Last Minute Halloween Costumes

Amazingly there are some of us in this world who think about Halloween costumes at about 4 pm on Halloween. Add to that a child who can't make up his mind until after school on Halloween, and you have a mom with a few last minute Halloween Costume ideas. Without further ado here are a few we've tried.

• One year my son dressed all in green, and I painted his face with green craft paint. He was a swamp monster. The paint didn't hurt his face and came off easily. Although I'm sure it would have irritated my sensitive-skinned son.
• One year my Husband dressed in a dark suit, sunglasses, and carried a silver pen light flashlight - aka Men in Black.
• My black graduation robe has become a wizard's robe in mere minutes. Add a stick for a wand and last year we simply knotted a long piece of cloth as a cloak.
• My husband's favorite costume was the year he carried a long white stick, wore sunglasses and wore a sign around his neck that said, "I'm from Venice." He was a Venetian Blind.
• I heard about a woman who dressed all in pink and carried a feather. She was tickled pink. I think I might use that one this year.
• Of course there's always the Christmas Tree option. Dress in green, wrap lights around yourself, and stand near an outlet at the party.
• Grab a few leaves from the back yard and tape or glue them on - instant leaf pile.
• A few more ideas are here - tons, here's a squid with step by step instructions, and this site includes pictures.

Have a great Halloween! Enjoy more Works for Me Wednesday tips at Rocks In My Dryer.

Our Own Engagement Memories, Part IV

"Yes, and Yes, and Yes again!" I answered.

My never-going-to-happen-especially-not-today engagement day had suddenly happened. I could not have been more completely surprised and smitten. Hon could not have been more proud of himself for pulling off the surprise. My saying, "Yes," was a known factor, so the actual timing had to be memorable.

Hon quickly popped the ring back into his pocket. He wanted to make sure I didn't knock it into the creek 15 feet below in the midst of my tears of joy and squeals of excitement.

I told you he was a smart man.

We floated back to my house. I am sure my giggles and spontaneous leaping for joy alerted any hunters in the area. We probably also frightened all deer in a 3 mile radius. We came around the barn into the yard and saw my dad.

I did not put two and two together and connect the odd events at the wood shed with the fact that my dad probably knew our walk included a proposal.

"Dad, we're engaged!" I gushed.

And my daddy, the best Daddy in the world, my rock and biggest champion for all time said,

"Yeah, I gotta go feed the dog."

"But, Dad, I've got a ring and everything," I said holding my hand out.
(And to tell you the truth what did I mean by "and everything?")

"I said, 'I gotta go feed the dog'," growled my dad.

I've got to tell you my heart broke a little. Had I not been so unbelievably excited and over the top in love, it might have dampened my day. Luckily, there would be no chance to wipe the smile off my face for weeks. At that moment his lack of interest, happiness, or enthusiasm hurt - but just ever so slightly under my joy.

However when I remember this story, it brings tears to my eyes.

"I gotta go feed the dog."



You see, I know my dad. I know my dad loves and adores me. And I know my dad's heart broke a lot more than just a little that day. His baby girl had found the man of her married dreams. There was a new knight in shining armor in my life that I would cling to even more than a little girl clings to her dad. He didn't want anyone to know how much the happiness he prayed for me to have, hurt him. He turned away and hid the tears he wouldn't be able to hide a few months later at our wedding.

My dad could have said like the country song by Heartland does, "I loved her first."

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But its still hard to give her away
I loved her first

I am blessed. I have a wonderful Daddy. He raised me well and loved me even better, so I knew what kind of man to marry. I knew I needed a man that would earn my respect, an honest man, a man that could make me laugh and wipe away my tears. In Hon, I had found the man that would love me for me, encourage me to be the best I could ever be, and have a whole lot of fun along the way.

Hon continues to make my heart go pitter patter and on many occassions a thumpidy-thump-thump. Oh, I love him more and deeper each passing day. And I can only imagine what he'll say the day our daughter gets engaged. I have a feeling - he won't even be able to choke out,

"I gotta go feed the dog."

Halloween Costumes Gone Bad, Very, Very, Bad

The mothers of my Friday prayer group usually end our time chit-chatting and filling each other in on the lives of our children and offering each other advice and support. The last few weeks we've all voiced our woes over the Halloween costume choices for girls this year. And we mean little girls.

Today the Washington Post had a front page article on the same topic. My group of mothers concurs with the complaints of the mother's in the article.

What is the deal with sexy Halloween costumes for little girls?

What is mass merchandising and our culture doing to our daughters' childhoods?

Check this video for another look at advertising and girls.


How do we protect the childhood that our daughters themselves don't know they desperately need?

My biggest worry as a child on Halloween was whether it would be a cold night. If it was cold my mom was definitely going to make me wear a coat over my witch or gypsy floor length, long sleeved costume. One year I solved that problem by being a hobo. A raggedy coat helped make the costume rather than hide it from view. There's a lot more to be hidden than a costume these days. Girls' body parts aren't covered by anything. Modest parts are pushed up front and center. Ten year old legs are in fishnet and high heeled go-go boots. Ten year olds need to be worried about tripping over sidewalks while trick or treating, not walking in high heeled boots and snagging their fishnets.

I'm glad to read that other mothers are just as outraged as we are. I'm encouraged that other mothers that want to protect our daughters' childhoods and give them a sense of self-respect and a healthy dose of modesty.

And I am really, really glad, that my daughter decided on her own to be a skeleton a month ago. She's wearing one of her brother's old costumes and is thrilled about it.

Our Own Engagement Memories, Part III

We sat side by side on the rocky ledge of the old stone waterfall. We could see the remains of the old mill across the creek. The leaves spiraled down into the churning water below our dangling feet. I'm sure now that Hon's stomach was also churning.

He tried desperately to recreate the amazing talk we'd had a year ago. We'd mapped out our hopes and dreams and made connections on levels that opened our eyes not only to our chemistry and the feelings of new love, but our compatibility, our future, the possibilities.


I, however, was still stewing over the fact that this was not my engagement day. That if I told my love I wanted to get engaged here at the waterfall on my family's property, I would ruin any surprise I might have. That was when and if he ever decided to ask me to marry him. One might say, I was less than cooperative about re-living our most romantic moments.


Hon wrapped his arms around me and warmed me with memories from the past year. He nuzzled my neck and told me how he fell in love with me as I talked about teaching one day at lunch. We laughed over the first time I told him I loved him - in McDonald's. We giggled about our horrible first dates. His first visit to meet my parents. Valentine's day at the Irregardless Cafe. My spring formal when we fought because graduation was so near, and then made up when we admitted we wanted to continue dating after graduation. I thawed a little. I kissed him back. I leaned comfortably against this man who made me feel loved, protected, and excited all at once.


Finally, he asked,

"How much do you love me?"

"This much," I answered as I squished my index and thumb together.

"How much do you love me?" he asked again.

"This much. All the way around the world and back," I said squeezing my fingers together.

"Do you love me this much?" he asked as he opened a ring box.


...to be continued...

...just a little bit more...

I'm a North Carolina Kind of Gal

I probably shouldn't just post jokes making the rounds on email, but these made me laugh too much. Especially considering right before I read them I had a conversation where I described distance in hours to a friend with a son named Trey, and I'm freezing today because it's in the 60's. I may not live in North Carolina right now, but North Carolina will always be a part of me. And yes, I can answer in the affirmative to each of these.

What Jeff Foxworthy has to say about people in North Carolina.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you are 'fixin' to go anywhere,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you've worn shorts to a Christmas party,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number,
you may live in North Carolina.

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Myrtle Beach for the weekend,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you measure distance in hours,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them,
you may live in North Carolina.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph you're going 80 and everybody is passing you,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly',
you may live in North Carolina.

If you and all your friends live for basketball season, be it high school, college, or Pro,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you know that Charlotte is not really the State Capital,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you know three different recipes for baked beans, and which one to take to a funeral,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you know two or more friends named 'Trey,'
you may live in North Carolina.

If you can name two hurricanes that blew away your neighbor's trailer,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you think that all students who graduate from Duke move back home to New York,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you think that the tobacco barn out front is part of your home,
you may live in North Carolina.

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with your North Carolina friends and others,
you definitely live in North Carolina .

Our Own Engagement Memories, Part II

Hon watched the dark outline of the ax silhouetted against the Carolina blue sky come crashing down again and this time wedge into a green log.

My dad took one look at Hon and said,

"Yes."

Then my dad turned and walked away while the ax still quivered in the log.

I saw Hon turn towards the house, so I grabbed my coat and headed outside to meet him. He lifted me up in a big bear hug and said,

"Let's go for a walk. I'd love to see the waterfall again."

I'd love to say I threw my long, luscious locks over the back of my beautiful wool coat, and we hiked into the sunset. However...this is our story, and I am involved. The reality was this.

My mom followed me outside to remind us that it was hunting season and Thanksgiving weekend. The good Lord only knows how many hunters we had trespassing on the farm at that very moment. We had to suit up for safety. I donned a red hooded coat that Hon still reviles to this day and both of us capped ourselves with bright orange hunting caps. He might have thought I was beautiful, but my attire was not.

We took a few steps towards the barn and met my dad.

"Where you guys going? I'll come," he asked.

"To the waterfall," said Hon. Pointedly, very pointedly.

"Oh, wait, I've got to um, yeah," and my dad headed back into the barn.

We headed on towards the waterfall hand in hand, each of us in our own quiet thoughts.

Hon's thoughts ran sort of like this...

What was that? Was that a hunter? I better talk a little louder. Do I have the ring? Here, I'll hold her hand and put it in my coat pocket? I wonder if she knows? I can't believe my aunt almost blew it. How did anyone know this was the weekend? Wait? What was that? Was that a hunter? I'll talk a little louder. If I get shot before I ask her....


My thoughts were more like this...

He really was mad at his aunt. I thought we'd be engaged by now. I bet I look stupid in this coat. And this hat is making my head itch. How do I kiss him when we both have hunting caps on? Could I look more like a red neck? I'd love for him to ask me to marry him at the waterfall. We had such a good talk there last year. That's when we first starting talking about our future. But...if I tell him I want to get engaged at the waterfall...then the next time we come down here I'll know. This stinks...we should just head back to the house...I can't believe I'm wearing this hat...


...to be continued...

Our Own Engagement Memories

Reading this engagement story brought to mind my own.

While our story doesn't have any enlightening lines, there was much hidden emotion, deeply hidden, and a few lines we'll never forget.

We'd been dating a year, and we were in love. Like many couples we had a silly little thing we'd do. One of us would ask the other,

"How much do you love me?"

The other would squish their fingers together tightly and say,

"This much. All the way around the world and back together."

Yes, we were sickeningly, stomach churning, hot flash, heart racing in love. My husband had decided to pop the question Thanksgiving weekend. We were spending my first Thanksgiving away from home with his family, and I was duly nervous. We celebrated a huge traditional Southern Living magazine type of feast at my husband's Aunt and Uncle's home, in the dining room that had been featured in an interior design magazine. I, the farm girl who took Thanksgiving scraps out to the garbage pile for the dogs, was totally at ease.

Uh, yeah.

Actually, I was doing just fine until dinner started. After grace, Hon's aunt looked down the table and asked my love,

"Are there any announcements?"

Dead silence.

Followed by, "No, there are not."

This uncomfortable moment would have been forgotten had my love not gritted his teeth through dinner and spent the rest of the evening furious that his aunt would ask such a pointed question. I couldn't understand why he was so furious. If he called his aunt rude once, he called her rude 20 times. It was unsettling. Especially since I had thought we were definitely moving towards engagement. Needless to say I cried myself to sleep that night thinking we would never get engaged. And oh, my Lord, did that mean, he didn't love me like I thought he did?

The next day I asked to be taken back to my family's farm a day early. We had planned to visit my family over the weekend, but after the joy of the Thanksgiving debaucle, I was ready to see my family and get some dressing leftovers before they were gone. A girl's got to cope.

Soon after we arrived, I was inside talking with my mom when we noticed Hon out at the woodshed following my dad. My dad was spending a beautiful day outside chopping wood. Hon was right on his heels, hands in his pockets, not really helping, and we couldn't figure out what in the world was doing. I would later find out he was asking for my hand in marriage.

"Um, Sir, I'd like to ask Katie to marry me. And we'd like to have your blessing?"

My dad picked up an ax, raised in high in the air...

and split a huge log clean in two while the lack of his reply hung in the air. Hon, at this point decided asking for a girl's hand in marriage at a woodshed is a very, very bad idea indeed.

"Well, I would have run you off by now, if you weren't okay," my dad finally replied.

??????

Hon was not entirely sure that was a, "Yes." Did that mean he could ask me? My dad was still holding the ax. Was it safe to ask again for clarification? Hon, as always, was persistent.

"Sir, does that mean yes?"

As my dad raised the ax again...

To be continued....

Finding a Great Hair Stylist

I tried a new hair salon yesterday. Every woman with a head of hair knows my pain. And anyone who's ever had a great stylist that you truly enjoyed seeing and talking with as you sat down and simply said, "Do what you want, make it beautiful!" knows that finding another one like that is near impossible.

Let's be honest. If I'm going to pay what they charge in NOVA for highlights and a cut. I want to meet someone I can at least make small talk with about People magazine. Because about the only time I get to read People Magazine is at the hair salon.

As I sat down yesterday the new stylist and I started the small talk. First about my hair and then on to getting to know each other. Was this going to be a talkative hair experience or would I read a magazine by myself? She found out I'd moved to the area about a year ago, that I had three children, and then she asked, "So what do you do? For work?"

"Well, I used to teach, but now I'm a stay at home mom," I volunteered.

And she replied...

"So................

......do you like...ummm...cook a lot???"

"Your kids are how old?"

"8, 10, 12."

"So, they're in school all day. What do you do all day? I guess you do whatever you want all day. Ha!"

As a dear said, "Well, she's off the list. I hope your hair doesn't look too great."

Notes to finding a good hairstylist.

• Referrals help, but aren't fool proof. A hairstylist is a personal choice.
• Technique is important. Can she actually maneuver the huge round brush and hairdryer without burning your scalp or whacking you in the head? Dropping the brush repeatedly is a danger sign.
• Great color with a bad cut equals hair horror.
• Does she listen to your color preferences? Does she do what you ask her to do. Getting to that you-do-what-you-think-looks-good-on-me point takes time and trust.
• Most importantly, can you make reasonable small talk for 2 hours?

You're not looking for a friend. You're looking for an artist with conversation skills.

Check out more Works for Me Wednesday tips at Rocks In My Dryer.

The Trials and Tribulations of Laundry

That screaming mother you heard about half an hour ago? It was me. I'll own it. I'll also fill you in that I'm pretty sure my head spun around about six times during the outrage. While I don't enjoy losing my temper, I'm hoping there's a spot of sunshine in this story. As in I hope and pray my daugher won't ever cram all her clean clothes into the dirty clothes hamper again.

That would be the clothes that I struggle to get washed, dried, possibly re-dried to get rid of some wrinkles, folded, hauled back upstairs, and sorted into her room. The clothes that she decided she rather lay on her bed and cry about than put away before she went outside to play.

While she was weeping like she was Cinderella and I was her evil step-mother on a bad day, I popped in her room to grab the dirty laundry from her hamper. I was surprised it was so full seeing as I had done laundry 3 days ago. Oooo, and then I realized I was pulling clean laundry out of the hamper.

Her only defense - she didn't know she wasn't supposed to do that.

Yes, don't we wish stupidity covered all our mistakes.

Facing Fears, Finding Forgiveness

This week in my online retreat we are delving into our personal sins. We’re exploring the rebellion of our hearts.

The grace we turn to God for this week is that we might know our sin –
completely and profoundly – so that we might know the depth of God’s love for us
personally. We want to know our sin at the level of our feelings.

I’ve got to tell you this had me running scared. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some sins I know all too well. They are a shame that scares me. I have some sins that I see as awful. I find them so horrendous, I don’t even want to consider how God must feel. I have deep regrets. So this week of focusing on this subject made me laugh maniacally, in fear.

I found facing the following directions particularly hilarious in an impossible it-might-kill-me kind of way.

In considering my sins, have I thoughtfully considered what I have
done? Failed to do? Habitually? Instinctively? Made my own rules?
Been dishonest? Cruel or abusive? Lustful, greedy, controlling, rationalized and
made excuses? Who have I hurt or damaged because of my selfishness?
Have I been deaf to the cry of the poor? Not wanted to get involved?
Insulated myself, lived in my own world, so I’m not bothered by the needs of
others?

Well, I just saw this as a pit I might not ever crawl out of. Then the retreat said I should see this deep self-knowledge with the depth of God’s forgiveness and love. It shouldn’t be depressing , but liberating. The whole purpose of this week is to experience deep gratitude of the profound depth of God’s love and mercy for me.

Just go ahead and call me doubting Thomas. I was NOT looking forward to working through the retreat this week. I was even considering skipping it. Maybe it was time to quit. And now I realize had God not lifted me up with a great discussion with my retreat partner, I would have never attempted this task.

I read through the Guide for the week with much fear, doubt, and worry right before I went to bed the other night. But I knew that God has me on his journey. I prayed for His help and guidance through this week. I prayed to focus where he directs.

Thankfully, God got the stuff I consider my debilitating sins out of the way pretty quickly. I’ve been mulling over my past and regrets for the past few months. Several instances have really brought them to mind. Knowing I had confessed, knowing God offers forgiveness and mercy, and yet I still felt extreme shame. Shame that made me question too many other things. I awoke in the middle of the night and prayed through several of the things that were bothering me. I thought of some additional prejudices I had about the situations. I asked for forgiveness for biases I had never realized I had before. I wasn’t awake for long. When I awoke the next morning I was filled with such peace. Even now 2 days later I can’t work up the shame I was feeling that night. God has given me peace and forgiveness. It is a gift. And to imagine I feared this gift. As I told my friend Kelly, I faced what I feared, and my head didn’t blow up. Amazing! Hallelujah!

God quickly moved me on to something else that I have been avoiding with conscious blinders. Last night was filled with dreams about a family member. I have not had a brotherly attitude or kind thoughts about a family member lately. I have known it. I have known I need to make peace with the situation. I just need to pick up the phone and be kind. And yet I have avoided it, and avoided it, and avoided it. I have literally closed my eyes and stuck my fingers in my ears and said, “Lalalalalala – I don’t want to forgive and move on. I was completely right in my judgments.” That’s where God has me pointed today. It’s still up to me to make that step. I need to do it. Please let me have the strength to do the right thing.

God is kind and merciful. He can change us. He loves us. And he can do it all without making our heads blow up. :)

Chocolate Souffle or Chocolate Bread Pudding?

This dessert is beyond fabulous. It is true, 5-star restaurant quality, chocolate divine heaven. It's a rich, Chocolate Brandy Bread Pudding that tastes like a souffle.

Besides the anticipation of eating something so scrumptious, this dessert gave me the bonus of a required field trip. I needed to make a purchase at the local ABC store.

For the brandy.

In the recipe.

Luckily, the cashier recognizes me instantly. As "Clueless." I got my own guided tour around the liquor store. It seems the cashier had a little trouble finding the brandy himself. I guess it's not his beverage of choice. He did give me a great tip though. You can buy brandy in airplane bottles for 80 cents a bottle. One-third cup of brandy takes about 1 and 1/2 airplane bottles. Or you could splurge and buy a real size bottle, because I think you're going to like this dessert enough to make it more than once.

The first time I made this was for a dear friend of mine who is also a caterer. (And yes, it is quite stressful cooking dinner for a professional caterer!) When I told her I was making Chocolate Bread Pudding for dessert I saw her actually turn up her nose. Later she admitted that she normally doesn't like bread pudding, but she thought this one was fantastic.

So without further tangents or field trips...

Chocolate Brandy Bread Pudding

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
2 1/4 cups half and half
1/3 cup brandy
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. cinnamon, divided
4 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
8 slices crustless, country white bread in 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp. sugar

1. Brush sides and bottom of 8x8 Pyrex dish with melted butter.
2. Simmer half and half and brandy in a large heavy sauce pan for 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of chocolate chips. Let stand for 1 minute.
4. Whisk until chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.
5. Whisk in brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
6. Let stand 20 minutes until cool.
7. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, and salt.
8. Stir in bread gently. Let stand for 30 minutes.
9. Spread 1/2 half of mixture ( about 2 1/2 cups) into prepared Pyrex.
10. Sprinkle remaining 2 cups of chocolate chips over bottom half of bread pudding mixture.
11. Cover with remaining bread pudding mixture.
12. Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Can be made 1 day ahead.
13. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
14. Bake until puffed and firm in the center. About 45 minutes
15. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes
16. Beat chilled heavy cream with 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to top Individual servings of pudding.

The cinnamon in the whipped cream and the whipped cream itself is the perfect accent to the pudding. The recipe says it makes 6 servings. I love dessert and big helpings, and we get 8-10 servings from this dish. I love that you pop it in the oven as you sit down to eat, and it's warm and ready at the perfect time. I also like making it the day before, because I actually like to enjoy my guests when we have them over, rather than rushing around the kitchen.

I got this wonderful recipe from my mother-in-law, who got it out of the February, 2005, issue of Bon Appetit, page 105 if you'd like to check. My mother-in-law also taught me that following a recipe exactly always yields better results. Fudging is best left to those with better cooking instincts than I.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. It is definitely a make a great impression type of dessert. :)

After enjoying this chocolately goodness last night. And believe me, I
love chocolate, I would only use 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips in
between the layers of pudding next time. Not that I'm qualified to tinker
with a recipe.

Eye of the Storm

There are certain days of the month that I need my own Emergency Broadcast Announcement. I'm sure some of you can relate. I think mine would go kinda like this...

We interrupt your life for this true Emergency Broadcast Announcement...Repeat...This is not a test. There is a real and present danger to you from...Your Hormones! At this time you must warn all people in your presence to seek immediate and safe shelter for the next 24-48 hours.

You are in the direct path of the storm. Remind yourself of the following to avoid as much embarrassment as possible.

• People are not breathing in an attempt to annoy you.
• Lulls in conversation do not mean people hate you.
• People are not purposefully trying to hurt your feelings...
• Therefore, all advice is not severe personal criticism of you.
• Your husband was not born to make your life miserable. He actually still loves you.
• Your children are adorable. Remember this one, because...
• Only animals eat their young.
• The teachers are not trying to kill the parents with homework.
• You are not worthless, and your life is not falling to pieces.
• The Internet is not eating your email.
• The zit on your face is not the size of Mt. Everest, but you really should raid your teenager's supply of acne medicine.
• Rotten TV is on everyday, not just today.
• All traffic is not trying to cut you off. Your fellow carpoolers are not all idiots.
• Birds poop on every one's cars.
• Telephone solicitors should be avoided at all costs.
• Do not try any financial or purchasing transactions. If things go awry you could be held responsible for all hissy fits you pitch.
• And finally, in case of spontaneous crying, take to your bed with as much chocolate as you can carry.

Thank goodness the storm has passed. Can someone remind me in 28 days???

Days We'd Like to Forget

Moaning...
Groaning...
Gnashing of teeth...

Sound interesting. Probably not, but that's almost all the details I care to forget about yesterday. Not a stellar day in my book. Perhaps the comedy in the what I call my life will emerge today and a more positive post with a giggle or two may be written. But at this point it's still mainly, moaning, groaning, and gnashing of teeth.

And yet, there were beams of light from my children.

God bless, Fred, for rescuing the kitchen from the backpack explosion that occurs every afternoon. He did a better job than I do most days. Oh, I love that boy.

God bless, The Dude for trying every trick he knew in the book to make his mom laugh or at least crack a smile. Finally, he resorted to actually finishing his homework. Big smile for that one.

And in trying to be in the spirit of being thankful for all things, but truly not quite there yet - thanks to the lady in my Bible study who told me I needed to refer to scripture more as we were discussing someone else's question. It truly hurt at the time. I'm still steaming. I will not forget this comment for a while. And yet, reading the Bible last night brought a peace that nothing else could. :-)

Unwrinkled Clothes

If you're a Martha Stewart type or born organized, this hint probably isn't for you. As documented here and here, I sometimes struggle with household appliances. And unfortunately, yesterday's post shows my daughter is headed in the same direction.

There is hope and at least one tip I can give her. I'm simply embarassed that I was only discovered it in the past year.

What do you when you've left clothes in the dryer? Perhaps for days? And days? Clothes that become small wrinkled balls that make an iron cry.

I'm sad to say in the past, I quite possibly just washed them again. Until someone let slip in random mom conversation that they throw a clean, wet dishtowel in with the wrinklies and re-dry the load. Voila! Beautiful, unwrinkled clothes.

Now here's a further reminder for those fellow moms in my time management challenged category. (Please God don't let me be the only clueless one). Don't go to the trouble of throwing the wet dishtowel in with the load of wrinkled clothes and walk out the door to do whatever. You'll miss you're window of opportunity. You actually need to hang around and FOLD the clothes when the dryer buzzer - well buzzes.

Check out other great Works For Me Wednesday tips at Rocks In My Dryer.

Or check out another laundry WFMW tip from me here.

Microwavable Breakfasts?

One guess for which muffin bar Birdie tried to microwave.

Ding-ding-ding, we have a winner, the zapped, metallic-electrical-fire-with-an-undertone-of-blueberry smelling bar to the left.

I am truly amazed that our microwave keeps zapping and smoking things without completely blowing every circuit in our house. Today's event (yes, there have been other events) caused much screaming as Birdie witnessed the electrical storm in the microwave. I wonder if it emitted any dangerous rays??? Maybe Birdie will now possess some amazing microwavable super power? Maybe she'll grow up and become a household appliance guru, unlike her mother. Sad to say at this point she, I, and the microwave are not on good terms.

I do understand her confusion and why she tried to nuke the blueberry muffin bar. Last week I bought a few new types of no-motherly-interaction breakfast food. Let's just say, I'm not a breakfast cooking type mom, instead of calling me lazy. Okay? Anyhoo, I bought these Oatmeal to Go Apples & Cinnamon Bars which you open the end of the package and microwave for 10 seconds. The kids liked them okay.

I also bought the Blueberry & Oats Muffin Bars, which say on the front of the box "Tastes Great WARM!"

Birdie tried to warm a bar. You've seen the results. Of course on the side of the box, it says, "Do not place wrapper in microwave." We really could have used that bold print statement on the front of the box near the "Tastes Great WARM!" statement.

The Dude was really upset that he missed the microwave lightening. Why do I have the feeling he'll need to recreate the storm?

Our poor microwave.

Searching for a Better Mood

Bedroom clean? - Check

Grass mowed? - Check

Paperwork caught up? - Check

Exercise? - Check

Paint two bad paintings, the second of which Fred decided looked like a big pear with two pear shaped biceps? - Check

Good night's sleep? -Hallelujah!!!

Bring on a better mood.

Interpreting Your Dreams

I'm feeling overwhelmed this morning. And believe me, I really don't think I have that much going on in my life to feel overwhelmed, but I do. Therefore, on some level I must be. Overwhelmed that is.

Am I making any sense? No worries, there's no cohesion in my thoughts today, so I'm pretty sure there's not going to be a lot of flow to my writing. You have been warned.

After several nights, 4 to be exact, of disturbing dreams with weird images that I've Googled, I finally had a dream that I didn't have to look up. I awoke from my dream and said, "Oh, that one I understand. I'm overwhelmed."

Next, question. "By what?"

Unfortunately, I think I have that one figured out also. I just don't like the answer so much. It's the old story of trying too hard to be in control of our own lives. Taking the weight of things that are not mine to carry on my shoulders. Thinking I have the power to do things, when only God does.

So how do I balance my worries? How do I stop this underlying feeling of being overwhelmed and not good enough? 'Cause, I'm really ready for a good night's sleep.

I'm taking a quiet day at home. I started my day in prayer, and I have a feeling it might be an entire day of calling out to the Lord, asking Him to explain what I'm not getting. I'm going to clean my bedroom, because maybe it's just the pile of clean sheets and the ironing board that I never take down, that's disturbing my slumber. And what I'd really like to do is paint. I'm sure I'll be rusty, and I have no idea what I'll paint besides those beautiful pears in my refrigerator. But hopefully, a little art therapy will silence the invisible demons that have brought about this funk.

Women Going Bald

Last night I had this huge dream about going bald.

I am here to tell you it was NOT a pretty sight. I was all bald on one side of my head around my part, except in my dream my part was on the wrong side of my head. In my dream I was seriously considering hair implants, and I wanted to make sure that they were done correctly, not in neat little rows like a doll's head. Then I was worried that if I got hair implants and did a stupid thing like have my hair cut short, the implants would never grow.

I am tired this morning. I do not wonder why.

I did what any blogging mom would do after dreaming of becoming bald. First, I Googled "dreaming of going bald." Now, I'm blogging about it. Remember this is my blog where I weed my mind of all and anything. I just don't want my head to look weed-whacked.

Anyhoo, this is what I found about bald dreams,

To dream that you are going bald, suggests a lack of self-esteem or worries
about getting older. Alternatively, baldness symbolizes humility, purity, and
personal sacrifice. You are at a stage in your life where you are confident in
fully exposing yourself.

Obviously the first part of the interpretation works better for me than the last.

Obviously.

The bald section referred me to the hair insights. And oh, we just don't want to go there. Basically, unless you're smelling or stroking you hair in your dream, hair dreams are just bad news. Apparently, I have some subconscious issues.

I Know! Aren't we all so surprised!

Family Vision

The day finally arrived, probably six months later than it should have.

Our entire family now wears glasses. The Dude was the last to cave. Our poor children never had a chance with their parents' combined gene pool. Some parents pass on beauty, great musical talent, mathematical apptitude, or athletic prowess.

We say it loud, we say it proud, "We pass on severe nearsightedness."

What do you think the odds are that they'll all need braces?

Kids Helping

How does your house look at the end of the evening on a school night?

Are there cups in the family room, pillows on the floor, papers in the oddest places, random toys on the sofa, under the sofa, in the sofa?

I've made my life so much easier by extending bedtime by 5 minutes. My kids are great helpers in short segments. At bedtime we take 5 minutes to pick up the family room and kitchen. Everyone picks up, puts away and cooperates for just 5 minutes. No heavy lifting here. This is NOT the time to pull out the vacuum cleaner or feather duster. You're simply picking up. Restoring order to the chaos.

I cannot tell you how restful it is to sit back down in the family room after my husband and I put the kids to bed. I'm not looking around thinking, "Look at that glass sitting on the table, and who threw the pillows all on the floor. Woe is me." That does not lead to great alone time.

Instead, I can sit beside my sweetie and relax!

Check out other great Works for Me Wednesday tips at Rocks in My Dryer.

Blowing Rock, NC

What a wonderful, relaxing weekend in the NC mountains!
Blowing Rock is a quaint, little town. We so enjoyed checking out all the shops, Art in the Park, and all the amazing food. The only traffic we found was standing in line at the ice cream shop.

This is Gideon's Ridge. It's a lovely country inn that we've stayed in before, and where we love their gourmet 5 course meals. This weekend has been booked for years. The couples that stay there rebook their trip for the next year upon arrival. We think the views and peacefulness can't be beat. Oh, and their sheets are divine!

Here's my love. I love him more each passing year. I'm so lucky to be married to a man I admire, love, and laugh with each day. Happy Anniversary to us!

Fall Flowers

Even though everyone here in NOVA keeps commenting on how warm it is, it is Fall to me. The mornings are cooler, spider webs dot the lawns and
bushes, and the air even smells different.

This has been a less than steller year of gardening for me. New house, new yard, figuring out the soil and sunny spots. My zinnias are finally making a splash. They love the cooler temperatures. The lavender I planted this spring has been very happy, and it is blooming quite late. I love to brush my hand over it as I walk into our house.



It's time to mark out the flower beds I plan to use next spring and move a few bushes out of prime sunny areas. I have a huge oak leaf hydranga waiting for me to dig its new home in our back yard. I had fun last week removing the spent overgrown summer annuals and replacing them with bright pansies. Please note the beautiful brick color of the pansy below.

Yes, I decided I had to have brick colored pansies, not burgundy. The orange tones in this variety would add just the right punch to the yellow and orange pansies and coordinate with our home's brick color. Really - I read it in Southern Living myself.

So after buying normal priced pansies at Lowe's, a friend and I went to a fancy nursery. My flat of special, perfectly colored pansies cost more than two large hydrangas put together. You can bet your gardening gloves that I have fertilized these babies.

I will not comment on how much money I could have saved if we had driven to Walmart, where I saw brick colored pansies three days after I planted my nursery guaranteed, special named variety. My friend K assures me that my pansies will grow so much better.


I think she's lying.

A Faith Retreat

My friend Kelly and I have started a 34 week retreat. You might call it a virtual retreat. We don't get to escape to somewhere nice and quiet and contemplate the richness and valleys of our lives while someone else cooks. Instead we find times in our day to consider and ponder. I seem to be on a pondering track lately, so I thought, "Great!" Then, I have to admit I was a little worried. Could I add one more thing to my plate? Would the time be worth it or would the time pull from other things?

Okay, first of all, it's not that time consuming. Second, I love what I've been able to draw from the first three weeks. The first three weeks have you look back over your life and notice God's fingerprints. Then, you realize that God's fingerprints are on every single moment of your life, even the ones you don't want to remember. This week we considered God's creation. How he not only created me, but this amazing world for me to enjoy.

Take a moment and consider all the little things you enjoy. Warm coffee, giggles, sunshine or rain, double cheeseburgers, a nice pinot noir. God's creation. He enjoys that we enjoy it. He deserves our praise and glory. My life is richer for giving Him praise for the goodness that surrounds me and gratitude for traveling down the road of my life through the swamps and helping me bounce out of the pot holes.

What things do you love in God's creation? Can you take a few moments to retreat to the shelter of God's love?

Clogging My Arteries

If I am going to gain weight and clog my arteries, McDonald's Double Cheeseburger here I come.

Oh, the greasy, cheesy goodness. And for just a buck!

I was so excited once I decided to hit the drive-thru I called my friend Lynne to tell her what time it was, and what I was doing. I know she wishes she was in my passenger seat. Our friendship is held together by a lot more than time hitting the drive-thrus, but oh the deep philosophical discussions we have had while driving and eating food that was terrible for us.

Well, maybe we were really just driving around with the kids strapped in their car seats and enjoying the fast food of the day. But I'm sure we must have had at least one deep conversation on one of those trips. I know it's one of many things I miss about not living in the same city anymore. It takes a little more planning for those impromptu trips these days. But you can be sure when ever we visit each other, a McDonald's drive-thru is on the itinerary.

Swords and Little Boys

Why, oh, why did I do it?

I knew it was a bad idea. And yet, the biggest plastic sword on the Halloween aisle went right into our cart. I even launched into a debate with my son about the best sword for me to buy him. I voted for the one with cool scroll work around the handle to protect his hand while he and his brother dueled. The Dude voted for the biggest sword.

Here it is, all 48 inches of plastic weaponry.






My boys are now chasing each other through out the house - dueling. Every once in a while it stops while one pleads, "Don't tell Mom. It was an accident."

They know the swords could be banished at any time. I think I need to banish my brain for buying another plastic sword.

Is it better for them to play video games or run around with plastic swords pretending duel? Virtual carnage, backyard carnage?

Oh, yes, I know. I'm earning a D as a mother today. You can join me. It's easy. Take a stroll down the Halloween aisle at Target. Did I tell you I got to spend time looking at books and buying a new nightgown after the sword acquisition? It's all about planning the route around the store. I think it might take more than a sword to gain time to look at jeans.

We are Enough!

Like I said yesterday, I've had some thoughts have been brewing since July. It's time to weed my brain.

Yesterday's post described Corrie Ten Boom's analogy that God will provide what we need, when we need it. I had several great comments that reminded me that we are often impatient about wanting God to deliver what we think we need, now. The difficulty is realizing that He delivers on His divine timetable.

I was also thinking of how God gives blessings or gifts we never imagined we would have to complete His work. Peace during an illness, words of kindness, a new profession or even a new way of looking at our lives. This summer I had the opportunity to hear Beth Moore speak at the DC Women of Faith Pre-Conference on a subject close to this.

Her first point was that each of us have a ministry. As a member of the body of Christ, every one of us has a ministry to accomplish through our life. It maybe the call of parenthood, compassionate friend, generous giver, teacher, or any multitude of acts of kindness. The importance is realizing that we are living out our ministry each day and following God's call.

Her second point - which I found very important when you hear God asking you to perform a task - is that we are enough for that ministry. Whatever God calls us to do, with Christ our Lord, we are enough to do it. And that ties in so nicely with Corrie Ten Boom's story of the ticket from yesterday. He'll give us our ticket when we need it.

Beth said that when we chose God and Jesus Christ, we were filled with his Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are anointed. It is to the Father’s glory to bear MUCH fruit. We should bear much fruit in our ministries. We need to be about His work.

God may call us to do something at any time. And I think what goes through most of our minds when we figure out God wants us to do something is,

"Oh, MY! Dear Lord, You want me to do what? I can't do that. I'm not your girl. Do you know who you're asking? Surely you have me confused with someone with far greater talents."

Whether it's parenting a difficult child, surviving an illness, serving others in need, proclaiming the good news to a stranger or even a friend, God will give us the tools, talents, and strength to do all He asks. We can trust that we can accomplish anything with Christ for the glory of God. In Christ, I am enough for my ministry. Enough!!!

Beth also shared a great anagram -

Even
Nothing
Offered
Unconditionally
Glorifies
Him

It's all about staying humble. Knowing that God works through us for His glory. It's not us. We simply must be willing to follow.

Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are
competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence
comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant
– not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

So God’s glory is only something He can do. But He can use you and His ministry and the Holy Spirit to reveal His glory to others. So therefore… showing God off is my ministry.

• We each have a ministry.
• In Christ, we are enough for that ministry.
• Showing off God is our ministry.

Beth finished with a commissioning that encompassed all these points and more. It was powerful to speak those words that day and to remember them as I continue to seek God and fulfill my ministry of showing Him off.

God gives each of us what we need to accomplish things we never imagined we'd be doing.

Can I get an Amen?

Math Homework Help!

It's Backwards Day for Works For Me Wednesday. Head over t0 Rocks In My Dryer and offer more of your great advice when you finish with my little problem.

Here's my question or questions:

My 7th grader has a set of serious word problems once a week for homework. Last night they involved probability. I am embarrassed to say how long I and then my husband, the engineer, spent trying to figure out two of the problems. Meanwhile our son heckles us and comments about the impossibility of his math homework if even his parents can't do it.

SO...do you know a great math homework web site. I'd love a great one to go to as I see this becoming year long torture.

Or if you know how to solve the following question, I'd really like to know the answer.

If a club consists of ten members, how many different arrangements of
president, vice president, and secretary are possible?

Do You Have Your Ticket?

This summer I kept hearing people to refer to Corrie Ten Boom and her books. Ann Kroeker wrote a great post about giving thanks in all things, then my minister mentioned it, and someone in my Sunday school class talked about it. I had read The Hiding Place in 7th grade and still remembered the highlights. But as I kept hearing people refer to the book, I figured it was a time for a reread.

Oh, I am so glad I did. The Hiding Place is such an inspiring book. If you haven't read it, I highly, highly recommend it. In 7th grade, I enjoyed it for it's insight into WWII, the personal account of the concentration camps, and the hope of people trying to help the Jews while being faithful to God. Now a few decades past 7th grade, it speaks to me on an entirely different level. What an amazing story and testimony of God.

There's a little snippet early in The Hiding Place that has really stuck with me lately. Corrie, her mother, and sister visit a poor family that has lost a newborn. It breaks her heart and brings the reality of death close to her. As she pours out her sorrow and doubt of how she can handle any of life's difficulties to her father he asks her a simple question.

"Corrie," he began gently, "when you and I go to Amsterdam-when do I give
you your ticket?"

I sniffed a few times considering this.

"Why, just before we get on the train."

"Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need-just in time."

It's true. God is enough. He is enough for whatever we may face in this life. We may not know we have the strength or the skills to accomplish what He sets before us, but He knows He will work through us. Just at the moment we need Him - He will be there.

I can't begin to relate how this has built and soothed my faith. How it has reminded me that no matter what I attempt in this life, God is enough. He will accomplish His good works through me and sometimes even in spite of me. He'll always be there when I need my ticket.

Well, that's enough spouting for one day. Join me for Part 2 tomorrow. Beth Moore spoke on this subject this summer, and it's all been perculating to the point of bursting in my subconcious.

Homecoming Dance Plans

A friend of our's son came home from high school last week and slipped into the dinner conversation that he'd asked a girl to the Homecoming Dance.

"What's her name?" asked his parents.

"Caroline," Andrew answered.

"What's her last name?" his parents asked.

............deep and dumbfounded silence.............

After much laughing and ridiculous guesses Andrew returned to school on a mission. Now, Andrew's a normal 9th grade young man. He had no idea of the details he was diving into when he simply asked a pretty girl to the dance. He thought he'd show up, she'd show up, they'd dance, say a few words to each other, and smile a whole lot. He had no idea about coordinating his tie color with her dress color, dinner reservations, going with a group of friends, or arranging a driver for he and his date.

But how to find out his date's last name? For that he had a plan.

The next night at dinner Andrew's dad asked, "Any luck finding out her name?"

"Yeah, I know it," answered Andrew proudly.

"What did you do? Ask her straight out?" asked his dad.

"No, I asked a buddy of mine, 'How does Caroline spell her name?'" said Andrew.

"Great idea! What did he say?" said his dad.

"J - O - N - E - S! How else would you spell Jones?!"