Peace

I said this blog was a collection of my thoughts, musings, ramblings, and other writings.  Here is a poem of mine.  I wrote it in 1998, but it's topic is always relevant.  I think it is particularly relevant for this time and season.

Still my heart

like the peaceful waters of a deep blue lake,

unruffled

by the ripples and the waves the world would make.

In my heart

I hear Your voice; it's calling out to me, and

I know peace

beyond all the circumstances that I see.

Lasting peace,

though the world around me crumbles.

Sweet peace,

though mankind against me rumbles.

Abiding peace,

through Jesus Christ who died for me.  

Photo Op, Part 2

Okay, what kind of Kiki would I be if I didn't have at least one photograph of my granddaughter on my blog.  In case you are wondering, Kiki is my version of Grandmother, Grandmom, MomMom, or whatever grandmotherly appellation you can think of.  I love being a grandmother, I have just never been too fond of the names that come with the job!  There is a website you can visit that tells you how many people in the United States have your same name.  When I went to that site, I found out that I am the only one with my name (I checked using my married name and my maiden name).  It stands to reason that I would prefer to be called something unique to me!  Brooklyn is not able to call me anything yet, she is pretty much in the nearly-non-stop-chattering-of-unintelligible-syllables-stage.  When she is able to call me something intelligible, I will be happy to accept whatever moniker she chooses to give me (because that name will hold meaning for her), but until then...Kiki it will be!

Photo Op

I wanted a photograph of my husband and me on my blog, so I found the one to the right.  I realize it is not a current photo, but there are very few of John, or of the two of us together, because he is usually the photographer.  My hair is different now.  It is darker red and, while it would still be considered short by most people, it is quite a bit longer than what you see in this picture.  I have different glasses, too.  John, however, looks exactly the same.  I will probably keep this one on my blog, even if I do post another, more up-to-date picture.  This is a wonderful picture of the two of us and I love it!  I chose the song title "Feels Like Home To Me" as the caption for this photograph because if home really is where your heart is, as the saying goes, then John is my home.         

Under Construction

Is it my imagination or does it seem that everywhere you look there is some type of construction going on?  Roads, bridges, housing developments, strip shopping centers (goodness knows, we don't have enough of those)...it can be very annoying and inconvenient at times.  I wish I could tell you that you won't find any of that here but that would be a lie, and I try not to lie to anyone (except perhaps, to myself, and I'm working on that, too).  My blog is currently under construction, as you may have noticed (I hope you have noticed, otherwise, what's the point?).  I am a novice where blogging is concerned, and I am also getting used to a new computer, so my skills with both are in a process of development.  Some things I am learning are by trial and error, some are by attending One On One sessions at my local Apple Store.  I haven't received much instruction about all things blog at The Apple Store, we're pretty much at MAC 101 right now (possibly forever), so where my blog is concerned it is mostly trial and error and checking out other blogs.  I have expanded my personal profile, adding text and a photograph, so please check it out.  The text will probably stay the same (I may add an interest, a movie, or a book from time to time), but the photograph will change periodically.  (By the way, I took that photograph of the lily myself with my cell phone camera, I can't believe how well it turned out...I am not an accomplished photographer!  I was at Longwood Gardens with my friend, Lynn, earlier this summer and I took so many photographs I filled my phone memory, so there are more to come.)  Beneath my blog's title, Thinking Out Loud, I have added a description, the raison d'etre of my blog, if you will.  Please take a moment to scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page.  I have added another element of text, entitled: SCRIPTURE OF THE MOMENT.  It will change periodically.  I am not organized enough to commit to change it everyday or every week (or month, let's be real here), so "MOMENT" is just vague enough to let you know it will change at some point, just keep checking.  I may or may not allude to it in a post, it depends on how I feel at the moment.  Maybe by now you have noticed that I am not really the type of person who is, shall we say, skilled at planning.  I am not, as I have previously stated, a terribly organized person.  I am not a list-maker or administrative-type.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but appreciation and admiration for people like that...my mother is a planner and a list-maker and I have some friends who are truly gifted organizers and administrators, but I am more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal.  I can manage a certain amount of organization at work (as a teacher it is a necessity), but it seems to dissipate as the work day draws to a close.  In my home life, the amount of organization I can muster is inconsistent at best.  In the summer, forget about it, I am completely undisciplined.  This brings me to the area most in need of reconstruction and development: me.  I want to be at least a little more disciplined, but I find it incredibly overwhelming.  I am not a good steward of my time.  I procrastinate horribly.  This past spring I went to a writer's conference (Delaware Christian Writers Conference) for the very first time.  I loved it!  I plan to go next spring (in fact, I did plan ahead for this, I have already paid for it!).  My goals for this summer were to write every day, do research, and begin to market myself.  Have I done this?  Well, um, ah, let me see, how can I put this?  In a word, NO!  I did start this blog, so I am writing something, albeit inconsistently.  I did write another letter story for the children's book I hope to finish-and-someday-get-published-before-I-die.  I only have 15 to go to finish the alphabet (which I think I started in the 90's) :-P.  All this to say that I am, like so much around me, a work in progress.  While it can be annoying and inconvenient at times, it is necessary and hopefully (by God's infinite grace and mercy), a sign of positive growth (unlike strip shopping centers).                              

"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!