These are in no particular order.
All the restaurants!
The Imax. Gotta love those seats AND being able to eat a sub or a pizza or ice cream while watching the movie.
Seeing Yakov at K-Mart.
Seeing a random Osmond shopping at Walgreens.
Seeing Jim Bakker's wife at the dentist (that just happened today).
I'll miss my dentist. This is very true. For those of you who don't know, I enjoy going to the dentist. Not quite to the extent that Bill Murray liked going to the dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors," but I like having healthy teeth and gums. My children also don't mind going to the dentist. So, Dr. Q, I will miss you and all the work you do for me. You should have quite the nice family vacation this year, thanks to me.
I'll miss working for the school. While the work is stressful and sometimes emotionally taxing, summers off made it ALL worth it. I hope to get a job at JC-ville's school district.
Godfather's Pizza. Okay, so it's not in B-town, but it's within driving distance.
Living close to family.
All the friends I made here.
The friends my children have made.
My neighbors. Really, they're worth buying my house, just to have them next door.
My church family. When I say family, I mean that. I've been in churches since I was 7 years old. I've never seen a church pull together like this one does. I've never seen a church with the bold outreach this one has. And I've never seen a church go through so much adversity, eyes focused on the Lord, and make it through like this one has.
Playing piano at church. There was a time I would have laughed if someone told me I'd miss driving the piano on Sunday mornings. Perhaps I'll play piano at my next church, if I'm needed. Perhaps God has other things lined up for me. I guess we'll see.
Traffic. I know, crazy, right? If you live here long enough, you become so accustomed to it that it's startling when it's not around.
Silver Dollar City
Dixie Stampede
Maggie Moos
Andy's Frozen Custard. Okay so there's one at The Lake, but that's different than having it less than 10 minutes away.
The trails near the dam. I go there for solace.
My buddy, Kim, and the excellent job she does on my nails. Perhaps I can get her to meet me half-way every three weeks or so.
My hair stylist.
The shopping, even though I'm not big on shopping. It's just nice to know it's there.
The scenery.
Elvis impersonators shopping at the grocery store.
Well, that's all I can think of for now. One of these days, I'll blog about things I'm looking forward to in JC-ville.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Random Thoughts from the 70s
I've been reading some of my old blog posts to see if I think any differently than I used to. I have found I'm pretty much the same. This is good. I think. Anyway, back in 2008, I did some "Random Thoughts" blogs, and thought I'd do another one from my memories of the 70s. Here we go.
Candy necklaces, purchased for a dime.
Candy bracelets, purchased for a nickel.
Bubble gum cigarettes with powdered sugar inside the paper to give you that "this isn't a bubblegum cigarette; I'm really smoking" look.
Vinnie Barbarino and Horshack. Mista Kah-terre!!!
Being 8 years old, and my parents dropping me off at the skating rink for 3 hours of skating. They did not stay to watch me. I was perfectly safe there, and no one ever thought twice about leaving their little kids there. Can't do that sort of thing any more.
Big Chief pads of paper, and those really fat, tall pencils. I always had to have red.
Oh! And those fat crayons!
Malibu Barbie. That's when Barbie still had straight arms. Toward the 80s, her arms were bent at a 90-degree angle. FYI, Superstar Barbie was the first to do that.
My Tuesday Taylor doll. She came with a blue bathing suit, a white skirt, and sunglasses. You could lay her in the sun, and she would tan. She'd even develop tan lines! And she had two-tone hair with a twisty scalp. Flip it this way, she's a brunette. Flip it around the other way, she's a blonde. Best doll ever.
The Crissy doll. You could make her hair grow by pulling it out of a hole in her head. You could make it shorter by twisting a knob on her back. My mother wouldn't buy me one. I still want one to this day.
My Mrs. Beasley Doll. I had two. True story. In case you don't know, Mrs. Beasley was a doll featured on the show "Family Affair." Blue dress with white polka dots, yellow hair and shoes, black retangle-rimmed glasses. Pull her string, and she had all sorts of sayings. We had this mean Collie named Sam. This dog didn't like me, nor did he like Mrs. Beasley. One day, he got to her, and chewed her mid-section to bits. I had the flu that day, was pretty ill, and had to go to the doctor. I wouldn't let the doctor examine me until he could prove that he could fix Mrs. Beasley. (I generally don't like doctors, which is really ironic, isn't it? heh). So fix her, he did. He taped her up, put a bandage on her head, and she was as good as she would ever get again. She didn't talk anymore, though. So, I let him examine me, and I was better in a few days. That Dr. Hite sure knew his doll medicine. Anyway, my parents were so moved by my concern for my Mrs. Beasley that they bought me a new one. I kept them both for many, many years, until my parents' house flooded in 1990, and they were destroyed. Again, I'd love to have one of those dolls.
Okay, I think that's enough for now. Obviously, I was a wee girl back then, as most of my references are about dolls. Perhaps I'll think a bit more on the 70s topic, and blog more later. Feel free to share any of your thoughts from back then, if you're old enough to have any, that is. ;-)
Candy necklaces, purchased for a dime.
Candy bracelets, purchased for a nickel.
Bubble gum cigarettes with powdered sugar inside the paper to give you that "this isn't a bubblegum cigarette; I'm really smoking" look.
Vinnie Barbarino and Horshack. Mista Kah-terre!!!
Being 8 years old, and my parents dropping me off at the skating rink for 3 hours of skating. They did not stay to watch me. I was perfectly safe there, and no one ever thought twice about leaving their little kids there. Can't do that sort of thing any more.
Big Chief pads of paper, and those really fat, tall pencils. I always had to have red.
Oh! And those fat crayons!
Malibu Barbie. That's when Barbie still had straight arms. Toward the 80s, her arms were bent at a 90-degree angle. FYI, Superstar Barbie was the first to do that.
My Tuesday Taylor doll. She came with a blue bathing suit, a white skirt, and sunglasses. You could lay her in the sun, and she would tan. She'd even develop tan lines! And she had two-tone hair with a twisty scalp. Flip it this way, she's a brunette. Flip it around the other way, she's a blonde. Best doll ever.
The Crissy doll. You could make her hair grow by pulling it out of a hole in her head. You could make it shorter by twisting a knob on her back. My mother wouldn't buy me one. I still want one to this day.
My Mrs. Beasley Doll. I had two. True story. In case you don't know, Mrs. Beasley was a doll featured on the show "Family Affair." Blue dress with white polka dots, yellow hair and shoes, black retangle-rimmed glasses. Pull her string, and she had all sorts of sayings. We had this mean Collie named Sam. This dog didn't like me, nor did he like Mrs. Beasley. One day, he got to her, and chewed her mid-section to bits. I had the flu that day, was pretty ill, and had to go to the doctor. I wouldn't let the doctor examine me until he could prove that he could fix Mrs. Beasley. (I generally don't like doctors, which is really ironic, isn't it? heh). So fix her, he did. He taped her up, put a bandage on her head, and she was as good as she would ever get again. She didn't talk anymore, though. So, I let him examine me, and I was better in a few days. That Dr. Hite sure knew his doll medicine. Anyway, my parents were so moved by my concern for my Mrs. Beasley that they bought me a new one. I kept them both for many, many years, until my parents' house flooded in 1990, and they were destroyed. Again, I'd love to have one of those dolls.
Okay, I think that's enough for now. Obviously, I was a wee girl back then, as most of my references are about dolls. Perhaps I'll think a bit more on the 70s topic, and blog more later. Feel free to share any of your thoughts from back then, if you're old enough to have any, that is. ;-)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Double Digits
It's a big deal when a child finally hits those "double digit" birthdays. My youngest turned 10 today. It's hard for me to believe. Life was so completely different 10 years ago. Life is so completely different now. If you'd asked me 10 years ago what I'd be doing in 10 years, I would have said something completely different than what I'm actually doing. While the last 10 years has gone by relatively quickly, there were times during the ten years that seemed to drag on for an eternity. Those of you who know me know of what times I speak. Those were shaping times for me. Those were times God used to get me to where I am now. It was rough getting here, but I'm glad to be here. Oh, the blessings that God bestowed in the last 10 years. It thrills my heart to think of the ones He'll bestow in the next 10 years.
Ten years from now, I will more than likely be living in a somewhat empty nest with my beloved, Ron. Our children will be in college and/or embarking on whatever career path they choose. Kailey will be 24. Jake, 23. Tim, 21. Kenzie, 20. Grandparenthood might even be looming on the horizon by then. Hopefully, no matter what we're doing or where we are, we'll be serving God on this journey.
So, my dear Kenzie. . . Happy double digits! And may the next 10 years of your journey be very blessed!
Ten years from now, I will more than likely be living in a somewhat empty nest with my beloved, Ron. Our children will be in college and/or embarking on whatever career path they choose. Kailey will be 24. Jake, 23. Tim, 21. Kenzie, 20. Grandparenthood might even be looming on the horizon by then. Hopefully, no matter what we're doing or where we are, we'll be serving God on this journey.
So, my dear Kenzie. . . Happy double digits! And may the next 10 years of your journey be very blessed!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Only in B-Town
Or maybe not only in B-Town, but it seems I see it all here. Anyway, last Friday, I'm at Wal-Mart, stocking up on a few things (only 20, as I was in the 20 items or less lane) for the weekend. I usually don't pay much attention to people around me in Wal-Mart, or any store for that matter. I typically have my list, and want to get in and out of the store as quickly and painlessly as possible. Today, however, I spent a lot of time in that check-out line, behind 3 other customers, also stocking up for the weekend.
For some reason unknown to me, as the customer in front of me finally got to put her purchase on the counter, I took notice of her purchase. Two items. It was all I could do to contain my laughter, and remain composed. I had to turn away, which was a bit of a mistake, because my 14-year-old (yes, she's already 14, can you believe it?), looked at me and mouthed "what's wrong, Mom?" I just shook my head. If I told her, she wouldn't be able to contain her laughter either. I couldn't resist. I had to tell her. It was too good to keep to myself. What's the likelihood that a person would be buying those two particular items, and only those items?? So, I motioned with my eyes, and mouthed "look at what that woman is buying." My daughter looked. She knew not to laugh aloud, so she, too, turned around, looking at the magazines, shoulders shaking with laughter. We both, by some sort of divine assistance, were able to keep from laughing aloud until after we got to the parking lot. Now that's some control, yes? Perhaps you won't find it as funny as we did, when you discover what that woman was stocking up on that day in Wal-Mart, but I'm still finding it difficult not to laugh as I write this. And what were the two items she purchased?
A 10-pack of frozen burritos, and a 24-roll pack of toilet paper.
For some reason unknown to me, as the customer in front of me finally got to put her purchase on the counter, I took notice of her purchase. Two items. It was all I could do to contain my laughter, and remain composed. I had to turn away, which was a bit of a mistake, because my 14-year-old (yes, she's already 14, can you believe it?), looked at me and mouthed "what's wrong, Mom?" I just shook my head. If I told her, she wouldn't be able to contain her laughter either. I couldn't resist. I had to tell her. It was too good to keep to myself. What's the likelihood that a person would be buying those two particular items, and only those items?? So, I motioned with my eyes, and mouthed "look at what that woman is buying." My daughter looked. She knew not to laugh aloud, so she, too, turned around, looking at the magazines, shoulders shaking with laughter. We both, by some sort of divine assistance, were able to keep from laughing aloud until after we got to the parking lot. Now that's some control, yes? Perhaps you won't find it as funny as we did, when you discover what that woman was stocking up on that day in Wal-Mart, but I'm still finding it difficult not to laugh as I write this. And what were the two items she purchased?
A 10-pack of frozen burritos, and a 24-roll pack of toilet paper.
Spring Break
Today finds me blogging for the first time since August. It also finds me happily married for 2 1/2 months. It finds me caring for two of my children, who are sick. (A terrible thing to be sick during spring break). It finds me caught up on laundry and house work. It finds me very tired from cleaning out closets and packing boxes.
Packing boxes. The children and I will be moving from B-Town in 3 months. It feels rather strange that the move is that close. We've been spending quite a few weekends in JC-burg lately, and we've found a church we like. Finding a church family is a top priority in making a move such as this because the children and I really know very few people there, although I have been meeting a few recently. So, moving at the beginning of the summer and already starting to establish ourselves in a church will aid in the comfort and confidence of starting new schools and a new job (hope I find as good a one as I have now). We'll miss B-Town, but we're also excited at a fresh start in a new place. And it IS exciting. I can't help but wonder what sort of work God has planned for us there. I wondered the same thing when I moved to B-Town nearly 13 years ago. God has been good, my friends, so very good. Terrible things happened here, of course, but oh! the blessings that came from them! What He's done in my life amazes me. What He's done in my children's lives amazes me more. And what He will do in the future will, undoubtedly, be even more amazing.
Many people asked me prior to getting married how I felt about living apart from my soon-to-be husband for six months. I always answered the same, that it probably wouldn't be much different than living apart during the three years we dated. Well, I was wrong. (Yes, you read that correctly. I was wrong). It's funny how the very strong bonds of matrimony can anchor so firmly in one's heart, that it's painful to be apart from their beloved. I miss him more, I love him more, and I believe the stretching of those strong bonds - the pain that causes - will make it easier to move when the time comes.
Perhaps that's how it's supposed to be. When God wants to move us, He readies our hearts by giving us the ability to long for where we're going. Perhaps that's how Christ was able to suffer on the cross for us -- because He longed to go home to His Heavenly Father. How great His longing must have been in order for Him to endure all that suffering for us.
Packing boxes. The children and I will be moving from B-Town in 3 months. It feels rather strange that the move is that close. We've been spending quite a few weekends in JC-burg lately, and we've found a church we like. Finding a church family is a top priority in making a move such as this because the children and I really know very few people there, although I have been meeting a few recently. So, moving at the beginning of the summer and already starting to establish ourselves in a church will aid in the comfort and confidence of starting new schools and a new job (hope I find as good a one as I have now). We'll miss B-Town, but we're also excited at a fresh start in a new place. And it IS exciting. I can't help but wonder what sort of work God has planned for us there. I wondered the same thing when I moved to B-Town nearly 13 years ago. God has been good, my friends, so very good. Terrible things happened here, of course, but oh! the blessings that came from them! What He's done in my life amazes me. What He's done in my children's lives amazes me more. And what He will do in the future will, undoubtedly, be even more amazing.
Many people asked me prior to getting married how I felt about living apart from my soon-to-be husband for six months. I always answered the same, that it probably wouldn't be much different than living apart during the three years we dated. Well, I was wrong. (Yes, you read that correctly. I was wrong). It's funny how the very strong bonds of matrimony can anchor so firmly in one's heart, that it's painful to be apart from their beloved. I miss him more, I love him more, and I believe the stretching of those strong bonds - the pain that causes - will make it easier to move when the time comes.
Perhaps that's how it's supposed to be. When God wants to move us, He readies our hearts by giving us the ability to long for where we're going. Perhaps that's how Christ was able to suffer on the cross for us -- because He longed to go home to His Heavenly Father. How great His longing must have been in order for Him to endure all that suffering for us.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Broken
Everyone has heard the expression, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The good Lord does not adhere to that advice. In fact, He most often breaks us in order to fix us, even when we think we're running along smoothly in life. I am currently in this process, and I don't care for it much. It seems this breaking process is cyclical and difficult, and I'm the one who makes it difficult because I resist. It's not that God doesn't like or love me as I am. It's just that He knows I can be better.
Looking back over my life, I see a pattern of these breaking times, and they usually occur just when I get to the point that I like and accept the finished result of the previous breaking. Comfort. Not a word Christians should really want in their vocabulary because comfort is fleeting for the Christian. The sermon today was on following Jesus. If you're comfortable, can you really be following? I'm not too sure that it's possible. I believe you can be content to follow, and should be content following Him. After all, He is all we need, right? So contentment is good, being comfortable is not. Walking in someone else's shoes should never feel comfortable. It should feel uncomfortable. Perhaps God breaks us, so that those shoes don't get comfortable for us, and He does it at just the precise moment we begin to feel comfortable. New shoes, new direction His son takes for us to follow, or new things for us to do for His kingdom that might cause incredible discomfort.
I'm getting married in just over four months. I'll have a new husband and stepson. I'm moving to a new town where I know probably 5 people, if that. Let's not even mention the job search I'll have (nothing with time off as sweet as I have now, that's for sure). I'm leaving the church family I've had for 12 years now. Finding a new church is no easy task. I've got a lot of breaking going on.
I've been single, and living with just my children, since 2003. That's a long time, and I'm a bit set in my ways. I have to be willing to compromise some of those ways, and that'll be fine. With three young children, you get pretty easy-going about stuff like that. A certain amount of pride accumulates when you're a single mother. And not the kind of pride you want to have. It's almost boastful. When I got divorced, I wanted to avoid this at all cost. It accumulated anyway, however, and I didn't realize it until the last few days. I'd gotten very used to taking care of the kids and myself, doing everything on my own (I even patched drywall and fixed my piano and moved heavy furniture and everything). When you're married, though, it's not about doing everything on your own. Spouses lean on and help each other. I have a very "I can do it myself" demeanor. That demeanor has to be broken, and it's being broken right now. It hurts. It's humbling. I don't like it, but how could I possibly be a good wife and mother if I don't go through it? I am, once again, going to be a helper to a wonderful man, and God is simply making me a suitable helper for him (Genesis 2:18).
There are many other things in me that need to be broken in order for me to achieve my goal of being a Proverbs 31 wife (this has always been a goal of mine, but cut short upon divorce. God has renewed this goal for me). In the difficult process of God breaking me to make me what I should be for my soon-to-be husband and our children, I will become a better follower of Jesus. Funny how the Father can fulfill two purposes at once. Being broken won't be comfortable (and isn't), that's for sure, but by keeping my eyes on Jesus, following Him, perhaps I won't notice it so much. By making Jesus my treasure, everything else I desire to be for Him, and for my family, will fall into place in His time. And because following Jesus is, as Pastor Dave said, evangelistic in nature, my experiences over the last several years in being broken and made whole again just might help someone else going through the same thing.
Looking back over my life, I see a pattern of these breaking times, and they usually occur just when I get to the point that I like and accept the finished result of the previous breaking. Comfort. Not a word Christians should really want in their vocabulary because comfort is fleeting for the Christian. The sermon today was on following Jesus. If you're comfortable, can you really be following? I'm not too sure that it's possible. I believe you can be content to follow, and should be content following Him. After all, He is all we need, right? So contentment is good, being comfortable is not. Walking in someone else's shoes should never feel comfortable. It should feel uncomfortable. Perhaps God breaks us, so that those shoes don't get comfortable for us, and He does it at just the precise moment we begin to feel comfortable. New shoes, new direction His son takes for us to follow, or new things for us to do for His kingdom that might cause incredible discomfort.
I'm getting married in just over four months. I'll have a new husband and stepson. I'm moving to a new town where I know probably 5 people, if that. Let's not even mention the job search I'll have (nothing with time off as sweet as I have now, that's for sure). I'm leaving the church family I've had for 12 years now. Finding a new church is no easy task. I've got a lot of breaking going on.
I've been single, and living with just my children, since 2003. That's a long time, and I'm a bit set in my ways. I have to be willing to compromise some of those ways, and that'll be fine. With three young children, you get pretty easy-going about stuff like that. A certain amount of pride accumulates when you're a single mother. And not the kind of pride you want to have. It's almost boastful. When I got divorced, I wanted to avoid this at all cost. It accumulated anyway, however, and I didn't realize it until the last few days. I'd gotten very used to taking care of the kids and myself, doing everything on my own (I even patched drywall and fixed my piano and moved heavy furniture and everything). When you're married, though, it's not about doing everything on your own. Spouses lean on and help each other. I have a very "I can do it myself" demeanor. That demeanor has to be broken, and it's being broken right now. It hurts. It's humbling. I don't like it, but how could I possibly be a good wife and mother if I don't go through it? I am, once again, going to be a helper to a wonderful man, and God is simply making me a suitable helper for him (Genesis 2:18).
There are many other things in me that need to be broken in order for me to achieve my goal of being a Proverbs 31 wife (this has always been a goal of mine, but cut short upon divorce. God has renewed this goal for me). In the difficult process of God breaking me to make me what I should be for my soon-to-be husband and our children, I will become a better follower of Jesus. Funny how the Father can fulfill two purposes at once. Being broken won't be comfortable (and isn't), that's for sure, but by keeping my eyes on Jesus, following Him, perhaps I won't notice it so much. By making Jesus my treasure, everything else I desire to be for Him, and for my family, will fall into place in His time. And because following Jesus is, as Pastor Dave said, evangelistic in nature, my experiences over the last several years in being broken and made whole again just might help someone else going through the same thing.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
You know it's been a long time since you blogged when you can't remember your blog password. Sad, very sad, indeed.
This summer has flown by, but has been pretty good. I have 6 days of vacation left before I return to work, and I'm sure it will zip by, what with school, work, wedding planning, selling the house, etc.
I'm not a wedding planner. It's a genetic flaw in me, I guess, because aren't women supposed to love that stuff? Not I. Where's Martha Stewart when you need her?
Football season is upon us, and I am SO glad. Go Mizzou!! Go Pirates! Go Chiefs!
This summer has flown by, but has been pretty good. I have 6 days of vacation left before I return to work, and I'm sure it will zip by, what with school, work, wedding planning, selling the house, etc.
I'm not a wedding planner. It's a genetic flaw in me, I guess, because aren't women supposed to love that stuff? Not I. Where's Martha Stewart when you need her?
Football season is upon us, and I am SO glad. Go Mizzou!! Go Pirates! Go Chiefs!
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