No Cat in the Hat

I don't think its hard to figure out which one of us has the best sense of fashion when it comes to hats . . . . .

Another Bo-Bo for BamBam

Your Fortune in Church vs. in Bed

You know that terrible game people play with fortunes from fortune cookies? You know the one where you add "in bed" to each saying? Yeah you do.

My darling husband has decided to "Christianize" this tradition by exchanging "in bed" with "in church."

This came about the other night during our take-out Chinese dinner. Here are some of our fortunes in church:

1. The whole world is a narrow bridge the important thing is not to be afraid (in church).

2. The architect of your destiny is yourself (in church).

3. The change you started already have far-reaching effects. Be ready (in church).

FamilyLife Conference and Marketing the Asians

This past weekend Danny and I attended the FamilyLife "Weekend to Remember" marriage conference in Durham. It was our first and although we're newlyweds we went also in support of our new friends Kegan and Kozue who are engaged. They are in our Sunday school class and Wednesday night small group.

If you're married, I highly recommend you do this as a couple as least once. (Your experience will vary from conference to conference depending on your speakers, but the material is the same.)

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Danny and I had sorta a bad attitude about going as we just did not want to give up ANOTHER Saturday. But it was a great experience and we enjoyed it so much we even showed up for the Sunday sessions.

I am usually skeptical of these types of venues --- they seem very "formulaic" and I am gifted in the area of being critical so that just went hand in hand.

I knew it was going to be a good conference when all the printed materials/audio visuals, etc. had an Asian couple. YES! I knew it all along! Asians are better at marriage and NOW FamilyLife was making it known.

Okay maybe not.

Anyway, no matter how short or long you've been married, or no matter how much you think you got it together as a couple, this conference is still for you.

My Engrish

At the beach I meant to say "above and beyond" and accidentally combined them for a new much more efficient work: be-ove.

You can use it like this:
"I love you be-ove anyone else."

I also got a call from someone who mistakenly said "Powder of attorney" instead of power of attorney. We now like to sing that 90's classic "I've got the powder!"

And on a random note: Bitty seems to be alive and gaining weight. The other day Michael and I went to the SPCA to check out the kitties --- you know, to be prepared for replacing Bitty when she leaves us. It was so tempting to adopt 3 cats but we resisted.
Bitty must have suspected something because she has been particularly loving. I feel guilty.

20 Years of Friendship

Every year (for the last 6 years or so), the Wine-Price Girls and I have our annual beach get away. No husbands and no children allowed.

We all met our freshman year at JMU 20 years ago (Susan came along sophomore year). We were nicknamed the "Wine-Price Girls" because we all lived in the same dorm -- Wine-Price or aka 'The virgin vault.' That name still sticks today. The Wine-Price part.

Our friendships have gone through their seasons. And to even begin to describe the impact this group of women have had on me (good and bad) would take a book. They have loved me through some of my darkest hours and of course celebrated with me through some of my most beautiful moments. They have prayed with me, for me and in spite me. They have seen me at my best, and not abandoned me at my worst.

Thank you girls for 20 years of friendship. Here's to 20 more and see you at the beach tomorrow!!

Living Room Furniture

I'm so excited as we have finally ordered custom living room furniture that will arrive in about 3 weeks! We have been borrowing Sue's in-laws couch now for over a year and although its quaint and a lovely teal, it just isn't me.

Plus I don't want to have a heart attack every time a teenager pounces on it.

So I decided I wanted my living room decorated in warm colors --- shooting for an orange but didn't quite find a swatch I liked and am happy with red. The red swatch will be the couch. The patterned swatch will be a chair. The larger chair + ottoman is a gold but I don't have the swatch.

Can't wait!!! Holly if you're reading this -- don't you think yours and David's paintings will go well with these???!!

And I hate to be vain about this, but I'm gonna look smashing sitting on that beautiful red couch!

Lump Eck Toe Me

Last Friday I had an in/out patient minor surgery. It was a lumpectomy on my left breast. This is actually my second one. The first one I had when I was preggers with Lauren. Couple of weeks ago I had a breast biopsy that came back negative. However, recent studies show that the kind of tissue found has a strong link to "non-invasive" breast cancer. So the pathologist decided to be uber cautious and therefor recommended I get the tissue removed.

My Dr./surgeon is a riot and I can honestly say THE best physician I've ever encountered. She is about 4' 5" and full of unstoppable energy and a no holds bar attitude. Anyway, surgery went fine and I'm recovering with the help of percaset and tylenol.

I have been resting a lot and for someone who doesn't get much sleep, its been nice to get a lot of sleep lately. Its also been nice to have a husband take care of me during this time. Yeah, I know, here I go again with gushy newlywed stuff, but I so appreciate his love, tenderness and servant's heart during this.

It might not make my breast heal faster, but it sure helps to heal the rest of me. I don't care what anyone says, its always nicer to have someone you love nurse you back to health.

Jack Snead: July 1926 - October 2006

Well, we're coming up the 2nd year anniversary of my father's death, October 5. Ugh, I hate the thought that I now focus more on the day he died then the day he was born.

Due to our schedule, it turns out we'll be visiting my mom's this weekend anyway. Its awkward and I don't know how you acknowledge someone's loss in a way that shows them respect without making them feel like you're digging up serious pain. Do you get a card? Flowers? Does it just make it all feel like you're reminding them again?

Of course for my mom, it feels like it happened 2 months ago and not 2 years ago. I am always amazed how much my life changed in those 2 years. Two years. Two years and its strange to think my father has missed out on what feels to me to be some of the best years of my life to come. And isn't it just like me to turn my thoughts of the anniversary of his death into it being about me.....

I miss him, but not the man that died. I miss the man who was my childhood Daddy. I don't like to think about him, not because its painful that he died, but I get extremely uncomfortable about what I know the truth of the Bible says. Its truth and yet sometimes I can't get that reality wrapped about my brain. I don't know certain things for sure, and I couldn't and can't change things, but eventually one day I'll know.

They say that our fathers have a direct impact on how we view and perceive our heavenly Father.

I do have to say that despite his anti-God raising ways as I was growing up, there were many things my dad did that God used to show me His character. My father was a gift giver. Does that surprise those of you who have gotten a gift from me? I am a gift giver. I sometimes think I enjoy giving the gift more than the person receiving it. That was my dad. No Barbie Dream House assembly required was too much of a match for him. Perhaps he spoiled me now and then, but isn't that how our heavenly Father is? He is always, always waiting for the opportunity to bless us.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! "(1 John 3).

My father was consistently there. He went to work, came home by 5, ate dinner with us every night. I saw him as the head of the household in the very traditional way.

He loved to entertain. Shocking. He loved to throw a good party. Even costume parties. I have a great memory of my dad dressed up as King Arthur. He loved to cook. He made homemade ice-cream when we lived overseas because you just couldn't GET ice-cream in Egypt in the '70s.

He spray painted the corner of all our windows white to emulate snow during the holidays, because hey, you just couldn't GET snow in Egypt in the '70s. Or now. Maybe Al-Quada can though.

I was very much the apple of his eye. I think I told him I appreciated those things. I hope I did. I'm sure he knows I did love him. And I know in his last days, that was meaningful to him.

The Little Red Flag that got Bigger

Okay, I'll admit it. I was THRILLED about McCain's pick for VP Sarah Palin. But I DID have one small red flag. That was if I truly believed in God's role of the woman as wife and mother, wasn't she sorta NOT doing that? How do you have time to raise/nuture a family of 5 if, you know, you are uber busy? But I decided it was better to ignore the red flag and just be happy "my team" had an interesting VP pick. UGGGH.

Well, today I was listening to a podcast InContext with Michael Easley who was interviewing a pastor Voddie Baucham. I was so impressed with him I checked his website and then got caught up in his blog and my red flag about SP grew as I read his entry about her. I have to say I totally agree with his point about what the Biblical definition of "pro-family" really means.

Click HERE to read it.

P.S.
I also really appreciated his entry on golden boy Obama.