Equal Time

Because I've highlighted the creativity of my other two kiddos in the last few days (even if some of it was rather odd creativity), it seemed fair to give a Emilie chance in the spotlight. :)

I think she's picked up my little propensity for taking lots and lots of pictures of the same thing over and over again, hoping for that just right shot. Here are a couple of the things she has found worthy of capturing lately, playing with filters on her digital camera, and taking a photo of her big brother, of whom she is quite proud (although would not admit it freely).

Travels with Santa

Remember my mention of Ryan still believing in Santa and rescuing him from the people who kicked him to the curb?

Check THIS out. If you have to sign up on myspace to see the pictures, it's well worth it. (Except for that one word my son isn't supposed to use that's on there. Maybe his friend typed it. Righhhhht.)

CAVEAT: I take no responbility for comments his obnoxious acquaintances may leave on there. Especially the one from which Santa was rescued. To think he lives just across the street. Whew.

Some pictures of my own to follow...when I load them onto the computer.

Those boys. :0)

For the beauty of the earth

I love it when creativity starts sneaking out of my kids when I least expect it! That says to me maybe I've done a good job here and there encouraging them to find their creativity and letting it bloom. Or, maybe I have nothing to do with it, but whatever. :)

On the way back from taking Em to volleyball camp today, my 8-year-old was riding quietly in the backseat through an oh, so-not-lovely part of the area. There is lots of ugly construction going on, new neighborhoods that already look old and rundown, drainage ditches, and so on. I was wandering through some unfamiliar streets trying to avoid getting back on the not-quite-finished crazy road. It's all kind of in the country.

Kristen spoke up and said, "That's a pretty field."

I looked over, expecting to see maybe a field of wildflowers or something. We have lots of wild sunflowers that brighten up the otherwise dreary and dusty brown places. What I saw was a cornfield. I asked if that was what she was talking about.

She said, "Yes, I like the colors."

The corn is about half-grown, and the fields really are pretty...if you take the time to look. The stalks are about 2 1/2 feet tall, a vivid dark olivey green on the bottom, and the tassles on top are full and a reddish-brownish-yellowy color. And, of course, the perfectly even rows are amazing! Kristen's been really interested in art for the last few years, and especially lately, so I told her she should try to draw a cornfield when we got home. She's working on it! She was questioning me about the exact color of the tassles, and we decided that blending dark red, brown, and gold colored pencil strokes should work.

She's taking a break right now because she felt like cooking something, so she's making some chocolate chip mini muffins. Yummy.

What a smart girl.

More trust, less doubt?

The greater your trust, the lesser your doubt.

I read this on a church sign coming home from lunch today. Todd was in mid-sentence about calling his mom and inviting her over for dinner and I just flat-out interrupted him.

Me: THAT'S NOT TRUE.

Todd: Huh?

Todd (internal thought): It's not true that we should invite my mom over for dinner? What a horrid wife I have married!!!

Me: NO! That sign! It's not true, if you really think about it.

I launched my argument and then told him we could go back to discussing dinner with the family.

My theory is this. On the surface, yes, it makes sense. We trust our spouses, so we don't doubt their love and fidelity. On the other hand, we've been having a lot of discussions in our house lately about beliefs and doubts--both about life and its eternal qualities for us and others around us, as well as moral and lifestyle issues. My son especially has come to the age where he is really exploring his beliefs, making sure that he believes what he does for himself and not just because he was brought up to believe a certain way. I think that's a good thing.

Hence, we come to the argument the sign brought to mind. I personally believe that the more you trust, the more you feel free to doubt. Ryan trusts that we will love and accept him even if he doubts and questions what he has been spoonfed. I trust and am trying to teach my kids to trust that God is a big enough God that he can handle our doubts. In fact, he might be pleased by them. Is that too radical to say out loud? I don't think so. I have been around a lot of people in my life that have been terrified to doubt or tried to convince others that doubts are an abomination.

"If you doubt, you surely lack faith!"

"What? You question what I'm saying? But, God told me this! This from God!"

You see where I'm going? The same God who gave us life also gave us brains and analytical abilities, and I can't see that he would be happy if we were to simply shut down that part of our brain that tells us to question and explore and not blindly believe what others tell us is true.

And having said all that, I have to mention that my son still believes in Santa Claus. He just rescued him from our neighbor's trash. More on that later.

Did they or didn't they?

We went to see The Breakup last night. I had been talking myself in and out of it, but the Old 97s made an appearance, so we had to go. Todd and I met officially at an Old 97s concert, so they're "our band." :) Well, we met at a restaurant before the concert, but you know.

SPOILERS TO FOLLOW...DON'T READ IF YOU STILL WANT TO SEE IT.

So, what did you think about this movie? The reviews are fairly straight on, although it probably didn't deserve a Star Time grade as low as C. It was funny in spots, and heartwrenching in others--mainly, as a friend of mine said after she saw it, because the things they fight over could be fights any of us have, and also because there were several points at which they could have patched things up and didn't.

I asked Todd later if he thought they got back together after the final scene where they meet on a street after a year or so of being apart. He said, "Yes." (He is a man of many words.) I think "No." You could tell they wanted to talk more and see each other, but the politeness was just too awkward. I think they would leave it as a "what if..." forever.

A question I was left with was, "How did she change?" (I am horrible about remembering the names of characters in movies--I can't remember either of their names!) I felt like he finally, toward the end, made some overt efforts to compromise and try more to be what she wanted, but it was too late. On the surface, her efforts were less changing on her part and more "I will be willing to put up with him."

Is this really change? What is change in a relationship? Simply being more accepting of a person "the way they are," or being willing to try to change some things about yourself (even if you're perfect the way you are, in your humble opinion)? Should we try to change, or should we expect others to accept us just the way we are? Tough question. I think perhaps being accepting might be the easier half of that.

I promptly came home and dreamed Todd and I had a horrible fight. It was not pretty. We were on our upcoming road trip, and now I will be really paranoid. Heh. Ryan also had a really rough night last night, and I am praying for him, but not sure how much those prayers are going to help--at least today. I actually fell asleep praying for him last night because I just felt like he needed it, but didn't know how much until this morning. How's that for a mother's intuition?

Weird stuff. Things to think about.

No news is good news, but boring

I feel like I should be posting on my blog tonight, but for a change, I have absolutely nothing to say. What's up with that?

Oh, well. I guess I have blogger's block. I should get some sleep while I can.

World on fire

http://www.worldonfire.ca/

It must be Flag Day

The only reason I guessed is because of the row of flags in front yards leading into my neighborhood. One of the clubs in town places flags in yards on appropriate holidays if you pay them money. Then I noticed a few more in the neighborhood.

I don't know much about this holiday, so I thought I'd look it up. Educationworld.com says, "Flag day recognizes the June day in 1777 when the Continental Congress adopted the 'Stars and Stripes' as the official flag of the United States," and it was observed for the first time in 1877. I must have learned that in school, but I had obviously forgotten.

Our country is in a lot of turmoil right now, and it's hard to find two people who agree about the state of affairs and what should be done. It seems that's what those Stars and Stripes are all about, though. People don't come to this country to agree with each other; they agree to disagree and be united in that. That's what freedom is about. That's my take on it anyway. It's strangely comforting to realize that, at least on that front, we're doing quite well.

So, it's Flag Day here in the U.S., and I do love that pretty red, white and blue and what it's supposed to represent.

Campho-Phenique...It *is* Magic

When you were growing up, what was that one thing your mother always told you would fix anything? In our house, it was Campho-Phenique. That magical tiny green glass bottle, filled with slippery fluid. I have a love/hate relationship with its noxious odor and burn.

When we were kids, whatever happened, no matter what hurt, Mom sent us to the cabinet behind the bathroom mirror for Campho-Phenique.

"Mommy, I cut my pinky toe!"
"Get me the Campho-Phenique."
"Owwww, Momma, it stings! Blow on it! Blow on it!"
"Phhh...phhhh....Sorry! Better?"
"Yes. Thank you, Mommy!"

As we grew, Campho-Phenique taught us independence.

"Momma, I fell and scraped my elbow!"
"Get the Campho-Phenique. It'll sting for a minute, but then it'll feel better. Just blow on it after you put it on."

It even taught us better hygiene.

"Mom, my...um....my...umm...you know, my (whispered) rear end itches."
"Ewww. Take a bath! Then get the Campho-Phenique."
"How'm I gonna blow on it?"
"I don't know. Don't ask me."

Seriously, she thought it would cure anything.

"Mom...Gary dumped me."
"Oh...sorry. Get the Campho-Phenique. No wait. He what?"

Well, almost anything.

And so it went. If Campho-Phenique didn't fix something, we went to the doctor. And we didn't go to the doctor often. When I grew up, got married and moved into a place of my own, I resisted at first, but eventually that little green bottle made its way into my medicine cabinet.

Then, the day came when I heard the words come out of my own mouth. My little boy came running to me with an ouchy, and I said:

"Get the Campho-Phenique."

Whaaaaaaaat? No, I didn't just say that. Was my mother there hiding? No, it was me! I was turning into my mother. I checked around just to be sure. Yep, Scott toilet tissue on the roller. Tide laundry soap on top of the dryer. Goober Grape in the pantry. Her influence was all over the place, and I hadn't completely realized it until the moment I sent my son to the bathroom for the Campho-Phenique.

The magic handed down from generation to generation comes in different shapes and sizes. To some people, it looks like duct tape. To others, Pepto Bismol. My dad swore it was iodine, but Mom cured him, I think.

Yesterday, my 12-year-old came in my office and showed me her pointer finger. She asked me if I could see the angry red bump on the side near her fingernail. I said, "Yep, that's swollen because of a hangnail. Go dip it in Campho-Phenique, let it soak in for a minute, then wipe off the extra. If it stings, blow on it."

A minute later, I heard her come back through the bathroom door behind me. She was talking to herself.

"Campho-Phenique. It cures anything."

I smiled.

This story was inspired by this month's Blogging for Books at Faster Than Kudzu, the blog of Joshilyn Jackson, author of gods in Alabama and soon-to-be-released Between, Georgia.

Video test/Ryan singing

Just experimenting with a video service...not sure if it'll work or not, but if it DOES...this is Ryan leading worship at our church back in February. My boy. :)

EDIT: So, the video was causing problems. My brother said it wasn't working, and it also knocked all my links to the bottom of the page (too wide). So, I'm going to remove it, but include the link here. In the future, I'll just put links.

No, she didn't.

Last night, I took the girls and Heather to see Little Women, the musical version, at Fair Park Music Hall. It would have been a lovely, but fairly uneventful evening, except...

As we were getting close, I pulled into a lane I wasn't sure about. I thought it was a double left turn lane into Fair Park, but I was confused. There weren't any clear signs, and there was nobody behind me, so I was a little worried. When the police officer who was directing traffic began signaling people to turn, I wasn't sure if I should go or not. I waited for him to make eye contact, but he didn't seem like he was going to, so I kept waiting. I certainly didn't want to plow him over or any car who happened to be in my way if I was wrong.

FINALLY...he looked directly at me and with great exaggeration, gestured for me to turn. As I turned, I put my hands in the air and shrugged my shoulders and said, "Sorry!" because he looked a little put out. (I know, stupid women drivers and all, yeah.)

So, apparently, he was put out. He then stuck his tongue out at me!!!!...in a big way, with a big ugly look on his face. I reacted very maturely. I couldn't help it. I stuck my tongue out back at him!!!...with a big ugly look. Just doing exactly what he did.

All hell broke loose in the car. Heather, in the front, didn't see him, and saw me, and started ducking in case there were guns. Emilie, in the back, didn't see me, but saw him and lost forever her perfect vision of police officers. Kristen, in the back, saw him and said with great wonder, as only an 8-year-old can, "Wow, he looks like he's directing traffic with a different finger!"

We were soon all screeching and screaming and hooting.

I didn't get arrested. That's all I have to say about that.