S.W.A.K. ...

It's Wordless Wednesday! 

For more Wordless fun - or to link up and share your own Wordless piece,

head over to 5 Minutes for Mom right here!

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo,

kris ann

2 Things 2sday - My 1st!

I love all things related to home decor, so I couldn't resist playing along with Kass at BacWoods Fern when I saw that she hosts a Tuesday bloghop in which you share two things that you are just LOVIN' around your house!  I have LOTS I love around my house - besides the fam and the pooches. 

You wanna play?  Just write a post showcasing two things that you are lovin' around your home with a link back to BacWoods Fern where you can link up with the MckLinky!

So without further ado ... here are just two of MANY things I love around my home ...

My spider plant had 2 babies ... so I needed wanted to create a cute little still life with the babies while they soak up water and sprout roots!  This is a food pedestal from Southern Living.  The lid and bowl were a 25 cent thrift sale find ... and the fishing lure is a golden oldie from my FIL.  Cute, right?!

And this teapot - LOVE!!!  Clearance at TJMaxx ... $5.00!  J'adore!

Thank you, BacWoods Fern!!!

The Sunday Seven - Breakfast foods, Dream Homes, Olympic Sports ... and more!

 

It is Sunday Funday ... and Keely over at MannLand5 has 7 questions lined up for our answering/reading pleasure. Hop over to Keely's if you'd like to link up and hop along - or feel free to answer any of the questions right here!

Happy Sabbath, Y'all!

1. Waffles, pancakes or french toast?
 

I like 'em all!  I'll eat 'em all.  I've even made 'em all - though I never make waffles anymore (unless Eggo counts) and only make french toast once for every 10 times I whip up panny cakes.

2. Dream home..What would it look like?

My "dream house" is ever changing, so ... ummm ... I'm not sure - but it would definitely have perenniel gardens, lots of trees on the perimeter of the yard - a view of water.  It would be cozy - not too big (I've done big, and its overwhelming - not for me).  I gravitate towards contemporary country/cottage style - color and character - and certainly eclectic.  I like what I like - and I'm not concerned about fitting into a specific mold.  I "am" the mold!  It would be the sort of house that is a feast for the eyes - and invites you to kick up your feet.  And, oh - I almost forgot ... windows!!!  Lots and lots of windows!  LOVE lotsa God's natural lighting!!!  :-)

Something like this from http://www.bhg.com/ is what I'm hankerin' for right now!

3. Favorite sport to watch during the Winter Olympics?

Snowboarding!

4. The first word that comes to mind when describing yourself?

Blessed.

5. Dresses, pants (jeans, leggings, etc.) or skirts?

Usually pants. 

Sometimes skirts. 

Occasionally dresses.

Because I'm so tall (5' 11"), it is hard to find dressed that fit me right in the torso.  I do have a few empire waist bohemian gowns that I really love, though.

6. What is your favorite time of day?

9pm - 1am. 

Everyone else in the house is sleeping. 

Quiet. 

And I'm awake.

7. Beach or Mountains..which do you prefer?

Ohhhhh ... do I HAVE to choose!  I love 'em both!!!  If hard-pressed, I would go with beach - but a private beach - not one covered from here to there with other people.  A quiet beach.  The best vacay EVER that I've been on was a year before becoming a mama.  St. Barths.  That's where I'm dreaming of.

8.Will you watch the Super Bowl?

That depends on whose playing - I am NOT a football fan ... but would watch and root for my home-state Vikes!  So, we'll seeeeeee ...

The Butterfly Circus

I just viewed a video that I LOVED!!!

I don't often take the time to view videos that are posted to me on FB - or emailed to me en masse, but as luck would have it, I did just that tonight!

I almost didn't. 

I was tagged on an FB post.  I'm sure I'd never even have notice this post, but someone commented on it, simply "Wow!" and this showed up in my email box. (BTW - did you know that email is officially not cool with the younger folks? I just learned this at a ministry conference.  Its become outdated!!!  What?!  Even FB is on its way out - Twitter is where its at ... for the next month or so anyway!)

Anyway, back to the story.  I saw the "Wow!" and my curiosity piqued.  I just happened to have a little quiet time all to my little, old, outdated self - and decided I'd just take a peek.  Anyway, I needed to come up with something to share with our junior high kiddos at Sunday School tomorrow and thought, MAYBE this flick has some spiritual content (which is DOES!) and maybe I could use it (which I WILL!) ...

But then, when I got to the video, I almost didn't view it again.  It's 20 minutes long.  I don't know ... maybe its just me, but 20 minutes seems like a really long online view.  Still, I wanted to know what the "Wow!" was all about ... so, I hit play - reminding myself that ... BTW, I CAN stop watching if I don't care for it.

Anyhoodle, I LOVED it.  Really loved it.  So, I'm sharing it here - in case, you've 20 minutes to devote to "Wow!" ... and then I'll share it again on the morrow with my lucky youth crew.

The Butterfly Circus.  Click HERE.

The limbless dude in The Butterfly Circus is Nick Vujicic whose testimony I've seen before and know forsure that I LOVE (you will, too).  In fact, watching that for the first time (about a year ago) was a "Wow!" moment for me.  In case, you've another 10 minutes ... (sure you do ... ), I'm posting his testimony below!



Praising His Name in ALL circumstances!!!  Woot, woot!

5 Questions - Money & Trash & Dreams & Instruments & Stores ... Oh my!

It's 5QF (that is Five Question Friday for the uninitiated!) - and we've got some great questions to answer care of Mama M. at My Little Life. Make sure to visit her if you'd like to play along - just click on the 5QF button above!

And our questions are ...

1. What is better, growing old with out money or dying young and wealthy?

Ummmm ... what kind of question is THIS?!

Okay, okay ... just kidding.

I know exactly my answer.  I would rather grow old without the dinero.  I think youth and money is a dangerous combination.  Too often, Youth + Money = Foolish.  My level of joy, peace and satisfaction are not directly linked to my bank account; they're directly linked to my Heavenly Father.

2. Who takes out the garbage at your house?

Well .... whoever remembers - which too often is NOBODY. 

Monday night is trash night ... and it seems that we only remember every other week!  On week 2, we CAN'T forget because every time we leave the house, we're reminded by the overflowing piles outside the garage door entrance.  On the weeks we forget, the trash isn't full enough to overflow - so apparently, we operate in an "outta sight - outta mind" mentality.

Just last week, I put "Outgoing Trash" on a chore list for my boys.  I'm hopeful that they'll be more on top of the task than their Mama and Daddy!

Hope springs eternal!!!

3. Have you ever had the same dream many times?

I rarely remember my dreams anymore - but I used to.

I used to have flying dreams as a kid - or the ability to leap from tree top to tree top.  I LOVED those dreams. 

Two other themes that are less fun and more unsettling:

1. I am trying to see things more clearly.  I'm nearsighted in real life - and in my dream, I'll suddenly realize that everything is blurry - and I'll frantically search for my glasses or contacts.  Often, I'll find my contacts and try to stick them back in my eye - only to discover that they are about 4x to large for my eye - and I wake up with an image of myself trying to shove a saucer-sized floppy contact lens into my regular-sized eye.  Weird, right?  I know there's a message here ... I can almost "see" it ... haha.
2. I am in a house - and I can't find my way out.  I'm walking from room to room and there appears to be no exit anywhere.  Some of the rooms are fascinating and I'll linger in them - and others less so.  It's disconcerting not having the option of leaving.  The lower I go in the house, the eerier it is.  I know there's a metaphor here.  Psychoanalyze away!  ;-)

4. Can you play a musical instrument?

Well, I used to play both piano and clarinet. 

I feel quite certain that I'd very nearly need to start from scratch on the clarinet, so I don't think that counts anymore - and I always hated the taste and sensation of the wood reed, so I'm not interested in a refresher, thank you very much.

And the piano ... well, I can still pick out a tune, but after 12 YEARS of lessons imposed on me against my will ... I maintain (as I did from the first lesson at age 6) that a musician, I am NOT!!!  If there were a maestro in me, I think that 12 years is MORE than adequate to have coaxed it out.

5. If you owned your own store, what would you sell?

Well, this one is EASY PEASY for me!!  I used to own 2 retail stores, and would totally do it again ...

My hubby and I (though he was not my hubby at the time) opened our first retail store at the young and carefree age of 20.  We rented a mall kiosk in St. Cloud, MN where we made and sold beaded and macrame jewelry - casual, earthy stuff, most of which we made by hand.  Later, we opened additional outlets in Duluth, MN, then Appleton, WI and finally Eau Claire, WI where we settled for 9 years. 

When we became parents, we chose to close our out-of-town locations and focus on the local shop and our family.  Besides, I had suffered from serious post-partum and was not a very capable partner in business, marriage or parenting at the time.

When my little one turned one, I opened a local bath boutique in addition to the jewelry kiosk, specializing in mid-range bath products with an emphasis on quality and natural ingredients.  I loved everthing about this store ... the smell of the fresh cut soaps, the natural perfumes and candles ... ah, I MISS it!!!  We lasted a year - sales were increasing, and the store looked marvelous, but we lacked the funds to see it all the way through ... AND I was missing out on the formulative years with my 1st-born.  In light of the fact that we wanted more kids, we closed up shop, cut our losses - and I stayed at home, while my hubby moved on to car sales.

Anyhoodle ... I would SO do either a bath or jewelry store again - OR gifts in general.  Hmmmm ... pardon me while I continue to dream!!!  :-)

Happy Weekend!!! 

 And feel free to let me know YOUR thoughts on Money, Trash, Dreams, Instruments and/or Stores, too!

Down the Trail ... Around the Island ... On the Ice ... And Back Again

Our home overlooks a little bay.  Our backyard is wooded and a trail winds down the hill to the bay.  In the winter, the leaveless trees give us a view of the fishing shack littered bay and "Cemetary Island" which is exactly that - an island designated as a cemetary ... and refuge to the local deer.  The island separates the bay from the lake beyond - and this past Saturday, the boys, the dogs and I all headed down the snow-covered trail to the frozen bay and took a walk around cemetary island.  What a marvelous feeling to walk on water - the very water in which we fish and boat in the summer.  The kids particularly liked looking for - and inspecting - old ice fishing holes.  The weather was perfect - the sky blue, the ground white, the sumac red, and all beautiful.

Sunday Fun Day ... a bit about me

 

It is Sunday Funday ... and Keely over at MannLand5 has 7 questions lined up for our answering/reading pleasure.  Hop over to Keely's if you'd like to link up and hop along.  As an added incentive, Keely is donating 25 cents to Red Cross for every link to the blog hop!

If you're not up for a jaunt to MannLand5 - feel free to answer any of the questions right here!

Happy Sabbath, Y'all!

Today's questions's are..

1. Hair color..Au naturale..or not?
Wellllll ... Not. 

But, sort of. 

See, when I became a SAHM about 7 years ago, I had to make a few financial concessions ... and coloring my hair was one of them.  I have super dark hair, but always put in highlights every 8-10 weeks.  (I am still mourning those highlights.  *tear slips down my cheek*  Sniff. ) Anyway, I've been completely au naturale since then ... until just one short month ago when I used a drug store color (light brown) to bring the dark down a notch ... and to hide the stubborn grays that are beginning to spring up on my scalp!  The color change is super subtle ... but the grays are gone!!!  Okay - so, there not technically GONE - but you can't tell they're gray under their brand new light brown dye job!  Hallelujah!!!

BTW - I have always declared that I'd go gray gracefully, proudly displaying my crown of silver ... but that was a load of crap (apparently).  My mom just turned 60 and is just now getting a few grays (seriously ... she has only a couple more than I do!), so I was under the impression that the silver crown was light years away. 

Sadly, this was not the case ...

Thanks, Dad.

2. If somebody has food in their teeth or lipstick on their teeth do you tell them?
Almost ALWAYS.  Even perfect strangers.  I promise I'm super sweet and tactful about it!!!  PROMISE!!!

3. Would you rather have a million dollars or your vision of the perfect body?
Million dollars. 

No contest. 

I've totally given up on the perfect body and am choosing (most days) to love the one I've got.  In my younger days, I had a great body ... and loathed it, only to appreciate it too late, so what good was that anyway?!  It seems that regardless of the bod I'm in ... it could always benefit from a little more tweaking (we ladies can be so fickle) ... so, I'm all about taking the green.

4. Favorite magazine?
This is a TOUGH one for me!  I subscribe to LOTS of magazines - at least 20 - and love 'em all for different reasons.  I used to be self-employed (a cute little bath boutique and 3 small jewelry kiosks) and received a professional rate for mags (cheap, cheap) ... that has yet to expire.  I always got lots of fashion/style mags to stay abreast of the style trends in jewelry - and to keep my finger on hot bath products.  However, to the fashion mags, I have added lots of home decor mags (a passion of mine) and most recently ministry mags that relate to my positions in children's and moms' ministry.  Soooo ... hmmm ... I'm thinking ...

I've narrowed it down to two:

House Beautiful

Marie Claire

 5. Bra style..lacy or plain?
Plain.

6. If you walked into Victoria's Secret..would you most likely come out with something sexy or comfy?
Both ... all in one.  Comfy is a MUST for me, but I like to look good while I'm feeling comfy! 

7. Do you fake and bake?
Nope!  I have - pre-prom, pre-wedding, and pre-vacation - but no more!  However, in the summer, I love nothing BETTER than soaking up the sunshine.  LOVE, LOVE!!!


8. What's your favorite body part on a man?
I love shoulders - BROAD, STRONG shoulders.

Mama's MMMMMMoist Carrot Bars

Just over a week ago, I was reminded of my obsession (well, not too obsessed, I guess, if I needed reminding ...)  passion for my pal Jodi's Carrot Bars.  In a word - MMMMMMMah-velous!

You really cannot NOT love these!  The secret is that the recipe uses carrot baby food instead of grated carrots.  I swear, you'll be spoiled for all other carrot bars once you've sampled these.  (Hmmmm - I hope I'm not hyping this TOO much - would hate for you to be disappointed, but ... NAH! ... they really are that good!)

And, I've not even mentioned the "icing on the cake", the cream cheese frosting ... to-die-for!

Anyhoodle, show yourself a little love!  Whip up Mama's MMMMMoist Carrot Bars.  You can thank me later!

You're welcome!  ;-)

Mama's MMMMMMoist Carrot Bars

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
18-20 oz. baby food carrots (I generally go for the full 20 oz. - the more, the moister!)

Whisk dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl.  Mix in oil and then eggs (one at a time).  Spoon in carrots and stir just until mixed.  Bake 30-40 minutes in bar pan (15 1/2" x 10 1/2") at 350 degrees.  Cool.  Frost.  Enjoy!

Marvelous Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter (softened*)
8 oz. cream cheese (softened*)
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Beat together first 3 ingredients.  Beat in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.

*Note:  I either forget to soften the butter and cream cheese - or haven't the time, so I put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand - A book review & thank you!

The boy-ohs and I have had one eye ever on our mailbox this past week. 

You're wondering why?

Because we WON!!!  We won a giveaway hosted by Megan M. over at All A Bunch of Momsense - and we have been SOOOOO excited for its arrival!

What did we win?!

We won a book.  Actually, I won the book, but I told the boys it was coming and that it would be OURS!  I just knew they would love it ... and I was right (per usual - not always, but usual).  teehee  :-)

Anyhoooo, the book arrived and we I ripped off the packaging (couldn't wait for the boys - I'm like a little kid like that when it comes to opening a package!).  The book was inside as promised, and  I triumphantly paraded it before the boys.  They responded appropriately (not always the case ...) with bright eyes and "oohs" and "ahs".  Then, we set it at my bedside for before-bedtime reading.

The book was a WONDERFUL read.  Totally recommend it AND encourage you to stop by Alex's Lemonade Stand's website (link below) and get yourself a copy! 

"Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand"

This is a true story about young Alex who is diagnosed with cancer just before her first birthday.  About three years later - at age 4 - Alex decides that she will start a lemonade stand in her own front yard in order to raise money to help find a cure for childhood cancer. By age 8, Alex raised over a million dollars for her cause ... and passed away.  However, Alex's family and supporters continue to her efforts through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

My boys LOVED this story.  They found it inspiring, awed that the events were all true and that this young girl made such an impact in her short little life ... and beyond. 

Little people can do Big things!

I loved the book right along with my boys.  What's not to love about a book that promotes altruism in my young 'uns?  Plus, the sing-songy language was a treat to read - and the bright, whimsical illustrations a treat for the eyes.

Thank you SO much, Megan M.!  We are touched and thankful!!!

If you'd like to learn more about Alex's Lemonade Stand, visit http://www.alexslemonade.com/ OR click on the Alex's Lemonade Stand button in my sidebar.

Five Question Friday - We Got Some Hot Ones!

It's 5QF (that is Five Question Friday for the uninitiated!) - and we've got some great questions to answer care of Mama M. at My Little Life. Make sure to visit her if you'd like to play along (OR visit her anyway - she's always an entertaining read!)

So, without further ado ...

1. Worst trouble you ever got into as a teenager?

Hmmm ... a teenager - ages 13 to 19 ...

Well, while I lived under my parents' roof, my naughtiness amounted to sitting for hours in my room and reading rather than tackling the chores I'd been assigned which might have been dusting, folding clothes, tidying my room, etc.  I was in trouble for chore evasion via literature consumption ALL the time.  Books were my addiction - my escape, my high, my compulsion, my "friends."  I NEVER got into trouble outside of my home - model student and citizen.

My college career was a MUCH different story however.  (I blogged a wee bit about my transition from high school to college back here.)  Before I turned 20, I'd been ticketed for fake ID, minor consumption, underage in a bar ... and these were just the legal troubles I got myself into.  I put myself into all sorts of troubling situations with my drug and alcohol abuse.  It is a wonder I made it through that period alive and intact - but NOT without scars (the worst kind really - deep and invisible). 

The most sobering trouble that I got myself into during that college period (I was still 18) was recieving a notice in my little campus mail slot notifying me that I had lost my on-campus job.  Actually, it did not say I had lost my job, it said I was fired.  *groan*  My job was incredibly simple - and unsupervised which apparently was too much liberty for me at that time.  All I had to do was keep the study lounge on my dorm floor tidy - vaccuum, wipe counters and microwave, and take out trash.  Crazy easy.  So easy to do - so easy NOT to do.  Suffice it to say that the lounge had become quite a dive under my lack of care ... and so I was terminated.  By way of explanation, I was at the height of bad choices - bad boyfriend, lack of commitment to my studies, and overcommitment to getting high every night.  The lounge was the last thing on my mind - I never used it, never cleaned it.  I wasn't healthy ... and neither was my work ethic (which interestingly had always been stellar - overachieverish even - before AND after - Hello, Wake Up Call!).

2. Are you a morning person or a night person?

I am SO a night owl.  I am only very rarely in bed before midnight.  Lately, I've been pushing bedtime back further and further - closer to 1a.m.  I have ALWAYS been this way - often reading my book secretly in the bathroom after lights out (I was on the upper level - my parents on the lower - they had no idea that I was shut in the bathroom with the light on reading into the wee hours) - often until 2 or 3 a.m. 

And then I wonder why I have such a hard time getting going in the a.m.!

Knock, knock, wooden head!

3. Are you a one-handed or a two-handed Texter?

I am so NOT a texter. On the rare occasion that I've done so, it has been one-handed ... and only in response to texts from others ... and only in one or two word responses.

4. Democrat, Republican, or Independent..or maybe even Green Party (whatever that is).

I plead the fifth on this one (I've literally seen solid friendships annihilated in the face of political disagreement). Most of my friends don't even know my political stance ... except for the fact that my hubby slapped a bumper sticker on my vehicle last election which I mean to take off, but it seems to be too much trouble.

I will share, however, that last spring I shook hands with now President Obama. I don't care who you are - that's cool!!!

                                         

Now-President Obama addressing the overflow crowd at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire just minutes before shaking MY hand!  That's my mom's face framing the pic on the left and my hair on the right.  My sis stood behind us and snapped the pic.

5. Are you a pet person?

YES!!!  I have ALWAYS had pets in my life.  I grew up on the farm where we had countless animals - the usual suspects (cows, sheep, pigs, chickens) and the unusual (ducks, geese, swan, deer) but alway a few pets - usually dogs, though a few ponies, hamsters, rabbits, a pair of lovebirds and once we even had a pet raccoon which lived with us for a summer until it was mature and the call of the wild took her back to where she belonged.

Presently, we have two dogs - good old reliable Golden, Dakota ... and crazy unpredictable mutt, Henry.

Dakota and Henry

And, oh - not MY pet, but my son, TJ has a beta fish, Wiggles.

What I'm Singing ... Even Though I CAN'T!

 

It is Working Mommy Wednesday sponsored by Julia over at Sweet As Punkin Pie. 

Julia's got a question for us that I can't resist answering.  If you'd like to see what other mommies are saying, visit Julia and snoop around!  Wanna answer this yourself?  Link up at Julia's - or just respond to the question in the comments section!

So, without further ado ... the question of the week is ...

What song do you always find yourself singing

at the top of your lungs

when you're in the car

all by yourself?

I have WAY too many answers to this question, but I've narrowed it down to 2 (I think ... I need to STOP thinking or I'll never complete this post!!).  The 2 tunes that I cannot resist singing along to AT THE TOP of my LUNGS are ...
 
1.  Lay 'em Down by NeedtoBreathe



2.  Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew
 


I just KNOW that when I get in my car today (in 20 minutes, I am off to get a massage!!!!!  I am cashing in on the gift certificate that I've carried in my wallet for TWO YEARS!!  Whoda thunk it so hard to set aside time for a little pampering?!) - I am gonna hear something and sing along at the TOP of my LUNGS (even though it is NOT pretty - see previous post) and wish I'd included THAT song, too ... but ...

for now

that's my answer -

and I'm sticking to it

(at least for the next 20 minutes!)

Truthfully, I CAN'T ... Sing!

This week's Truthful Tuesday question is:

What talent do you wish you had...

but don't?

Well, the answer to this question is - for me - ridiculously simple. 
 

I wish

 

I

 

could

 

sing.

 
Never been a singer. 
 
Barring a miracle ... never will be.
 
I work in ministry (moms and children) and have taken Spiritual Gifts Assessments (if you'd like to try ... click here for an online version) as a tool to assist in recognizing where God has gifted me so that I might exercise these gifts for Him (as if I've no clue ... I really do, but ... these are fun, right?).  Anyhoooooo, not once have I assessed my gifts to discover that I've a gift in music - neither instrumental nor vocal.  Not once ... and not a DROP of gifting in this area.  Believe me, I have NEVER blessed anyone musically!!!
 
Of course, I blame this on my parents ... that's who we blame all our shortcomings on, right?!  It's part of the parental job description.  My dad is completely tone deaf.  His singing voice is truly the worst - the sort that would make the bloopers segments on the Americal Idol trials.  I've only heard Dad sing a handful of times EVER (he's self conscious and for good reason, I'm afraid ...), but the first time I heard him sing, it was both the most awful and beautiful sound all at once. 
 
We were in the church I grew up in.  The pews were divided into three sections facing the cross, and we were in the section to the far left right smack in the middle of the section - neither closer to the front nor the back.  We went to church EVERY Sunday, but when we worshiped in song, Dad would just stand with the open hymnal, following along - perhaps praising and worshiping in his heart, but NEVER ever opening his mouth or uttering a sound ... not even humming.  Nothing.  Not ever. 
 
On this day, though, we turned in the hymnal to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".  The organist ran through the last line on the organ as a prelude of sorts, paused dramatically, and then plunged into the first verse dragging the congregation along with her.  It was with complete and utter shock that I heard beside myself my father's voice singing along.  And not in a quiet timid sort of way that would have befit the unquestionably un"gift"ed sound coming up from his throat and out of his mouth.  He sang loud ... and proud.  He LOVED that song.  ("My favorite", he told me later.)  And while I recognized immediately why it was that he never sang publicly ... I also detected something beautiful in his voice, something as awesome as his voice was awful.  It was something that I can only describe as a "spirit song".  It was ... I think ... what God must have heard.  Heartfelt praise and worship of the only One who is worthy.
 
So, my consolation over the fact that I sing only slightly better than my father ... is that my Heavenly Father surely hears something beautiful when I open my mouth to worship Him - and that when I am with Him in Heaven, I will surely have a passably good (if not magnificent) voice ... after all, we're promised in Revelation that there will be NO MORE PAIN ... :-)
 

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

- Revelation 21:3-4

Judy Garland (who actually CAN sing) sings The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to commemorate the death of President Kennedy.

Soooo ... What Talent do YOU wish you had ... but don't?

To play along (or find out what talents other folks are hankering after), head over to "Confessions From a Working Mom" and link up (or poke around)!

"not me" Gains a Little Something ...

I am SO happy to report that it is completely NOT ME that gained 5 pounds over the holidays!!! After all - LAST spring, I lost 25 pounds (truly - see here?!), so I'd surely not have thrown caution to the wind and sampled devoured every bonbon, chocolate-covered Ritz, Russion teacake, buttered/sugared lefse, toasted/salted nut ... and on and on ... that made its way into my line of vision. 
Blech!

AND - BTW, it was NOT ME who avoided the scale ALL holiday season because I was in denial ... and liked it!  No, not me!  I like to confront reality head on ... so that I can pull my head out of the sand and deal with the issues pounds at hand.

And, oh - tee hee - it was NOT ME who went through the trouble of removing my glasses when finally stepping gingerly onto said scale ... because clearly they would not add untold and significant numbers to the reading on the scale.

And THEN, it was NOT ME who went to the further trouble of weighing my glasses just to confirm to myself how neurotic I can be (I so don't need proof of that!).

And, of course, if I had gone to the trouble of weighing my glasses - I would not have photographed the whole neurotic thing ... and then blogged about it ... NOT ME!  And - please note that IF it had been me, my neurosis would have been SO validated ...

                                        

A whole (gasp) 1/2 an ounce!!!

So, what have YOU not been up to this week?!

If you'd like to share (or just find out what the rest of the world has NOT done) - head over to MckMama's "Not Me Monday"  - and link up or just read away, savoring the fact that you would SO not do any of the NOT ME stories painted over there!

 

Getting To Know Me! (I might be a prude ...)

Getting to know all about YOOOUUUUU....
It's Sunday!! Time for a little funday Getting to know YOU! 

If you've never played along ... all you have to do is copy and paste the questions ... answer them..and link up over at MannLand5!

This week's questions are...
1. If you were stranded on a desert island and could pick one person to be stranded with you..Who would you pick? Family members not included.

I would pick ... Brendan Fraser!  But NOT Brendan Fraser as Brendan Fraser - rather I'd choose Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell in The Mummy.  Yep, that's my answer.
2. Do you read celebrity gossip?

Rarely.   My MIL leaves a copy or 2 behind when she visits - and those I'll read.  I also skim the contents of gossip rags while waiting in the grocery line.  And SOMETIMES in the summer, I'll pick up a couple for a beach read.
3. Favorite show you're waching this season?

I like The Biggest Loser - and my morning friends at Ellen and The View!
4. How tall are you?

I am 5'11" tall.  I love my height today ... but as a young self-conscious preteen/teen, I HATED how conspicuous it made me.  I was ALWAYS the tallest girl in my class ... and until 6th grade was the tallest kid.  Period.  In 6th grade, I was surpassed in height by Scot Danziesen!  I was so relieved!!!
5. What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was To Be Told by Dan Allender.  It was one that I read as a Christian Mom's Group book selection.  It had all sorts of writing prompts for telling your own story ... and reinforced the importance of KNOWING your own story - and TELLING it!!!  Particularly as a Christian, the ability to share one's testimony is SO powerful.  I LOVED sorting out much of my own story - had several revelations - and LOVE to share what I've learned - and how God uses EVERYTHING in my life whether it is good, bad or ugly.  He assigns purpose to my pain - and turns my ashes to beauty!

6. Flats or heels?

Never heels - Always flats!!!
7. If you had to choose one natural disaser to go through, what would you choose..Earthquake, Tornado, or Hurricane?

Where is the "None of the Above" option?!

 Actually, if forced to choose, I'd go with Hurricane.  I LOVE a good thunderstorm - and will sit in the garage or on the porch with my hubby when we get a really good one - and just enjoy the awesome power and beauty of  the wind, the rain, the lightning, the thunder!  LOVE it!!!  I suppose that a Hurricane "sort of" amounts to a souped-up thunderstorm, so I'm gonna go with that one.  Oh, PLUS, in order to be in a hurricane (I think this is right), I'd need to be near a large body of water ... and I LOVE large bodies of water.

8. Thong, panties, or (gasp) granny panties?

Ummm ... no comment.  ;-)  (I don't need any of you picturing my underthings!  Does that make me a prude?!)

5 Question Friday Fun!

It's 5QF (that is Five Question Friday for the uninitiated!) - and we've got some great questions to answer care of Mama M. at My Little Life.  Make sure to visit her if you'd like to play along (OR visit her anyway - she's always an entertaining read!)

So, without further ado ...

1. What's your "comfort food"?


Really good homemade carrot bars with scratch cream cheese frosting.  (drool)  My good friend has a recipe that uses carrot baby food instead of shredded carrots - and it is absolutely to-die-for!  Hmmm ... I could go for some right now ...


2. Do you send Thank You's (handwritten or email)?


Well, I TREASURE handwritten Thank You's, but find that the sentiment means just as much via email - just the fact that someone thought to thank me for anything is both humbling and tickles my vanity in a way that is both delicious and dangerous all at the same time.

However, I SUCK at sending Thank You's - and quite frankly, in order for my thanks to make it out of my head and to the intended recipient - I find that email or oral expressions of gratitude are the most reliable means (for me).  I often will go to the trouble of buying Thank Yous, looking at the Thank Yous, thinking about Thank Yous ... and then promptly forgetting about Thank Yous.  It is almost as if once I've thanked someone in my head, I feel as if its as good as done (this must be some kind of mental illness ...)

At any rate, as I write this I am reminded that when my youngest turned 5 and had his birthday, I went to the trouble of taking a pic of each little party guest with the birthday boy and the gift they'd given ... with the intention of sending these as "thank yous" - and now in January (party was Oct. 31), I still have them just sitting in my computer's memory - they're not even in my OWN memory ... until now, of course ...

I wonder if I'm too late ... I think Miss Manners - or someone like that - recommends a 2-week turnaround period for expressions of gratitude.  If I send them now, would that be cool?  Better late than never ... OR better not at all than 2+ months late?

Here is an example ...

 

3. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?


Hmmmm ... definitely "Fantasy Island"!!!!



4. What is your favorite online recipe site?


I like www.allrecipes.com .  Easy to navigate - and I appreciate the ratings and reviews!!!  *I'm so not cool like Mama M.  :-)



5. If you had to choose: "Friends" or "Seinfeld"?

I'm gonna go with ... "Friends".

Are You a Mover or a Non-Mover?

Well, THIS morning I checked out my Blogger dashboard (this was meant to be just a quick glance, BUT I think that "glancing at Blogger dashboard" just might be an oxymoron).  At any rate, a post caught my eye - it was from my FAVORITE author/teacher, Beth Moore.  So I read it and 15 minutes later ... I was laughing so hard, that I it would be unkind of me not to share what I read with you! 

But before you go visit her over at Living Proof Ministries, let me just say that this post was a follow-up to one that she did on moving a simple table from behind her sofa to against a wall.  This was the FIRST time in 25 years that she EVER moved a piece of furniture in her home!!!!  I simply cannot imagine as I am a habitual mover/rearranger - and have been since I was about nine years old.  My mom never knew what to expect when she came home from her job as a school speech therapist.  I moved knick-knacks, chairs, sofas, side tables, a piano ... and on and on.  The piano, BTW, was a challenge.  I remember grabbing one corner at a time and shoving with all my might, budging it one inch here and one inch there - over and over and over until it reached the site I'd deemed "perfect".  Really, it is a passion of mine - and I've spent time in MANY of my friends homes redecorating for them - or staging their homes for sale.  I find it ridiculously FUN - and SO much cheaper than buying new stuff!

So, anyway, I found it incredibly odd, to say the least, that Mrs. Moore had only just discovered that you could actually move furniture from one place to the other!  (I find it so refreshing to literally see things in a different light - it translates into refreshment of my very spirit!)  However, her post from today reveals that she is not alone ... and neither am I!  She observes that the women, at least in her blog community are "comprised of formidable teams of both movers and immovers (the false noun form of the adjective “immovable.”)"  Furthermore (this is SO interesting) "immovers appear to prefer daytime and movers are undeniably night owls. (As are vampires.)"

Indeed, I am a NIGHT OWL (I prefer this to vampire!) AND I am a MOVER!  For more fascinating insights on decorating/redecorating ... visit Mrs. Moore right here!

PS - You'll find that in her post, she is puzzled over what to call the sofa table now that it is no longer behind the sofa.  I suggest to her that it is a "console table" as per definition a console table is "A small table, often with curved legs resembling consoles, designed to be set against a wall." 

Anyhoodle (I borrowed that from my real life pal, Shelly, over at "I like the way you do ..." - cute, right?  You can borrow it, too ... I think ... I didn't ask.  I guess I stole it.) ... but, anyhoodle, enjoy a good laugh care of Beth Moore!

Just for fun: 
A Before and After pic of my previous home's kitchen Before and After painting and decluttering it for sale.

BTW - Are YOU a Mover or a Non-mover?

Wordless Wednesday - Can You Conga with a Canine?

For more Wordless Wednesday (or to participate) -

head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Happy Epiphany!

Today is Epiphany!  This is exactly 12 Days after Christmas and is sometimes known as Three Kings' Day.  On this day, I celebrate the discovery of the Christ child by the Magi to whom He was revealed ("epiphany" means "to reveal").  This is a big deal because these folks were the very first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as "King"!  These dudes traveled super far (took them about 2 years!) to find our King - and when they found Him, they fell down and worshiped Him - and gave Him wonderful gifts - the best of the best!

When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him.

-Matthew 2:11

This past Sunday, my Sunday School Superstars (that would be all the Sunday School kiddos, ages 3 - junior high - I'm the Director of Children's Ministry) had a big old party at church - an Epiphany Party! 

I told the story of the Wise Men.  The kids were floored that there had not been specific reference to THREE of them - that we don't really know how many there were.  I explained that because THREE gifts were referenced (in the Bible - gold, frankincense, and myrrh), folks have come to picture THREE wise guys, but this may or may not be the case.

We also played games, sang songs (check out this really fun one that they all liked called "Three Wise Men" which is sung to the tune of "Three Blind Mice" - of course, after this, I reminded them again that there may or may not have been three wise men), did a scratch-art star craft and ate these cute little cupcakes (just Wal-mart cupcakes with a yogurt covered pretzel star - had to have a star ...) with punch.

My favorite part of the party was the kids' take on a question I posed at the conclusion of the Epiphany story.  I said, "So, the Wise Men brought some of their VERY best things to present to Jesus, the King.  If you were off to visit the King and were to present Him with some of your VERY best things, what might you bring?"

I can't stop smiling when I recall the answers I was given! 

"My Wii."
"My DSi."
"My XBox."
"My shotgun."

Oh, my goodness!!!  Can you imagine?  Instead of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, our dear little children would come bearing electronics and weapons!!!

What would YOU bring?  What is your "best of the best" for the King?

Happy Epiphany!  :-)

The Sunday School Superstars and I play "Hot Potato"

My boys got a Hot Potato game for Christmas that is so much fun - just a plush potato that sings for an unknown amount of time - and whoever is left holding it when it stops is out.  We wanted to place this - so I made it tie in by reminding the kids how LONG it took the Magi to find the King - and like the Hot Potato, they never knew when the star would stop.  I think that worked out okay ... :-)  The game was a hit.

Snack time!  We sent the preschoolers through first, but they kept dropping their plated cupcakes, so we learned from our mistake - and sent them to their tables to be served like little kings.  :-)

Doing My Happy Dance ...

Oh my goodness, readers!  I am doing a little "happy dance" right now!!!  Actually - I've already DONE my happy dance (it wasn't pretty - sort of like a bird trying and failing to fly) and now I'm just dancing on the inside!

Anyway - the reason for my silly little joy fit was that I have been included in the EasyStreet Prompts blog carnival for Creative Non-Fiction!  Check it out here!!!  This means ... ummm ... I'm not sure what it means, but it makes me feel like a REAL WRITER!!!  I've been categorized - "Creative Non-Fiction"! 

I'm tickled by the simple things.  :-)

While you are there - you MUST, MUST check out this post by Suzanne Kingsbury.  This post, my favorite, is titled "Pregnant with a Novel and Why Blogging Keeps Us From Committing Suicide" - and is clearly (BTW) in a whole other realm of literary greatness from myself.  We were both included in the genre, Creative Non-Fiction, but I think that perhaps this category should have been divided into "Really GREAT Creative Non-Fiction" (to which Ms. Kingsbury belongs) and "Rather Mediocre Creative Non-Fiction" to which I would belong.  Truly - this is NOT me being humble.  Read every delicious word of her post, and you'll see what I mean!

My submission was written earlier this fall - it is titled, "Sweet Sophie" (see ... even my title is inferior to Ms. Kingsbury's!) - and is about the day I lost my dear puppy dog ... actually, I didn't lose her.  She died.  It was very sad ... and the post very emotional for me.  I suppose that it really amounts to a memorial for my 4-legged friend.  Here is a direct link ... but by all means, check out the rest of the great submissions over at EasyStreet.

Sophie with TJ.

Brilliant folks over there!

Now, back to my "happy dance"!

************  An Afterward  ************

After I posted this, God had a little word with me, dear ones.  He had a word for me straight outta His Word in Galatians 6:4-5.

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

- Galatians 6:4 (The Message)

Yes - He reminded me that He's given me a gift and a voice that are distinctly "Kris Ann's" - and He's given Ms. Kingsbury a gift and a voice that is distinctly "Ms. Kingsbury's".  I am meant to do my own work based on the exploration of who I AM in Him and WHAT He has for me to do - and then hunker down in that - not bothering to compare myselves with others (what good would that do anyway - I'd either come out ahead of the other and be impressed with myself which He warns me against just before telling me not to compare myself with others - or I'd come out behind and become discouraged by my percieved inadequacy). 

So, that's the Word of the hour from Him to me ... and maybe to you, too?

"Not Me" Goes Home for the Holidays!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday!

This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

Head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I missed "not me" Monday last Monday because I was trekking across the state of Minnesota from my home in Wisconsin to visit my Mom and Dad on the farm I've called home for all my life (even now - I've been out of the house since 18 ... uh, that would be 17 YEARS - and I still say that I'm "going home" when I head to the farm!)

Ye Old Farmhouse - Herman, MN.

Anyhooooow ... I may not have been writing a "not me" Monday last Monday, but I was living one - that's for sure!!!

On this particular trip, the main characters are me ... I mean "not me", my 2 boy-ohs (TJ and XL), and my 2 doggies (Kota and Henry) - Jay was working all week, so we left my big, strong helper man behind.

The plan was to leave NO LATER than noon for the 4-hour trip, so it was "not me" who left an hour behind schedule - NO WAY ... I am ALWAYS on time (stop laughing, those who know "not me").

But if I had left an hour late, I would have surely buckled down and promptly arrived at the farm at 4pm ... yes, I would have ... so it was "NOT me" that rolled into the farm driveway at 7:30pm!!! 

It was "not me" who stopped at the outlet center 1/2-way for an HOUR and a HALF ... nuh-uh, I would not have done that ... I would have taken a quick 15-minute break and been on my way. 

It was "not me" who exited the car at said outlet center to discover that 1st-time traveler, Henry had gotten sick ALL over his kennel.  It was "not me" in the Burger King parking lot, removing dogs from kennels and handing leashes to boys, and yelling (yes, yelling), "BOYS!!!  Walk the dogs!  I've gotta clean out this stinky kennel!"    It was "not me" banging the dog kennel upside down in the snow - and it was "not me" wiping said kennel out with leftover fast food napkins and kleenexes.  Ugh!!!  Thank goodness, that was "NOT ME"!!!

But if it had been, I would surely have noted the lost time ... and hustled everyone back into the car for the drive ahead ... so it was "not me" who sat and had a coffee in BK while the boy-ohs played ... and it was "not me" who proceeded from BK to the furniture outlet, the Puma store, and the Claiborne store.  What kind of crazy choice would that be?!  Time's a tickin'!!!

But, if it had been me, then I would have beat a path straight to the farmhouse door!  So, it was "not me" who just ONE HOUR later, parked the salt-covered Suburban laden with boys, dogs, overnight bags, pillows, gifts ... and perhaps even the proverbial kitchen sink ... at the Target in Alexandria.

Of course, if it had been me, I would have just grabbed Dramamine (for Henry) and run straight back to the Sub.  I would NOT have wandered about for 20 minutes gathering additional groceries to share with Mom and Dad (although that would have been nice of me ...) before returning to the vehicle which was still running (but locked) with the dogs and boys inside.  No ... I would have been quick, quick, quick!!!

And because I would have been so quick, quick, quick, - it was "not me" who came back to the sub to discover that my 8-year-old had peed in a large McDonald's cup because he couldn't wait any longer for Mom to come back! 

But, IF that had happened, you would not have seen me toss the contents of the cup onto the snow-packed parking lot.  How gross!  No, I would have ... ummmmm ... well, I don't know WHAT I would have done, but it would not have been that!!!

After all this, of course, I went straight home where Mom and Dad were waiting for us with home-made scalloped potatoes and baked beans (the best EVER!!).  I'd have had no further problems, because ... really, what was left to go wrong?!?

Nothing, right?

So, because nothing else could go wrong, it was "not me" who (just 1/2 mile before the farm drive) slipped right into the snowy ditch and wedged my Sub into the snow bank right up to the headlights!  Ach!!  "Not me!"  I could not have handled one more thing ... so, SO GLAD that was "NOT ME"!

But, if it had been, I'd have called my Dad who would have called my Brother who would have driven from his home (1 short mile away) with his big old pick-up truck and towing rope ... and pulled me out ... and then, we'd all have FINALLY arrived at our destination.

HOME at last!

And ... of course ... if this whole story had been true ... I'd not have blogged about it all - or even have thought, "Cool!  Great "Not Me" Material!"

How ridiculous!  ;-)

Grandma Gay and Tobey - AT the farm!

Grandpa Gordon and Xander - AT the farm!