This is the only YouTube video I could find about this. We were at an event called Laugh for Life Gala, a Mustard Seed Ministry fundraiser. They have musicians, and usually a comedian. They ran a promo for next year's guy, Michael Jr., and this was the clip they played (they only played until about the 2-minute mark of this video)...
But first, before you watch the video, refresh your memory as to why I find this so hilariously funny....
Now watch. (Pause music at bottom of page...)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Funny girl
Meaghan had been having a little friend over for the last couple weeks of September.
Little Miss M was a great poser.
Meaghan? Not so much. As soon as I sat her up and turned around to go get the camera, she'd slouch down.
Then she'd laugh at me after I took the picture.
She couldn't sit still to save her life, but she's still cute.
And she loooooves helping Momma bake!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Unexpected
I wasn't sure what to expect when I actually pressed "send" on yesterday's letter.
But what I got, I wasn't expecting at all. I guess maybe I expected complete defense... justification for actions... passing the blame to the next person...
But nope.
I got replies of acknowledgement - letters filled with words of admittance and responsibility, words of maturity and absolute 100% support and agreement of what I'd written, even though the writers were the ones who had done most of the damage in the first place. Words of repentance and hope. Mature responses. Not placating or patronizing, but... honest.
I am humbled by His majesty, touching hearts, opening minds to His will and correction.
I have hope that things might one day be repaired.
How I pray they are. I know there are a lot praying for tonight's meeting. I can't wait to hear how it went.
But what I got, I wasn't expecting at all. I guess maybe I expected complete defense... justification for actions... passing the blame to the next person...
But nope.
I got replies of acknowledgement - letters filled with words of admittance and responsibility, words of maturity and absolute 100% support and agreement of what I'd written, even though the writers were the ones who had done most of the damage in the first place. Words of repentance and hope. Mature responses. Not placating or patronizing, but... honest.
I am humbled by His majesty, touching hearts, opening minds to His will and correction.
I have hope that things might one day be repaired.
How I pray they are. I know there are a lot praying for tonight's meeting. I can't wait to hear how it went.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Confrontation
I am not a fan of confrontation. Oftentimes, I'll do whatever I can to placate the offender or downplay the situation.
But, when something hits me over the head - time and time and time again - there's a point where I can't stand for it any more.
This one is not about family... and thankfully, it's not even about our church. It is, however, about an organization that I've been involved with since I was a kid. The current Board of Directors has made some pretty big miscalculations in the past few years, and has glossed them over. Think: not paying insurance on time, not filing government paperwork on time so that the organization loses charitable status... those kinds of things. In addition, as a member, I am *supposed* to be free to voice my concerns and have them at least heard or acknowledged.
Like I said, I'm not confrontational by nature.
But...
...when my charitable donations receipts go *missing* three years in a row...
...when my address is not updated in their system time and time and time again (within one move! - having to constantly call and ask for documents and newsletters to be sent only to be told "Oh, we still have your old address on file.")...
...when my concerns about dates for meetings are not even responded to...
...when one board member fails to actually properly mail out invitations for the Annual General Meeting and then refuses to make follow-up phone calls to make sure that people know about the meeting and can plan to attend to make quorum... and then brushes it off by saying, "Yeah, well, someone else will be doing it next year," - as if to say, "I don't care, it's not my problem."...
...when program content has gone completely fluffy and has nothing solid to send kids home with...
Then I get a little miffed. And I write letters. Letters which Graeme reads to make sure they're not too caustic, rambling, or mis-focussed. He's a good editor. And I've gotten to be a much better letter-writer thanks to him.
It's not like it's a one-time lack of communication and misdirection. It's been fairly constant for the last three years. It's not about me - it's about many supporting members waiting to walk out because they're not being listened to or answered, so they feel like, "Why should we support?"
Apparently I am not the only one airing frustrations... this, I am grateful for. Perhaps change will now come with the inception of a new board tomorrow night. Oh, I pray it is so. How I want things to turn around - for this organization to return to what it was even 5 years ago... for His glory...
But, when something hits me over the head - time and time and time again - there's a point where I can't stand for it any more.
This one is not about family... and thankfully, it's not even about our church. It is, however, about an organization that I've been involved with since I was a kid. The current Board of Directors has made some pretty big miscalculations in the past few years, and has glossed them over. Think: not paying insurance on time, not filing government paperwork on time so that the organization loses charitable status... those kinds of things. In addition, as a member, I am *supposed* to be free to voice my concerns and have them at least heard or acknowledged.
Like I said, I'm not confrontational by nature.
But...
...when my charitable donations receipts go *missing* three years in a row...
...when my address is not updated in their system time and time and time again (within one move! - having to constantly call and ask for documents and newsletters to be sent only to be told "Oh, we still have your old address on file.")...
...when my concerns about dates for meetings are not even responded to...
...when one board member fails to actually properly mail out invitations for the Annual General Meeting and then refuses to make follow-up phone calls to make sure that people know about the meeting and can plan to attend to make quorum... and then brushes it off by saying, "Yeah, well, someone else will be doing it next year," - as if to say, "I don't care, it's not my problem."...
...when program content has gone completely fluffy and has nothing solid to send kids home with...
Then I get a little miffed. And I write letters. Letters which Graeme reads to make sure they're not too caustic, rambling, or mis-focussed. He's a good editor. And I've gotten to be a much better letter-writer thanks to him.
It's not like it's a one-time lack of communication and misdirection. It's been fairly constant for the last three years. It's not about me - it's about many supporting members waiting to walk out because they're not being listened to or answered, so they feel like, "Why should we support?"
Apparently I am not the only one airing frustrations... this, I am grateful for. Perhaps change will now come with the inception of a new board tomorrow night. Oh, I pray it is so. How I want things to turn around - for this organization to return to what it was even 5 years ago... for His glory...
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The End.
Today marks my last planned running event for the summer/fall that I won't get to participate in. It was to be a 10-mile Fall Classic in support of the Mustard Seed.
Today, I mourn the end of a running season... cut short by injury, illness, and unforeseen circumstance. While I'm thankful I got to run my first half-marathon and an "official" 15K road race, I had planned on doing 2 or 3 more half marathons as well as today's Fall Classic.
In other news... I've been slammed with yet another cold. How lovely, since I'm involved with worship today. Not leading, but regardless, this pain and frog in my throat and the constant dripping of my nose are not going to help.
I'm waiting for my pants to dry. I had to buy some new ones, and they hadn't been washed yet... and I need to wash new pants before I wear them because I know that washing them will also shrink them lengthwise. I have the worst-length legs for pants-buying... "petite" (30 inch) are too short, and "regular" (32 inch) are too long. I've yet to find a 31" pair of pants, but that would indeed be perfect.
Today is going to be a long day. I unfortunately woke half an hour before my alarm was to go off (signifying my time to get up and shower and get ready to leave the house for rehearsal, which is always FAR too early in the morning!), but today will be comprised of run, run, run. Rehearsal at 8 a.m. (pants, hurry up and dry!), two services, straight to my niece's for her birthday, straight to small group tonight... I won't see my front door again until dinnertime.
Must find food. Must blow-dry hair. Must... dry... pants... (hurry up!)
The End.
Today, I mourn the end of a running season... cut short by injury, illness, and unforeseen circumstance. While I'm thankful I got to run my first half-marathon and an "official" 15K road race, I had planned on doing 2 or 3 more half marathons as well as today's Fall Classic.
In other news... I've been slammed with yet another cold. How lovely, since I'm involved with worship today. Not leading, but regardless, this pain and frog in my throat and the constant dripping of my nose are not going to help.
I'm waiting for my pants to dry. I had to buy some new ones, and they hadn't been washed yet... and I need to wash new pants before I wear them because I know that washing them will also shrink them lengthwise. I have the worst-length legs for pants-buying... "petite" (30 inch) are too short, and "regular" (32 inch) are too long. I've yet to find a 31" pair of pants, but that would indeed be perfect.
Today is going to be a long day. I unfortunately woke half an hour before my alarm was to go off (signifying my time to get up and shower and get ready to leave the house for rehearsal, which is always FAR too early in the morning!), but today will be comprised of run, run, run. Rehearsal at 8 a.m. (pants, hurry up and dry!), two services, straight to my niece's for her birthday, straight to small group tonight... I won't see my front door again until dinnertime.
Must find food. Must blow-dry hair. Must... dry... pants... (hurry up!)
The End.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Antsy & excited!
Remember this?
The wait is over. I get to go to a very special uncharted-territory-to-me meeting today. I am EXCITED!!
However, I still have almost 2 hours to wait (2:30)... and time is totally crawling right now. Between now and then, I have to finish up lunch with the kids, get the little ones over to Christina's house, nurse Meggie and get her down for a nap there, and hopefully settle Dustin for a nap, too... and then I get to spend a little over half an hour driving... good thing I can crank the tunes and focus on Jesus (and the road)!! :) Joshua will get off the bus at a friend's house and wait for me there till I'm back in town around 4:30.
Ambiguous, I know. But I'm still really excited!!
The wait is over. I get to go to a very special uncharted-territory-to-me meeting today. I am EXCITED!!
However, I still have almost 2 hours to wait (2:30)... and time is totally crawling right now. Between now and then, I have to finish up lunch with the kids, get the little ones over to Christina's house, nurse Meggie and get her down for a nap there, and hopefully settle Dustin for a nap, too... and then I get to spend a little over half an hour driving... good thing I can crank the tunes and focus on Jesus (and the road)!! :) Joshua will get off the bus at a friend's house and wait for me there till I'm back in town around 4:30.
Ambiguous, I know. But I'm still really excited!!
Monday, October 11, 2010
T.C.
I like music.
I like music with good harmonies, rich voices, and I most especially like music that also has incredible lyrical depth.
Sometimes, this means that I listen to things that are not quite as "Christian mainstream" as, say, Hillsongs or Jars of Clay, or anything *really* well-known.
I came across this man's work when I was doing a Beth Moore Bible study one year. At first, I didn't *love* him, his voice, or his style.
But now, I am drawn to his music... one of his more recent projects, Jesus Saves, stirs my heart and makes my soul soar more than anything else I've heard in the last year.
Meet my "new" friend, Travis Cottrell. Heart for God, music that does absolutely nothing but glorify the King. Brings hope and joy in the midst of exhaustion and overwhelmed places.
*Pause music at the bottom of my blog before watching videos*
Jesus Saves (on the CD, he has a choir backing him up... I've also most often seen him doing worship close-to-solo, so this whole big-band thing was a bit of a shock to me!! Regardless... enjoy!):
I like music with good harmonies, rich voices, and I most especially like music that also has incredible lyrical depth.
Sometimes, this means that I listen to things that are not quite as "Christian mainstream" as, say, Hillsongs or Jars of Clay, or anything *really* well-known.
I came across this man's work when I was doing a Beth Moore Bible study one year. At first, I didn't *love* him, his voice, or his style.
But now, I am drawn to his music... one of his more recent projects, Jesus Saves, stirs my heart and makes my soul soar more than anything else I've heard in the last year.
Meet my "new" friend, Travis Cottrell. Heart for God, music that does absolutely nothing but glorify the King. Brings hope and joy in the midst of exhaustion and overwhelmed places.
*Pause music at the bottom of my blog before watching videos*
Jesus Saves (on the CD, he has a choir backing him up... I've also most often seen him doing worship close-to-solo, so this whole big-band thing was a bit of a shock to me!! Regardless... enjoy!):
Friday, October 8, 2010
No.
No, I can't attend your meeting; I've had plans for that date for almost a year.
No, I can't bake 10 cakes for you for Thanksgiving Sunday; I've been sick for two weeks and I'm hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
No, I can't be on your board of directors; I've got some pretty big commitments coming up in the next few months.
No, I can't commit to 3-hour Saturday Christmas Musical rehearsals every Saturday between now and the middle of December; we actually have a family life and would like to enjoy some of it.
Saying no is getting easier... I just wish it didn't feel so crummy.
No, I can't bake 10 cakes for you for Thanksgiving Sunday; I've been sick for two weeks and I'm hosting Thanksgiving dinner.
No, I can't be on your board of directors; I've got some pretty big commitments coming up in the next few months.
No, I can't commit to 3-hour Saturday Christmas Musical rehearsals every Saturday between now and the middle of December; we actually have a family life and would like to enjoy some of it.
Saying no is getting easier... I just wish it didn't feel so crummy.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Oh, Poop.
Meaghan has a golden 20-minute window after eating where she will often, umm, 'produce' on the potty. Not that we're *actively* potty training, but hey, the less poopy diapers I have to change, the better!!
Me: "Dustin, can you please read to Meaghan while she sits on the potty? Mommy has to run downstairs and grab something." (probably a diaper, but I can't remember exactly)
Dustin: "Sure!" (sits down with naked dollie on the potty)
Not a minute later, I come back upstairs.
Dustin is nowhere in sight. He turns up *under* Meaghan's crib behind the playpen that is stored underneath.
Meaghan?
Oh, she's not on the potty. Of course. She's sitting on her haunches next to the stack of books about three feet away from her potty... you know, the ones Dustin was supposed to read to her while I was gone.
You can only imagine what happened while she was sitting on her haunches in that quick minute...
...and what her little foot might have tracked around a bit...
Naptime was a little late yesterday.
Me: "Dustin, can you please read to Meaghan while she sits on the potty? Mommy has to run downstairs and grab something." (probably a diaper, but I can't remember exactly)
Dustin: "Sure!" (sits down with naked dollie on the potty)
Not a minute later, I come back upstairs.
Dustin is nowhere in sight. He turns up *under* Meaghan's crib behind the playpen that is stored underneath.
Meaghan?
Oh, she's not on the potty. Of course. She's sitting on her haunches next to the stack of books about three feet away from her potty... you know, the ones Dustin was supposed to read to her while I was gone.
You can only imagine what happened while she was sitting on her haunches in that quick minute...
...and what her little foot might have tracked around a bit...
Naptime was a little late yesterday.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
It's been a week.
A week since I've blogged... just not feeling it right now. Might have something to do with how run down we've all been... but I do need to blog about our Walk to Remember. All my compadres have already blogged about it, and then there's me. Slow, slow, slow.
Meaghan can officially open doors, which means that my pantry is not safe any longer. This is a problem as I often find (thankfully closed) containers of goldfish, cereal, brown sugar, and crackers in random places in my house. This girl's fixation for food puts her brothers to shame. We have those doorknobs that are more like levers than round knobs, so instead of the standard $5/2pk of child safety covers, we're looking at $15 for ONE cover. I think I might buy one... just for my pantry...
A week since I've blogged... just not feeling it right now. Might have something to do with how run down we've all been... but I do need to blog about our Walk to Remember. All my compadres have already blogged about it, and then there's me. Slow, slow, slow.
Meaghan can officially open doors, which means that my pantry is not safe any longer. This is a problem as I often find (thankfully closed) containers of goldfish, cereal, brown sugar, and crackers in random places in my house. This girl's fixation for food puts her brothers to shame. We have those doorknobs that are more like levers than round knobs, so instead of the standard $5/2pk of child safety covers, we're looking at $15 for ONE cover. I think I might buy one... just for my pantry...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)