A Hilarious Way to Begin my Day

This morning, I woke up around 5:30 a.m. I don't know why. Maybe because I was having trouble breathing? (I'm totally guessing here -- but I'd say that's probably the reason) Nothing serious --just allergy stuff. Anyway, when Mark got up to get Caroline ready for school, I sat up, and began my morning. No, I did NOT get out of bed. No, I didn't even work on the laundry for my upcoming trip.

I turned on the TV. For those of you who remember the good old days with the USA Network, you'll appreciate the irony here: I watched the show "Wings" and loved it.

(For a long time, "Wings" played non-stop on USA. It was all it was known for!)

I happened upon a 2-parter, and was able to watch both parts. I remembered how much I loved this show, and how much I wish it was on during a time when I'm usually AWAKE. (6:30 a.m. is not typically "wakie wakie" time for me)

After watching the two episodes, we switched over to the news for a few minutes. CBS Morning News was doing a story on "Jon & Kate + 8" which, if I'm honest, breaks my heart. I feel for those children--their parents are putting them through a hellish childhood by forcing every event of their lives to be documented on cameras. This is not normal, people. These things should not be.

But, as you might have expected, I have digressed.

Because (sticking to my title/theme) there's nothing funny about the Gosselin situation. Nothing. In fact, I find it just barely entertaining and/or educational. I think the Learning Channel has created an environment -- from people having babies on TV, to people raising 18 children -- in which our definition of "reality" has been stretched beyond the bounds of what is reasonable.

Sorry. I just had to get that out of my system.

The children (Gosselin) are beautiful -- but in my opinion, their parents have pandered to the very lowest common denominator by "pimping them out" for fame and fortune and allowing every aspect of their lives to be documented on television.

I know a lot of people really enjoy watching the show. They think she is amazing. They think he is cute -- ick. I've only watched 4 or 5 episodes in the last week or so. And, although I watched it--and laughed at the antics, and marveled at her ability to maintain some sense of control in this situaiton--I knew the allegations of what was happening in their personal lives, and couldn't help but think that they brought some of this tragedy onto themselves by allowing every aspect of their lives to transpire for millions of people to watch.

It's just a sad, sad situation.

But, I was talking about my hilarious morning. . . .

After "Wings" was over, we watched some news, and then I headed to the kitchen for the "breakfast of champions" which everyone knows is cinnamon roll Pop Tarts and Diet Pepsi with Cherry.

I know. . . I kind of grossed myself out typing that.

While firing up the laptop, I did the "cable shuffle" where I scan every channel on our digital cable. I only made it to channel 45 (Comedy Central) because one of my favorite movies is on. "A Mighty Wind" is one of the "mockumentaries" from the actors that produced Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, and For Your Consideration.

I have to admit that "Guffman" is my all-time favorite. But, this one is hilarious. It's all about folk singers -- and the music is amazing.

So, as I've typed this blog entry, I have laughed on occasion at this hilarious movie. The movie will end at 10 a.m., and at that time, I'll take my shower, and get ready to go into the office for a bit.

We're leaving for Michigan tomorrow afternoon. I am going to spend my day getting the kids ready to go. I did four, maybe five loads of laundry yesterday -- so it shouldn't be too difficult. But, there's still alot that has to be done before we head out tomorrow.

I cannot believe that my nephew (who reads this blog, by the way) is graduating this weekend. (Hi, Daniel!) I'm very proud of him. I'm also very excited because he's heading this direction to go to college. He will enroll at Johnson Bible College in the fall, and will (hopefully) begin playing with the worship ministry at church. He's very, very talented--and I cannot wait to work with him.

The other highlight of our weekend is Friday evening's dinner. We are meeting up with some of my friends from high school for the greatest pizza on the planet. Aurelio's in Homewood. The Crete-Monee Class of 1982 has gotten reconnected on Facebook--and we're gonna hang out for a couple hours and get caught up on the last 25 (plus) years. One of my favorite people in the entire world is going to be there -- and I can't wait for him to meet my family. I promise to take pictures. Really, I will.

So, there you have it. Sorry I've been MIA. Things have been somewhat crazy, but what else is new?!?!? I'd say that I'll try to blog before we leave, but I fear that's not going to happen. Never fear -- we are taking the laptop on the trip. So, hopefully, updates will occur throughout the weekend. We'll see. . . .

Have a lovely Wednesday!!

Sorry.....

I've been away for too long. It's been a busy week. It's going to be a busy weekend.

And besides, I've been scooped.

Mark wrote a great post about Edison last night on his baseball card blog. I know, I know, but when you read it, you'll understand.

I'm so proud of Edison, and the young man he has become. Yes, there still are days when I doubt he'll make it into adulthood -- because he's too much like his mother. But even those days. . .I'm proud of him beyond words (or, at least words without tears accompanying them!)

So, here's the link to Mark's entry. (There are pictures, too!)

Have a great weekend!!

Only a Week Late. . . .

NO! Before you start to think that there's an announcement. There's not.

Not.gonna.happen.in.this.lifetime.

I am writing today about the fact that Mother's Day occurred last week, and I only got half of my Mother's Day gifts distributed. The beauty of the internet/blogging world? I can show my Mother-in-Law her gift before I actually send it to her.

I know. I'm pretty excited about it, too.

Now, truth be told. . .these were done earlier this week.
But, I wanted to wait and post them until my in-laws had gotten home.
I also wanted to send them to her first -- to look at. I've done that.
My next step? Print them out and frame them.
Then, I'll send them to her.

But, I'm not there yet.

So, here they are. I love them. They were fun to make -- and they'll be fun to frame and hang.

So without further ado. . . .Happy Mother's Day, Nana!

From Edison. . .

And from Caroline. . . .

You Gotta Hear This One. . .

We're going to introduce this song at church in a week or so. . .it's powerful. Seriously powerful. It's one of those songs that, once you get it in your head, or your heart -- it's stuck there.

There's another new one we've taught in the last month or so. It's worth a listen, too.



I'm listening to the 2nd one as I type. It's the song that I'll probably have going through my head all day tomorrow -- and it's a good one to have "accompanying" me as I do whatever my hands find to do tomorrow!

That's it. . .just thought I'd get some songs running through your head. Since the "Filet-o-Fish" commercial has not been playing so much lately, I thought you'd need something to hum.











....you're welcome!

That's Not a Tweet. . . It's a CHIRP!!

. . .actually, it's TWO chirps!

Well, we're back home after a great Mother's Day.

Church was good. I got a little teary-eyed at the end. I know. . . go figure.
Lunch was great. Ate at Mom & Dad's. . .had a pot roast from Dewig's

After lunch was AWESOME.

Because Mom and I both have birthdays this week, we tend to celebrate them together. And, because Mother's Day falls in the same week (sometimes on one of our birthdays, even), we usually "lump" that into the mix, as well.

Today was no exception -- except for the fact that I wasn't able to get my mom's birthday present yet. So, I'll get it this week, and will deliver it to her on the actual day of her birthday. I did, however, manage to get Mother's Day cards to her -- signed, even.

My wonderful, patient mother in law will be getting her cards and presents in the mail. I still cannot believe that they were at my house until Wednesday of this past week -- and I gave an "epic fail" by not at least having Mother's Day cards ready.

Oh well, I think she'll really like the gift(s) when they make it to Arizona.

Edison has been talking about the gift he bought for me ever since he walked it out of the store. He was very proud of his selection, and so am I.


He got me the DVD of Mamma Mia! which i haven't yet seen. I'm looking forward to watching it very soon.

Mom & Dad "replenished" my supply of my standard perfume -- Happy by Clinique.

I've been wearing it for the last 6 or 7 years -- and I have no intention of changing anytime soon. I love that stuff!

Mark & Caroline got me a Michael McDonald CD that I didn't previously own.

I know you didn't need a picture. That's strictly for me.

I was pretty excited about the CD -- it includes a lot of his solo stuff. Needs to go on mp3 player NOW. :) Of course, I was assuming that our 10th row tickets to see Michael McDonald would be my birthday/Mother's Day present, but alas, I was wrong.

He totally blew my mind by getting me a present for which I pleaded a few months ago. What? You don't remember? Here you go. (link)

HE GOT ME A CRICUT!!!

. . .but that's where the fun only begins. You see, on our way home from Mom & Dad's house, we talked about font cartridges, and the possibility of finding some of them on ebay. So, true to form--Mark got online, found some cartridges, and found a Cricut for significantly less than the one he purchased for me. With my blessing, he bid and won me a 2nd Cricut.

(Once it arrives, and we know it works properly, he will return the original -- still in the box -- to the store from where he purchased it)

So, I guess you could say I'm doubly blessed.

And, of course, that would be true--not just for Cricut machines. I have two wonderful, amazing kids that make me glad that I'm a mom. They make me laugh. They make me cry -- for various reasons.



But they make me a Mom.
You can't put a label on a blessing like that -- no matter how hard you try.

8 Minutes - EDITED!!

No. . .not the (hideous, or so I've heard) Luke Perry movie about professional bull riding.

I have 8 minutes to post this before American Idol comes on. And, since I've missed the last two, not just one, but two weeks due to family stuff. . . I love you guys, but I'm only giving you 8 minutes. And yes, we have a laptop. Don't go there with me tonight.

Here are a few pics. Minimal stories about these pics. . .with the promise that I'm coming back to blogging. I'm just getting caught up on my life right now. . . . seven minutes.


Blogger is uploading them with obviously NO concern about American Idol starting in (gasp!) FIVE minutes!!!!

We kept getting a request for FIVE birthday candles. . . .so we obliged. I think she was happy!



The greatest (okay, I'm exaggerating here) gift EVER came from Grandma & Grandpa this year. . .



Nancy, this one's for you. . .she loves her bears. I think she's sleeping with them, as I type.



And, I saw this tonight, and realized the beauty which surrounds me often escapes me. And I don't want that to ever, ever happen. . .

I loved how it was sunny on the one part of the mountains. That's all. Light & shadow. Great concept, really.

Ciao, my friends. It's 8:59, and it's time for Idol!!!

Edited to add: Laura (commenter #1) is right. The movie is called "Eight Seconds," but when you're cramming a blog post WITH pictures, I might add -- you really don't care if it's seconds or minutes! :)

Long Day

Hi everyone!

I'm going to keep this brief. . .I know. I have said that before. We'll see what happens!

This morning started out as a normal morning. Kids off to school. In-laws resting in the living room. I was contemplating whether I would go to the office in the morning or afternoon (light workload). When the phone rang.

It was my Mom. . . she and my dad were on the way to the hospital. He had been experiencing chest "pains" which he (and she) was attributing to indigestion. You see where this is going, don't you...? I thought so.

Mark and I joined them at the ER within the hour. And the waiting commenced. After a heart cath, they determined that a posterior artery on the lower backside of his heart was completely blocked. They also found a number of arteries around his heart with 30 - 40% blockages. Two stents were inserted -- large ones, according to the doctor.

He will be allright. He will be on medicine (Plavix) indefinitely. He will have to start eating healthier, exercise more, and watching his sugar & cholesterol. So. . . we're walking a new road with him.

He came through the heart cath & angioplasty just fine. He doesn't like (or rather his body doesn't) anesthesia. The nausea he was experiencing eventually subsided. Mark and I headed home around 5 p.m., where we joined the kids for dinner with my in-laws.

He should be headed home tomorrow morning. Our plans for Caroline's birthday party on Saturday has been moved to Sunday. Flexibility is the key, baby.

It's been an emotional day. I've cried a few tears -- not as many as I would have thought, actually. God's provided grace and mercy at those times when I've needed it most. He's held us all in His hands. . . and there was no place I would rather have spent my Friday. (His hands. . .not the hospital)

Many of you already know about this--and have been praying throughout the day. Thank you -- those words seem so inadequate. But, we are truly grateful for prayers being offered up all over the place today. And for those of you whoa re just finding out about this by reading. . . please take a moment and thank God for healing. We'd also appreciate prayers for Dad as he heals, adjusts, and recuperates.

I have a story to tell that involves my dad. I meant to type it earlier this week, and for some reason, I didn't get a chance to do so until now. I'm thinking it was a "God thing" that I didn't know about until now.

Here goes. We'll see if I can do this without crying:

Last Sunday, Dad preached at church. It had been a few months since he preached -- but this time was one of the best I have *ever* heard him preach. Seriously. It was based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sins and heal their land." One of my favorite scriptures.

He seriously knocked this one out of the park. But it wasn't the sermon that stuck with me. . . it was an illustration he used that did me in.

He talked about a sermon he heard a few years back -- where the speaker said that he thought there would be nothing worse than standing before God on Judgment Day, and having God say: "So, what did you do with the book I wrote?"

As I thought about that illustration, I realized that (over two months ago) I received a copy of my friend Stephanie's recently-published book. She has been a really fun addition to my "virtual" friends. We've been together on no less than TWO occasions, and getting a copy of her book was very, very exciting for me.

But, I haven't read it yet. And I feel bad.

She knows I'm busy. In fact, she often tells me that I'm too busy. And, she's probably right. But still. I haven't read her book.

(Yes, she does read my blog -- and yes, she already knows)

By the way (shameless plug here) you really ought to get a copy and read it. Do what I say. . .not what I do.

Annnnnnnyway.....when Dad shared this story on Sunday, I couldn't help but think of Stephanie, and how bad I felt when she wrote on her blog about people not reading her book. I felt so bad, actually, I wrote her an email profusely apologizing for not having read it. Yes, I was vain enough to think that post was about me. . . (go ahead -- start humming the song!)

I realized that I should feel the same remorse for not reading the Bible as I felt for not reading Stephanie's book. And, although I cannot say I'm totally there. . . I have been very convicted this week.

So, there you go -- it's my little story about something my dad did that really encouraged me. He's pretty cool like that.

. . . and no, I'm not crying after writing this. It might be because "Scrubs" is on TV in the background. Call it a whim.

Stephanie -- for the love of God, I will read your book. I promise. I may have to read a few chapters of Deuteronomy before I can read yours without some guilt (hee hee). But, it's on the top of the "to read" pile.

Thanks, everyone -- your prayers for Dad and Mom are greatly appreciated.