Ransomed Daughter

I Double Dog Dare You

2007-09-29T12:59:00.001-04:00

Book Lust

2007-09-18T23:00:00.000-04:00

"Smell my book," Robert invited as he place a yellowed copy of Augustine's Faith under my nose.
"Um . . . no," I responded.
"Don't you love the smell of old books???" he said drawing a whiff of the copy in his hands.

My husband is so odd, but I love his oddness sometimes. I share his affinity for books. When I was younger, I couldn't wait to get my allowance. On Friday afternoons I would make a bee line for The Book Shelf bookstore. I liked that the owners never batted an eye at the fact that I would take up residence on the floor in front of a section, pulling books off the shelf until I decided on what I would buy. It was a ritual for me and my mother always indulged my love of books.

Books have always worked to my advantage. My parents had a rule when it came to grades. If I got a D on a report card then I was grounded for one week. If I got an F, I was grounded for the entire semester. Grounding entailed no phone, no television, no communication with the outside world. I could go to school, come home, sit in my room staring at the walls, come out for dinner, and go to bed. And my dad was the ultimate disciplinarian, nothing made him deviate from the prescribed punishment. When I was in sixth grade, I made an F in French. I maintain to this day that its still Marc Dominique's fault, but my parents weren't hearing it and I was banished to my room for 9 weeks. In my attempt to not go crazy, I found a loop hole in the system: I was allowed to read. I was already a voracious reader, but with no other distractions I began to read as if it were a sport. I went through the entire shelf of Nancy Drew mysteries in the library at a rate that made the librarian raise an eyebrow to my frequent visits. I put more stamps in those library books than Angelina Jolie's passport!

As I have grown older, I struggle to preserve precious reading time. Robert goes on and on about how media has stunted our ability to pay attention. He regales me with stories about how rural farmers could sit and listen to five hour theological debates. He is constantly putting a book into the kids hands and assuring them that they'll "love it". Perhaps we have lost something in exchange for entertainment.

The only thing better than a bookstore is a used books bookstore! Recently, Robert and I made our way to BrightLight Books and wandered the aisles of books with weathered edges looking for the next must have for our nightstands. And there in the midst of all those choices, he found his smelly book. Lately, I've been building my book collection in preparation for our trip to Ukraine. There will be lots of down time where we will be sitting outside of offices, in the car, at the apartment, on the train, and in the airport waiting. The waiting is one thing adopting families warn each other about. I'm looking forward to it! I've ordered seven books from Half.com this week alone. Let the waiting begin!

Blog Bully

2007-09-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

I love that we don't have to get up until 7 am this year. The boys don't wake until 8:15! You better believe they're enjoying that! So this morning, I was surprised to see a soft glow coming from the living room well before 7. Robert was up and typing away on the computer. I've been fighting a cold, so it was nice to get a few extra minutes to sleep. When I finally rose, Robert presented me with the laptop and declared, "I wrote my post for today, your turn!" "What?" I asked. "I'm getting tired of looking at that last post. Time to write something new," he informed me. I explained that I've been more focused on the adoption blog and working through events there, but he was unimpressed.

Last night he brought me an outline on a sheet of paper. It was a chapter breakdown of the adoption book he thinks I'm going to write. I laughed out loud at him. "You've got to write something everyday. If you write a page a day, you'll have a book a year from now." Oddly enough, he's right.

My hesitancy to consider writing something beyond the blog comes from a number of places. What could I say that hasn't already been written? I'm not the first to adopt and my story and perspective isn't particularly unique. Mix that with a little writer's insecurity and there you have it.

Samuel woke a little earlier than usual this morning and is now laying in the hammock out back. He is half concentrating on the cat resting on the damp ground beneath him and half reading Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Faith. The early morning light and coolness make it a perfect reading spot. Hmmm, I have a book I've been working on. Maybe I should make my way out there before the light changes too much. After all, I've made my obligatory post . . .

YOU'RE AS OLD AS I AM IF....

2007-08-31T19:28:00.000-04:00

I read this on Tami's Blog and had to copy it. Unbelievable!

YOU'RE AS OLD AS I AM IF....

1. You’ve ever ended a sentence with the word “PSYCHE.”
2. You can sing the rap to the “Fresh Prince of Belair.”
3. You wore biker shorts under your skirts and felt stylish.
4. You ever watched “Fraggle Rock.”
5. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars.
6. You wore a pony tail on the side of your head.
7. You played the game “M.A.S.H.” (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House) with friends at school.
8. You know the profound meaning of “WAX ON, WAX OFF.”
9. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off.
10. You thought Thriller was the most awesome song (and video!) ever.
11. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
12. You remember the CRAZE - then the BANNING - of slap bracelets.
13. You still get the urge to say “NOT” after every sentence.
14. You believed the “By the power of Greyskull,” you had the power.
15. After you saw “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” you kept saying “I know you are, but what am I?”
16. You wore, like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high-top Reeboks.
17. You owned a bicyle with a banana seat and a basket.
18. Your roller skates had metal wheels.
19. You begged Santa for the electronic game Simon.
20. You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color.
21. You wore the Little House on the Prairie inspired high neck, ruffled, plaid shirt in at least one school picture.
22. You can sing at least one song from “Annie” by heart.
23. You would tape songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker.
24. You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes.
25. You had the shoelaces with the rainbow or heart designs.
26. You wore a banana clip at some point in your youth.
27. You know who Max Headroom is.
28. You ever wore fluorescent or neon clothing.
29. You could breakdance or wished you could.
30. When somone mentions two consecutive days of the week, the Happy Days theme is stuck in your head for hours on end.
31. Partying “like it was 1999″ seemed sooo far away.
32. You thought that Transformers were more than meets the eye.
33. You wanted to be on Star Search.
34. Your first Walkman weighed about as much as a brick.
35. You HAD to have your MTV.
36. You know where to go if you “wanna go where everybody knows your name.”
37. You actually thought “Dirty Dancing” was a REALLY good movie.
38. You got a Little Professor calculator for Christmas.
39. You remember when ATARI was a state of the art video game.
40. You own any cassettes or records.
41. You thought by the year 2000 we’d all be living on the moon.
42. You ever had a Swatch Watch, and a Swatch Guard for it.
43. You had to stay after class to scrub your desk because your silver Outliner pen leaked through.
44. You ever rang someone’s doorbell and said, “Landshark.”
45. You thought eating Reeses Pieces would attract your own alien.
46. You have ever called 867-5309.
47. You held the top score on PacMan.
48. You owned a T-shirt that said, “I shot J. R. ” or know someone who did.
49. You ever said “I pity the fool”.
50. Your dream car was either: the A-team van, KITT or The General Lee.
51. You were sad when the “Where’s the Beef” lady died.
52. You remember when Ricky Martin was a member of Menudo.
53. You remember when cellular phones weighed 15 lbs. and had to be carried over your shoulder.
54. You still know the Big Mac song. “Two all beef patties, special sauce…”
55. You owned a real Rubik’s Cube
56. You used to own a Snoopy Sno Cone Machine.
57. You have a tendency to turn the collar up on your Polo shirts.
58. You remember exactly where you were when you heard the space shuttle Challenger had exploded.
59. You know all of the words to at least one of the Schoolhouse Rock songs.
60. Your first computer was a Commodore 64 or an Atari 800.
61. You thought being a latch key kid was completely normal.
62. There were days that the homework just had to wait until the ABC Afterschool Special was over.
63. You know what movie the phrase, “Number 5 is alive!” is from.
64. You remember when Molly Ringwald was on Facts of Life.
65. You wore the little bootie socks with the colored balls on the back.
66. You just had to have a Trapper Keeper to stay organized at school.
67. You remember when McDonald’s served their burgers in styrofoam boxes.
68. You were afraid of the Sleestacks on Land of The Lost.
69. You never thought they’d be able to top the special effects in TRON.
70. You played with Lego’s when they were just blocks of various sizes, not any of the special little parts.
71. You made shrinky dinks in your oven.
72. Pierce Brosnon will always be Remington Steele, not James Bond.
73. You owned at least one Choose Your Own Adventure book.
74. You watched Mary Lou Retton win the gold.
75. The Dark Crystal is still one of your favorite movies.
76. In many of your childhood photos you are wearing something plaid.
77. You still love to play Pong!
78. Two words: The Clapper.
79. Six words: “This is your brain on drugs.”
80. You can sing all the words to “One Night in Bangkok” by Murray Head, and now you understand that it is about chess.
81. You had an entire wardrobe of Esprit clothing (or coveted one.)
82. Your bangs were teased perfectly to 7 inches above the rest of your hair.
83. You had multi-colored earrings that touch your shoulders.
84. You’re still bitter that WHAM broke up
85. You can feel St. Elmo’s fire burnin’ in you.
86. You still can’t believe that Milli Vanilli was deceiving you all that time
87. Every now and then, you blurt out: “Ooh noo, Mr. Bill!!!”
88. You used to watch things on Beta tapes
89. You know who Martha Quinn is.
90. You carried your boom box on your shoulder
91. You remember Bruce Willis from Moonlighting, not Die Hard
92. You had ringside seats for Luke and Laura’s wedding
93. War Games had you wondering if you could really start Armageddon using your crummy TRS-80.
94. You can name at least three members of the Brat Pack
95. You wore a “Members Only” jacket.
96. You ever used Lee Press-On Nails
97. You believed drinking soda and eating Pop Rocks would make your stomach explode
98. You still argue over who was better: Tiffany or Debbie Gibson
99. Every time you hear the “OH YEAH…” song you think of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
100. You know how to use a rotary phone.

Try Not to Smile

2007-08-27T22:18:00.000-04:00

Change is Good

2007-08-27T21:10:00.000-04:00

I know we've been MIA recently. The children started school this week and I wanted to give them my undivided attention as they made the transition. When I left my job in May, I committed to meeting the needs of my kids on a different level than I could when I was working. All four of them started new schools and I was a little anxious over how they would adjust. God knew I needed affirmation over our school decision. A few days before school started, we attended orientation so the kids could meet their teachers and classmates. As we were looking over the schedules, a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked what school the children had formerly attended. When I told her, she broke into a wide smile and shared that her daughter had been in class with my boys at one point. She went on to share the wonderful experience school has been in the last few years for all of their children and how God had blessed them with Christian teachers. Its amazing how God meets our smallest needs. With a week under our belts, everyone is very happy and doing very well. I can't begin to tell you the difference this change has made in our household. Its as if we're all connected again, like we should have been all along.

We've also been attending a great new church. Robert and the boys went boating on the St John's River with the youth group Saturday.
After several hours of super soaker wars, manatee spotting, and swimming in the springs, they returned sunburned and full of stories.

What else has been happening? Oh! We added one more to our dinner party last week. A welcomed newcomer who I immediately felt at ease with, so much so that perhaps our new friend blended in a little too much. The friendship that Kim, Cindy, and I share is second nature. We don't have to think too hard about what the others need. We've made three road trips together and lived to tell about it. Our conversations are continuous and no amount of time apart causes us to miss a step. Its as if we've always been friends. So I wondered how adding one more would change our dynamic.

An hour past another amazing meal, swirling the trace amounts of wine left in our glasses, and regretting that Kim hadn't made more Creme Brulee, I realized that our chameleon friend sat in the midst of our laughter observing it all. And I felt very selfish for not making more of an effort to change the dynamic myself. This is my public apology for not stepping out of my comfort zone.

So change is not so bad. In fact, I think I'm starting to welcome it. It has brought such blessings upon our family in the last three months.

Boys 2 Men

2007-08-10T15:49:00.000-04:00

When the children were young (like four of them still in diapers young) and I would feel overwhelmed, Robert would remind me that they wouldn't always be in this phase of life. He looked forward wistfully to the time that they could "be worth their salt" around the house. Well, that time has come. Its been a summer of many changes for my two oldest. They have been going to work with their father and making him very proud. In addition, they have become adept at lawn care and car maintenance. Anybody out there has a flat tire, you call Three Brothers Car Care and they'll take care of you. As quickly as the younger years went by, these years seem to be going even faster. Bought new shoes for Sam and Nathanael and they wear a men's size 10! I have to shop in the men's section for clothing. Somebody make it stop!

The Reason I Ride

2007-08-06T22:48:00.000-04:00

It seems much of my friendship gathering time this summer has been spent over a meal. Whether its dinner with K & C (Kim cooked an amazing dinner for Cindy and I once again. I forgot my camera, but my cell phone camera caught the above pics of Kim igniting the bourbon as she flambe pineapples to put over freshly made crepes with ice cream. I'm going to have to up my mileage just to attend dinner each week!), pizza and a movie with the girls, or a reunion lunch with old friends, food seems to be at the center of everything.

Recently, I had the opportunity to lunch with three of the greatest English teachers around. Kathy, Amy, Noell and I all taught together several years ago. Since then, God has carried our paths in different directions. It was a blessing to sit around and laugh about old times and reflect on where we are now. As different as the four of us are, there is a common thread that binds us together. I appreciate the strength of each of these women and regret that we're not able to get together more often. Amy made an incredible Orzo Salad (thanks for the recipe!) that made me rethink my usual palette.

I enjoy the opportunity to share a meal with friends, no matter how informal the occasion. I don't want to think about calories or sodium intake. I want to find a balance between healthy living and joyful eating. With that in mind, we've broken our distance record. Robert decided it was a "waste" to drive to the trail head before starting our journey up the Seminole Wekiva Trail. Instead, we biked from the house to the trail head, adding a little more than five miles for a total of just over 20 miles round trip! The kids were such troopers for the journey. Hannah has a new bike and that has made a world of difference. We actually had to keep up with her. She was smokin' us!

Here Comes the Bride

2007-08-04T23:22:00.000-04:00

Last August I had dinner with "the girls" in celebration of Kristen's birthday. One of my former students, Sarah Jones, joined us and went on and on about this fabulous guy she had been dating. Apart from his being a gorgeous Navy officer, she was enamoured with the depth of his relationship with God. It was the one trait that she continually focused on; she sounded as if she had won the lottery. Over the weekend she married this wonderful man and I was honored to be invited to the festivities. It was a beautiful ceremony and their joy was impossible to hide. I love to see how God grows former students into incredible men and women of faith!

Resting on the Promises of God

2007-07-28T18:07:00.000-04:00

Its all in the details

2007-07-26T15:45:00.000-04:00

Kim cooked dinner for Cindy and me last night. I was intrigued by the invitation because it meant a couple hours out of the house; time to forget my primary role of wife and mom. Just spending time with other intelligent, witty women who love and appreciate me. Who cares what she put on the table; I was there for the company. So when Kim served a five course meal, I was floored. She effortlessly glided from oven, to table, to fridge, chopping this, tossing that, and pouring wine while holding a conversation with the two of us. She truly has the gift of hospitality.
Sitting down over the meal, I wish I had brought my camera to chronicle each course like Kathy does when she is whipping up a culinary delight.
*Baked tomatoes with melted goat's cheese drizzled with Italian balsamic vinegar and garnished with basil.
*Spinach salad with sliced almonds, fresh blueberries, mandarin oranges and strawberries.
*Plump shrimp with delicately blanched asparagus spears and risotto sprinkled with shaved aged cheese.
*Sauteed chicken with roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts along side of roasted potatoes.
*Vanilla Bean ice cream on flour free oatmeal lace cookies in a blueberry puree topped with homemade whipped cream.

I assured her I would be back the following Wednesday, same time. We talked late into the night discussing the details of our next trip and the latest goings on in our lives, so much so that I couldn't get up to ride this morning. Oh, well. It was worth every minute.

Puzzling

2007-07-24T19:58:00.000-04:00

Alright, alright! Enough about my lack of posts! Here's the most current on our boring lives. Game night has taken on a life of its own. Apart from the girls coming over several times in the last week to play, Robert, the kids, and I have caught the game bug ourselves. We made a trip to Wal-Mart yesterday to pick up some dice to play Whitney's (and now everyone else's) favorite game Farkel, and ended up coming home with a few more gaming options. We bought In a Pickle, which has turned out to be a difficult and fun word game. Robert had the bright idea that a puzzle would be an entertaining exercise for the family to do together and chose two for us to assemble. Perhaps a 1000 pieces wasn't the best beginners choice, because this puzzle has kicked our butts! After a few hours last night, we had the border assembled and a few random pieces in between. Even Whitney pitched in and tried her hand at it for a little while before throwing in the towel. Its night two and we seem to be working in shifts as this thing dominates our dining room table. Periodically someone will wander past and linger to try and find part of the skyline or a flower patch. Robert and Hannah are laboring over it right now. According to the box top, the final product should recreate a detailed scene from the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark. But we're finding the whole experience a little less than spiritual.

Game Night: Summer Reunion 2007

2007-07-16T19:42:00.000-04:00

What a weekend! We saw SpiderMan 3 at the dollar movie (glad I waited) on Saturday and then went down to I-Drive on Sunday to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 3D on the IMAX big screen. Three words: A Maz Ing. We're big fans of the dollar movie and AM Cinema, but this was well worth the high price. Although this was Robert and the kids' first time viewing an IMAX film, I saw the last movie Harry Potter movie on the IMAX big screen as well. It was a 1 AM showing on opening night and it took everything in me to stay awake. I went with a huge group of my students who are big Potter fans and got to see the fanatics come out of the woodwork. People were dressed in Hogwart's attire with wands in hand. Interesting.

We had some time to kill before the movie started so we ended up at Festival Bay. Robert and the boys made their way to the Bass Pro Shop again. Hannah and I wandered the rest of mall and found ourselves at the Steve and Barry store. Sarah Jessica Parker sells her clothing line Bitten exclusively through Steve and Barry and it is a GREAT line of clothing. Nothing in the collection is over $19.98; jewelry, dresses, shoes, jean jackets, blazers, everything is under $20! The pieces are so cute and interchangeable. Hannah picked out an adorable shirt in the line for $6.98.

Sunday evening we resurrected Game Night at our house. The girls are all home from college and we have a tradition of playing loud endless games at the Landrum and Torrez house into the wee hours of the morning. Apple to Apples, Egyptian Rat Slap, Pictionary, UNO, Cranium, Disney Scene-It, Scattegories . . . we needed a new game. The girls called and we agreed to meet at Target to choose something. Somehow our paths didn't cross and I ended up getting paged to the Customer Service desk. Humiliating, but the girls thought it was hilarious. We settled on the original Scene-It. Whitney won (read:cheated) and we kept poor Robert awake with screaming and laughing until Jane announced that she had to be at work the next morning. Poor kid is the only one of us working this summer. Party Pooper.

A City Set on a Hill . . .

2007-07-14T23:03:00.000-04:00

. . . is not easily reached by bike. When we reached "the hill" today, I reminded Sam that coming back would be much easier than going up. He stared straight ahead as he labored to pedal and replied, "I see you're assuming we're going to make it to the top." Where does he get that dry sense of humor???

I read somewhere that it takes 30 days of repeating an activity before it becomes a "habit". I don't know if that's true or not, but today is the one month mark since I started riding consistently. In that month, I've covered 195.9 miles on my bike. I wish I could say it has changed my life, but the fact is I've lived a non-exercising lifestyle for years. It will take a lot more than 30 days to impact my long term health. For now, I take things one day at a time and enjoy the little victories that come from accomplishing something new each day. (Read: Lycra biking shorts are not in my future.)

Country Boy at Heart

2007-07-14T21:05:00.000-04:00

We slipped away for an unplanned visit home a week ago. It was such a reprieve! Nowhere to go and nothing to be done. We visited the town that Robert grew up in. Poplarville, Mississippi isn't exactly a metropolitan mecca; there isn't a single traffic signal in the entire town.

Robert has fond memories of life in the Blueberry Capital of Mississippi. Riding through town, he pointed out places that brought back memories. As we passed Pearl River Drug, he told me about tagging along with anyone who was going there to pick up prescriptions. There was an ice cream counter in the back of the store that made the best shakes. As a little boy, he would climb up on one of the barstool and place his order. Curiosity got the best of him and he pulled into a parking space across the street. I followed him through the door as a bell announced our entrance. He headed straight to the back of the store and there it was. It was as if time had stood still. A mahogany bar stretched across the back of the store with antique tables and bar stools. He ordered two shakes and I watched as they were made with a 1960's blender.

An elderly man shuffled slowly up to the bar and sat down next to me. I greeted him and asked how he was. He paused thoughtfully and replied, "I've got 10 toes above ground, so I guess I'm doing good!" He ordered what appeared to be his daily cup of coffee. I wondered how long he had been following this routine.

There's something to be said for life at a slower pace. I grew up in bustling cities, but Robert has always been accustomed to this rhythm of life. I have watched him adjust to the hustle and bustle of all the places we have lived, always knowing that he was most at ease in the quiet spacious setting of his hometown.

Why Women Should Not Take Men Shopping Against Their Will

2007-07-14T16:13:00.000-04:00

After Mr. And Mrs. Fenton retired, Mrs.Fenton insisted her husband accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, Mr. Fenton was like most men--he found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, Mrs. Fenton was like most women--she loved to browse. One day Mrs. Fenton received the following letter from her local Wal-Mart.

Dear Mrs. Fenton,
Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and may be forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Fenton are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an
official voice, "Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away."

4. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a
bag of M&M's on layaway.

5. September 14: Moved a "CAUTION - WET FLOOR" sign to a
carpeted area.

6. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department
and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department ...

7. September 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"

8. October 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

9. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

10. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the " Mission Impossible" theme.

11. December 6: In the auto department, he practiced his "Madonna look" by using different sizes of funnels.

12. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people
browsed through, yelled "PICK ME! PICK ME!"

13. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud
speaker,he assumed a fetal position and screamed "OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!"

And last, but not least.

14. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, "Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!"

Regards,
Wal-Mart

Wet Wednesday

2007-07-11T19:03:00.000-04:00

Well, slurpee stop one was our only successful attempt at free slurpees yesterday. We stopped at 3 more 7-11's between here and Tampa. None of them were participating in the celebration. Whitney declared that she will never marry anyone in Haines City due to this debacle (a great loss to Haines City).

After Tuesday's steamy fishing trip, we decided to cool off at Adventure Island water park. We were exhasted after a day of waterslides, wave pools, cliff diving, and tubing!

Free Slurpee Stop #1

2007-07-11T08:08:00.000-04:00

Leslie

Gone Fishin'

2007-07-10T21:30:00.000-04:00

I knew it was coming. We've made one too many stops in the sporting goods department, visited the Bass Pro Shop on I-Drive as of late, and watched too many fishing shows on the Outdoor Channel while visiting mom and dad last week. Robert took the day off to go fishing with the kids. Don't get me wrong; I love to fish. But Fishing in Florida in July? One word. Anyone? Anyone?

HOT!!!

We spent time casting off one of the floating piers at Turkey Lake and went through two containers of worms with no real success. Everything biting was too small and needed to be thrown back, but we had a good time just being together. Tomorrow is the eleventh though, and if history repeats itself 7-11 stores will be giving away free slurpees. Yippee!

Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?

2007-07-05T13:31:00.000-04:00

Kim, can you read that signature? I'm sitting at lunch with Robert and
notice there's writing on the wall above his head (no jokes please). Our
dear Harry Connick, Jr. sat at this same table and had lunch when he
came here during the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Talents, looks,
and a heart! Maybe its just the name . . . Harry.
Leslie

Goes on Runs?

2007-07-02T17:30:00.001-04:00

The short answer to that is "no". Kathy, how do you do it??? In an attempt to stay motivated and mix things up a bit. Sam and I decided that we would try our hand (or feet) at running this morning. Actually, running would be the wrong word to describe what we did. It was more of a shuffle, shuffle, wheeze, gasp, shuffle, shuffle. We followed that pattern for 2 miles. We were just trying to keep things interesting, but running is a whole different form of torture. Goes on Rides. That's more our speed.

Addicted

2007-07-01T19:54:00.000-04:00

87%

I think the only thing to say is, "Hi, my name is Leslie and I'm addicted to blogging."

Speechless

2007-06-28T16:13:00.000-04:00

There's absolutely nothing to talk about here; however over here is a totally different story!

Pillow Talk

2007-06-27T09:37:00.000-04:00

Conversation with myself this morning:

Ugh! Its early. I can do ten more minutes. (hit snooze)

(alarm goes off again) I'm really not feeling too well. I didn't sleep well last night. Six days a week is a lot. Maybe I'll do five days a week: Monday, Tuesday, rest Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday long ride, rest Sunday. That sounds like a good schedule. I might hurt myself otherwise. Don't want to overdo it. Its supposed to rain today. That means it will be cooler this afternoon. Maybe I'll mix things up and do a late afternoon ride. Yeah, that would work. Leslie, are your rationalizing? Leslie, are you talking to yourself?

Then I got up and rode my bike.

Queen of the Grill

2007-06-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

I hate to cook. I've always been too busy to have the time for the basics, which is a shame since my mother and my grandmother are such incredible cooks. I've always carried a bit of guilt over the fact that I don't enjoy the process, but this summer has been different. In an attempt to cook healthier and more wholesome foods, I have gotten quite attached to our grill. Its the saddest little hibachi grill, but it does the job. We're getting quite adept at the whole marinating in the morning and grilling in the afternoon, sometimes even in the rain.

And on the seventh day . . . she rested

2007-06-24T19:56:00.000-04:00

Mon - 5.6 miles
Tues - 5.6 miles
Wed - 5.6 miles
Thurs - 5.6 miles
Fri - 6.5 miles
Sat - 15.4 miles
Sun - No bike for me :(

Samuel's observation on yesterday's long ride:
Me: Uh-oh, Sam. Here comes the hill from hell. (1/2 mile of steady incline)
Sam: Well, think of it this way, Mom. On the way back, it'll be the hill from heaven.

Good thing one of us is positive on the hard stretches of road!

We went to see Evan Almighty this weekend. You really can't see it as a follow up to Bruce Almighty. It targets a different audience; this one was much more kid friendly. Not a bad movie, some great quotable lines from "God", kids loved it. Its hard to go wrong with Steve Carell.

Then on the advice of my friend Sandy, I rented The Italian. Amazing. The film is in Russian so be prepared for subtitles. Much of it looked and sounded painfully familiar. Worth a rent.

We scored free tickets to the sneak preview of Disney's new movie Ratatouille before it comes out in theatres. The kid movie venue wears on me, so I hope this one's good. Still haven't been impressed with this summer's movie offerings. While Pirates 3 is in its own category, I couldn't help but be disappointed with the storyline. The boys are looking forward to the Transformer movie and we're all anxious to see the new Harry Potter movie next month. We'll see that one on the BIG screen on I-Drive. If anyone sees anything else worth seeing, let us know.

Got Spin?

2007-06-23T07:48:00.000-04:00

Those are my slightly fatigued feet at the Heathrow Panera where Sam and
I have stopped to refill our water bottles before heading back down the
trail. I am shocked at how easy the ride here seemed. Tip of the day:
adolescent boys do not appreciate their moms singing Justin Timberlake's
Bringing Sexy Back. Just a thought . . .

Passionate

2007-06-22T20:54:00.000-04:00

Kim, Cindy, and I decided to hang out at Starbucks for a change of pace last night. I stood there staring at the menu of lattes and fraps with whipped cream and drizzled chocolate options. For the first time, I tried to find something that I wouldn't regret the next morning as my legs burned while climbing a hill. Don't get me wrong, I still love caramel frappaccinos. But I am realizing how certain foods make me feel, particularly when I need energy and don't want to feel weighed down. The girl behind the counter drummed her fingers impatiently as I scanned the menu one more time before settling on a bottled water. Then I saw the new iced tea line, and particularly, the Orange Passion Ice Tea. I ordered it, a little skeptical, but willing to give it a try. It definitely hit the spot! I'm sure the bottled water would have been better for me, but its all about options!

Brothers' Keeper

2007-06-19T18:39:00.000-04:00

We've been back and forth to the doctor's office over the last few weeks to get everyone in for their school physicals and updated immunizations. Today was Samuel and Nathanael's turn. Normal procedure: blood pressure, weight, pulse, height. It was the height thing that got me. Samuel measured in at 5' 5 1/2"; Nathanael was a full 5' 6". When did that happen?? I'm a very statuesque 5'5". When did they pass up mom?

I'm really enjoying this phase of life with my 12 year old twins. They've grown into funny, humble, handsome young men. I love that we are able to talk about things of depth and laugh at silly things still. We went to the movie the other day and Robert actually shushed Sam and I because we were whispering throughout the film. I love the character and uniqueness that God has gifted each of them with. I do miss having a little one around the house. I adored the younger years, but I would never trade this incredible time of watching God shape two young men in His image.

The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of . . .

2007-06-17T16:03:00.000-04:00

. . . pain, not music! Hills are not my friend; at least they haven't been this week. A vicious summer cold has been making its way through our family, so Sam and I were the only ones feeling well enough to venture out this morning. We headed back to the Seminole Wekiva Trail to see how we would fare. I've managed to bike every day except yesterday since last weekend. I was hoping it would make a difference in my stamina on the trail. That and the addition of a biking buddy that challenges me made a huge difference. Even with the heat, we made it 15.4 miles round trip before we threw in the towel. Since last weekend, that makes 58.8 miles for me. I know! Who'd have thunk??? I may never get on that bike again, but this week was quite a ride!

As the Wheel Turns

2007-06-13T19:59:00.000-04:00

So for some unexplainable reason, Hannah and I rode Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week. And there's a good chance we will go out again tomorrow. We're covering roughly 4.7 miles each day. That's not a lot in the world of cycling, but its a lot to us! So since Saturday, that brings us to just over 33.1 miles. From what I understand, that's what most cyclists cover in one ride! Its been good bonding time and hopefully it helps our fitness level.

Oddly enough, June 9th was significant in the world of cycling. Apparently it was World Naked Bike Day. What is that you ask? People rode bikes naked to celebrate cycling and the human body. The ride demonstrates the "vulnerability of cyclists on the road and is a protest against car culture". Ironically, if you ride naked, wouldn't that increase your vulnerability on the road??? I hope they wore helmets. Something should be protected . . .

Gotta Love Free Stuff

2007-06-13T19:48:00.000-04:00

The site is Picaboo.com You can make a 20 page photo album. It is $39.99 but with the coupon it is free!! The coupon expires on June 30, 2007 so hurry! Coupon Code: 1pflgb-bbc

Thanks, Tami!

Piece of Cake

2007-06-10T20:49:00.000-04:00

Today we added another five miles to our total miles cycled this weekend. That brings us to a round 19 miles. I would feel really good about that except Robert and Hannah decided to bake a cake this evening. Sigh.

Maybe a Little Like Lance

2007-06-09T14:31:00.001-04:00

We woke up early this morning and headed for the San Sebastian trail head of the Wekiva Trail on 436 in Altamonte Springs. Robert was determined to see how far we could get. Granted, it was HOT even early this morning (8 am). We managed to make it 14 miles round trip. We rode from the trailhead to the Heathrow Panera at Lake Mary Blvd. (a little over 7 miles) and had brunch at 10:30. It wasn't without a generous portion of whining (no, not from me) and sore legs, but everyone was proud of their accomplishment. We were home by 12:30 and recharged with cold showers and the promise of half a day still left!

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

2007-06-08T21:58:00.000-04:00

Robert decided that he wanted a little taste of home this afternoon which led to an impromptu Cajun Shrimp Boil. A trip to Publix and several pounds of seafood later and we had a party on our hands. Cajun boiled shrimp, crab legs, corn, potatoes, onions, garlic, and more cayenne pepper than most people north of Mississippi can handle gave way to one fun evening! Add a view of the Space Shuttle launch and the summer has started with a bang!

Kobe End of School Celebration

2007-05-31T22:08:00.000-04:00

Everyone in Altamonte Springs must have had a birthday tonight. If I had to hear that gong one more time . . . Nevertheless, dinner was yummy and the company was divine. Jane managed to keep her phone out of the toilet and Kristen didn't spill anything. Only thing missing was Whitney. Summer has officially begun when the girls come home. Hurry up, Whitney!

Nature or Nurture?

2007-05-30T18:19:00.000-04:00

I've been predispositioned to live in warmer climates. My father was Navy and we were always stationed near the water. Born in San Diego, my brother and I spent many summer days on the beach. We would stay until the sun had drained the last bit of energy from us and tinged us a slight red. I still vividly remember standing in the surf on Coronado Beach experiencing the ocean's pull as sand was sucked from beneath my feet back into the great blue. I loved that feeling well before I could understand the dynamics of the surf. I thought it was the ocean's way of tempting me to come in a little deeper.

One summer afternoon Troy, my brother, decided to educate me about Sand Sharks. I spent much of that afternoon sitting on top of the picnic benches; he failed to tell me they only lived in the water. Big brothers have that power over little sisters.

From San Diego we moved to Oahu in Hawaii and then to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. I can't imagine living up north. I understand there is a beauty to the seasons and I can appreciate that . . . from afar. Perhaps one day we will live where snow covers the lawn in late fall and gray skies tempt more than the cat to nap, until then I'll revel in the intoxicating characteristics of long summers:

The feel and smell of skin warmed in the sun

The brilliant pink color the sunlight makes on your closed eyelids

Bright blue skies and whispering breezes

Floating in an inner tube with my toes dipped in cool water

The sounds of my laughing children

Forgetting I'm an adult

Waterslides that make you catch your breathe

The glow that comes from playing outside all day

Water fights

More summer days ahead . . .

Fierce on the Field

2007-05-28T06:52:00.000-04:00

I'm behind on writing. There's been so much going on and not enough time to cover it all; so I'm backtracking. For the last few months, we've been shuttling back and forth between soccer practices and soccer games. Josh (Bear as we call him) loves the game. The season started off typically, a groups of kids who had never played together just trying to hold things together. As the season progressed, they beat a team that hadn't lost a game in three years. And by last weekend, they found themselves in the playoffs.

How is that possible? We can thank two men for this experience. Coach Long and Coach Schaffer taught these kids about more than moving a ball down field. They taught them to work together, to encourage one another, and to enjoy the game.

On a typical Saturday at Trotter's Park, the shrill voices of frustrated coaches and defeated crying players can be heard across the fields. If you heard Coach Long or Coach Schaffer's raised voices from the side of the field, it was to shout encouragement. If you saw them run out onto the practice field, it was to join in an impromptu free for all. Their attitudes were reflected in the kids understanding of who they were as a team: individuals of integrity joined to strengthen one another. A powerful lesson that they will carry into more competitive arenas.

They fought their way through the playoff game and came out in second place. They were disappointed, but the core of what their coaches had taught them throughout the season stuck. Instead of the typical melodramatic meltdown of collapsing to the ground, they rushed to Mrs Long who offered Powerades and Pixie Sticks. Now that's the ending to a good season!

Lance Armstrong I am Not

2007-05-27T21:01:00.000-04:00

We've been biking more lately. The weather has been beautiful and Robert decided it would be "fun" to ride rather than drive to places we frequent. Yesterday we rode 6 miles and today we covered just over 9 miles. Who knew cycling was a team sport??? It has been a good exercise in working together and not getting run over in traffic. Seriously. We're going to try our hand (or feet) at the Seminole Wekiva Trail that stretches from Westmonte Park in Altamonte Springs to Sanford. Its roughly 14 miles one way. I think we'll need a few more practice runs before we can make it 28 miles there and back!

Riddle Me This

2007-05-25T11:08:00.000-04:00

What do my second son and my refrigerator have in common? They're both broken. The refrigerator yielded up the ghost the other night. It fought the good fight and endured much these last few years. Timing is great though. Its a holiday weekend and sales abound.

So on to the next non-functioning family member. Nathanael hurt his hand at recess yesterday and when he showed it to us after school, it was clear that he had broken it. An x-ray this morning confirmed that and now he has a shiny new splint for his thumb. Let's hope there are no lightning storms this weekend!

Lucky?

2007-05-18T20:45:00.001-04:00

Does anyone else find this just wrong?

Whatever Happened to the Movies?

2007-05-14T19:54:00.000-04:00

Anybody remember drive-ins? Wait, let me rephrase that. Anybody remember drive-ins when you were a little kid? My brother and I lived for the weekend evenings when mom and dad would load up the station wagon with our sleeping bags, pillows, and snacks and head to our favorite California drive in. Cool nights with a speaker hanging from the driver's side window, Troy and I staking out our spots with the best view in the back, and fighting to stay awake through the entire movie were the stuff of childhood memories.

I remember seeing E.T. when I was a little kid. A cold dark theatre with the smell of stale popcorn and the promise of a new Spielberg film: a magical combination. Even though the theatre had sold out, people were sitting in the aisles to watch the show. Where has that anticipation gone? Apart from last summer's Pirates 2, nothing has made us spend full price to attend a movie premier in quite some time.

I have looked forward to the (hopeful) summer blockbusters like F4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Evan Almighty. So when Spiderman 3 opened to poor reviews from friends, I was a little nervous. Could the impending third Pirates film usher in a good summer movie season?

Perhaps I'm over thinking the good movie chemistry. Maybe what makes those moments is part atmosphere, a cold theatre on a hot summer day, and a movie with a great story line, one that you can take the kids to without worrying about what has to be censored. Let's hope this summer offers a handful of these moments.

It's Not Me, Its You

2007-05-12T22:35:00.000-04:00

I was one of those girls that always had a steady, long term boyfriend in school. Those relationships were usually at the cost of something else in my life: family, friends, school, etc. Something always suffered because I tend to put everything into my main focus. But I remembered the phenomenon that occurred after breaking up with a boyfriend, suddenly things became clearer.

For the last couple of years I have been involved in a relationship that has magnified this shortcoming of mine. No, I'm not talking about my relationship with Robert. In fact, its his ability to see this shortcoming of mine that makes our relationship work. He reminds me of where I am unbalanced in my efforts. He encourages relationships with my friends and is unselfish in sharing me with family.

However, I'm in the process of exiting a bad relationship, and as I am refocusing my life I am amazed at what makes sense. Its been a great week; I have felt reconnected and revitalized in a way I haven't in quite some time. God has been gracious to show me who I can trust as I transition and what I need to do to prioritize my life once again. I realize now that for several months I have been grieving what could have been and not what actually is. That single revelation has brought me very far.

Things are looking up

2007-05-08T11:40:00.000-04:00

Warm clear skies with a cool breeze and good friends . . .doesn't get
any better than this!
Leslie

Sasha's Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

2007-05-08T10:56:00.000-04:00

No pun intended, but Jane's day started off in the crapper. Yes, that's
a picture of her bag after it fell in the toliet. Ha ha ha!
Leslie

Altar Boyz and Time Square

2007-05-05T15:57:00.000-04:00

Now officially one of my favorite musicals! As if Christian boy bands
aren't funny enough!
Leslie

Stop and Smell the Couture

2007-05-05T11:39:00.000-04:00

A quick stop for omelets and then we scooted over to the famous Century
21 Department Store. I resisted using the Carry Bradshaw "Hello, Lover"
when I found the shoe FLOOR. This place is amazing. Designer and
couture shoes, clothing, and bags at more than 50% off. Before we split
up we synchronized our phones and agreed to meet back at the grand
staircase. Cindy and I are still waiting on Kim. We might have to send a
search team down for her . . .
Leslie

Ground Zero

2007-05-04T16:22:00.001-04:00

The place has a somber feeling that neither words nor photos can
capture. Its just a presence. While there are a few photos and a
timeline on the fencing surrounding the new construction area, it feels
as if there is still something here. But at the same time there's an
overwhelming feeling of something lost.
Leslie

Delicious City

2007-05-04T14:41:00.000-04:00

I HATE hotdogs, absolutely hate them. But somehow eating them in Battery
Park along the Hudson River with the blooming tulips and trees filled
with lush green, they taste much better.
Leslie

Sex and the City - Minus the Sex

2007-05-04T07:52:00.000-04:00

What are you doing today? My best girlfriends and I are in the City.
Don't hate . . .
Leslie

Bubblegum Ice Cream

2007-04-22T19:17:00.000-04:00

Here I am trying to post something of substance, so I hop over to U's blog for inspiration. We must be telepathic because all I could come up with is ice cream that rocks my world too!

Unanswered Questions

2007-04-17T12:10:00.000-04:00

A dear friend posed this question in response to my previous post:

"Does this mean that we are going to end up with our decapitated head on some unholy king's platter?"

What a real and valid question. The truth of the matter is, as humans (as Christians), even when we know that all things work together for good and we are assured of the glorification of God through our suffering, it is still in our nature to focus on loss.

I know that we're not alone in our persecution. I know we're not alone in our pain. God knows about this and He will be our Defender - even at the point of our execution. If I can remember that, everything else rolls off of me.

Questioning God

2007-04-16T22:53:00.000-04:00

"Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples, and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" - Matthew 11:2-3

This verse came to mind last week when I received an e-mail from the missionary working in Kristina's orphanage. Apparently two families had come to adopt children from her class and this had caused her to feel conflicted and confused. She asked if we had forgotten about her and whether we would ever come for her. Hearing this information broke my heart. Why would she question us? Had she not spent the summer with us, bonding and identifying with us as her family? Have we not been faithful to write to her and constantly remind her of our love and commitment? I remembered these verses from Matthew 11 and began to wonder why John the Baptist would send this message to Jesus.

John was questioning what God was doing.
When we are looking for God to do ONE thing, we often miss what else He is doing. John had certain expectations for the Messiah. He expected Christ to be the one who brought fierce judgement. Instead Christ preached forgiveness. John expected Jesus to strike down the wicked. Instead Christ raised the dead. John expected Christ to cripple the infidel. Instead he taught the lame to walk. Christ was carrying on a ministry of healing, not judgement. Is it possible for us to misunderstand God's agenda? Absolutely.

John was questioning where he had been.
What would make John question what he himself had experienced? Was he not the one who had boldly declared in the first chapter of John:

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (1:29)
"After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me."(1:30)
"I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him." (1:32)
"This is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ (1:33)
"And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (1:34)

Many would say that John's questioning of Jesus wasn't a sign of wavering faith, but stop and consider where he was when he asked these things of the Lord. John had been languishing on death row for nearly two years. He would be less than human not to wonder in his heart if he had been mistaken.

John was questioning who he was in Christ.
The man who was once the herald of the Light of the World now sat in darkness. The once great dynamo of preaching now sat in solitude without an audience. When we have been one thing in Christ, its very difficult for us to conceive of being something different in Him. A change in circumstance doesn't necessarily denote a change in status. God often allows us to be brought low, even at the hands of the enemy or those who would unjustly wrong us. This isn't a reflection of error in our own lives as much as it is an opportunity for God to be glorified. Christ goes on in chapter 11 of the book of Matthew to remind the crowd that there has not been one born of woman greater than John the Baptist (v 11). Christ equates John with Elijah and announces that John was more than a prophet. Never let us forget our place in the body of Christ. Understanding those small details gives us a clearer understanding of the big picture.

Why does Kristina wait in an orphanage thousands of miles away from the family who longs for her? So that Christ might be glorified.

Why have injustices and trials come into our lives this year? So that Christ might be glorified.

Spurgeon said, "Blessed is he who can be left in prison, can be silenced in his testimony, can seem to be deserted of his Lord, and yet can shut out every doubt."

"Blessed is he who is not offended because of me." - Matthew 11:6

Shaking It Off

2007-04-15T21:32:00.000-04:00

I'm taking U's Happy Gilmore advice. That coupled with some girl time with Sasha and Kristen this weekend helped enormously. We went to a late dinner at The Cheesecake Factory followed by an even later showing of Blades of Glory. Its impossible to be down with senseless Will Ferrell humor and time with the girls.

"Mind-bottling. Like your mind is trapped in a bottle."

Blogger's Block

2007-04-08T22:27:00.000-04:00

Robert's term, not mine; but nevertheless I have it. It happened to me back in January as well. Its not that I don't have things to say. There are just thing that I'm not at liberty to discuss. So while those thoughts are clogging my thought process, not much else can get through.

Old Friends

2007-03-31T22:02:00.000-04:00

While we were home last week, we made a point to drive up and visit some friends. Trent and Robert were the best of friends in college. Shortly after Robert and I met, Paige and Trent got together. Our girls were born three months apart and both named Hannah Elizabeth, but it has been about eight years since we spent time together.

The promise of meeting Mr Trent's cows was enough to intrigue the kids for the hour drive out to the property. Rolling down the dusty drive, I caught a glimpse of Paige as she came around the back of the house with baby Abigail in tow. She is still the beautiful and gracious girl I knew ten years ago. Trent still has the same sincere laugh, the kind that comes from deep down. Our brood poured out of the car anxious to meet their brood. We took a moment to gaze in awe at the two families that God has created. Their six plus our four made for an amazing sight.

Trent offered to take us on a tour of the property. As we climbed into the Suburban, ten children managed to find places to squeeze into the back. We rolled through pastures and herded cows into neighboring fields. We watched wild turkeys scurry across the hill. And we walked along rows of blueberry bushes listening to the soft hum of bees.

After lunch, the children found entertainment rolling up and down the driveway on the "gator". I love the comfort that comes from falling into a natural rhythm with old friends.

Waiting on God

2007-03-28T17:30:00.000-04:00

When we found the house last week, I was ecstatic. Its perfect. So when our offer was accepted, we were excited. That is until we learned the sellers needed to close in 20 days.

Um. What?

Yesterday at 3:30 we found out that we had 24 hours to move forward or step aside and allow the sellers to entertain another offer. As badly as I wanted the house, I knew that I needed to desire God's will that much more. My initial reaction was to hold on to the house; part of me didn't want to seek God's will. Why do I do that? I prayed that God would give me peace to obey Him regardless of the outcome. After praying with the ones I love throughout the day, we decided to let it go. And I think I was surprised at not only the peace, but the joy that God provided in that moment. Why do I doubt the good things that God wants to give to me? Why do I doubt His provision and His perfect will? I'm excited to see what God will do now.

I marvel at this whole process. If you had approached me about moving back to Mississippi 6 months ago, I would have fought the idea tooth and nail. I was adamant about not going back. You would have found me clinging to the Florida state line. I wouldn't even entertain the idea. Knowing that, I can declare without hesitation that God has changed my heart. Why, how, when? I'm not sure. But it was a slow, subtle transition. God eased me into something I felt so strongly against. I love the history and culture of the South (sorry, Kathy), but I didn't see a future or opportunity there. Now, well things are different. Opportunities abound and there is tremendous hope over the options available to the children, Robert, and me. We wait to see where God will lead.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. -I Corinthians 13:12

Home Sweet Home?

2007-03-23T22:15:00.000-04:00

We made an offer on . . .

Yeah, that's a little waterfall trickling down to a Koi pond at the bottom of the property. Very picturesque. Pray that God will open and close doors where He sees fit.

Observations from the Rest Stop

2007-03-20T16:11:00.001-04:00

Would you look at that. That woman's got a rat on a string.

Honey, that's a chihuahua.

Same difference.

Conversations from the Car

2007-03-20T12:50:00.001-04:00

What are you doing?
Blogging
From the car???
Its called mobile blogging.
Oohhh! Can I see your phone when you're done?
Voice from the backseat: Oohhh! Can I see it next?

Don't eat candy off the floorboard!

What's that smell?

Knowing the words to the "Pina Colada Song" a little too well.

Mom, where are we?
Florida.
Yeah, but you said that two hours ago.
Ask me again in two hours and I'll say the same thing.

Honey, why is your forehead furrowed like that?
Because I'm married to you.

"Time is on My Side" the Rolling Stones classic as sung by the four in
the back seat. Oh, the cruel irony.

Yeah, its turning out to be a swell trip so far!

Road Rage

2007-03-20T09:59:00.001-04:00

Landrum road trip day 1
Estimated time of departure: 5 am
Actual time of departure: 7:30 am

You might as well have tied the tails to 6 cats together and thrown them
into a Dodge Durango. Same effect . . .

Like Father, like Daughter

2007-03-19T22:03:00.000-04:00

I guess it was only a matter of time. Hannah in her creative quirkiness decided she wanted a blog. As if there wasn't enough traffic on this one poor computer! She posted three times the first day! Make it stop!

Because it makes me laugh . . .

2007-03-13T21:29:00.000-04:00

Blog Language

2007-03-08T19:49:00.000-05:00

So its been a week since Robert started blogging. At times I am glad he has taken to it and is enjoying himself; at other times I regret ever showing this to him. A few terms have come into existence since this phenomenon began in our household, so I thought I would share the conversations that spurred this new language.

Low Blog Esteem - "No one's commented on my blog today. Is that bad?"

Blog Whore - "Wow! Maddi* commented on my blog again!"
"Honey, Maddi comments on everybody's blog.
*names have been changed to protect identities

Blog Envy - "Your blog gets more hits than mine."

Blog Wars - "Ha ha ha! I'm putting that on the blog!"
"You better not or I'll post about what you did!"

Blogpetitive - "I posted twice today! Did you post yet???"

Blog Snob - "If you keep bugging me, I'm not going to read your blog today!"

Blog Apathy - "Honey, I posted this afternoon! Did you read it yet???"
"umm, no."
"Are you going to read it???"
"umm, no."
*Please note: Blog Apathy often contributes to Low Blog Esteem

More on Judging

2007-03-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

I knew this would happen. I read Robert's post from last night and grew frustrated over the fact that he didn't tell what precipitated that reflection. So let me provide the context.

We were driving out of a parking lot last night when a young couple caught our eye. They were huddled in the shadow of a hedge just before an intersection. The man held a sign that read "Victim of fire, she is pregnant, please help." They looked pretty rough. I saw Robert look intently at them as we passed. "Make the block," he requested. "How much have you got on you?" I had a five dollar bill which Robert took as he searched the landscape for the couple again. I protested, "How do you know they're really in need? They could be scamming people." Robert informed me that it wasn't his job to sort out people's intentions. God has commanded us to meet the need of people who ask for help.

The light from the setting sun had cast heavier shadows upon the couple, as we pulled up next to them Robert rolled down his window and extended the small offer towards them. Their response was genuine. "You are the first people to stop and help us. God bless you, God bless you."

As we pulled away, I found myself still wondering if they would use the money for alcohol or drugs. Robert looked out the window and declared, "I wish I had done more. Next time I'll do more."

Does my skeptical nature keep me from being the hands and feet of Christ? If those people had taken money from us under false pretenses, it was a fact that didn't affect my husband. I whispered a prayer for them as we drove on, and a small prayer for myself as I reflected on the one who may truly have been in need of God's mercy.

Old Dog, New Trick?

2007-03-01T19:14:00.000-05:00

I had to raise an eyebrow when Robert came into the living room and asked me when I was going to be "done" with the laptop. Done? You mean there's an end point? But I was more curious to know what he wanted it for. Robert associates the computer with work. He just finished his second master's degree and time on the computer meant typing paper after paper. Defensively (clutching the laptop to my chest) I insisted on knowing what he wanted it for.

"I want to set up a blog."

A what? What do you want to set up a blog for? I think I laughed. I know, it wasn't very nice.

"What's that website you use?"

Blogger. It's blogger, honey. I figured I had better help him set up his first blog or he would end up with some unrealistic blog name. That's important stuff, you know! I walked him through the set up and left him to write his first post. I came back and read his first entry. It was a serious introspective one. I wanted to know if that's what he planned to write about all the time. He shrugged. I informed him he could write about anything (as if he didn't know that). I suggested that the blog was a great thinking tool. It's great for deep thoughts as well as shallow reflections. The blog is the place that you can talk about relationships, how to not offend your brothers and sisters in the church nursury, the infinitness of God, or a glittery shirt that takes on a life of its own. Anything goes here . . .

The Instrument of God

2007-02-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

I am watching the Oprah Winfrey special on television. I'm sure that I'm not alone in weeping as I watch the special unfold. Regardless of how you feel about the politics and personal choices of celebrities like Oprah and Bono, God is using them to heal the hemmoraging of human life in Africa.

My heart aches with pain over the girls' personal stories and then swells with joy when I see how they have been choosen and blessed. I am confirmed in two lessons after viewing this program. One is that God uses our gifts when we are willing to give. It is not necessary to have the resources, wealth, and connections of a celebrity to do this. God knows our resouorces, after all He has given us everything we have. Therefore, the difficult part is being willing. If we believe that He will use us to bless others and that is our heart's desire, He will indeed bless!

Secondly, I see Christ'a redeeming love in Oprah's model. Even with its human frailties, can you not see how Christ chose us when we were without anything to offer and placed us in a position above all others, blessed, and claimed in His name? Its the picture of adoption. It is the King taking to himself sons and daughters and making them heirs to the throne as unworthy as they are. Praise God that I am claimed!

The Ukrainians are coming! The Ukrainians are coming!

2006-12-08T20:24:00.000-05:00

Somehow that doesn't sound the same way when you replace "British". Eleven days and counting! We will continue to post about Kristina's Christmas visit on our other blog Kristina's Story. Stop by and check in on us!

The Holidays

2006-11-19T17:59:00.000-05:00

I love the holiday season. Not the presents or food. There's a feeling associated with Christmas. Its something you sense well before December rolls around and the observation is offically underway. I noticed it before Halloween this year. Oddly, the MasterCard Home for the Holidays commerical always sets it off for me. Then comes the music, lights, the crispness of cool air (even for Florida!). The season is offically underway and I am loving it!

Run Away

2006-10-20T18:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was miserable. I sat on the bed and graded all 68 freshmen research papers. Why didn't God call me to be a math teacher? Probably has something to do with the fact that I'm not good with numbers.

Today I ran away. I've been bemoaning the fact that I don't have enough time for my family. But around midnight last night as I was entering the last grades, it hit me. I don't have any time for myself. I've never been one that thought it was very important. I figured once I started a family that "me" time was a luxury that could be sacrificed. But I woke up this morning thinking of the things I would like to do if I had some time to myself. Would the world really fall apart if I indulged myself and slipped away for a few hours? It was an experiment I was willing to try.

I gathered my purse and keys and headed for the door. At the sound of the jangling keys, the children came running like Pavlov's dog. "Where we goin'?" "Wait! I'll get my shoes!" I turned and looked them in the eyes and said, "Not this time. I'll be back by football practice this evening." I turned with their looks of confusion still lingering and slowly clicked the door behind me.

A wave of momentary guilt washed over me. I sat in the driveway with the car running as I rethought my decision. With a heavy sigh I put the car in reverse. Where would I go? What should I do? It was nearly lunch time, so I stopped at a cafe and tarried over the meal. It felt strange to sit by myself and people watch. I basked in the quietness that comes with being alone; I am rarely ever alone. I remembered that the movie Marie Antoinette was starting today, but I had decided I would wait for it to come out on video since no one was interested in seeing it. Whitney is the only one who will go and see foreign films and quirky historical pieces with me. I've never been to the movies alone, but I sat in the darkness of the theatre soaking in the beauty of being by myself. I had forgotten how refreshing solitude can be. The movie was disappointing, but the time away reminded me how important it is to rethink where I place my priorities. Perhaps my family are not the only ones that need more of me.

Listening to God

2006-09-15T18:46:00.000-04:00

Working as a teacher in a Christian school is really a double edged sword. There's a real risk of falling into a complacent place. In the back of mind I have caught myself saying, "You're doing okay. You're a Christian teacher in a Chrisitan school. You do this stuff full time!" But the truth of the matter is Judas was a disciple. He walked, talked, ate, MINISTERED, and worked day in and day out with Christ. You can stand in a garage all day long, but that won't make you a car.

I'm thankful that the Spirit has awakened this awareness in me though. I catch myself using this "safe" language to justify my spiritual life. But I have a longing that keeps surfacing. My contentment has become discontentment. I want to go somewhere where no one knows me and minister. I want to reach out and touch somone in need not because those around me expect it, but because I am simply a represetative of the King. I want my right hand not to know what my left hand is doing. I want God to receive all the glory for any good that I can bring to another's life. I have spent most of my Christian life robbing God of that glory, claiming good deeds in my own name.

I wrote that many months ago, long before I went to Ukraine and saw things there. I've been burdened in the last few months to examine my understanding of the role of the Christian in the world. What does it mean to serve God? When I returned from Ukraine, I felt recentered. I was afraid that I was experiencing what I'll call a "mission high". You know, that feeling you get during and following a mission trip. You feel motivated, moved, quite frankly, you FEEL. Then you come home and your life swallows you back up. Before you know it, the trip is a small album of photos and a fond memory. I'm saying these things because this is my experience.

So as I'm reflecting on this phenomenon, I realize that the issues with the orphans I encountered in Ukraine haven't left me. And I'm not referring to Kristina. I'm thinking of ministry to orphans around the world, here in Central Florida to Africa. The need and the pain of these children is with me constantly. And so I wonder, what is my obligation to them? In fact, what is my obligation to anyone? What has God called me to do? What does it mean to serve God?

I started to bounce these ideas off others in my life. And you know what happened? Some of them became angry with me. Some of them tried to convince me I was already doing everything I was supposed to do. I was taken aback by the response. I tried to communicate that I was seeking answers, not attempting to judge. Am I truely overthinking this? But something tells me there is so much more to be done. Am I okay with the possibility that this may not be agreeable to those around me? Even those who are Christians? I suppose I have to be. If God is calling me to something or if He is simply reminding me of what I should have been doing all along, I am thankful for the message.

The Truth of the Matter

2006-07-18T20:28:00.000-04:00

I wonder about my relationship with God sometimes. How genuine is that relationship? I don't know that my prayer life would fit any standard. I don't kneel by my bedside twice a day with head bowed and hands clasped. My prayer life is more of an ongoing conversation with God. I speak to Him throughout my day as things come to mind and people cross my path. Is that normal?

But what I have been thinking about lately is what I DON'T pray about. Its easy enough to lift up requests about small issues and the day in and day out things. The really big things . . . well I hesitate to whisper those to God. Why is that? Why don't I commit to pray constantly for the friend with the addiction problem or the family member with the marriage problem? Those are huge ongoing issues that need committed, consistent prayer. After carefully examining this, I think I have figured out why I don't do it. I am afraid that God will not answer my request in the fashion and timing that I desire And then where will I be? I think my heart is not too far from the father in Mark 9:24 who said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

Language of Love

2006-04-24T20:38:00.000-04:00

Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
-Exodus 23:20

Oddly enough, I'm very calm. I leave in four days and yet I'm not panicked. P, fabulous as she always is, thought to rally the troops for supplies. K is bringing her spacesaver packing bags so that I can travel light. I have my passport and tickets. What am I forgetting? Its too late to learn Russian. The Cyrillic alphabet is too daunting anyway. There's really nothing to plan. I will need to be flexible and go with the flow. I like itineraries, so this will be a stretch for me. How strange to be traveling so far away with no touristy destinations on the agenda. I truly feel my dependence on God for this trip. I will need His prodding to know where to go, who to speak with, and what to do. What a lesson this will be for me!

I See You

2006-04-20T20:27:00.000-04:00

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
-I Peter 5:8

On days like today, I am acutely aware that there is a devil and he intends to ravage everything good. It seemed like one frustrating event followed another as the day clicked away. I grew angrier and felt defeated as the school day crept to a close. And then it hit me. The devil is actively seeking to not only discourage, but destroy my collegues. I watched one event after the other unfold today and I realized that this was an actual attack. I don't say that lightly. I'm not the kind that blames things on Satan everytime the wind blows contrary. But there can be no mistaking the chaos that he is trying to cause between student, teachers, and friends. Recognizing this is part of the solution and now I know how to pray.

Deep and Wide

2006-04-16T21:49:00.000-04:00

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
-Genesis 1:2

Do you remember the first time you walked out to the end of the diving board? If you're anything like me, you didn't jump right in. You contemplated the deepness of the water, the height of the board, your fear of falling, and the judgmental stares of the onlookers. And, if you're anything like me, you probably backed off the board without jumping in. I did this several times. I distinctly remember the excitment and terror of looking down into the cool water at my own reflection. Jumping in had to be fun; otherwise why did everyone line up and wait their turn to take a running leap off? But there was always the equally matched doubt and fear.

I was reminded of this experience recently as I was working through my feelings about the upcoming trip to Ukraine. My plane tickets arrived yesterday and I felt my breathe catch in my chest. Suddenly I was out on the end of that board again. As I thumbed through the multiple tickets that make up my journey, I was filled with giddiness with a tinge of panic. But I can't back off the board at this point. I have to make peace with the water below and will my lead feet to move towards the edge.

Ukraine Bound

2006-03-30T20:21:00.000-05:00

I will hurry, without lingering, to obey your commands.
-Psalms 119:60

It's official. I have permission for the time off from work and I have confirmed my spot on the trip. The flight ticket is being purchased as I write. Part of me is giddy and part of me is terrified. I told the children for the first time as soon as I hung up the phone. Samuel had the biggest grin on his face and shouted to the others, "Mom's going to be a missionary! Mom's going to be a missionary!" I was so proud of him at that moment. He was so happy that I was going to minister to children on the other side of the world. He never once thought to protest and complain about my second international trip in a two month span. He was okay with sharing his mom. I have the best family in the world. They are truly selfless when it comes to the convenience of having me around. Of course, I'm probably not as necessary of a fixture as I think I am!
So I need to put together my itinerary at this point. The director is allowing me to choose where I want to go and what I want to do. The need is so great everywhere that there's really no priority areas. He spoke to me about orphanage #3 that houses infants up to four year olds. And then there's Orphanage #9 that is home to toddlers 3-6 years old. I can also visit the orphanages that are home to older orphans. How strange a decision this is. There are babies and toddlers that need to be held, rocked, changed, fed, played with. There are teenagers that need to hang out and connect. Where do I begin and how will I know how to reach their needs? I am sure I'm being too romantic about all of this. I will probably spend the week washing dishes or cleaning, and that would be okay too.

Thought for the Day: Sky Diving

2006-03-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
- James 4:14
If I ever went sky diving (and mind you, I wouldn't) I wouldn't want the time from when I leap from a perfectly good plane to the time I reach blessed earth to be typified by the typical sky diving reaction: screaming. Yet I feel like that's how I spent a lot of my life. I've spent time worried about where I'm at, how I got there, am I prepared,and I've missed most of the scenery. What's the point of going through life if you're not going to experience the exhilaration, the scenery, and the beauty of just having life? The truth is, we're all rushing towards the same destination. Why not enjoy the adventure?

Baby Steps Towards Ukraine

2006-03-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

"Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart."
-Psalms 26:2

So I submitted my request for time off April 29-May 7. All the details aren't clear yet, but I am moving forward in faith. Isn't that the essence of faith though? We are called to obey the voice of God when things aren't spelled out for us; when we feel unprepared, unwilling, or uninspired.

God calls us to do things sometimes just to see us obey. Does that sound farfetched? He called Abraham to do something that seemed utterlessly pointless, even absurd. Lessons in obedience are part of our relationship with God. I don't know how I will make things work to spend a week in the Ukraine. I'm not sure how I will cover the $3000.00 to finance the trip. But the truth of the matter is, I may not even go on this trip. God may simply be asking me to obey and not question His instructions. And He expects me to move without grumbling, complaining, or whining. While I am preparing myself daily for the possibility of traveling to Eastern Europe, I am also seeking peace for however God works out the details.

I Can't Bear to Look

2006-03-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

"No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God"
-Luke 9:62
There's a reason I didn't see The Passion of the Christ when it came to theatres. Everyone I knew was going; many of them with positive things to say about the film. The honest truth is I seriously consider going, but I know me.

I took the children to see The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when it came out. I sat in the darkness of that theatre and wept. It was unbearable to watch Aslan as he was humiliated, tormented, and murdered. Even a fictional representation was too much for me. I feel the weight of my unworthiness and the incredible price that was paid on my behalf when I read of the crucifixion. Watching it is simply too much to bear. So for that reason, I haven't watched The Passion.

I have been circling around the possibility of traveling to Eastern Europe to work in an orphanage. Wouldn't you know, the opportunity has presented itself. I spoke with a mission director last night and he expressed his hope that I would travel to the orphanages he serves. Not because I have any special gifts or talents. Believe me, I know who I am! He recognizes my common spirit in a desire to reach these lost children. And so now I am faced with a choice. Do I go? I don't know a single person and I don't speak the language. I've never been to this area of the world. I will need to inconvenience my family, my students, and my peers. But let's be honest, those are just excuses. Like the disciples in Luke 9:57-62 who are called by Christ to follow. They were full of excuses as to why they wanted to but couldn't. None of these was acceptable to Christ. He called them "unfit". Is that what I'm doing?

I talked to K about the trip today and she said something that really hit home for me. "Leslie, will you be alright? Can you handle it?" And I found myself faced with what I think is the true issue. Can I bear to look into the faces of these children and minister despite my own weaknesses? It's the same excuse for not watching The Passion. I know there will be tremendous pain and heartache in the things I see. Of course it's not an acceptable excuse.

Where My Heart Is

2006-02-25T19:25:00.000-05:00

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" - Romans 8:15

Several years ago I watched a program during the Christmas season that profiled orphans in the US and their desire to find a family. Orphans? Most children who lose their parents are taken in by family members. Right? I mean, that's what my family would do for my four if something were to happen to me.

But something in my heart was pricked by the situation. I went onto the internet and started to search for them, these children with no parents, no family. And amazingly, there they were. Over the next year I found myself drawn to websites with photolistings of orphans all over the world: Nicaragua, Russia, Brazil, Ukraine, China. Hardly a day went by that I didn't search for them online. And there are thousands, hundreds of thousands of them. Infants to teenagers with no one and nothing in this world. Each photolisting included a small picture and blurb about them: abandoned at birth, makes caretakers smile, a favorite in the orphanage, found in the streets. I tried to imagine my Joshua in this situation. I tried to picture him going to sleep each night in a room full of other children. Whose bed would he crawl into if he had a nightmare? Who would hold him and speak to him? How would he learn how to be a dad, a father? Unfathomable.

But what could I do? I showed them to Robert who was moved by their situation as well. Hardly a day has gone by that I haven't visited a website and tried to point out a sweet face to him. He can't bear to look at them though. It makes him incredibly sad. He would say, "Let's go get them." I thought he was joking and then I realized that maybe that was a possibility.

Yes, we have four beautiful children. There isn't a hole in our family; we don't feel incomplete. But maybe this wasn't about us. Maybe this was about someone else. Why not? Wasn't that what Christ had done for me? Hadn't He taken me when I was fatherless and pitiful and brought me into the family of God. And then I saw it all as it should be. I understood the verses about the spirit of adoption and justice for the orphan, and pure religion. I felt an urgency from that point on. Somewhere in the world there was a child in an orphanage that was meant to be part of our family. Who? Where? I had no idea. More importantly, how? That's the question I am working through even at this moment. In the process I have learned patience and trust in God. He has given us stories of families that have walked this path and have claimed a lost child in His name. So we wait and watch.

So here we are . . .

2006-02-24T19:50:00.000-05:00

“Weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath”
-Shakespeare's Othello

I haven't understood the whole "blog" thing. Exactly why would someone want to post an online journal? Isn't that like leaving a locking diary with the key in it? Or maybe people just don't post their most personal thoughts in this type of forum. What's the point then? Is it just another way to talk to hear yourself talking?

Yet here I am.

Curisoity got the best of me. So what good could I use this for? Surely no one cares to know what I'm thinking about the guy driving in front of me today or the paper pile on my desk that never diminishes. Like the widow in I King's who never runs out of oil or bread after using the last of her supplies to cook for Elijah. I think her situation was supposed to be a blessing though. sigh. See that? I just sighed. I'll do that a lot I'm sure.