I can't believe my calendar.
Every day since school started, my calendar has had SOMETHING on it. At least one item, but more often two, three, or even FIVE.
I'm not a fan of this kind of busyness. And our family has A LOT LESS going on than most. How ever do people do it?
Needless to say, I feel like I've been doing a lot of living and not a lot of writing. It's OK - I know it's a phase of life and I don't regret or resent it at all. A lack of writing, for me, though, is representative of a lack of time to think and process...my writing tends to flow from my musing. I guess that writing is a bit of a healthy hobby for me: what golf or scrapbooking or tinkering with cars may provide for someone else, musing and writing provides for me.
So I guess I've just talked myself into leaving a little time for pondering, for "doodling" with my words, so to speak. Maybe in cutting short the "living", I'm really making time for the kind of living I need to do. The kind that keeps me fresh and contemplative and grateful.
Thanks. I feel much better now.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Let's Talk Football
Please excuse the inconsequentiality of what I'm about to write, but I just HAVE to say it.
I LOVE FOOTBALL.
If I could be a wide receiver, I would. But because it's not generally accepted practice for thirty-something females to play this position, let alone this sport, I'm relegated to watching. And what a glorious relegation it is!
The imprints of games, plays and players are burned on my retinas (only my kids will know what I'm referring to): Kellen Winslow's block, 5 laterals by the Golden Bears, Dwight Clark's catch against the dreaded Cowboys, Boise State's 07 Bowl win, the Super Bowl in which the zebras defeated my beloved Hawks, Doug Flutie's Hail Mary for Boston College, Mack Strong's thirty plus yard ramble in the 06 playoffs, my nephew running for 160-some yards in a high school game...ahhhhh. I just love it.
I think that, as a group, the linebackers are my favorites. Mike Singletary. Lawrence Taylor. Junior Seau. And now Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks. These guys are amazing. Athletic. Fast. Sneaky and strong, not to mention authoritative. If anybody thinks football is a sport for fat, dumb guys, guess again. These guys have to be smart and in unbelievable shape.
So, last weekend couldn't have been better for football in the Northwest. The sun was shining and all our teams played in one city in a span of two days with awesome results.
Game 2 of the Jake Locker era for the Dawgs - another impressive win, breaking Boise State's 14 or so game winning streak. Reality check tomorrow, however...#10 ranked Ohio State. Hmmm. Guess we'll find out if UW is for real or not.
Cougs at Qwest Field and I WAS THERE for a resounding win over San Diego State. Not only resounding, but record-setting. Cougs QB Alex Brink had a school record 38 completions for 469 yards. I'm not kidding you. And we got to see a whole bunch of TD's in the end zone where we were sitting, in addition to a stellar trombone performance by my nephew in the marching band.
Last but not least, the Hawks over Tampa Bay on Sunday. After a rather questionable start, the offense and defense finally got going. Shawn Alexander finally cranked it up and started heading UP the field instead of across it...now if only he could do that EVERY time!!! Lofa and company never seemed to tire out and laid a punishing string of hits on the Bucs. After the game, I wanted to write a post entitled "Things That Make Me Happy, vol. 2" with exactly one item in it - SEAHAWKS DEFENSE.
So if you didn't know it before, you know it now, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool football fan. If you really need to call to me on Saturday or Sunday afternoon between 1 and 4 PM, please do it only on commercial breaks or at halftime. :) Other than that I'm happy to talk football with you ANY TIME. (I especially love analyzing Holmgren's 3rd down play calling).
Are you ready for some football?
I LOVE FOOTBALL.
If I could be a wide receiver, I would. But because it's not generally accepted practice for thirty-something females to play this position, let alone this sport, I'm relegated to watching. And what a glorious relegation it is!
The imprints of games, plays and players are burned on my retinas (only my kids will know what I'm referring to): Kellen Winslow's block, 5 laterals by the Golden Bears, Dwight Clark's catch against the dreaded Cowboys, Boise State's 07 Bowl win, the Super Bowl in which the zebras defeated my beloved Hawks, Doug Flutie's Hail Mary for Boston College, Mack Strong's thirty plus yard ramble in the 06 playoffs, my nephew running for 160-some yards in a high school game...ahhhhh. I just love it.
I think that, as a group, the linebackers are my favorites. Mike Singletary. Lawrence Taylor. Junior Seau. And now Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks. These guys are amazing. Athletic. Fast. Sneaky and strong, not to mention authoritative. If anybody thinks football is a sport for fat, dumb guys, guess again. These guys have to be smart and in unbelievable shape.
So, last weekend couldn't have been better for football in the Northwest. The sun was shining and all our teams played in one city in a span of two days with awesome results.
Game 2 of the Jake Locker era for the Dawgs - another impressive win, breaking Boise State's 14 or so game winning streak. Reality check tomorrow, however...#10 ranked Ohio State. Hmmm. Guess we'll find out if UW is for real or not.
Cougs at Qwest Field and I WAS THERE for a resounding win over San Diego State. Not only resounding, but record-setting. Cougs QB Alex Brink had a school record 38 completions for 469 yards. I'm not kidding you. And we got to see a whole bunch of TD's in the end zone where we were sitting, in addition to a stellar trombone performance by my nephew in the marching band.
Last but not least, the Hawks over Tampa Bay on Sunday. After a rather questionable start, the offense and defense finally got going. Shawn Alexander finally cranked it up and started heading UP the field instead of across it...now if only he could do that EVERY time!!! Lofa and company never seemed to tire out and laid a punishing string of hits on the Bucs. After the game, I wanted to write a post entitled "Things That Make Me Happy, vol. 2" with exactly one item in it - SEAHAWKS DEFENSE.
So if you didn't know it before, you know it now, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool football fan. If you really need to call to me on Saturday or Sunday afternoon between 1 and 4 PM, please do it only on commercial breaks or at halftime. :) Other than that I'm happy to talk football with you ANY TIME. (I especially love analyzing Holmgren's 3rd down play calling).
Are you ready for some football?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
A Good Day
I'm working to redefine my understanding of "a good day".
I'm accustomed to thinking that a good day is an easy day. A conflict-free day. A day without stress or heavy decision-making or tears (mine or others'). A day with happy people, happy events, and a happy feeling inside of me. A day when I "feel blessed".
Oh, there's nothing wrong with these kind of days. They are good days, indeed. But I've been realizing that there are a lot of other kinds of "good days" - a lot of which don't look and feel so obviously GOOD. I don't want to defer to a blind "Pollyanna" outlook on life - I know well the reality of days that pierce your heart and mind, of days that seem to drain the very life out of you. But I also know that in the midst of those FEELINGS, I often miss the very real "goodness" that's happening. For instance...
Kids quarrel and fight when they're learning how to relate to others and how to assert themselves. While the fighting is tiresome to all, my kids are learning how NOT to be doormats. They're learning to eliminate some unhealthy ways of relating to others. So when we walk through this together, it's a good day.
Teenagers want to go out with their friends and while the decision-making and boundary-setting is taxing to the parents, my kids are taking steps toward being independent of us, as we want them to be one day. They're learning why we have boundaries and how to set them. Baby steps toward healthy independence make a good day (even if three of those steps are forward and two are back!).
People in all kinds of settings from marriage to work to extended families have misunderstandings and differing opinions that lead to difficult conversations. But when those conversations occur, though stretching and even painful, we're gaining knowledge of another. We're learning the value of OUR experiences and opinions, as well as the value of THEIRS. Knowing myself and knowing another, and extending grace to both, is part of a good day.
All of these, and more, are truly GOOD days. They may be hard days, but they're good. They're good as we stretch and are stretched, as we mold and are molded, more and more into the image of our Creator. People grow; people change. People learn and develop - more often than not by trial and error. What makes me think that this process will be "happy", linear, and effortless?! The process is none of the aforementioned, at least not all the time, but it is still good.
Have a GOOD day.
I'm accustomed to thinking that a good day is an easy day. A conflict-free day. A day without stress or heavy decision-making or tears (mine or others'). A day with happy people, happy events, and a happy feeling inside of me. A day when I "feel blessed".
Oh, there's nothing wrong with these kind of days. They are good days, indeed. But I've been realizing that there are a lot of other kinds of "good days" - a lot of which don't look and feel so obviously GOOD. I don't want to defer to a blind "Pollyanna" outlook on life - I know well the reality of days that pierce your heart and mind, of days that seem to drain the very life out of you. But I also know that in the midst of those FEELINGS, I often miss the very real "goodness" that's happening. For instance...
Kids quarrel and fight when they're learning how to relate to others and how to assert themselves. While the fighting is tiresome to all, my kids are learning how NOT to be doormats. They're learning to eliminate some unhealthy ways of relating to others. So when we walk through this together, it's a good day.
Teenagers want to go out with their friends and while the decision-making and boundary-setting is taxing to the parents, my kids are taking steps toward being independent of us, as we want them to be one day. They're learning why we have boundaries and how to set them. Baby steps toward healthy independence make a good day (even if three of those steps are forward and two are back!).
People in all kinds of settings from marriage to work to extended families have misunderstandings and differing opinions that lead to difficult conversations. But when those conversations occur, though stretching and even painful, we're gaining knowledge of another. We're learning the value of OUR experiences and opinions, as well as the value of THEIRS. Knowing myself and knowing another, and extending grace to both, is part of a good day.
All of these, and more, are truly GOOD days. They may be hard days, but they're good. They're good as we stretch and are stretched, as we mold and are molded, more and more into the image of our Creator. People grow; people change. People learn and develop - more often than not by trial and error. What makes me think that this process will be "happy", linear, and effortless?! The process is none of the aforementioned, at least not all the time, but it is still good.
Have a GOOD day.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Things That Make Me Happy
It's not uncommon when my daughter and I are together to hear one of us take note of some object, person or event and say "That makes me happy". Please don't think we're really shallow and that we depend on "stuff" for our happiness. Our words are just a way of expressing that something has brought us a little delight.
The things that make us happy are many and varied, and I'm glad we share these aloud. Not only does it help us know a little more about each other's hearts, it also keeps us on the lookout for those easily overlooked moments of joy in life.
So, every now and then in my blog, you're bound to see an installment of "Things That Make Me Happy". If you're not already in the habit of noticing and savoring these moments in your life, I hope this post encourages you to begin TODAY!
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, vol. 1
My Red Shirt
I've had my red blouse for several years, and whenever I put it on, I just feel good. It makes me happy every time I wear it (or even think about wearing it). Everyone should have a shirt like that!
The Goat Who Worshiped Me
My friend and I and our boys were petting some farm animals at a farm/park the other day. This one goat had stuck its head through the fence, so naturally, I squatted down to give it a proper petting. As soon as I started scratching this friendly goat's chin, it closed its eyes and leaned its head into my hand with a look of pure ecstasy on its face. It just rested there against my touch as long as I would keep showing affection. It was surprisingly gratifying, even though the recipient was a goat, to be another creature's dream-come-true. :)
Jim's Chicken and Veggies on the Grill
Oh, there is just NOTHING better than when my husband grills teriyaki chicken and all manner of veggies on the grill for the fam. He's a master BBQ'er and I savor EVERY bite of this meal.
The Unlikely Passenger
I was following a car at dusk yesterday; I had seen the driver's face, but saw only the silhouette of the passenger's back. I followed the car for several miles before the passenger turned in profile and I realized that the husky rider in the back seat was really a gigantic dog! I laughed and laughed that I had gone so far without recognizing that outline for what it was.
Other things that have made me happy in the last few days:
Green, red and yellow peppers in the colander,
A photo of a young lady with an wonderfully warm and cheerful face,
Reading yet another book about Mt. Everest,
Singing in church, and
Eating Hot Tamales,
just to name a few.
At immense risk of sounding totally and completely dorky, I sincerely hope and pray that whatever your day is like today, you will keep all your senses open to the "happy" moments along the way. Really.
The things that make us happy are many and varied, and I'm glad we share these aloud. Not only does it help us know a little more about each other's hearts, it also keeps us on the lookout for those easily overlooked moments of joy in life.
So, every now and then in my blog, you're bound to see an installment of "Things That Make Me Happy". If you're not already in the habit of noticing and savoring these moments in your life, I hope this post encourages you to begin TODAY!
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, vol. 1
My Red Shirt
I've had my red blouse for several years, and whenever I put it on, I just feel good. It makes me happy every time I wear it (or even think about wearing it). Everyone should have a shirt like that!
The Goat Who Worshiped Me
My friend and I and our boys were petting some farm animals at a farm/park the other day. This one goat had stuck its head through the fence, so naturally, I squatted down to give it a proper petting. As soon as I started scratching this friendly goat's chin, it closed its eyes and leaned its head into my hand with a look of pure ecstasy on its face. It just rested there against my touch as long as I would keep showing affection. It was surprisingly gratifying, even though the recipient was a goat, to be another creature's dream-come-true. :)
Jim's Chicken and Veggies on the Grill
Oh, there is just NOTHING better than when my husband grills teriyaki chicken and all manner of veggies on the grill for the fam. He's a master BBQ'er and I savor EVERY bite of this meal.
The Unlikely Passenger
I was following a car at dusk yesterday; I had seen the driver's face, but saw only the silhouette of the passenger's back. I followed the car for several miles before the passenger turned in profile and I realized that the husky rider in the back seat was really a gigantic dog! I laughed and laughed that I had gone so far without recognizing that outline for what it was.
Other things that have made me happy in the last few days:
Green, red and yellow peppers in the colander,
A photo of a young lady with an wonderfully warm and cheerful face,
Reading yet another book about Mt. Everest,
Singing in church, and
Eating Hot Tamales,
just to name a few.
At immense risk of sounding totally and completely dorky, I sincerely hope and pray that whatever your day is like today, you will keep all your senses open to the "happy" moments along the way. Really.
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