NEW ADDRESS

Here's a new address for you.

http://meanderingsimply.blogspot.com/

eye candy

Just a little eye-candy. This is Romie Boy today. Isn't he just soooo cute?

my brother and sister-in-law are amazing

I'm related to fame

I've mentioned my photograper niece Mindi before. Well the following post is directly from her blog. I wanted to humbly bask in the fame of my niece and great niece. This is too cool.


Mindi writes:
guess who is on the cover of October's "Scrapbooks etc."????? my annabelle!

i've been keeping this a secret for SEVERAL months, in fear of it falling through and me looking like an idiot. you have no idea how hard it's been! but i finally picked up my copy at my local scrapbook store tonight (they should hit the shelves at Wal-Mart/Hobby Lobby/Michael's/other bookstores, sometime around September 11th, i think.

aside from the fact that they seemed to "edit" my photo and make it incredibly over brightened, i'm happy. (as a photographer, the editing is really making me cringe, i have to admit, but hey, what can you do?)

annabelle is so over the top excited and can't wait to take it to school. dustin went out of town tonight for business, and took the copy with him to show everybody.

as soon as i can, i plan to buy a few more copies and probably frame one!

so here's how it went down:
i have a few pictures of my kids posted on a scrapbooking website (under photography) and one of the editors for this magazine (which is put out by Better Homes and Gardens) emailed me back in December, asking to use a picture of Julian as a possible cover idea for March/April. She wanted the picture in color, not b/w which is what i had posted. i sent them a copy, and they all debated it, and ended up going with a different photo.

however, for the next couple of months, i started getting submission requests that they sent out to a slew of photographers/scrapbookers, which you have no idea how excited/honored/flattered that made me.

then, a month or two later, another editor contacted me about possibly using Annabelle's soccer photo for the Oct. issue, since it was "sports themed". I told them yes, but didn't really get my hopes up. But this time, they voted to use it, and finally, months and months later, I have it in my hands!


There is a little write-up about the photo on one of the first few pages of the magazine, that gives photo credit to "Mindi Bartell", and talks about what we were doing when we took the photo. so neat, because 2 years ago, i added to my list of "goals", to
"Have SOMETHING published. anything. a story, picture, scrapbook page, anything."

finally, something to cross off the list. although, tonight julian made me promise that he can be on the cover of a magazine next.
we'll see what we can do about that...

Monday's question

Last week's question was a lead balloon. But thanks to Sue and Jill for taking the lead balloon and giving it air. I think their answers were very good. But in the interest of participation, I will drop the philosophical jazz and be a bit less airy and more down to earth. Please play along. This week's question is,

What is the best book you've ever read and why did you like it so much?

Feel free to name more than one book.

lipstick

Saturday I was downtown taking a course. When I was walking to my van afterwards a lady approached me on a bicycle. As she drew nearer I could tell she had something bright red in her mouth. When she got right up to me I realized it was just her lipstick. She had full lips and they were painted very red. She had a pale face so it really looked somewhat funny.

When I was a teenager I spent a lot of time at the home of an adult friend named Susan. We had a wonderful relationship for a couple years. She had a nephew she wanted me to meet. He was just passing through town and she wanted me to see him and him to see me.

I was at her house when she left to go meet him. She was going to meet him and bring him back to her house.

At that time I didn't wear any make-up except lip gloss. So when she left I went and brushed my hair and went through her enormous selection of lipsticks to find a light gloss.

I found a light pink gloss, applied it and went and sat in the living room to wait for their return.

When they walked through the door I stood and put on my most poised act. Susan looked at me strangely and so did the nephew. I tried to be normal, but I was self conscious knowing something was amiss.

He left a few minutes later to go find Susan's husband or something. When the door was closed behind him, Susan wasted no time turning to me and saying, "What on earth were you thinking?"

I was totally "in the dark" on what I was thinking when I did whatever it was I had done.

She yelled, "your lips!! Why on earth did you do that?"

I ran to look at a mirror. My lips were as red as red gets and against my pale face they looked clownish. I was horrified and grabbed the lipstick to show her.

Moments later she was howling. That glossy lipstick I'd chosen was called "mood lipstick."

nasty slang

Rachael is in Junior High now. This has brought a few challenges to our home. Last week in a fun-loving way she said "screw you" to a friend. I told her not to say it and she said it didn't mean anything bad. I told her it meant the same thing as "f---you." She said it didn't either.

I guess they went to school the next day and asked what it means. That evening they told me I was wrong. "F--- you" means what it says. "Screw you," means "hump you." This was supposed to comfort me and make me willing to let them say it.

I told them that all those expressions mean the same thing. They were amazed at my ignorance yelling, "Mom, no they don't. Everyone says 'screw you.'"

I countered with, "I don't."

They let out wails of unbelief. I defended with "I know what humping is, I know what the 'f word' is, I know what screwing is; they are all nasty expressions for the same thing. Can we respect sex between a husband and wife enough to call is something besides any of those words?"

Hannah let out an exasperated sigh, "Mom it's been 8 years for you. Things have changed."

"8 years?," I said.

She said, "YEEESSS! 8 years since Deborah was born. Things have changed."

fostering

Hi everyone. Nothing all that noteworthy happening here. I'm thoroughly enjoying this life I have. It's a wonderful life. Quiet and savory. That isn't the case much longer though. I've given notice at my little job and will be quitting at the end of September. Then I'll be headed to Arkansas for October to see my adorable grandson Roman. (I'll see a lot of other people too but at this moment Roman is the drawing card.:-)) Gordon is taking some time off work and since the girls are in school, he's arranging his schedule to be both Mom and Dad for a few weeks. Bless his heart, he is good.

When I get back home from Arkansas, things will pick up enormously. We are going to start foster parenting again. We did that from 1998 - 2002 (with lots of breaks to maintain sanity). There was a straight up learning curve, so I'm happy to be familiar with and fairly aware of what it will be like. For the most part our experience was good. Our hearts were broken in 2002 and we got out of it saying we'd never do it again.

Several months ago a baby died in foster care in Edmonton. The foster mother was charged. The media was all over it and it awakened the desire to foster in me again. Despite our own heartbreak in 2002, I know that every child that came through our home left better than they arrived, many left very noticeably improved. It was hard work, but enormously fulfilling. We had 19 foster children in that time frame, most of them short-term. Our longest stints were 1 year. We had 3 for a year or nearly a year.

Back then we were more open to what ages we would take. We took mostly teenagers and babies and we had an 8-year-old girl for a year. But now we're committed to only getting children younger than our own. We're thinking 4-8 year olds.

The girls are pretty excited about it. We have given them a lot of veto powers. When they say "no more" we will comply. I know of people whose natural children got emotionally hurt in the fostering process and we don't want that. Deborah and Hannah can't wait to foster. Rachael is happy some days and against it other days. We shall see where she levels out.

That's the most exciting news around here.

Thursday Thirteen

My children are back in school and I am happy and gleeful. They are in new schools this year and so far it's been a wonderful experience. I drive them. I was spoiled as they have walked to school for the past three years. No more. I leave with them every morning at 8:15. But it's good for me. It jump-starts my day and I'm having very productive days.

This morning I read a quote from Helen Keller. "The best, most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." It got me to thinking about the invisible great things in my life. So fittingly, here is my Thursday Thirteen list:

Invisible Beautiful Things in My Life (in no particular order).

1. prayer; talking to God
2. sensing God's presence
3. love
4. commitment
5. discipline; self-control
6. knowing God is in control
7. joy
8. acceptance
9. peace
10.grace
11.forgiveness
12.thankfulness; gratitude
13.thinking

Monday's Question

Well it's getting late on Monday and I've not posted a question. So I will now. I am curious on your take on this question. So please participate. Give me some fun.

How does one live a life well?

blue brain

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen one (or two) liners from stand-up comedians:

Women don’t want to hear what you think. Women want to hear what they think—in a deeper voice.
-- Bill Cosby

Gay people invented sports. Think about it. Boxing: two topless men ... in silk shorts ... fighting over a belt.
-- Ant

I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
-- Brian Kiley

I didn’t understand NASCAR until I met some NASCAR fans. You talk to a couple of NASCAR fans and you’ll see where a shiny car driving in a circle would fascinate them all day. I can make fun of NASCAR fans because if they chase me, I just turn right.
-- Alonzo Bodden

The problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.
-- Robin Williams

Michael Jackson is the spokesperson for people who cut off their noses to spite their face.
-- Dennis Miller

You know you’re getting old when work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work.
-- Joan Rivers

I called a discount exterminator. A guy came by with a rolled-up magazine.
-- Will Shriner

Have you seen the deer heads on the walls of bars, the ones wearing party hats, sunglasses and streamers? I feel sorry for them because obviously they were at a party having a good time...
-- Ellen DeGeneres

Did you know babies are nauseated by the smell of a clean shirt?
-- Jeff Foxworthy

How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand.
-- Emo Phillips

You know, marriage is making a big comeback. I know personally that in Hollywood people are marrying people they never married before.
-- Bob Hope

I constantly walk into a room and I don’t remember why. But for some reason, I think there’s going to be a clue in the fridge.
-- Caroline Rhea

Chinese Food

Tonight we went out for Chinese food. Hannah passed off a piece of ginger beef that she thought looked "disgusting." That reminded me of something that happened to me about 10 years ago.

We had a Korean teenager living with us and Rachael and Hannah were both babies. After church one day we went to a Chinese buffet.

I asked Gordon to fix my plate as I stayed behind putting babies in high-chairs. Shortly he and HanEy returned with all of our plates. We prayed and began eating. Before long I came across what I was sure was an aborted baby's hand in my ginger beef. I was mortified -- stricken completely speechless. I sat 100% stunned, unable to even raise my head.

My mind was racing, computing dozens of scenarios. I knew I had stumbled onto serious criminal activity and was trying desperately to ascertain a working plan of how to handle this. I knew if I went to the proprietor with such I thing, he could grab it from me and destroy the evidence. I was thinking the logical thing to do was wrap it in a napkin and take it to a police station. Still I sat there very close to vomiting, unable to speak.

Aware of nothing but the horror in my plate, I slowly became conscious of laughter beside me. I looked up prepared to shatter any light mood that existed at the table. HanEy and Gordon were looking at me laughing. They were saying things like, "It's a chicken's foot," and "It's just a joke." They had no idea the horrifying images running through my head.

When I finally grasped what they were saying, that what I thought was an aborted baby's hand was actually a battered and fried chicken's foot, it was way too late to redeem the situation. I was sick to my stomach and very near tears.

I took one of the girls and went and sat in the car while they finished eating. I was so upset. Not by their joke, but by the horrible images that had just been in my head. My adrenaline was pumping as if I'd just witnessed a murder. I cried.

It was several years before I ate ginger beef again. We never went back to that restaurant which before that day had been considered a "special" place. And until tonight, I guess I've not thought of that most horrific image in several years.

You'll think this is sweet

Copy and paste if the link is not active.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca

Monday's question

This week's question is a continuation of last week's. Last week's question was what advice would you give a newly married couple.

I enjoyed reading what everyone had to say and I believe there is wisdom among this readership. (I wish there was more boldness to participate among the group.)

I enjoy the thoughtfulness expressed in your answers, your participation, and the opportunity for dialogue. So this week I'm hoping to tap into that wisdom again -- I guess every Monday that is the goal.

Continuing the theme from last week, today's question is:

If you could share a slice of advice or wisdom with a teenager who just graduated from high school, what would you say?

Does sin sometimes feel good?

In church yesterday Pastor was talking about contemplating sin and finding yourself in the middle of sinful situations, looking around and thinking, "this isn't so bad..."

Well his theme reminded me of an incident back when I was a pastor's wife. Gordon had just preached a sermon similar to the one I heard yesterday. (Actually it was much meatier, but that's another story.) In his sermon Gordon said something to the effect of "when sin feels good."

I think anyone who is honest will admit that sin feels good for a season, albeit often that season is only seconds long. If sin never felt good, there wouldn't be a temptation to sin. Gordon was not promoting sin, he was promoted the higher "feel good" of doing right and following God. (Feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong.)

When church was over, as was the custom, Gordon and I stood at the back greeting folks as they left. A notoriously hoity-twoity parishioner made her way toward us. I could tell before she opened her mouth that her nose was out of joint, yet again, over something Gordon had said.

When she got to Gordon she rebuked, "Gordon sin never feels good and I think what you said could be damaging."

She walked off looking much lighter having set him straight. She was just out of ear-shot when I said, "Well obviously she's never done some of the things we have."

The folks next in line nearly collapsed laughing.

Hannah's party

Today was Hannah's birthday celebration with a couple friends. We went horseback riding. It was great to see them all so happy.

My 11-year-old Hannah.

Rachael

Hannah Bear

Hannah and friends

ride 'em cowgirls.

Roman Laughing and Not

I couldn't resist sharing these pictures.

Happy B'day to Hannah

Pardon my blurry pictures. As usual with the older photos, I've taken pictures of pictures.

Eleven years ago today a 9.9 pound red baby with lots of black hair came into my world. (She had actually been in my world long before then, but not in my arms.) Hannah Kathleen. She looked nothing like my previous babies and had I not witnessed the whole thing, I would have said they'd given me the wrong baby. I wanted to tell everyone in the delivery room, "Hey this is really weird. My other babies were pretty. Really, I mean my others were very pretty. Everyone said so." But no, not Hannah. She looked like a mixture of a cranky Winston Churchill, the fat toothless old lady down the street, and a red poached egg. But I loved her. I loved her lots. "Oh Gordon, she's so ugly," I said proudly. And I was proud.

When we came home from the hospital, my next door neighbor came over and oohed and awed saying stuff like "Look at all that hair," and "She is so sweet." I wanted to tell the neighbor that I knew she was ugly, but I didn't want to sound un-proud, because I was proud. I know a few tricks when it comes to dealing with ugly babies. Among my tricks are, "Look at all that hair," and "She is so sweet." Might as well just come out and say, "Woe is it ever homely."

But I loved her. She loved me too, so I loved her all the more. As she grew she lost the Winston and egg look but kept looking more and more like the toothless old woman down the road. More than a couple times I thanked God that it was a woman down the road she looked like and not a man. When she became expressive with grinning and all, the resemblance to the sweet lady was astounding. My girlfriend Elisa knew the lady down the road. Once the old lady left my house and I confided that I thought Hannah looked like her. Elisa laughed and said the she and Walter thought so too.

Well the pretty fairies visited when Hannah was about 5 months old and she became cute. Actually very very cute. She got a couple teeth and lost the little old lady look.

Unfortunately I was exhausted from having two babies. And it sure didn't help that one of them was Rachael. Exhaustion, hormones, - call it what you wish - wiped me out. Depression came on and my memories of Hannah's babyhood are cloudy and murky. I simply don't remember a whole lot.


When she was just a couple weeks old Gordon told me that there was a surprise baby shower for us two doors down. I sat and wept. I cried hysterically, "I'm too tired to go out." But I pulled myself together and we made it. Those sort of emotions marked those days. Fortunately I have pictures and when I look at the pictures I remember things. She's smiling in the pictures so I think she fared okay through it all.

From the get go in her little life, Hannah had a big sister that was a baby herself. Rachael colored all over Hannah, sat on her, man-handled her like a sack of potatoes. Hannah smiled through most of it.

She learned fairly early how to stand her ground with Rachael. We realized in her young life that she had her own methods of handling her overbearing big sister. Some of those things we still quote. Once as we drove Rachael protested that Hannah was touching her. They were both in car seats and Rachael said, "Hannah's bothering me."

Hannah made a pointy with her index finger and began a little sing-song as she poked Rachael over and over saying, "Bovering, bovering, bovering." We knew then that life was going to balance things out fine. And occasionally we all say, "Bovering, bovering, bovering," as a way of saying I'm trying to get on your nerves.

Hannah grew and became sensitive. She cared about the feelings of others including animals. She became very articulate, loving to learn new words. Her musings in the backseat often were word games. She played it alone and with no guidance whatsoever. "Re-spect-ful. Re-spect-ful." "Dis-cip-line." She spoke slowly and crisply. We could tell she was saying the words just to enjoy rolling them off her tongue. She played this game for years actually. Once after watching the Tigger Movie, she sat in her carseat quoting Tigger. "Splen-dif-er-rous. Splen-dif-er-rous." We loved to drive along just listening to Hannah practice saying big words.

Twice Hannah did weird little falls that knocked her out cold. The first time I was vacuuming when she fell off the sofa. It scared me silly. I phoned Gordon and he did the typical man thing. He rebuked me for worrying too much. Months and months later I felt rightly vindicated. He had taken the kids to Burger King. Hannah did one of her weird falls and went out cold. He absolutely panicked. Someone phoned 911, a lady came over to help out. She told Gordon that Hannah was breathing and would probably be fine. Gordon sat holding her, crying like a baby, waiting for the ambulance.

By the time I got to the emergency room, she was in a tiny green hospital gown soaking up the attention. She was fine. I've often wished I'd stolen that little gown. She looked so cute.

Hannah has always marched to the beat of her own drummer, more than once taking abuse for doing so. When she was in grade 1 she loved to look for and collect bird feathers. At the park some boys teased, "Ooh, it's the feather girl. She's always got feathers." Hannah was hurt, but undeterred.

Her grade one teacher told me that Hannah was a strong little girl who was willing to be different. And she was a bit different.

Hannah is my easiest child to buy for and treat special. She has so many likes, interests, and passions. Dogs, horses, art, music, piano, stationery, pretty things, porcelain dolls, - she has many interests. It's an endearing quality.

She's thoughtful, considerate, compassionate. She's kind, funny, artistic, and clever. She's typically an absolute doll to be around.

Yesterday she and I went to the Humane Society for a date. I was struck again by how easy she is to please.

This morning she smiled broadly as she was served breakfast in bed.


Tomorrow she is going to Beppe's for two nights. I guess they'll do the usual birthday shopping trip. She's excited. Then on Saturday we'll celebrate. She's chosen horseback riding and a picnic. She's so happy with her plans.

Hannah is delightful. I love her so much and marvel at her many talents. Truly to know her is to love her. I'm thankful for her.

Happy Birthday my sweet Hannah. You are beautiful (but I'd love you no less if you still looked like a poached egg). You bring delight to our lives and to our home. May you grow to be all God created you to be. And may you always point others to Him.
I love you.
This morning, breakfast in bed for an 11 year old.

Butts, Big and Small

Another Capernwray story.

One night Gordon and I arrived at "Bistro Night" just a little early. We were supposed to meet another couple, but couldn't find them. We faced different directions as we looked for them. I didn't see them where I searched.

I turned around and started looking in the direction Gordon was looking. While we stood there looking I put my hand on Gordon's butt and started muttering about what we should do next. I kept looking over the patios, but as I did, I started fiddling with Gordon's butt. Now I realize that I was aware something wasn't quite right, but at the time, I was feeling around for clues. Now I realize that his butt didn't feel right but at the time I was just feeling around trying to figure what was awry.

Before this event I don't think I could have told you that Gordon's wallet is always in his right pocket. I didn't realize that was something I knew. But this butt I had hold of had a wallet in the left pocket. Something was weird about that. Evidently I was pretty engrossed in locating this other couple, because I kept mumbling who knows what and groping this butt to figure out what wasn't quite right.

As I groped I realized another thing: this butt was flatter than it should be. Gordon has a very round butt. So help me I don't know why I didn't put all these pieces together, but I didn't. I kept mumbling and kind of squishing this butt in my hand trying to figure out why Gordon felt weird.

The man muttered a-very-in-control, "Val?"

I turned toward him and started screaming like an idiot. Then I started stamping like I was doing an Indian pow-wow (except lots faster) and shaking my hand like I was trying to get bugs off it. As far as I know, no words were coming out of my mouth, just screaming. I saw Gordon about 20 feet from me. I ran to Gordon and buried my face in his chest. I told him what I'd done and he started laughing.

The wife of the man I'd fondled came over to me and was laughing. She'd seen the whole thing, as did a few others. Everyone was laughing and commenting on how red my face was.

The wife sat down beside me, still laughing. She told me a story that she said she'd told so few people because of how terribly embarrassing it had been. And truly her story made me feel better as her goof was lots worse than mine.

When she and Frankie were on their honeymoon, they went to a mall. Frankie wanted to look at tools, she wanted to look elsewhere. When she came back to the tool section, she found Frankie squatting looking at the tools on the lowest shelf. She noticed he had a hole in the butt of his pants. She snuck up and put her index finger in it and did the gichy-gichy-goo squiggly movement.

The man jumped up screaming. It wasn't Frankie. She screamed. He yelled. She screamed. She ran.

She said after what I did to Frankie she felt she could tell me that story.

The next day another lady came up to me and mentioned my "eventful evening" the night before. I thought she was talking about some of the kids' antics. But then she said, "At 1:00 this morning we were laying in bed laughing thinking of the look on your face."

So that is me. I try to bring cheer wherever I go.

Monday's Question (Updated :))

Last week I was pleasantly surprised by the response to Monday's question. I hope all you that responded last week will again this week. Plus I hope some of you that didn't will give your thoughts.

So here is the question I posted this morning:

If you could share one slice of wisdom or advice with everyone you met, what would it be?

However, I was notified by an astute reader that this question is way too broad. I see her wisdom, so I am modifying the question.

Now the question is:

If you could share one slice of wisdom or advice with every newly married couple, what would it be?

This greatly narrows the original question down so I hope to have some participants.