So I Was Just Thinking

As you arrive to my blog you might be hearing a song I learned as a little girl. Life is a process. One I don't have to do alone. Through the power of God's hands and with a little help from some very special friends, I started on a journey of living a more disciplined life. This month my friends and I have decided to post videos for our words. Some of us have found YouTube videos to represent our words while I created my own. So hit the stop button on the playlist and enjoy a few videos. Moody Blues - Balance Octamom has sent us an Excellent video. "This is Kari Jobe, a really sweet girl who is dear friends with some of my dear friends. She has a gorgeous song out called I'm Singing and she had viewers add their experiences and included them in the video--and the result is just 'excellent'--really amazing people continuing to walk with joy, even in the midst of some tough times--" Roban said... "When I thought of a video to express some of my thoug...

Anytime my camera is left around, my son leaves me little photo presents. Yesterday was no different. I was working on a future post and was uploading photos. There they were, windows to my son's thoughts. I decided to make a collage of his work. It it's best viewed by clicking on it. 1-6 Are various self portraits. I am just thankful he hasn't been more experimental in this area of photography. 7-9 His attempt at impressionism while taking pictures of his dog. I love the play of light and shadow. 10 & 15 and 11 & 12 His take on different perspectives. 13 Showing how he can write his name. 14 Aerial shots of some cars. (Please ignore carpet and enjoy the minimalism of the subject.) Thanks for visiting. I figured I would post his work now so that when he is famous you can say, "I knew him when."

I have been blessed by having a very wonderful neighbor. She and I have been coffee house buddies for years now. We wave most mornings, some afternoons and occasionally even remember to call each other. Despite the casual appearance of our relationship, she knows how to make me smile. A few months back I made collage for one of monthly posts. When I finished it, I took it over to her house to show her because she is my artistic inspiration. She is not afraid to express her thought unlike me who likes to keep things superficial at times. Today I came home to find an interesting box. When I opened it, I first found this. After removing the top layer, I found this. Yep, paper goodness! There was even some of her trial pieces. I love these. I can't wait to make some more mini albums and journals for Christmas. I will apologize to my husband now for any half started projects he may find on the dinner table.

My husband and I have never been sticklers for bedtime routines. As a result, for years, we had to finagle our son to bed by letting him come watch t.v. with us until he went to sleep. Gary would then carry James to bed. (I always wondered if James was dismayed to find himself in his own bed every morning.) This was okay until Gary went away for almost six months. Then I was the one who had to lug the four year old who was as big as a six year old across the house to his bed. After one attempt, I left him there. Gary finally got James into a good routine. It started with allowing him to watch t.v. with us until a set time. At that time, Gary would carry James, piggyback style, to his room and get him to go to sleep. Pretty soon we were able to just say bedtime, and James would go peacefully to his own bed without t.v. time. I would be enjoying the peace, quiet and extra space when the sound of little feet would come scurrying into my room. James decided he needed a kiss. This was fine...

Hello, Annemarie. It has been so long since you have visited. We were wondering what we had done to prevent you from returning. What ever it is, we would like to make it up to you. We know we aren't the latest in kitchen trends. Sometimes we burn your food or don't cook them fast enough. But that is no reason to completely turn your back on us for going on six months now. Stop on by. We will give you a refresher course. In fact we can start right now. You see this? This is called a STOVE. You use him to boil water, cook eggs, and bake cookies. Yes he did come with the house when it was built in the 1980s. Shoot! You could almost call him vintage. These are POTS and PANS. You put the food in them so that they don't fall through the burners when you go to cook them. Don't you remember when you got them? You had just moved out of your childhood friend's apartment when she decided she needed a permanent male roommate. She bought them maybe as a consolation prize/apartm...

I have a really bad habit of taking pictures when driving. I see things. Don't have time to stop. (You all know I am always on the run.) Sometimes I am fortunate enough to be the passenger, but usually I just have to hold the camera, point in the general direction of my intended subject and pray for the best. Sometimes I get something good. Sometimes, not so much. Let's start with the oldest drive-by photo on my memory card. I guess this one isn't a drive BY but a "drive TOWARD" photo. It was something I saw on the way from dance class. I just pulled out the camera and clicked while paying attention to the other drivers and just hoped for the best. This one I was in the passenger's seat. I was fascinated by the rider's hair, but I didn't want him to know, so I didn't roll down the window. Now these next two are of two men that intrigued me yesterday. I always wonder what drives people to feel they need to share their message in this fashion. I am a...

The other day I got a call from my daughter's school nurse telling me that Caitlin had fallen during a science activity and hit her head. She of course prefaced it with, "Everything is all right, but I need to let you know that your daughter is in the nurse's office." Well, doesn't that just send your head spinning. After she explained the circumstances of the accident, and I spoke with Caitlin, I decided everything was going to be fine and I went on with my day, picking her up, however, so she didn't have to ride the bus. Ever since then, she has gotten her homework done without having to be reminded. I asked her what she was doing yesterday, and she said that she was cleaning her room! What?? In my mind I expected it to be her usual room cleaning where she sees the difference, and you only notice that instead of three glasses on the dresser there are only two but not this time. I went in, and her bed was made, the floor was clear, the dresser was bare, the b...