:. weezer .:

No, not the band. The canary. This morning when I was logging on to my email I heard the weirdest little noise: a raspy, whistling kind of noise. It took awhile, but I finally realized it was coming from my little Mozart. He was asleep . . . and he was WHEEZING.

Perhaps you don't understand the implications of a wheezing canary. Birds are in BIG TROUBLE when they start having respiratory problems. And the cold winter weather can be a killer.
Oh. No.
Not Mozart.

One of my dearly-held tenets is: Life is too short not to have a canary.

I get made fun of a lot for my love of feathered friends. But during the January doldrums, while the rest of the Midwest is suffering from seasonal affective disorder, my little canary is singing away, making things feel like a warm spring day. He is a big part of my mental health plan. (Not to overstate things, but it's true.) Besides that, canaries are sweet little birds; they have no annoying habits . . . unlike, say, Quaker parrots.
Over the years, I've had canaries come and go. This little guy (Mozart 5) is particularly adept at singing. It's LOVELY. And it never fails to lift my spirits.

In spite of the wheezing, he seems to be okay; he's not acting sick or anything.
I'm gonna keep a close eye on him, though.
I can't afford to lose springtime.

:. the calm before the . . . well, you know .:

Winter storm warnings abound today for central Iowa. And the citizenry seem to be in classic pre-storm mode: the grocery store was crowded, everyone stocking up on necessities before being snowed in. (Milk, bread, beer, chocolate and ice-melt seem to be popular items.)

It's funny, too, because right now it's actually rather balmy; the sun is shining and it's around 30 degrees. Not bad for a December day. Hard to believe that in just a few hours, all that will change and winter-style hell will break loose.

Please, God, just let everyone get home safe and sound . . . . and then let it rip! We could all use an extra day of Christmas vacation!!


And on a related note, I ran into Libabe at Dahl's. I love that he and I shop at the same stores!

:. fa la la la la .:

:. libabe .:

I was at Target last week when suddenly, from behind, I heard a word that is music to my ears: "Grandma!"
I turned around, and there was my little Liam, riding chariot-style in a cart pushed by his mommy. As soon as they pulled up next to me, Liam threw Lambie (whom he was clutching) into my cart and then attempted to transfer himself also.
Love! Joy! Heart! He wanted his grandma!
What a lovely interlude to my day!

But wait! The story gets even better!

Yesterday Emily told me that she and Liam were again at Target. (Yes, it's a family favorite!) Once in the cart, Liam started yelling, "Grandma! Where are you?! Grandma!"

Too funny.

He thought because I had been there with him in a certain situation, I would always be there with him.
He thought he simply had to call my name and I would show up.

What silly, child-like thinking!

Jesus said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Oh.

:. adieu .:

Farewell, chubby naked cherubs. You were gaudy and old-fashioned and beautiful. But you knew your days were numbered when the egg exploded. There was no longer any way I could allow you to grace my walls once you were covered in green, smelly egg-goo.
Alas! You will be missed!

:. upside down and backwards .:

Ahhh, December. What a wonderful time of year. And the month started out just right, with a perfect snow that covered all the autumnal decay. Time now to focus our attention on the tiny Babe. The One whose coming changed history and the world. The One who gave His life for unworthy mankind.

Yes, Jesus came to earth to die . . . but He also came to teach us how to live. He modeled the life He wants for us. And everything He did shows us how absolutely backwards we have it.

He ate and drank with sinners, and touched the outcasts of society.
He took time for little children and never turned anyone away.
He patiently ministered to the crowds around him, but found quiet spots in which to pray.
He told us to love as He loved, and forgive as He forgave.
He said to take up our cross daily. To sell all we have and give to the poor.
He taught us to love our enemies. To turn the other cheek. To serve rather than be served.
He said the first shall be last. And that it is better to give than to receive.
He said we must lose our life to save it.

That thinking goes against our human tendencies. It is totally foreign to a 'me first' culture.
I told you: upside down and backwards.

There's an eye-opening verse in Luke that says, "What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." (16:15)

Just some food for thought as we head into the celebration of our Savior's birth. What better gift can we give our Lord than to begin to act like Him?

:. persimmons .:

At the grocery store this morning, I was looking through their lovely 'How To Choose Fruit' guide, when I came across this:
'When choosing persimmons, look for those that are softer than a baby's cheek.'

That is why persimmons are my new favorite fruit.
That, and the fact they're very tasty.

:. thankful, thankful .:

From GREATEST to inconsequential, I'm thankful for:

God

who saves eternally

forgives repeatedly

and loves unconditionally.

who stretches me and grows me

and showers me with grace.

who sought me when I wasn't worthy

and is remaking me into who He intended.

in good times and bad, ever-present.

family

husband, daughters, sons

and of course, my Gavin and Liam.

mother, sisters, brothers

and friends who feel like family.

family time and cuddling

and moochies and hugs.

sisters who are friends

and brothers who love each other.

everything else

freedom and democracy

and those who ensure it.

falling gas prices

and the new found desire to drive green.

vanilla lattes and heated seats.

my garden in all its overgrown glory

and health and strength

and books and canaries.

in everything give thanks.

:. jack is back! .:

Finally!

:. shiver me timbers .:

As if we don't have enough to worry about, it seems piracy is making a comeback.
I'm not talking about illegally downloaded movies. These are the Blackbeard, walk the plank, yo-ho-ho-and-a-bottle-of-rum kind of pirates.

If I remember my U.S. history (and I do), one of the main reasons this country built up its navy in the 19th century was to protect merchant ships from Barbary coast pirates.

The 19th century, for crying out loud.

Besides being blood-thirsty cutthroats, pirates are sneaky, too. They lay low for 200 years, then just when everyone is lulled into a false sense of security, they attack.

Yar.

:. hilarious or horrifying? you decide .:

So I was at the mall today, minding my own business, when I was approached by two little old ladies. (I have that kind of face; strangers ALWAYS talk to me.)
It seems they were in town for the day from Eagle Grove, just down to do a little shopping. They were both somewhere the other side of 80, sweet little old ladies, all dressed up.

"Excuse me", one of them said to me with a smile, "could you tell us where to find Victoria's Secret?"

yup.

:. good medicine .:

It is a medical fact that laughter is good for you.
A good hearty laugh can help:
reduce stress
lower blood pressure
boost your immune system
improve brain function
protect the heart

Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, as well as providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the body's ability to use oxygen.

The idea that laughter is beneficial to our health is nothing new. Sometime around 950 BC Solomon, king of Israel, wrote, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

I know life isn't always easy. I know that at times we are called upon to bear unspeakably heavy burdens. There is nothing funny about cancer, or autism, or financial woes.

There is a wonderful description in The Grapes of Wrath of one of the main characters. Steinbeck writes, "It was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials." If you know anything at all about the Dust Bowl (or the Joad family), you'll understand the magnitude of that sentence.

My own mother is a real-life example of someone who has used laughter as a means of getting through some very dark times. She has had more heartache in her life than the average person, yet maintains a wonderful sense of humor.
It is precisely because life can be hard that we need to capitalize on the lighter moments.

Jesus warned us that this life would be full of troubles. However, He didn't leave us without any hope. In the same breath He says, "Take heart! I have overcome the world."

For the most part, we take ourselves - and life - far too seriously. We need to realize that we are loved by a sovereign God, and our eternal outlook far outweighs even the deepest troubles of this life.


And now, a healthy dose of good medicine from a few of America's funniest men:


Steven Wright -
When I turned two I was really anxious, because I'd doubled my age in a year. I thought, if this keeps up, by the time I'm six I'll be ninety.

My school colors were clear. "I'm not naked, I'm in the band."

I wrote a song, but I can't read music so I don't know what it is. Every once in a while I'll be listening to the radio and I say, "I think I might have written that."

When I was a little kid we had a sand box. It was a quicksand box. I was an only child eventually.


Jack Handey -
To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kinda scary. I've wondered where this started, and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus and a clown killed my dad.

Sometimes you have to be careful when selecting a new nickname for yourself. For instance, let's say you have chosen the nickname 'Fly Head'. Normally, you would think that 'Fly Head' would mean a person who had beautiful swept-back features, as if flying though the air. But think again. Couldn't it also mean 'having a head like a fly'? I'm afraid some people might actually think that.

It's too bad that whole families have to be torn apart by something as simple as wild dogs.

I hope they never find out that lightning has a lot of vitamins in it, because do you hide from it or not?

Sometimes the beauty of the world is so overwhelming, I just want to throw back my head and gargle. Just gargle and gargle, and I don't care who hears me, because I am beautiful.


Demetri Martin -
I like when good things happen to me, but I wait two weeks to tell anyone because I like to use the word ‘fortnight.’

I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I’m good at everything.

If you have a pear shaped body, you should not wear pear colored clothes, or act juicy.

I was in a store and I saw a pocket dictionary and that made me laugh because it’s such a specific item. I don’t know that many words and I’m going out…and I have pants. Perfect!


And one final thought from Jack Handey:
Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis.


Have a grand day!

:. lady! this could be you! .:

Now that the election is over, I can finally concentrate on creating the personality I've always desired. No more excuses! I WILL learn how to sit beautifully!

:. necessary .:

If I were to make a list of things that are absolutely necessary to my day, a steaming pot of coffee would have to start things off. Also on the list would be things like food, family time, brushing my teeth, and being able to cross an item or two off my to-do list.

If the day in question happened to be, say, a Thursday, then catching The Office would also make the list. Toss in the occasional friend time, shopping trip, or redecorating project, and that pretty much looks like a typical day.

There's a woman in the Bible named Mary; she was Lazarus' sister and lived in Bethany. She is mentioned three times in the gospels, and all three times she is in the exact same place: at the feet of Jesus. Listening to what He said . . . falling at His feet because her heart was broken . . . anointing His feet in an extravagant act of worship.

In one of the accounts (Luke 10:38-42) Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet, drinking in His every word. Her sister Martha is hustling and bustling around, acting all hostess-y ("more coffee? how 'bout another cookie?"), but she complains that Mary isn't lifting a finger to help. She actually says, "Lord, don't you care? Tell her to help me!"

The amazing thing is that Jesus gently lets her know that it is Mary who is doing the right thing here . . . Martha is simply distracted. Mary has "chosen what is better".

And then Jesus says this: "only one thing is necessary."

Let me repeat that: only one thing is necessary.

One thing.

Sitting at Jesus' feet, spending time with the Savior, learning from Him, listening to His voice . . . THAT is the one thing essential to our lives.

Wow.

Time to rethink my day.

:. opec schmopec .:

Oh happy day! Gas just dropped below $2 a gallon! Where a mere few months ago it was hovering around twice that much, it has been declining steadily . . . and may I say, rapidly . . . for the past few weeks.
It's enough to make this girl forgo my self-imposed oil embargo, and head for the hinterlands (i.e. the suburbs) for a little shopping.

So, take that, OPEC.

However, I do vow to remain a much greener driver from here on out.

:. withdrawal .:

Gavin and Liam left yesterday. For two months they called this place home . . . but now they've decided to take their show on the road.

I will miss seeing their bright, shining faces at dawn . . . reading Little Quack's New Friend over and over ad nauseam . . . having my dining room look like a Chinese restaurant after a food-fight . . . listening to Gav recite the Pledge of Allegiance . . . watching Liam use his muscles . . . tripping over toys . . . the scent of not-so-fresh diapers . . . dancing to David Crowder . . . many, many moochies . . . singing silly songs . . . hanging out in the garden . . . cuddling sweet-smelling, freshly-bathed, pajamed boys . . . snorgling them any time I felt like it.

Those two little guys mean the world to me.

I will miss them dearly, but I guess I'll get used to it.*

Hats off to you, Forest Ave house, for taking two whole

months to complete!

I'll be over often to get my fix!!

*Josh and Em, I'll miss you, too!

:. saturday .:

I just spent a lovely morning with my youngest. Her husband was busy practicing servanthood (i.e. helping someone move), so Kate and I thought it would be a good morning to get her spring bulbs planted. Only it was far too wet for that. So we decided to just hang out, drink coffee, and have girl time.

Wow, do I love girl time.
I have two absolutely wonderful daughters, both of whom married absolutely wonderful men.
I love seeing my girls all grown up: being wives, moms, confidants, helpmates, etc etc. I'm so proud of them. Pretty much everything a mother could hope for, and then some!

So, yeah, here's to my lovelies.
Emily and Katie, you're both amazing . . . and I'm proud to be your mom!

:. eyes to see .:

Ever notice how hard it is to really know yourself? To know your true motives? To understand the deepest places in your heart?

It's like standing too close to a large oil painting.

At best, you see some bursts of color, perhaps some vague shape or outline. No way do you see the whole composition.

You can't even tell if the picture is crooked.

Most of the time, we are 'standing too close'.

We are way too fond of ourselves . . . too familiar with ourselves . . . too forgiving of our 'idiosyncrasies'. We need to step back every so often.

Just to make sure we don't need some straightening.

:. holy ground .:

Picture it: a shepherd tending his sheep in the wilderness. Nearby, the shrubbery suddenly bursts into flame . . . yet doesn't go up in smoke and ashes.
Moses and the burning bush is an amazing story.
The part that gets me, though, is the fact that God didn't speak until Moses went to have a closer look.
God came down to deliver some pretty important news, but He remained silent until He had Moses' full attention.

It makes me want to remove my shoes and listen.