Ah-ha moments

A couple of years ago, I read the book "For Women Only" by Shaunti Feldhahn. That book made me understand so many things about men. I wanted to buy the book for every woman that I know. My husband, dad, brothers and guy friends all started to make more sense. I could give them much more grace after reading that book. Moreover, my expectations of guys changed once I understood them better.

I bought "For Young Women Only" by Feldhahn and Rice for my daughter. She loved it! She had many "ah-ha" moments herself while reading it. I am thrilled for her to have the opportunity to learn about boys in a way that helps her understand how they think and in a way that teaches her to be honorable and respectful to guys.

Is it ignorance or arrogance that leads society to diss guys and stereotypically label them as dunces?

Riding Horses

While growing up, did you ever have an activity where you shined? I never did have anything in which I excelled. I enjoyed raising sheep my last two years of high school, but I was not great at it. I was not able to play sports during my school years and I was only okay at band and choir. I was one of those nice girls who was very average. I did not even realize that I was missing much as I recall.

My daughter has not tried many activities growing up, mainly because my health has not permitted our family to be very active. Now that my Periodic Paralysis is better managed, I can help Princess explore her passions. It has not taken long to find her passion. She is a horse lover ... And has loved horses since she was two years old.

She has been riding for over a year and still gets butterflies of joy in her stomach when we drive up to the horse barn. What a joy to see her so happy and to have a place where she shines.

Books

I have read a few books lately that I have really enjoyed. My daughter reads like the wind, so it is hard to keep up with her.

She checked out a series from the library called The Door Within series. It's a trilogy. Very fun and action-filled. Dragons, sword fighting, love and heroism. I recommend this series for fun as well as having great teaching illustrations for life circumstances. My husband always says, "meet them in the book".

I read the first book in the Lion series by Francine Rivers, A Voice In The Wind. What a great and heart-breaking book. I can't wait to read the next two books in the series.

Tarantula Hawk

Please do not read this post if you are squeamish. Or if you do not like bugs or spiders.

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This is what I encountered on the road yesterday as I was driving in my driveway. That's a waspy looking thing dragging a tarantula. Notice that the tarantula's legs are not curled tightly to its body. Know what that means? Yeah, the spider is still alive. Just paralyzed. Nice. I was fascinated by this scene because this waspy thing, which I later found out is a Tarantula Hawk, was dragging this huge tarantula - uphill. Backwards. Really, really fast. Like crazy fast.

Later while telling the story to King, I googled and found out the name of the waspy thing. Unfortunately, I was right. The tarantula was still alive. If you like gross stories about the animal kingdom and its subsequent brutality, read about the Tarantula Hawk. I'm sure boys will love this type of thing. Princess and I? Not so much. It's straight off the shelf horror fiction ... only it's real. Not fiction.

This is a photo I got off the web. Ya'll, the thing is huge. Yikes. So nice to know s/he lives in the neighborhood. Where my daughter plays. (shudder)

Thermostat or Thermometer

Standing at the pharmacy counter today, I pondered my social interaction in groups. I wondered, "Am I a thermostat or a thermometer?"

A thermometer: a person who reads the temperature of the group and observes. This could be a listener, an observer, a person who is simply a static part of the group.

A thermostat: a person who reads the temperature of the group and then acts as a catalyst to change the temperature. This is a person who either in a positive or negative way, influences the group to change. Is this the complainer who grumbles and makes everyone else uncomfortable? Perhaps the thermostat is a peacemaker who brings calm to the group. The person could be the "happy pill" for the group and brings the fun.

I think I am typically a thermometer. If I am ever a thermostat, it would be in a small eddy off to the side of the main group. I am attracted to groups of 2 where conversation can go to meaningful depths. I like to leave a social gathering knowing that I have had an interaction that is a blessing. I like to leave a person better than I found them. If I cannot have a meaningful conversation, then I tend to lurk in the background and watch ... observe.

Decisions and enchiladas

I have decided to ban myself from making decisions after 5:00 p.m. I am most definitely not making any decisions beyond Coke Zero or water, nachos or enchiladas, athletic pants or jeans.

Nope. Not gonna do it.

Because in the morning, after a full night of rest, I almost always feel differently about the situation. This leads me to regret the decision I made the night before in my tired state. I am much more gracious in the morning.

It's good to know my problem. It's hard to make good decisions when I do not even know the problem. Now, I know that I cannot make good decisions when I'm tired.

So, if you call me after 5:00? Don't ask my opinion.

Unless you want to know if you should eat nachos or enchiladas. Then? I'll help. I'll surely recommend my friend's Chicken Enchiladas. The. Best. Ever.

Amen.

Chicken Enchiladas

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1.5 lbs total), cooked and shredded
(short cut: Honey Jalapeno Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, shredded
Cheaper option: cook whole chicken in crockpot and shred meat)
1 T. butter
1 c. chopped onion (you can buy the fresh chopped onion in the produce section)
1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
1 4 oz. can diced green chiles
1 c. purchased green chile salsa (Roasted Hatch Chile Salsa is good)
1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
4 t. ground cumin
Optional: 1-2 T. of sauce from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (it is spicy, so only a little of the sauce) Salt and pepper to taste
12-15 7" flour tortillas
10 oz. grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 c. whipping cream
1/2 c. chicken broth

Garnish possibilities: fresh sliced avocado, Pico, chopped tomato, fresh cilantro, guacamole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and bell peppers until just soft, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add chicken, cheddar cheese, green chiles, green salsa, cilantro, cumin, chipotle chile sauce (if desired). Season with salt and pepper and mix well.

Grease 10x15x2 inch baking pan or 2 smaller pans. Fill tortillas with filling, and place seam side down in pan. Sprinkle grated Monterey Jack cheese over enchiladas. (May be prepared to this point up to 1 day in advance. Cover and chill.)

Combine cream and chicken broth and pour over enchiladas. Cover pan with foil and bake 30 - 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered another 10 minutes. Serve with garnish as desired.

It's been one of those days.

Scorpion

This is evil personified. I have an unhealthy feeling about scorpions. This scorpion is just one of many that we have killed in our home over the past 4 months. I abhor scorpions. I'm neurotic about scorpions.

They hurt, for petesake. Have you ever been stung?

Not fun. At all.

This is the nicest picture of all of the scorpions that I have killed. I took a picture of the one that stung me earlier in the summer. His body bore the sign of my feelings towards him. I cannot find his picture, thus I will instead show you the one I killed yesterday afternoon. I had already started this blog post and got lost trying to find the first killed scorpion picture. In the meantime, Princess called me about a scorpion that followed her in the front door.

Part of my paranoia is that scorpions are just evil. They sting repeatedly for no apparent reason other than "it's what they do".

Makes me think of how I repeatedly make the same sinful mistakes over and over. I'm a bit like the scorpion and the frog. How I wish I wasn't.

The Scorpion and the Frog

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion says, "Because if I do, I will die too." The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,but has just enough time to gasp "Why?"

Replies the scorpion: " I am a scorpion. Its my nature..."

The Conference

I was the conference coordinator for the 2009 Periodic Paralysis Association Conference in mid-October. Here is our group photo.

The hotel upgraded my room to a VIP room. A nice little basket of fruit and cheese accompanied the room. And a letter.

"Welcome to the ____ Hotel! We are glad you are here representing the Periodic Paralysis Ass."

Me thinks someone did not learn how to appropriately abbreviate the word "association".

Bless their heart.

Tarantula

My driveway is 1/10 of a mile long and runs the length of the property. About half way down the driveway is a drainage culvert. There, on the road, coming out of the culvert was this little beauty. I managed to dodge him and stopped the car. I jumped out to take his picture and ... couldn't find him. Eeek. I looked around my feet and then realized that he was farther behind the car. In order to give you the correct perspective, I layed my Blackberry case next to him.

He's a big 'un.

Isn't it comforting to know these lurk in the dark?

Just a happy little thought on this Friday morning.

Christmas Lists

How do you facilitate gift-giving in your family for the holidays?

We started drawing names in our extended family many years ago. Now the grandkids are big enough to be part of the mix, so we all exchange names. The ideal is to have names exchanged by summer so that we can pick up presents as we see the perfect item for a great price. This does not always happen.

Ok, never.

Still, we aim to get the most for the best price. This year, the economy is pinching us, so we are being challenged to make as many gifts as possible. I suggested re-gifting, but that idea didn't catch on so well. I pity the person who has my husband's name. Guys are so hard to shop for, don't you think? It seems like it's either tools, electronics or hunting gear. All fairly pricey items.

Thus, the obligatory neck tie.

One man I know purchased a grey purse for every member of the family and then put the gift receipt in the purse. Guys and girls alike. He figured they would return their gift anyway, so he might as well make it easy for them. Too funny.

Amazon.com's wish list is a great idea for helping extended family who live far away. A couple of clicks and your shopping is done. Family used this last year for the King and he got a couple of things that he loves, like a guitar tuner and some other electronic gadget.

You may remember that I made aprons for friends and family last year. Any suggestions for sewing gifts this year? I'd love some fresh ideas. I have to get busy now or I won't get it all done by Christmas.

Curtis & Leroy saw an ad in the The Oxford Eagle Newspaper in OXFORD, MS. and bought a mule for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the mule the next day.

The next morning the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry, fellows, I have some bad news, the mule died last night."

Curtis & Leroy replied, "Well, then just give us our money back."

The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already."

They said, "OK then, just bring us the dead mule."

The farmer asked, "What in the world ya'll gonna do with a dead mule?"

Curtis said, "We gonna raffle him off."

The farmer said, "You can't raffle off a dead mule!"

Leroy said, "We shore can! Heck, we don't hafta tell nobody he's dead!"

A couple of weeks later, the farmer ran into Curtis & Leroy at the grocery store and asked, "What'd you fellers ever do with that dead mule?"

They said,"We raffled him off like we said we wuz gonna do." Leroy said,"Shucks, we sold 500 tickets fer two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898."

The farmer said,"My Lord, didn't anyone complain?"

Curtis said, "Well, the feller who won got upset.. So we gave him his two dollars back." Curtis and Leroy now work for the government. They're overseeing the Bailout Program.

Moral of the story: Limit all US politicians to two terms. One in office One in prison.

Working from home

I cannot seem to kick this cold/flu thing that I have had since last Thursday! Both yesterday and today I thought I would go in to work and ... not. So, I'm working from home. I could have gone in today, but my voice is just not a pretty thing. I certainly don't need to be answering phones. They'd think I was a cross-dresser.

Yesterday I talked to the nurse from the doctor's office. I called on Friday because I felt HORRIBLE. I guess I didn't whine enough on the phone because she told me when she returned my call on Monday, "Well, you obviously don't have the flu and you are not very sick, so I can ask the doctor if he wants to prescribe some antibiotics."

(silence).

My response, "Ma'am, I'm going to let that comment slide. No, actually I'm not. What factors did you use to determine that I am not and have not been very sick and that I indeed, do NOT have the flu??"

Her: "Weeeellllll. You just don't have the symptoms. And you haven't been sick long enough to have the flu."

(silence again)

"Ma'am, I have been sick since Thursday with fever, sore throat, body aches, fatigue and congestion. I'm now past the body ache part and over most of the fever. What symptoms do I lack?"

Poor thing. I should have cut her some slack. I didn't intend to be rude, but she was my lifeline to the doc. And as I told her, "I'm asking clarifying questions because you are my liaison to the doctor and if somehow you have garnered the idea that I have not been very sick, we need to keep communicating because I do not want you to go to the doctor and tell him that I'm not sick and am just calling for drugs."

All is well. They did call in a Z-pack. Now if I could just get my strength back from being sick, then all will be peachy.

Maybe I just need to eat a pizza with garlic-y breadsticks followed by chocolate cake with some hot cocoa. Comfort food for a sick body. Hey, that's a pretty good Rx. Maybe I should skip the nurse and prescribe my own meds...

New Dining Table

Remember that we sanded and painted our dining table? It's taken me a while to get pictures of the painted table. Here is the King's grandmother's dining table. Isn't it lovely? It's so chocolate-y that I want to lick it.

Disney

We went to Florida for the Periodic Paralysis Association conference last week. The conference was great! We celebrated the end of the conference (and Mommy's months of conference prep) by going to Disney for 3 days. Here we are with 3-4,000 of our closest friends, watching Fantasmic. I have a problem with the name of this show. It always makes me think of ... bedroom lingo and I haven't quite understood Disney's reason for naming this show with the ending "asmic".

Anyway.

"Cinnamon" the tiny little bear came with us for this Disney trip. He rode in Princess' pocket every day of our Disney adventure. He rode Splash Mountain. He rode Rockin' Rollercoaster. He even rode the Tower of Terror. But only once. Not even Cinnamon was enough comfort for Princess to ride the Tower of Terror more than once.

Mommy, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of the Terror. Dude. I could do that thrill over and over and over.

We had great fun. Then it was time to head home. Cinnamon took the trip in his sleeping bag (sock). It's a bear's life.

glasses

New glasses!

We sold our house

We sold our house. I am happy. I am sad. I will miss my old house. I am super happy to be finished with it and happy to put the check in the bank. Woo-hoo!

I am the coordinator of the 2009 Periodic Paralysis Association conference. It is this weekend. I will be glad to sew a ribbon on that huge project! Woo-hoo!

We think we have found a new home. Woo-hoo! We are waiting to hear more from the home owners. It's an unusual deal where we asked them if they want to sell their house. It wasn't on the market. They said .... "for the right price". Cool! We looked at it and really liked the house. We'll see. We are not in a hurry. If you knew where we lived right now, you would be asking why we are even moving at all! Gorgeous place.

Princess got her new glasses. I still do not have a picture to show you. Nor do I have a picture of our newly refinished table. It's beautiful, by the way. Now I want to paint everything. I felt the same way when I got my label maker. I even wanted to label moving objects. Love it.

I've been reading the book "Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckley". I did not know Mary Todd Lincoln was so self-absorbed. I also did not realize that the Lincolns lost 3 out of their 4 sons! So tragic.

Our family is studying the book of Luke. Mark Driscoll is starting a new series. Check it out...

Our poodle is learning to use a doggie door. She's the cutest thing ever. I love how smart poodles are. She learned what to do in 15 minutes. Although she did get a little sick after eating so many blueberries. I've never known a dog who loves dried blueberries. She did anyway. She ate so many the other night that she is not interested in them currently. Now, if you offered her a Honey Nut Cherrio, that's another story...

Dining Table

We have never been the DIY family, because life does not slow down long enough to take on extra projects. King is the Renaissance man. He can do anything.

However, we want to change a fews things as we sell our previous home and settle into our current lease house. We may continue leasing for some time or we may buy a new house soon. We are waiting for a house to open up close to school.

So, to make our home fun and different, our DIY project is the dining table! This is King's grandmother's table. See how the edge of the table is worn? She was a lady of great hospitality. So many bellies have rubbed this table that the varnish is worn off. I long to be like her and have never wanted to refinish her table. Now, I am ready.

As a family project, we sanded the table. No small chore. Last night Princess and I went to Home Depot and got paint. We took a candlestick with us to match paint. I am so glad we did. I thought the candlestick was a blackish color with some grey. Uh, no. It's a dark, dark brown. Cool. We were able to match the candlestick and painted the first coat last night. Princess picked the color! She did great.

Oh my. I LOVE the result. In direct sun, the color is a dark chocolate. In evening incandescent light, it's a brownish black color. Very cool. I will post pictures this week.

glasses

Princess is getting glasses.

I was in 10th grade and King was in 2nd grade when we received our first pair. We had her eye appt on Tuesday and ordered her glasses yesterday. Costco says two weeks. "Two weeks!", she wails. Drama. It probably will only take a week.

Her frames are adorable. She's growing so fast. The pictures above were taken in August 2008 and August 2009. In 365 days, she grew several inches. It's so amazing to watch her grow and become such a beautiful young lady.

I will post pictures when her glasses come in.

Bruise

Remember that I fell down the stairs to the creek on Saturday? Silly me. I'm still sore where I am bruised. See my bruise from the middle of my arm to my elbow? That's the only bruise that is appropriate to photograph. :) I'm so thankful that I fell on muscle. I took most of the hit on my right side and all of my weight went bumpity bumping down the stairs on muscle. I totally would have broken my arm if I had fallen a little more to the right, on the bone in my forearm.

God is so good. I think this is the perfect example of giving thanks in all things. 1 Thess 5:18 says, "...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I could have really injured myself. As it is, I learned to avoid the mold on the steps, I did not break anything and all my aches can be relieved by Advil.

Thanks to Jesus!