"The Things We Do For Love"

My husband was mowing the lawn today when he opened the door and yelled inside, "Kathie, come here!"  His tone sounded somewhat urgent, so I got right up.  He met me at the door and said, "I need your help!"  I could not imagine why he might need me in the yard.  Other than pulling the occasional weed and harvesting some veggies and herbs, I have not done any yard work in 24+ years of married life (okay, in all my life I have never done yard work and everyone, as well as the lawn and the plants, are happier and healthier for it, I assure you)!  He led me to the back yard, handed me a broom, and told me to stand in a certain place.  He then told me a bird had dive-bombed him twice as he was mowing a certain portion of our backyard; he actually felt its wings brush against him.  He wondered at this and thought that, perhaps, the bird was sick.  As John watched the bird, he noticed it was flying around a certain tree in our yard.  He realized the bird had made a nest in that tree, a nest which had several baby birds in it.  He was mowing close to the tree and mama bird must have viewed him as a threat and was trying to move him away from her babies.  My job was to stand in my appointed place and watch for the bird, periodically waving the broom around (not to hurt her, just to keep her a safe distance away from my husband).  John said he was going to mow that area very quickly, but it was important that I keep close watch because the bird sometimes came from behind to dive at him.  Picture this scene, if you can: John is mowing the lawn, head down, practically at a sprint; I am looking all around the yard, calling out the bird's location and occasionally waving the broom around in a circle above my head.  I kid you not.  The song, "The Things We Do For Love" leapt to mind.         

Just For Fun

I was online today and read a news article that said that Ben & Jerry's have come out with a limited edition flavor called "Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road", in honor of Elton John (and his song, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, of course), who will soon be performing in Vermont for the first time.  It is chocolate ice cream with peanut butter cookie dough, chunks of butter brickle, and chunks of white chocolate.  The ice cream may only be purchased at Elton John's concert and at Ben & Jerry's scoop shops in Vermont for a limited time (I forget how long).  What a shame, it sounds good!  I clicked on a link to Ben & Jerry's website to see if there was any other information on it and came across a couple interesting things you can do on their site.  You can go to "Flavor Generator" and make up your own flavor, just for fun.  I thought I came up with a pretty tasty combination and thought, "hey, I should submit my idea!"  It just so happens they have a page you can go to to submit ideas for new flavors.  So I did just that.  My ice cream is called, "Malt Shoppe Madness", and is a sort of homage to 50s malt shops.  It is chocolate and malt ice creams with chunks of cherries and walnuts, swirled with marshmallow.  I would buy it; chocolate and nuts with something gooey, how bad could that be?!  If they like my idea and decide to make it they will contact me but with the understanding that, while they may recognize, award, and/or compensate me, they are under no obligation to do so.  I do not really care about all that but, to be honest, it would be nice for my friends and family to know.  Who knows, it could happen!  If nothing comes of it, no matter, it was just for fun.  If, however, you should happen to see it in your local market some day...!!    

Dynamic Duo

In my last post, I listed some of my favorite things, which included watching my husband, John, with our granddaughter, Brooklyn.  I would like to elaborate a bit on their relationship.

John and Brooklyn are part of a mutual admiration society.  It began moments after she was born.  The first time John saw her he asked, "Is she reading yet?"  He is absolutely smitten with her and she positively dotes on him.  Whenever he walks into the room her face lights up and she breaks out in the biggest smile, even if she had been crying just moments before.  She watches everything he does and, if she is on the floor, she will follow him around like a puppy.  If he is not around and someone says, "Where is PopPop?", she will stop what she is doing and look around.  John carries Brooklyn around like a sack of potatoes, hangs her upside down, and puts her on his shoulders, whereupon he instructs her to use his head as a drum...she is only too happy to oblige him.  Occasionally, they watch sports together (neither I, nor her parents, are particularly interested in sports).  Brooklyn, at 10 months, owns 3 balls (2 of which are soccer balls) which her PopPop has purchased for her (the soccer balls were purchased soon after she was born).  John does a lot of traveling for his job.  He always brings back something for Brooklyn, but his gifts are not necessarily typical baby gifts.  For example, she is probably the only baby girl that owns (and wears) a black House of Blues t-shirt with a picture of Jake and Elwood on it.           

When Brooklyn spends the night at our house she sleeps in a pack and play in our bedroom.  After her morning bottle I put her in bed with us for a bit.  John usually tries to get a few more minutes of shut-eye and Brooklyn makes that difficult, but John doesn't seem to mind.  Brooklyn will sit next to him and watch him sleep for a moment or two, then the fun begins.  She will scoot right up to his face and repeatedly touch his beard and grab his nose (okay, I admit it, I do encourage this), then she proceeds to climb all over him.  This endearing ritual occurs every morning she is with us.  

I am grateful to Papa God for the relationship John and Brooklyn have...especially while Nathan is away during his army training.  John is her only father-figure during Nathan's absence.  She has uncles on her mommy's side, as well as great-uncles on her daddy's side, but it is not the same.  Nathan and John are very much alike in many ways and I think Brooklyn picks up on that.  I think it comforts her to be with John.  I am sure she does not understand why her daddy is not around, and sometimes she cries for him, but having her PopPop nearby helps her cope.  I can understand that; I like having him around, as well.                 

A Few of My Favorite Things

My granddaughter is spending the night tonight.  Earlier this evening I was watching her drink her bottle, getting sleepier by the minute.  She is very much like her father was; full of energy, curiosity, and determination.  She doesn't want to miss a thing.  Consequently, she often fights sleep.  Tonight her battle against sleep was short-lived; sleep won (as it always does, sooner or later).  After she finished her bottle I rocked her a bit and sang twice through the lullaby I have been singing to her since she was born, then she gave in to the sleep weighing down her eyelids.  As I sat there, thinking how precious it is to have a baby fall asleep against your chest, I was reminded of many things I really enjoy.  I decided to make a list.  These are a just a few of my favorite things.  It is by no means an exhaustive list, nor is it in any particular order.  I started with my granddaughter, and I will say a few more things about her, but I will keep my comments brief (I could go on indefinitely).  

     *I love: 

seeing Brooklyn's face light up when she sees me 

hearing her voice, especially when she is laughing

watching her watch me when I make funny noises, like she is trying to figure out how I do it

watching her "dance" every time I tap out a beat on the coffee table

     *I love:

dark chocolate

the smell of freshly baked bread

my mom's chicken pot pie

a good cup of hot tea

     *I love:

the fresh new greens of spring

summer vacation

the smell and the crunch of autumn leaves

hot chocolate by the fireplace on a cold winter's day

     *I love:

holding hands with my husband, John

watching him with our granddaughter

having him at home (instead of away on a business trip)

getting away with him

     *I love:

seeing my son, Nathan, and my daughter-in-law, Sherry, with Brooklyn

hearing Nathan say, "Mom, you and Pop were right"

watching him take responsibility for his family

getting his letters and phone calls while he is away at *Basic Training and hearing he's okay

These are a few of my favorite things.  Thank you, Papa God, for these precious gifts.  Truly, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  (James 1:17, NIV)

     

*Approximately 3:30 PM (Delaware time) on 07/05, I finished reading a letter I received in the mail from Nathan today in which, among other things, I was schooled in proper terminology ;-).  Apparently, "boot camp" is not proper nomenclature.  According to my son: "...by the way, it's not called boot camp, they actually frown on calling it that.  It's called Basic Training."  Thank you, Nathan, I receive that.  Add to my list of favorite things...learning something new, and my son taking pride in what he is doing!          

 

         

  

      

Fascinating God

I love to worship God. He is the most loving, kind, thoughtful, generous, merciful, forgiving, just, and strong Person there is, was, or ever will be! There are many who deny Him, and I was one of them, once. There are many who look at the suffering and evil in the world and question His existence or, if they acknowledge His existence, they think Him indifferent to their plight. I have wondered many times why God would allow what He could so easily change with a single word, but I am ill-equipped to answer that question in a way that would truly satisfy. Those who are suffering from a great, unfathomable pain do not necessarily want some theological explanation (even if they ask, "why?")...they just want the pain to stop. Those who are determined not to believe in God will not accept any explanation (until the eyes of their understanding are opened), because the ramifications of a personal and involved God would require a change in their belief system. I have considered these things and I have had doubts at times, but I have seen what God has done in my life over the years since He opened my eyes and it fills me with gratitude and awe. I have to worship Him...not because I am compelled to, but because I can't help it! I made a decision a number of years ago to worship God no matter what. It did not matter what I was experiencing at any given moment, it did not matter what I was feeling, or what was going on around me. God was worthy to receive my praise and worship and He was always going to get it, as long as I drew breath. By His grace I have been able to do that; it has sometimes been a sacrifice of praise and worship, but He is worth it.

I have a friend, named Jess, who understands the "worth-ship" of God. She is a passionate worshipper of God and she is a very gifted and accomplished young woman. Among her many accomplishments, she is a talented songwriter. One of the songs she has written is my absolute favorite, "I Am Created To Worship The King". It's about knowing I am meant for more...more than the struggles, pain, desires, and temptations of this life. My life is meant to be lived out as a public display of worship to God, my King. It takes faith to worship God this way. Several days ago I was reading about how our faith is fascinating to God. I had to write part of it down because it spoke so loudly to me. Read these encouraging words by Kim Clement: "You've got to make God feel welcome. You've got to make Him feel welcome, otherwise He's not coming. You must understand that your act, your one act of faith, so intrigues God. He has placed you in limitations. He has placed you where you are subject to trials. He has placed you in time and space where your body gets tired, it grows old, and it suffers illnesses...I'm talking about man, in time and space, on an earth where he is subject to weather, earthquakes, tornadoes, all kinds of spiritual attacks, insults, robberies, and if in the midst of that can still lift up his voice and say, 'God, I want to thank you for my existence on this earth. God, I want You to know that I have a joy that I cannot get rid of no matter what happens.' This intrigues God; God is fascinated with it." (You can Google The Elijah List and find the complete word; I think it was from 06/13/08.) I should not be surprised by this word, I have read verses in the Bible that tell me that God loves me with an everlasting love, that He will be found by those who diligently seek Him, that He will draw near to me as I draw near to Him, that He is captured by one glance from me, etc...but it does surprise me. God is fascinated by me! (I find that fascinating!) The great thing about this (if I had to limit myself to one great thing) is that the faith in me that so captivates God came from Him in the first place! I did not have it in myself. It came from Him and it is directed toward Him...it always begins and ends with God; He is so generous to provide what we need and His provision is so complete! What a fascinating God!

A Quote To Remember

I don't have anything of my own to offer at this moment, but I wanted to post this great quote that I read a couple years ago. It was a bumper sticker on someone's car and I have not been able to shake it. I have been looking for a way to use this quote, but have never found just the right place. I am not a bumper sticker fan and would never put one on my own car. Too many obnoxious and disgusting things are slapped on the bumpers of people's cars and anyone sitting behind such a car at a red light is the unwitting victim of someone else's unwelcome opinion. Having said that, this particular quote just tickles me! I thought my blog would be the perfect place, so I leave with you my blessings and this amusing admonition:

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"

Soaking

I love baths. A bath is my preferred method of cleansing, an integral part of my daily routine. I was going to say, "morning routine", but who am I kidding? This is my first full week off; it is sometimes the afternoon...the evening, if I have nowhere to be...before I run my bath! It is my preferred method of waking up, when I do have somewhere to go. I know showers are supposed to be invigorating, but it just seems to be a rude way to wake up, like the first assault of the day. I would much rather soak the sleep away...a kinder, gentler version of a snooze alarm. A shower is so harsh and utilitarian. Soaking in a hot bath, my sleep-stiff muscles and joints are gently caressed and soothed and eased into the day's service. If my day has been especially frantic or fraught with difficulty, if I am feeling used and abused, or if I am unwell, I will end my day as it began...with a long, relaxing soak in a hot bath. It's a wonderful thing.