First Candle...

We lit the first candle on our advent wreath at lunch today. It's a sign of the Advent season for me - a reminder that the seasons fly by, and we've made another circle around the sun.

We usually sing the same song as the candles burn...

O Come O Come, Emmanuel
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lowly exile here
until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.

It was good to begin this season with some hope and the promise that God will bring to our world, one day. Looking forward to the second Advent, celebrating the first.

Today we delivered The Johnnie to her ride back to campus... it was hard to see her go. We needed each other this weekend. We needed to be reminded of the love between us and the importance of LIFE -- even in the sucky times.

(We also had a great laugh... Apparently The Johnnie, when she was little, didn't hear the words right to our Advent wreath plainsong. She thought it was "that mourns in lonely eggs aisle here"... and was confused. She couldn't figure out why it was "lonely" in the "eggs aisle" of the grocery store...)

Reedy Girl and I put up the outdoor Christmas lights and that, too, was a celebration of life and light...

I'm just so thankful...

today's list...

- Bearded Brewer's suit to the dry cleaners
- buy eggs so that Reedy Girl can bake (don't ask how old the eggs are in my fridge.)
- maybe get The Johnnie from campus - maybe do that tomorrow
- get music and CDs for Mom V's room to block the hall noise in the nursing home (it is NOT restful!)
- have a prayer and communion with Bearded Brewer, Ruth C and Mom V - she is coming to do a special prayer and Eucharist (she has the OLD BCP thankyouverymuch) which Mom V will appreciate hearing, even if she is now basically nonverbal
- do other chauffeuring and household chores...
- love on my family...
- cry

I have already...
- burned a pot on the stove
- washed a load of towels for the 3rd time since they never made it to the dryer - again!!
- lost my keys (and found them)
- have soup in the crockpot and bread in the bread machine for dinner...

Dear Mom...

Dear Mom...

Happy Birthday!

I won't tell everyone how old you are. (For once, I'll behave.) I wanted to thank you for all you've done for your family.

You've answered our questions...


Exposed us to new places and new ideas...


Had a loving, long-lived, committed marriage...



Loved your children and grandchildren...


Tried new things...



Enjoyed life and living with humor and grace...



And encouraged us to do the same...

Thanks, Mom.

I love you!

Life's too fast...

Just praying and celebrating with joy...

Deb

Our musicians.

Here's where the fruit of all those scales and arpeggios finally can be seen... Both daughters had end-of-semester concerts in the last week.



First out of the gate was Reedy Girl's middle school instrumental music concert. If you get a strong magnifying glass you will find her near the conductor's left elbow...


Reedy girl tuning. She didn't see me.

Stealth Mom mode...

Closer...

Closer...

Closer...

(I didn't post the next picture. She saw me and ducked behind the music stand.)












The crew....

Reedy Girl, hanging out with friends, waiting for their turn to go on stage.

Left to right...
Clarinet, French Horn, Flute, Oboe and...
Cello!

All heading to high school next year.







Tonight it was The Harpist's turn. The high school music department has a "Masterworks" concert every year. This year they combined the chorus and orchestra for selections from Handel's "Messiah." There was only one ringer (piccolo trumpet is a bit much for most high school kids.)


Our lovely harpist with her harp, named 'Elrond.' Why, you ask? Because it is his name. He told her. She listened. That's how it goes.

Actually this was taken after the concert when the music staff wisely decided to get yearbook photos while everyone was relatively clean and well-behaved.

Relatively.




















The Harpist, flanked by two of my borrowed daughters. Both in the chorus...

I think they are all keepers.


And that is the end of my evening.

I'm proud of our progeny. They both did very well...

Deb

Goings on...

Wow! What a week! We're only at Thursday, and a lot has happened...

MONDAY...
After two years... following the "rules" for foods she could and could not eat... patiently ticking off the the countdown on her whiteboard...


Reedy Girl got her braces off!


Before...

and after...

Loving that bubblegum!

And her special dinner request was corn on the cob! She missed TWO SUMMERS of corn on the cob. It seemed only fair!


TUESDAY...
A new boy came to live with us! He only has a "shelter name" but hasn't told us his "real" name. He's in quarantine in Reedy Girl's room as we wait to be sure he is healthy before "the girlie cats" meet him. He quickly discovered the comforts of Reedy Girl's loft bed...


And then he decided to claim the top of the book case right beside it. He hangs out on the top shelf, right next to the ceiling. (don't you LOVE the crossed front paws!??)


And he should get down why?? ha! HA!

(Oh. OK. MAYBE he'll come down for Greenies...)

The other two cats are disturbed. Strange NEW smell-o-cat coming from Reedy Girl's room. Most unusual. (Tiria has been blogging about her suspicions. If you visit her, don't TELL!!!)

WEDNESDAY...
A snake learned to play the harp!


Actually, it seemed that Calvin just liked the vibrations! He hung out across the top of The Harpist's instrument for quite a while. Isn't that a hoot?



THURSDAY...
ANYTHING can happen! Like maybe I can get some homework done???? nah....

Deb

huzzahs!

Reedy Girl and The Harpist are also novice fencers. Their coach, Olympic medalist Gitty Mohebban, was featured in the local paper.

Today was a tournament of sorts for her students, and Reedy Girl participated. While they have been keeping scores all along and the advanced kids were usually whupping our novice gals purty good, Miss Gitty has been encouraging... "GOOD! You scored two points on him!" and "Next time he drops his guard, get another point!" So they keep working away at it.

Reedy Girl's bout is featured below... she lost 5-3 but showed herself to be, for a 12 and under, a good student.

FIRST - warm up. She just plops down on the floor and grabs her toe and casually stretches and warms up. (And I'm thinking the whole time, "ow ow ow ow ow!) It never seems to bother her!! Little Miss Flexible!

When they have electric bouts, they wear a special vest, called a "lame". The jacket, foil and fencer are hooked up to a light and buzzer system to help judge the points. Miss Gitty is checking the connections in the "bodywire" in Reedy Girl's vest before her bout. The foil is wired too with a switch in the point that records contacts or "hits" on the opponent.

The fencers are connected to spoolers (on the floor - you can't see them) which keeps them under tension all of the time. One of the hardest things to get used to is the constant pull. Reedy Girl says it feels like her butt's on a string... which, technically, it is!



Both competitors are ready and take the en garde position.


Point one from Reedy Girl!


Her opponent scores back.


While she lost the bout, she was happy with her fencing. And then she got to settle in and watch some really advanced kids bout.

Reedy Girl and Miss Gitty. We think they're both pretty amazing!


Now it's time for a shower, and dinner and relaxing a little... Oh yeah... maybe some homework...

Deb

page 123

A Reader's Meme from Mindy:

Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook

(No cheating!)
OK! OK! But it's not very exciting... DD#1 is sick with the flu and I had it out to read about the alternative medicines for it (echinacea, medicinal belladonna and goldenseal, in case you wondered.)

Find Page 123.
Got it...

Find the first 5 sentences:
World War II impacted the development of clinical trials in a number of ways. Infectious diseases such as malaria and typhoid were major killers in regions where soldiers were being sent to fight. Cinchona had almost been exclusively available from Indonesia, which was occupied by Japanese forces in 1942, thereby cutting of cinchona supplies. Nonfatal wounds often became infected and then caused death. Penicillin and sulfonamide, discovered prior to the war and shown to dramatically reduced wound infections, were available in only small amounts.

Feel free to play (uh... keep it G-rated) and let me know if you did. I know this wasn't exciting. Coulda been worse. Coulda been a Greek lexicon or something. hehehe

Deb

Calvin is staying at our house...

Meet Calvin the Python. He's a "ball" python, often called a "bald" python. He's not mine. He just lives with me.

So far, he has not barked, puked, scratched, mewed or chewed anything he shouldn't. He's a model citizen.

The feline occupants (Tiria and Polgara are undecided. The rest of us are OK with it, with the except of the Harpist... who is deliriously happy. SHE wins the honors for feeding it, cleaning the cage, etc.)

As the song goes... "...the things we do for love..."

Deb

A few of my favorite things...

The beach... quiet... peaceful... a God place...

Unexpected sighting - a bald eagle!

Me with my family... I love them! L to R: me, The Harpist,

Reedy Girl, Beloved Bearded Spouse

There is no way to describe the peace that

rolls over me...

Thank you, God!

Deb

sometimes I won't lock-step

I got one of these emails that we all probably get...

"I wanted to alert you to this terrible _______ (movie/book/product/activity) that is being promoted. It will destroy our children's faith and bring us all into heresy if we _______________ (watch it/read it/use it/do it). Tell all of your friends to boycott ________________!"

NOTE: This is not an actual email.
This is similar to many I have received.

OK. It's time for a mild rant...

First of all, I have usually deleted without a thought the emails that suggest I don't love Jesus if I don't forward whatever someone has sent with with artsy-fartsy graphics and glitter text, with a Bible verse tacked on the end. I do love Jesus. I just don't think He wants to see His Name linked with this stuff. And I also don't like the ones that expect me to send it back to you if you are my BFFIJC - (...for those of you not in the know, that "Best Friend Forever In Jesus Christ.") And if you have sent me these emails, I apologize for being so rude about it. But I am still your friend if I don't send it back to you. I promise.

Second, I really, REALLY dislike Bible verses used out of context. And in these kinds of emails, they usually are. Don't make me get out my commentaries and use them on you.

Third, I don't think that just because a leading Christian organization or speaker doesn't like a specific movie/book/product/activity excuses me from the right to use my own MIND and DISCERNMENT to prayerfully evaluate it. Your life may require that you abstain from things like this. Or, your personality make-up may cause you to struggle with certain things that don't bother me. (And to be honest, the reverse may be true.) I think in these cases, it calls for acceptance that others may interpret the "shoulds" differently that you or I do. And it's OK. Really.

That's it. I'm done. (Stick a fork in me...)

Deb

Figs and Cheese

My kids were NOT happy. Beloved Bearded Spouse and I absolutely loved them. And that is how it goes...

From the New York Times Dining and Wine section. (Though for our house tonight the title would more appropriately be "Dining with WHINES"!)

Published: September 12, 2007
Adapted from Gary Danko
Time: 10 minutes
Photo credit: pastrywhiz.com

Ingredients:

• 8 ripe figs
• 1/4 cup fresh, soft goat cheese
• 1 teaspoon mixed minced fresh thyme and rosemary, or any combination of fresh herbs
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 fig or grape leaves, or 8 6-inch squares of aluminum foil
• 8 rosemary-twig skewers or toothpicks
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Banyuls or balsamic vinegar.

Directions:

1. Pinch figs apart slightly from their stem ends, forming four sides surrounding a central pocket. Into this pocket, spoon a small amount of goat cheese. Sprinkle each with a tiny bit of herb mix and a pinch of salt and pepper. From the bottom up, use a leaf or sheet of foil to form a cup around each fig; skewer leaf or foil through fig so that it holds securely.

2. Grill figs, open side up, just until they brown slightly and cheese softens. Remove, sprinkle with a few drops each of soy sauce and vinegar, and serve.

Yield: 4 servings.

YUM!!!!! and even worth hearing the complaints.

Deb
(and yes... we made them each try one!)

The Ugly Shoes Contest

Saturday, we had a fun expedition to a shoe discount place. Both The Harpist and Reedy Girl needed shoes for fencing (as in foils, not what surrounds your yard.) And they needed dressier shoes than for the occasional moment that we are not in our favorite outfits (jeans and Tshirts!) Marketing Genius (a friend from church) wanted to find some pairs for work and for kicking around. And yours truly needed something besides her Birkies for upcoming student sermons...

SOOOOO.....

We went to the big shoe store. Big. Hundreds of shoes. Lotsa choices. And we did find shoes we liked, but we also found some BODACIOUSLY ugly ones. I mean it. See?


So here's a very serious question...

Which pair is the ugliest? PLEASE VOTE!

Pair number one: I shudder to think if one could find socks to match...

Pair number two: And WHO could walk in these shoes without needing to have ankle surgery afterwards?

Pair number three: Potentially perfect for that special purple-luscious outfit... but who would want an outfit that color?

Pair number four: Words fail me... that could politely suggest what "occupation" might require wearing these!



Oh.. yes.. I did indeed find shoes for a preacher woman. :) I'll model them later!

Deb

More than a friend for the journey

I don't blog about him enough...

My closest friend for the journey is my Beloved Bearded Spouse. I guess I don't write about him a lot because he's an introvert and I don't want to shove him "out there" into the blogosphere. But there is no way I could do this adventure I am on without him.

For example...
In less than 24 hours he has...

• ...managed the home front (I had meetings from 8-2:30)
• ...did troubleshooting on the wireless router (what IS it doing???)
• ...reminded me that it was time for supper (I forget when I am "on task")
• ...joined me for a casual chat with M&K
• ...prepared the coffee autopot for the morning (ahhhhh)
• ...set the alarm for me (something I often forget to do and frequently goof up)
• ...herded the kids to church on time (no easy feat, even if they DO dress and get breakfast by themselves!)
• ...corralled the kids and got them home for lunch (45 minutes ahead of me!)
• ...and now he's off doing his son-ly duties when he really wants a nap...

Then there's the numerous times he has...

• ...covered things at home when I am involved in ministry.
• ...handled the TOTAL home life while I am traveling, or at modular week at school.
• ...give me a (small) dropkick to go to the doctor because I am sick.
• ...living with and loving my family of many loud, happy folks when he comes from a small quiet one.

Not to mention...

• ...the long talks, with me venting and him philosophizing on what it is that has me REALLY ticked
• ...finding resources or ideas for me when I am stumped on research
• ...making me see possibly a more *balanced* view than my emo one (as if!)
• ...taking a stand for me, with me when I feel attacked
• ...reminding me that the "best things" in life are usually right here. Not "out there."
• ...giving fantabulous backrubs!

I think I'm blessed. Wait. I take that back. I KNOW I am.

So thanks, love...
Deb

She's on her way...

The Harpist is on her way to San Luis Potosi, Mexico to volunteer at an orphanage for the next week. She is traveling with friends from church.

Big challenge. Big changes. Big "good-bye" at the airport...

God speed, fly with Christ...

:)

Updated Wednesday, 8/8
They arrived safely there (as did their luggage) and have a fun day planned with the kids to begin forming relationships... a waterpark and the state fair. Will post anew when I hear more...

Missing my girl...

Reedy Girl has been at a conference for junior high kids this week. She's been with good friends and sponsors (church youth group) I know and trust... but it was a big change to have her away.

She comes back TODAY!!! HURRAY!!!

I've got some hugs overdue for giving...

Deb

Happy Feat

SOooo... after much anticipation, the guests arrived. Presents, giggles and happy-hyperness everywhere. After the BBQ, we had the main event of the evening. Creating custom flip flops.

BEFORE...

bargain flip flops..
a rainbow of nail polish...
toe rings...
toe bling...
markers...
stick-on stuff...

DURING...

Chick on a stick, hot dogs, chips, dip, fruit, chocolate cake...

(a close up of part of the birthday girl's creation!)

AFTER...

8 (hyper happy) girls...

2 (tired happy) parents...

PRICELESS!

There was plenty of advice on how to complete my work of art. Do note the bling on my flip flops. (I had toe rings on later... but not for this picture!) I also learned how to "polka dot" my toenail polish with a toothpick dipped in nail polish! According to the girls, I am officially a crazy mom ...but you probably already knew that!

And yes, it was fun. But I couldn't do it for a living.

Deb