We have the best Sunday/Wednesday teachers around at our church. My kids love going to church, even to the point that if we are sick or have to miss for being out of town, they are sad. That's a great indication of what awesome teachers there are to keep them interested and "plugged-in".
Mae's Wednesday teacher's are a couple in our church that are just the perfect example of God's love. They LOOOOVE our kids so much, having taught each of them at one time. They're grandparents, their kids are grown, but they always step into that class with joy and love every minute of it. They send our kids birthday cards and postcards from vacation, give them gifts, cut out articles in the paper that pertain to us or just think it would be interesting to us. Mr. Bill is a writer, and he always types out funny things Maebree said or did in class for me. I.Love.This. I never remember ANYTHING, so to have a hard copy of it to keep on hand and give her later in life is terrific!
Last Wednesday he found particularly funny, and his wife, Ms. Judy said it best. When you are teaching a bunch of 4 and 5-year-olds, sometimes lessons become a "Who's on First" scenario. He was teaching the kids about Thomas and how Jesus taught him to have faith. Here is the interaction with the kids:
Mr. Bill: Do you see what the lesson is teaching us? We should believe without having to see with our own eyes. That's called having faith.
Maebree: Faith is my sister. (Mr. Bill realizes quickly where this is going)
MB: Yes, Faith is your sister, but we're talking about something else here. The faith I'm talking about means believing without seeing. It means trusting God.
Mae: Sometimes I call Faith "Faithey" but, her real name is Faith.
MB: it's nice that you do that. It must mean you love her and have a special nickname for her. But I'm talking about having faith in your heart.
Mae: Faith isn't God-she's my sister.
MB: I know but what I'm.......
Mae: I have GOD in my heart. HE lives there. Not Faith. Faith is not God.
MB: No, Faith isn't God. That not what I meant. What I meant is that believing without seeing is called faith and.....(Mr. Bill realizes at this point that he is skiing fulls speed down an steep slope and is getting deeper and deeper in to the problem. Another little boy, we'll call him "J" raises hi hand. He wonders if J will say something that will help him out) J, did you want to say something?
J: Yes.
(long pause)
MB: Would you please say what you wanted to say J?
J: Yes. Thomas is Train Number 1.
(Another long pause. Mr. Bill realizes he has jumped off the slope and is now airborne)
MB: You're right J. Thomas is Train Number 1. Whose ready for craft?!!!
(MB looks at Maes face. He believes she was thinking "Might as well start craft. Mr. Bill is really confused and thinks Faith is God. He needs some rest")
I love our church class teachers. I am so thankful that God sends people to help teach my precious girls the things of the Lord. And I'm most thankful when they have a sense of humor and know when to quite while they're ahead:)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Hunger Games
Unless you've been living in complete exile, under a rock, don't watch t.v. or read a paper, or God forbid you don't have a Facebook account (so joking) than you've probably heard about The Hunger Games. I have a preteen daughter as most of you know, and she really wanted to read it (or go see the movie, as most of her friends did). I read everything I can before my kids read it. Literally....Its a good thing I'm a fast reader, because I have to read a lot. If it's a book about kittens or puppies or farm animals or anything with the names "Laura" "Ingalls" or "Wilder" on it, typically I trust it's safe and don't usually take the time. I did read Marley and Me before her, that was the exception to a puppy themed book. But this one....ESPECIALLY since it's so popular I thought I would read first and see what all the fuss is about and decide whether or not it was appropriate for her. I knew a little about the book first, so I knew what I was getting into. I would not allow her to read Harry Potter. The book is about wizards and sorcery and really....I don't mess with that crap. That scares me more than any hard core gore film because that crap is real! I won't let her read Twilight. I just thought it was stupid. Vampires? *eye roll, sigh* please. Werewolves? We have enough drama thank-you-very-much. I mean....don't get me wrong, if I had to pick a "Team" I'd probably be "Team Jacob" cause history proofs I like the beafier guys as apposed to the pasty, tall, and skinny ones. I admit, one night while Russ was working and the kids were in bed and I was stuck folding 10 loads of laundry with nothing set to watch on my DVR, it came on our trial of HBO and I watched the first and second one. **preparing for my stoning by all the cougar like woman who seem obsessed with it** stupidest.movie.ever. Wow. It is LARGELY enjoyed by woman MY AGE which is EVEN WEIRDER TO ME! I mean...yes...do I have a little cougar crush on Zac Efron? (not in the movie fyi) sure. Who doesn't? He's a doll. But I can't even imagine camping out at Beverly Cinema (Or Savoy 16 if your classier fare) to watch a movie with him in it. I don't get it, never will, and am completely fine with that. Sorry all you ladies I'm sure I have now offended. It's not for me. And with the growing number of teenage suicides out there, why would we celebrate a movie where (and it is a very small part) the girl is so distraught over her vampire leaving that she tries putting herself in danger, even tries killing herself just to see him again? Not something I'm encouraging in my girls. In fact, I'm encouraging that boys still smell and are gross.
Enough about that. Phew...feel a little better. Anyway, back to The Hunger Games. I read the book in two days. If I had an entire day to devote to it, I would've read it in one. Probably actually spent a total of 5 hours reading it. It's a fast read. I know some Christians are taking issue with it because, in their words, it's "children killing children". Well...........it's not that. In fact, that portion of the book so shines a light on how dark and evil things can get when we are lead by a sick, corrupted government. Here is my synopsis, and I will try very hard not to give away the entire book as I have a tendency to do:
The story is set in a time way off into the future. There has been some sort of war that has destroyed the US as we now know it, and the government has taken over and now controls everything. Food. Money. Education. Electricity. Who lives and who dies. Everything. *hmmmm...makes you think. Watching the news lately?* There were 13 districts set up, and the 13th rose up in rebellion against the government, and they wiped them off the face of what is now the Earth. As a show to the other 12 districts, they invented this twisted, sick, evil game called the Hunger Games, where they take two children ages 12-18, one boy and one girl, and make them fight in a battle until only one is left living. This is their way to prove who is indeed in control. The children are picked via a lottery, and our main character of the book, a 16-year-old girl begs them to take her, and sacrifices her life for that of her sisters, whose name was originally chosen. We now have a heroine, who is not fighting for the love of a boy, or a vampire, or trying desperately to be noticed by the popular kids, who isn't into witchcraft or spells. She's fighting for her family. She sacrifices herself, lays down her life, for that of her sister.
Now...do not get me wrong. This book never mentions God. In no way, am I mistaking this book for a "christian" book. It does have a little innocent romance between our main heroine and another boy in the game, but honestly, I read more romance in a Christian preteen series than I did this one. The main focus of the book is about survival. About sacrifice. And underneath, keeping a very watchful eye on the powers that be that seem to want to control us and whats most precious to us, our children. I don't think a child would get that, but it sure opens my eyes. Our very freedoms can be stripped from us quicker than we even know it. It can start very slowly too....really maybe makes me rethink that homeschooling thing:0) Don't think I've completely ruled it out! As far as the violence, it's a book about a war. Plain and simple. There is violence in war. I do not think it is appropriate for a very young child to read it. I don't think it's appropriate for a child who trends a little on the "violent side" to read it. It's not a gory, bloodthirsty book, but I know people struggle with different things. I will let Faith read it. I think it would be good for her to see a strong female character who fights for her family and for what is right as opposed to fighting for empty teenage affections. She was just involved in a situation at school where a boy wouldn't stop saying an inappropriate word and she wouldn't let it go, kept at him about how it was wrong and he needed to stop saying that word around her. He ended up slightly threatening her (principal was involved, no worries, she's safe:) but she did the right thing. She stood up for what she knew was right. And we're so proud of her for that.
Sooo...don't unnecessarily judge the book. (I cant speak for the movie, haven't seen it. My sister did and said it was excellent). If you feel convicted that you shouldn't read it, then don't. You have to do what you think is right for yourself and for your children. You stand before the Creator of all things and hold account those things you did, not those around you. There isn't a swear word in the book. It's very clean. But if you feel its' nothing but "children killing children" I would ask this: How do you feel about the 18-19 year old young person that is off fighting for our freedoms in Afghanistan? Or Iraq? Or anywhere for that matter? Do you judge him for killing someone who means to do the same to him or his troupe around him as "unnecessary violence" ? That is real life folks, this is just fiction. What's most scary is that it could become our reality.
Enough about that. Phew...feel a little better. Anyway, back to The Hunger Games. I read the book in two days. If I had an entire day to devote to it, I would've read it in one. Probably actually spent a total of 5 hours reading it. It's a fast read. I know some Christians are taking issue with it because, in their words, it's "children killing children". Well...........it's not that. In fact, that portion of the book so shines a light on how dark and evil things can get when we are lead by a sick, corrupted government. Here is my synopsis, and I will try very hard not to give away the entire book as I have a tendency to do:
The story is set in a time way off into the future. There has been some sort of war that has destroyed the US as we now know it, and the government has taken over and now controls everything. Food. Money. Education. Electricity. Who lives and who dies. Everything. *hmmmm...makes you think. Watching the news lately?* There were 13 districts set up, and the 13th rose up in rebellion against the government, and they wiped them off the face of what is now the Earth. As a show to the other 12 districts, they invented this twisted, sick, evil game called the Hunger Games, where they take two children ages 12-18, one boy and one girl, and make them fight in a battle until only one is left living. This is their way to prove who is indeed in control. The children are picked via a lottery, and our main character of the book, a 16-year-old girl begs them to take her, and sacrifices her life for that of her sisters, whose name was originally chosen. We now have a heroine, who is not fighting for the love of a boy, or a vampire, or trying desperately to be noticed by the popular kids, who isn't into witchcraft or spells. She's fighting for her family. She sacrifices herself, lays down her life, for that of her sister.
Now...do not get me wrong. This book never mentions God. In no way, am I mistaking this book for a "christian" book. It does have a little innocent romance between our main heroine and another boy in the game, but honestly, I read more romance in a Christian preteen series than I did this one. The main focus of the book is about survival. About sacrifice. And underneath, keeping a very watchful eye on the powers that be that seem to want to control us and whats most precious to us, our children. I don't think a child would get that, but it sure opens my eyes. Our very freedoms can be stripped from us quicker than we even know it. It can start very slowly too....really maybe makes me rethink that homeschooling thing:0) Don't think I've completely ruled it out! As far as the violence, it's a book about a war. Plain and simple. There is violence in war. I do not think it is appropriate for a very young child to read it. I don't think it's appropriate for a child who trends a little on the "violent side" to read it. It's not a gory, bloodthirsty book, but I know people struggle with different things. I will let Faith read it. I think it would be good for her to see a strong female character who fights for her family and for what is right as opposed to fighting for empty teenage affections. She was just involved in a situation at school where a boy wouldn't stop saying an inappropriate word and she wouldn't let it go, kept at him about how it was wrong and he needed to stop saying that word around her. He ended up slightly threatening her (principal was involved, no worries, she's safe:) but she did the right thing. She stood up for what she knew was right. And we're so proud of her for that.
Sooo...don't unnecessarily judge the book. (I cant speak for the movie, haven't seen it. My sister did and said it was excellent). If you feel convicted that you shouldn't read it, then don't. You have to do what you think is right for yourself and for your children. You stand before the Creator of all things and hold account those things you did, not those around you. There isn't a swear word in the book. It's very clean. But if you feel its' nothing but "children killing children" I would ask this: How do you feel about the 18-19 year old young person that is off fighting for our freedoms in Afghanistan? Or Iraq? Or anywhere for that matter? Do you judge him for killing someone who means to do the same to him or his troupe around him as "unnecessary violence" ? That is real life folks, this is just fiction. What's most scary is that it could become our reality.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Dear Me 6 Months Ago
Dear Me 6 months ago,
Put....the butter....down. You see, it's not worth it. Neither is the bag of chocolate you are holding in your other hand. Or the pan of brownies baking in the oven. Yes....they are good and comforting and in these trying times of moving and packing and thinking of all that needs to be done in the next four months, but don't let your waiste line perish. I've seen the future...and it ain't pretty. Your fat pants don't even fit you anymore and Spring will come early with 80-degree days before March is even over and you will have zero things to wear.
I know this love affair with butter, chocolate, and cake (sometimes with all three at once) seems like it's a good thing, but in the end, it is not. Because you will eventually get tired of it. You're stubborn and will refuse to go and buy something that actually fits, so instead, you will live your days in your sweats and old sports bras and the husbands t-shirts. He can eat a pan of brownies, gain 30-40 pounds and drop it like its hot whenever he wants, but you my dear....do not have that luxury. It will drive you crazy those first few weeks of fasting sugar. You will even feel like mini-chocolate chips are keeping your family safe from you becoming a homicidal maniac. It will be amazing to see all the variety of ways you use them. But you will eventually grow tired of those too and will crave something more.
So stop...do yourself in six months a favor and don't do it. Maintain your healthy lifestyle by eating mostly good stuff and only splurging once a week. The site of your neck alone (think Kimora Lee Simmons at her highest pregnancy weight.....*shiver*) will be enough to want to make an appointment with the nearest plastic surgeon to get the fat sucked out of everything everywhere. And you just don't have the funds for that. It is not acceptable to break out the maternity clothes as you are indeed NOT pregnant (in case that rumor was circulating), even though you weigh what you did 6 months into the last one. Don't do it. You'll thank yourself in six months for keeping with it.
Put....the butter....down. You see, it's not worth it. Neither is the bag of chocolate you are holding in your other hand. Or the pan of brownies baking in the oven. Yes....they are good and comforting and in these trying times of moving and packing and thinking of all that needs to be done in the next four months, but don't let your waiste line perish. I've seen the future...and it ain't pretty. Your fat pants don't even fit you anymore and Spring will come early with 80-degree days before March is even over and you will have zero things to wear.
I know this love affair with butter, chocolate, and cake (sometimes with all three at once) seems like it's a good thing, but in the end, it is not. Because you will eventually get tired of it. You're stubborn and will refuse to go and buy something that actually fits, so instead, you will live your days in your sweats and old sports bras and the husbands t-shirts. He can eat a pan of brownies, gain 30-40 pounds and drop it like its hot whenever he wants, but you my dear....do not have that luxury. It will drive you crazy those first few weeks of fasting sugar. You will even feel like mini-chocolate chips are keeping your family safe from you becoming a homicidal maniac. It will be amazing to see all the variety of ways you use them. But you will eventually grow tired of those too and will crave something more.
So stop...do yourself in six months a favor and don't do it. Maintain your healthy lifestyle by eating mostly good stuff and only splurging once a week. The site of your neck alone (think Kimora Lee Simmons at her highest pregnancy weight.....*shiver*) will be enough to want to make an appointment with the nearest plastic surgeon to get the fat sucked out of everything everywhere. And you just don't have the funds for that. It is not acceptable to break out the maternity clothes as you are indeed NOT pregnant (in case that rumor was circulating), even though you weigh what you did 6 months into the last one. Don't do it. You'll thank yourself in six months for keeping with it.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
SOoooo I didn't marry Kevin Costner. And that's Ok.
When I was like 13 or 14 years old, I went and saw "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" in theaters with my bff Melanie (WHAT UP MEL!). Afterward, I developed this insignificant, small (read completely obsessed) crush on Kevin Costner. She could tell you. I wasn't sure how it was all gonna work out, being he was only like 30 years my senior and had a wife and kids, but...it was gonna happen. In fact...I was claiming that it was gonna happen. I had it all planned out in my mind. Somehow my work as a freelance actress and singer would bring us together on some movie set somewhere, and it would be love at first sight. I watched Field of Dreams over and over until I practically had it memorized. Don't even get me STARTED on Dances With Wolves. I even had the opportunity to go TO the Field of Dreams house on our honeymoon...and we drive all the way out there...see it, and my husband says "Eh...lets not go. I'm not really in the mood to walk through it". To this day it is a sore subject in our marriage. In fact...I'm still a little bitter about the whole thing..but I digress.
Anyway, I was obsessed with Kevin Costner. I stayed up all night watching MTV just for the SMALL chance that I might actually see the Bryan Adams video for "Everything I Do" (still love that song;) and got in really really really really big trouble cause I fell asleep with it on and got caught the next morning when my dad walked in to me asleep on the floor and some video with Billy Idol grinding someone somewhere was on. (I wasn't allowed to watch MTV, and that pretty much summed up why)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has been on some channel on TV recently and I discovered a couple things:
Anyway, I was obsessed with Kevin Costner. I stayed up all night watching MTV just for the SMALL chance that I might actually see the Bryan Adams video for "Everything I Do" (still love that song;) and got in really really really really big trouble cause I fell asleep with it on and got caught the next morning when my dad walked in to me asleep on the floor and some video with Billy Idol grinding someone somewhere was on. (I wasn't allowed to watch MTV, and that pretty much summed up why)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has been on some channel on TV recently and I discovered a couple things:
- It is by far the STUPIDEST movie I have EVVVVER seen. I watched like 10 minutes and wanted to hurl myself out the window.
- Kevin Costner has THE WORST hair ever known to man in it. AND he is practically bald. AND he looks ridiculous in Robin Hood garb. And he looks old in it.
- Morgan Freeman needs to work on his "whatever the heck ethnicity he is supposed to be" accent.
- I am a complete dork because Kevin Costner was not attractive in that movie. At.All.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Sewing Machine
In an effort to post something a little lighter than my last two "rants" (and so that people don't think I'm a super grouch...really...am a fairly pleasant person 95.8% of the time), I thought I'd share another funny Grandma P story.
I want my kids to always remember her as she is: The perfect amount of crazy. Not like CRAZY crazy...but sometimes she makes you wonder. She went to visit her sister in Florida this last week, and I got on the phone with her to wish her a good safe trip. Here was our interaction after some small talk:
Grandma P: Ooh..before I forget. The sewing machine is on my front porch.
Me: Ok.....
GP: It's on the left hand side by the front door and it probably has blanket over it. Make sure you get it this week. I set it out for you.
Me: Ok......
GP: You'll probably have to replace the bobbin and there is some thread in the needles and, well, everything you'll need to go with it is in the case.
Me: Ok.....
GP: I told your mom I'd give you some old patterns and stuff so you can make that stuff you were talking about. It's all there. Don't forget to get it so you can start working on your projects.
Me:...Uh....Ok......
*couple notes:
I want my kids to always remember her as she is: The perfect amount of crazy. Not like CRAZY crazy...but sometimes she makes you wonder. She went to visit her sister in Florida this last week, and I got on the phone with her to wish her a good safe trip. Here was our interaction after some small talk:
Grandma P: Ooh..before I forget. The sewing machine is on my front porch.
Me: Ok.....
GP: It's on the left hand side by the front door and it probably has blanket over it. Make sure you get it this week. I set it out for you.
Me: Ok......
GP: You'll probably have to replace the bobbin and there is some thread in the needles and, well, everything you'll need to go with it is in the case.
Me: Ok.....
GP: I told your mom I'd give you some old patterns and stuff so you can make that stuff you were talking about. It's all there. Don't forget to get it so you can start working on your projects.
Me:...Uh....Ok......
*couple notes:
- I.....never said I wanted a sewing machine. I tried sewing a straight line once in a sheet to make some curtains and I couldn't even do that.
- I have no idea what a bobbin is and wouldn't know the first thing about replacing it.
- I never mentioned anything about patterns or any project I would be working on anytime ever.
- I will never tell her that I never said anything about wanting a sewing machine.
- I still haven't picked up the sewing machine...and she is coming home today. I fully expect to get a phone call scolding me about not picking up said sewing machine. Cause you know..those "projects" won't do themselves.
- Sigh....I love my grandma.
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