Memoriam

As church began this morning, I glanced over at my mother. She was scribbling some numbers on her bulletin, I looked at her quizzically. She looked up and murmured "Dad would have been 92 today."

The brother got married a few weeks ago. It was a lovely celebration of love and family.

Both these poignant moments reminded me that memories are blessings. . .

• Grampy assisting with our math homework during Thanksgiving break.
• Picking strawberries (into our mouths) with the cousins.
• Cardboard sledding.
• After dinner conversation-not the content but the company.

Today I am thankful for the memories I have and the memories I'm making.

Flashback

I watched the Today Show this morning (actually, late this morning,  I watched the recorded version of the Today Show--7am is way too early) and was slightly dismayed to find that the fashion of my youth in now IN. 

Granted they recommend wearing these trends individually (swatches, stone washed jeans, shoulder pads, etc) so as to not overwhelm.  I shudder to imagine the fashion don'ts that will come out of this.

Overall, I'm decidedly satisfied that I slept in and recorded the program as the segment I wanted to watch was at most 30 seconds at the end of the program (I love my DVR).  Definitely not worth waking up early for all of that news stuff.

Blessed

Fan (noun): an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin. Origin: 1885–90, Americanism; short for FANATIC

I have never been one to follow celebrity lives religiously, to go to concerts, or scream and cry when I see a pop superstar. I do occasionally read People magazine, or click through to an entertainment news story that catches my eye. I tend to roll my eyes at said screaming, crying fans.

However, to my eternal embarrassment, there was a time that I was a closet fanatic.

During my teenage years I purchased the obligatory teen pop magazines and promptly dismantled them to post photos on my walls of all my favorite celebrities -- mostly consisting of NKOTB (on my honor I did NOT know this site existed -- I simply Googled it for linkage-sake). And when I say "on my walls", I mean, I'm surprised my mother didn't complain about the fact that the walls in my room were re-wallpapered because you couldn't see the wallpaper anyway as they were completely covered with posters. I know I threw in a couple of other teen heartthrobs but to be honest I cannot remember who they were.

Obviously, they all had lasting impact on my life [she said dryly].

A couple weeks ago my roommate received some hand-me-down People Magazines from a relative. While we were looking at them I teased her that I had picked the better of the two -- it was the best bachelors edition.

I laughed my head off when I found this in my room this afternoon:


I laughed so hard I cried.

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

I was blessed to have a family who put up with my foolishness and imperfections.

I am blessed that they continue to do so.

I am blessed to be able to enjoy life.

I am blessed to laugh with friends.

I am blessed to laugh at myself.

I AM BLESSED.

5 things I remember

I am going to combine two posts today, as yesterday I was too lazy too tired to post. Recently, I have been thinking a lot about my childhood. I think it started when Santa (yes, I still get presents from Santa -- he loves me!) delivered some Skittles Lipsmackers in my stocking. Granted I didn't have Skittles-flavored Lipsmackers when I was younger but I did have Dr. Pepper-flavored.

Anyway, I have been craving Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers since then and I picked some up today while I was on my walk. My walk in the lovely 40 degree afternoon! The packaging has changed a little bit -- now it has a very shiny label. And I don't think it cost $1.50 either . . .

5 things that remind me of my childhood

1. Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers
   
   
2. Dum Dum lollipops
   
   
3. Mr. Bubble bubblebath
   
   
4. Orange or Raspberry Push ems (the brother, the sister, and I called them Push ups)
   
   
5. Jelly Shoes -- my pair were clear and I usually wore them with socks!
   

Snow days

I miss snow days!

Real true snow days . . .

I was thinking today how when I was a kid I would hope for snow and the chance that school may be called off. Then I would fill my day with playing in said snow and doing nothing much but enjoying the day.

Now snow days mean:

shoveling sidewalks
shoveling driveways
icy walk or drive to work
colds
heating bills

Oh how I miss SNOW DAYS!

---

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Chris and Too Much TV

When I was young -- I am way too young to be starting sentences with that phrase -- anywho, when I was young, the sibs and I weren't allowed to watch much television. I'm not saying we didn't try to watch tv any chance we could, I'm just saying there were house rules limiting the amount of television we were allowed to watch.

When Mama Bear decides her family spends too much time in front of the TV, she bans it for a week. Then the Bear family finds other ways to have fun and keep busy, so they watch less when TV is allowed again--and they don't even miss it.

Much like the Berenstains we found other ways to spend our time: making up games, riding bikes, playing pretend, reading, etc. I distinctly remember swinging on our swing set and making up songs.

It seems that over the years I have slowly come to rely more and more on my television as a source of companionship. Whoa . . . I just read that back and it sounds a lot more pathetic that it did as I typed it. But I don't take it back.

My reliance snuck up on me.

I have really noticed my television usage because I haven't had a lot of time to watch it. I have certain television programs that I just "have" to watch. So I have my DVR set to record them. I sat down the other day to start watching my recorded shows and was astonished at the sheer number.

I have been slowly eliminating the shows I don't really "have" to watch. I am hoping to ween myself from the television.

Another thing I have noticed I have been using my television for lately is as background noise. I want to change this. My plan is to switch from using the television as background noise to using the radio or some of my cds.

Maybe I'll eventually get back to a little silence every once in a while. :-)

Chocolatey delicious

I have rediscovered the joy of drinking chocolate milk.

Yummy.

I always loved chocolate milk day at school.

The only time we drank store-bought milk when we were growing up (besides school) was when chocolate milk was on sale.

Now I prefer "cow" milk from the farm with a little Hershey's syrup.

Yummy goodness.

5 fun read-aloud children's books

Ha! I found a way to combine my Bookspot and 5 things Friday post . . . tada!

I have been on a children's book kick lately. I think it is because of excessive exposure to these books during the library's summer reading program.

Sooooo . . . I have five books that are some of my new read-aloud favorites:

1. Olivia . . . and the missing toy by Ian Falconer. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2003. (ISBN 9780689852916)
   
   Also by this author:
   Olivia
   Olivia saves the circus
   Olivia forms a band
   Olivia helps with Christmas
   
   
   A day-in-the-life of Olivia, an adorable pig who lives with her mom, dad and two little brothers. In this book Olivia loses her "best toy."
   
   Kid factor:
   The illustrations are great. Ian Falconer is not only the author but the illustrator and he does a great job! The illustrations have lots of little things going on in them but the overall picture is uncluttered and easy on the eyes.
   
   Adorable pig . . . enough said.
   
   Adult factor:
   I have to say the illustrations again. Love them!
   
   The adorable, independant, special pig . . . Olivia is truly one-of-a-kind.
   
   Readability . . . this book is easy-to-read but challenges a child to expand their vocabulary and phraseology.
   
   
2. Do like a duck does by Judy Hindley. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2002. (ISBN 9780763632847)
   
   A mother duck challenges a furry stranger to imitate a duck and proves he is not a duck but a fox.
   
   Kid factor:
   Great beginning reader book! The story is in rhyme and repeats words and phrases.
   
   Uses fun words like 'flop,' 'hup,' 'yum,' and 'plop!'
   
   Ducklings!
   
   Adult factor:
   The story is in rhyme and easy to read-aloud and the kids interact well with the story.
   
   Humor: it is amusing to see the mother duck get the best of the sly fox.
   
   
3. Clink, clank, clunk by Miriam Aroner. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2006. (ISBN 9781590782705)
   
   A group of animal friends ride to town in a car that clinks, clanks, and clunks.
   
   Kid factor:
   Counting . . .
   
   Animals . . .
   
   Fun words . . .
   
   What could be better!
   
   Adult factor:
   Ditto! :-)
   
   
4. Hello, goodbye window by Norton Juster. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. (ISBN 9780786809141)
   
   2006 Caldecott Award Winner
   
   A girl's perspective of her relationship with her grandparents, revolving around the "hello, goodbye window."
   
   Kid factor:
   Wonderfully illustrated.
   
   Story is from a child's perspective.
   
   Adult factor:
   Reminded me of the special times I had at my grandparents house.
   
   Snippets of childhood wonders.
   
   
5. Skippyjon Jones and the big bones by Judy Schachner. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2007. (ISBN 9780525478843)
   
   Also by this author:
   Skippyjon Jones
   Skippyjon Jones in the doghouse
   Skippyjon Jones in mummy trouble (personal favorite)
   Skippyjon Jones and the treasure hunt
   
   Skippyjon Jones, a Siamese cat who imagines himself as a superhero Chihuahua, imagines the neighbor dog's bone to be a dinosaur fossil.
   
   I saved the best for last!
   
   Kid factor:
   Imagination is a huge theme in this book. I mean a Siamese cat who imagines himself to be the superhero Chihuahua dog, "El Skippito Friskito?" What kid wouldn't love this book!?!
   
   The book has colorful illustrations.
   
   And each book includes a CD with the author reading the story! Bonus!
   
   Adult factor:
   Four words . . .
   
   La cucaracha . . . Spanish accents!

Blech . . .

Today was a catch-up day. Mostly catching up on things I put off as long as possible because I dislike them so much.

Mowing my lawn. I don't really hate doing this but by this time in the summer I am ready for it to stop growing. Because of all the rain we have been getting, it does nothing but grow. Fortunately, the sun came out this afternoon so I was able to mow.

Cleaning out my refrigerator. One thing I miss about childhood is leftover night. Every week or so mom would pull out all the leftovers in the refrigerator and we could pick and choose. Like a mini "Old Country Buffet." I don't necessarily miss it for the buffet aspect but more for the "ah, all the leftovers are being eaten so they won't be left in the refrigerator until they start growing mold" aspect. Yeah, that would be my refrigerator earlier this evening. I try to clean it out on Wednesday evenings because trash day is on Thursdays -- eliminates the odor problem. So tonight I cleaned out my refrigerator. Blech. On the plus side I found out where a lot of my dishes had "disappeared" to!

Dishes. I don't know why but this is my most dreaded household chore. Honestly, I could understand if I didn't have a dishwasher but I do. I really only have to load the dishes into the dishwasher and turn it on. What's to dread about that? Sometimes I wonder about myself.

Thankfully, my most dreaded chores are done for now and I won't have to worry about them for at least a couple days.

You should see all the room I have in my refrigerator . . . !

The perfect evening

The past week it has been hot and humid. Last night, before bed, I shut off my a/c and opened every window. This morning I was huddling under my covers because it was so cool. (You have to understand that I am a natural born cuddler so there is rarely a time that I am not huddling under my covers but after the past couple days it was unusual.)

Today was beautiful. But tonight, tonight was glorious. There is a nice breeze. The fireflies are out in droves. I walked downtown and on the way home a firefly hitched a ride on my thumb.

Tonight was reminiscent of childhood.

Sigh. It is nice to be reminded.

My dad

My dad is the epitome of the "strong silent" type. He isn't a small talker but when he has something to say it is usually of some import. (And usually with a smile.) And I inherited my sense of humor from him . . . which I think is a great inheritance. He is definitely strong . . . a farmer (and I think that all fathers are strong -- at least to their daughters).

I think one of the best memories I have of my dad is when I was very little. Maybe four or five. I remember sitting on his lap at church on Sunday morning. My head laying on his chest as I listened to the rumble of him singing hymns and gazed at the stained glass window over his shoulder. sigh. Good memory.

Anyway, Happy Father's Day, Dad!