Our unwanted house guest.................

Everything happens when Joe is at the fire station.  It never fails. 

The kids were in the garage building their project....tell you all about that later..... when they came back into the house a huge bug flew in with them.  They were screaming!!!!  The babies were asleep......thank goodness. 

I was thinking to myself I have got to be the in-charge parent here and kill this thing some how without getting my children stung in the process.  Joe is our go-to-guy for fighting creepy creatures and things that go bump in the night.  But Joe wasn't home and this particular flying creature was HUGE!!!!  He positioned himself at the top of the window of my kitchen.....way hard to slap a fly swatter up there. 

B grabbed my phone and ran in the game room and called Joe like he was going to roll up in the fire truck and help us. He said with panic, "Joe its an emergency!!!!  There is this huge wasp in the house and we need to know what to do!!!!!!"

I was trying not to laugh.  It was cute to see the look of concern on his little chocolate face and how he was going to be the man of the house in Joe's absence. 

Thanks to our neighbor, our emergency became just another wacky day in our house of fun.  He had a battery operated fly swatter which zapped the buzzing beast.  Now B has him in a jar and has researched all about him.  It turns out this bug is a cicada killer wasp.  

I love it...a scary experience ends up being a fun learning experience for B. 

Hope you have a great day!!! 

Tara

What Season Is It, Anyway?

Yesterday was Ground Hog's Day.  I don't know if there are ground hogs in Oklahoma, but if there are, I am certain they saw their shadow more than once yesterday.  Good Grief!  They were probably sunbathing half the afternoon away. 

Up to this point, our Green-Country-Winter has felt more like Green-Country-Spring.  Sixty and Seventy degree days with only one light snow that lasted less than twenty-four hours.  I have watered the lawn and gardens nearly as much as I do in early Summer.  My plants are warmed by daily sunshine, dried by South winds and totally confused by both.

Although I appreciate not freezing when I go outside, I'm not entirely convinced that we could go through a Winter in Oklahoma without at least one big ice storm.  It's like it's too good odd to be true.  I find myself waiting for Mother Nature's to drop the bomb (or sleet, or snow or some form of frozen water).

I am wanting to protect the new life that is beginning to emerge under the fallen leaves that continue to blow into the flowers beds no matter how many times I clean them out.  I've been asking the little green sprigs to stay tucked under ground a bit longer.  But they are not listening!

I took a peek around my gardens yesterday and was surprised to discover many plants in the vibrant mode of green and growing - not resting under Winter's coat.

Purple Heart responding to the sun, like little birds reaching for their breakfast.

Red buds filling the branches of my rose bushes, thriving in the warmth of the day and the cool of the night.  They are eager to produce dark green leaves without the over-watering of Summer's humidity.

I am completely baffled.  Is this a sign of global warming?  Is this my paranora?  Or is it a gift to behold?  Maybe all of three.  Sounds strange to consider global warming a gift.  But sometimes gifts get our attention -- awaken us -- inspire us to act  (I don't know..... I'm just thinking).

All I know is I love all kinds of green growing things  ..... and yellow growing things  .....and red growing things .... and purple growing things .... and especially PINK growing things.

62. I am grateful for warm days, emerging life and the color pink.

I hope your Friday is a day of unexpected pleasure.  I hope you notice something emerging underneath what you thought was only wind-blown remains.  I hope you can allow it to grow as it will and find delight, or awakening, in it's gift.

Yaya

We Are Becoming Better Aquainted

Nearly three months have passed since I got my Digital Single Lens (DSL) camera.  It has been a challenging relationship - I wanting to control the focus - my camera being overly sensitive to my every suggestion.  I found myself reverting to old passive aggressive patterns of angry sighs and silent treatments while giving in to shooting in automatic mode.

And to add fuel to my disappointment, I lost over 3,000 pictures from my external drive  (I know, I know, I should have used an on-line back up center).  I spent a good deal of time practicing gratitude last week as I indulged in a five day pity party.

However I can feel myself settling down, surrendering to what is and forgiving myself for disrespecting Lola (that's the name I have given my camera).

Ahh, things are improving.  Lola gently hung about my neck while at JD's and Tara's the other day and we happily worked together.  I forgot about getting it right and simply tried to capture the precious moments in time spent with Tornado and Boo.

I've had fun fiddling around with an editing program too.  I am finding it much easier to manage this computer program than understanding the light coming into my camera (and it's all about light - well mostly, anyway).

I walked around the house yesterday and took a variety of shots using my manual mode.  I played with angles, light, ISO (camera's sensitivity to the light) and the aperture settings until I felt more comfortable speaking Lola's language. 

I saw improvement from many of my first attempts three months ago, which I can't show you because my external drive crashed, but I am over it.... really I am.  I am not brooding about the years of documentation I have lost or what I don't have or how unfair it is that I spent money to buy the better unit and took time to export all my photos (nearly 4,000, or did I already mention that) from flash drives to what was supposed to be a safer external drive.  Really, I'm over it.

...and if you believe that, I've got some great land for sale in the water district of Florida.

Seriously, Lola and I had a great time together yesterday.

59. I am grateful for relationships that build over time.

I hope your Monday offers you a reason to rejoice.  I hope you receive a better understanding of something or someone you have been struggling with.  I hope you can let the past go and capture the precious moments of today.

Yaya

Just Because

I went grocery shopping the other day.....ALL BY MYSELF.....it was a peaceful trip.  I actually got to hear people around me shop and talk.  Normally I have Tornado and Boo with me and my little Tornado tells everyone hi and bye and tries to jump out the buggy (not a cart - Texas people call them buggies, lol).  

I was sacking my groceries when I heard two women talking.  One was shopping and the other was behind the counter. The check-out-lady asked the shopper, "Who is all this chocolate for?" 

The shopper replied, "Its for my husband.  I'm going to rush home and put it right by his chair....on the little stand."  

The check-out-lady asked, "What's the occasion?" 

The shopper said, "No occasion  --  Just Because."

Those two words stuck in my head all day. 

So the next day when in the middle of my routine, I heard a voice in my head.  It said, "Just because, Why don't you invite Yaya and Poppa over for dinner?   Just because. NO OCCASION......JUST BECAUSE."

Have any of you ever done something just because  -- Just because you love someone, or because it's Friday, or because you know it would be awesome? 

Those two little words grabbed me unexpectedly.  Maybe they will grab you too.  I totally think that our JUST BECAUSE dinner could have been one of the best we have shared yet. 

Today, can you do something just because?

Have the best day!! 

Tara

Chinese New Year 2012

Monday was the beginning of the Chinese New Year 15 day celebration. We have been learning there are many traditions involved in this holiday. My children have loved it!!!

Some traditions include:
*giving and receiving beautiful red envelopes with money inside 

     (who doesn't think that is FUN)!
*setting off fireworks
*the entire family cleaning their home (now I am loving this idea :))
*hanging red lanterns in your windows
*eating LONG noodles and dumplings
*attending a Lion Dance

One of our sweet friends put red envelops in our mailbox.  My children all did a little happy dance, first when they received mail, and next when they found money inside. 

We didn't have fireworks to celebrate but we did have confetti guns that gave a big BANG and were lots of fun!

We ate long noodles and dumplings at a local Chinese Restaurant and got to watch a Lion Dance.

I have always thought this was a dragon of some kind, but no it is actually a Lion...who knew?!? 

Bluebird could hardly contain herself... she and the boys followed the Lion all over the restaurant dancing along side.So much fun! 

Bluebird thinks that we should eat Chinese food for the entire 15 days and I have to say that I did give it a thought.

We have all enjoyed this new tradition... It makes me so excited for next year when we will be celebrating with our new little one.

I am so thankful we had friends encourage us to begin celebrating this year even before our new little girl is with us. Next year my kids will remember the fun and be ready to share these traditions with her. It wont be just our new little ones tradition, but it will be our family tradition.... my kids are already familiar with it and LOVE it!

What fun it will be to celebrate Chinese New Year with her....

Cindy

Let It Snow

It SNOWED in Oklahoma for the first time this winter. In a very Oklahoma way... we had a high of 58 degrees, and six hours later it was snowing. My kids LOVE the snow!!! To them it is always a treat. No thought of slippery roads, or shoveling walks... just plain excitement. They could hardly contain themselves in the car as it began to snow on our way home from a church meeting. It was late and a school night so they got to dance in the driveway for a few minutes while snowflakes fell, but then it was off to bed.

They all woke early the next morning. Little Eli lead them from window to window calling "It's still here, it's still here!!!" In Oklahoma snow often means no school, so the next question was reasonable and expected even though we just got a light dusting of snow. "Do we have to go to school???" 

"Yes , we have school." I explained that the snow would probably be gone by the afternoon. Before I could finish my reasoning Eli was busy slipping into his snow pants. Luke and Hope quickly followed putting all the winter wear they could pull out of our closet right over their PJ's. 

The sun had just began to rise and it was COLD, but there was no stopping them. Running out the front door Eli said "I just have to touch it". 

I tried to bundle up and follow, but it was oh so COLD (and they had all the hats and gloves on) I could only stand a few minutes at a time. I got a some pictures, but they do no justice to the fun my kids were experiencing. 

They took full advantage of the fresh snow making snow angles, having a snow ball fight, and ice skating on a giant frozen puddle. After 20 minutes I had to call them in for breakfast and hot chocolate... they were red faced, runny nosed, and frozen but oh soooooooo happy. 

I earned lots of cool mom points in that 20 minutes of carefree play on a school morning. Sad to say most of these cool mom points melted away while I was hurrying them through morning routines to make it to school on time.  

I am banking on the fact that they will forget about the crazy rush to get out the door and just remember the awesome fun they had in the snow before it melted away. Sometimes the fun is worth the crazy! 

Cindy

Woah, Woah The Computer Goes

Sorry for not having a post yesterday, but I am having computer issues.  I love these wireless devices that connect us to each other; especially when they work.  But when they don't, I become terribly frustrated.  

I guess I take it for granted that I will be able to open my laptop, click on a button and be with you as you drink your coffee or  stand in line at the grocery store, or while waiting to see your dentist. 

I am considering implementing a ritual of offering thanksgivings every time I turn on my computer.  Maybe that will ward off the bad computer boogie man.  Or maybe it just might make me more aware of how fortunate I am to own one in the first place.  

I have become much more dependent upon my lovely laptop since I started blogging.

My head is filled with stories I want to tell you.  I get excited to show you the projects I'm attempting or the latest lovely He-man is creating.  Even though we are miles and miles apart you can still participate in family dinners, birthday parties and baseball games.  

And when you email or leave a comment, I get to participate in what you are doing too. 

It's pretty amazing, really.  

So while I am sitting on my sofa, madly typing - racing to send this off before/or if my computer decides to crash - I am realizing that I am addicted to our new internet relationship.  

I hope it lasts a long, long time.  I hope you will have patience with my techno ignorance while I work out the bugs.  I hope I'll see you tomorrow with a better post and a well computer.

And if I don't get what I want.......

        ...........

                      ...........

                                     ...... I will try to practice Bluebird's solution: 
                                                        "Be grateful for what you have."

Yaya

Life

When you are a baby and you experience pain your momma kisses your owie and says all better.  The pain is erased. Its all better and you dust yourself off and try again. 

Why is it that when you are 30 that's so not the case?  

Have any of you heard that saying, "YOU LIVE YOU LEARN"?

There has been lots of living and tons of learning for me lately. 


Have you ever felt growth from within? I hope that does not sound silly. Seriously, have any of you ever gone through something sad and when you look back on it you see the situation with a bigger set of eyes? 

You look back and say,  "Man I wish I would have known that then. I wish I had been stronger,  or I wish I would have handled that better". 

That so happened to me this past year. Actually it was about 6 months ago.  I was hurt by someone I considered to be a very good friend. I know....it happens right?  No fun...... :( 


I didn't understand why? -what? -how? -when? -why, why, why? 

I really was sick about the situation and didn't know how to be. I was trying to dust myself off and try again but my heart was telling me otherwise. I wasn't ready yet.

I learned last year (2011) that there is not a quick and easy fix for pain.  If there is I don't think its a good/healthy one.....if you know what I mean? I know that I don't like pain. But I feel that I had to go through the hurting process to get to a place of acceptance, understanding, forgiveness, peace and growth. 

I hope this makes sence.  It's kind of funny how going through something that you think is bad and yucky at the time can end up being a blessing in the end. 
Have you ever been hurt and grown to be better for it?  

Have the best day!! 

Tara

Resolutions for 2012

I haven't seriously practiced making resolutions on January first for many, many years.  

However, this year I am resolving to eat more pie.  I love pie, but have only allowed myself the pleasure on holidays or special occasions.  Now that I am fifty something, I am understanding that pie is not my enemy.  In fact pie is good.  Pie is very, very good and I intend to eat it whenever I want.

But just in case you are considering some new year's resolutions of your own, I am including a few suggestions from Wayne Dyers Book, The Power of Intention.

The best thing to give

   your enemy is forgiveness;

   to an opponent, tolerance;

   to a friend, your heart

   to your child, a good example;

   to your father; deference;

   to your mother; conduct that will make her proud of you;

   to yourself; respect

   to all mankind; charity;

I want to thank you for taking time to visit our blog in 2011.  As we move into a new year we hope you continue to drop in for the latest diy project, easy dinner dish or to catch up on family antics.  You can expect more pictures from Yaya and news of the adoption process from Cindy and southern hospitality from Tara.  

We send you all heartfelt prayers that whatever may have been a burden in 2011 be transformed into blessing in 2012.  We pray for peace in all countries, in our cities, our homes and every human heart. 

45. I am grateful for family, friends and a new day.

Yaya

Hurray For Recovery!!

He-man and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie.  Neither of us had seen the first one and I don't normally like to see a sequel without having viewed the first movie.  But I had heard that this was good and He-man and my schedules were free... so I threw caution to the wind, broke out of my rut and saw number two BEFORE number one. 

Living large, huh?

I have to tell you, it's been a while since I have enjoyed a movie for simple entertainment sake.  The writing was engaging and cleaver.  The cinematography was amazing.  The director had either gotten some old vintage reels or was able to reproduce the era so splendidly that I felt as if I had traveled back in time.  There were shots in slow motion that made me lean forward in my seat to take in the view.  The humor was high class, crafty and not the least bit smutty.  

I wasn't as fond of the gun-shooting scenes, but I was spared graphic, bloody, violent overkill which allowed me to hold it as art more than out of control darkness.

The way it was directed and staged was kind of like Wild Wild West meets James Bond during Murder on the Orient Express.

But the most impressive of all for me was watching Robert Downing Jr. do what he was born to do.  He was fantastic!  So funny, so cleaver, I couldn't help but sit in my chair and offer up thanks for his recovery.  

It wasn't that long ago that he was struggling to stay clean enough to make it through a filming session.  Addiction had him by the throat and it looked as if he was going down. 

He not only managed to escaped its grasp, he came alive! I could see it in his eyes - the no doubt, full throttle ahead, life!  

That makes me very happy, extremely grateful and considerably more hopeful for others who might find themselves in addiction's clutch.

Just wanted to share my joy.   

44. I am grateful for open schedules.

I hope your Friday is a lead in to a great weekend.  I hope you get an opportunity to sit beside someone you really like and enjoy the scenery.  I hope you see something today that makes you want to share the joy.

Yaya

Are You My Dad?

He-man's niece is a single mom, raising a biracial son in a small rural community.  She is the gal that keeps us connected through emails, texts, Christmas cards and pictures, marking each new phase of growth that her little guy enters.  

I admire He-man's niece for a number of reason, but most especially for single parenting.  I think that is one of the toughest jobs on the planet.  Of course she has a fantastic support system of family and friends.  A little quirky maybe, but very supportive.  (Hee, hee)

One day He-man's niece and her son were shopping for a field trip lunch in their small town grocery when they bumped into a man on the bread aisle.  

Noticing the man's dark colored skin, her son stood stone still while he executed a full body visual scan beginning at the top of the man's head and slowly moving down to his feet.  With wide-eyed wonder, the little guy uttered, "Are you my dad?"  

He-man's niece was at a total loss for words, but mustered an apologetic response.  The man looked down at her son and said, "Sorry Bubba.  It's not me."

Deflated, the little guy hung his head and walked away.  Niece apologized again, as the sympathetic man added, "Just so you know, there are seven more of us in this store."

He-man's niece quickly caught up with her son and ushered him out the door.

*************************************

This story tickled my funny bone and moved my heart.  Makes me think how important it is to feel like we belong.... not only that we are accepted.... but that we actually belong in this world.  Regardless of our skin tone or texture, nose length, athletic ability, agility, likability or skill set  - we belong.  We belong to something greater than only our small world.  We belong to each other.   

Although not his biological father, maybe in an unexplainable, mysterious, divine way the man in the store was not someone other than the little guy's father either.


43. I am grateful for wonder and mystery.


I hope this day is kind to you.  I hope you unexpectedly bump into someone who lets you know that you belong.  I hope mystery comes a callin'.

How God Made Me

I love the matter-of-fact way that children talk about their relationship with God.  They are willing to ask God questions without reservation, where we adults often feel inadequate to speak honestly before such a Great Mystery.

Muffin told her mother that she wasn't sure how God wanted her to look.

She thought maybe God wanted her to look like this...

or maybe this...

or this...

"What if God wants me to look like this?" Muffin pondered.

After making a number of faces for her mother to view, Muffin said, "Then I decided that God wants me to look like this."

So she did.

36. I am grateful for uninhibited honesty.

I hope your Friday gives you more than one reason to smile.  I hope you open yourself to The Mystery that makes you ponder.  I hope you will receive It's many faces.

Yaya

Lights Gone Bad

I had this great idea to wrap my three grand daughters in white twinkle lights and take a Christmas picture.  Well.......... let's just say some ideas look different in my head than they do in practice.

I took a shot of the tree with no other lights on in the room before I gathered the girls to make sure I had my camera adjusted to the lightening or lack thereof.  I have a hard time manipulating buttons while keeping up with moving children, especially in the dark.

What I thought would be an adorable Christmas photo turned out to be something better suited for a horror film.

So I caved and set my camera on automatic, thinking this would give that adorable picture I had envisioned.  But things went from bad to worse.  You see, I was babysitting the girls at the time and when I viewed my photos I noticed that Muffin was being strangled by the string of lights, Cautious was concerned with catching fire and Sparky was getting ready to increase the tension.

When the older girls managed to unleash Muffin it took her a while to gather her equilibrium.

And when Cautious started yawning, I figured it was time to claim defeat and surrender to a lost cause.

I did persuade them to allow one more picture with their friends who were spending the next six days with them while their parents were in Africa attending a family funeral.

That picture was a print!  I was happy to have one good picture to share with their visitors' family and for the girls to have to remember the short time they had another boy in the house besides dad.

31. I am grateful for love than covers a multitude of sins.

I hope your Saturday allows you to tie up loose ends.  I hope you spend it with someone who loves you enough to indulge you from time to time.  But most of all I hope this day leaves you with a special moment tucked inside for all time.

 Yaya