Ghost Story

OK, let me explain my nightly ritual:

Every night, I multi-task by saying my prayers in the family room while my rice bag (thank you Monika - I am still using the one you gave me forever ago) heats up in the microwave. Last night, I was all alone (meaning my husband was gone and the kids were in bed) and it was later than usual (maybe 11:30).

So, I am praying (cue the scary music), and feel this little rush of cold air by my feet. Hmm, that is strange, I thought. Then, I was just sure someone was in the room, but good grief - I am praying, so maybe that is a good thing (or maybe not, depending on my behavior the last 24 hours). I talked myself out of someone else being in the room with me, and tried to focus on praying. I dutifully kept my eyes closed (maybe out of fear) the entire time.

Well, when I woke up, I mean opened my eyes, there was a slight movement behind me.

Pause:  is your stomach churning?

Aggghhghgh, there was my son!! He was right behind me and had somehow silently waited there without making an audible sound (that could never, ever happen during the day). I freaked out and hugged him so tight, I think he thought I was trying to crush his bones.

End of story. And, now it is time to go say my prayers. Even just telling this story gives me the hibijibis.

Crazy Singing

I live in a unique home. I made my children aware of their 'vocal chords' early on, by explaining how we definitely don't want to injure our vocal chords (I am a Speech Language Pathologist). The other night, my son and his dad were watching a show from National Geographic, something like "How the Body Works". The singer Steven Tyler, (I don't know his official title) from Aerosmith (am familiar with this band - rock style music), was interviewed and followed after injuring his vocal chords. According to my son, Steven Tyler's singing was "crazy singing". I can't even tell you the extent of the interview or the injury. All I know is that when prayer-time came around, my son was concerned and prayed that Steven Tyler would stop injuring his vocal chords.

Do you think this is a first for Steven? Should I write him a letter to let him know he made the prayer list?

Aspring Actress

I get such a kick out of my daughter. This time I am talking about my two-year old. She has this skill where she can (and has always been able to) feign sleep at any given second. She uses this skill when she wants attention. I tried to get a picture of it today, but I am telling you - this happens on a daily basis. If it happens in public, which it did today, I get all kinds of looks and concern from passersby. Look at the photo, then read on. Today we were walking into an appointment. She was holding my pinky-finger (always) and tripped up a bit, falling to the floor. She layed there, for -- I am not even exaggerating -- a full minute before she even moved a bit. Her face is touching the floor, arms sprawled and she just lays there waiting for me to shower love and concern on her. She is motionless and silent. I know her act, we went through this at the grocery store yesterday. I have to put down everything in my hands, reach down and pull dead weight up. Then, she is on her way, happy as can be.



Bad Day



I'll try to get a photo of her doing this in car, I'll tell her she can't watch a movie and (picture me snapping my finger) instantly she has tilted her head, peacefully closed her eyes and she's out. Or so it seems.

Mt Wanna Hacka Luckie

I am borrowing a "funny" from the other day. I'll do that from time to time or maybe more often than that.

You know the movie, "Nemo"? It is definitely a favorite around here. I have only watched it a few times, but I've listened to it countless numbers of times while driving my kids either to Idaho or to Oregon to visit family.

There is a part in there where some of the non-main character fish are chanting something that sounds like "Mt Wanna Hack a Loogie" which strikes my husband and I funny every time we hear it. Our kids are clueless though.

I laughed and laughed the day I heard my little girls playing pretend on their car mat. They named the airport "Mt Wanna Hacka Luckie" and kept saying it over and over. Now, they know something is funny, but they aren't sure what. I simply can't hide my giggles.

6-Layer Bars

Sometimes happiness is found in "cleaning up the edges" on amazing desserts. Here's one of my favorites.

6 Layer Bars

1/2 cup butter or margarine, mltd

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (abt 1 pckg)

1 (14 ounces) can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped nuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for glass dish). Coat 9x13-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. (I use a glass 11x8 inch pan so they're thicker)
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork.
3. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.

I don't have any credit to give as to who 'invented' this recipe but I can formally thank my friend Janelle for giving it to me.

Here's one funny story behind this recipe: I took a pan of this to my cousins in the area. We had dinner with our uncle and aunt visiting from Idaho. We enjoyed a great afternoon of visiting and laughing. When I brought out this dish, we enjoeyd more talking and each of us took a polite serving of this dish.

The more we talked, the more I noticed my uncle taking just a little more. When I asked him about this, he just said, "I am just cleaning up the edges".

Best Purchase

Since it is rainy outside (not Florida downpour, but all-day pitter patter), my 'happiness' today was when I pushed my daughter in my Chariot stroller. I like my Chariot, like I like my kids.

This picture is a few years old, but just priceless. Look at their little hands. Ahhh, if I could just freeze time.

Laughed today

Let's see, the experience that made me laugh today:

Girls were in bathtub, my middle daughter was in first and singing/playing away when I put my younger daughter in with her. Their conversation went as follows: Younger: Ooh, it is hot Middle: Um, is she going peepee in the water? Long pause while I gathered my thoughts and prayed that Middle wouldn't freak out. Me: I guess she is. Then, the girls picked right up with their playing. Gross, but very funny.

Hope for humanity

Today I visited my ob/gyn for a "happy" yearly appt. You know, as much as a person dreads those appts, I must have the kindest doctor out there. I will be very sad when he retires. Anyway, the part of this appointment that made me happy was when the doctor shared some things with me that give me greater hope for humanity in general and respect for him specifically.

We first talked about knee surgery and this topic moved to hip replacement (he's had both). I asked him how long he stayed "down" from these procedures. His answer, "I was back to work the next day."

I am happy to be around people who know there is still "fun to be had" as well as people who have chosen professions they enjoy doing, regardless of circumstances others could perceive as an "easy-out".

Things Won't Fit

I have just started reading a book titled, "A Room with a View" by E.M. Forster. One little part inspires me to be happy because I am alive, not because I can explain everything. Here's the quote (context is of a father talking to a young lady about his son, who is bothered by something, she asks the father what it is that is bothering the son):

"The old trouble: things won't fit."

'What things?'

"The things of the universe. It is quite true. They don't."

'Oh, Mr Emerson, what ever do you mean?'

In his ordinary voice, so that she scarcely realized he was quoting poetry, he said:

'From far, from eve and morning

And yon twelve-winded sky

The stuff of life to knit me

Blew hither: here am I.'

George and I both know this, but why does it distress him? We know that we come from the winds, and that we shall return to them; that all life is perhaps a knot, a tangle, a blemish in the eternal smoothness. But why should this make us unhappy? Let us rather love one another, and work and rejoice. I don't believe in this world-sorrow.'

I read this section of my book while at the gym riding a stationary bike. After I read this, I closed the book to take a break from reading, looked up at the televisions and saw the tragic unfoldings of the shooting in Arizona of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and 11 other persons, including staffers and people at a public hearing. I am stricken by this story and feel sad and a little fearful.

I will pray for all the families involved and hug my little family tighter. Is there such thing as finding meaning in the pain?

Bowling Prayed Better

A Christmas holiday bowling tradition has sprung up the last three years with my cousins. We have a great time each year. The kids get bumpers, and the teenagers put on a good show. My attempt at bowling this year was so abysmal, I'm embarrassed to record the experience here, on the internet where virtually nothing is erased - ever.

Needless to say, I think by the fifth round (?) I started getting some pins down.

This is where the "happy" part of the story comes. A few days ago, I had a discussion about prayer with my son. We probably talked about the regular stuff, like that we should do it and that it probably isn't reverent to make loud noises immediately preceding every prayer. He went on to tell me, "I prayed for you while we were bowling Mom, and you got better."

Playground Heaven

My kids' school playground

I can't imagine a better playground. The fun and excitement of it isn't the special slide or climbing wall, but actual landmarks: huge rocks and even bigger trees. The soccer field is up above even where this picture is taken. If you look closelyl, the school's roof can be seen in the lower left corner. If you have really good eyes, you can see the tan-colored portables in the right corner.

You can imagine the excitement of a 1st grader because after kindergarten, the kids are allowed to go to the upper playground (which means they either climb the hill or the stairs built into the earth). During a terrible windstorm, one of the gigantic trees fell over. No one touched that tree for a few years, so the kids just played around it -- wouldn't that make YOU smile if you were a kid?

She's got bling!

These bracelets are worn day in and day out, I love seeing them.