A Bit of Joy

On Christmas Eve...Katie and Teige had three baths. I couldn't find the can of chocolate frosting for the Birthday Cake for Jesus. I couldn't find Katie and Teige. I found Katie and Teige under Molly's bed. I found the chocolate frosting for the Birthday Cake for Jesus.
Katie at my mom's house Christmas Eve, eating. Apparently, a kid cannot live on chocolate frosting alone. I sure could have. Dad...with his best woman and stupidest smirk
Becky, Molly, Abbie...See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil

Daddy reading the Christmas story from Luke to the grandkids

Super Teige to the rescue. Aunt Annie made him this cape and he hasn't taken it off much since Christmas Eve.

The calm before the storm

Teige was the first out of bed at 5:30...

We were all up and at it by 6:30

Me and my sweethearts. What a Merry Christmas.

smooch

Movie Quote Monday

Oh...what is that...Christmas music...finally. Merry Christmas. Later, as promised earlier in the year, I shall attempt to create more upbeat, more Christmassy lyrics to "My Favorite Things." Till then, I'll leave you with quotes from, yet another, family favorite:

"I am angry. I'm like a large tornado of anger, swirling about. "

"What do you call that again, when you almost win? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah... Losing! "

"You know how hard it's been for me ever since your mom died."

"She didn't die! She divorced you!"

"Ehh... tomatoes, tomahtoes. "

"Hi, I'm Phil Weston and this is my son, Sam. I'm new to coffee... I was wondering if you could mix half of the regular version with half of the decaffinated version?"

"Are you a robot-woman? Are you a robot?"

"Ok, you caught me. The finches were a bad idea. And I wasn't gonna say anything, but I think some of them may have salmonella. A fair amount, in fact. I may have inadvertently poisoned your children. "

"Every time you say something back to me, it makes me love you more! "

smooch

How does one choose Joy?

Choose Joy? I wanna know how this works exactly. I know when I've experience Joy, I've known and seen the difference between it and it's worldly counterpart, happiness. Happiness happens whenever everything is going great-when the house is clean and the kids are clean and the boyfriend is doting and the arguments between friends are forgotten and when you've had a really good glass of wine and you've had a good bowel movement for the day. [I had to lighten the mood a little] But what about when your life is out of control, when you think that if you could just stop spinning you might be able to catch your breath, but instead find yourself vomiting violently?  I'm searching...Show me, Lord.

smooch

You Say Strength is found in weakness...

This line, from my favorite Starfield song...has re-playing in my head again and again over the past month. I've been really pondering strength and weakness.
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Have you ever noticed that others expect you to be the strongest when you want to be the weakest? And then turn around to view you as weak when you want them to notice how strong you are? But strength is not in the eye of the beholder as beauty may be. Strength and resolve come from something inside. Our words and actions may be a good indicator to others of how strong we are at the time or while in certain circumstances, but they don't show the seed of capability that is within the constitution of every human God created. A seed that is only cultivated in our weakest days.

I am weak. Yesterday might have been the darkest day I have experienced in about two months. I cried out to the Father for strength and still didn't get a good foothold. I needed a breath and the air didn't come. It has always been the pattern in my walk with the Lord that the greatest defeats come before the greatest Joy and yet, I'm still surprised when it happens. We flippantly sing, many a Sunday morn, "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength." Stop and examine what you're singing. How wonderfully true these words ring out. For me that Joy is revealed most through trials...through moments of weakness. I count it all Joy to be weak for I know that Joy comes in the morning and my strength will come when I wait for it. He promised that to us, so count on it. God moved through this house last night and brought with Him the Joy and strength I needed after a day of disparity. Once again, I was as surprise as could be...Why? He promised me. Why am I always surprised? I imagine the Father watching me as my mother used to watch me when I was opening a Christmas present she promised me I wasn't getting.

I'm getting ready to do a study on Joy...If any of you have some favorite verses or literature on this, I would love to hear from you.
smooch

Retrospect

The muddy waters swirled with insincere moments

and remnants of half thunk sentiments.

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I splashed in it for a time in ignorant bliss
as I disregarded the muck on my dress.

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The first great storm blew in and all was

frozen there for me to see the warning hints.

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I slipped and fell and was hurt more than once,

while I planned to escape the mess.

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I decided enough, for our folly had no logic,
and logic allowed no such laments.

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...I should have chose a better puddle.

NDC 12/08

smooch

Movie Quote Monday

Thanksgiving night it was my pleasure to watch one of the most beautiful films made in the past ten years. Beautiful. That's the best word I can think of to describe it. It was beautiful to look at, to listen to, to feel in your soul. Beautiful. Sitting their in a crowded theatre, I felt all by myself for at least half the show, wrapped in this beautifully delicious movie. I don't remember a time ever being more annoyed when fellow movie-goers drew my attention away from the screen. As I sat and waited for the film to start, there was a teenage girl sitting about 8 rows behind me. She mentioned to her friend that it was the third time she had been to see Twilight. "Crazy teenager, who doesn't have anything better to spend her money on.", was my initial thought. Leaving the theatre, I felt entranced. I told Jeff it was as if I had been to the art museum and experienced a great piece of art. I intend to see this film again before it leaves the theatre. If you are thinking about seeing it at all, go now. As of right now, Playlist doesn't offer any of the movie soundtracks. This first song "Puppet Love" was composed by Carter Burwell, who also composed "Bella's Lullaby" for the Twilight soundtrack.

Here are a few quotes I can remember...


"Hold on tight, spidermonkey. "

"That's all superhero stuff, right? What if I'm not the hero? What if I'm... the bad guy?"

"Death is peaceful, easy. Life is harder."

And the last line of the movie:

"No one will surrender tonight, but I won't give in. I know what I want."

smooch

Movie Quote Monday

So, if I were stuck on a desert island [or a dessert island for that matter] and could only ever watch one movie for the rest of my entire life, it would be this one. I know I pretty much quoted the entire movie, except for one favorite quote...Guess what it is and win a prize. If you haven't seen this movie yet or you didn't like it, you're a COTTONHEADEDNINNYMUGGINS. Which, by the way, I discovered that I can not say 5 times really fast.

"Congratulations! You did it! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody! It's great to be here."

"First we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie-dough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle."

"I'm sorry I ruined your lives, and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR."

"My finger has a heartbeat."

"Francisco! That's fun to say!"

"I feel really warm when I'm around you and my tongue swells up."

"Don't tell him what you want, he's a liar. ... You disgust me! How can you live with yourself? ...You sit on a throne of lies. ...You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don't smell like Santa"

"Have you seen these toilets? They're GINORMOUS"

"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear."

"It's just like Santa's workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms... and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me..."

"It's a crappy cup of coffee...No, it's the world's BEST cup of coffee."

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

"I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite"

"SON of a NUTcracker! "

"Does somebody need a hug?"

"Buddy, the elf, what's your favor color?"

Americans Need Only To Look Pretty

This morning I was doing my bible study and note taking on one of my other blogs: Go For A Walk. I have been studying verses on hell. While looking for visuals on the subject I came by this t-shirt. Did you laugh? I hope so.

I entered the addictive world of Facebook last Sunday. Come find me there... I welcome new friends.

Today we're just getting caught up on the housework and grocery shopping. Tonight Jeff is coming over, we may get to Patria if he gets back from Danville, Illinois at a pertinent time.

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To Do Lists

If you do something extra that's not on your to do list and it wasn't there to cross off, did you really do it? I love do to lists. I'm currently dictating a list for the day to my secretary. What am I going to do if she goes to public school? I have a bad habit of getting sidetracked in everything ~ driving, talking, working, reading...etc. I wonder if it has anything to do with my caffeine addiction. You know yesterday at SB Jeff bought me a grande cdl and before I left I had to get another cup of what we refer to as "dirt". I haven't had a cup of coffee yet this morning. I need to do that right now... See what I mean? I depend on my list to keep me steered in the right direction. What I want you to tell me is do you think it's weird that if I do something that's not on the list and go back to the list, add the item, only to cross it off? It's like patting myself on the back. Is that so wrong?

Calla needs a ride to Kaleo and I need to know what time we are suppose to be at Mom's on Thanksgiving. Those are on the list today. Can you help me out?

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We Did It!

I'd like to give a humble thanks to all my friends, family, and those who don't know me at all, but enjoy stalking me! Together we've just achieved 10,000 hits on this blog. If you were here with me we could throw confetti. Hmmm. Wish you were here with me... I like confetti!

smooch

Miscellaneous Molly

This morning dragged me out bed by the scruff of my neck and said, "Stop talking on the phone until 1:00 am." I am battling, once again, with my arch nemesis... you guessed it ... the laundry. It has been especially challenging over the past few weeks, because my dryer door "fell off". Things just magically break themselves around here... Do you have a magical house? If you have kids, you probably don't have time to answer that question, because some little person is currently using your dryer door as a swing...weeeeeee!
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Of recent days, Molly says to me, "Mama, why don't you post more pictures of me on your blog?" Calla, on the other hand, says, "Could you please not put anymore pictures of me on your blog, facebook, or anywhere else on the internet?" The contrast between the two is sharp, with no gray middle ground on most issues, yet they want to share a room. - Puzzling. At any rate, per request of both of my beautiful daughters, more pictures of Molly...No pictures of Calla.

Looking like she's just been tickled, this smile really makes my day!

I love my kids most in pajamas. Molly was about the age Katie is now in this picture.

Uh, Why can't I wear this to church on Sunday?

Whenever Molly would have to stand in the corner, Diego would stand with her. Such a sympathetic cat!

Here's hoping you have a not too magical day in your little space of the world.

smooch

Movie Quote Monday

It must first be said, on this bitter cold morning in November, that "I believe in Santa Clause." I absolutely do . AND I boldly say "Merry Christmas." I tell you this not to stir up controversy, but to warn you that you that there will most assuredly be pro-Santa/pro-"CHRIST"mas propaganda when you visit with me, here, over the next few months. I will keep the Christmas music to a minimal until the day after Thanksgiving, per instructions from Calla. And now for the quotes from one of my most cherished Christmas flicks

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

"The thing about trains... it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on."

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"I'm looking for a girl." ..."Well aren't we all?"

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"There's no greater gift than friendship."

Several years ago, when the film first arrived on the big screen,

we thought Billy looked like our friend William.

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"What exactly is your persuasion on the Big Man, since you brought him up?"..."I want to believe, but..."..."But you don't want to be bamboozled. You don't want to be led down the primrose path. You don't want to be conned or duped. Hoodwinked. You don't want the wool pulled over you eyes. Railroaded. Seeing is believing. Am I right?"

"What in the name of Mike?" [That's my favorite quote]

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At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.

Merry Christmas and smooch

Cincinnati Chili and Espresso

The kids are off to there father's house for the first time in six weeks and I am enjoying a quiet break this evening. It's so peaceful that I can feel my hair growing back! There is a chirping of a battery needing to be replaced in a fire alarm somewhere. It's making the sound your sneakers did on the gymnasium floor. I can actually hear the low hum of my computer. I love this. Mmmmm.

I was able to spend the latter part of the afternoon having coffee with my artistic friend, April. April's home is beautiful. Every time I enter it, the artist hiding inside me screams to come out. I don't have the time to be artistic, as of late, but I appreciate the environment April has created for herself and her family. She has this little espresso maker and always has fresh cream on hand. We sit and sip and never run out of items on the list to talk about.

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This evening, I headed over to Em's for one of her favorite recipes, Cincinnati Chili. Although, I have never eaten chili in Cincinnati before, Em's chili made me want to get in the car and take a road trip tomorrow. Ian Scott "Shmee" has won such a special spot in my heart. He calls me "Nicney". It's hard for me to remember Teige being so small. I love baby boys!

Well, I'm heading for a bubble bath, maybe a call with a boy, and then to bed. I have another whirlwind of a weekend planned. I feel like I just recovered from the last one...

smooch

Katie's #2 Party

Here is my little winter birthday princess.

"Happy Birthday To You"

Um, You missed one, KJ

Mom and Daddy with his new

dapper cap and suspenders

smooch

Movie Quote Monday ~ Just a Little Bit Late

This one has too many really good ones to put all of them on here, but here are a few. This one is in my top 10 ~ Yeah, I know there are like 30 in my top ten!

"I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic."

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"Destiny is something we've invented because we can't stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental."

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"Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breath in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breath in and out... and, then after a while, I won't have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while."

"Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance... nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It was... "

"A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie."

"Well, this is fate! She's divorced, we don't want to redo the cabinets, and you need a wife. What do they call it when everything intersects?"...

"The Bermuda Triangle."

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"When a man is a widower why do we say he was widowed? Why don't we say he was widowered?"

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"It's easier to be killed by a terrorist than it is to find a husband over the age of 40!"

"That statistic is not true!"

"That's right it's not true, but it feels true."

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Katie is a Hug from God

Happy Birthday, Katie Johanna Conlin. Two years ago, today you were sent to all of us as a hug from God. Mommy sitting here kind of relaxed and waiting for you to arrive. If you they had waited another 45 seconds to shoot the picture, I may not of looked so relaxed.

Here you are all fresh. I love fresh baby, except for all the cottage cheesy looking stuff. That's just gross, but you were the most beautiful, hopeful, little thing I had ever laid my eyes on. So precious.

And here you are already posing for the camera. "Hi. Mom."

I was thinking about how wonderfully peaceful it was to look into your innocent face. What were you thinking? Did you notice that I was wearing earrings? How many women wear earrings and makeup through their deliveries?

Look at you. You were the perfect combination of your big sis, Molly and a Cabbage Patch Kid. I think you liked me.

Oh wait, hold that thought. I guess its time to figure out this baby thing again. How do I get it to be quiet???

Here are Grandma and Barb Merritt, who were by my side through the entire delivery. They were almost as happy to see you as I was.

Here are Grandpa and your big sisters.

Sleep well my baby, for two years from now you will be on your way to discovering the solution for world peace!

smooch