Friday, January 29, 2010

The Old Man at Michaels


First, a confession must be made. I really am not a fan of old people. At least I haven't been in the past. Since my sweet Papo passed away a couple years ago that has changed for me but normally I would do what I could to avoid them. They are slow, go on and on about things and really just take too much time.

The last few weeks of my Papo's life I got to spend quite a bit of time with him. He, sadly, was not completely aware of my presence but the moments he was aware it was a sweet time.

After that, because I think I miss him, I found that old people weren't that much of a bother and probably someone's grandmother or grandfather.

Now to the story of The Old Man at Michaels.

On my way home the other day I decided to run into Michaels to purchase supplies to make my mom's birthday gift. I only had a few minutes because the kids were at home and it was almost time for Jackson's pre-school to start. Lunches needed to be made and he needed to get dressed all before 12:30. I walked over to the scrapbook section and there I saw an old man looking at letter stickers. It looked as if his wife had sent him into the store to buy some letters for her. He looked overwhelmed and confused at the number of stickers available for purchase. I remember thinking, don't go down that aisle or he'll ask you a ton of questions. So I tried to avoid it as much as I could. Finally, after all my shopping was done he was still there in the same spot still looking confused. So as I walked down the aisle I walked past him and said something like, "Lots to choose from". Of course, he immediately started talking to me. He told me of his project to make a sign for the Pikes Peak Grille off of Garden of the Gods. He said, pointing to his black hat, that they helped WWII/Korea Vets with lunches on Tuesdays. His hat showed that he himself was a WWII and Korean Veteran and it was obvious he was proud about that fact.

He proceeded to show me a picture of himself in a uniform and his National WWII Memorial official card. He told me he spoke at TCA's annual Veteran program and that he was helping the General at Ft. Carson with the Korean Memorial on post. He said that the General was from the Phillipines and that in 1945 when he was stationed in the Phillipines he helped rescue a POW camp. The General was born in 1947 in the Phillipines and said that his father was one of the prisoners this old man had rescued. He cried and cried as he told me. He reminded me so much of my Papo I could hardly believe it. He hangs out at Peaks Grille. We're going to go there for sure to find him and see if he is lonely or if he has a family. I can't remember his name because I'm absolutely horrible at that.

It was a blessed moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Footstool



Not crazy about the new fabric but it was very inexpensive. I will look for prettier fabric this garage sale season. But for now I'm happy. It was good practice. Corners are very hard!
Does anyone know how to post pictures without the text doing that crazy thing?

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Rubberbands be gone...and the post where I say finally excessively.

Woo Hoo! My kitchen cabinet hinges are now fixed after several years. We found the right hinges finally and were finally able to fix the broken ones-finally. It's amazing to have cabinets that will close, FINALLY. La La La....

Thursday, January 21, 2010

My Valentine Day Tree.




This is the tree I keep up year round. I like the lights and it's fun to celebrate the different seasons/holidays. Not much on Valentine Day unless it involves a night away with my love and dinner at a fun chic cafe somewhere. Otherwise, I see it as a complete waste of energy for the many single girls and lonely wives. Worrying whether or not their husband/boyfriend will remember and give flowers. I used to be like that until I realized my husband does nice things for me all year round to show that he loves me- Valentines Day is an excuse to have one more date night that month and for that I'm excited. Of course, if it does involve chocolates, flowers or smoochy cards I will not mind, I just will not be disappointed if it doesn't. Something about 17 years of being married I finally know Les. He's not one to draw attention or be sappy. That's fine with me. I'll take consistent love, favors, and support 365 days a year and not one big flourished display.

But alas, (I said, alas) I will be fine with a tree with hearts on it from Hobby Lobby- can not beat the deal of 10 hearts for 2.75- to celebrate this day. I will smooch him one or two more times on the 14th just for good measure and will be sad for my friends who get their panties in a wad when the flowers do not arrive.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

I am amazed at people's generous nature in

times of urgent need. It seems that people are very visual in recognizing need and emotional in responding. I hate that Hurricane Katrina is categorized as a time of "non-giving" and compassion. So many people gave their time and money to help rebuild New Orleans. Yes, sadly, the government did not respond well and in all practical purposes failed. That's why I'm so completely and utterly confused as to why people want to give more to the government and expect them to somehow save them. They've proven in many different administrations to be completely inept at providing basic services. How can they handle crisis? Or a trillion dollar health care program? I read horror stories of aid being sent over from foreign countries only to rot in boxes because they couldn't be used and distributed by the government. There are so many stories out there of the government's complete and utter incompetency-WHY?

I see such strength and resolve in the human spirit. In the AMERICAN spirit. If people gave like this on a daily basis to faith based organizations there would be no need for the government to step up. The poor could be cared for, the homeless sheltered, the hungry fed and the sick cared for.

Let's be more generous. Let's be more giving. Let's not look to the government to help those around us and those in foreign countries.

Monday, January 18, 2010

This Valentine Day

This Valentine Day I will think about the greatest love of all.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

I pray this Valentine Day you find the greatest love of all. Jesus

Friday, January 15, 2010

I would like to declare

that I am officially a nerd.

Let me start with example number one....

About 2 months ago I went to a meeting at my daughter's school. It was dark when I arrived at the school so I decided to park in a lot that was closer to the door but required me to walk up a rocky incline. (See how I say, "rocky incline" so that it sounds more important?) Of course I tripped up the hill. While I was walking up the hill and tripping I also happened to be on the phone with my cousin Rose. I made some type of noise like, whooooaaaaaa, or other weird vowel and consonant combination and disconnected the phone call. Thankfully, my cousin Rose thought well enough of me to call me back...just in case I was dead or something. At this same meeting 2 months later the director announced that they were putting in extra security lighting. She proceeded to look at me and point out that the main reason was because I had tripped up the rocky incline. Thank you so much director for not only pointing that out but revealing that you had seen said travesty. So thanks to me, there will now be extra lighting in the school parking lot.

Example number two...

A little known fact about me is that I love to follow certain unsolved crimes. The latest one that has caught my attention is the Baby Gabriel story. Following up on a lead I emailed someone's blog who might have a possible connection to the story. Like I was seriously going to solve this crime from my computer. It obviously was not a real clue and pretty much a dead end- but hey, I could have solved the crime and would have been a hero. I'm so extremely humiliated. I wish I could take back my email.

Example number three...

Nope. Not going to do it. Not going to share number three. You'll just have to guess.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Sometimes I hate my job.

If you do not have a child with a reading disability you need to thank the Lord. It's the most frustrating problem I have ever encountered. I help children with reading difficulties. Sometimes the despair and frustration is too much. It's overwhelmingly frustrating to see a child struggle with something that is automatic for so many others. It's like watching someone with one leg trying to walk or someone with no hands trying to open a door. It seems absolutely impossible.

I'll admit there are days that stand out as good days. Days where the reading seems fluid, the ideas seem to come together, and the process of learning to read almost realized. Those are the good days. You can see it on their faces. They feel as if they have conquered a giant and are standing proud. Those days I feel privileged to be apart of the process. Those days are like honey. Days like today where a student can't remember the /u/ sound or forgets what a syllable is or just doesn't even care about reading, those days are like poison.

My heart melts and my brain freezes. I feel like a hurdle instead of a help.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Trying hard and now doing

Does it not seem that trying hard is a relative oxymoron. As my buddy Yoda would say from Star Wars. Do or do not- there is no try. Perhaps what I meant in my last post is that being a good mom, wife, etc., are important goals for me. I evaluate how well I do on a daily basis.

I fall far from the mark on most days. Will not bore you with the details but let's just say my tongue moves faster than my brain. My children have heard un-motherly sounding tones come from my mouth and I have rolled my eyes at my husband once too many.

Lately, I've been thinking that the reason I get so frustrated is because there is a gap between 'what I feel should have been achieved' and 'what has been achieved'. The hard part is realizing that what I felt should have been achieved is in no way realistic or possible.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Trying hard

I'm trying hard to stay on schedule. I'm trying hard to stay on budget. I'm trying hard to be a good mom. I'm trying hard to be a good wife.

I'm trying hard not to be negative. I'm trying hard to look at the bright side. I'm trying hard to make good decisions.

I'm trying hard to be organized. I'm trying hard to clean my house properly. I'm trying hard.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Vintage Jewelry





Anyone have any idea where to get vintage jewelry appraised? I finally went through my Mother-in-law's jewelry box. Here are some pretty cool pieces-

Shh! My life is too noisy

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Would like to grow... just add quiet reflection

It seems as if God draws me closer to Him through trials. I'd liked to learn how to draw closer to God through quiet reflection and study of His word instead of through trials and tribulation. Do you think that's possible? So many illustrations point to the potter and the work that the potter does. He stretches and shapes the clay with pressure and sometimes has to begin again. Or what about the illustration of iron being sharpened. That in order for the blade to be sharp it has to be heated and shaved. It seems as if there is no easy way to grow. Only through difficult growth can we move forward.

Except, there are people I know who seem to not face any trials. They seem to be growing. They seem to be closer to God than the last time we talked. How is that? I want some of that. Some of that quiet reflection that brings me closer to being like Jesus. I'd prefer not to experience pain though. At least for a year. Let's have this be a pain-free year but still lots of spiritual growth. Do you think that's possible?

Friday, January 1, 2010

2010 January 1st

Well, here we go. The beginning of not only a new year but a new decade. What will this decade bring? At the beginning of this decade we did not have Jackson. We did not have our dog. We didn't even live in this house. We had different cars and went to a different church. We didn't have a teenager in the house.

This blog was non-existent. In fact, I think our email account was relatively new, maybe 2 or 3 years? I had 3 more grandparents than I do now.

I worked full-time and now I stay home with our kids working whenever I want. I didn't have a Master's degree and you could take liquids on an airplane.

I wonder what this new decade will hold. Any ideas? The year will 2020. Lauren will be 23, Emily will be 21 and Jackson will be 15. It's totally possible by the end of this decade we will be grandparents. Mind boggling.