Proof

I bring you proof of the “E.T. phone home” craze.



And here’s my baby, sitting on one of the toys I found last Saturday at a garage sale.

Rated PG for ... what?

Here's something incredible I heard on talk radio the other day but didn't have time to research it until just now ...

FROM CITIZEN LINK:

Why should parents be forewarned about a Christian film with no sex, violence or raw language?

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has placed a PG rating on a forthcoming film because it has a Christian message.

Randy Sharp, director of special projects at the American Family Association, said the rating that reviewers gave Facing the Giants was for "thematic elements."

Not only was the rating unwarranted, Sharp said the reasoning behind the rating was just as offensive.

"The MPAA gives a warning to parents about content that may be found offensive," Sharp told CitizenLink. "Usually, a PG rating would include violence or sexual content or profanity. There is none of that during this movie, so the MPAA has basically said, 'We're going to warn parents that it has a Christian theme — and it may be offensive.' "

Sharp said the MPAA has equated Christianity and the Christian message with sex, violence and profanity.

Bob Waliszewski, Focus on the Family's top media reviewer, said the sticking point for the MPAA does appear to have been the film's mention of the Gospel.

"There really isn't anything in this movie that would warrant a PG rating the way we're used to seeing it," he said. "There's nothing. Apparently, it's just because of the conversations about Christ that the coach has."

On a practical level, Waliszewski said he is "kind of glad" the PG rating was placed on this movie — it is one that deserves to be seen and might not get the audience it deserves with a G rating.

"That's because a G rating, for a lot of teenagers, is the kiss of death — 'Oh, I can't go see that!' " he said. "Having a PG rating, although unfair, may actually be a blessing in disguise."

Da Vinci Discussion

Last night a group from our church went to see the Da Vinci Code for the purpose of discussing it afterwards.

We talked about why it is a story that is so appealing to a vast number of individuals. It’s a plot that allures the rebel in people who like to go against the establishment. It’s a plot that entices conspiracy theorists. And it’s a plot that attracts people who are looking for a way to appease their consciences by jiving Jesus with unencumbered sexuality and extreme feminism.

It was also pointed out last night how there were efforts by Dan Brown to intentionally mislead people – showing he is committed more to his agenda than to uncovering truth. For instance, Brown used a quote by Da Vinci to infer that large groups of people are being led astray and are fools for believing in the incarnation. In reality, the Da Vinci quote was concerning the subject of alchemy.

We talked about how unbelievable the movie is. You would think that, unless you’re very naïve and believe every whim you hear, or you’re already looking for a reason to not believe in Christ’s claims, it would be unfathomable to take the Da Vinci Code as anything more than a fantasy.

I was particularly bothered by how Christianity – especially when you compare it to other world religions – was portrayed as anti-woman when the Bible specifically equates men and women as joint-heirs with God.

Honestly, I really didn’t enjoy the movie at all. As is the general consensus, the acting was bad and the plot was hokey. There wasn’t even any redeeming value as far as sheer entertainment is concerned.

The most significant reason I wasn’t able to enjoy it, however, was because my spirit was troubled the entire time I watched it. It was a feeling akin to the times when I’ve seen a movie with spiritism or ouija boards, etc. Things like that bother me more than anything else because they’re dark and satanic.

The Da Vinci Code was specifically designed to mock and discount the most important Truth ever known to mankind. My spirit was affected by that last night. It was something I couldn’t escape.

Highlights

Ooooops. Guess who’s been a delinquent blogger lately? I must confess that I did try sometime mid-last week but blogger was down. :-/

Here are some of the highlights of our life this past week.

- I got a free Starbucks’ coffee because I’m related to Colin. (I just knew living in Indiana would have its benefits!) When I pulled up to the drive-thru to pay, Colin playfully popped his head out from behind the patio in front of the store where he was studying. I was surprised to see him and laughed out loud. When the cashier raised her eyebrows I told her that Colin is my brother-in-law. She said, “Oh, well, if you’re related to him, it’s on the house.” I’m sure I won’t be able to abuse this privilege. But, needless to say, it made my day!

- Meredith learned how to say “E.T.” Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one of my daughter’s first words would be E.T. And I blame it entirely on Kevin. Every time Meredith randomly points her finger into the air (which is frequently), he takes his finger and touches hers and says, “E.T. phone home.” Now she points her finger, smiles, and says, “E.T.” Sheesh.

- Our pastor’s wife gave me a very lovely welcome-to-the-church Tea Party, comprised of scones and authentic British tea. She’s lived in Scotland for the past few years – so, she knows how to do it right.

- I spent a fun afternoon with Alaina, helping to organize her nursery – they’re leaving for Kazakhstan soon to adopt two children. We're so glad we can be a part of this exciting time in their life!

- Kevin has started studying already! I don’t think I’m ready yet to be the wife of a student … but I’d better hurry and get ready! He’s participating in a write-in competition to be on law review and the deadline is Monday. He’s been complaining how stupid he thinks the question is and how the cases and statues he was given don’t even support what he’s supposed to write about. So (need I say it?) there are motivation issues.

- I went major garage sale shopping on Saturday. You know you’re a “serious” garage saler when you don’t even get a shower before leaving the house and your pockets are filled with quarters and one dollar bills.

- On Saturday we also went to a Home-A-Rama. I had never been to one of these before and it was awesome! I love interior design so I spent the entire time in awe. The homes were amazing. It was fun to see what the new trends are. One of the homes had a half-court basketball gym in the basement! Now, wouldn’t that be cool? It’s fun to dream!

- We went out twice for house hunting purposes (not counting the Home-A-Rama, of course). We’re making progress but haven’t yet decided exactly what we’re going to do. The house we’re leaning toward purchasing most likely has a flooring issue (i.e, the floor is not completely level). Kevin’s dad is a civil engineer and he is optimistic we can fix it. We’ll see …

Newspaper ink on my hands …

Kevin’s family takes the daily newspaper. Every morning at breakfast the paper gets divvied up and spread across the table so various family members can read various sections. Often I’ll come downstairs and find still-sleepy-eyed family members, in their pajamas, munching on toast and reading the paper.

In the past I’ve never thought it worthwhile to pay for the newspaper to be delivered when you can get it for free online. But I think I’m starting to change my mind about that. There’s something quite nice about sitting comfortably at your breakfast table and reading the local news from a medium that doesn’t beam light into your eyes.

Reading the paper simultaneously with other people is also kind of fun. It’s truly a bonding experience. Especially when Laura exclaims, “Look at this!” Or Colin announces that some company’s stocks are doing well. Or Shannon starts a crossword puzzle and everyone else decides to join-in too.

This past week there was a particularly interesting local news story – a tragic case of mistaken identity at the coroner’s office. Check it out if you have time.

Summer Company

On Friday evening nearly 30 people came to dinner. I was the official “chopper” of the party, I think. I’ve never chopped so many onions and peppers in all my life. The food was good, so it was worth it in the end – although it took nearly a full day for my hand and wrist to recover.

Then, when company came on Saturday night to help us eat leftovers, I was very amused by Kevin’s juggling capabilities. He never told me he could juggle so well! I watched him entertain some little kids by tossing balls in the air and then tossing them under his legs. It was quite impressive.

The weather has been beautiful here lately so we’ve been getting lots of good use and enjoyment out of the deck and backyard. Hopefully these pleasant evenings will continue …

I still haven’t spotted any fireflies (a.k.a. lightning bugs) yet. But I’m optimistic that I’ll be seeing one any day now.

Adjusting

Several friends have asked me if I’ve adjusted to living in a new community yet. I think my answer to that is yes and no. I feel comfortable in my new routine but I know that we’re still in transition. Until we have our own place, it’s hard to really feel settled. But for the fact that Kevin goes to work every day, and but for the days when I’m steeped in laundry and ironing, in many ways it seems like we’re still on vacation!

We were hoping to look at some houses this weekend but the realtor we contacted won’t be available until Monday. So, until then, I’m doing a lot of looking online. It’s kinda fun to buy a house, actually. (Whereas, selling a house is a royal pain.) This is the second time for us. As long as you don’t let yourself look at all the houses you can’t afford, it’s kinda fun to look at the ones you think might be possibilities ... imagining what you can do to make it your own place … where your furniture will go … etc. I’m especially enjoying the price tags I see on all these homes here in the mid-west. Coming from California, it’s a breath of fresh air.

In the meantime, I’m starting to think about Meredith’s first birthday. I think I’m going to make her a Hello Kitty cake. Fun, fun, fun!

Wedding Weekend

Now that it’s Wednesday, I’m finally getting around to posting this picture. Sigh …

Despite the drive (it’s going to be a very long time before I agree to go on another road trip, especially with a baby in the backseat), we had a wonderful time at Ken and Courtney’s wedding in Virginia. It was great to be there to commemorate the occasion – and also to see so many old friends!

Congrats to the happy couple!

Now I know why ...

Now I know why a Hoosier’s best friend is weather.com. In California, all you have to do is glance out the window and you know approximately how cold it is by the clouds and the color of the sky. If it's raining, it's cold, for instance.

In Indiana, these rules do not apply.

Today I looked out the window and it “looked cold” to me. But, when I went outside it was warm. How is one supposed to know how to dress unless they’re either willing to risk it or go to weather.com?

Oh, and get this, the other day we looked out the kitchen window and it was sunny. Then, we looked out a window on the other side of the house and it was pouring rain. It was raining on one side of the house and sunny on the other. I’ve never seen such a thing in all my life.

Craziness.

What Was Right for Her

One woman’s story on becoming a single mom. I thought this was interesting, especially after reading the comments. Several of them indicated that this woman “did what was exactly right for her.” This is telling of our modern culture and how truth is not deemed absolute but relative. Each person must find their own truth.

Little Tunes

Meredith has learned to sing the first part of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (the “Row, Row, Row” part) and she sings it constantly. It’s become quite the entertainment around the house. We start singing it and then she’ll start singing it. Or, out of the blue, she’ll start singing it and, when we join-in, she’ll break into smiles. Last night Kevin played it on the piano, and she started singing it. Then he played the Alphabet Song and she started singing that. Only, the letters don’t sound exactly right.

When your child enters the world, you wonder what she’ll be like and what she’ll love. It’s been fun to watch Meredith express herself musically and be interested in songs and the piano.
_____________________

Meredith has also recently learned that all of the dolls, teddy bears and human beings around the house have eyes. She seems amazed with this fact. She'll randomly say "eye" and point to a doll's eye. Or, she'll randomly say "eye," reach for you, and nearly gouge your eye out.

Impressions

Since moving here to Indianapolis, Kevin and I have been attending a church plant on the west side. Two things we’ve really appreciated are the love of the congregation and the humility of the pastor.

Thursday night the pastor came over to talk with Kevin’s parents about how things are going and ask about their thoughts on his last series of sermons. (We haven’t been here long enough to really discuss the past series of sermons with him.)

I’ve never heard of a pastor specifically seeking out his congregation’s opinions of his sermons. Yes, many pastors regularly visit their congregation as a part of keeping the flock accountable. But, in my observation, rarely do pastors open themselves up to this type of critique.

In scripture, the Bereans were commended for searching scriptures to see if what the preacher said was true (Acts 17:11) – and all Christians should do that to make sure they are not being led astray by false doctrine. But, how rare is it for a pastor to specifically ask about your thoughts on his sermons?

I can imagine that, as a pastor, when you prepare your sermons, you feel strongly that you are speaking God’s word as He is leading you. You fear God – and not man – so, therefore, it doesn’t really matter what men think of your sermons. I can also imagine that many pastors don’t want to expose themselves and be vulnerable to criticism from laypeople. They probably get it often enough without openly seeking it out!

Anyway, I sat in on part of the visit and was really impressed with the humility and sincerity displayed by our pastor. I was impressed by the open dialogue and his willingness to engage in ideas and be teachable – even though he’s the teacher.

Confessions of a Coerced Early Bird

I was up later than usual last night. Did I want to get up at 5:42 this morning? No. But, a little girl whose name starts with an “M” decided that was a very good time to start her day.

I’ve discovered that I really can’t think very coherently after about 8 o’clock at night. (Whether or not I can think coherently at any other given time is also debatable.)

Last night I had a conversation with someone about euthanasia, in the context of Million Dollar Baby. There were some things that I couldn’t articulate last night – but I happened to have some spare time to mull them over again at 5:42 this morning.

What happened in Million Dollar Baby, no matter how sorry people felt for Maggie or how much they could rationalize the actions of Frankie, is murder. (There was an active participation in death as opposed to a mere refusal of treatment.)

It should also be noted that people who experience a sudden disability often go through a prolonged period of depression.

According to the National Council on Disability:

“When a person is not born with a disability, the onset of a substantially impairing condition and the awareness of one's new physical or mental limitations usually come as a blow to a person's self-image and psychological balance. Disabilities that are the result of violence, accident, or illness usually are accompanied by additional emotional repercussions. The inception of disabilities is often associated with a period of hospitalization or other intense medical intervention that adds additional disorientation. Pain and medication may take an additional toll on emotional equilibrium. Family members and friends may be devastated by what has happened and find it hard to relate to the individual in ways they normally did in the past. Neither the individual with the new disability nor friends and family members may have any idea how people adapt to such a condition, any concept of rehabilitation possibilities, nor a clue that many people are living fulfilling and joyful lives with the same or even more severe conditions. To a person newly confronted with the realization that he or she has a disability, it may appear that the ‘whole world has been turned upside down.’ Strong feelings of fear, helplessness, anger, sadness, shame, and confusion are common.

“It is typical, therefore, for people who have recently been confronted with a disability to experience a period of disorientation and depression. … Most people with disabilities gradually come to accept and live constructively with their disabilities.”

On a policy level, I don’t think it’s ever appropriate for society to permit people to kill other people. Depressed people need help – not friends and doctors who will kill them when they are experiencing an emotional low.

On a personal level, I would hope that, should someone I know and love become disabled, they would allow me (and others in their life) to show them how much I love them and how valuable I think their life is, despite the disability. I would hope that person in my life would, over time, find reasons to live and learn to adapt and love life again despite the hardships.

God has numbered our days. He is in control of all things. He gives grace to endure all things. He is the one who gives life and takes it.

Burger Queen

Little Birdwatcher

Meredith has a new passion since arriving in Indiana. She is now an avid birdwatcher. Grandma has some birdseed and a birdbath outside the kitchen window and Meredith squeals, and furiously kicks her arms and legs, every time she spots a bird fluttering across the deck to eat or bathe.

And, I must admit, I’ve enjoyed a little bird watching myself. I’m amazed at all the different kinds of birds that fly through the backyard – all different shapes, colors and sizes. Who knew there could be so many different kinds of birds all in one backyard? Now, if I could only learn their names!

In other news …

The buyers of our house (escrow should hopefully close later this week) are being total jerks. I’m glad we’ll never have to meet them face-to-face. We’ve also been a little disappointed at how our realtor has handled things. He’s been a little, shall we say, “WEAK” in dealing with them. This has resulted in us (well, okay, Kevin) being more involved in decision making and figuring things out. I’m very proud of my husband for his handling of all of this. He’s been very wise, very direct, and very articulate in dealing with this matter. I’m especially glad that he reads the fine print in everything before he signs it! (I probably would not do this, even though I went to law school and should know better.) I needed a man like him in my life!

Kevin seems to be enjoying his new job. So, that’s good.

As for me, I feel like I’ve been in a fog for the last couple weeks. I’m really hoping I snap out of this soon! Frankly, I haven’t felt like writing, engaging, or doing much of anything lately. I’m freaking myself out. That’s definitely not the normal-Amy.

Thought Police in Boulder

This coming Tuesday, the Boulder City Council will consider allocating public funding for a “hate hotline,” which would give residents an opportunity to report incidents in which other residents use offensive language.

So, if you live in Boulder and feel someone has said something “hateful” – or perhaps you are simply offended by what someone has said – you might soon be able to report them to the authorities.

I’m shocked and appalled that the "Thought Police" concept seems to be coming true in America. If people are not allowed to speak their own minds, according to the dictates of their own conscience, even when what’s on their mind is not very "nice," how can we be assured that the Bill of Rights applies to us anymore?

If a “hate hotline” is established in Boulder, it will inevitably be used to stifle the speech of persons with sincerely-held religious convictions.

Mom's Day

Since arriving in Indiana, it’s been hard to find spare time for blogging. There’s always something going on or someone to talk with. This makes the days fly by! I’m sure once we get settled in our own place things will slow down a bit …

Yesterday was my first Mother’s Day as a mom. It was weird – a day for me but it wasn't my birthday.

We spent most of the day driving home from SC but Kevin tried to make it special. When I first woke up, I had forgotten that it was Mother’s Day. Then Kevin brought Meredith to the bed – she was holding a card for me. It was sweet.

I am a very blessed woman. I love my little family very much. Mother's Day is a time to honor moms. But I feel so honored just to be a mom!

'Cuz we needed more bugs on our windshield ...

If you can believe it, yesterday we were crazy enough to get in the car AGAIN, this time heading to South Carolina.

At the end of my life, when I look back on the year 2006, it will probably be one big hazy memory of never-ending roadways. [Kevin told me that by the end of the month, when we expect to take another long road trip, we will have driven more than 6,000 miles within a six-week period.]

Right now I’m typing this blog post from a hotel in Greenville, the Bob Jones mecca. One of Kevin’s boyhood friends is getting married tomorrow – in the chapel at the University – and Kevin is a groomsman.

It’s been a while since I’ve been to The South – I don’t think Northern Virginia counts as “The South.” All day long, as we’ve toured the city, thick southern accents have been vibrating in my ear.

I kinda like southern accents. Accents are cool – except for some, which are annoying.

Greenville is an impressive town, I think. We really enjoyed the downtown area and Falls Park is a rather relaxing place to kill an afternoon.

When will my life begin to settle down? When will things be “normal” again? I’m thinking it’s going to be a while yet.

“Normal” is boring until, suddenly, nothing is normal. Then, normal is a lot more appealing.

Another answer to prayer ...

While we were eating dinner last night, Kev’s cell phone rang. It was a partner of a law firm here in town calling to offer him a job starting Monday!

Kevin is really excited about working with this particular firm. There are really good people at this firm and he will be able to do the type of work he was hoping to do.

We’re very grateful for God’s provisions – He does abundantly above all we can ask or think. We’re also very grateful for the friends God has placed in our lives to encourage us and help in this job-seeking process (thanks especially to Andrew)!

When we first arrived here in town, we were down about our house not selling and anxious about Kevin finding a good job. God provided both of those things for us in less than one week! He is good.

How "Tolerance" is Defined

Webster’s defines tolerance as “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own.”

Legislation recently introduced in California (AB 1056) to push tolerance education in public schools defines tolerance as “attitudes and behaviors that convey respect toward individuals and groups, especially those individuals and groups that have been, and continue to be, systematically and historically marginalized. Tolerance does not mean a passive allowance or indulgence of the beliefs or practices of another individual.” [Emphasis supplied.]

In other words, all children must show an active respect for controversial sexual lifestyles, regardless of what their parents or religious beliefs dictate.

The modern definition of tolerance is not merely allowing for others’ beliefs. Rather, your own beliefs must be reconstructed to fully embrace, accept, and respect others’ beliefs.

We have a contract!

Within seconds of returning our moving truck to the Penske rental company, our realtor called us to tell us that we had an offer on our house. We submitted a counter-offer, with some slight modifications, and that was accepted last night. So, now we have a contract for sale. Escrow opened today. And, the buyers want to move into the house in eight days and close escrow three days later! (This is the fastest escrow I’ve ever heard of.) As you can imagine, this is a big relief to us.

As we crossed the country, heading toward our new home, I wondered if leaving our house before it sold was a stupid thing or a step of faith. Even though a lot of people would think that type of a risk is really dumb, I always had a peace about it.

It’s funny because my typical attitude toward life these last few years has been a calm one. And that hasn’t always been my nature. I think it’s because I’ve consistently seen God be faithful to me throughout my whole life – even when things look bleak, He always takes care of us.

This doesn’t mean I don’t get anxious about things (or that there won’t be times of hardship) … but generally speaking I’ve come to worry a lot less about circumstances in my life. I’ve come to realize, more and more, that God controls all human events and works everything out for our ultimate good.

I hope all my life I can say, along with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

Home Safe ... But

We arrived safely in Indianapolis last night ... except for this little incident.

Lakes and Dells

First, lakes.

Today we drove through the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes. We only counted 31, so apparently there are 9,969 more lakes that aren’t right off of Interstate 94. (There was some dispute over whether some of the 31 lakes qualified as a “lake.” I thought they were all “lakes,” but Kevin said he thought some of them were just flooded fields and marshes.)

Seriously, I think Minnesota is a beautiful state. Lots of trees and green rolling hills.

Second, dells.

We are currently staying overnight in Wisconsin Dells, WI. To be honest, we weren’t even sure what a “dell” was exactly – except we know that some farmer lives in one.

When we drove into “downtown” Wisconsin Dells to get dinner, it looked like a mini-Las Vegas strip with a Ripley’s and lots of “horror houses.”

So, we surmised that the dells must be the major tourist attraction, if not the only one, in central Wisconsin.

Fortunately the restaurant we ate in had lots and lots of pictures of the “dells.” So, now we are enlightened.

Tomorrow we arrive at our destination – Indianapolis. Hooray! Our vacation has been fun but living out of suitcases and staying in hotels is getting very old.

A Milestone

Today was a milestone for Kev. After crossing the North Dakota state line, he has now officially been to all states in the continental U.S. Yay!

Eastward Ho

Well, I didn’t get the request for more “action shots” until tonight so … sorry!

This trip has really been amazing, if you can’t tell from the pictures themselves. Every day has been so different – the scenery has been very diverse and we’ve enjoyed everything from the big city to no-man’s-land.

We stayed in Coeur d’Alene on Thursday evening at the Turneys' lovely home. They have awesome views of the lake from their house.




Then, we spent all of Friday driving through western Montana. We are pleased to report that the Big Sky state truly does live up to its name. The panoramic views were incredible.



On Saturday (today) we toured Yellowstone National Park. I think my favorite part was all the wildlife. Bison and elk were all over the place. The bald eagles were also amazing.








Meredith has been such a trooper! She pretty much hates her car seat by now but who blames her for that? She’s been so good to take all her naps in her car seat, stroller, or daddy’s backpack depending on what we’re doing. The pics below are of her at a restaurant and then with daddy looking at chipmunks at a rest stop.




Tomorrow we’re headed to North Dakota. Yahoo!

Evergreen Travels

The Reitzes in Olympia (capitol in the background). We had a great visit with friends!


The whole Olympia gang.


Kevin and Meredith on the ferry to Seattle. I told Kevin that he should handcuff me to our car and then I would feel like Ashley Judd in “Double Jeopardy.”


Amy, on the ferry, with the Seattle skyline in the background.


Pike Place Market. I didn’t realize how cool this would be. I think it ultimately came down to the fact that there was so much wonderful FOOD. Have I mentioned that I love food?! We bought handmade cheese, sausage, fresh bread, and an orange that tasted like candy!


Amy enjoying a mocha at the original Starbucks. This is where it all started, folks.


Meredith on top of Seattle. We enjoyed a great view from the tallest building in Seattle, where we looked down on the space needle and the rest of the city. It was a good way to end a perfect gray day in Seattle.

Up the coast ...

We now have a new definition of what constitutions a decent hotel room. Let me give you a piece of friendly advice – NEVER STAY AT THE ECONO LODGE IN CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA.

Although we usually have good luck, you just never know with those online “deals.”

This place was a total dump. We were tempted to take a loss and find a hotel elsewhere but I convinced Kevin that, in the end, it would still be better than camping.

Kevin’s first words once we decided to go ahead and stay at the hotel in Crescent City: “Let’s hurry and go to sleep so we can wake up and go somewhere else!”

The funny thing is, tonight we’re staying at an awesome place across from the beach in Lincoln City, OR – and it’s cheaper than last night’s lodging. (I just don’t get it, do you?) When we first walked into our room, Kevin kept exclaiming how great everything is! “Look at this Amy, it looks like the carpet is CLEAN!”

Anyway, we are really enjoying ourselves. We had a great time hiking in the Redwoods, discovering the Oregon sand dunes, taking a long walk on the beach in Lincoln City, and exploring the tide pools here. We even spotted a few star fish.

Here are some pictures of our journey thus far. We are very glad that we’ve been able to take this fabulous vacation. It is a much-needed break for us!


“That’s OK, Dad, you sit in the back now … I’ll take the wheel for a while.”


Can you find Kevin and Meredith in this picture?


This is when I was reenacting a fall I had – I slipped in the mud when trying to climb inside a hollow tree and fell square on my backside.

Living High in Redding

All of our earthly possessions are now on a moving van headed to Indiana, or with us at a motel in Redding, California. While Redding is not exactly a world class city, our “vacation” is starting off on a very good foot. I just had a luxuriously long bath, cookies and milk (compliments of our hotel), and free internet in our room. Could it get any better?

At the moment, I don’t think it could.

There were 22 volunteers to help us move, plus three babies and one toddler. We got everything packed and into the van in just under three hours.

Now we’re off on our grand adventure. If we have free internet at other locations along the way, I just might be stopping in again.

I’m sure you’re all very eager for me to describe the beauty and wonders of North Dakota.

Easter Baby

Spring Has Sprung

Today I bought strawberries, asparagus, and tulips. The sun is shining brightly and red breasted robins have been scurrying about our backyard all morning. It must truly be spring now.

While in the checkout line at the grocery store, Meredith threw her doll into the path of an elderly gentleman. He kindly picked it up and handed it back to her. We soon struck up a friendly conversation.

“My wife and I always wanted girls,” he said. “But we had boys.”

“Do you have grandchildren?” I asked.

“Oh yes, four grandsons and a granddaughter.”

“Well then,” I replied. “You finally got your girl!”

“I think it’s harder to raise girls than boys in this day and age,” he continued. “If I had a sixteen year old daughter, I think I would keep her locked in her room!”

With that happy comment, he smiled and walked away.

In the back of my mind, I probably realized that it’s likely become more difficult to raise daughters now than in previous generations (probably, I guess, because modern culture is so image-driven, teens are constantly inundated with sexual images and messages, and because of the overall breakdown of the family unit).

Until today, however, I had never really ruminated on that concept. Although Meredith will be raised in a Christian home and we plan to guide her as best we can, I know it will be impossible to completely insulate her from detrimental worldly influences.

But I suppose that’s where our strength ends and God’s grace begins.

Anyway, happy Easter and happy spring!

How could this have happened?

How sad would this be that no one would notice you're missing for three years!

"A woman's skeleton was discovered in her flat three years after she is believed to have died, it emerged today. Joyce Vincent was surrounded by Christmas presents and the television and heating in her bedsit were still on."

Click here to read more.

"Dog"

Meredith's new word, since saying "nigh-nigh" when she's tired, is "dog." She's suddenly become very verbal and is trying harder to communicate with us. Kevin has a Butler University t-shirt he got from his sister Shannon, who is a student at Butler. On the t-shirt is their mascot, a mean looking bulldog. Every time Kevin wears this shirt, Meredith points to it and says "DOG." We love it!

The Next Three Weeks

Unfortunately my blogging activity is gonna have to be scarce in the next few weeks. [Now that I’ve told you that, I’ll probably write four posts tomorrow.]

I’ve got company coming for Easter, my lovely family. It’ll be my first time to host a holiday at my house. Yay! I just wish there was more time to embellish all the details and make it as special as possible.

And then there’s the dreaded packing. I have an entire house to pack up in the next – oh my gosh, can it be that soon? – nine days. I’ve been consoling myself that at least there are about ten boxes already packed and sitting in our garage. That’s a start, right?

And then, last night, Kevin and I figured out that every single evening until we move is accounted for. No more restful evenings at the Koons’ house until our departure.

And then there’s the two week trip back east. We’re going to go back to Indiana, taking the most indirect route possible – up the coast to Seattle and then across the top of the country. Kevin has only three states left to visit in the continental United States – Washington, Montana, and North Dakota. And, by George, we’re going to hit them all! I’ve already told him that, no matter what time of day it is, we’re going to stop at the “Welcome to North Dakota” sign – which I’m sure is in the middle of nowhere – and take his picture. Maybe we’ll even pull out some goblets and sparkling cider too. I think it’s quite a feat to be only 28 and have gone to all those states. We’re also going to hit up a couple of the national parks, which will be fun.

Some of you have asked if we’ve sold our house yet. I regret to inform you that, no, we have not sold our house yet. Are we crazy to leave without selling our house? Yes, but we have been known to do other crazy things in the past, living life on the edge, so this is no different. In our optimistic minds, we’re telling ourselves that the market will pick up as summer approaches. We would appreciate your prayers that our house sells … and soon would be nice! Thank you!

Lastly, I would like to wish you all a very happy Easter! He is Risen. Christ has conquered death. This is truly something to celebrate.

Dr. Jekyll, Miss Hyde

Today my little baby girl turned into the devil incarnate before my very eyes. And it happened at a public place – one of my favorite restaurants!

Normally when we eat out, Meredith sits in her high chair and happily snacks on Cheerios, or whatever else we feed her. Today she simply wouldn’t sit still. She threw all her food on the floor – Cheerios, mashed carrots, and fried rice. When I handed her a toy, it promptly went to the floor as well. Then she started this screaming fit – a shrill, piercing scream that caused all heads in the restaurant to turn in our direction.

Out of desperation, I gave her what I thought was a thick-papered packet of sugar to shut her up. After one bite, the packet broke in two and Meredith quickly ate all the sugar and half the paper.

By the time we left the restaurant, our table, the surrounding floor area, Meredith’s shirt, and my [previously white] pants, looked like a tornado had swept through.

I’m fairly convinced that the restaurant owner took our picture and has posted it in their kitchen to warn employees about is if we attempt a future visit: “If these people are spotted within a mile of our restaurant or parking lot, please promptly bolt all doors.”

Now, as I type, my little devil is smiling like an angel, cooing, and quietly playing with her toys on the floor.

You know … since becoming a parent, I’ve learned to be a lot less judgmental.

Before, when seeing a kid act up in public, I would think, “What a bratty kid. Those parents should do something to stop that kid.”

Now that, today, I was the one with the bratty kid, I understand that it’s a lot easier said than done.

Okay, I’ve gotta go. I’m bracing myself for when the contents of that sugar packet get to her bloodstream. I’m really going to be in for it then.

Kevin would rather DIE

I think Kevin would rather die than go to a neighbor’s house and ask if he could take a picture of their flowers.

Kevin is civil. He’s polite. He’s a gentleman. And, although I strive to be a lady deserving of a man like him, I tend to be a little more edgy with the things I say and do in public.

So, I went to our neighbor’s house (someone who lives on the cul-de-sac around the corner whom I had never met before) and asked if I could take a picture of their calla lilies, my favorite flower (although I alternate between these, blue hydrangeas, and roses).

Turns out that our neighbor is an older, deaf man. My grandmother is deaf and so I know some basic, rudimentary sign language.

So, I was able to communicate to him: “Flowers … picture … me take.” He got my point. Then I told him: “They are beautiful” (sans the dead ones, but I didn't tell him that). He smiled at me. I think he was happy that someone made the effort to sign to him.



The reason I wanted to take this picture is so I could use it to tell you all the things I will miss about California. And, I will also mention the things I’m looking forward to about Indiana. Note: These are THINGS I’m talking about, not people.

Things I will miss about California:

- The early spring – the fact that calla lilies begin to bloom in January and roses begin to bloom in April.
- The dry, cool evening breezes in the summertime.
- The snow-capped mountains in the horizon.
- The open-space near our house where we ride bikes and take walks.
- The peaceful parkways in our community (Roseville really does have nice infrastructure).

Things I’m looking forward to in Indiana:

- The four seasons – I’m a romantic vs. a utilitarian, what can I say?
- Summer thunderstorms. So excited about this!
- Fire flies.
- Living where the color “green” takes on a new meaning.
- Vibrant fall colors.
- Sledding in the winter (even though you may have to drive to find a hill in Indiana).
- The prospect of having a backyard that’s bigger than a matchbox.
- The family-friendly cost of living!

I’m sure there are more in each category, but these are just some of the things I can think of.

Friendship is Learned

As we prepare to head east, we are saying our sad goodbyes. On Saturday our bible study friends gave us a sweet farewell dinner – and a scrapbook of the fun times we’ve had.

Although I still have a lot to learn about being a good friend, I know my experiences here in Sacramento have taught me how to be a better friend. And this is primarily due to our bible study friends.

Never before have I observed a more tight-knit group of people who, at the same time, are so welcoming of new people. It blows me away! How is this possible? How is it possible for a group of friends to be so loyal to each other, so caring and generous to each other, yet, at the same time, to be so open to giving the same love and devotion to whomever walks through the door?

Kevin and I are very different from many of the couples in our bible study. We don’t go to the same church as the rest of them. We were homeschooled and most of them are public school teachers. We have very different backgrounds and, for the most part, different ideas of how we want to raise our children (e.g., daycare, education, etc.). And we differ on some theological concepts too.

For many Christians, one or two of these differences alone would prohibit a loving and dedicated friendship. Judgments would take place – or at least thoughts of “we can never be close because we are too different.”

Our bible study friends never focused on the differences. They simply focused on loving us and welcoming us to a strange new city.

They called us when they hadn’t heard from us. They invited us into their homes. They offered to share their worldly possessions, even when we knew they didn’t have much to give. They helped us commemorate and celebrate momentous occasions in life. They rejoiced with us and they empathized with us. They loved us unconditionally, as Christ would love.

I learned a lot from them. I learned to be more understanding and loving myself. I learned how rewarding and fulfilling true, unselfish friendship can be.

If there was only one reason God brought us to Sacramento for the past three years – for us to learn how to be better friends to the people in our lives, regardless of how different we are from them – it was one of the most valuable lessons I could have ever learned.
________________________________

One last thing I want to say …

For some of you it might be easy to say, “Oh, I wish I had I group of friends like that.” If I were reading this post, and didn’t have friends like that, I would say that too.

One thing I’ve learned is that when you don’t have good friends, you can be the person to cultivate friendships like this. Rather than sitting back and thinking “I wish I had friends,” I learned to look for new friends in “unlikely places.” Maybe they’ll be older than you, or younger than you. Maybe they’ll go to a different church. Maybe they’ll travel in different circles than you’re used to traveling in. I’ve learned that it’s worth it to go out of your comfort zone. Looking for friends in unlikely places can result in deep, rewarding friendships that you never expected.

Okay, I’ve promised Meredith I would take her for a walk! Gotta go!

I've come to terms with mushrooms. Almost.

Uh oh, I must be growing up because I’m learning to appreciate, or at least tolerate, more vegetables. I came to terms with broccoli and squash several years ago. Lately I’ve been working on mushrooms.

I’ve never been able to figure out why people like mushrooms. They’re too reminiscent of toad stools that grow in the backyard.

Last week, as I planned the family menu and made my grocery list, I decided I was going to make chicken tetrazzini. Problem is, chicken tetrazzini has mushrooms in it.

Before I gave in, I looked online to see if I could find something good to substitute for mushrooms. I learned that there really aren’t any good alternatives.

So, last night, as my chicken tetrazzini baked in the oven, I wondered if I could really do it.

I’m happy to report that I did! I’m SO grown up.

Sick Baby 101

Well, this past week I’ve taken a hands-on course in Sick Baby 101. It’s amazing how many things I never realized about sick babies. For instance, I didn’t really even know how high of a temperature is too high (i.e., when should I freak-out and call the doctor). Now I know.

I also didn’t know that three days of fever is common before a baby shows symptoms of being sick. Now I know.

Lastly, I didn’t know that it’s “normal” for a baby to break out in a scary looking rash after her fever goes away. Now I know that too.

All these things I’m learning.

And, because of dealing with all of this, have I even started packing? No. Are we moving in two weeks? Yes. Am I a nervous wreck? I probably should be.

S.F. Chronicle gets it right for once.

Thanks to Tuckster for this "tip." I was amazed when I read Leno's quote last week. I'm glad he's retracted, although I think that a person's initial reaction to a thing typically shows their true feelings (vs. "oops I was caught and now I have to save face").

I'm glad to see that the Chronicle had the courage to point out what is obvious - "tolerance" is supposed to be a TWO WAY street.

San Francisco Chronicle Editorial

Intolerant City

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

THE IRONY was obviously lost on the clueless San Francisco supervisors when they passed a resolution warning that a Christian youth gathering could "negatively influence the politics of America's most tolerant and progressive city."

Spare us the doomsday hyperbole, supervisors.

We can safely report that the politics of San Francisco suffered no discernible shift in ideological alignment from the convergence of 25,000 Christian teenagers listening to rock 'n' roll music and words of inspiration. There was no evidence of any surge in support for the Iraq war, affection for President Bush or oil drilling off the California coast. The medical-marijuana clubs were still doing business as usual, public dancing was still legal, the petition gatherers were still working Market Street for the latest save-the-planet cause.

The supervisors' reaction to the evangelical Christians was so boorishly over the top that only one word could describe it:

Intolerant.

Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, was quoted telling counterprotesters Friday that the gathering Christians were "loud, they're obnoxious, they're disgusting and they should get out of San Francisco." On Monday, however, Leno struck a more reasoned tone, acknowledging that his rally cry was "not one of my prouder moments." He said the youth group was "welcome in San Francisco," even though he does worry that its religious rhetoric could "under a cloak of love" feed a "fearful world's appetite for hate."

In fact, concern about heterosexual sex by unmarried youth gets equal treatment from the Battle Cry campaign. Its goal is to spread Christianity and to help young people recognize and resist the cultural influences of a "stealthy enemy" that includes "corporations, media conglomerates and purveyors of popular culture." Its Web site (www.battlecry.com) speaks of "casualties of war" that include drinking, drug use, teen sex, pornography, abortion, suicide and violence.

We may disagree with certain aspects of the Battle Cry agenda -- on issues such as abortion rights, religion in schools or acceptance of an individual's sexual orientation -- but the attempt by counterprotesters and some of the city's elected officials to call them "fascist" and "hateful" was totally at odds with the tone of the ballpark event and the approach of the Web site.

The gathering was not an "act of provocation," as the supervisors claimed. It was a get-together of young evangelicals whose lifestyles and religious views just happen to be in the minority here -- apparently making them open season for politicians to chastise.

The young people who came to San Francisco to affirm their faith and enjoy a day of rock music deserved better. They deserved to be welcomed by a city that was as tolerant and progressive as its sanctimonious supervisors like to profess.

But men aren't mice ...

Last night we watched Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. I realize it’s a classic but I’d never read the book and wasn’t familiar with the story line.

It left me feeling deeply disturbed. Kevin had warned me of where the story was going but I didn’t believe him. He hadn’t seen (or read) it either so I figured he was guessing the ending incorrectly. But, alas, he was right.

I didn’t like the analogy between killing Candy’s dog and killing Lennie – i.e., when something is no good to society it should be exterminated.

There is a big difference between animals (e.g., mice and dogs) and human beings. Humans are made in the image of God and have a soul. Humans are given dominion over animals and have a higher purpose.

I realize that Lennie had become a threat to other human life, so the taking of his life could ultimately be justified. (And George did it out of “compassion” to avoid a more brutal killing.) But that wasn’t the point of the story. That’s not where the author was taking us.

Although I was disturbed by the ending, and the implied worldview, I did appreciate the food for thought. And the acting was magnificent. I would recommend you see it for that alone.

Pray!

Hey guys - I meant to post this earlier but time got away from me!

Most of the people on my blog-roll know the Fear family. Their newborn baby Caleb, born two days ago, is having breathing difficulty and I wanted to ask you all to pray for little Caleb to have a speedy recovery. Also pray for the whole family to be comforted. Thanks.

Why citizens are frustrated ...

Here is another example of why, I think, many citizens are frustrated with politicians catering to illegal aliens. There's no commonsense involved.

Higher Ed Cmte Denies Asm Mark Wyland’s Request to Put
Guardians of Our Freedom Before Illegals

Sacramento—The Assembly Higher Education Committee today rejected a bill (AB 2472) authored by Assemblyman Mark Wyland (R-74) that would have rescinded the law allowing illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition and eliminated the one-year residency rule for reservists and veterans and their dependents needed to qualify for in-state tuition.

“The events of the past few days have, unfortunately, exposed a deep rift in our state between those who believe that citizenship matters and those who don’t. The Assembly Higher Education Committee has made that rift deeper by summarily rejecting a bill that would have helped men and women in uniform whose commitment to this country goes far beyond the mere act of taking to the streets to demand ‘rights,’” said Wyland. “We cannot long survive as a country if we insist on turning equity on its head by putting last those whom we should be putting first.”

In 2001, then-Governor Gray Davis signed AB 540 (Firebaugh), which allows nonresident students, regardless of citizenship status, to pay in-state college tuition rates. In 2002, the Assembly Appropriations Committee rejected a bill (AB 1841, Hollingsworth) that would have extended in-state tuition at the California State University and the California Community Colleges to reservists and veterans who resided in the state but did not meet residency requirements. The reason that Democrats gave for rejecting the bill was that the state could not afford to extend in-state tuition to both illegals and military personnel.

The bill offered by Asm Wyland today was meant to make the funds dedicated to subsidizing tuition rates for illegals available to active duty military, reservists, veterans, and their dependents.

I love blogs.

Blogs are so wonderful. With blogs, it’s possible to post about your weekend in Tahoe and end up with comments debating illegal immigration (see below). How cool is that?

This morning Kevin reminded me of another cool thing about blogs – they “chronicle your life.” (Actually, I'm still trying to decide if this is a good thing.)

He sent me a link to one of my earliest posts about how I would never agree to living in a newer house because older houses are better.

We both laughed because of how much my opinion has changed. When we started looking to buy a house just five months after I wrote that post, I quickly realized how nice newer houses are.

For one, you don’t have to deal with popcorn ceilings. For two, the floor plans tend to be more open and spacious. The list goes on and on …

Now I won’t even let Kevin look at a house that was built prior to 1990!

It’s funny how the tables turn.

Oh, and I’d like to mention that the BEST thing about blogs is that they allow you to keep in touch with your friends … and make new ones too.

M's Morning Routine

Kevin took these this morning and told me that my “assignment” today was to put them on the blog. It’s very typical-Meredith these days.

Okay, got that checked off my to-do list!

Snow Day

The weekend started with me and Meredith splitting a French Onion Soup at Panera Bread. I was surprised that she actually liked it. We "had" to eat there so I could use the WIFI and get some work done since we were kicked out of our house by a realtor who wanted to come see it.

Then we drove up to the mountains with friends to stay at their cabin near Tahoe. On the way there, Kevin found out that Lisa teaches California History to fourth-graders. "I never took California history [being from Indiana]," he said. Then he proceeded to ask her all sorts of questions. After explaining about the Spanish Missions, the gold rush, the railroad, etc., Kevin asked her to tell him about the Treaty of Hidalgo.

What?? You can't say you don't know anything about California history if you know about the Treaty of Hidalgo.

The entire weekend was full of fun and laughter. We ate WAY too much food. It snowed all day on Saturday, which was cozy and fun. And it was gorgeous on Sunday. Meredith had her first sledding experience, which she seemed to like quite well.


Getting ready.


"That was fun dad! Let's do it again."

Look at me!

"Why should I play with those other toys now that I know where mom hides the 'special' toys?"

AAAAARRGGHHHH!!

Meredith has now discovered our CD rack!! What am I going to DO?

I suppose there are two answers to that. 1) Put my CDs somewhere else. 2) Train her to leave it alone.

I don't want to move my CDs but I also feel too lazy (maybe too busy?) right now to consistently discipline her for terrorizing my CD rack.

"Training" an eight month old to leave something alone sounds very overwhelming to me right now. It's much easier said than done, let me just say that.

And it's not just this. She now thinks that everything that can "open" is fair game. Every day she discovers new things to explore.

Yesterday she learned how to open the TOP drawer in our bathroom!!

My life has suddenly become much more difficult. Yes, I know that people say when they get mobile, they get much more difficult. Did I believe them? No. My mental response was more like, "Yeah, whatever. How hard can it possibly be?"

[Groan.]

Okay, I've gotta go. I think I hear her playing with the fireplace utensils.

Ack!

Big Dad, Smallest Piece

We were discussing last night how we both grew up with very giving, loving fathers. And how that really impacted us and made us want to be better people.

This was prompted by the fact that Kevin’s dad had generously offered to drive our moving truck cross-country to save us a sizeable amount of money.

We both had stories about how our dads, growing up, always took the smallest piece of dessert so we kids could have the larger ones.

You know how eager kids are to have the largest piece of brownie, or slice of cake, or scoop of ice cream possible? Kids always notice and compare whose piece is bigger, too.

[That’s why our moms always made one kid split something and let the other kid choose which half they wanted. It was the only way to accomplish the matter peacefully.]

Looking back, we realize how fortunate we were to have dads who put their families first – and one example of this was consistently taking the smallest pieces of the “good stuff” for themselves.

Controversial Exit Exam

In 1999 the majority of the California legislature had the gall to pass a very controversial law requiring public school students to take and successfully complete an exit exam before receiving a high school diploma.

The exit exam tests students on sophomore-level math and English language arts. Students are given six opportunities to take and pass this exam.

You’d be surprised to know how many legislators think it’s unreasonable that students be required to know basic 10th grade math and English before graduating from the 12th grade.

Not to get partisan all of the sudden, but it’s the far-left democrats who are having a really hard time imposing these requirements. To them, it’s not about academic excellence, it’s about self-esteem.

“We must go to whatever lengths possible to make sure all kids feel good about themselves,” is their creed. “Not giving them a diploma will make them feel bad. This is the worst evil imaginable, you know.”

The latest attempt to “get around” the exit exam made me laugh. Senator Gloria Romero thinks she has a great solution to the exit exam controversy. Under her plan, every student would get a diploma but, if you pass the exit exam, your diploma would have a special insignia on it. That way you can still say you finished high school, if you didn’t pass the exam, and you wouldn’t feel so bad about yourself. But if you can pass a 10th grade test, you get a special insignia, and you can feel even better. Ha!

How many late-night boardroom meetings did it take to come up with that one?

The truth of the matter is, if there is no standard for high school graduation, a diploma has no meaning or significance. Why should a student try to do better if they’re going to get a diploma no matter what?

One last thing, ensuring that every kid gets a diploma, every kid gets a trophy, etc., etc. is only doing a disservice to the next generation. It prepares kids for some utopia dream-world ... certainly not for real life.

St. Patty Tradition

Anyone eating corned beef tonight? Anyone even like corned beef?

I happen to love corned beef and I only eat it once a year, on St. Patrick's Day. Kevin doesn't really like it but obliges me, as usual.

Mmmmmmm, mmmmm, MMMMM. I can't wait!

Bird Flu

I haven’t really been following the whole bird flu hullabaloo because it didn’t seem to be relevant to me. After all, I don’t own a chicken farm. I don’t even own a parakeet.

But after listening to a radio interview on this issue yesterday, I did some more research and found a website with some interesting articles.

It sounds like it could be a much bigger deal than I realized … and it could eventually affect humans who don’t own birds, like me.

“March 13, 2006 - In a remarkable speech over the weekend, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt recommended that Americans start storing canned tuna and powdered milk under their beds as the prospect of a deadly bird flu outbreak approaches the United States.”

“WHO said bird flu could potentially cause more deaths than those from the global flu pandemics. Because the H5N1 virus is airborne, it is easier to transmit and much more contagious than HIV/AIDS, WHO officials said.”

“No one can say if or when it would happen, but if H5N1 acquired the ability to pass easily from human to human, it could spark a pandemic that would kill millions or even tens of million within a few short months.”

To read more, go here.

Our Puppy

Meredith is crawling everywhere now. My daily activities have suddenly become much more challenging to accomplish.

This morning Kevin put Meredith on our bedroom floor to play with her toys and went to take a shower. A few minutes later he saw her tugging at the shower curtain. She had followed him to see what he was doing.

“It’s like having a little puppy,” he said.

Meredith’s Favorites

Song: “The Eensy Weensy Spider” has finally been replaced with a new favorite – “Barbara Ann” by the Beach Boys. She likes for us to hold her hands and let her dance while we sing “Ba ba ba, ba Babara Ann.”

Food: Cheerios (bar none). Cheerios is the only food that she will eat even though she’s full. She can down a Cheerio averaging seven seconds. (We think her saliva must be made out of acid.) If we let her feed herself, she goes faster ‘cuz she stuffs her mouth full and works on more than one at a time.

Toys: The remote control (she tends to like things she can't have), her Pooh bear, and a musical wind-up doll with really frizzy hair. She goes hysterics whenever she sees it.

Book: Clifford, the big red dog. She has practically destroyed these books from handling them so much.

Words: She can now say four words. “Dada,” “mama” (finally), “hi,” and “baby.” (She often points to her frizzy-haired doll and says “Ba-by.”)

Outing: To the park, of course. When I swing her on the swing, she smiles from ear to ear. Because she has only one tooth on the bottom, she looks like a little Jack ‘O Lantern.

Pastime: Turning off the light switch. Kevin taught her how to do this as a bedtime routine. Now I can’t walk past a single light switch, with her in my arms, without her lunging for it. I never realized we had so many light switches in our house!! She also loves to dance with daddy, spot herself in the mirror, and interact with other babies and toddlers.

Memories

Kev just sent these pictures to me. I don’t know where he found the old ones. The new ones were taken from our MLS listing. It brought back memories of how awful our house (especially the backyard) was when we moved in 1 ½ years ago. Kev put the grass seed in himself. But I did my share by helping to remove all of those rocks!


Before

After

Before

After

If you can believe it, even with a backyard that looked like that, we bought our house for the full asking price after it had only been on the market two days. Two days was considered a LOOOOONG time for a house to sit on the market back then. Now our house has been on the market for five days and we've only had one showing that we know of. Things have definitely changed!

Last night I told Kevin: "I feel like I've worked really hard for the past two months on a Broadway show and then, on opening night, no one bothered to come!"

A New Feeling

Over the weekend we were in Oakland and then in Fresno to see the Fear family. It was a very different feeling to leave my house on Thursday night knowing that strangers would likely come inside while I was gone to open my cupboards and inspect the insides of my closets and other personal spaces.

Oh how I hate selling a house. Buying a house is fun. Selling a house is a royal pain.

When we got back on Saturday evening I spotted our closet door open just a tad and I knew I hadn’t left it like that.

I immediately started complaining about this. That’s when Kevin told me that he was the one who’d done it.

I’m a very illogical person at times. I want strange people to come inside my house and look in my closets so they will make me an offer. But it bothers me at the same time.

It’s one of those scenarios in life where I just can’t have my cake and eat it too.

Question

Have any of you ever used your spouse's (or someone else's) toothbrush by mistake, only to realize during the act what you'd done?

Did it really gross you out?

It seems unreasonable to me that using your spouse's toothbrush would be a big deal. But last night it was, to a certain member of our household.

Jello on a Tree

I saw a license plate frame yesterday that read, “It’s easier nailing Jello to a tree than finding a good man.”

While I think this expression smacks of man-bashing (which I really loathe), I also believe there’s a grain of truth to it.

Some days I think Kevin is tired of hearing me talk about all the beautiful, smart, quality, late-twenties, Christian, single girls I know and the seeming lack of good Christian guys who are inclined to marry.

[Honestly, this is my biggest fear in having a daughter – I hope that she will either be happy and fulfilled being single, if God calls her to that, or that she’ll be able to find a good guy to love her and share life with her. If I had a son, I don’t think I would be concerned about this as much. I would have other things to worry about.]

Yesterday Kevin made me list my girlfriends who fall in the above category and I could only think of five (but I know there are more) and he told me that wasn’t that many. Then he went on to list at least five good single guys he knows of. The problem is, the guys he listed don’t seem (to me) to be interested in marriage or dating.

I’m not the type of person who thinks you have to be married to be happy but I happen to know that some of my girlfriends would really like to be married and I feel bad for them that they are having to wait so long.

Ultimately, I guess, we all have to learn to be content in whatever state we are, knowing that God is in control and knows what is best for us. We all have our own issues to deal with.

Now I need to go make some Jello and get some nails. How hard can it be?

Almost There

Well, we’ve now narrowed our “to-do-before-we-sell” list down to a handful of items. One of the last items on the list was mulching the front landscaping.

Can you believe that, at 7 o’clock this morning, Kevin talked me into going outside with him and getting it done before he left for work?

Right now I’m looking down at my scarred, stained hands. I’ve scrubbed them three times to no avail. I don’t think they will ever be the same again.

Why?

Why is it that we had to wait until putting our house on the market before making it 100% perfect?

Kevin and I have vowed that after living in our next house for two years we’re going to act like we’re planning to sell it and make it flawless so WE can benefit from it (instead of doing it solely for the next occupiers to enjoy).

It’s just not fair.

This morning a handyman came to replace some cracked tiles in our entryway. I can’t believe how much nicer it looks. And I can’t believe that we lived with it like that for nearly two years! I’m amazed at how little it cost to have it repaired – I think that’s why we waited so long to fix it, we thought it would be more expensive than it was.

When I first met this particular handyman, he gave me the creeps. I totally judged him by his outward appearance. He’s kinda scruffy looking.

But, after seeing his happy-go-lucky demeanor and hearing him whistle the entire morning and talk on his cell phone to a friend about how much he loves helping out with his kids’ baseball team, I’ve decided that he’s a decent human being.

Funny how we can be so quick to judge people by their outward appearances.

And, lastly, please pray for me because I’m extremely overwhelmed. In fact, I can’t even believe I’m blogging right now. I have so much to do to get our house *spotless* (you know, cleaning places you never realized existed in your house until you read a checklist on what to clean before you sell a house). I feel like I need everything to be absolutely flawless in order to get a good offer.

It’s also an incredibly busy time at work for me, with legislation pouring in. I have about 100 bills I need to read before the end of the week. I am so busy I want to pull my hair out and scream!

Excuse me while I go do that …

Money Matters

One of the questions to be decided upon entering marriage is who will pay the bills. I lucked out because I don’t think I’ve had to pay a single bill since getting married.

Sometimes I feel guilty when Kevin works hard at the office all day and then has to come home and sit in front of Microsoft Money all evening.

Last night was such an evening.

“Hey, listen. I’ll start paying the bills from now on,” I said.

He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

“Your life will be so stress-free if I could do that for you. You wouldn’t have to worry about a thing!”

Then we burst into laughter ‘cuz we both know that the LAST thing that would make Kevin stress-free is having ME in charge of our finances.

When we started dating he was horrified to learn how I “balanced” my checkbook. I would simply write down all of my financial transactions and, periodically, round-up the numbers to ensure that I always had some buffer room. You know, a little extra in my account, so I would always be okay.

I felt confident with this system. I always paid my bills on time and I never once bounced a check.

Kevin, however, was mortified that I didn’t ever know exactly, to the penny, how much money I had in my account.

Last night, when he was reminded of my old-system, he asked, “Weren’t you ever worried that you would get cheated by the bank?”

I told him that I never worried because I knew there were people out there like him who would keep the banks accountable – and mail me something if I needed to join a class action lawsuit.

So, it’s pretty safe for me to offer to pay the bills. He would never let me.