Coffee and Chocolate

2011-05-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! they'd advertise – you know!

How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog – 
To tell one's name – the livelong June – 
To an admiring Bog!

--Emily Dickinson

2010-10-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

My Latest Project

I've gone back to work this fall, and my creative projects have taken a back seat to teaching 12-15 preschoolers for 7 hours a day. Which is exhausting, btw.

But I've had the urge to make a Professor Sprout costume for the past several years, so I finally did it. Why? Beats me. Maybe I'll wear it for Halloween. Maybe I'll wear it when the new HP movie debuts in November. Maybe I'm just a nerd who likes the idea of having a Prof Sprout costume hanging in my closet in case of emergency. Doesn't really matter. It's done.

Of all the Hogwarts characters, I feel closest to Pomona. In every online Sorting Hat poll I've ever taken, I'm always placed in Hufflepuff. No, I don't have a green thumb, and I try to stay relatively clean. But the rest of her description (as taken from the WikiPotter page) and her attitude towards her students seem to fit me well:

Professor Sprout was described as being a small and squat woman with grey, flyaway hair.^[6] She usually wore a patched and battered hat.^[6] Her clothes were noted to almost always be covered in dirt and earth, as were her dirty fingernails.^[6] Sprout also almost always had a smile on her face.^[6]

Professor Sprout was noted to be very cheerful, positive and loyal,^[6] but was also very professional and just and would chide her students if necessary.^[38] Thus, Sprout possessed all of the virtues and aspects belonging to Hufflepuff House. She was kind and nurturing to the students...

Besides, I got to make a baby Mandrake root. I found the most gosh-awful looking baby doll at a thrift store, poked a giant hole in its head, shoved fake greenery in it, covered in in dirt and threw it in a pot. Score!!!

The brown graduation robe was also a thrift store find. The pattern for the hat? 99 cents at a Hancock's sale. The Mandrake label? Printed off someone else's blog. All-in-all, a fairly reasonably priced bit of silliness. Yes, I know I need earmuffs. A pair is on its way via Ebay as I type.

What do you think?

2010-08-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

"The Kids Are All Right" a review:
Spoiler Alert!!!

My husband and I just returned from seeing the new movie, "The Kids Are All Right" starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. The plot is basically this:

A long married couple has 2 teenagers fathered from a sperm donor. The kids get curious about him, and initiate contact. He has no family, and soon is enjoying being apart of theirs. Soon he and the kids' mom have an affair, which the family finds out about. Here the plot thickens. Will Mom run off with him or return to her family? She decides to return to her family, full of remorse and begging for forgiveness and admitting her behavior was wrong. She gives an impassioned speech about how marriage is a marathon; it's not easy slogging through life with the same person. Marriage takes commitment and forgiveness. In the end, all is forgiven and the family is a happy unit once again.

Amazing to see a Hollywood movie preaching the sanctity of marriage and the importance of keeping vows, isn't it? Well, here's the rub. The married couple in the film are not man and wife, they are lesbians. Why did Hollywood feel it was important to make the couple lesbians and not straight? The answer, I believe, is Hollywood's agenda.

There are countless Hollywood films about married spouses having extra-marital affairs, finding themselves, being true to their bliss, or whatever. Rarely, if ever, does the wayward spouse return begging for forgiveness. So why show it now in this movie? I believe Hollywood feels the need to present gays/lesbians in the most positive light possible, and that includes showing them as ideal committed, loyal, forgiving, loving spouses, and not as flawed, selfish human beings, as all people are.

This movie would have been just as powerful if the main characters were straight. Here's how that plot summary would have worked:

A long married couple has 2 teenagers fathered from a sperm donor. The kids get curious about him, and initiate contact. He has no family, and soon is enjoying being apart of theirs. Soon he and the kids' dad have an affair, which the family finds out about. Here the plot thickens. Will Dad run off with him or return to his family? He decides to return to his family, full of remorse and begging for forgiveness and admitting his behavior was wrong. He gives an impassioned speech about how marriage is a marathon; it's not easy slogging through life with the same person. Marriage takes commitment and forgiveness. In the end, all is forgiven and the family is a happy unit once again.

But I believe Hollywood can't go there and here's why. Hollywood can't admit that people have a choice about gay/lesbian behavior; you're born that way. Period. To make a movie where Dad or Mom has a same sex fling, realizing it hurts the family, having remorse about it, and begging for forgiveness is inconceivable in Hollywood. People have to be able to find their bliss, especially if that means participating guilt-free in gay or lesbian activities.

I'm all for Hollywood making a picture which preaches the importance of marriage vows, commitment, love, and forgiveness. I just wish they'd use a heterosexual couple for the message, and not a gay/lesbian one. Hollywood seems to be full of "morality" when presenting homosexuality. I just wish they show it with heterosexuals, too.

2010-05-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

LOST

Yes, I confess, I am a "LOSTIE". I looked forward to the finale with great anticipation, and I was not disappointed. My son-in-law likes to theorize about "Mystics" and "Mechanics", and I'm fairly sure I fall into the "Mystic" category. I take things on faith; I don't crave logical explanations for everything.

I have read volumes of blogs and threads both praising and berating the LOST finale. But the one that best sums up my feelings is this:

I was wrong... it all makes sense now.

Submitted by WhatTheFoucault on 3:03 PM

I was one of the people bashing the finale last night. After processing what I saw, I am still disappointed from an intellectual perspective. There were questions asked that I would have liked to have seen answered. I think the writers did a poor job connecting the mysteries from seasons 1-5 to season 6. The final chapter of Lost had flaws, and last night, many of us had an emotional reaction to those flaws. After all, the mystery of the island became a character. The island's mysteries kept many of us watching for six years.

But...

Today, I rewatched the finale with new lenses. I didn't focus on the mysteries (because I already knew the conclusion). Instead, I focused on the characters. The people. The relationships. And, I have to say, I loved "The End."

Again, you have to forget the island for a minute (I know, that was hard for me to do). Focus on the characters we came to love for six years. Stories of redemption (Ben). Stories of love (Bernard and Rose, Jin and Sun, Desmond and Penny). Stories of forgiveness (Locke). Stories of finding faith in oneself and the universe (Jack). Stories of sacrifice (Charlie and Sayid).

We all die. Lost became a story about faith. So many mysteries will be left unanswered in our lives, but do we believe in something more powerful than ourselves? Do we believe our loved ones will be waiting on the other side of this reality? Do we have the courage to let go of our past to pursue a better future?

I fumed watching the finale last night. I cried watching the finale today. The finale is poetic. Unfulfilling for my mind, but it spoke to my heart. Jack sacrificing for his friends...finally finding faith...finally letting go...and how can you not love Vincent lying by Jack's side as he leaves this world?

Rewatch the episode. Turn off your brain for a couple of hours, and let the true message of Lost penetrate your heart.

Yep.

2010-04-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Another grandbaby means another quilt!

My daughter and her husband had little Lucy a year ago. So for her 1st birthday I made....what else?..an "I Love Lucy" quilt! I didn't want it to scream the classic tv show, so I used the small red and white heart "ILL" logo fabric, along with other coordinating fabrics.

Here's the result.

I think she likes it :-)

2009-10-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

My grandson, who just turned 3, loves the Disney movie "Cars". So for a blanket to keep at my house for his snuggle time when he visits me, I made him a "Cars" quilt.

Now I'm not a talented quilter, but I do enjoy making quilts. And I'm a firm believer that quilts are to be used, not merely displayed. So all those imperfections be darned...have a quilt!!

As of today my grandson has made a tent with it, snuggled on the couch with it while watching "Dora", and hidden under it while I played "Where's Connor?"

I think my quilt is a hit :-)

2009-07-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

We now are safely settled in Louisville. And no, our MN house has not sold yet.

So we are renting a townhouse. It has its pluses and minuses, mainly pluses:

It's much smaller, so it's a breeze to clean. It's a rental, so when something breaks (and it already has), we call maintenance and that's that.

It's close to my new church (another story for another day). It's close to shopping, restaurants, theatres and concerts.

My son's family is 15 minutes away so I see my grandson regularly.

There's a great 1.4 mile walking circuit steps from my front door.

Starbuck's is a 5 minute walk...in 2 directions!!

I'm back with my husband!!!!

I just realized I haven't listed any minuses. Yay!

2009-06-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

I've never thought of it like this before...

I recently took a personality test and learned that I'm a Type 1 (according to this particular version): a perfectionist/idealist who, at my best, wants to encourage myself and those around me do everything correctly, but who, at my worst, is judgmental and impatient. I can get very angry and frustrated. No duh. Tell me something I don't already know.

I've been reading Frederica Mathewes-Green lately. She wrote an insightful piece regarding her own anger, and it hit home:

"But, oh, how sweet is anger. When I'm angry, I'm not in the wrong. Somebody else is in the wrong, and for once I have peace. A delicious peace that gnaws over the wrong like a lion with a ragged bone. It is delicious and compelling enough that it urges me to accumulate other wrongs and hold them greedily close. I love to be wronged; only then, for that brief moment, can I be sure I'm right. It is intoxicating in its sweetness, this brief joy in being right. It is good to be a victim, because victims are sinless."

Ouch.

2009-05-22T05:49:00.000-07:00

As I type this, the countdown to moving to KY is underway:
T minus 17 days.

Things I'll miss in MN:
--this house. Yes, it's huge. But I painted, papered, and designed the remodels for me, and I feel like I'm leaving a close friend. I really don't want to own another house anytime soon. A friend of mine calls our apartment in KY my "grieving house". It's true.
--the summer weather. What more can I say?
--my job. I love the kids and teachers I worked with. I'm amazed at what I've learned about myself and others. I'm grateful for the ways I've been stretched.
--my dance studio. I have never had more fun in my life.
--parts of small town life (parades, lack of traffic, seeing someone you know).
--sitting on my big front porch drinking coffee and reading a book.

Things I won't miss in MN:
--snowblowing.
--being at least an hour away from meaningful civilization (large malls, plays, variety of restaurants, independent films)
--being 11-13 hours away from family members.
--the pig smell

It's hard to believe I'll miss more things/people here in MN than not. God has been very gracious to me here. I wonder what He's got planned for me back in KY?

2009-02-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

My Inspiration

My daughter inspires me. She inspires me to live a simpler life and not live beyond my means. She inspires me to reuse and recycle. And she inspires me to eat a healthy diet.

The first 2 inspirations haven't exactly taken hold yet, but the third has hit home. I want to eat in a responsible, thoughtful, healthy manner. I'm tired of my constant headaches. I'm tired of feeling gross after eating fast food. I'm tired of eating low-fat, low-calorie, low-taste foods and still gaining weight. In short, I'm tired.

After visiting with my daughter at Thanksgiving, and seeing her healthy attitude toward food, it got me thinking. I am a child of the '60's and '70's. Everything my mom cooked was made from Velveeta, cream of mushroom soup, Jell-o, or dry onion soup. (don't read their ingredients...) So of course, that's how I cooked; brain-dead, on autopilot, without considering if that stuff was really even edible.

I also heard Gov. Huckabee talk about his wake-up call to healthy eating. He summed it up like this: "I often tell people a couple of basic rules of nutrition: One is, if it wasn't a food 100 years ago, it probably isn't a food today. Secondly, if it comes through the car window, it isn't food."

So I've decided to teach this old dog some new tricks. Each week, I'll add one new nutritious change to my daily diet. This week, I gave up caffeine. No more coffee, chocolate, or pop. I decided to do it this week because I had the week off from work and if I was going to suffer headaches, I figured I should be home. But, I'm happy to report, no withdrawal headaches!

Next week, I'll begin each day with 2 eggs, not cereal or a PopTart. Next, I'll cut out all refined flours and sugars. Along the way I'll add more fresh fruits and veggies, and try out one new healthy recipe per week. I baked an acorn squash yesterday (first time in my life), with NO syrup or brown sugar on it. Just real butter. It was delicious.

Will I lose weight? Beats me. That's not the main reason I'm changing my ways. (But if it's an added benefit, I won't complain) No, I just want to feel better and enjoy real food again. And taking Gov Huckabee's advice, I'd like to learn how my great-grandmother cooked real food 100 years ago.

One downside, I guess I'll have to change the title of my blog...any suggestions?

P.S. Thanks Jessie!!!

2008-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

Self Confidence

I have never been a confident person. In fact, I'm rather tense, unsure and frightened most of the time. I suppose that springs from a combination of factors. My folks, bless their hearts, did the best they could. But my dad was an impatient volatile person who usually did the job himself to save the time it would take to teach me how to do it. And if I ever fell short of his standards on a job he gave me, I heard about it....loudly. My mom was the polar opposite. She was, and is, a "helicopter mom". She let me know by words and deeds that I was not competent to do a job on my own; she needed to be there to pick up the inevitable pieces and help me complete the task. So between the two of them, my parents taught me that I was incapable of completing a job well, and that I really shouldn't even try.

So I completed high school as an average student. (Why try hard if you're sure you'll fail?) I graduated college with a BA in Archaeology. (It's safer to major in something you'll never use, and therefore, never fail at.) I married my first real boyfriend. (Because no one else would ever really want me, right?) How we've managed to stay married for 25 years is a testament to my husband's character more than mine.

You see, besides raising me to believe I was useless without her, my mother also taught me that men are not dependable and are basically useless, too. So when I got married, I was very scared. If I am an incompetent boob and so is my husband, who can I rely on? Oh yes...Mom. So instead of developing a tight and trusting relationship with my husband, I spent the first 20 years of my marriage turning to my mom for advice and strength, totally unaware of the poisonous effect she was having on me and my family.

But God is gracious. In 2002 He moved us to Kentucky, 700 miles away from my mom. It was hard. I was depressed. But I slowly learned to lean on my husband for support, and not my mom. And with that distance, I began to see my mom for who she really is. Then in 2005, we moved to Minnesota, still 700 miles away from Mom. While in Minnesota my husband was away on business often. And for 2 years he was away every other weekend getting his MBA . So for the 4 winters I've spent in Minnesota, I've spent 3 of them basically on my own. And while it's been difficult, I am grateful for the experience. Because for the first time in my life, I've had to trust in my own intelligence and experience during emergencies like pipes freezing and bursting, the refrigerator failing, the basement flooding, 12 inches of snow needing to be shoveled, driving in horrendous conditions, and basic loneliness. I have not handled all these situations well, but I'm getting better :)

I also went back to college this fall and took a remedial Algebra class. (When I struggled with it in high school, I received no encouragement to conquer it.) I'm also taking tap dance lessons, something I've always wanted, but was never allowed to do. Ballet? Yes. Tap? No. I guess Mom wanted me to be a Pavlova, but in my heart, I'm really a Ruby Keeler!

My next challenge? Conquering my fear of flying...

So at nearly 49 years old, I'm finally developing some self -confidence, and working through several very old and deep-seated demons. I'm just sorry it took so darned long to get here. I'm also sorry to my husband and kids that I wasn't a better person and role model for all those years. But mostly I'm grateful to God's grace and patience, without which none of this would be happening.

2008-12-14T18:17:00.000-08:00

Cutest Little Boy in the Whole World!!!!!

Connor, my grandson, was here over Thanksgiving. He's just over 2 years old, and yammering up a storm, although 90% of what he says is totally undecipherable. He found a disconnected rotary phone on our 3rd floor, and had a "conversation":

2008-11-30T14:02:00.000-08:00

Best Thanksgiving Week Ever!!

Yes, my husband still lives in Louisville with our middle son and his family while I wait here in Minnesota for our youngest to graduate from high school and our monster house to sell. But all my lonesomeness came to a glorious end this past week when Joe and gang drove in from KY to spend 6 days here, and my daughter and son-in-law drove in from OK and spent 4 days here!
I had a wonderful time playing with my grandson, hugging my hubby, catching up with the kids, playing Scrabble, Yahtzee, Apples to Apples, attempting a ridiculously difficult 550 piece jigsaw puzzle, and generally laughing a lot.
Don't know when we all will be together again, but it was sweet while it lasted!

2008-08-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

Reflections

I know it's not New Year's Day, but I'm in a reflective mood non-the-less. Many changes are coming this fall:

My husband, having been jobless since January, has found a new job...in Louisville. He'll begin after Labor Day. I'll stay here until next summer.

Our youngest is beginning his senior year of high school. My baby...

Speaking of babies, I'm to be a grandmother again in April. Congrats Jessie and Norman!

Our house rehab is nearly finished. This is a great house. A friend called it my "Charlie Brown" house, because all it needed was "a little love". Now we have to sell it...

But I am very blessed: my husband has a job, my family is healthy, we have a home, we have a hopeful future...whatever may come. Life is full of curves, some good..some not so good. It's comforting to trust a good God Who has it all under control.

2008-06-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

Weather Wars: Oklahoma vs Minnesota

I know I whine a lot about the winters here in Minnesota. Let's face it, being from Oklahoma I'm just not prepared for winters lasting from mid-November to early-May. This past year, snow fell the first week of December, and I didn't see the ground again until April! I drove to Tulsa in mid-April where it was 60-70 daily, and when I returned home, the lakes here were still frozen over :(

True, Tulsa gets some nasty ice storms, usually between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But you can count on a week of 70's in January, spring arriving in late-February, and just one more snow storm in mid-March, covering up the jonquils and redbuds already in bloom. Make that snowman fast because it will melt the next day, when the temperature hits 65.

Growing up in Oklahoma, I learned that tornado season ran from early-April until mid-May. But here in Fairmont, it's pushed into late-May and June. I guess it takes a while for all that Gulf moisture to make its way north...

The wonderful upside of living in Minnesota is the summer. Yes, it doesn't truly arrive until late-May, and is only around until mid-September, but oh, it is glorious! Here it is, June 26th, and I just turned on the air-conditioner this season. And it probably won't need to run for too many weeks. Whereas in Tulsa, the air goes on in May (sometimes April), and runs continuously until October.

So I suppose my ideal climate is an odd mix of Tulsa winters/springs and Fairmont summers/falls. If anybody knows where such a place exists, please let me know.

2008-02-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hallelujah, it's never too late to learn....

It's been a while since my last post, but I've been busy with my new job. I was a para at an elementary school in a neighboring town last year, but took this past fall off to focus on family. Then, near the end of December, an ad appeared for an aide position locally. I applied, but didn't get the job :(
But, I was offered the aide position of the gal who did get the advertised position, as they were promoting from within.

At first I was a little scared; I was to be in 5th and 6th grade math classes. Yes, I graduated from high school and yes, I have a BA in Archaeology from a reputable college. But anyone who knows me knows that a series of unfortunate events in my youth left me believing that I am a math idiot. But I have been given a second chance...

Standing in the back of these classes I have learned (or re-learned) how to find percentages, fractions, and decimals. I have discovered the beauty and logic in geometric shapes, which I did not see in 10th grade when I was doing (or failing to do) "proofs". I can solve for "n", which escaped my grasp in 9th grade algebra. I now know how to slide, reflect, and rotate images on a grid. Did you know that "of" means multiply? I didn't, but I do now! I feel reborn. I look forward to each day, and to the concepts I will, finally, grasp.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the most beautiful part of being in the educational field; as you help others learn, you learn so much more yourself.

2007-11-26T12:42:00.000-08:00

Doesn't anybody say "I 'm sorry" anymore?

I have gone to 2 Hallmark stores, 2 drugstores, and 1 grocery store in search of a generic "I'm sorry" card, and found NOTHING!

Yes, there are a few "I'm sorry, darling" cards for the spouse, but not even a category where the general "I'm sorry" cards would be . I don't get it. Surely there are plenty of others out there like me who blow it on a weekly (if not daily) basis, and need a card to tell the other person "Yes, I blew it. Please forgive me." or even "OK, we're never going to see eye-to-eye on this, but can't we still be friends?"

Has our society sunk so low as to offer an abundance of cards from the dog, cards congratulating a divorce, sympathy cards on the death of a pet, but no cards admitting we're wrong and need forgiveness? I guess so...

2007-10-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a fabulous anniversary trip with my hubby. We drove across southern Minnesota and South Dakota to visit Mt Rushmore for the very first time. We figured we'd never live closer to it than we do now, so what the heck!

On the way we stopped at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, and the infamous Wall Drug Store in Wall, SD.

We lucked out and saw Mt Rushmore just before it was covered in fog! We enjoyed our stay in Hill City, SD, and antique shopping in Rapid City.

I bought some Highland Grog coffee beans from this great little coffee shop in Hill City..yummm...

2007-08-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Minnesota State Fair!!

After being in Minnesota for 2 years, I finally made my way up the "The Cities" to the State Fair. Lots to see, lots of "things-on-a-stick" to eat, but by far the best part was the Weird Al concert. I've been a fan for years, and last saw Al in person in Tulsa with his "Running with Scissors" tour. As always, his concert was a wild mix of silliness, nostalgia, amazingly quick changes, and crowd sing-alongs.

We also did a history walk all around the fairgrounds, learning all kinds of interesting facts, including that Teddy Roosevelt gave his "speak softly but carry a big stick" speech at the grandstand.

We saw a second "Al" while at the fair...Al Franken, making his run for public office.

And of course we got more than our "fair" share of freebies, including pins, rulers, hats, paper fans, and writing implements! All in all, a great trip!

2007-06-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

Back to Oklahoma again, but this year it was not for a graduation or a wedding, but "TULSARAMA" and the opening of a time capsule. It seems that 50 years ago, on Oklahoma's 50th anniversary of statehood, a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was buried in front of Tulsa's City Hall, to be dug up 50 years later...June of 2007. Unfortunately, water had seeped into the concrete casket over the years, and "Ms Belvedere" didn't age well. In fact, she was a rusted-out shell of a mess. But the event was a blast, and seeing the family again was the best part. Oh, and if you haven't tried it yet, order a "BK Mocha Joe" from Burger King. Nothing like iced coffee in the summer...

2007-05-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Another May brings another graduation. This time it was Joe's turn. After 2 long years of driving to "The Cities" every other weekend, he finished his MBA at the University of Minnesota. I couldn't be prouder of him. As I type this he's down in our kitchen tearing out 100 year-old plaster as he continues our remodel. We hope to have the new kitchen completed by early July. More pix to follow...

2007-04-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Does this picture look familiar? No, I did not re-post last November's picture again today. This photo was taken this morning! I like snow, I really do. But only when it's supposed to exist... December, January, February, etc. Not, I repeat, not April!

I'm reminded of a song from "7 Brides for 7 Brothers":

In November the snow starts to fly;

Piling up, ankle high.
Come December it's up to your knee,
Still the bride's a bride to be.
January, deeper still,
To the parlor window sill.
February brings a drift,

And a storm that seems never to lift.
March comes in like a lion, what else?
Still the snow never melts.
April showers will come so they say,
But they don't, and it's May.
You're about to forget the whole thing;
All at once, one day, it's Spring!

The weathermen are promising 60 degrees by next week. I'll believe it when I feel it. In the meantime, heat up the coffee...

2007-04-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

My birthday was last month, and I've been looking back at my life and assessing what I've learned over the past 47 years...

--I've learned that a person's ability to show integrity, respect, and friendship is not related to his level of education, wealth, or social standing. That flies in the face of everything I was taught growing up, and I am ashamed of my preconceived notions and prejudices toward the poor, less educated, and mentally challenged. I have been humbled by such wonderful folks I have been blessed to know as I worked in ESL and the public schools. They are open, honest and have no agendas but friendship, sharing the smallest piece of whatever they have. They have taught me more that I have ever taught them.

--I've learned that I should get to know a person before passing judgement on their character. Relying on someone else's opinion to shape mine is dangerous, foolish, and too often, a wasted opportunity to get to know a really amazing person. I regret passing over certain people in my life because I listened to another's low opinion of them.

--After 23.5 years of marriage, I've learned that being in a lasting marriage has little to do with "finding the right person" or "being happy". It's about commitment and endurance; not quitting when it gets hard or ugly. It's about forgiveness and being mature enough to realize that I am not the center of the universe, nor do I always have to be right or have the last word. That's still hard for me, but I'm trying.

--I've learned that my job as a parent is to work myself out of a job. I have 18 years with each child to instill values in them and to parent them. Then my time is up. There are no "do-overs". When my kids enter adulthood and make a poor choice, it is their responsibility. It is not my fault; I cannot take the blame; neither should I interfere. Similarly, when they make a good choice, that, too, is their responsibility. I cannot take the credit. I cannot live vicariously through my children. Neither should I wallow in "what could have been". When the apron strings are cut, my kids then become my friends...my peers, and I ought to treat them accordingly.

--I've learned that anyone, including old friends, trusted clergy, and close relatives can turn on me (despite promises and protestations to the contrary) when they believe their power base is threatened. A relative once told me that "No one cares, not really, except family. And they only care because they have to." But the harsh reality of a sin-filled world is: when push comes to shove, even a family member will betray my trust if they think they can justify it. I know that I, too, am capable of such behavior, and every morning I wake up praying not to be that kind of person.

What will this next year hold for me? I haven't the foggiest...nor do I want to know. I just pray that amid what comes I continue to learn and grow as a person, becoming a woman who listens a little better, says a little less, keeps confidences better, and respects others more.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, o Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

2007-01-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Disneyworld!!

Joe, Henry and I had a blast! If I live to be 100, I will always adore the Disney experience. And to those fundamentalist Christians who think that Disney only caters to gays, they should have heard the Christmas concert at Epcot. We listened as Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump) read the Christmas story from the Bible, heard a 100-voice choir sing a dozen carols, ending with the Hallelujah Chorus, and watched with joy as the crowd rose to honor it.

My favorite rides remain Pirates of the Caribbean (the addition of Capt. Jack Sparrow is great), The Living Seas, The Haunted Mansion, and the Teacups. We also went to Mickey's Philharmagic (a new 3-D movie). It was amazing, and is now a new favorite. I even braved Test-Track at EPCOT, and loved it! (Even though I screamed the entire time).

The only disappointments were the "New" Tikki Room (the old one was much better), and the fact that at the end of It's a Small World, they've removed the "Sa-Waht! Dee Krahp" sign from the exit. Sigh...

By the way, the coffee at the Italian restaurant in Italy at EPCOT was superb...

2006-12-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

2006 in Review...

Here's a quick recap of the past 12 months in the life of the Taylors:

-January 2006. We finally finished redoing the main bath on the 2nd floor. We call it the "blue bath" for obvious reasons.

-May 2006. Jessie and Norman both graduated from University of Oklahoma with honors and as Phi Beta Kappa.

-June 2006. Jake and his fiance, Maddie, both graduated from Oldham High School in Kentucky. Jessie and Norman got married in Norman, Oklahoma. They live there now, while Norman gets his Masters in Economics from OU.

-July-August 2006. We kept working on the house, installing a vintage phone booth in the den, finishing the powder room on the first floor, and nearly finishing the dining room.

-September 2006. I started a new job as a 2nd grade classroom aide at an elementary school nearby. Joe began the final year of his MBA, with an overseas trip and graduation in Spring 2007. Jake and Maddie gave birth to Connor, our first grandbaby.

-November 2006. We spent Thanksgiving in Kentucky with Jake, Maddie, and Connor. Henry got his driver's permit!

-December 2006. As nearly "empty-nesters", we decided to give Henry a treat and spend the holidays in Orlando! (I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas!).

There will be plenty of time in 2007 to enjoy a cup of coffee at the new Starbuck's in town...

2006-11-27T16:46:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2006...absolutely fabulous!!

We traveled from Minnesota to Kentucky and back, seeing the new grandbaby and 2 of my brothers and their families along the way. The weather was gorgeous, the food at everyone's homes delicious, and the memories sweet. (The coffee and chocolate at John and Mir's really hit the spot!)

But holding my first grandchild was amazing. He's very calm and laid back (much like his parents) and has a sweet disposition. Feeding him was pure joy; but talking nonsense to him and watching him struggle to reply was the best!

This morning I returned to the elementary school where I work refreshed and ready to spend time with other little kids who need some of the love, care, and silliness I have to offer.

2006-11-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

November in Southern Minnesota

I woke up this morning to the first real snow of the season. About 2 inches on the ground with 3-4 more inches due today. It's a really pretty snow...very heavy and drippy on the trees. Not like the snow we'll get in January...the fine powdery stuff that tears at your face when the temps are in the teens. Today's snow is perfect for snowball fights and snowmen. And it's a good thing the elementary school where I work is out today for parent/teacher conferences. So instead of driving in this thick slushy stuff, I can enjoy it from inside my warm and cozy house while drinking a third cup of coffee...