And so it has begun. Sleeping in a chair is bittersweet; while I do appreciate being able to walk when I get up in the morning, it is just not the same as sleeping in a bed.

I have noticed that driving around in a big city late at night is very lonely. Not because there aren't any cars around, rather, because there are a lot of cars around. I understand that this seems counterintuitive, but in my reality, no one is supposed to be out at 11 o'clock at night. (Except, of course, for me and the few other people like me who don't know enough to go to bed.) But in a big city, there are a lot of people driving around, and the city accommodates that; the stoplights and whatnot behaving as they do all day long, with no comprehension of the hour. In a smaller place, on the contrary, people do actually go to bed (or at least have the sense not to leave the house). And the city infrastructure changes in understanding. There's something friendly about the stoplights blinking yellow on my way home, as if to say, "Hey! Goodnight! I'm taking a break too. Go on through, there's no traffic." I suppose this feeling of loneliness is not far removed from the mild depression I feel when the weather fails to consult the calendar, e.g. when I'm running the air conditioner in December.

my poor neglected blog

In order to appease the angry masses as a result of my shameful, though temporary, abandonment of my blog, I submit a cute picture of small children. (Hey, what's the use in having children if you can't use them as cannon fodder every once in a while? Seriously, calm down, it's a joke.)



Every so often I feel like I need to draw back, regroup, take a mental vacation, something. I'm not terribly proud of it, and I'm sure it's an attitude problem more than anything. I just sometimes get sick of all the things that I "have" to do, so I do nothing.

favorite things

It's interesting how different things can trigger memories. Yesterday the small children and I shared a cantaloupe (yes, between us we ate the entire thing) that was really good. I couldn't cut the thing fast enough to keep up with the speed at which they were shoveling the fruit into their mouths. But this cantaloupe was very good - it tasted just like the ones we used to eat at Grandma Jackie's house during the Fourth of July in Iowa (where it's not a little sketchy to buy produce from the farmers selling on the side of the road out of their pickup trucks). I so want to take my kids to small town Iowa for the small town Fourth of July celebrations, which aren't that much to speak of, but they also aren't put on for the show. It's not like I have memories of days that were without their share of drama. I remember it was always either ridiculously hot or raining, and I have no doubt that we were usually a chore to entertain. But I also remember how much fun it was to watch the fireworks, play bingo, watch the parade, and how good the cantaloupe and the watermelon tasted, and how the adults in my family didn't try and entertain us at every moment with this plan or that but let us figure things out for ourselves.

I haven't been to Yale, Iowa, for the Fourth of July celebration in a really long time. I'm sure things have changed, and I'm sure there are plenty of not-delightful things I would notice about small towns and their residents were I to return. But that doesn't change my desire to go back.

The other thing that has stirred memories lately has been a return to using matches. I think I really prefer matches over a firestick. Yes, a firestick may be easier, but there's nothing remarkable about it. Matches have an instantaneous, unmistakable smell associated with lighting them that just reminds me of afternoons after school, going downstairs to do my homework and lighting either a candle or incense from India. Even accounting for the homework, it's a pleasant memory.

so tired

I realized something depressing the other day. I probably won't be able to get back to Omaha until next May or June. That will make it a full year and a half between visits. I know that I probably sound crazy in my inexplicable attachment to a place, but it is what it is. Everything just feels different there. And there are some people who will point out that the drought between visits is largely my own fault, which I acknowledge but reject as a valid argument. :)

Anyway, so a few weeks ago, when my mom was here, I offhandedly remarked that I wanted fried ravioli from Malara's. It's one of those funky little restaurants in the middle of a neighborhood that is just barely converted from a house itself. One of the things this restaurant is famous for is its fried ravioli. It really is amazing. So when we were in Target today trying to figure out what to get for lunch, I stumbled upon a box of frozen fried ravioli. Attempting to contain my excitement, I decided neither the price nor the ingredient list were too appalling and subsequently had fried ravioli for lunch. It didn't even remotely resemble the fried ravioli from Malara's, but it was decent enough, particularly because I have never seen fried ravioli in another restaurant, much less a grocery store.

By way of update, my new washer is amazing. The clothes are actually cleaner, which I had hoped for but never really expected. Things like children's socks, for which there is little hope anyway, have returned to a state of actual whiteness. It is truly a wonder. And so the list of appliances which need to break is down by one...

for the record

I'm just going on record to say that I did not kill the washer. I have wished it dead for some time now, but I did not kill it. However, that does not change the fact that it is dead, which does not bode well for the clothing situation.

I made an amazing discovery the last time I went to the grocery store. Whole Foods has organic tater tots! I know this probably does not seem all that amazing, but really it is. I had some for lunch, with cheese on top, and it was yummy.

conquered! (almost)

I can't say it's been completely conquered until I have successfully done it more than once, but this afternoon I made a really good smoothie, and it made me happy! :) I would even dare to say that it was as good as the one I got from Smoothie King last week.

Just a little update for everyone who I know was very concerned about me and my smoothies.

83

Yes, that is the number of this post. Pathetic, compared to Ashlee's 403. I guess it means that Ashlee is 4 times cooler at blogging than I am.

Does anyone know how to make smoothies? I'm terrible at it, and I really want one. There is a Smoothie King right by my house, but $6 for a smoothie is a little more than I'm willing to pay (unless I'm desperate).

One of the great things about my mom being here was that she just took care of things for me. Like making breakfast for me. I know, it sounds pathetic, but I have been making my own breakfast basically since I was old enough to pour milk. So today when I really wanted eggs but didn't have the stomach to make them myself, there was no one here to make them for me. (Yes, I'm just whining, but it's my blog, so deal with it.)

There's something wrong with my dumb cats. They have never, ever fought with each other. But for some unknown reason, this morning they've decided they don't like each other. It's been the whole thing - growling, hissing, weird cat moaning. I'm thoroughly annoyed. The thing they don't know is that if they start injuring each other, they're both done for. I really do love my cats, but not when they're acting so bizarrely and unpredictably.

happy birthday to me!

Today is my birthday. Is it okay that I don't feel like I'm 29 or act like it seems someone almost 30 should act?

This morning, while waiting for everyone to get their acts together so we could go downstairs for breakfast, Jadyn looked out the window in my room.

"The moon is out! Oh gravy!"

wahooo!

"So many things I see remind me of what I've read in a book...when, shouldn't it be the other way around?" Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail

A movie I haven't thought about in a while has resurfaced in the past week. The other night, after all of the children were in bed, I came downstairs to see if there was anything on tv and just not think for a while. To my delight, I found the movie I.Q., in HD and widescreen beauty. So I quickly determined that it was on again during the middle of the night and set the DVR to record it. Then I proceeded to watch the first hour and was reminded of why and how much I do love this movie.

This weekend, Joe took the small children outside to enjoy the very nice and not very frequent weather we've had. Yesterday, just before time to go in, Joe was throwing a beach ball into the air, where, of course, it got stuck in a tree. If you have ever seen I.Q., you will understand why we both started laughing. If you haven't, there is a scene early in the movie where Einstein's 3 scientist friends are playing badminton and get a birdie stuck in the tree. And these brilliant scientists, who between them "can't change a lightbulb," send this mechanic into the tree to help with their "gravity problem." Maybe you have to be a nerd, but Joe throwing the soccer ball to try and get the beach ball was hilarious in its similarity. And the reenactment was complete when he had to climb the tree to get the ball. (He didn't fall out.)

"We threw the racket up to get the birdie."
"We threw Godel's cane up to get the racket."
"We were going to throw Godel up next!"

dangerously close to a month

I didn't intend to not blog for so long...it just happens somehow.

It's so easy to think that life is just going to go along and that things will always be the way they are. But I don't know how to live thinking that things could be completely different tomorrow.

Alaina had her first softball practice last night. I felt a little out of place; it's kind of a club where everybody already knows what's going on. I don't think it's intentional or malicious, but I don't like feeling like I'm trying to catch up. It will be interesting to see how the season goes. Alaina was a little disappointed last night because she thought she was going to be playing softball "like Daddy does at church." We explained to her how she has practices and games and that seemed to be okay. She was so excited last night before practice, she could hardly stand it. It was pretty funny.

Why is it there is never enough time during the day?

5 years old

My little (or not so little) baby is 5 years old today. I don't even really believe it. I can't even pretend she's not a child yet. She hasn't been even a "preschooler" for quite some time, but somehow, saying she's 4 is much easier than saying she's 5. Honestly, it's hard for me to even remember her as a baby, except when I look at pictures. But I think that's okay. I don't want to ever hold any of my children back because they've grown up and I can't handle it.

One of the very important things I'm learning with her is how to love and parent her for who God made her to be, instead of who I would make her to be. When she was born, I had this mistaken notion that I had more influence over who she would turn out to be than I really do. God gave her her personality, and while that may be difficult for me at times, it's so much better that way for her and for me.

It's funny how 5 years is so very long and yet so very short all at the same time.

get this

So here's an article about how playing the Wii actually helps surgeons perform better. Specifically, games like Marble Mania, which apparently is all about precise controller movement. [Sidebar: I think I might have to look into getting that game - it's mazes with marbles!] The researchers are planning on developing a surgical training tool for the Wii, which could be used in developing countries to train surgeons.

Anyone who has played Wii knows how cool it is, and now it's socially-minded, too!

a funny

Either due to my lack of watching anything other than children's programming on tv, or the typical lack of political ads aired in Texas, I have not seen this political ad in Texas. So I'm sharing it with the vast readership of my blog because it is hilarious and because I have politics in my blood.

thanks

Thanks to everyone who has (knowingly or not) been helping to pull me out of my annual January funk. Lisa and Ashlee, who basically told me I could do whatever I wanted. My mom, who is coming down here for my birthday in March. Raj, who told me about Pandora internet radio, although Raj is on the bubble because I'm a little miffed he didn't tell me about it before. (Check it out, it's awesome.) For the record, I'm still sticking by my RSAD (reverse seasonal affective disorder) because though I may not be in a funk anymore, 80 degrees in January still hacks me off.

If anyone is keeping track, I did not find a VeggieTales calendar this year. I am fairly confident, through my exhaustive (not really) internet research, that there isn't one this year. So I went to Barnes & Noble and got an M.C. Escher calendar for half off.

Another reason to love Starbucks: I got free coffee last night in return for a promise to bring the baristas rice krispie treats next week.

And here's a picture from Christmas - the first time my babies have played in the snow. Alaina and Jadyn are making snow angels, and Jared is just trying to get around.

happy new year?

It's not a new year for me without a new VeggieTales calendar (which I don't have yet) and a new pillar added to my moral stance (about which you are soon to read). Sorry if you tuned in expecting a cute Christmas picture and/or nice Christmas vacation vignette...I'm aiming for that for the next post.

I returned to my normal routine this morning to find this story among the Relevant Magazine "slices" that I was catching up on. Basically, the RIAA is suing a man for ripping CDs that he purchased onto his computer for his own use.

The last grasping death throes and wheezes of an industry so out of touch with the people that it is marketing to are just pathetic.

Perhaps it seems odd that I would get worked up about something like this. I am a stauch supporter of artists getting paid for their work. I have long been opposed to the blatant copying and distribution of CDs, particularly over the internet with any and every random person. I would even rather have a physical CD than use iTunes or whatever to purchase music. But when the idiots of the RIAA, who have been completely bilking people on the price of CDs for a very long time, decide to tell me that I can't listen to music I have purchased in the format that I want, then I'm done.

Until something changes with the RIAA and their policies, I won't be buying any more CDs. I'll be buying all of my music online. I really like Amazon's mp3 website - DRM-free and cheaper than iTunes.

It's no wonder that so many bands are making a beeline for the exit when it comes to record companies.

oh, the snowmanity!

So that was really just for dramatic effect. (And because Joe said that, above, and it was funny.) The snowman cake actually behaved quite nicely:

And Jadyn did finally decide that she was, in fact, 3 and not still 2. ("I'm still little!" is what she kept telling me.)

We painted "snow" on the windows, which was ridiculously cute. Jadyn kept getting upset because somehow, she kept getting painted with snow. This was, of course, a tragedy since the snow paint was made out of soap. "I not a window!" (best read with accompanying frown/grimace)

I think she had fun, and the best news is that today she is still 3.


And now basically everything is over. Sounds absurd, huh? I have a week to pack, and then it's Christmas in Omaha. I'm really glad I have a week to "take a breaver" (as Jadyn says) before Christmas.

In another exciting development, I got a Dremel tool set for Christmas. I am super excited about it, and no doubt I will be posting pictures of my accomplishments throughout the next year! First up, jewelry box.

party!

Jared's birthday "cake." (Out of the 7 birthday parties I've done so far, we've only had a cake twice. And one of those times, the cake looked like Pablo's face, so it was a pretty involved cake.) Isn't it cute?! I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Sometimes I never know if what I cook up in my head is able to be executed in a manner acceptable to my standards. And it's Monday morning, and only the letters and part of the caboose (and most of the wheels) have been eaten.
The birthday monster really likes rice krispies! (And puppy chow, and anything else he could get someone to feed him!)

Then Jared opened presents with his daddy, and then he had to leave his own party early to take a nap. Rough.

In a completely unrelated note, we netflixed the movie Stranger than Fiction, with Will Ferrell (and a bijillion other people). It was really really good. If you haven't seen it, you need to. I'm still thinking about it.

happy Jared!

This look says, "I know mommy wants me to cooperate, but I think I'm gonna continue to do whatever I want!"

Today is Jared's first birthday. For his birthday, I took him to the doctor. Aren't I nice? But before that I made homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I have this tradition of making cinnamon rolls for birthdays. Until this point, they have definitely been popped out of a can. (Who can resist popping open those cans?) But this time, I made them. I think I have bitten by the organic/no preservatives bug...but that's another blog.

His birthday party is Sunday - there will be better pictures then.

In some ways, a year goes by so fast...in other ways, it's been a really long year!

we're going to the beach, the beach, the beach

I can always tell when it's time for me to take a vacation because I very suddenly have no more ability to be productive. I also get impatient. The trouble is, actually taking a vacation is no longer very relaxing for me. So I've found myself embarking on mental vacations. I picked up a sudoku puzzle the other day and figuring out a system of solving those puzzles was interesting diversion for a couple of days. Then I busted out a book of logic puzzles. Doesn't sound much like a mental vacation? Well, it's a departure from the things I have to think about (or at least should be thinking about/doing).

You are witnesses; I am starting the trend. Here is the first "year in review" for 2007: 2007 was pretty much as stinky as 2006, in a whole new way. There were perhaps a few more good things in 2007 than there were in 2006, but there has certainly been just as much drama.

my mom is cool

In case anyone ever wondered where my penchant for kooky ideas comes from, this should explain everything:



Yes, those are my parents. Yes, that is a giant rice krispie treat wedding "cake." Isn't it cute?!

My mom came up with this idea for a friend's wedding party/reception, and my dad helped her execute it. I think it's super cool, and I love that my parents do crazy things like this. I just wish I could've been there to help!

Jadyn is learning a valuable lesson: if she doesn't eat her food in an expeditious manner, chances are good Jared will finish it for her.

This morning, she left some of her pop tart (as usual), and Jared came along and finished it. (Not ideal, but he's almost a year old and pop tarts aren't the worst thing in the world.) This upset her greatly, although I think it was mostly because he ate her food, not necessarily because she was ever planning on finishing it herself...

For those keeping track, Jared's second word: "ba-ba," translated "bye bye," complete with hand gesture. Words 2, Dada 0.

trouble already

Sadly, I didn't have my camera to capture the momentous occasion: Jared ate an entire Jr. Roast Beef sandwich and 1 1/2 potato cakes for lunch at Arby's on Saturday. I told him his Uncle Ravi would be proud. I think Jared will be giving Ravi a run for his money for the eating bragging rights in the near future.

Last night, Jared climbed up the stairs. All of them. By himself. Joe followed him up, but I was highly disturbed watching the whole business. Apparently, he hasn't read the memo about not being a year old yet.

Some days you wake up and notice a pattern to the day. According to my small children, apparently the theme of the day is "let's make a mess for mommy to clean up!"

The leaves started falling off our oak tree in the backyard about a month ago. I thought it was odd, since the weather hadn't changed at all, but perhaps the tree checked a calendar. Silly rabbit, fall is for kids. The tree was merely shedding leaves in order to grow new ones. It's nearly full of bright spring green leaves. Depressing.

this and that

• Anyone who reads this and is not part of our Friday night Bible study will be sad: I have declared October "pumpkin dessert month." Lest the name not be description enough, every Friday night in October we will be having a pumpkin dessert. First up, pumpkin pie. After that...we'll see. My choices abound: pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin creme brulee, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cake... (I'm starting to feel a little like Bubba from Forrest Gump.)

• Jared starting saying "mama" on Monday. It's his first word, and he is the first child to say "mama" before "dada," and the sad part is I would have been just fine with him saying "dada" first. It makes it very easy to hand him off, "See, he's asking for you!"

• I never suspected it would happen, but I'm really enjoying coaching soccer. Last Saturday, my little team actually played like they had heard and understood and were implementing things I had been teaching them. It was pretty exciting. It is amazing how personalities play such a factor at this age, maybe because they haven't learned to be anything but who they are yet. It's also a little overwhelming to try and figure out where to start in teaching them how to play - they really don't know anything, but at the same time they are eager to be taught and then play. I sometimes wish I hadn't had my nose in a book the whole time I was growing up. I think I would've liked to play a sport...I might have been decent at softball.

• If you are at all able, go get some Blue Bell Southern Blackberry Cobbler ice cream. There really are no sufficient words to describe it.

• One of the worst parts about having small children is not being able to just sleep it off when I am sick. Today is the first day this week I feel remotely like myself again. And as a sort of addendum to my previous post (sorry Ashlee!), I must point out that I had no trouble with allergies until I came to the lovely state of Texas.

• In case you were wondering, we have declared September a terrible month. This information is so that you can be prepared next year, as we certainly will be. As far as I am concerned, September is now a close second to January when it comes to months that I don't like. October, if solely by mere fact of the "pumpkin dessert month" declaration, will be better.

• Poor Jadyn is feeling horribly left out because I have started homeschooling Alaina, and Jadyn desperately wants to "do school" too. Given my natural tendency to want everything to be fair, a large part of me wants to include her. The other part of me, which is winning, says that she has to wait until she is old enough and that she's not going to get to do everything Alaina does at the same time.

• Jars of Clay and Relient K have new Christmas albums out this year...look out world!
  

today...

I hate Texas.

I hate Houston.

I hate the weather.

I hate airports.

I hate not getting what I want.

I hate traffic.

I hate having to persevere.

SAVE ROSENBLATT

Okay, I know this post will have little meaning to some of you who read my blog. However, if you have a minute, I'd really appreciate your help.

Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha is the site of the Men's College World Series. The CWS has taken place in Omaha for over 50 years. I don't even know how many games I've been to, or how many times we've stood in line for hours on Saturday morning of the championship (when it was one game, winner take all). Going early and finding the best parking spot on the street is part of the adventure. We have found a couple of "secret" parking spots over the years. We've also parked at the zoo, which is right next to the stadium (even though you're not supposed to, though for the record, we did go to the zoo that day). We used to go during the week, when you could get in with one ticket and stay for two games. We always sit in the right field bleachers and mock the left field bleachers and heckle the right fielder. I'm pretty sure we were at a game that USC was playing and we heckled Morgan Ensberg.

Every summer, one of the most significant things I miss about being in Omaha is going to the CWS. That's part of the reason I will watch every game on ESPN - you can see Rosenblatt and get an idea of what Omaha is really like. There's a reason you will always find an LSU fan at the CWS, regardless of whether or not LSU is in the tournament.

And it's not just the CWS. Rosenblatt is a really great stadium for minor league ball, too. It may not have the swimming pools of new minor league parks, but it has character and tradition, which you cannot manufacture, no matter how much brick you use. This picture is how I think of going to a baseball game (even though this picture is from the wrong field bleachers). Summer, open air, sunshine...no doubt a beach ball is floating around the bleachers somewhere.

So please go here, and sign the petition to save Rosenblatt Stadium. Tell anyone you know who is a fan of baseball, or college sports, or just opposed to wasting money on a new sports arena that isn't necessary. And if you're ever in Omaha I will take you to a game.

assorted musings

From the last week or so...

• If you heard a faint shout for joy last week and were perplexed as to its origin, all I have to say is that Pumpkin Spice Lattes have returned to Starbucks. Bring on the Christmas music!
• More evidence proving the case that I should be commissioner of baseball: Bud Selig reduced his friendship with Cecil Cooper to a race issue. The article is here.
  
• Sunday morning conversation:

Jadyn: I want sa brefest. (translation: some breakfast)
Me: You want some breakfast?
Jadyn: Yeah.
Me: Well, it's almost time for church, so we're going to have to eat breakfast in the car.
Jadyn: Awww, dagnabbit!

• Sometimes they prove they really do love you (or at least need you because they're hungry). The other night, after putting the girls to bed, I stayed upstairs to do some work. Joe and Jared were downstairs. Jared crawled (scooted, more accurately) from the living room to the kitchen, whined a bit, turned around, scooted back to the living room to the stairs, where he started crying when he heard my voice.
• Every week should be a 4-day week.
  

just for Lisa

Ode to My Espresso Machine

The question I ponder
every now and then,
regarding the past,
how it could have been
that I harbored distaste
for a newfound friend?

That friend, espresso,
takes a latte form.
And frantic to and fro
of my daily norm
then takes a repose
while my latte is warm.

So hurrah for my espresso machine!
A true friend will it ever be.
Though small in size, on it I am keen.
But please don't expect more rhyming from me!

breakfast wisdom

I want to share with you the things I learned from my cereal box. These are suggestions from the good people at Cheerios (or at least their marketing or box design department) about how to "mix it up" in your life.

- Make a mix tape/CD.
- Learn one good joke and tell it.
- Write 10 things that make you happy and do one of them today.
- When describing something, use sound effects.
- Write all your emails so they rhyme.

Spanglish

So we Netflixed Spanglish, and I watched it on Sunday. Has anyone else seen it?

Let me start by saying that I really liked the movie. Adam Sandler, and by extension his character, is extremely likable - genuine and human. I have never really liked Tea Leoni, but she plays the role well (I'm beginning to think she's generally typecast). The crazy part is, despite my dislike of Tea Leoni, I still understood her character and even felt sorry for her. Anyway, the movie is really good - I've been thinking over it for a couple of days now. The main theme of the movie is the question, "how do we define ourselves?" Do we let external influences - culture, appearances, wealth, etc. - determine who we are and how we behave? Or do we let internal desires make our choices?

I have hung on to so many things (or people) that provided a definition for me over the course of my life. But at the same time, I react very negatively when someone tries to label me or tell me what I am. I don't think it's an easy thing just to be who you are. I think we'd save ourselves a lot of trouble if we could just figure out how to be who God made us to be and be happy with that.

my new best friend...

a mid-morning latte.

(Just in case you haven't heard me say it yet, coffee and caffeine both have health benefits. Seriously.)

childhood conversations

Jadyn: These flip flops are not working!

Alaina: (not even looking up from her task) Are they the right size?

Jadyn: Yeah. (pause) Pretty sure. ... Pretty sure.

they're back!!!

Though it probably made no difference whatsoever, I will choose to believe that the emails I (and others) sent to M&M Mars held some sway because dark chocolate peanut M&Ms are back!

So I bought some yesterday, and all of you need to go buy some too.

where'd that come from?

So I was watching this show last night on PBS about art. Seriously. It was one of those "by accident" things - the TV was on PBS when it was turned on, etc. etc. etc.

One of the things people might not know about me is that I love art. And it occurred to me as I was watching this show about Rembrandt - and how he was a total rebel and was sticking it to the man through his art (despite the fact that it was the man who had been paying for his art...) - that I have not been to an art museum in a really long time. I think the last time I was at an art museum was when I went to the Chihuly exhibit at the Joslyn. Anyway, that fact makes me kind of sad. Art is fascinating to me, and there's something in me that has missed that. I can't even really explain it.

So to all of those people who will be in the same city as I am at Christmas, I am going to the Joslyn. You are welcome to come with me, or you can stay at home and watch my children. :)

And yes, once again, this qualifies as one of those things that is cooler in Omaha - in my opinion, at least, the Joslyn kicks the Contemporary Art Museum's butt. And I think most of the people who would read this have not been to both museums, so that, combined with the fact that this is my blog, means that I'm right.

Nighthawks
Edward Hopper

how long can he possibly go without sleeping through the night?

Up to eat twice a night for the past week...he's never slept through the night for more than 4 nights in a row.

It will, in fact, be a miracle if I make it until the child turns 1.

a travelogue of sorts

A few amusing things heard on vacation:

Alaina (to Raj): You have short arms.


Alaina: That's Hoppy Bunny. I adopted him and named him Hoppy Bunny Lulla Larry.

Alaina (to Raj): You're weak sauce.

Azina: Jadyn, what is that?Jadyn: Puppy bunny.


Lindsey: Isn't Uncle Raj awesome?
Alaina: Yeah. But Uncle Ravi is more awesome.

Me: Jadyn, do you like your new car seat?
Jadyn: No!

Azina: I have to go back to my house in California.
Jadyn: No!
Azina: You can come visit me.
Jadyn: No!

Jadyn: I want no go to Texas.

That's all I can remember for now.

11.957

According to Joe, this is the number of days left until we go to Omaha. (He's also in need of a vacation...) I started the countdown on the message board by the door on Friday. Alaina is very excited about going to see Grandma. I am super excited about going to Omaha, but I am a little apprehensive about this road trip... The great thing is that Azina will be with us to help (plus she's cool to hang out with!), but I would be happy for any ideas about what to bring with me for a 2 year old and a 4 year old to do on the trip. It's going to be about 16 hours (and we're hoping not any more than that).

That's about all that's going on around here...we're working on soccer, and I'm pretty sure this is going to be the biggest season I've ever been part of. I just have this feeling that we don't know what we're in for!

Joe's parents gave us tickets to the Astros game yesterday for Mother's Day. I was away for Jared for more than an hour for the first time, and it was nice. He's also finally starting to sleep in his crib in his room, and I forgot how much I can get done when a baby is on some sort of schedule! Anyway, that wasn't the point of this paragraph. The point was that Joe bought me an Astros cap for Mother's Day, and I got to pick it out, and it's purple! Is it sacrilegious to get a baseball cap not in the team colors? Perhaps. But I don't care. I finally have an Astros hat. Even Alaina and Jadyn had one before I did, it just wasn't right. And they won yesterday!

Happy May Day!

If I could, I would leave baskets of popcorn and jelly beans at all of your doorsteps.

As it is, I will just leave you with a picture of my new refrigerator.

It's shiny and pretty and the girls love it. So do I. :)

wow...

My sister pointed this blog out to me...it's fascinating. But those bugs are disgusting.

We're so removed from it all in this country. (Or maybe we just have less obvious symbolism to deal with...) Thinking of the things that we do to each other, physically and emotionally, makes me feel ill.

So far this year, someone I know has died every month. Not a particularly delightful thought.

randomness

I'm almost finished reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller. Go get it and read it now. Seriously, it's that good. Reading it has made me reflect on my past and how amazing it is that I am who I am where I am. It seems as if at any point in my life I could've turned out to be a caricature of Christianity (not that I've got it perfect by any means). But God made sure that didn't happen. And I think a lot of that is because my mom is amazing. Of course I didn't realize that when I was growing up, but in so many ways she did things and believed things that were different from other people but that were true. And she didn't do it aggressively or with an agenda, she just did it. I think she'd say that she learned from the things she didn't like when she was growing up. Joe says that, too. It makes me wonder if I've actually learned anything. I've always been surrounded by people who have learned things, and I feel like I tend to just depend on those around me.

Sometimes it's hard. In the Christian culture, even the anti-Christian culture Christian culture, it seems as if there's a stratification. People who do things that affect large groups of people, particularly oppressed or marginalized groups, are held up as examples and have articles written about them. I'm sorry, I just can't make it to Africa this year, I have laundry to do.

I'm not looking for a pity party, I swear. Sometimes it's just hard to believe that this stratification that we apply to every aspect of life is not how God operates. And if that's the case, then why do we do it? Did He create that tendency in us? Seriously, is it really the same spending an hour with orphans and spending an hour trying to get all of us dressed in the morning? It's like trying to reconcile the idea that we don't know what's going to happen in the next hour or the next day with the reality that we have to make plans, whether it's to go to the beach or what to have for dinner.

Alaina requested "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" as our lunchtime soundtrack. She even knows that it's a Beatles song. I wonder if my kids are going to think I was amazing, despite the freakouts I'm prone to when they make a mess unnecessarily... (Don't squish your muffin! Why did you do that?!?)

My sibs and I used to play the "crusties" game. For whatever reason, people stare at us when we go places together. Inevitably, every time we walked into the mall, we would win because of the number of people who looked at us funny. I sort of feel like I'm playing that game by myself now, but sometimes it's a little less innocuous. It is far from the easiest thing in the world to do errands with three small children. I always have this voice in the back of my head telling me that I did this to myself - this is the choice that we made, so I can't complain. That's not what I used to believe. I used to believe that God would give us children according to His plan for our family. I still believe that. Everything else just doesn't look like I think it should. The way things are going, God is blessing us in ways that I never expected, or maybe even wanted. I'm not sure what to do with that.

By the way, I now believe that a water bottle is completely inferior unless it is filled with candy. (Thanks Azina!) :)

Jadynisms

Things Jadyn has said recently:

"I busy right now." (In response to being told it was naptime.)

"Grumpy, mommy." (regarding her emotional state)

"Angry. No go back." (Complete with crossed arms, after being told it was time to go home.)

"man yo hat" (Curious George's friend)

"I blow him. I squish him with my foot!" (accompanied by stomping; in response to Alaina screaming about a bug, or anything that remotely resembles a bug)

"Don't [s]pank my little bottom!"

the celebrating continues...

Since I was 5, I have always had a birthday buddy. My brother Raj was born the day after my 5th birthday. A few years ago, I discovered another birthday buddy - as Jadyn says, Ashwee!

So happy birthday Raj - I'm glad that we are friends now because the days of me being stronger than you are long gone! I love that we (including those other two yahoos) are siblings who actually like hanging out together and miss each other. And I'm starting to come around to your way of thinking regarding Coldplay...although they will never be better than Switchfoot.

And happy birthday Ashlee - thank you for showing me what Christian friendship was all about. Thank you for going along with my crazy ideas. Thank you for all of the things I've learned from you about God and life. Thank you for loving my children as if they were your own. Thank you for my fabulous birthday chocolate raspberry truffle bars, and thank you for celebrating with me because that way I feel less silly about being so excited about my birthday!

I think we can agree - March is the best month ever.

happy pi(e) day!

I just got home from coffee night, which is always fabulous, but even more so tonight because today was pi day! (March 14th, 3-14, pi is 3.14... yes, I am a nerd, I know that.)

What was really great about today is that I got to celebrate pi day right - I got to make pizza (including the dough), and I got to make a pumpkin pie. And then I got to have coffee and share my pumpkin pie with my friends. And I wish I could've shared a pie with everyone who reads this. So was it really about pi or celebrating nerdiness? A little. It was also a little about taking a day to celebrate people I have been friends with in the past (hello Mr. Biga's math class!).

But mostly it's about taking any random old day and making it special for the people I love. So today I say, thank you Lord for my family and friends (past and present) and for silly days like pi day to celebrate the life you've given us!

here's a new one

So I'm on my way home from a delightful shopping trip with my children. At the last big intersection before my house, where people tend to act like idiots, although not usually in the direction I was traveling, several cars turning onto my road decided to be in the intersection when my light turned green. After letting them go and not cutting them off to leave them stranded in the intersection, as I could've done, the driver of the last car waved at me. Now, normally I would take that as an admission of a vehicular faux pas and move on. However, the driver of the last car waved at me. . . with her cell phone. Yes, that's right. As Joe would say, she was an idiot and could prove it scientifically.

I believe I can now personally update the old adage: Better to remain silent and be thought an idiot than wave your cell phone and remove all doubt.

happy march!

Welcome to birthday month!

Just when I was beginning to wonder when/what God was going to show me needed work in my life, it hit me in the head.

It's hard to deal with the knowledge that potentially every stage in your child's life could be one that affects her for the rest of her life. It's even harder to deal with the knowledge that the way I respond to those stages could be the foundation for emotional neuroses she'll have to recognize and deal with when she's my age. And then you realize the hardest part of all - she's responding because of the way I'm dealing with her. (Which, of course, is all God's fault for giving me a child whose personality I am not prepared for, nor do I think I really understand.) And all those things I thought I knew about raising children, all those things I thought (and still do think) are based on biblical principles, all those things just aren't going to work with Alaina.

So what do I have to do? I have to put aside the fact that I'm always right (which has become prideful in this case, I'm afraid), and I have to learn to respond to her as she is. What does that look like?

am I really turning into a nut?

Inexplicably, I have been very interested in "health food" lately. Organic food, locally grown food, and the like. I don't know why, but I'm seriously considering starting to buy as much locally grown food and organic food as I can. It's very weird because anyone who has been around me knows that usually I'm all about saving as much money as possible at the grocery store. By no means am I about to get rid of the white flour or white rice or refined sugar in my house. But I am considering making my own jelly and things like that. What happened?

(I think I have too much time on my hands. See what happens when I'm not kept busy?)

not meant to be

If you ever needed more proof that we were meant to live in community, my not-yet-4-year-old Alaina told me again today that she wanted "more than just 3 people at our house." (I'm guessing that count included her, me, and Jadyn. Jared doesn't count yet, I guess, and Joe was at work.) That statement was followed by her telling me that she missed Grandma, at which point Jadyn chimed in "grandpa-ina," which, when translated, is "Grandpa, Azina." And not to leave anyone out, Jadyn then said, "Raj, Wabi."

Apparently I'm not nearly as exciting as my siblings or parents...

(It may sound like I'm whining about the status quo, and I'm really not - it's just that when your 2 small children say things like that, you want to do everything possible to fix it.)

"happy newear!"

...a rough transliteration of Jadyn's version of "happy new year"

A new year is always a little bittersweet for me. Perhaps it's because I love Christmas. It is, to borrow a phrase, "the most wonderful time of the year" for me. It's not that we ever do anything that could be called spectacular. That's just how it is.

At any rate, sometimes it's a little hard for me to accept the fact that when the new year comes, we have to start all over again. I'm not opposed to change. I just don't like circumstances forcing me to change.

But at the same time, a new year is full of new days that are full of potential. This is the first year that I don't have a general schedule of events, which is a little unsettling for me. We don't really have anything planned this year: no major projects, no trips. Maybe all of that will change soon. Maybe God will use this "free time" in my life to teach me something. I don't really think life will stay quiet for long; it never does. But here's to a new year with fewer unpleasant surprises than the last!

"I know what I want..."

Without even understanding the concept of a favorite color, Jadyn has chosen hers. Maybe that's not accurate. Jadyn has discovered hers.

I very clearly remember the day I decided what my favorite color was. I was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-8 years old, and I was sitting in the red Japanese room at my grandparents' house, and I had noticed that everyone had a favorite color but that I did not. So I picked one. I don't remember the criteria I used to decide (except I knew it wouldn't be pink because it was Azina's favorite and it was such a yucky, girly color), but I chose purple. It seems to fit. (Because I am royalty, of course.)

So this whole thing with Jadyn started last Saturday, as we're getting ready for soccer. Joe put her socks on her, which she correctly labeled "pink." Then she wouldn't leave the house until she had a barrette in her hair, which she has never wanted before. She chose "pink." Yesterday, when asked what color popsicle she wanted, she chose "pink." Last night, she couldn't go to bed until she had the "pink" blanket. (She started crying when I tried to put her in bed. I asked her what she wanted, and she said "pink." Thinking she wanted some pink doll or something from Alaina's room, we headed that direction but stopped when she pointed at the linen closet. I opened it, and she pointed at the pink blanket.) Today, she opened her sock drawer herself and pulled out the pink socks, and when she brought them to me, said, "pink."

Granted, I only have a smattering of knowledge when it comes to child psychology, but I think it is a little odd for pink to be the first color a child can readily identify. I could be wrong.

All that aside, however, I am amazed at the differences that are inherent in each of us. Jadyn was born knowing what she wants and what she likes. I am not like that at all.

I wish I wouldn't have been so self-absorbed growing up, that I could have started to see the wonderful quirks God created in each of us. I am thankful that God is still trying to teach me to see and appreciate the uniqueness of each person, starting with the children he blessed us with.
(Of course, that doesn't mean that I'm not always right still...)

more Studio 60

Head over here to discuss the show (or see what you're missing!) - guest commentary is welcome.

Studio 60

Okay, there is really not enough talk going on about this show. If you missed last night's episode go to nbc.com and watch it right now. I'm not kidding.

If you did see it, you can join me in trying to get people to talk about the show on the Relevant message boards. The Studio 60 thread is here. (You have to register if you want to post.)

If all else fails, I may be forced to start a blog about the show. I even have a whole list of quotes from last night's episode to get me started. And lest you think this is just another TV show, last night's quotes include a lesson on community, on unity, and practically a line straight out of Roaring Lambs.

Seriously, go watch it.

nothing cuter

I was talking to Ravi (the anti-blogging brother) on the phone on Sunday. Jadyn, being Jadyn, is fascinated with phones. I told her Uncle Ravi was on the phone, which amused her, and a few minutes and attempts at pushing the buttons later, her first phone conversation went something like this:

"Please talk to Ravi?" (I'm not making this up.)

"Hi!...Yes...Yes...Bye!"

Apparently, she was responding to whatever Ravi was saying to her.

It's always something with that child...

something new

I did something today that I've never done before and I will probably never do again. It's probably not a big deal to anyone else in the world, but that's why this is my blog.

I had a doctor's appointment today, which is not unusual, but the unusual part was that it was in a doctor's office building that opened today. As in, this was the very first day there were any patients whatsoever in the building. I'm pretty sure there is absolutely no significance in the fact that I was there on the first day that the building was open, except that not everything was working exactly right yet. (For example, there were no directional signs - I got off the elevator and had to wander around the floor to find the right office.)

That's all...nothing profound.

small enough for the weather?

I opened the windows in the house today.

Yes, that sounds like I don't have anything to blog about. But to me that means that God is small enough to care about the weather in my life. (I realize I sound absurd.)

Last year, we literally ran the air conditioner in our house until the middle of December. Everyone I know has heard me complain about the summer here this year, and to be fair, everyone has complained about the summer here this year. So imagine my surprise a couple of weeks ago when there began to be hints of cooler weather - like cool breezes.

Two Christmases ago, there was nothing I wanted more than to be in Omaha for Christmas. That couldn't happen because Jadyn was born 9 days before Christmas that year. But my family came down, which was fabulous. I just really really wanted to see snow that particular Christmas. (For those who may not know, it snows here about once a decade. The last snow had been some 12 years earlier.) Understanding that I sound like a nut, I honestly believe God made it snow overnight that Christmas Eve for me.

So do I think that God made the weather change this year for me? I don't know, maybe. Maybe He's showing me that He is small enough to care about those completely unimportant things in my life. Part of me wonders why God would care about such things. The other part of me wonders why not? And then I wonder if this has anything to do with God teaching me that I do need things from people, that I can't take care of myself by myself, even when I know most people are utterly unreliable. Could God be saying, "Trust me to take care of you - I'm your backup when other people let you down. See, I even changed the weather for you."

(Am I obsessed with the weather? There's a good possibility. But my theory is that people from the Midwest are all obsessed with the weather out of necessity - it is actually that unpredictable.)

my head says it's fall

There comes a point every year when green leaves are offensive to me.

I don't know how the entire world became programmed this way, but everyone and everything starts to move into an autumn/back to school/get ready for winter kind of mode. My personal theory is that God created us to need a change every once in a while, and weather, as minor as it (usually) is, provides an external change that helps my mood.

I will blame it on my midwestern upbringing. This year, however, Starbucks must shoulder some of the blame for the audacity to bring back Pumpkin Spice Lattes when it is still mid-90s with high humidity here. Those things are simply incompatible.

So all of you in normal climates, appreciate pulling out the jeans and sweatshirts for the morning and evening coolness. Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte and have it actually mean something. Meanwhile, Alaina, Jadyn and I will still be pulling on our swimsuits and heading for the pool.

a math problem?

What is the intersection of truth and love? Are they equally important, or does one take precedence over the other in certain situations? Are any of us qualified to try and live out either one or both?

Sometimes, even with the help of God, it's hard to see how to love everyone. Truth comes easier to me.

all the news...

So we found out yesterday that we're going to have a boy. I'm not sure I've ever seen Joe this excited about anything before, it's kinda funny. I'm very glad that he's so happy, though. I'm still a little uneasy about the whole thing, just because I am so used to dealing with girls.

In other news, I'm finally getting around to reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. It is a fabulous book, and everyone should read it. I'm still trying to digest and comprehend everything he says, but I'm so amazed by how much more the Bible makes sense when you understand the history and the Jewish culture and context in which it was written. It's interesting, too, because that kind of understanding of the Bible puts a lot more responsibility on Christians to be active about what is in the Bible, rather than just passive hearers. It also makes me wonder why none of this stuff is ever taught in churches...

has the world gone mad?

Just an informal, completely unscientific survey here - I'm trying to find out if the entire world has gone mad, or if it's more of a local phenomenon, or if it's just a personal phenomenon. Maybe it's just a madness I don't understand. Perhaps a special form of Texas madness. I'm not above believing there's madness everywhere...but I understand the madness in the midwest.

Have you ever felt like God is breaking things on purpose? Even the things you believe were put in place by Him? I sometimes think my biggest problem is my need to understand why - that's my biggest faith obstacle. Not that it precludes faith, but that much greater things could happen in my life if I wasn't hung up on trying to understand all the time.

(As evidence of the madness, I would refer you to the College World Series bracket. So far, no fewer than 3 of the national top eight seeds have been eliminated and aren't even going to the CWS. And UNC is going. A world gone mad, I tell you.)

conspiracy

I'm sure it's a conspiracy; I'm not sure by whom, but somehow we've become completely dependent upon cars. Okay, at least in the places I've lived, you simply cannot be a functioning member of society without a car.

The trouble is, cars are nothing but trouble.

I've had my share of cars that stop working in the middle of the road. It is, however, a completely different experience when you have two small children in the car... Things did work out as smoothly as they possibly could have, at least until we get the estimate of the repairs.

It's not as if I'm a Ludite or anything (you are reading my blog, after all), it's just frustrating to be so dependent on something so undependable.

Sidebar: I'm not Jewish, but if I were, I would warn you, gentle readers, to beware of car trouble. Bad things occur in threes, after all. Lisa's accident would be 1, we would be 2, so that leaves 3, unless you count Azina's ongoing trouble with her car, in which case everyone else is safe!

argh (again...different topic)

You know those days when there are things that just hack you off and you really need to tell somebody about it, but are afraid that you'll sound like you're being petty or just completely ridiculous? That's how I feel right now.

Admittedly, I'm sure it's largely hormone-induced. I have discovered that I am extremely short-tempered when I'm pregnant, which is strange for me, because I am usually a very calm and collected person.

So I've decided I'm going to blog whenever I feel like this, and I run less risk of hurting someone's feelings or just sounding like a crazy hormonal woman.

I'm really annoyed at people who try to help do things and just end up creating more work for me because dishes DO NOT get clean by virtue of simply being IN the dishwasher!!

(And it wasn't Joe, just for the record.) :)

arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh....

The reason why there are reruns during the summer is because people are so hacked off by season finales that they swear off tv for a few months.

Okay, so maybe not really. But between the Gilmore Girls finale and the 24 finale that I just watched (how are they going to find Jack in China?!?!), not to mention the not-so-stellar Related finale, there's a good chance I won't be in the mood to watch anything but baseball for the entire summer. (Which is really unfortunate because it's too stinkin' hot down here to do anything but stay inside in the summer anyway.)

But, I have to be happy with the way Logan was taken down, especially because he never saw it coming. Of course the real jerks behind it all are getting away, which figures - they look way too much like the Triumvirate from The Pretender. Who's up for a little tv on DVD this summer?

a post by Alaina

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a post by Jadyn

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benefits

As much as I know that I am supposed to be a stay-at-home mom, there are some days when you wonder if there really are benefits to staying home. But on other days, you know that it is the best job in the world because you get to be a kid with your kids.

Yesterday, we went strawberry picking, which was all kinds of fun and yielded some really great pictures as well as strawberries. It took Jadyn about 30 seconds to figure out how the system worked and start pulling berries off the plants and popping them in her mouth, leaves and all. Then we hung out for a few hours in the afternoon, at which point we decided to go to Chick-fil-A for dinner, which is Alaina's favorite place to eat. When we pulled up, we discovered that Bob and Larry were there! So we ate there (rather than going to a park or something) and Alaina got to dance around with and in general hang out with Bob and Larry.

I think I sometimes forget how simple life is when you're a child...it's nice to remember every once in a while.

somedays it's harder than others...

to be an Astros fan. I know, I know, it's only the third day of the season today, but I'm a serious fan. I love the seasonal longevity of baseball.

Anyway, so Ashlee was the beneficiary of some very good, very free (for us!) tickets for the game last night. Things started off on a good note - we got the replica national league champions rings they gave out to the fans... and that's where the goodness ended. It was nothing tragic, just a series of signs that pointed to a bad ending of that game (11-2, Marlins, and the Astros didn't score those 2 runs until the bottom of the ninth, which we didn't even see because we left in the middle of the ninth).

The real point of this post is to recount yet another terrible display of a public proposal. Yes, some poor fellow proposed to his (I assume it's still the case this morning) fiancee via the KISS CAM. That's right, probably the most inane ballpark entertainment ever devised (except when they pick on the opposing team's dugout) was utilized for a public proposal. Now, to be fair, they were both wearing Astros jerseys and are probably big fans (and if they aren't, he's really a moron), and I'm sure he went to a lot of trouble to organize it all. But let me tell you, that was not the face of a happy woman. We're not entirely sure that she actually said yes - it looked more like she just stuck her hand out for him to put the ring on. She didn't initiate a hug or anything afterwards, either, he did. As much as it sounds like it, I'm not trying to judge the guy or what he did, it was just very uncomfortable to watch. So there's one more piece of evidence to pile up on the "no public proposals" mountain.

in case you're feeling complacent...

...or if you just like Don Miller (Blue Like Jazz), go check out Relevant's podcast from last Friday. The first part of Relevant's interview with him is in it, and the second half is in the podcast that will be out today. I think it's a great interview, with a lot of challenging things in it...I'm not sure if I agree with all of it, but it is definitely all about things worth thinking about and discussing.

And yes, I understand that I'm about a week slow, given that it came out last Friday, but I didn't even listen to it until Wednesday night.

a question...

When I was growing up, all the way through high school and into college, I secretly never wanted to pray (as so many adults in church always did) that Jesus would come back soon. I liked my life and I wanted to live. I was happy to live as a Christian and that sort of thing, I just wasn't ready to go to heaven yet. I'm pretty sure that I had an inaccurate view (and still do) of heaven, but it was not something I was interested in yet.

All of that changed...but I'm not sure when. I think maybe when I started being less selfish and more aware of people around me and the pain and suffering we inflict on each other. There are so many beautiful and fun things in this world, but there is so much more pain. It just makes me sad to think of the pain we cause other people and ourselves, especially intentionally. And then to contrast that with the picture of the world the way God created it...that has been enough to change my mind and ask the question of so many before me - how long?

You're invited!

This is a special invitation to everyone who visits this blog...

Our jewelry website is up, and our business is open!

We are inviting all of our family and friends (and if you read this blog, that means you) to visit our site, a l a designs, and let us know what you think. We're also taking orders during our special Friends and Family sale - tax free, free shipping, and buy one pair of earrings get the second half off.

We're not accepting payment through the website yet, but send us an email with your order, and we'll get your jewelry to you post haste. You'll find all of the details on the site.

Thank you for your help and support in getting our business up and running!

apparently I don't run fast enough :)

I'd better get this done so I still have someone left to tag...

4 Jobs I've had...
(I'm not entirely sure I've had 4 legal, tax-paying jobs, but we'll see...)
personal assistant
Univ. of Houston Orientation Team Leader
Children's Ministry Director
small business owner! (we're almost up and running!)

4ish movies I would watch on repeat...
You've Got Mail
The Muppet Christmas Carol ("You throw the fish away, and it comes back to you!")
That Thing You Do!
Newsies
The Jungle Book (live action version - if you've never seen it, go see it now!)
The Matrix (and then I'll write a book with the real ending to the movie...)

4 TV shows I love...
(This is easy - but I have to divide it into currently airing and sadly cancelled, and I know there are more.)
Gilmore Girls
24
Related
Love Monkey
(and the cancelled shows:)
Lois & Clark
Star Trek: The Next Generation (come on, you knew I was a nerd)
The Pretender
Square 1 TV (nerd, we've already been over this)

4 Vacation Spots I'd love to frequent...
India
Boston
London
the beach (a good one, far from Galveston)

4 websites I visit daily...
(as daily as I manage with anything...)
Relevant Magazine
cool blogs
a l a designs (we have big news - stay tuned!)
Kraft Foods (well, I'm working on honesty here...)

Four foods I lust for...
dark chocolate
Cinnamon Dolce Lattes
spicy food (Chinese especially, House of Hunan particularly)
raspberries

Four things I "love" most about Texas (just for Ashlee!)
humidity (good friends)
heat (good food, especially Mexican)
horrible traffic (the Astros!)
driving forever to get anywhere (access to lots of stuff - great concerts and good shopping)

Four people I am "tagging"
Azina
Raj
Lisa (though I'm not sure she even knows I have a blog...)
Joser (who doesn't have a blog but can respond in the comments)

the post to end the griping...

See, the thing is not that I don't have something to say, the thing is finding the time to say it! Which brings up an interesting question - how does one person's life get so full of things that "need to be done?" And why do they never go away, even when one is constantly busy?

Anyway, please do email ala_designs@hotmail.com and let us know that you want to be added to our email list and be informed when our jewelry business website is up. It's coming soon, I promise...just another one of those things on the list...

good gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

In reflecting on the 10 days we spent in Omaha with my family, I kept thinking "good and perfect gifts" are from God. That is not to say that my family is perfect by any means, but being able to spend that much time at Christmas with my family, at the house we grew up in, in Omaha, is definitely a good gift to me. Part of me wants to say that our vacation had nothing to do with being a gift from God - it was just our turn to spend Christmas with my family this year. But I don't believe that. We did so many more things and had different attitudes toward each other than we've ever had before. I think that is a result of God working in each of our lives. It was a good gift to me to spend so much time with my family because I'm coming to the realization that God has work for each of us to do that requires us to be in different parts of the country. (If I had my way, we'd all be able to do what we're supposed to do and live in the same neighborhood, which is strange because I was always the one who wanted to go out and be on my own and do my own thing when we were growing up.)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Besides our trip to Omaha being a good gift from God, I'm starting to realize that my home in Texas is a good gift from God, too. I have no reason to not be joyful or give thanks for the gifts God has given me - it may not be the way I want things, but life on this earth is not perfect, and it never will be. On the contrary, while life may not be the "perfect" I could hope for, my life is full of two great gifts - two unique places I can call home.

So while I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, I do believe that a new year can be a sort of new beginning, and I believe that God is showing me these things that I need to work on. However, I do reserve the right to complain about the weather occassionally!

(I feel like this is coming out disjointed and random...I'm still thinking through all of these things, but I needed to get out what was in my head.)

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...

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.

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.)

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.)

we're not SAD, we're just confused

Only in Texas does it seem completely normal to eat a (good) cantaloupe and bake a pumpkin pie in the very same afternoon...

By the way, does anyone know what bourbon tastes like? I am making a ham for church on Sunday, and the recipe calls for bourbon, but I'm not going to use it because I'm making it for church. So any help would be appreciated!

God is exhausting!

I am feeling pretty drained today, which makes me a little short-tempered, but the events of the past 2 days have been awesome.

On Sunday, we had Awards Night for Upward Soccer. What is so amazing about my experiences with Upward Soccer is that God is teaching me that the personality traits that I think are required for running a smooth, successful soccer league are not necessarily the ones that I am supposed to be utilizing. I know that doesn't make much sense, but the more that I let go of things (particularly when it comes to things being done the "right" way), the more I feel like God is working through me and the families that are coming to our church are being impacted more than I could ever do myself. I don't mean to go all rose-colored glasses, but everything worked out so well on Sunday evening that I'm still in shock about it. (Believe me, there was every opportunity for something to go horribly wrong. In fact, any number of things may still go wrong.) The success of Sunday night was due in large part to Jared Hall, who is a fantastic Christian illusionist and very ministry-oriented. I'm just so excited to see people have a positive experience with a church. If you've been keeping up with the soccer saga, please keep praying that our church will not drop the ball when it comes to follow-up. Thanks.

And then, last night, a concert that has made the years of waiting totally worth it. Having been a Switchfoot fan literally since the beginning - I remember the release of The Legend of Chin - it is a sad state of affairs that last night was the first time I had ever seen them in concert. (Yes, I saw them at Festival con Dios, but that doesn't count because it wasn't their own tour.) But it was worth it because we had 2nd row seats. That's right, we could make eye contact with the band members. (And now I am completely ruined - those seats were so amazing that I don't think any other concert will ever be that good.)

The concert opened with Augustana, who is a great new band, and everyone who reads this needs to go buy their album. Why? Because their van broke down in Georgia and they had to fly in for the concert missing part of their band and most of their instruments. And it gets better - during their 3rd or 4th song, the lights went out. Completely dark on the stage, they just kept playing. So everybody pulled out their "Christian lighters." They were just good. The environment at this concert was so great - it felt like we were just sitting in somebody's living room hanging out with these bands. And it felt like that the whole night.

After Augustana was Eisley, which was a pleasant surprise for me because I didn't know who the openers were going to be, and I like Eisley. They were awesome - they have an unfair sibling advantage because their voices blend so well. As they are from Texas, they had a large contingency in the audience, which was cool. Both bands were really good openers for Switchfoot, which I think is unusual in most concerts - for whatever reason, most openers shouldn't be within 10 miles of the band they're opening for, but that doesn't stop them. (Like Rilo Kiley for Coldplay - terrible!)

And then, of course, the main event - Switchfoot! They opened with Lonely Nation, which I kind of expected (not that that's bad or anything). I was pleasantly surprised with the number of older songs they threw into the set. What was great is that Jon Foreman recognized the fans who have been around since the beginning, and they dedicated More than Fine to those fans. Then later in the show, they did Company Car for those fans. I thought that was awesome because I've been wondering for a couple of weeks if they would pull out any old school songs, and I was thinking it would be cool if they did Company Car, and they did! The only thing more old school would've been for them to pull out Chem 6A or Might Have Ben Hur or something. Apparently, Jon is writing a song for every city they stop in - of course the song for Stafford (where the venue is) had to have a line from "The Stars at Night." I was pretty impressed that he managed to stick a line from that song in another song - Stars, I think. I may have to tolerate that song now that Switchfoot has done it. During On Fire, Jon made a trip into the audience, and there was a ledge, basically like 1/4 of a wall, in front of the first row. He walked along that wall and stopped right in front of us to do the bridge to the song. It completely rocked! The show ended (the real ending, not the pretend ending) with Stars and We Are One Tonight, which is a great way to end a show.

And this post is way too long, so I'm ending it here, but I'm sure I'll find a way to talk about Switchfoot in everything for at least the next week! And I wish you all could have been there too!

maybe I'll get something done now...

Not that I was complaining about spending so much time watching the Astros! Yes, losing is depressing, but this team has more character and integrity than pretty much any other professional sports team, ever. The Astros lost because of a lot of squandered scoring opportunities, yet none of the games were anything close to a blow out by the other team. And the facts remain that the White Sox got more than one (or three) breaks in the postseason from umpires, Bud Selig stuck in his opinion where it was inconsistent and unnecessary, and White Sox fans (maybe not a majority, but no small minority either) have no common decency. For that matter, we aren't promised that we'll get any breaks or respect in this life, and I for one am glad to know that the class-act players of the Astros have their treasure in heaven.

Bring on the off-season - Ensberg will get his bat back, Berkman and Bagwell will be back at full power, and maybe even Clemens will have another year in him. Spring training here we come! Who's up for a road trip to Florida?

resumes upon request

Here it is, my formal announcement for all the world to read:

I want to be Commissioner of Baseball.

If anyone has any idea how to go about becoming Commissioner of Baseball, please let me know. I am highly talented and have a great desire to not run baseball into the ground or favor any team over the another (in a professional capacity).

Thank you for your time.

the greatest sport ever!

Historic things are happening, folks. . . the Astros just won in St. Louis, and we're on our way home. Now, we don't want to get too excited, because that's just when the Astros will lose it (life as an Astros fan is a very careful tightrope balancing act), but there's something in the air this year (and it's not pollution)! If you doubt my faith in the Astros, it's simply a matter of the good guys winning - do some research and find out how many of the Astros are committed Christians and roaring lambs. . .

it's not cold yet, but...

What's the best thing about fall? I know the school-bound among us may not love fall as much as the rest, but I think there's something about fall that's not like the rest of the seasons. So, here's the invitation for opinions (like anyone needed an invitation): what's the best thing about fall?

My list (so far): pumpkin food (anything made with pumpkin, particularly pie), jeans and sweatshirts/sweaters, warm food (sensing a theme?), new eps of my favorite shows, getting ready for Christmas! . . .

the goose is getting fat...

Not a real post, but I had to share some happy news that I just found out (and no one who would be as excited as I am is available to call right now)! Happy Christmas 4 comes out later this month! Woohoo! Now, to the uninitiated, this means nothing, but the Happy Christmas CD compilation series is by far one of the best sets of Christmas music ever. (And to those rolling their eyes at the thought of Christmas music, all I have to say is "bah humbug.") Among others, there will be a Switchfoot song on the new CD, which means, of course, that it will be a fantastic CD. Which brings me to the other happy news (although old news, it still makes me happy), we've got 2nd row seats to the Switchfoot concert in November!

I promise to post something real later (Azina).

Oh, and I still can't find my Happy Christmas 1 CD - so I need some help from those who might be able to place it (viz. the sibs). Otherwise I'm going to break down and buy a new one.

no matter what happens...

today cannot be a bad day! Okay, so that's not really true, but it has a lot going for it. Today, the new Switchfoot album is out! And tickets for their fall tour go on sale at 5pm. And tonight is the season premiere of Gilmore Girls! (If you're not excited about one or both of those events, I'm wondering what we have in common... just joshing, seriously.)

For those of you who have been blessed to have visited Omaha, I'm taking suggestions of things to do while I am there. It's going to be very weird to be there without everyone else being there. I'm very excited to go to The Foundry on Friday; I'm just sorry Azina won't be there to go with me/us.

I have practically nothing of substance to write, but I'm afraid of losing top billing in Azina's links, so I'm posting out of fear.

Please keep praying about soccer - our first game day really went well, but there may be issues that come up in the next 7 weeks that attempt to distract us from the point of the whole thing. But we have been blessed with some really great volunteers who are running things and doing an amazing job.

Pod update - we're kind of in holding right now. We're waiting to see if we are going to end up with any evacuees. If we don't, we have an alternate ending for our pod that we would need to shoot and then edit the whole thing.

Coming soon: musings on traveling solo with a 2 yr. old and a 9 month old...

what is there to say?

Lots of randomness today. . . I'm trying to process a lot of things, and they just aren't adding up. It's interesting how our perspectives are shaped. We hold on to the things that we believe are truth, sometimes as if our very existence depends on them. But how do we know that they are truth? Specifically, our perspectives on recent events along the Gulf Coast are utterly dependent on the news reports we get. By their very nature, those reports aren't the whole truth, yet we assume we get at least a piece of the whole picture, which might be true. Or, the "reporter" may be, intentionally or not, skewing their entire report on their understanding of the whole based on the tiny piece they've observed.

More specifically, though, how do we as individuals decide what is best for the people who are seeking our help? (Sidebar: I'm glad to see the first thing I ever posted on this blog was completely laid to waste.) We want to throw our efforts and resources into helping people, which we are called to do. But where do we start? How do we decide what we as a church should be doing, which necessarily requires that we decide not to do any number of other things that may be more helpful (or maybe not). I don't know the answer, and maybe there is no answer at this point. Maybe the answer is that we do something. Maybe the answer is that we do the best we can while seeking after God's will.

I'm coming to the conclusion that perhaps I'm just an agitator. I have to ask questions that are potentially uncomfortable and maybe ultimately pointless. I think one of the hardest tasks in this life is figuring out daily living in accordance with becoming more Christ-like. How do I be the best that God created me to be while growing closer in relationship with God? Where's the line where God ends and I begin? I don't want to cross that line, but it's hard when I don't know where it is.

On to something more interesting to most people - go to www.current.tv and make a difference in what's on tv, literally. The home group that I'm involved in is working on plans to produce a pod. I'll keep you updated. And to avoid the gentle reminders of certain family members, I will attempt to post more frequently - I just may need help digging out from under the soccer balls.