Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I Wonder if you've Missed Me?

Wow! Look at this place...cobwebs all over the title box and dust bunnies under the preview link. Sorry. I've really let things go lately! Yeah, okay, whatever...

So, I've been busy. Did I have five minutes to post a random thought once in a while? Sure. I could have done it while ignoring the laundry, or while driving back and forth to town or to Marquand, two and three times a day somedays. But I didn't. Done explaining, no excuses. I just neglected this blog shamelessly! And I feel horrible about it I really do!

I haven't lacked for topics to ramble on about. And I have had some really neat ideas come to me at the oddest times. But never when I could do anything about it. But never fear...I still have lots to say, not that anyone who knows me has EVER feared that I'd run out of words!

I may work up to an End of the Year update soon. I'll try to make time in my busy schedule to entertain the troops.*movie quote coming, everyone duck!* I'LL BE BACK!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Fw: Blind Horses










































Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.

From
a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car,
or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing....


Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has
chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.


This
alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound, you
will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.


Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.


It lets the blind friend know
where the other horse is, so he can follow.


As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell
is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen
for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that
he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to
the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back,
making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.


Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little
ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way....

Good friends are like that ... You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.


Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.































Thursday, September 10, 2009

I wonder how I remembered phone numbers before I had a cell phone...

I wonder how I remembered phone numbers before I had a cell phone…


A friend of mine recently lost her cell phone, and I learned from her what a tremendous upheaval is was to her life. Losing contact information for so many people we have relationships with would be traumatic…As I myself learned today when my husband had my cell phone and I had his….

Picture it…Sicily… well, really it was highway 67, but this always sounded so picturesque when Sophia Patrillo said it…anyway, just picture it, I was driving Gary to meet his ride to work, when he realized he forgot his phone at the house. Of course I had mine, because what woman wants to be out at 4:30 a.m. and break down or get a flat tire, without a cell phone??? Anyway, back to our originally scheduled blog…

Since I had my phone, and being the kind wife that I am oikll;pkm vaoi w98degfuw-943rjtopiw---sorry, excuse me..coughing fit…anyway, the kind wife that I am, I told him that he could take mine and I would take his for today…

Thus the feeling of total isolation that I have now regarding my link to everyone that I know. I hope I don't have to call the dog groomer…her number is in my phone, but do I know how to reach her without the contact list? NO! And I hope I don't want to call the dentist, eye doctor, or my satellite Internet provider before Gary gets home this afternoon. My relationship with all of these entities is on hold until such a time as I have my cell phone back in my possession.

Even more alarming is the fact that I cannot call my brother or my sister on their cell phones at the moment. I don't need to talk to them at the moment. Which is good, because I don't KNOW their cell phone numbers. I have them saved to the contact list in my phone, but I don't KNOW them in my brain to be able to call them without my phone in my hand!!! And they're FAMILY!!! Although it may take me just a second, I WOULD be able to call them at home. But, they aren't probably at home! ? Duh!

SO, how in the world did I remember phone numbers before I had a cell phone to save them for me? Well,it was a little easier when I was very young, (not that I used the phone to call anyone very often, when I was very young…but I digress.) because at one time, we only had to know 5 digits to make a call locally. Then it was all 7 digits, still not bad, because the first 3 were the same for almost anyone I needed to get on the line.

Now with SO MANY prefixes and the ability to access cell towers in other area codes even, it takes a major mnemonic (thank you, George McKenney) to think of anyone's telephone number and be able to dial it from memory alone! Truly a troubling and depressing state of affairs.

I used to feel relatively intelligent. ( If you know my relatives, you know why!...oh snap! Just kidding!) I mean, I think of myself as a smart person, in general. Are we just so overwhelmed with digits that we are not capable of remembering the numbers anymore? Or are we just spoiled and lazy because technology has lulled us into letting go and relying on our various devices?

Try this...go to a landline phone, IF you even have one or can find one...and try dialing a few people you talk to on a regular basis, without looking at your contact list. If you can dial at least ten of the numbers by heart, you may not be in a hopeless situation. Or better yet, have someone scroll through your contact list and QUIZ you on the numbers you have stored! You may be surprised with the results.

I don't think I'd do very well with that scenerio. I have some numbers stored that I very rarely need to call, but when I DO, I don't want to take the time to look them up, so I have them saved. I would not be able to tell you the numbers for Dog & Suds drive-in, or the union hall. But if I have my phone in safely back in hand this evening, I will be able to call them if I want to!!

Hurry home from work Gary, and keep my phone safe today!


Sunday, August 30, 2009

I Wonder What He'll Do Next...

Been a while since my last blog post...been busy getting the boys back to school. Bryan has basketball practice EVERYDAY for 2 hours!!! So that means at least one drive to Marquand everyday! Thank Goodness he has a cousin in his grade, so, my sister-in-law shares drop-off and pick-up duties! When Bradley starts his season, it will be the same way, different sister-in-law! :-)

Here's the real story of this post...things that were looking blah are turning around...

I have been disappointed the last few years with the state of my job situation, But got some very good news and validation lately, that help me to stand still and know that God is in control! It has been a struggle at times because each time I had what seemed like a clear shot at a full time position, things would happen that made it impossible. The district would eliminate the position due to budget cuts...aaaggghhhh! I joked to my school friends that if they wanted a position cut, to let me know and I would apply for it!

Anyway, the last couple years have passed with a few new aides being hired that don't have near my "seniority"-- past experience with the district as a sub. It was beginning to get very depressing. I felt that I deserved a job before these others. I have subbed off and on since the 1993-94 school year! But I have also noticed how various teachers have been more vocal and consistant about requesting that I be called to cover their classes, and it has been a very high compliment to be regarded as a capable and valued substitute. I was working a lot, so it was like being full time anyway! And those who were hired may have qualities that I don't and God needs them there.

Although I want to work full time, the past few years when I was NOT hired, I have had personal things go on that would have been much harder to deal with if I had been employed full-time. Like the death of my father and the house fire...I would have had to take time off to deal with these things and that would not be good had I just started a new position...SO God knows what He's doing and has plans that I don't know yet. It's sort of freeing to be able to know I'm not in charge! LOL

So, to review, I haven't been hired when I thought it was my time, and the world hasn't stopped turning...not even for a second. I enjoy being a sub, for the variety and freedom to have whatever time off I need. And as I mentioned before, more teachers request me lately, and that makes my ego feel good. Although I try not to take it for granted, it does feel good to be needed, no one would deny that!

What I have been trying to pray is that God will give me favor with those I work for and with. That He will put me where I need to be not where I think I should be. If I will humble myself to be useful to Him, He will lift me up to attain what I desire. SO, here's the good part---My first call came to work this year, and I worked half a day at the elementary school on Tuesday. (*See short side note below*) A teacher stopped me in the hall asking that I be her long-term sub for her maternity leave the beginning of Nov through Christmas break! I was very excited to be trusted and relied on to such an extent! I of course said yes!!! The next day I was at the intermediate building, and BEFORE I could even get to the room I was covering that day, a special education teacher said that he had requested me to be the long term sub while his aide was doing her student teaching! Once again, honored and excited to accept!

And what's more, God worked it out so perfectly that the aide position is Sept and Oct. and the teacher's starts immediately after that, so I will now be working full-time through Christmas break!!!

*And a side note to this ramble--Tuesday morning I was feeling a little sorry for myself and posted an update to my facebook feed that I wanted to make better use of my time...within an hour of that post, I had been called to come in to sub that afternoon. And that's where it all started coming together.

I can see God's hand in all this. I am not a bad person, but I had not been doing everything that I knew I was supposed to do for a while -- I mean, going to church on a regular basis, being a better example for and teaching my children, and in general, living a positive life. I was giving it half effort, if that...and I was raised to know what kind of life I should be living. For the last few months, I have been making more of an effort to do better at following God's path, not my own. I am feeling His blessings because of it!

It feels good to be able to give the glory to God for my blessings. I could not do any of this on my own. I know when I tried alone, I have failed spectacularly. All Good and Perfect Gifts come from God! (James 1:17)

I pray that God will continue to give me favor with those I work with the next few months, adults and students alike, and that I may have a positive influence on those around me.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

I Wonder If You'll Cry Too...

Source unknown...this was forwarded to me.
Because I loved the story, and I love you, I had to pass this on.
~~dw
DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a
studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States .
Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at
this particular institution.. Every student was required to take this
course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the
gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the
course as nothing but required drudgery.
Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity
seriously.
This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve
was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to
seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he
was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on
the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's
class.
One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could
talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'
Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.'
'200? That's pretty good, Steve,' Dr. Christianson said. 'Do you
think you could do 300?'
Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'
'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.
'Well, I can try,' said Steve.
'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need
you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you
do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.
Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.'
Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me
explain what I have in mind.'
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the
room.
When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No,
these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG
kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty
excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to
get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's
class.
Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,
'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'
Cynthia said, 'Yes.'
Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do
ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'
'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve
again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on
Cynthia's
desk.
Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do
you want a donut?'
Joe said, 'Yes.'
Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can
have a donut?'
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first
aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their
donut.
Walking down the second aisle, Dr Christianson came to Scott. Scott was
on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very
popular and never lacking for female companionship.
When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'
Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'
Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'
Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'
Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve,
would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'
With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.
Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'
Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my
desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't
want it.'
And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed
on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting
up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out
around his brow.
Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were
beginning to get a little angry.
Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'
Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'
Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more
push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'
Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.
By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students
were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts
on the desks.
Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these
push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on
the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red
because of the physical effort involved.
Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the
class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten
push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work
for
all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so
Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.
Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class,
however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down
on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room.
When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now
there were
34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to
make it.
Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next.
Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was
taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each
one?'
Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups.
You
are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr.
Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room
and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO!
Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.
Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'
Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you
will have to do ten push-ups for him?'
Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'
Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the
way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'
Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on 'Yes,' he said,
'give me a donut.' 'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can
have a donut?'
Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason,
bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those
visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each
push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By
this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no
sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two students in the room were two young women, both
cheerleaders, and very popular.
Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda,
do you want a donut?'
Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'
Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups
so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.
Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you
want a donut?'
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr.
Christianson,
why can't I help him?'
Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it
alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that
everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.
When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my
grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade.
Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior
work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up
he must do push-ups.
I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the
price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'
'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'
As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding
that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350
push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our
Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy
hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done
everything
that was required of Him, He yielded up His life And like some of
those
in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'
Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically
exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.
'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding,
'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might
understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that
have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for
us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose
to accept His gift to us, the price has already been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'


Saturday, August 15, 2009

I wonder if anyone else experiences this phenomenon...

Have I watched the Back to the Future movies so many times that my house has fallen into the space time continuum? (WOW! spellcheck says spelled continuum corectly!!!! Gonna go buy a lottery ticket!)

Walking into different rooms of my house causes me to skip ahead or fall backwards in time. Pouring a cup of coffee, it's 18 minutes after the hour. Step about 8 inches to the right, in front of the stove, and it's only 14 minutes after. Walk four feet to the left and I'm in the living room at about 9 after. COOL! Pouring coffee has gained me nearly ten more minutes of this beautiful day....hmmm.

The computer tells me, when I sit down to "surf", that it's about 21 after. My cell phone tells me it's only a quarter after....Now, one would think, that TPTB (that's: the powers that be) at AT&T would know what the correct time is. Aren't they hardwired into the system at Greenwich? OR what about TPTB at Microsoft or whoever's in charge "out there?" Don't they have a Seiko or Bulova to consult? (Bulova Bob Saling would've sold them one, I'm sure.)

Anyway, this particular continuum causes a great deal of grief in my household...When I tell the boys their computer time is up, and it's bedtime, they always claim to have 5 more minutes. How exactly did they get AT&T to be in cahoots with their plan to stay up into all hours of the night on the web?

And then what happens when it's time to leave to go somewhere? If I'm running late, but leave from the living room, does that help me MAKE UP time to get there? If I walk past the coffeepot, will I be five minutes late to church that morning?

I used to have a similar dilemma when I had my extensive watch collection. (For those of you who missed it, I mention my watch obsession in I Wonder If I Should Even Be Telling This...) I could be fashionably late or pleasantly prompt, depending on which watch I chose to wear that day. Or depending on which school building's bell system I had set said watch with. FYI, there is a continuum between the Intermediate and the Primary buildings as well. Just so you know.

I definately blame this on Michael J. Fox.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I wonder if I should even be telling this...

As a woman, I feel the need to present a "put together" image when I leave the house to be seen in public. If you see me out, just know that I have made a little effort (usually) to fix my hair, match my clothes and be generally well-groomed. If you were to stop by my house on a random day, you may not be as lucky. This morning for example, I sat on the front deck with my laptop and my coffee, perusing Facebook updates and reading my e-mail, in my nightgown, until a little after 10 a.m. Not a good look for receiving visitors.

I don't have expensive tastes when it comes to clothes or accessories. To be honest, I have gotten the most compliments on things I have bought second hand at yard sales, or from friends getting rid of things they no longer wanted. (Thanks for the purses, Kim! Everyone loves the striped one!) I like to find unusual items that you can't find in stores any longer. Sometimes they are BACK in style, or VINTAGE, if you prefer. Sometimes they remind me of favorite things I used to have or wear. Sometimes they just feed one of my random moods for variety.

I love yard sale or clearance rack finds! I suppose I am just a cheapskate in a lot of ways. But I do understand when it is necessary to pay a little more for quality. I can shell out good money for shoes or for jeans that fit just right. But for the most part, my money is not spent on name-brand clothes, accessories, or the various other things that are necessary for a woman to make herself presentable. I use inexpensive hair-care and make-up items. I have costume jewelry and watches that I wear because I like them, or they match a certain outfit. (And I LOVE LOVE LOVE watches! BF, (read-before the fire) I could wear a different watch almost every day of the month. I had all colors of straps: tan, chocolate, white, black, silver, gold, two-tone, and all colors of faces, some Mickey, Minnie, Pooh, Angels, Santa, etc.) And most of them were just the inexpensive type from Wal-Mart or where ever, that I bought because they "jumped out at me" or looked neat. I probably spent more buying watch batteries and replacing bands than I ever did on a particular watch!

But, back to my original thought-looking presentable in public...I have to admit to a particularly worrisome recent purchase for my personal hygiene care. I recently purchase the Smooth Away Personal Hair Removal System. GLORIFIED SAND PAPER for your body! And even more worrisome, I have USED it...TWICE!!! I scraped a sanding sheet across my body for the sake of ...well, not BEAUTY probably, but VANITY definitely! SAND PAPER!!! I kid you not! It's a little black section of rough material that wouldn't look out of place on Rob's wood-shop workbench!

In my defense, let me tell you that I have an aunt who literally has almost a moustache, sideburns and goatee of dark hair on her face and I do not want to look like the bearded lady at the fair as I age! (I love her, but heredity is not a kind beautician on that side of the fam!) So, yeah, I have sand-papered my face for the sake of my vanity. And I'm only a little ashamed to admit it!

And it WORKS! My face is as smooth as a baby's bottom, as they say. And I get to smile a bit at THAT thought any time I get a kiss on the cheek!!! :-)

dw

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

I Wonder What They're Like...

I watch entirely too much T.V. I have admitted it before and stand by my conviction.
*stands up* "My name is Dawn and I'm an entertainment junkie."

But even more concerning to me than the VOLUME (and I don't mean how loud it is while I'm watching...) I mean sheer time periods that I spend watching or at least peripherally watching...even more troublesome, is the emotion I expend on the shows I follow. I laugh, I cry, I squirm, I slap my forehead in exasperation. I get entangled in the lives of people I don't know and will never meet.

And I know that I won't meet them, or talk to them about what has me so captivated about their situations. MAINLY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REAL!!! THEY ARE CHARACTERS WRITTEN BY A WRITER; MADE UP IN EVERY DETAIL. I get it, really I do! So why then, do I let them get to me so emotionally?

When ER ended this past Spring, I bawled like a newborn spanked by the doctor! I loved those people...I mean CHARACTERS!!! I was invested in what happened to them and wanted to know that they were going to be okay. I spent as much time with that hospital as I did in real life hospitals and I find myself now really missing it. I found out over the summer that another fave, The Unit, will not be returning this fall....AAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! So, since they aren't coming back, and I will have no closure to my relationship with them, I am forced to worry about them! Is Molly REALLY leaving Jonas? Will Tiffie and Mack be okay? Hector just got married...how's that working out? And Bob and Kim and the kids....and on and on and on!!! The network just didn't seem to notice that I CARED what these people were going through!!!

I am ferociously loyal!!! Both in my personal life and my TV-mania. I DVR about 10 different shows! And I feel just as personally connected to the people...yeah, yeah, I mean "characters"...in each of these shows. I want to be friends with Pamela, Denise, Roland, Claudia Joy and Roxie on Army Wives. They seem like a great bunch of friends to have around! And I want to learn how to kick butt with Mary on In Plain Sight. And I want to investigate crimes with the gangs on NCIS, Criminal Minds and SVU. I could help them! I figure it out before they do a LOT of the time already!!!

Am I deranged? I prefer to think of myself as an extremely avid fanatic viewer of series programming! But even if you agree with me, don't tell me about it...you could get me hooked on your favorite shows next, and I already have enough people !!!!CHARACTERS YES!!! THEY'RE CHARACTERS!!!!! to keep up with.

Monday, August 3, 2009

I Wonder Where I Go From Here?

So, now I have a blog...What am I gonna do with it? I can't always be PROFOUND...although the occaisional inspiration does happen. So, what do I want to say today?

Maybe the question is best stated, what do I want to allow you ACCESS TO in my head? There are a few dark corners that don't bear peering into too closely. Instead, let me introduce you to my sons.

My sons are the lights of my life. They are both terrific boys and I am hoping they become terrific men eventually. They are so close in age, that naturally, they are alike in alot of ways. But sometimes their differences are so stark and glaring, you don't even know they are related.

One has my father's eyes, is very introverted, but has shades of my wacky sense of humor developing (slowly but surely.) He is very intelligent, but sometimes I get the sense that he tries to hide that. I feel like he slacks off to avoid offending (for lack of a better word) his classmates. I don't mean to say he's a brainiac or anything...sometimes the boy has absolutely no commen sense!!

He doesn't like to be put on the spot. Doesn't like the spotlight. Sometimes I wonder if he can carry on a conversation with others, because I've seen it at times and it's like pulling teeth to get a sentence out of him. Hopefully he will grow in self confidence and maturity into the man I know he has waiting inside him.

My other son is the social character. He loves social situations, quotes movie lines and jokes to entertain everyone around, and laughs easily. He is assuredly the extrovert. He is the classic youngest child in that he doesn't tend to pay enough attention in school, except to wonder if he'll be voted class clown. He has struggled in the past with school-work, but as he is maturing, I see him opening his mind to absorb what he learns and he is experiencing first-hand how education is building on what you learned previously to master each new thing.

Both my son's have very soft hearts, but this child has an unusual depth of empathy. He cries at sad movies and songs a little like his mother does. He notices hurt feelings and injustice like a much older soul. I wonder, for him, if maturity won't dampen these kind traits into dust. I'd like to think not.

If you know them now or meet them later, you will be able to tell who is who. But for plausible deniability of invading their personal privacy, I have purposely not used names here. To protect the innocent. And, really, isn't that supposed to be every mother's job?

Sunday, August 2, 2009

RE-BLOGGING (or, I Wonder What's in Your Fire Safe?)


Having gone through a house fire this year, I know from whence (*and wince*) I speak. To coin a phrase, been there, done that, no longer have the t-shirt because it burned up! Suffice it to say, this topic has been on my mind recently.

One of our first purchases, after clothing to wear (we left the house in sleeping pants, t-shirts and shoes/no socks), and personal hygeine items (didn't even have a brush or comb), was a fire proof box. We bought a file folder size box with a lock in order to keep our important documents safe in the (please, Lord!) unlikely event of another tragedy.

Now—as a procrastinator of the first order, I haven't put EVERYTHING in there that needs to be. But, even so, it's getting fuller. There are things inside that need to find their true home in the regular file cabinet with everyday papers. And, there are things we salvaged from the house after the fire, that need to be secured in the fire safe now that we have one.

I'd like to put all sorts of things I want to protect inside and keep them out of harm's way. I still think of things I lost (IF you know me, you know I am talking about my extensive collection of books!) that I wish we had be able to save. I now know more than ever how precious photographs and momentos are. And I can think of other material things I miss that I wish could have been saved -- a favorite pair of jeans, or my most comfie shoes, CDs, video tapes…I could go on, but you get the idea. Many/most of these material things are eventually replacable.

Sometimes I'd like to put my sons inside to protect them from the world in general. But the box we bought is just not large enough. Plus I'm not sure it would be considered "fireproof" once I added the air holes!

So, now to the real point of my message…What do we deem important enough to save and protect? What material posessions do you place in high regard? Include them in your fire safe. -- But, don't forget that your REAL treasures can't be stored on Earth.

dw