Truisms

5 year-old boy to Abbie: I like your shoes. (They are shiny and pink, of course.)

Abbie (coyly and afterwards she took a drink of her root beer): Thanks.

The way to a woman's heart is to notice her shoes.

Better Tomorrows

I want to tell you about a couple I knew in Birmingham. When I got to know them, they had been married about 10 years. They were married while he was in Med School and she was a Kindergarten teacher. They were infertile for years and she had numerous miscarriages. As you can imagine, it was a difficult time for them. I was lucky enough to get to be around them later when they had two small children and had a brand-new large house. I can tell you about the pool house with the fire place that was great to be in during the winter.

I could tell you about the downstairs apartment that they had built so that people that needed a place to land could land there. They (I know of this one) reached out woman who was pregnant and going though a divorce and allowed her to live with them for awhile. They loved so freely. I'll never forget the note she sent me when I went through my miscarriage. Godly people.

I tell you all this to tell you one other thing about them. When they married they pledged to go to one marriage seminar/conference a year. They had kept that pledge during their 12 (approx) years of marriage. Yes, they are busy people. Yes, they have 2 children. Yes, they have other things to spend their money on.

This was such a powerful example for me when Jim and I married. We haven't gone to one seminar a year but we wish we could. That's just one reason we were there when we had that Sacred Marriage Seminar at church this weekend. We made a commitment to be married to each other for the rest of our lives and we want that to be something we don't regret. We've agreed that our children will grow up and move away but we'll still be together. Forty to fifty years is a long time to be with someone who you don't like. We don't go because our marriage is rocky. We go to keep it from getting there. We want to pick up the pebbles and examine them. (Well, maybe I want to examine the pebbles and Jim wants to know what I'm talking about.)

I tell you this so that when the opportunity arises again - you'll step out and attend some marriage seminar. Something that makes you want to roll your eyes a little. Something that makes you uncomfortable because "other people would know." Something that's inconvenient with your (or your child's) schedule. Something that makes you look your mate in the eye and confess your sin. Friends, better a little embarrassment and inconvenience than a cold, joyless lifetime.

Book Meme

I found this over at Lisa's blog and Roxanne has posted it,too. Now I want to find out what some of them are. There were some I had never heard of.....

Here are the rules:

Look at the list of books below.
*Bold the ones you’ve read (bold and italicized I’ve read multiple times)
*Italicize the ones you want to read
*leave alone the ones that you aren’t interested in.

Here is the list:
1.The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2.Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3.To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10.A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12.Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth(Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100.Ulysses (James Joyce)

But It's A Dry Heat

Let's get real. I grew up in Alabama in the age of window air conditioners. I know humidity. Trust me, I've done humidity.

90% humidity in Abilene, Texas - What's up with that??!!

Proud Mama

Kenny is a winner! He participated in an Arts contest at school and won in the Visual Arts category for 3rd - 5th grades. Here he is describing his picture of a knight fighting a dragon. Honestly, to me, it looked like any number of drawings he does all the time. You could see something similar after Sunday worship services on any given Sunday. But the judges saw something that they liked. I say bully for Kenny!

Just so Tammy knows: I had the hardest time getting him to wear that outfit. And, heaven forbid, he had to take a bath before we went to the awards ceremony. What he didn't realize is that I gave in on not tucking in the shirt and wearing khakis!

Kenny also was given the part of one of the dancers in his upcoming 3rd grade show. He had mentioned that he wanted to do it and he was so proud when he was chosen. He explained to me that he will be dancing with a girl and none of the other boys wanted to do it. So, he volunteered. He told me that his music teacher said, "I already had you down, Kenny." In a very weary voice. Apparently she knew who would be willing to showboat.

Jim and I were less than excited to hear that none of the girls wanted to dance with him. Now we understand that 3rd graders have boy/girl issues but Kenny told us that the little girl who ended up dancing with him that day (I don't know about the show) was paid one dollar. Good grief, how much will a prom cost us?!

Books, Books, Books

It's Here! We are being encouraged to make a list of our reading for this spring - starting today!

What will it be? Romance, Business, Biography, Classic, Religion...? Have you given it any thought? Have you decided what your family should be reading? That's tougher for me - my hubby never follows my suggestions. He reads his books and I read mine. Kenny has just started the 6th Harry Potter book. He reads it with one of us every night.

I have a extensive list on Amazon that I will probably add to when I see what everyone else is reading but these are some of my favorites.

So on with the list!

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamont - I expect to finish this soon. I'm actually reading it concurrently with Walk in the Woods (oops!) I'll probably pick up another of hers soon.

The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas - Not an author I usually read by I saw this on someone else's blog and it sounded funny. I like funny.

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresa - My mom read this and loved it. Sounds good.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller - I've had this on my list for awhile - sounds interesting.

Water for Elephants by Sara Greun - fiction

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali - autobiograpghy of a Somali Muslim

That's all for now. I will try to make it though these by June 21. Go over to Callapidder Days and check out her Mr. Linky to see what every one else has on their list....

Livin On Love

When I was a kid, my dad forced us to listen to Country and Western music on the car radio. You remember the days when the car radio was all there was in the car? No DVD player? When there was an AM but no FM? Maybe that's too far back. That was his favorite and he was driving - and there ya are.

I remember some of those songs. I remember when we got old enough to understand some of the lyrics. "I can tell you've never been this far before" or "Take the ribbon from your hair" or maybe "And when we get behind closed doors" One or two became family jokes and we all sang along.

The singing is the important part. I grew up in the church of Christ where it was acapella - all the time. My daddy was a song leader and our whole family sang (my mom's part is also or so she's always said.) So we all sang along in the car with the Country music - I would say that "Daddy sang bass, Mama sang tenor" but my dad sang lead most of the time. Us kids were the harmony when we got old enough.

I was thinking about all this when we were driving back from Ft. Worth last week. Jim and I found a "Country Gold" station and we were just singing along! I loved it. (It's always a treat for me to hear my hubby sing or to sing along with him.) You should have heard us singing "She's a broken lady waiting to be mended." It reminded me of riding with my family and, even though I didn't know it, I was perfecting my harmony. Those country songs are full of harmony and I've been hearing it for years.

There's lots of talk about getting too far away from our acapella heritage. About our kids growing up without being able to sing the hymns or harmonies like we can. Perhaps we should switch it over to the country station every once in awhile?

Don't forget that tomorrow we start the Spring Reading Thing! Have your list ready to post in the comments!

Promised Pictures

45 minutes waiting in line - just to get in! Kenny seems excited.....

This was taken after I told Jim I had to sit - I needed a break from the hoards of kids running around. Check out that sincere smile on Abbie.

Here are the kids digging in the sand outside searching for fossils. They didn't find any.

All smile cause the looong tour was over!

This is the spot that Abbie found to walk under while fossil digging.

This was taken at the Cowgirl Museum. They had a special exhibit on Hawaiian cowgirls.

Report From the Front

Well, here it is the end of Spring Break. Finally. Today I started to think about how summer would be - taking kids somewhere, washing some kid's clothing, making sure some kid has food to eat.... But tonight they are watching a movie, Yeah!

On Wednesday, Jim and I took the kids to the children's museum in Fort Worth. Approximately half the population of Ft. Worth had the same idea, imagine. The museum was okay. It was too crowded for my taste. Let's face it - I've become a small-town gal. Kenny and Abbie were a little crowded, too, or maybe they were responding to me. In one of the exhibits, I had to leave.

Surely there some kind of fire code about too many people in one little space? Right?

The IMAX was pretty good. We saw some cave movie and Abbie fell asleep. Let me just state for the record that Abbie has fallen asleep in every IMAX movie she's ever seen! Oh yeah, the IMAX was sold out. "Could you move to down so the people who come in late can sit on the end?" Sure. Just because my family and I stood in line....

But I want to tell you about the good thing we saw. The National Cowgirl Museum. It was great! It's right across the street and the price is included in the other one's price. We went there after suffering though the Museum of Science and History and it was so worth it. I would have gone there first if I had had any idea how wonderful it was. Good exhibits for us and the kids. The building is beautiful. Even the gift store was inviting. Go there.

I'm working on posting some pictures but I haven't quite finished. Check back later.

One more great thing about this trip. I can now drive myself to Hulen Mall, one terrific fabric store, a SuperTarget, TJ Maxx, and Pei Wei. That made it all worthwhile.

Sunscreen - It Isn't Just For The Pool Anymore

Only 2 hours at the park yesterday and I got sunburn! It was bad enough to send me to the Evil Empire for "AfterBurn" at 9:00 last night. At least it's on the bottom of my legs where I never get any sun.....

Who Ya Gonna Choose?

I found this website though Mark Elrod (at Harding) and thought it was cool. It is supposed to show you who would most likely vote for. Thank goodness, Hilary was down on my list!

It is apparent that I vote personalities. I don't much like Giuliani and wouldn't vote him. I'm pretty sure we don't need our president going though a divorce while in office. I would chose almost anybody over Hilary. But, you know, I'm part of the "right-wing conspiracy." I didn't vote for Bill way back in the 80's in Arkansas either. I was working for "the Man" even then.

Check it out - it's only 20 months until you have to vote!

You Know I Love a Good Book!

It's time to start reading again! I know that most people pick up a book to go to the pool/beach but spring is the time to renew! Time to re-start! Time to re-think your Reading List!

Katrina over at Callapidder Days has issued a Spring Reading Thing hoping to encourage you to get into reading this spring. On March 21st, she will add a Mr. Linky to her site so you can see what everyone else is reading. Maybe you will see something that you must be reading!

This is your heads up. I'll re-post on March 21st because that's when the Reading Thing starts and then you can go over there to see what everyone else is reading between March 21st and June 21st. On that day, you may choose to put your titles in my comments sestion or on your blog. I'll keep the cute picture in my side bar to remind you to choose a book (or two, or three.)

To All the Beauticans in Abilene:

1. Yes, I've been known to color my own hair! It comes from a box that I've bought (usually) at the Evil Empire. It may be Nice N Easy but this last time I had a coupon - I bought some other kind. It was still Clairol, though, so I felt pretty safe. Maybe if you would give me a coupon for $2 off I could afford you. Although if would still be more than I usually pay for a pair of shoes. To further throw you off - Jim has been known to add the highlights. I buy another box - again, the Evil Empire - and Jim "paints" my hair. It turns out ok. Someone asked if Jim is artistic - no, he's very precise. It comes out nice and even - usually. There was that unfortunate over blondeing but, professional, you've had some of them, too!


2. Yes, I've cut Abbie's hair, too. It doesn't come back as good as Jim's coloring but what am I supposed to do? I pay a lower price for a blunt-cut bob and it comes out crooked. I pay for a high-priced blunt-cut bob and it takes 5 minutes but costs the same as dinner at Outback! So when you see my daughter - don't comment on her cut.


3. Yes, I've given myself a manicure! I didn't realize that OPI really needs a base coat. I did make you work harder to get the color off but I gave you a 20% tip! Come 'on!


4. Speaking of tips - Again, I apologize for being 20 minutes late. I simply had the wrong time in my head. I thank you, thank you, thank you, for getting me in later that same day. I hadn't even washed my hair! That's why I gave you that nice little tip - without even having styled my hair.


5. Yes, again, my hubby paints my toenails. I love a pedicure but sometimes I have to spend my money on bread or milk. They usually look ok but my heels may need a little extra care. That's just the way it goes.


6. Lastly, I know you're busy!! I try to make my appointments 4 to 6 weeks in advance! But I have been known to wish for you to have a cancellation. And I've been known to step out on a limb and ask you if you have a cancellation. Don't be so insulted! Be proud that you're so good I'm dying to get in to see you!

Funny Stuff

Starting out this morning early! Sometimes sleep alludes me and I think I could read on the computer without interruption or guilt.

Check out some good links:

Tammy has decided to take pictures without people in them and they are great! You can link here or you can access though her blog. Check out the link "Town Texas" at right. I'm sure Tammy can make money off of these pics and I'm trying to find a way - any ideas?

This was entirely too funny. It is all-girl so be warned if you're reading this and thinking about what's on the History Channel. Sarah has already posted this link on her blog but I couldn't stand it! Every female should read it! Testify!

There's more to say but, for now, I must read my filled up Bloglines while everyone is still sleeping....

Edited to add: Oh. My. Goodness. This video is too funny, too. Abbie doing the rapping is funny, too.

But wait there's more: I fixed the links for Tammy's pictures. You can now use either link. Happy Linking....

TGIF!

The conventional wisdom is that people post on their blogs during the week. They are slackers at their desks and trying to stay awake. I, on the other hand, like to post on the weekends. I seem to have more time. I have been checking my email and I've gotten to some of the sweet people who have stopped by my party but that's all I've done this week. You should have seen my Bloglines!

So don't give up on me during the week - come back on Friday or Saturday. I'm here.

Yesterday, at school, could only be described, as the worst day ever! I skipped the jalapenos and went right to the french fries. I came home, napped, took a bath and then I was able to talk to Jim about it. As I told him - no, I wasn't fired and, no, no one cussed me out - it was just overwhelming. He took me out to Red Robin (I sing it whenever I say it - so do my children) and, of course, they have bottomless french fries. I did not succumb to the shake though - bully for me!

Well, it's on to Spring Break. If any child needs a sp*nking, I can and will administer it! Dadgum it! I feel better just putting that into words. (Yes, we live in a world that requires I use an asterisk in that word so I won't get freaks on my blog.)

Lastly, under the category of stuff I've been thinking about - something I saw on Oprah awhile back. The guest (I don't remember) asked everyone to come up with 5 words that describe your marriage. I took on the challenge. It was hard to come up with 5 words - really. How to describe something that has become my life? I think about it whenever I hear those commericals for that "let's find the love of our life" site.

My first word was loving. We both used that word rather quickly - I figure we've said it before. Doesn't that just about cover it? Isn't that what we all want?

What are your five words?

Disclaimer: I realize I have unmarried readers. This small portion was not intended to make you feel uncomfortable. I love you all, too. I would hope that God leads you to the mate that may make you feel loved. If that is not in God's plan (it may not be,) I pray for you to find that feeling in God Himself and - just know - that puts you ahead of some of us. LOVE YOU!

Preschool Blues

Work day is over. I'm at the computer attempting to have sensible thoughts while answering emails. I'm also eating jalapenos from a jar - that tell ya anything?

Welcome To My Blogging Party!

Did you hear there's a party going on? At 5 Minutes for Mom they are throwing a party and yall are invited! Everybody knows how much I love to give/go to a party so - I'm hosting over here in my little part of the Web.

Come on in and have some Sunny Spring Lemonade. This was published in Southern Living (of course) by a nice lady from my old church in Birmingham. That's where I grew up, ya know. I'm actually from the NE side of town (not Hoover like on MTV) that has become very cool to live in right now. My niece and nephews play baseball, football, basketball, etc. with the kids of people I went to school with - freaky, huh?

I married a Texan and even though I'm not from here, I got here as fast as I could. Now, this is one of my favorite dips, Tex-Mex Black Bean Dip. It's actually from Cooking Light magazine (another publication of Southern Living, of course) and only has 42 calories per serving. Now the chips are fattening, but the dip isn't! Jim and I had both our children before moving here but they think they are Texans now. Good grief, Kenny (3rd grade) has to say the Texas Pledge to the Texas state flag every morning! They indoctrinate them early here in the Lone Star State!
Abbie gets to experience that next fall when she goes to kindergarten! Can't wait! You know how they have some kind of tearful breakfast for the moms of kindergartners? I plan to wave to all of them on my way to have coffee with my friends!

You should try this Grilled Corn Salsa, yes, it's Southern Living, too! I had Jim grill the corn last night and it gives the corn such a good flavor. Did I tell yall that my friends and I have started a new ministry? It's called The Coffee Group and we go around and speak at retreats and ladies days and spread the good news of good friends and God's working in our lives.

That's why I blog and had yall over - to show that friendships are God-given and fun. These women of mine have and will see me through thick and thin. I can depend on them for cleaning and prayer. We've done both. Oh yeah, TPing, too. While we were on vacation, they came over and did our house up right! They said my neighbors stood and watched them. It makes me feel safer just knowing my neighbors care that much!

I'm so glad you came over. We can't go too long or the party gets boring. Unless you wanna stay longer? You can keep reading any previous posts - they're all out there. Be sure to try to get to some of the other parties, too. It's alot but maybe you can.

Go to the Recipe Swap listed in the links for all the recipes mentioned here. Plus lots more! Love ya for coming!

Edited to add: I'm number 513! That was my mailbox number at Harding! That feels lucky! Hey, if you made it this far down the list - BULLY!

Ditto's Ditherings

I'm so glad that yesterday is over! I worked at school and then worked at Dittos for Kiddos - I came home about 11:30. I also got to go to Wal-Mart after picking Kenny up at school. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Last night at Dittos, I was wishing for my camera. I realize that I'm not supposed to post pictures of folks without asking, but I saw some funny stuff! My favorite was the lady with her shopping buggy and the 16x20 picture of a giraffe perched on top. Apparently somebody really wanted that picture!

A lady bought a large, outside dollhouse (that I thought was overpriced by my friend.) When she came to the back door to pick it up, I admit I was curious.

Me: "So, you already have a bunch of play furniture to go in it?"
Buyer: "No, I have 3 boys."
Me: "They are gonna be super-excited to get a 3-foot-tall faded pink dollhouse. They are gonna wanna know why you didn't buy them all a new dress. Either that or they are all gay and you're okay with that." (Maybe I just thought this to myself." "3 boys?"
Buyer: "It's for our church."
Me: "Thanks for shopping with us (big smile.)"

At 9:00 the sale becomes open to the public and, bless em, all these kooks (read about later) come in with their children. I'm just glad I didn't have to teach all those kids who were in line when I left at 11:00. Why do parents do this their children? There were also, bless em, all these couples with the little pregnant wife trying to find a deal. I really wished I had given one of these people my guest pass - then they could have come in at 7:00.

Lastly were the couples who strolled in at 10:00, 10:30, like it was a date. "Babe, let's go over to this sale and see what they have!" He says, "Sure." But he's thinking, "What do I get outta this?" Are you single? Are you dating? No man enjoys going to a consignment sale for fun! This is true. No matter what they tell you - they don't enjoy it.

Supermom and Her Denim

Go over and read this post by my old friend Lisa. I think she's getting it right....

Anna posted a picture of the dust storm. If you live outta town, check out what we were eating on Saturday!