Just stopping by with a few obervations...

Oh, yes… we’re into the end-of-the-semester-preparing-for-Christmas-don’t-forget-the-next-event days. So, I’m just dropping into this blog o’mine to share a few observations I’ve made over the last few days.

• We’re receiving very few Christmas cards this year. So, I’m wondering… Is no one sending cards this year? Or, have we been marked off everyone’s list???
• We scaled back on the Christmas décor this year. Bud thinks it’s great and says we should scale back even more next year. My opinion? Big mistake. Huge mistake. It won’t happen again.
• My kids are having a hard time coming up with ideas of things they’d like to receive as Christmas gifts. I think Burrito summed it up pretty well when he said, “I think that might be a sign that we’re spoiled.” Hmmm… maybe? (Probably.)
• Speaking of Burrito, he’s halfway through his senior year. He’s been accepted to three universities so far and we’re waiting to hear from one more. We’re very proud of him! Nothing more to say about that lest the tears flow.
• Kat is halfway through her freshman year of high school. Is it just my imagination or is the transition to high school harder for girls than boys?
• You know how the police will tell you that there’s no such thing as ticket quotas… particularly at the end of a month? Well, I’ve been making my own observations of the situation over the last few months. My conclusion? I’m not buying that story. (And, no… I haven’t received a ticket.)
• Blogs are being neglected. And, it’s not just the season – it’s another trend I’ve notice over the last several months. You know who you are! (Of course, those bloggers probably aren’t reading my blog anymore either.) And yes, I realize this point is like the pot calling the kettle black.
• It doesn’t feel like December yet. It’s hard to feel Christmassy when the daily temperatures have been in the mid-60s to mid-70s lately. I still made Bud turn on the gas to our fireplace and we’ve used it on a few cooler evenings. I love it! Bud on the other hand, suggested I just burn a few $20s instead.
• This post is making Bud seem very cynical. He’s really not.
• Speaking of Christmas cards… mine are finished but I haven’t mailed them yet. Just in case you were thinking you’d been marked off my list.
• We scaled way back on Christmas gift-giving this year. It feels good. It feels right.
• I’m still in my jammies and need to leave the house in 20 minutes. Guess I’d better get moving.

What observations have you made lately?

Confessions: I need your opinion!

Well, hello! Yes, I do know it's been awhile since I've blogged.

What have I been up to during my blogging absence? Well, two things... One, Kat's freshman year. Two, Burrito's senior year. Enough said? I thought so.

Here's the problem. I really need a hair cut. And color. However, my stylist up and moved to a new town that is just a little too inconvenient of a distance to travel. So, during a ladies' Bible study luncheon yesterday, the topic of stylists came up in conversation.  I tried to make a mental note of the name of the salons that were mentioned by ladies who had cuts and styles that I liked.

You caught the key phrase in that last sentence, right?  Mental note. (Stop laughing!)

Not one to let a little thing like poor short term memory stop me, I just Googled the phrase "hair salons" with the name of my town.  I was certain the recommended salons would be obvious once I saw them. 

What popped up on my computer? The usual chain salons, of course, as well as all the ones named after their owners. The others? Well, they are the ones that scare me. And I promise you I did not make these up!

Milk and Honey Salon (Not sure if this is a Biblical reference or an indication of organic products.)

Trashy Roots Salon and Spa (The hair or the pedigree?)

Mecca Hair Salon (Will I need to convert first?)

All Cranial Needs (Think they can help with my memory issues?)

Too Hotties Hair Cuts (And humble, too!)

Island Salon and Spa (What island? We're pretty well land-locked in central Texas.)

Ooohweez Hair Salon (Ooohweez! Not what I want to hear after a hair cut.)

Smart Style Family Hair Salon (Better than dumb style, right?)

Sexy Scissors (Based on the address indicated, I'm not quite sure that a hair cut is all you'll get for the price of admission at this salon.)

Blondies (What?! No brunettes allowed?)

Klassy Kuts (The k's say it all.)

So, which one should I try?

Monday Musings (Except it's really Tuesday.)

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine (God's) power to demolish strongholds (things that trap us). We demolish arguments and every pretension (lies, false claims of ownership) that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I Corinthians 10:3-5

 

Powerful. And I'm clinging to it.

Signs of the Season...

There's this:

Oh, yes! *Starbucks* Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back! I received an email from them yesterday announcing the return of the pumpkin latte as well as their new Toffee Mocha Latte.  Naturally, I had to stop on my way home this morning to try one. Just to make sure they were as good as I remember.  I think they are but I might have to try another one or twenty just to make sure.

It's definitely the season for this:

The first day of school - one senior and one freshman! Don't worry - that's not a gang symbol they are flashing.  The name of their high school starts with the letter "R" - so the school spirit symbol is a combination of the American Sign Language symbols for "I love you" and the letter "R." 

Then there's the sounds of the season:

Drums beating... my center tenor playing his way through the fall of his senior year.

Wondering why Burrito has a buzz cut?

That's because the back of his head has his drumline logo shaved into it.  All the tenors decided to do this as a team bonding experience.  One mom was not as thrilled about it as I was.  (Did I mention it was my idea? Definitely earned me "cool mom" points.)  Hey, if that's the worst thing he does during his senior year, we're in good shape!

There's cheerleaders cheering.

Did I mention she was selected as captain of the Freshman squad? Oh, yes, she is! 

Now, if we could just convince this Texas weather that it's truly time for Autumn.

I still do...

I, Dawn, take you Bud, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Bud - I love you more today than I could have ever imagined twenty years ago. XO

Confessions: I was nearly mugged at Sam's Club!

My father always took great delight in scaring me, my sister and my younger cousins. 

Oh, I don't just mean the barely raising your voice "BOO!" kind of scare.  I mean the horrible, sudden and without warning, full-on, mask-wearing, jump from the shadows of a summer night, monster-growling "GRRRAAAA!!!" kind of scare.

He's famous for it. Neighborhood children feared him. Really.

And then there was the time he asked me to hold a picture against the wall for him so he could judge the placement.  As I turned my back to dutifully hold the frame in place, he poked me in my side with his finger while simultaneously pulling the trigger on his electric drill with his other hand. 

You should've seen me climb the wall. (For the record, I never dropped the picture!)

I take after my dad in the area of scaring people. My best friend, Stephanie, came by for a visit the evening of the "Drill Incident" (as I like to call it).  Prior to her arrival, I begged dad to do it to her, too. He did. She screamed and collapsed into a heap on the floor. (I'm so sorry, Steph - it truly is a wonder you still consider me your BFA&F!)

I learned well at the feet of the master and it didn't take long for the tradition to continue once I had children. I waited until they were old enough to truly appreciate the experience. You know, like two-years-old.

Oh, sure... it started out innocently enough with the smiley-faced "Boo's!" but quickly progressed to the jumping out from behind doors with a slightly louder, more emphatic "BOO!!!" - arm gestures and appropriate posturing included at no additional charge.

It was all fun and games until I saw a news report about a mother who had done the same thing to her son.  And it killed him. I kid you not. Turns out, the little guy had an undiagnosed heart condition and the shock literally stopped his heart.

Well, alrighty then. Who needs that kind of guilt? Not me! So I laid off the scaring of the children. For awhile. Months, I'm sure.  Addictions across generations are the hardest to break, you know.

I'm pleased to report that we've come full circle with this family addiction tradition.

I took the kiddos with me to Sam's Club last night for dinner and a little shopping. (Oh, come on... you know you eat at Sam's and Costco for dinner sometimes, too!)  They quickly tired of following me around and informed me that I could find them relaxing on the furniture display when I was finished walking the aisles. 

As I hurried down one of the aisles nearest the back corner of the store, I noticed that it was getting close to closing time and there weren't many shoppers left in the store.  I paused mid-aisle to mentally calculate the cost-per-jar of various spaghetti sauces when "The Near Mugging" happened. Two hands shoved me squarely in the back, throwing me into the handle bar of the shopping cart while a deep, growling voice yelled, "GGGRRRAAA!!!"  (Thank goodness for the shopping cart because my own two legs wouldn't have supported me.)  I turned to defend myself against the attacker while preparing to scream.  There stood my two offspring - both doubled over in laughter.

"We got you!"

"You should've seen your face!"

"You jumped so bad!"

So, if you hear a news report about a middle-aged woman dieing from a heart attack following a scare - please send flowers to the funeral. And get my kids some counseling before they harm another generation with this addiction tradition.

They look so innocent, don't they?

North Pole, Alaska - Recorded for Posterity

Thank you for those of you who followed along with Burrito's mission trip to North Pole, Alaska - especially if you prayed for him and the team.  It was a wonderful trip and we still have many stories and pictures to share with you.

In the mean time, I'm moving the updates I had posted on my sidebar to this post - for posterity.  And, because I can't archive the stuff on my sidebar like I can posts.

So, if you've already read them you can just skip the rest of this post!

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Saturday, July 24, 2010
2:29 AM: Made it to the airport. Checking our bags now. Praise HIM for a safe drive!
5:04 AM: Good morning parents! We are boarding the (first) plane. Hoping for some sleep!
8:37 AM: Touch down in Seattle. 4 hour layover. Too tired to say something clever.
1:21 PM: Getting settled on our last flight! Looking forward to real beds and showers. Airport floors are not conducive for healthy sleep.

Friday, July 23, 2010
9:16 AM: Just a couple of hours of work then we begin the 24 hours of travel to home - beginning at 5 PM Texas time with a 7 hour drive to Anchorage.
4:34 PM: Beginning the 24 hour journey home right now. Pray. Hard. The first leg is the 7 hour drive to Anchorage.
11:58 PM: Food stop about 45 minuts outside of Anchorage. Almost done with the drive.

Thursday, July 22, 2010
12:46 PM: Dinner cruise on the river last night was great and the last full day of work is going very well. Pray that we finish strong!
7:39 PM: Finishing out the day by visiting Santa's house before worship. Even Mr. Story got to sit on his lap.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010
11:18 AM: Day 2 of work is rolling! Pray that the rain doesn't interfere with work and community outreach.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010
9:45 AM: Done with a great breakfast and now we're getting ready to head out for our first work day. Pray for chances to share our faith!
7:35 PM: Getting reports of a great first day of work. Cleaning up for dinner and worship. Pray that God moves our hearts tonight.

Monday, July 19, 2010
10:08 AM: Rolling out to North Pole. Hope to see some mooses, er, meese... Hope we see a moose. 3:24 PM: Pit stop in the middle of Denali National Park. Most of us have never used the bathroom in a more beautiful place.
7:18 PM: Finally to North Pole. Talk about Christmas in July... Lots of Santa pics but no Jesus. Good thing we're here to be the image of Christ.
11:59 PM: Ate dinner, met our crews, and worshipped Jesus. Great first night at World Changers.

Sunday, July 18, 2010
11:04 AM: Up and eating breakfast. It's raining but we're still excited!
12:47 PM: Sunday funday in Alaska. First stop: Eskimo shopping.
4:56 PM: Hiking on a glacier. Awesome!
6:01 PM: Glacier cruise. A three hour cruise... Ok, it isn't really 3 hours but it is going to be sweet.
9:11 PM: Finishing off the day with a meal at Red Robin. Then devotion time, showers, and bed. By the way it's very cold.

Saturday, July 17, 2010
7:06 AM: Only issue through security was some suspicious hot wheels. Waiting to board!
7:39 AM: Everyone is boarded and phones are going off. Pray for a safe flight!
11:31 AM: Brief stop in San Jose, CA. On to Portland next. Only issue in flight was the flat Coke Zero. Lame.
2:04 PM: Layover in Portland begins right now. In the air again in 5 hours.
7:03 PM: We're all boarded. Waiting for take off. Alaska in 3'ish hours.
11:00 PM: Safely on the ground in Alaska and our bodies don't have a clue what time it is. It looks like 4 pm, feels like 11 pm. It's 8 pm.