Kevin's birthday is in 2 weeks so we've been planning his birthday party. It'll be at our house and the rain plans include games and activities inside, so I put a limit on the number of kids invited.
I told Kevin he could invite 5 friends from his class and asked who he'd like to invite. He immediately named 2 kids and then stumbled on the others because although he's friends with everyone in his class, he couldn't remember which ones like soccer. And having a soccer party means inviting people who would enjoy it, of course. (how nice of him)
At dinner tonight, I gave him his last chance to pick the school friends he wants to invite. Over the past week he's given me about 10 names by naming different kids each time I ask who he wants to invite. Today he came up with another new one, "EB."
"Why did you decide to invite EB? You've never mentioned her before."
"I know, but today she asked me if I'm inviting her to my party and when I said 'no,' she gave me a mad face."
Andy and I looked across the table at each other. "Well, I guess that's as good a reason as any to invite her!"
Monday, March 31, 2008
Overheard
Sitting in church yesterday before the service started, I heard a guy behind me say, "This church has too many metaphors."
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Unexpected lessons from the Positive Coaching Alliance
Last night I attended a parenting seminar put on by the Positive Coaching Alliance. The goal was to teach parents how to help their kids learn life lessons through sports. It was very worthwhile and if you enjoy sports or have kids in sports, I recommend checking out their website for more information.
At the seminar, I saw an acquaintance who really confused me. I know this man through a friend and for the sake of this post I'll call him "Roger." I've seen Roger be a bit of a bully, I've seen him come down really hard on his kids for making mistakes, I've seen him be helpful to his friends and neighbors less than I thought was possible, I've seen him not reign in his kid when he was being unfair to a group of younger kids.... So, to put it simply, I've never liked this guy. And when I saw him at the Positive Coaching Alliance seminar, I admit I thought the heavens were about to crack open and deliver Jesus to me Revelation-style because nothing could be more disparate than Roger and being a good parent regarding sports.
After sitting down I thought, "Let's see the sparks fly when this guy hears that he should not put his kid down for making a mistake and that although winning is important, it's not everything." Pass the popcorn!
Much to my surprise, Roger and I had a nice discussion about being a good coach and a good parent in the ways that I know to be good. Then he was perfectly content, nay, supportive, of the goals of the Positive Coaching Alliance and I found out he had recently attended the PCA's coaches' seminar.
Wha?
If I only knew Roger from last evening and never before, I would think he was a totally different person. Seriously, 180 degrees from the guy I've known him to be to this point. Now I have to work on putting those two images together into one person.
Man, I hate it when God makes me start seeing the good in someone I've enjoyed disliking for so long.
At the seminar, I saw an acquaintance who really confused me. I know this man through a friend and for the sake of this post I'll call him "Roger." I've seen Roger be a bit of a bully, I've seen him come down really hard on his kids for making mistakes, I've seen him be helpful to his friends and neighbors less than I thought was possible, I've seen him not reign in his kid when he was being unfair to a group of younger kids.... So, to put it simply, I've never liked this guy. And when I saw him at the Positive Coaching Alliance seminar, I admit I thought the heavens were about to crack open and deliver Jesus to me Revelation-style because nothing could be more disparate than Roger and being a good parent regarding sports.
After sitting down I thought, "Let's see the sparks fly when this guy hears that he should not put his kid down for making a mistake and that although winning is important, it's not everything." Pass the popcorn!
Much to my surprise, Roger and I had a nice discussion about being a good coach and a good parent in the ways that I know to be good. Then he was perfectly content, nay, supportive, of the goals of the Positive Coaching Alliance and I found out he had recently attended the PCA's coaches' seminar.
Wha?
If I only knew Roger from last evening and never before, I would think he was a totally different person. Seriously, 180 degrees from the guy I've known him to be to this point. Now I have to work on putting those two images together into one person.
Man, I hate it when God makes me start seeing the good in someone I've enjoyed disliking for so long.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Low-tech funnies
I know this isn't iPhoto, but it's just as funny! What do you think people did for laughs before Macs?
The third time was not a charm
When I took the laundry downstairs today, I noticed a black piece of paper or plastic under the left side of the extra freezer. I was too lazy to do anything about it at that point so I waited until later in the morning (15 minutes before I was due to leave for a game of ultimate) to finally try to fish it out. I stepped on the edge of it with my shoe and dragged it out. Only, it didn't slide out. Rather, my shoe became both slick and sticky at the same time as I pulled it back and saw that the black thing was actually a dark red puddle - of blood.
I opened the freezer door and was not chilled by the cold air inside but was overwhelmed, instead, by the odor of rotting food. And lots of it.
This is the third time we've lost a "batch" of food. Once it was from Hurricane Isabel when our power was out for 5 days so we had to get rid of everything in the fridge and freezer. Then we had an older, extra freezer go belly up on us while we were out of town for a long weekend. Then today, I found our fairly new freezer with scads of food inside - much more than usual so, good timing - and an error code blinking on the thermostat control.
Each time this happens, I think to myself, "Self - maybe this means you're not supposed to horde so much food. Maybe you should just buy food one week at a time." Then the sale papers come and I see that salmon is $4.99/lb and ground beef is $2/lb or a friend offers us a full deer worth of meat if we just pay the butcher bill or Kevin's school has a fund raiser selling frozen foods and then I go crazy thinking what a great deal! I should definitely do this because hey! I have an extra freezer!
I opened the freezer door and was not chilled by the cold air inside but was overwhelmed, instead, by the odor of rotting food. And lots of it.
This is the third time we've lost a "batch" of food. Once it was from Hurricane Isabel when our power was out for 5 days so we had to get rid of everything in the fridge and freezer. Then we had an older, extra freezer go belly up on us while we were out of town for a long weekend. Then today, I found our fairly new freezer with scads of food inside - much more than usual so, good timing - and an error code blinking on the thermostat control.
Each time this happens, I think to myself, "Self - maybe this means you're not supposed to horde so much food. Maybe you should just buy food one week at a time." Then the sale papers come and I see that salmon is $4.99/lb and ground beef is $2/lb or a friend offers us a full deer worth of meat if we just pay the butcher bill or Kevin's school has a fund raiser selling frozen foods and then I go crazy thinking what a great deal! I should definitely do this because hey! I have an extra freezer!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Musical tastes of my 62-year old parents
Last week I compiled a music CD for my parents to use when they exercise. I wanted only to include music they don't already have but things that I deem "exercise-worthy" - if it keeps me on the treadmill for 5 more minutes, then it's good.
I was wary that they wouldn't like the Gipsy Kings and Offspring songs but was pretty sure they'd like Metallica and Linkin Park.
After my mom listened to it the first time, I asked if she liked some/most/all of the songs. Her response was, "'Crazy Train' has always been one of my favorites! Do you have an Ozzy Osbourne CD?"
Yes, Mom, we have a couple of them and you are welcome to borrow them. I'm sorry, but we don't have any AC/DC that you don't already have. (Yes, I'm being serious.)
I was wary that they wouldn't like the Gipsy Kings and Offspring songs but was pretty sure they'd like Metallica and Linkin Park.
After my mom listened to it the first time, I asked if she liked some/most/all of the songs. Her response was, "'Crazy Train' has always been one of my favorites! Do you have an Ozzy Osbourne CD?"
Yes, Mom, we have a couple of them and you are welcome to borrow them. I'm sorry, but we don't have any AC/DC that you don't already have. (Yes, I'm being serious.)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I'm not giving you one of those
Tonight I said to Kevin, "Tomorrow I need to make time to give you a b-a-t-h." He's heard me spell "bath" many times but apparently his head wasn't on straight tonight because he asked what that was. I suggested he try to sound it out and he thought for a few seconds and then said, loudly and proudly, "BITCH!"
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
February 14th
Too many people never get a chance to see
Love in their life.
I am blessed to live in it through the respect that you have for me and others.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Joy in their life.
I am blessed to see it in the crinkles around your eyes.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Peace in their life.
I am blessed to be hugged by it when your arms are around me.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Patience in their life.
I am blessed to bask in it through your quiet waiting while those around you spin for answers.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Kindness in their life.
I am blessed to feel it in the gentle touch of your powerful hands.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Goodness in their life.
I am blessed to swim in it when your eyes fill with tears of compassion.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Faithfulness in their life.
I am blessed to stand proud next to your integrity to others and their needs.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Meekness in their life.
I am blessed by your humility to let others "go first."
Too many people never get a chance to see
Self-control in their life.
I am blessed to experience your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and meekness when it's so easy to be the opposite.
I could not ask for a more amazing husband to share my life with.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Love in their life.
I am blessed to live in it through the respect that you have for me and others.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Joy in their life.
I am blessed to see it in the crinkles around your eyes.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Peace in their life.
I am blessed to be hugged by it when your arms are around me.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Patience in their life.
I am blessed to bask in it through your quiet waiting while those around you spin for answers.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Kindness in their life.
I am blessed to feel it in the gentle touch of your powerful hands.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Goodness in their life.
I am blessed to swim in it when your eyes fill with tears of compassion.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Faithfulness in their life.
I am blessed to stand proud next to your integrity to others and their needs.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Meekness in their life.
I am blessed by your humility to let others "go first."
Too many people never get a chance to see
Self-control in their life.
I am blessed to experience your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and meekness when it's so easy to be the opposite.
I could not ask for a more amazing husband to share my life with.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
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