Friday, December 30, 2005

Christmas potpourri

Before you try and sniff this post, let me clarify that the word "potpourri" is used in the Jeopardy sense...

Just in case anyone was unaware of this fact, it is highly frustrating to the parents and downright inconsiderate to recline your seat in an airplane when you are aware that there are small children seated directly behind you. I understand that airplanes are uncomfortable for everyone, but is the extra 3 inches you achieve when you recline your seat really worth the added stress to a small child (who may then stress out everyone else on the plane, including yourself) and that child's parents?

It took us 3 tries, yes 3 tries, to be able to see Walk the Line. We tried Monday night, and it was sold out. We got tickets early yesterday, and then when we got there, the only seats left were in the front row on the ends, so we exchanged our tickets for the late showing and finally got to see the movie. So between that, the movie quality not being that great (because of film artifacts), ridiculous ticket prices, and my frustration with the 12 years of commercials before movies, I've finally jumped on the home theater bandwagon with Joe. It will pretty much take an act of Congress before I go to a movie theater again.

But, Walk the Line is a good movie - I very much enjoyed it. I even wished it was a little longer. Now I need to get some Johnny Cash music...

Friday, December 16, 2005

odds and ends

Jadyn is a year old today - happy birthday baby girl! (And for a birthday present, I took her to the doctor, and she got shots. Nice of me, eh?)

Odd as it may sound, the Kevin Max Christmas CD "Holy Night" is surprisingly not cracked out. I love Kevin Max's stuff, but you have to admit that it's a little out there. But his Christmas CD is really good - basically all straightforward renditions of the songs, but they're done well.

My friend Josh has a blog now! Go check it out, after you finish reading and commenting on my blog, of course.

I thought there was more randomness floating around in my head, but I can't remember it right now.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

good things happen at Christmas!

I just had to share my excitement...when I arrived home from our first gig selling jewelry, my Switchfoot shirt and Holiday Package was waiting for me! There are few things better than watching a Switchfoot DVD (seeing them in concert is one of them)! And I'm very excited about the new lowercase people magazine - I anticipate posting about that in the near future...

In case anyone is keeping track, my little baby turns 1 tomorrow. And no, she's not walking yet!

If you're still looking for a perfect Christmas present, one of a kind and handmade, you know where to find me! (But only if it's a gift for a girl, sorry.)

Friday, December 02, 2005

I don't blog more...

because I'm pretty sure no one wants to read about the terribly exciting things that go on in a house with two small children all day long! I'm just kidding, really, and I couldn't think of a good way to start this post. All of my friends are talking about dating, and I don't feel like I have a lot to add in that world, so I thought I'd talk about something else! (Not that those conversations are not important, because they are.)

Side note: Anyone who doubts my assessment of Jadyn (2 weeks shy of 1 year old, for those keeping track) as having way too much personality for my own good must believe me now. I have been trying to teach her the sign language for "more" and "please" for at least 3 months now, probably closer to 6. Never once has she shown any interest in actually signing the words, but I'm pretty sure she understands what I'm trying to do because she'll smile or laugh or nod her head or whatever. So the other night, Ashlee came over so we could work on our new business (jewelry making), and Jadyn was in the high chair eating cheerios while I worked on dinner. Ashlee went to the high chair and asked Jadyn if she wanted more cheerios, and you guessed it, Jadyn signed both "more" and "please" for her! Of course, she hasn't done it again for me. What a wonderful challenge God has blessed us with!

So, what I've been thinking about lately is this - what on earth is wrong with our parents' generation? (Without making a sweeping generalization, of course - I can name more than a few examples of baby boomers who "get it.") Over the week of Thanksgiving, I experienced multiple examples of so-called adults who act like children, specifically badly behaved children. And that fits with the experience I've had at church, where pretty much every ministry is being led by people under 35. (Which, I think, is far from the ideal way things should be.) I guess what I'm trying to understand is why this generation can be characterized as selfish, uncommitted, and non-communicative, and other than seeking the truth and living out 1 Timothy 4:12, what can we do about it? (To put it in context, an otherwise great family time over Thanksgiving was largely tainted by these kinds of attitudes, so much so that it would take a lot to get us to try it again.) Any theories? Anyone experienced something similar, or is it just my corner of the world that acts like this?

And just to tie it all together, I think this article on Relevant's website in analyzing the megachurch phenomenon maybe has something to do with, or is a reflection of, these attitudes. I'm still thinking about all of this, but something tells me it's all related. (Interesting article, by the way, and really about more than megachurches.)