore with slides, tunnels and a mini-ferris wheel!)
















They had a wonderful time!

But after frolicking through a pit of balls, by the end of the party, we saw quite a few disheveled princesses!
But whoever said royalty can't have fun!

Our Easter Service Speaker...Finding Hope and Purpose

"I once felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes... until I met a man that had no feet."

Maybe you've heard this quote before. I know I had. But this past Easter service, the meaning became more real.


This past weekend, our church had a special speaker for Easter, named Nick Vujicic. He was from Australia...and had the charming "down under" accent, a gorgeous face and a fantastic sense of humor. Oh... and he just happened to have been born with no arms or legs.

We knew he was going to be there. The previous weeks, they had shown a short film about him...how he got up in the morning, shaved, used the computer...and how he preaches to thousands in Indonesia, Africa, and many countries all over the world where most Christian messages wouldn't even be allowed.

He has one little half-foot on the end of his body (which he jokingly called a little chicken foot) and is able to sort of "walk" around. And it's by this, he can move a computer mouse around and even type 45 words per minute.

So, Easter morning we were prepared. but what what we weren't prepared for was the was that God had poured such complete love and joy into his life, and it radiated out of him with incredible brightness.

He put everyone at ease, by his incredible humor...He stood on a bench the entire time, and at the beginning, he had a little boy volunteer come up so he could show how he was able to kick a ball to him. He kept teasing us all...."I need to go just a little further back..." as he edged back towards the end of the bench. "Just a little further back... a little further..." He would throw us a twinkly smile and the congregation was laughing so nervously as he got to the very edge.
A short time later, he said he could do a back flip off of the bench..."Ready?" he asks with his Australian accent. We all laugh and shake our heads no...but he acts like he's about to take flight.
Then, "Not really! Are you kidding? I could break an arm or something!"

Giving out "Hugs"


All of this was to put us all at ease before he gave his real message. He spoke of a time in his growing up years when he wasn't always so joyful. He did feel sorry for himself, as would be so completely natural. He longed to have a "normal" life...not to just to do the normal things like we all take for granted, but he also longed to someday get married and have a family. But he could never hold his wife's hand...nor hug his children.

As a child, he prayed that God would miraculously grow him legs and arms. And yes...God could do that! But this time, He gave him something else instead. Incredible, miraculous joy, despite his circumstances.
And because of his circumstances, God is able to use him in ways that a "normal" man could never be used.
Countries that ban the Gospel are letting him preach because he brings such hope. And he's helping to instill God's hope into individuals that perhaps felt despair in their own circumstances.

He still believes that God has someone special for him to marry. He's only 24 (but with the maturity of someone so much older)...and as he said,
"I many never be able to hold my wife's hand. But I can hold her heart."
He said a great many other things about God Himself...and how much He loves each of us and wants to give us peace and joy, no matter what our circumstances.

At the end of his message, so many people came forward to accept Jesus as their Savior.

I don't think any of us who were there will ever forget him. The phenomenal spirit of determination as well as joy which spills over were gifts that could only come from the Lord...proof that miracles can take place in our hearts and souls, as well as physically.

And proof that He can use any of one of us- there are no limitations.


Go visit his website here...you won't be sorry!

Dusting off that Rice...

Because my 12th wedding anniversary is coming up in 12 days...

(Edited to add my little link in #1!)

A Marriage\Wedding Meme

1. Where/How did you meet?
We met on a blind date. We use to be so embarrassed to admit the details about this, but the whole story can be found here.

2. How long have you known each other?
We met on August 14th, 1993.

3. How long after you met did you start dating?
Um...0 seconds flat. It was a blind date, after all!

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?
16 months.

5. How long was your engagement?
4 months...He was in the Navy and home on Leave when he officially proposed in December of '94. I had four months to plan a wedding- pretty much by all by myself- since he was in Tennessee during this time.

6. How long have you been married?
12 years on the 22nd!

7. What is your anniversary?
April 22, 1995

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?
I had to put together a wedding on a shoestring budget, so it was a fairly small affair. I'm not sure, but think it was around 100 or so.

9. What kind of cake did you serve?
A beautiful blue and white 2-tiered cake...

10. Where was your wedding?
Close to Salem, Oregon

11. What did you serve for your meal?
You know, I honestly can't remember this detail! I know there were some nibbles, though!

12. How many people were in your wedding party?
Only two groomsmen, two bridal attendants

13. Are you still friends with them all?
All except for my husband's friend, whom we simply lost contact with and we all moved too many times.
14.Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?
He's not a crier...but he completely beamed!

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?
Because he was staying in Tennessee, we hadn't seen each other in almost two months...until I walked down the isle.

16.Any funny moments?
Well...one of them's a bit funny now...see next question:

17. Any big disasters?
a. Apparently no one saw this but me...when the groom and I were holding our candles preparing to light the Unity candle, the flame touched my veil, still over my face. It started smoldering, and of course....I'm feeling a touch of panic and embarrassment as I somehow extinguish the would-be flame. I glanced at my bridesmaids...they didn't have a clue. They told me later that they didn't even see it at all!

b. Another thing that happened was that my husband's father was late showing up...we held the ceremony up for him, and was just about to go ahead when he came in. He was in ill-health so I couldn't get mad at him! But it was a cause for more bridal anxiety.

c.The third disaster was that we supposedly had someone bringing hubby's camcorder, and another friend bringing a second one as back-up. Both people forgot them...I found this out just as we were getting ready to go down the isle! After feeling disappointed for a moment, my bridesmaids quickly did their duty and cheered me up just before their music started.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
No honeymoom...but we did drive to the Oregon coast.

19. How long were you gone?
Um...one night. One quick, fleeting little night before I had to take him to the airport the next day. He would fly back south, then on to Virginia where he'd secure our first apartment. So no husband for ten days following the wedding! Then, after ten long days, I was on a plane, flying clear across the country from my family and friends to start a new life!

20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?
I would be a little more adamant (in a nice way, of course) about what people would do and not do. I was just a little too mousy about it all.

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Left, but I'm thinking of shaking things up a bit and making hubby trade.

22. What size is your bed?
Queen...(But don't get me started on our horrible sleep number mattress!)

On our 10th anniversary in Maui




23. Greatest strength as a couple?
We forgive each other when we fail.

24. Greatest challenge as a couple? We're both stubborn!

25. Who literally pays the bills?
When hubby was in the Navy, I did it all...but he's done it now for years.

26. What is your song? The theme of the movie we saw on our blind date. The movie was "Sleepless in Seattle" and the song is "If I fall in Love..."


27. What did you dance your first dance to?
I'm ashamed to say I don't remember for sure...The reception was SO informal that we only danced a bit for the photographer. But I think it was the song just mentioned.

28. Describe your wedding dress:
Dipped neckline with see-through lace above and high collar. It "poofed" out just a little, like the Cinderella dress in my storybooks, and had a small train.

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?
Pink and white with baby's breath.

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?
Just my husband's.

31. How old were you when you got married?
I was 32- he was 34. And worth the wait!

In the rushing around of everyday life, it's so good to remember the beginnings of love. What brought us together...and that very special day when we promised God and one another to love each other for always.

So...I tag anyone who wants to do this meme!

My Favorite Things

"Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens..."

Today, I'm participating in Get Real Monday..."My favorite things...", hosted by Randi over at I have to Say. And this one's relatively easy for me!

One of my favorite things is kicking back and watching an old movie. And I think I have always had a special love for them even as a child.

Maybe it started by watching those wonderful Shirley Temple flicks on TV with my mom (who was and is a big Shirley fan) and then later, watching old romantic movies with her as a teen, where she'd tell me who all the actors and character actors were.
Instead of being bored by these facts, I soaked them all in. There was just something magical about this other era, and it began a lifelong long with the Silver Screen for me.

Or the MGM Technicolor Screen, too. Gotta love those musical numbers with the gorgeous color that's bigger than life!

And forget about the 80's heartthrobs like Harrison Ford or Tom Cruise. I was all about Gene Kelly dancing with his umbrella or the very suave Cary Grant.

My husband sometimes watches an old movie with me and will suddenly quiz me....
"What's the name of that actor right there?"

Usually, I answer right away, smug in my vast knowledge of Old Hollywood. And when I even know the name of the obscure character actress playing the maid, he seems duly impressed.
Once in awhile, I'm stumped, though. I could fib, and make up some credible sounding name and he'd be none the wiser. But I'm just too honest.

I'm not sure how all of this knowledge benefits me...it's not like it can help me with a career or even help me be popular in social circles where everyone's talking about what Paula said on American Idol.

Still...it's something I just love.

I'm trying to pass this love of old classic movies on to my children. They do love Shirley Temple...and other old movies with children or animals.
But it helps if it's color or even "Ted Turner-ized" with fake color.
If it's not, my four year old runs screaming from the room, yelling,
"Not black and white!"
(You think I'm making this up, but it's sadly true.)

I shake my head and wonder how she could have my DNA.

For more on old classic movies, you can check out my other blog - which I'm shamefully slow on updating- located on the sidebar.

Back to Springtime...

I didn't want to leave you all shivering in the snow at my last post. So...from mountain snow on Monday, we go to our Thursday and Friday Springtime adventures...

Thursday:

Our home school group went to one of my favorite places- Champoeg Park...a historic area where the first farmland in Oregon was established. They were having a field trip where the first and second graders learned about the history of this area, and how pioneers, farmers and Native Americans lived in the mid-19th century. Here is a picture I took there yesterday...

We visited with my mom, too. The girls giggled with pure joy as the breeze blew down cherry blossoms in her backyard...

Friday:

Our same home school group had an Easter party this morning! I was on the planning committee, and we mommies were plenty tuckered by the time we were all through! But it was fun, too...I was one of egg-hiders! And let me tell you...we had a lot of eggs to hide! 400 of them!

The weather climbed up to a balmy 78 degrees today! Yes, it did! I feel like, in the course of this short week, our family's gone from visiting the Arctic Circle to the Hawaiian islands! Today, is an absolute beautiful Spring day...if I wasn't so exhausted, I'd want to wax poetic. But as it is, I just feel like I need a nap!
But I can't...the girls are now playing in the sprinkler, and really, I have to admit...it's just too beautiful out to sleep!

One final note:

This has been one of my busiest weeks ever. In fact, this whole calendar month is covered with writing and plans...from my littlest girl's upcoming birthday party- my anniversary- wedding showers...to a million and one other things vying for my attention.
But as I come into this weekend, I don't want to lose sight of what Easter really means. Last year, I attended the most moving Passion Play that I have ever witnessed. God so touched me during this portrayal of his birth, life, death and Resurrection. Something about a scene where Jesus welcomed the children and even played Hide and Seek with them for a moment, touched a part of my heart in a way I can't fully explain.
Although I know it might not be quite the same, we bought the DVD of that service and I plan on watching it tomorrow evening with my family.
I plan on making myself stop for a moment before Easter Sunday to reflect on Him and the incredible love He lavished on each of us.

A Blessed Easter Weekend to all of you!