Horsing Around and Silly Socks

Being in second grade, Zoe is now having to do some research and projects (with my help) and her first was to research a farm animal (she chose horse) and to make a poster about her animal with photos and decoration of some sort. She glittered her horses and made the one in front 3D. Other 3D effects were the fence, tree and clouds (all made from cotton balls and pretzel sticks) She had quite a good time making it and was very proud of the finished product!

Hannah had silly socks day today and chose to wear a pair of cute little sweater slippers with dogs on them.  She was also very pleased!

The night the lights went out in Picayune...DURING THE SAINTS GAME!!

As promised, I am going to attempt a blog once a week or as the spirit moves me so to speak...oh look at me I'm Dr. Seuss. 

Anyway, I have to say that I have appeared to have been pulled into the aura that is the Saints.  I know, I am not a joiner, but I have come to just love this team!  Well, as any 'Sainted' follower knows, we had a game last night. While Mark headed over to 'The Link' to watch with all the men on the big screens; I was at home getting everything cleaned up and the girls settled so that I could watch myself.  Of course,  it did take a little longer than I expected to get everything 'ready' so the game had begun; but, I was still able to listen.  I had finished up by the time the score was 9-7(Saints) and was settling in to watch till the half at which time I could go take a quick shower and be back for the 2nd half.  Well, that was the plan.  Unfortunately, a random squirrel had decided to take a nightly run on the power-line and before we all knew it, we were in the dark!  I saw the lights flash for a brief second and then heard the oh to familiar sound of the transformer BOOM.  This was followed by the sound of banshee screams and panicked doorknobs and in ran my girls.  Poor Zoe was three at the time of Katrina and for about a year after every time we lost power she'd exclaim, "Momma, Daddy, it's another hurricane!"  Thankfully I had lit some candles earlier to relax the atmosphere after the long day so I was, at least, a little prepared for the darkness. A "flashlight for each child" hunt began and soon we all had lights. Shortly after, I began reading stories to the girls while we waited for the lights to return.

In the darkness, I did make a few observations though.  It's funny what you notice when you are deprived of power.  Of course, I do remember Katrina, but that was a true state of panic where this was a minor inconvenience so my senses were focused in a different way.  I first noticed how quiet it was, amid the chatter and sniffles, there was a different state of quiet.  Power has sound within itself, not to mention the noise of a TV, music or computer.  With power gone the only sounds were human noises and noises of the night, and that, to me, feels strange.  I have become comfortable with the 'hum" of energy, just barely out of our senses but it's there.  Another thing that I noticed right away was the darkness.  When you loose power it's not just your house but all the houses around you as well as street lights so you don't just have darkness, it's like 'advanced' darkness.  It truly wraps around you like a heavy blanket, not smothering, just covering. My children,also, seem very uncomfortable with this level of darkness. I talked with them about it being dark when they sleep but Zoe said, "We know the lights are there if we need them and now we can't use them because they are not there".  It's always interesting to get a child's point of view because they usually have such clarity of thought, or I think they do.

When Mark came in shortly after, he was not surprised by the power outage because he could clearly see that the whole street was out.  Once he arrived home, the power truck, that had been working on the problem, got the lights on to which Hannah declared, " Daddy fixed the lights!"  Though we had lost power for about an hour, all was soon back to normal and I did get to see the end of the game.

However, one thing that stuck with me through our hour of no power was how important light truly is.  Whether it is the light of a candle, a flashlight or a life we should never take it for granted and be ever thankful for its continued presence!

Blessings on this bright  and sunny day!

Fall 'Friskies'

When I opened the door this morning and the cool air hit me in the face, I thought  of cats.  Specifically, my cats that I used to have throughout my childhood and into my single days as an adult.  I remember how the first cool snap of the season would send them into fits of frisky and then it would begin.  Darting and dashing throughout the house with reckless abandon until, of course, they would run into something knocking it over or even breaking it.  At which, I would begin my chastising of their careless behavior.  Isn't it funny what a particular sensation will call to our remembrance?

I have found that the same happens with children.  That first change in temperature and they are set ablaze with renewed energy, as if mine even needed more than they have!  I have to say that fall is my favorite time of year. Though it's true that fall is like twilight in a way; nature, readying herself for slumber.  For me, fall seems to bring a renewing of the spirit. Old things passing away and the early beginnings of something new on the horizon.  To me, fall is all about one's senses.  The roar of the yellow school buses down the road; crunching leaves under our feet; smell of cinnamon and pumpkin spices; laughter of happy children playing; rustling of leaves blowing in the breeze; taste of hot teas, ciders, pies and soups.....etc.  It's a season as rich as the colors we use to celebrate it and I, for one, am happy to see it's arrival!

A Birthday Timeline

With all the birthdays that have happened of late, I began thanking about what I like to call, the timeline of a birthday.  It begins when you are a child and can understand what the word 'birthday' means to you.  Not so much the gaining of another year, but the celebration of cake, presents and friends.  This continues to build, in story-like style, until it reaches a climax...usually with the gift of something big (like a car or huge blowout party--vacation style).  Let me say that I HAVE had some parties in my time but never to this degree--for which I elaborately mourned over at the time...however, in retrospect, am extremely grateful for what I did have. Perhaps age is a great teacher...or perhaps our perspective changes as we age...or perhaps it's both.

However, I found that with the passage of a 'milestone birthday' my birthday perspective began to radically change.  I found that not only was my list of desires becoming  more practical in nature, my birthday was beginning to mark some physical changes as well.  Changes that I might add were not particularly what I would call desirable in nature.  Of course getting married and having children could factor into some of this; but, I could not deny that birthday's were an irreversible part of this whole process.  Like a book's decline into resolution and ending, I had found that I too, had finally reached that climax, and passed it (although just barely;) as to anyone you ask I am still 29 and holding) 

It was with the approach of my father's birthday, which is today Happy Birthday Dad!, that a chord was struck within me as to my current view of the 'birthday timeline'.  As I observe birthdays of all ages I began to see that within each, a story was being written, like a painting across the Sistine Chapel, our own life is being poured out in vibrant and sometimes violent color and brush strokes. Each day, each hour, woven into a tapestry along with the other lives we touch.  It occurs to me that perhaps it is the process, more than the destination, or in my case the desperate cling to that 'magic year'. The one which it appeared to me that all was perfect; or, that like in the days of Columbus, any forward movement would sail me right off the end of the world.  When I look at my dad, or anyone who is older than me, I see life poured out for something and in pursuit of something, not a vain or empty effort.  I see lessons learned, experiences made, and relationships formed.  I see a road of possibility and promise.  I see that there is life to those years not just years in that life!  Perhaps that is the greatest gift of all, God's gift to us, living and experiencing.  Not that our destination is not of utmost importance as well; but, that He wanted all those little experiences for us along the way. 

So, I guess all these birthdays around me have taught me something.  Don't get me wrong, as I am still 29 and holding.  But perhaps I won't hold as tightly as I don't want to miss a minute of this beautiful, wonderful gift given to each one of us....LIFE and living it every day! 

Happy Birthday Dad, thanks for sharing your life with me. I love you!

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1.03.01

Lest we forget

9/11 quotes and sayings are something many want to remember today. Remembering the 9/11 terrorist attacks is very important for every American. This year, 9/11 is met with even more tension between the US and the Muslim society. Even the Muslim community within the US has been met with anger and animosity mostly due to the 9/11 mosque 300 yards from the WTC Ground Zero which is something that is unacceptable to many Americans. Although legal, the appropriateness of placing a Muslim place of worship so close to the site where many Americans lost their lives, I feel, is controversial at the very least. Neither can I condone burning the Koran as a Florida pastor discussed doing today.

I am not sure if I will ever be able to wrap my mind around the grave injustice of that day but I am sure that it will not lie in a burning book or strategically placed building. What I did want to do today was post some quotes from that day and the days shortly after that reflect the thoughts, feelings and emotions shared by all Americans from this tragedy.

“Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward and freedom will be defended.” “We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail,” George W. Bush


"Are you guys ready? Let's roll!" -- Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer, apparently as a signal to other passengers to attack the hijackers, Sept. 11.


"This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of human life, and we the democracies of this world are going to have to come together and fight it together." -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sept. 11.


"Commending the victims to almighty God's mercy, I implore his strength upon all involved in rescue efforts and in caring for the survivors." -- Pope John Paul II, Sept. 11.


"We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people, to the American president and to the American administration, not only in my name but on behalf of the Palestinian people." -- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Sept. 11.


"We will find those who did it. We will smoke them out of their holes. We'll get them running, and we'll bring them to justice." -- Bush, Sept. 15.


"Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded ... as a hostile regime." -- Bush, Sept. 20.


"I may never be normal again. But this is my life now. I have to live it." -- Manu Dhingra, 27, a securities broker who suffered burns over a third of his body but was released from the hospital Oct. 2.
May we truly never forget! I'd like to close my post with this:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to publish good tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." Isaiah 61: 1-3

Lagniappe

Wow! It has been a long long time since I have actually posted anything. I had been very loyal with blogging and posting my thoughts and happenings.....then...along came facebook! It was more streamlined, faster, and met my needs more accurately with my busy lifestyle- BUT- I still want to continue writing because I feel that it is a good outlet for today's society in general. We have gotten so lazy about the way in which we express ourselves....vocabulary's shrinking, written self expression's shrinking, mind's shrinking.....well let's just say I would love to have better words with which to express myself...
ANYWAY, I have decided that even if I can only post once a week I will do, at least, that if for nothing else than to have a stimulating conversation with myself;) I did post earlier this week a smilebox of Zoe's water-slide birthday, without actual photos of the water-slide, which I had apparently forgotten to ask Mark to do for me while I was being "party mama"! Luckily, my friend had gotten some with her camera so I will be able to add them later.

Changing subjects, Hannah has Ms. Moore for kindergarten just as Zoe did and she is enjoying some of the same fun projects--which will be a challenge for me not repeating the same style projects that I did with Zoe--glad I took photos to help remind me!

Her first project was one in which they had to make some form of transportation and this is what we came up with.

Front of project: Her basket says: Hannah's Hot Air Balloon Rides, Come Take Flight Adults $10.00 Children $5:00



Back of project:



Kayci got a big 'kick' out of it and laughed hysterically when she saw it! Yes, you CAN see her tonsils!

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1.03.01

Zoe's 8th Birthday

Slideshow personalized with Smilebox

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1.03.01