Our Christmas Tree Star

When I was 8 1/2 years old we moved from San Diego, California to Kansas City, Missouri. We were there a few months, and around the time I turned nine we moved to nearby Independence, Missouri. The moving company had added extra charges and fees to our bill and we were not able to get our furniture for a few months. We sat on wood orange crates and slept on mattresses on the floor.

When Christmas came, we could not afford much, but we had a tree and some inexpensive lights and ornaments. We had nothing to put on the top of the tree, so my dad made a star. It was nothing fancy. He cut a star out of heavy black construction paper. He cut a hole in the middle for a yellow light to go through. Finally he covered the black star with a pretty matte gold wrapping paper (not the bright shining foil wrap, but it had sparkle to it).

Over the years my mom's and dad's finances improved and we added lots of pretty ornaments, but since 1966 nothing else has ever topped my family's Christmas tree.

It's an Aardvark!

I am going to talk about some of my favorite Christmas memories in my next few blog posts.

One of my favorite Christmases involved an aardvark!

One year when my sister and I were in our early teens, I asked her (jokingly--I never really want to know) what she had gotten me for Christmas. She said, "It's an aardvark." For a few years after that, every birthday and Christmas one of us would ask the other what the other had gotten for her, and we would answer, "It's an aardvark." Then, when I was 17 or 18 and she was 15 or 16, I found a stuffed aardvark toy at Sears! Diana asked me again that year what I had gotten her, and I responded, "It's an aardvark." The look on Diana's face when she opened the gift and saw "Artie" the aardvark inside was priceless!

The Cat is Always Greener... er, Oh Something Like That!

Our dog Cubbie likes to go with me to check the mail. I keep him on a leash, as he gets very excited if not on it and jumps on me. Our cat Tony comes with us. Ever since Tony's brother Carlos died, Tony wants more attention from Cubbie. For some reason though, Cubbie usually ignores Tony on our walk to and from the mailbox. He is too busy looking at things elsewhere.

Today Cubbie could not be bothered with the cat who was right in his face (literally) because he noticed the two cats across the road. He gave all his attention to them, and if I had let him loose I am sure he would have run over there to chase them. Never mind that there was a cat right there, ready to play with him, he wanted to go play with the neighbor's cats.

Isn't that just like us sometimes? The old saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" (about horses) really does apply to a lot of people. We often cannot be satisfied with what we have. What other people have often looks so much better than what we have. Is it though? Sometimes maybe it is. Over all though, grass is grass, and what we have is perfectly fine. Better to enjoy what you have than to lose it while yearning for something you don't.

My Personal Prayer Goals for the Remainder of 2009

I pray every day, and I pray for a lot of people. I decided the other day to pick three of the things I pray for every day and list them as my personal prayer goals for the end of this year. I called them my personal prayer goals even though they include James, as we are married and are "one," so we are both affected by the outcome.

By December 31, 2009, I pray that these three things will come to fruition:

1. James will get a great job, doing something he loves. A job that will pay good money, but more importantly will be good for him and will utilize his many talents. Also that I will move forward with my jewelry-making and sewing and that they will sell well on eBay.

2. We will be financially secure.

3. We will get to meet our newest grandson Thomas, and that we will get to spend some good time with the rest of the family.

I don't really know why I felt led to write them down like that, as I pray for those things every day anyway, but I just felt I needed to separate them from the other things I pray for. I keep a Bible study journal, and I have a list of those I am praying for in the front. So I just wrote these down on another page, to focus on when I am done praying for everyone else.

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Ooooh, it is raining now! Thank you Jesus!

All Creatures Great and Small... They Are All Creatures of Habit

I hear it said all the time that people are creatures of habit, and that is true. We're not the only ones though. I saw a perfect example of this yesterday. First the "players." Cubbie is our almost three year old (in December) German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix. He seems almost small to me most of the time (for a shepherd that is), but most people think he is huge. Tony is an average-sized orange semi-long-haired tabby cat who will be two years old in February.

Cubbie, Tony, and I have developed a fairly regular routine on most days. I put Cubbie on his leash and we go out to check the mail. Tony trots alongside Cubbie out to the mailbox, then as we slowly walk back to the house (stopping for a doggie potty break or just to sniff and dawdle) Tony runs in front of Cubbie, through his legs, and over to me for a scratch on the head.

Yesterday, without even thinking about it, I threw the routine off, and it was Tony who reminded me of it. It was too early for the mail, so Cubbie and I walked around to the back of the house to turn the water on. Tony didn't see where we went. As I was turning the water on I heard Tony. He was out by the mailbox, meowing and looking for Cubbie and me! I called to him, and at first he couldn't see me. I called to him again, and as soon as he saw us he ran back to join us.

Being a creature of habit, as we all are, when he couldn't find us Tony went to the place he knew we always go.

Two of the Saddest Things I Have Ever Seen

Two of the saddest things I have ever seen happened quite some time ago. One was probably around 30 years ago and the second was 13 years ago. The first was something I read in the newspaper and the second was something I witnessed first-hand.

I read in the paper that one of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury, was going to speak at the Carlsbad Library. I would have loved to go, but even if I could have gone the article I read probably would have kept me from going. It was a very short article, and I don't remember most of it. Only one thing from that article stands out in my mind. When he was asked about taking questions, Mr. Bradbury said that he never answered questions. He said that the "questions are always stupid." Hopefully he rethought that as time went by, but I have always thought that was an incredibly sad thing to have thought and said.

The second thing was something that happened when I was substitute teaching. I subbed at all the schools in the Vista Unified School District, especially the elementary schools. One of the schools I subbed at was a science and technology (or math and science?) magnet school. I loved teaching there! There were so many creative ideas flowing through there, and subbing there was always interesting. Then I was given a first or second grade class to teach (I am pretty sure it was first grade). Kids kept raising their hands in different ways. I would call on one of them, and they would tell me that was the signal for sharpening their pencil, using the restroom, etc. Finally I asked, "What do you do when you just want to ask a question?" Twenty or so faces looked blankly at me. Then I heard one bewildered little voice, "We're not allowed to ask questions."

I almost fainted right then and there! I know that child was not making that up because the whole class was as bewildered as he was when I asked about questions. How could ANY teacher, let alone one in a school that should, above all others, encourage questions not allow questions in her classroom?! I let them know that they were free to ask me anything they wanted all day, and boy did they ever! They asked me questions about me, about math, about bugs, about everything, and they got all the answers I could give them.

I can only hope that none of that teacher's students lost their love of learning and their natural curiosity because of her. I look back and wish I had reported her. I don't know if it would have done any good, but someone needed to know what that teacher was doing to all the children that were entrusted into her daily care. All I know is that that was one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed.

Our Dog, Sister Bertrille

Our dog Cubbie is so adorable! He is at least half German Shepherd and we think half Rottweiler. He is very German Shepherd looking, but his ears rarely stand up. Lately we have been teasing Cubbie because when he is interested in something (like a strange sound, etc.), he cocks his head just slightly to the side, and his ears go to this weird angle that can only be described as looking like the Flying Nun!

He makes me laugh, and that is great! I love my sweet doggie.

Living Among the Thorns

I was reading chapters 12 and 13 in the book of Matthew this morning and I came across a parable most of us have heard many times. It was the parable of the sower, about the seeds falling on different types of ground. Some fell on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. We all know people who are like the different types of ground, but the part that stuck out to me today was the thorny ground.

Matthew 13:22 (NIV) says, "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful." I think way too many of us are living among the thorns. We worry so much about how much (or how little) money we have and how much money we want, and we let that worry keep us from growing the way we should.

From what I have read, worry about money is the number one cause of marital problems and divorce. People commit suicide because they lose their money. Some turn to a life of crime as a way to get more money. Many become gambling addicts because they "feel" the big jackpot is "due." Thorns, choking the possibility of an eternal life in Heaven away from so many people because they cannot see beyond the dollar signs and the checking account.

There is nothing wrong with money. What is wrong is thinking that money is what we need to be happy. We believe that so much that we worry about it. God tells us we are not to worry. He will take care of us. We need to stop worrying and give our fears and our burdens to Him. When we stop worrying about things like money and are freed from the thorns, we can begin to grow again.

Today's Reading--I'm Very Excited!

I decided (felt led, actually) to do something different with my Bible studies some time ago. I felt I needed to learn more about the history behind things that occurred in the New Testament, so I decided to start at the beginning (not what I would ordinarily recommend) and go through the Bible in order. My mind tends to wander, so I always read it aloud, and that has made such a difference in my understanding. I also keep a journal as I read. Sometimes all I write are the chapters I have read, but if a certain scripture moves me, I write about it, or I write interesting facts and ideas I read, etc.

The amazing thing is that even though I sometimes put it off for awhile, a lot of what I read is exactly what I need at that moment. For instance, what I have been reading in the various prophets' books has gone so perfectly with our financial and spiritual situation the last few weeks. I have felt that God has some big plans for our lives and much of what I have read has been very encouraging and confirming.

I have read a lot of the Old Testament over the years, but it has always been in bits and pieces. I knew the familiar stories of Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, Job, Jonah, etc., but I had not often read beyond the main parts. Reading it through like this has been so helpful.

Anyway, I am very excited because I finished the Old Testament today and will begin the New Testament tomorrow. Of course, that doesn't mean that I will never read from the Old Testament again. I plan to read through the Bible as many times as I can before my time here is finished, but I will probably (never say never!) never read it from start to finish again. This time, as I explained, I felt it was what I needed.

By the way, if you have never read the Bible, I would suggest you begin with the book of John, followed by Romans. A very exciting and interesting read!

Our Adorable Thomas is a Star!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eftD5pte6qk

What a cutie!

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Wow! It was as if Habakkuk was speaking directly to me about our financial problems, and our determination to always praise God and to have faith through all we go through.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)

Sink or Swim?

Imagine this scenario: A couple is blessed with a wonderful baby boy. They live near the ocean, so as their son grows up they or their friends bring up the subject of swimming now and then. The parents make the decision that they will not teach their son to swim, and they will not let anyone else teach him. Their friends cannot understand their position, so the parents calmly but firmly explain each time the topic is brought up that they do not want to make such an important decision for their child. They decide to leave it up to their son. If he shows an interest in swimming, they will take him for lessons. If he decides to wait until he is grown to make that decision, they are also fine with that. They believe they cannot make that decision for their son.

Silly you say? Well of course it is. No rational parent, especially one living near a large body of water, would let a child make such an important decision on his own, as it could lead to disaster.

However, many parents say they are leaving an even more important decision to their children. Many parents feel that they should not try to influence their children about religion. They say that they are leaving it for their children to decide for themselves when they are adults. There are two huge flaws in that thinking. The first is that children need guidance in many areas, and that is one of them. Proverbs 22:6 says it best: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (KJV). Our moral values are set at a young age. So expecting a child to grow up without that training, and then to make a decision, is not fair to the child.

The second flaw in that reasoning is that children learn from example. Therefore, whether you intend to or not, you are already teaching your child about religion and moral values. By ignoring the issue, you are teaching your children that it is not important.

So, understand that you are "training up your child." Although I have my beliefs, I am not telling anyone how to train their child. Just understand that you cannot passively stand by and let your child flounder when it comes to faith. Give your child guidance. This does not mean that you are not letting the child think for himself or herself. But if you believe in your values, teach them to your child. Listen and honestly answer any questions your child has. If you do not have an answer that will satisfy his or her need to know, find someone who does.

Don't just stand by and let your child sink.

How Do You Respond to a Cry for Help?

First, you need to listen. Otherwise you may not recognize it as a cry for help.

The "What If" Game

How many times have you said it yourself? "What if I had not been there that day? How would my life be different now?" Or, put another way, "If only I hadn't been there that day?" What if this had happened? What if that hadn't happened? The "What If" Game.

I believe we all ask "What if" now and then--it's only natural. I know some people, though, who let the What If Game rule their lives. If I had to determine who created the What If Game, I would not look toward Parker Brothers or Milton Bradley. I believe the What If Game is planted in our minds by Satan. If he can make us question the past, he might be able to manipulate our future.

Don't let the What If Game rule your life. Yes, things might have been different if events had happened differently, but there is nothing you can do about them by worrying now. There are a lot of things in my life that I might change if I could, but since I can't I go forward from where I am now. I know now that if I had followed God's leading, I would not have made the mistakes I made in the past.

I will continue to make mistakes. I'm human, so that is a certainty. I will continue to try to live the way God wants me to though, so hopefully there won't be so many. When I do make mistakes, I will turn them over to God, ask His forgiveness, and try to move on without any "What ifs."

Right now, before you forget, put your "What If" Game in the box, and hide it away on the highest shelf, in the deepest corner of your attic, then get on with your life. :)

Thomas is on the Way!

When we got home from working at Vacation Bible School tonight (around 9:30), I found a message on our answering machine from my sister. I had forgotten after the last power outage to reset the clock on the answering machine, but it was somewhere between 6:00 and 9:30. The message was that Nancy is in the hospital getting ready to give birth. WooHoo! I can't wait to meet Thomas!

Time Flies (When it's Not Dragging Along)

Life has been very hectic the last two or three years. So much has gone on. I graduated from high school and started college, got married, and had a baby. I got divorced, went back to college and became a teacher. I moved a few thousand miles from home, became a grandmother, remarried, and lost my mom way too early. A week or so ago Nancy got remarried, and got pregnant for the 3rd time. Thomas is due in a few minutes. Or a few months. Around Father's Day. Okay, okay, so it wasn't two or three years, or a week or so ago. Everything I mentioned happened in the last 34 years. Looking back though, it seems to have all happened so fast.

I have heard that the length of a minute depends on which side of the bathroom door you are standing. An example I have used is that a minute eating an ice cream cone would seem a lot shorter than a minute being hit on the thumb with a hammer. Even just going about our daily business, some days time seems to drag and others it seems to fly by. The year drags by, but when Christmas and New Year's come we wonder where the year went. I still remember when I first noticed that time seemed to be going faster and faster each year. When I was in the ninth grade time seemingly began to speed up, and it has gotten faster each year since.

This reminds me of two quotes. The first was from Kermit the Frog, "Time's fun when you're having flies." I love it! I don't know who said the second one, and it took me a few minutes to get it the first time, but it is, "Time flies like an Arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."

On the Road Again

I often wake up with either a song or a saying in my head. Today I woke up with the saying, "On the road to recovery" rattling around in my brain. It got me to thinking about our wanderlust and our longing to travel. Through the ages people have had a fascination with travel. Even people who have never traveled away from home use sayings related to travel.

We have many sayings about "the road," such as the one I have already mentioned. Others I have thought of are, "Take the high road," "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," The road less traveled," and "fork in the road." People even sing about the road. Ray Charles sang, "Hit the Road Jack," and Willie Nelson gave me the title for today's blog, "On the Road Again."

All of this led me to do a search for sayings about "the road," and I discovered a very interesting, and oh so true, quote by Rosalie Graham. She said, "A road twice travelled is never as long." How many times have you driven somewhere and it seemed so far away, yet each time you take that same trip it seems shorter and shorter?

The same idea holds true in our figurative and spiritual travels as well. When we travel down paths we know we should not take, it seems shorter and easier each time. The decision to cheat (in any way) for instance, is often a hard one to make. The more someone cheats, however, the easier it becomes to follow that road.

The good news is that the same holds true of the road we should be taking. The more you do the right things, the easier they become.

When we are headed down the road to destruction, it is good to remember another saying that I have heard many times. God allows U-Turns. So, if you are taking the wrong road, just make a U-Turn and head the right way. And don't forget to check out the scenery!

I'm Still Alive and Kicking!

I feel so horrible that I haven't written in so long. I just haven't seemed to feel a lot of inspiration lately. I do intend to get back to writing soon. Hopefully later today I will have a sudden flash of genius. :) Or at least a small twinkle of inspiration.

Why I Lie More at Church than Anywhere Else

I know a few people who will lie to you at the drop of a hat. Some will lie even when the truth will serve them better. I detest lying, and I really do my best to always tell the truth. I almost always tell the truth. Except, that is, at church. Lately I have been telling lies almost every time I go to church.

It is always the same lie, and that lie is always in response to the same question. What is that question? "How are you today?" The lie? "I'm okay," or "We're okay."

We're really not all that okay right now. So to say we are is a lie.

On the other hand, compared to many people, even though we are at a very low point (no jobs, low on food, owing thousands of dollars), we do have our health (not perfect health, but not bad). We do have food to eat, even if it doesn't include meat and it is a little boring at times. We have a roof over our heads and a comfortable bed. I have a spouse who loves me with all his heart, and he has the same in me.

So is it really a lie to say, "We're okay?" I can't remember the Bible verse or verses, but it says somewhere in the Bible that we are to pray believing. We are to thank God for the answer to our prayers even before He has answered. I firmly believe that. I have total faith that things will turn around for us very soon. I believe God has a plan for us. I hold fast to Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

With this in mind, I don't mind saying we are okay, even though we may not be totally okay. Things are okay in some ways, and they will get better.

We're okay.

My Bud, and Her Little Menagerie

I have a wonderful friend, Christi, who has a great husband, two terrific boys, and two guinea pigs. She and I talked last night, and I had to laugh when she told me of their new family member. They are now the owners of a newly weaned gray kitten named Shadow. She did not seek out to find a kitten, but through circumstances and because of her big heart (that did not want to see the kitten go to the pound), she became a cat owner.

Why did I laugh? I am a cat person. I am also a dog person, and an all-around animal person. Christi, on the other hand, is not, and never has been, a pet person. But because she loves her kids, and because she has a big heart, she has now added a cuddly little kitten to the mix!

I love Christi's big heart!

As "They" Say, It's a Small World

A few years ago I was flying home from California and was rerouted through Chicago because of tornadoes. My plane was late to O'Hare, so I "ran" (I can't run anymore!) all the way to the other side of the airport (of course) to get my flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. I got there just as they shut the door.

After I caught my breath I went to get my ticket changed. There were many people in the line, as we had all missed our planes for the same reason. When I was next in line, I heard the man in front of me telling the woman behind the counter his story. He was in the military, and he was going to be in trouble for missing his flight to Korea. He said they wouldn't care that the weather was to blame. It was his responsibility to get back on time. I felt really bad for him. He got his new ticket, and I never saw him again.

I got my new ticket, and I flew back to Charlotte. James picked me up at the airport. We were hungry, so on the way home we stopped at McDonald's in Monroe. While waiting our turn, I started telling James about my experiences at O'Hare. The guy behind the counter heard me telling James about hurrying to catch my plane and missing it. He suddenly said, "If you think that's bad, you should hear what happened to my brother." He then went on to tell us how his brother was in the military, and that at O'Hare, he missed his plane to Korea and was going to be in trouble with his commanding officer.

The odds of my standing behind a man in Chicago, then meeting the brother of that same man over a thousand miles away have to be tremendous! It would have been unusual if the man and I were both flying to Charlotte, but the fact that he was flying to Korea and I was flying to Charlotte has to make the odds almost impossible. I just love how things work out sometimes! As "they" say, it is a small world.

What Do You Say?

One of my very best friends in the world lost her 4-month-old baby to SIDS a few months ago. It's not something I talk a lot about, but Christi and I do talk about it now and then, as it is healing for her to be able to talk about it. Also, Kaylen was such an important part of our lives that we can't just not talk about her.

What is on my mind tonight is the things people say when someone loses a child, whether through miscarriage or death after the child has been born. Most people mean well, and they are trying to be helpful but say all the wrong things. Others just don't think at all and say things that sound heartless or unfeeling. Still others just avoid mentioning it at all. Is there really a "right" thing to say in this kind of situation? Should you say something, or should you avoid saying anything?

After talking to Christi about this, and after seeing others go through the same thing, I am convinced that avoiding the subject is definitely not the right way to go. If you are going to say something stupid, however, keep your mouth shut.

First, what not to say. These are things that people have actually said to parents who have lost a child. It is unbelievable that anyone would say anything like this, but I guess they don't know what to say so they say something stupid.

"It was God's will." This is said a lot, and I think it is a very stupid thing to say to a grieving parent. It may or may not be God's will that they lost their child, but that is not what they need to hear right now. To a grieving parent, it probably sounds more like you are saying, "It's God's fault," or "God didn't trust you to raise this child."

"God needed a sweet little baby to love, so he took..." Give me a break! I think this one is often said to children. What a way to scare kids!

"You can have more kids." So what? They can't have that child again. Children are not replaceable. A couple may or may not have more children, and if they do they will love them, but they will not take the place of the one they lost. They may help ease the pain of losing one, but when you lose a child, you do not need to hear this.

"It was for the best. He/she probably had a bad medical condition and wouldn't have had a happy life." This is often said after a baby has been miscarried. What a stupid thing to say. It is not the least bit helpful.

There are a lot of other things people say that are not helpful to grieving parents, but my last example is one of the most unthinking things I have ever heard. If I had not heard it from the grieving mom herself, I would never have believed it. What this unthinking person said was that she understood what the mom was going through because her dog died! Excuse me?! Dead baby/dead dog. Yeah, that's a good comparison. I cannot believe that anyone would have the nerve to say something like that to anyone, let alone a mom who had just lost her baby.

So, what should you say? Say, "I'm sorry." If you know the parent well, say, "I'm sorry. I'm here to listen." And then really be there to listen.

If you know someone who has lost a child, or if you would like to help mothers who have lost one, please check out this site, Kaylen's Write to Heal: http://www.kaylenswritetoheal.com/. You can make a donation, but it is not required. You can help out just by sending a message of hope to a grieving parent.

Easter candy is on sale, and although we can't afford it, my sweetie got some for us today. He bought each of us a Russell Stover solid chocolate bunny, and he bought me a hollow bunny. The hollow one is a name brand, which I won't mention, as it is not that great when compared to almost any other chocolate.

So why did I get just as excited about the not quite chocolate tasting hollow bunny (with a cute name, candy eyes, and a little bow tie) as I did the really great tasting solid milk chocolate bunny? Because that is the one that brought all the childhood memories flooding back. Going through our Easter baskets, the Easter egg hunt at Uncle Bob's and Aunt Rae's house one year, a beautiful (to our eyes anyway) new Easter dress, the special service at church. To paraphrase the best comedian who ever lived (Bob Hope), thanks for the memories you big ol' hollow bunny!

Procrastination is my Middle Name

Tax day is tomorrow (technically today, since it is after midnight, but I'll save that conversation for another day!). I guess I'd better get our taxes done. Isn't it interesting that when the government owes us money we file as soon as we can, but when we owe money, we wait until the last second? LOL Nope, no big mystery there!

Life is Like a... What?!

Even if you have never seen the movie Forrest Gump, you have most likely heard one of the most famous sayings from it. In the movie, Forrest repeats what he has heard his mother say many times: "Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get." That saying has always made a lot of sense. When you open a box of chocolates, they all look pretty much the same. Until you bite into a piece, you don't know for sure what the chocolate shell contains.

I got to thinking about that saying tonight though, and it began to make less sense. While it's true that you don't know what flavor the chocolate you pick up will be, you do know that it will be sweet. Life is full of surprises, but they are definitely not all sweet.

This leads me to believe that life is more like a bag of trail mix. When you reach into a bag of trail mix, you do not know if you will pull out a salty nut, a sweet crunchy M&M, a crisp salty pretzel, or a honey glazed cluster of oats.

Life has many sweet moments. It also has its "salty" and even bitter moments. We would love for our lives to consist of nothing but sweet moments, but we know that will not happen during our life here on Earth. Think about that trail mix for a moment. Imagine eating a salty pretzel, then putting that M&M into your mouth. Doesn't it taste just a bit sweeter coming right after that salty pretzel?

Life is like a bag of trail mix... you never know what you're gonna get. But you do know the flavors will all balance each other out.

Stupid Dog? I Think Not!

A story my mom told me years ago came to mind tonight. It is a true story about a dog her dad owned.

My mom's family lived on a farm just out of Elgin, Illinois, but I believe this happened before my mom was born. One day my grandfather drove the family into town. While they were gone, a neighbor came over and decided to help himself to my grandfather's grain. He started loading the sacks of grain into his truck. The whole time he was loading the grain, my grandfather's dog sat and watched him. I'm sure the neighbor laughed to himself about what a stupid dog it was. Just as he was loading the last of the grain, the dog jumped into the driver's seat of the neighbor's truck. The dog sat there and refused to let the neighbor into his truck until my grandfather returned home!

Stupid? Not that dog! He could have chased the neighbor away, but he would have just returned another time. By preventing the thief from getting into his truck, the dog allowed my grandfather to know what his neighbor was up to.

I'll bet that dog got a special treat that day!

Seeing Myself in My Daughter

A friend and I were talking tonight about parents and children being alike. I was reminded of an incident years ago with my daughter Nancy. Just a tiny thing, on the surface, but it had a terrific impact on me.

When Nancy was around three or four years old, we were driving through town. I can't even remember what it was that Nancy said or did (I think it was the way she was saying something), but I remember it irritated me. Finally I asked, "Where did you get that?"--meaning, where did she get that mannerism. Almost as soon as it was out of my mouth, it hit me like a two-by-four to the back of the head. She got it from me. That irritating thing that she was doing was something I did.

Your kids really do learn from observing you. Hopefully they are picking up more good than bad.

Why Do You Look at Your Watch?

James and I were talking, right before going to sleep last night, and I got to thinking about watches. I have noticed that sometimes when someone asks me what the date is, I sometimes glance at my watch. Not so strange, you might think, since calendar watches have existed for many years. The thing is, I have never owned or worn one. Every watch I have ever had has just told the time. I know I am not the only one to do this either. I have seen many people do the same thing.

Here is a question that might sound easy. Why do you look at your watch? I'm sure your first thought was that it is to see what time it is. I read something many years ago that showed that this is not the whole truth.

Try this. As soon as someone looks at his or her watch, ask him or her what time it is. Odds are, he or she will look at the watch again. Why? The reason is that we do not really look at our watches to see what time it is. We look at our watches to see how long until the bus is due, how long until the kids come home from school, how long it has been since we ate. Although we are literally looking at the time on our watches, we are really managing our time.

On the Other Hand... (Contradictions)

There are a lot of well-known, popular sayings. The reason so many of them are popular is because there is a lot of truth to them. However, have you ever noticed that many sayings have an opposite saying that has just as much truth to it? I just wanted to share a couple of the ones that came to mind.

Let's say you have an idea of something you would like to do, such as marriage, a financial move, or a job change. What advice do you often hear? Many people will say, "Look before you leap." In other words, be cautious; take some time to think about what you are doing before taking such a big step.

On the other hand...

In this same situation, the advice many would give is, "He who hesitates is lost." In other words, if you stop to think about what is ahead, you may end up with nothing.

Which is the better advice? I believe they both have merit. The key, I think, is balance. We should not run around willy-nilly, acting without thinking, but we would be pretty miserable if we never did anything because we were too scared to act. Individual choices would also depend on the circumstances. If you are trying to decide whether to marry a certain person, it is definitely a good idea to look before you leap. That is too important a decision to make without thinking it through. However, if you are in a runaway car, headed for a cliff, the second saying would be more appropriate. Hesitate to make the right decision, and you could end up dead.

When someone we love has to go away for awhile, our friends often tell us, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." This can be very reassuring, and it is very often the case.

On the other hand...

Just as often, you hear, "Out of sight, out of mind."

Which of these sayings is true? Again, it really just depends on the person. If the people who are away from each other truly love each other, they will spend more and more time thinking about the one they love. If there are any doubts, things could begin to change and it could be easier to put the other person "out of mind."

I Needed My Mom

I was kind of down yesterday. We are both out of work and have gotten behind on some bills, so we are having some major financial problems. This has created a lot of stress, as I'm sure you can imagine. Even though we are definitely trusting God to get us through this, as He has always done, it does hit me now and then, and I get a little down. When this happened yesterday, I stopped and had a mini pity party.

Right about then, I noticed Soleil Moonfrye's question of the day, at Twitter. She asked what living person and what person who had passed away we would want to have dinner with. My mom died, way too young, several years ago, and she was the obvious choice for the second part of the question.

I know my mom is in a wonderful place now. If I were not confident about that, it would kill me for her to be gone. I would never begrudge her the joys of spending her time with Jesus and the angels, and I look forward to doing that myself someday. But I do have those days, like yesterday, when I really need my mom.

Barbara the Brainless Wonder

This entry will be short because I don't think I have any brains left. Yep, that about covers it.

A Little "Twitter" About Technology

I am not even going to attempt to delve deeply into today's technology, but I will share a few thoughts.

Back around 1991 I got my first computer. It cost the proverbial arm and leg, and I did not have Internet access, but I loved it. It revolutionized my paper writing for college. I played cute games on it (I remember in this one, I had to get a chicken across the road--only the road was a 6-lane freeway. Very silly and cute, and I loved it). Not having Internet (which I didn't understand anyway), I bought the most up-to-date map program, which also included tons of demographic information about the U.S. I was looking for a teaching job anywhere in the country, so I used it to research the areas where I was applying. I checked things like the population, crime rate, and most importantly (!), if there was a Taco Bell within driving distance.

I got a job in October 1996 (about 20 minutes from a Taco Bell!) and moved almost 3,000 miles away from my family (that part stinks!). I left my computer there for my daughter. Pretty much the only technology I came in contact with for the next two years was the phone (land-line only), as well as my TV, VCR, and CD player. Then in 1998 all the classrooms at my school got a computer with Internet access. We were told to play with them and get to know them. Most of the teachers were too scared they were going to mess something up, so they didn't do much with them. I took full advantage and spent hours (sometimes as late as 9:00 p.m.) after school exploring the Internet. I became the one other teachers came to for computer advice, which felt good!

In case you are wondering why I titled this entry the way I did, I'm finally coming to the point I originally set out to make (It just needed a little set up!). If you had told me, back in 1998, that within a decade I would own my own computer (2 now--desktop and laptop), and that I would find a husband, a car, and a house on the computer, I would have laughed in your face! Yes, I met my husband on the Internet--never thought I would do that! The house we are buying now was listed online. We bought a 1992 Geo Storm on eBay, and we did research on Chrysler 300s, which led to our buying the car we now own.

There are so many ways I could go with this line of thinking, but my intent really isn't to go into everything I can do on the computer. After all, if you are reading this, you already know this for yourself. The last few days, however, have amazed me all over again, as far as technology. It wasn't really anything new, but part of it was new to me. I was watching Good Morning America the other day. A woman (Tory Johnson) was on, talking about helping women find jobs. She was talking about how people can use their connections on things like Facebook and Twitter to find jobs. I already belonged to Facebook, but I had never checked Twitter out. I did, and I joined. I added Tory Johnson to my list of people I was "following" (sounds like I have become a stalker!). I read some of her advice on Twitter, and I also checked her website out. I found some valuable information there. Then I asked her directly about doing research from home. She responded within 5 minutes (the wonders of Twitter!) with a couple great websites. I have since joined both of them (www.oDesk.com and www.elance.com) and have begun applying for freelance jobs that can be done from home. I don't expect to become a millionaire this way any time soon, but I just think it is interesting that you can be watching someone you don't know on TV one day, ask her for advice a couple days later, and use her advice to make changes in your life, all within just a few days. I know that's not the most amazing thing in the world (especially to any of you who weren't around for very long before the Internet), but I do find the whole thing rather interesting.

I will close with this thought. Did you know that in 1899 (I believe that is the correct year) the head of the U.S. Patent Office wanted them to shut that office down? The reason? He believed that everything that could be invented had been invented. Did he really believe that, or was he just tired of his job?! Most of the things that have been invented have been invented since he said that. Or... Hmmmmm. Maybe he had some insight that others didn't have. Maybe he wanted to preserve simpler times, when people took time to stop and smell the roses, as they say, or to read stories to their kids in the evening before bed. Nah, I doubt that's it. I really think he was just limited in his scope of thinking and thought we really could not progress technologically any further.

Well, I'm off to Twitter!

Last Night's Supper

What a thrill! You get to hear what we had for supper last night! Not the most exciting thing I could talk about, but that is what is on my mind right now.

While we have plenty of food to get us through for awhile, we are getting low on choices right now. We were in the mood for macaroni and cheese, and hot dogs last night. We didn't have the right cheese for home-made, but we have a few boxes of store brand macaroni and cheese. We have had macaroni and cheese, and hot dogs a few times lately, and I wanted to do something a little different. Plus, we were out of milk, and I didn't want to make powdered milk or open a can of milk, so I improvised. Instead of milk, I used sour cream. Rather than boil the hot dogs I sliced them into pieces about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. While the water was heating for the macaroni and cheese, I browned the hot dog slices, stirring now and then to brown evenly. When the macaroni and cheese was finished, I added the browned hot dog slices to it. Then I added frozen mixed vegetables to the large fry pan I had cooked the hot dogs in, along with just a bit of water, and cooked them. When they were done, I added a little butter (real butter, as I hate margarine, and it really isn't good for you anyway).

James and I were both very pleased with how it all turned out. The sour cream gave just a bit of a refreshing tang to the macaroni and cheese. The browned hot dog slices were a great addition. Finally, the hot dog taste that was left in the pan gave the vegetables a nice flavor.

So, that was our supper last night. Not exactly a gourmet meal, but sometimes plain and simple is better. Not that I would turn down a good prime rib smothered in mushrooms right now!

Gray Days

You hear people talk all the time about beautiful sunny days. I love sunny days myself, if they aren't too hot. The weather often affects our moods. When the day is sunny, our outlook on life is sunny. When the day is gray, our outlook is often dark and gloomy. While I do not like too many gloomy days in a row, I believe that too many people do not see the beauty of gloomy days.

I wish I had pictures of the tree down the street from the house I used to live in. Some friends of ours had a fairly large (not large on an oak or redwood scale, but not small) tree in their front yard. On most days it might or might not be noticed. It was a nice enough looking tree, but it didn't really stand out. On gray, gloomy days however, that tree was gorgeous! It had thousands of small lavender colored flowers all over it. On sunny days, you hardly noticed it, but on gray days the lavender color just popped out at you!

I love how God gives us something beautiful to brighten up even the gloomy days! I have a lot of "sunny" days, but I do have occasional gloomy days as well. It is easy to see the good things in my life on the sunny days. It isn't always so easy on the gloomy days, but thankfully God has been helping me find the little lavender flowers of beauty in my gray days. :)

Our Grandkids

All (well most, but it should be all) grandparents believe their grandkids are the best in the world, and I am no exception. I couldn't have gotten better ones if I had been allowed to hand-pick them.

Andrew just turned 11 years old this month. He is very smart and is in the 5th grade. Andrew plays baseball (his team is doing great, last I heard) and he also plays violin. His choice of the two, if he could only do one, would be baseball, but he plays the violin so beautifully that I pray he keeps up with it. Andrew loves to do outdoor things, such as fishing, 4-wheeling in the desert, and riding his bike. He also loves to read. Andrew inherited his mom's and my sense of humor (usually a good thing! lol).


Hannah will be 8 years old in June. She is cute as a bug, smart, sassy, and fun-loving. Hannah is, in my opinion, a great artist. She is very creative. She enjoys doing crafts, doing little dramatic skits, etc. Like her brother, she is very smart, and she is in 2nd grade. She is learning how to play the piano. She also likes to read, and she loves fishing as much as Andrew. Hannah was very much a girly-girl, but I hear she has become quite a tomboy! Here she is at almost 7 years old, learning how to ride a bike (with my dad).

Andrew and Hannah love each other, and hate each other, and tease each other, and drive each other nuts! Over all though, they really do love each other.

Andrew and Hannah will be joined in June by a new baby brother, whose name is Thomas.

I am so looking forward to Thomas being born! I wish I could be there for his arrival, but even though I can't afford that, my heart will be there.

My heart is forever with Nancy, Steve, Andrew, Hannah, and Thomas.

Here I Go Again!

This is not my first attempt at a blog, but I would really like to keep this one going. I think my last one was pretty good, but I would go months without writing. Hopefully this one will not end up in the tar pits with that one!

Why the name "Barbara's Brainy Blurbs & Blatherings" you might ask. Well, I'm no dummy, and sometimes I actually come across as fairly intelligent. Thus, the brainy part. On the other hand, sometimes I feel like the world's biggest idiot. That is where the blathering part comes in. The Barbara part? Well, that's my name. :)

What to expect here. Your guess is as good as mine at this point! Let me put it this way. If the brain were a room, and thoughts were bullets being fired from a gun, many people's bullets would travel straight to the target. Mine would be ricocheting all over the place. So, there is no telling what thoughts and words will come tumbling out of my head. Hopefully you will enjoy the ride and not get car-sick!

Off to make iced tea (Luzianne, of course, with Food Lion's brand of Splenda for me, and plain for my sweetie). More to come later.

Feel free to comment on anything I write, and feel free to ask me questions and to suggest topics or ideas. :)